A coal carrying merchant ship operating on the coast of England, named the Bethia, was purchased by the Admiralty, renamed the Bounty, and re-commissioned in 1787 for a special mission. She was to sail halfway around the world to Tahiti, collect sapling breadfruit trees and transport them to the West Indies. Owners of the burgeoning British plantations there needed a cheap source of food for the workers.
To lead the mission, the Admiralty picked 33-year-old Lt. William Bligh, who had been the sailing master on the HMS Resolution, on Capt. Cook's last voyage of discovery. Though portrayed as an abusive tyrant by Hollywood, Bligh may be one of the greatest seamen who ever lived.
Three weeks out of Tahiti,
enroute to the West Indies with the breadfruit plants, Master's Mate (Acting
Lieutenant) Fletcher Christian, angered and humiliated over the continual
abuse from Capt. Bligh took the ship. Of the 44 men on board, 31 sided with
Bligh. Of the 31, 18 went over the side to be set adrift in the Bounty's
launch with Bligh.
Bligh having no charts navigated the launch 3600 nautical miles to safety
in 41 days using only a sextant and a pocket watch. Only one man died on
the voyage - stoned to death by angry natives on the first island they tried
to land on. The launch voyage was a feat of navigation unparalleled to this
day.
Technique: Handmade with frames
Height: 2.5 cm
Length: 8.5 cm
Wide: 3.0 cm