Jeanie sails through US adventure

THE tall ship that rode out a financial crisis, battled turbulent seas and charmed people on the other side of the Atlantic returned safely to its home port yesterday.

Hundreds of cheering people lined the pier in Fenit, Co Kerry, to welcome home the 16m Jeanie Johnston, which completed a trip from Newfoundland in just under two weeks, a week ahead of schedule.

Flying flags from each of the 21 ports it visited in the US and Canada, the three-masted barque was guided into Fenit by harbour pilot Bob Goodwin and escorted by a flotilla of local boats in windy, sunny conditions, shortly before noon.