By John Connell

Last updated at 11:47, Wednesday, 31 October 2012

The woman who died when the HMS Bounty sank in a hurricane was a direct descendent of one of Cumbria’s most famous historical figures.

Title
Author
Copyright

Description

Claudene Christian, 42, who died in hospital on Monday, was the great-great-great-great-great granddaughter of the Cockermouth-born mutineer Fletcher Christian.

The replica ship sank off North Carolina in 18ft-high seas 160 miles from the eye of the storm.

It was her ancestor who sailed on the original ship as master’s mate and led the famous mutiny of April 28 1789.

Speaking in August, Mrs Christian had spoken of how delighted she had been to be given the chance to sail on the 180ft vessel.

“It’s incredible. I have a marketing background, so I wasn’t sure if they’d take me, although I’ve been interested in sailing all my life.”

She also talked about her deep pride in the ship and how she relished her family’s connection to the Bounty. She had even joked with the captain, asking him if he was sure he was comfortable having a Christian on board.

Describing her voyage on the social networking site Facebook, she had said: “I live and work aboard the HMS Bounty, a sailing museum travelling from port to port sharing our ship and our history.

“As a descendant of Fletcher Christian, played in four movies by Errol Flynn, Clark Gable, Marlon Brando and Mel Gibson, I’m sure my ancestor would be proud.”

Mrs Christian and the captain were the only two of the 16-member crew who didn’t make it into the lifeboats when the US Coast Guard attempted to rescue them.

The ship began taking on water after captain Robin Walbridge ordered the crew to abandon ship early on Monday morning. It had been on its way from New London, Connecticut to St Petersburg in Florida.

Mrs Christian, from Oklahoma, is a graduate of University of Southern California.

The HMS Bounty had a special place in the hearts of west Cumbrians because of its association with Fletcher Christian. The ship visited Maryport in 2007.

The ship is a replica of the one made famous in the 1962 film Mutiny on the Bounty, and it was used in that film. It was also used in the film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.

Paul Sherwin, 60, helped to bring the ship to Maryport, in his role as an entertainment and events manager for Allerdale council.

He said: “I’m gutted and I think most people linked to the ship will be sad to see it go. It was well-maintained and the American owners were very proud of it and pleased to have it sail around the world.”

He also praised the bravery of the helicopter crew who rescued the mariners in atrocious conditions.

Mr Sherwin said that originally there had been plans to set the ship on fire at the end of the film Mutiny on the Bounty which is what had happened to the real ship. But Marlon Brando, who starred in the original film, protested.

“He decided that he loved it so much that if it was set on fire he would not take any more part in the filming”, said Mr Sherwin.

JConnell@cngroup.co.uk

First published at 11:45, Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk