In the picture on the left, taken early in the morning of 16th December, you can see the tarpaulins covering the deck houses to protect them and the workmen from the weather. These are due to be removed in early January. Click to send this picture as a postcard.

Continuing our tour of Jeanie's unique Tween Deck, begun in the previous update, this deck also houses the quarters for the permanent crew, who will stay on the ship throughout the voyage. At the rear of the deck is the Great Cabin which will be used for social events organised by the skipper. "Officers and crew will be able to come in here if the skipper invites them in" says Ciaran O'Regan. The Great Cabin will also house two bunks which can be used in medical emergencies. Just as important is the mini bar which will be available at the skipper's discretion.

Work in progress at an earlier stage in the Captain's Great Cabin

    The lower deck has a number of uses. It holds the ballast which stabilises the ship, in this case a series of lead blocks. These were used instead of the traditional stone in order to save space for the engines and other essential equipment. The two Caterpillar engines, as industry standard, each have 300 horsepower, while two generators each supply 500 horsepower. The engines will be connected to the propellor shafts and will power the ship up to a top speed of 10 knots. The lower deck also houses the sewerage plant, a desalination plant to provide fresh water, and the diesel tanks to power the engines. The ceiling is fitted with a series of removeable sections to allow repairs or replacements to be installed.

Carpenter sheeting the deck houses

Above deck, the two deck houses on the main deck have now been sheeted. The rear deck house contains the skipper's cabin, along with quarters for the senior officers. The two most important rooms in the rear deck house are the chart room and the radio room. These are so vital to the ship that both are water and fire proof, and are separated by a solid fire door. There is a new page with new pictures of the work in progress on the project website.

Senior members of the shipbuilding team (l to r): Foreman Fitter Peter O'Regan, Shipbuilding Superintendent Michael O'Boyle, Foreman Shipwright Ciaran O'Regan and Foreman Carpenter Martin O'Sullivan.

A warm Irish welcome was last month extended to Tom Kindre, a US Coastguard Auxiliary member, who will be crewing on Jeanie's trans-Atlantic leg. He was here to help the project set up communications and newsletters for crew and supporters, but when I rang Fenit pier office to talk to him, he couldn't come to the phone as the Captain had him sitting out on the bowsprit splicing ropes!

    We have received many e-mails and some messages to this website's guestbook from people who empathise with the spirit of the Jeanie Johnston voyage, its roots and its ideals. Remembering and rejoining with one's roots from past generations, and a sense of building on one's heritage to forge a stronger future, this is what the Jeanie Johnston embodies. I think that, whatever the delays and trepidations which have beset the project, the spirit of Jeanie will survive and triumph, that she will be met with much affection and generosity in the US and Canada, and in hard financial terms will meet her building costs and surpass them from sponsorship, revenue from visitors and corporate events.

2003 - The sponsorship described below is no longer available - please go to the project website where you can read about the new types of sponsorship.     If you would like to be involved with the project and have the Jeanie Johnston sail a nautical mile on her Atlantic voyage in your name, or that of your nominee, visit the sponsorship page of the project website. For a donation to the project of $100, you will receive a Sponsor's Pack, including a personalised scroll. Full details and an online booking form can be found on the webpage. There are also a range of sponsorship opportunities which are detailed on this page.