Raising the sail of the Phoenicia
delays – a problem that was unavoidable for a
The ship passed through the Straits of
ship that depends on the power of the wind.
Gibraltar to re-enter the Mediterranean for the
Only one of the hardships that had to be
last part of the voyage – the homecoming.
endured by the crew working and living in the
There were triumphant scenes when the ship
confines of such a small vessel.
arrived in the ports of Tripoli and Beirut in
Along the way, the Phoenicia made
Lebanon, the homeland of the Phoenicians.
stops at many ports, where the arrival of the
The circumnavigation was complete when the
ship brought much interest from the local
ship returned to Arwad, where it had been
people, and raised new awareness of the
built, in October 2010. Captain Beale had
achievements of the Phoenicians, ancient
proved that it was possible – after a voyage
masters of the sea. The ship visited ports in
that lasted two years and two months, sailing
Egypt, Yemen and South Africa, among many
more than 20,000 nautical miles.
others. The crew of up to 20 people was
But it was not the end of the adventure.
rotated for various parts of the voyage. In
In June 2012 the Phoenicia sailed to Britain,
total, more than 50 people joined as crew on
following the ancient trade route which the
the ship, coming from all parts of the world.
Phoenicians made for tin. The ship stopped at