On the 9th of June the new Eyemouth Maritime Centre was officially opened by Professor Roy Bridges, president of the Hakluyt Society.

Around 100 guests were entertained before the official unveiling with traditional Fijian song and dance. Followed by an informative speech by Mr Andrew Thornhill QC - dressed as captain Bligh, who saved the collection in 1996 following the bankruptcy of the International Sailing Craft Association (ISCA) of Exeter in 1996.

Following the opening, the guests were then entertained by musicans dressed in 18th Century clothing and were invited to explore the boats, paintings, film memorabilia and artifacts from the centres opening exhibition - 'Blighs Voyage Across the South Seas'.

Telling the story of Captain William Bligh, his 18 companions and their 41 day, 4000 mile voyage in the Bounty's 23ft open launch from Tofia in the Friendly Islands to Timor in the Dutch East Indies, brought about by Fletcher Christian's mutiny onboard HMAV Bounty.

Included in the exhibition, as well as a repoduction of the Bounty's launch, are boats of the type that Bligh and his crew would have seen on their voyage. Including a 45ft Racing Canoe which belonged to a former Sultan of Brunei and a Single Tongan Outrigger which was loaned to the collection by the Duke of Edinburgh.

June 20th, 2007, 2:29pm