Mutiny on the Bounty revisited

Australian adventurer embarks on voyage to mimic Fletcher Christian's

Over 200 years ago, a group of intrepid explorers embarked on one of the most notorious voyages in maritime history. Fletcher Christian and William Bligh spent seven weeks sailing On th to Tahiti to collect breadfruit  plants. But on the return journey, mutiny broke out and Christian ended up settling - along with nine mutineers, six Tahitian men, and eleven Tahitian women - on Pitcairn Island.

Now a 21st century explorer together with a team of three are reliving this nightmare, casting aside charts, toilet paper, adequate rations and using a traditional 18th century open boat.

Austrialian Don McIntyre is the man behind the attempt, which would leave even the most experienced explorer scratching their head.

Their epic trail will see them sail for Tonga to find extra rations, then across the top of Fiji and the Vanuatu Island groups before hitting the Queensland Coast and landing on Restoration Island – a four week voyage.

Following this they will sail north inside the Great Barrier Reef to Thursday Island then across to Kupang and Timor.

If the four-man team is successful it will be the first time anyone has ever completed the treacherous journey since The Bounty. There will be no charts or compasses on this boat, they will be equipped with old-time items including two 18th century pocket watches, ink pens and ink and a magnifying glass. They will have some modern gadgets but no incoming communications will be allowed.

The team set off at the start of the month and have posted exciting and comical tales on their blog. “We had a taste last night of sailing in the dark without moon or torches and I have to tell you I did not like it.

“The stars were blocked by cloud so it was quite challenging in 18 knots of wind," skipper McIntyre said.

By the sounds of their updates, they are having nightmare similar to that of Bligh. “We just had our first knockdown," McIntyre wrote. “TBB [Talisker Bounty Boat] was full of water with three crew bailing and one on the helm.

“We are still in gale conditions with 5-6 metre seas and 35 knots wind from the south east. I have dislocated my little toe during the knockdown - now OK but swollen and bruised.“

If everything goes to plan the team should reach their destination in roughly six weeks.

Their progress in the Talisker Bounty Boat can be seen at www.bountyboat.com