Grand Turk (frigate)

The "Grand Turk" is a replica of a three-masted sixth-rate frigate, well known for depicting HMS "Indefatigable" in the TV series "Hornblower", although the historical "Indefatigable" was a larger ship. She has also served in the same TV series as the French ship "Papillon". She was built primarily as an action vehicle for the international TV and film industry. Nowadays the tall ship is used mainly in sailing events, for corporate or private charter, and for receptions in its spacious saloon or on its deck.

On 28 June 2005 she stood in for HMS "Victory", Nelson's flagship at the International Fleet Review off Portsmouth (GB), commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.

She is 46.3 m long and has a beam of 10.4 m. Her mainmast reaches 35.66 m high and her draught, 3.1 m. She has a permanent crew of sixteen. As well as the sails, she is powered by two 450 hp (340 kW) diesel engines.

This full-rigged ship has 12 working sails. The foremast and the mainmast are square rigged, each with three sails. The mizzenmast is square rigged on top, while below it carries a spanker sail. The bowsprit carries a flying jib and an outer jib. A figuredhead adorns the bow.

The "Grand Turk" was built in Marmaris, Turkey in 1996 for the price of £2 million. She is an authentic replica, based on historical drawings, of the frigate HMS "Blandford" built in 1741. The deck is lined with cast iron smooth-bore cannon.

A frigate was neither large enough nor sufficiently well armed to fight in the "line of battle". Her function would have been primarily to scout for the main fleet, giving support where necessary, or carry messages.

Current Location

Whitby, North Yorkshire

Film credits

*Hornblower (TV series), 1998-2003.
*"Longitude" - Granada Productions, A&E, 2000.
*Monsieur N, 2003.
*"To the ends of the Earth" - BBC, Tightrope Pictures, 2005.

ee also

* HMS Surprise (ship) - Replica of HMS Rose (1757), built in 1970.
* Ship replica (including a list of ship replicas)

External links

* [http://www.turks.co.uk/grand_turk.htm "Grand Turk" website]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4627453.stm# BBC video (42 min.) - re-enactment of the Battle of Trafalgar with the Grand Turk as the HMS Victory]
* [http://srcalais.chez-alice.fr/TRAFALGAR200.htm Crew photos of "Trafalgar 200"]
* [http://srcalais.chez-alice.fr/MonsieurN.htm Crew photos of "Monsieur N" filming in St Malo (France) 2002]
* [http://srcalais.chez-alice.fr/TOTHEENDSOFTHEEARTH.htm Crew photos of "To the ends of the Earth" filming off Dunkirk (France) 2004]

Images of the Grand Turk