Irene sailing ship berthed in Penzance.

A VISITOR to Penzance harbour last week and likely to become a familiar sight in Mount's Bay over the course of the summer, the Irene is a West Country trading ketch, built in 1907 by FJ Carver and Sons. Owned by the same family since 1965, Irene has sailed extensively around the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and UK waters and now, following a complete rebuild lasting six years, she is earning her keep as both a sail training vessel and a sustainable cargo business. The Irene spent the early part of this week in Falmouth, joining in a gathering of historic wooden vessels, but is due to return to Newlyn today, staying for a few days. At the end of the month she will sail back to Falmouth and pick up passengers for a trip to the World Gig Championships on the Isles of Scilly. After that the Irene will return to Penzance to do some training in Mount's Bay with the RNLI and the Coastguard.