Stunning drone pictures show the moment the world’s largest-ever commercial sailing ship sailed into a popular British port ahead of a five day voyage.
The 525ft ‘Golden Horizon’, which weighs approximately 8,440 tons and boasts 6,300sqm of sails, was caught on camera sailing into Poole Harbour in Dorset earlier today.
The ship, which had been operating at half capacity due to Covid restrictions, has been embarking on ‘dress rehearsal’ voyages throughout July that has seen it stop off in ports around the south of England so far.
Its next cruise will see it depart from Dover on Saturday, July 31 as part of Cowes week – a near 200-year-old traditional regatta on the Isle of Wight that sees thousands of boats competing in daily sailing races.
The 525ft ‘Golden Horizon‘, which weighs approximately 8,440 tons and boasts 6,300sqm of sails, was caught on camera sailing into Poole Harbour in Dorset
The world’s largest-ever commercial ship sails past Studland, Poole on Thursday, July 29 before its ‘Cowes Week Taster’ voyage
The world’s largest-ever commercial sailing ship, ‘Golden Horizon’
Croatian-built Golden Horizon is a 525ft steel-hulled cruise ship.
With five huge masts, the vessel weighs more than 8,000 tons and boasts 42 sails with a total size of 6,300sq/m.
Designed by Zygmunt Choreń, the ship is powered by two electric engines.
It was built in 2017 to the tune of £85million, but first became operational in May of this year.
The Croatian-built Golden Horizon cruise ship
After previous stops in Portsmouth, Dartmouth and Falmouth, the 300-capacity passenger ship arrived in Poole earlier today.
But those hoping to catch a glimpse of the enormous vessel will have to hurry, as she is due to depart from Poole Harbour at 6pm this evening.
‘Golden Horizon’ is set to embark on a five-day journey from Dover on July 31, stopping off in Cowes, Torquay and finally Harwich on August 4.
As part of its ‘Cowes Week Taster’ tour, passengers will be able to experience the world’s oldest and largest annual sailing regatta in the Isle of Wight, known as Cowes Week.
The ship will then set off on a separate 10-day voyage throughout the south of England – visiting Dartmouth, St Mary’s, St Helier and the English Riviera.
It is run by Tradewind Voyages of Suffolk as a commercial cruise ship and owned by shipbuilders DIV Group Ltd.
Built in 2017 to the tune of approximately €100million (£85million), Golden Horizon was first registered to a port in Malta and became operational in May of this year.
Propelled by two electric engines, the vessel was designed by Polish naval architect Zygmunt Choreń.
The boat boasts two outside bars, a piano bar, library, spa and a gym and at full capacity it can accommodate 272 guests in 140 sea-facing cabins.
It will serve as a luxury cruise ship, touring the globe and visiting England, Spain, Croatia, Italy and Egypt this year alone.
The Croatian-built Golden Horizon was inspired by the world’s second-largest commercial sailing ship of 1912, a windjammer named France II.
At 64.5 metres in height and a hull stretching more than 134m, France II was a formidable barque that would have caught the eye.
France II was fitted with seven first class passenger cabins, a library, darkroom and a lounge with a piano.
The French-built 480ft tall ship’s maiden voyage saw it depart to New Caledonia via Glasgow.
But just a decade after it was built, the ship would run aground in Teremba Reef, just southwest of New Caledonia on July 12, 1922.
Built in 2017 to the tune of approximately €100million (£85million), Golden Horizon was first registered to a port in Malta and became operational in May of this year
The boat boasts two outside bars, a piano bar, library, spa and a gym and at full capacity it can accommodate 272 guests in 140 sea-facing cabins
Gracing the shores of Dorset for the first time in June, Golden Horizon almost completely blocked out the entrance of Portland Harbour as it made its first port of call in the UK.
Pictures showed the moment a two person sailing yacht appears dwarfed in comparison to the cruising vessel with five masts.
After previous stops in Portsmouth, Dartmouth and Falmouth, the 300-capacity passenger ship was pictured in Weymouth (above) in June
The 525ft cruise ship was also docked in Falmouth earlier this month before heading back to Poole harbour, Dorset
The striking photos were taken by local photographer Steve Belasco on June 26, who was stunned by the ‘enormous’ ship.
He said: ‘It is the largest sailing ship in the world and Portland is its first port of call.
‘It is enormous. There was a tallship next to it which is a reasonable length itself but it absolutely dwarfed that.’