On 24 February 2010 a replica Phoenician vessel, The Phoenicia (appropriately enough!), sailed into the Port of Port Elizabeth.

According to the Phoenicia web site:

"Phoenicia is a bold and ambitious expedition which seeks to rediscover and document the secrets of ancient Phoenician mariners. It will re-create one of mankind's greatest exploratory voyages in the history of seafaring by bravely attempting to sail the reconstructed Phoenician/Mediterranean vessel around Africa and ultimately back to the United Kingdom."

A large contingent of press went out to meet the Phoenicia and expedition leader, Philip Beale, in the waters of Algoa Bay on Tuxedo, courtesy of Barnacle Bay Rides.

Philip, a UK resident is no stranger to the friendly folk at ABYC as this is his second such trip in an ancient vessel. His first landfall in Port Elizabeth was aboard the Borobudur ship on 6 December 2003.

The Borobudur ship was built in the Kangean Islands, some 60 miles north of Bali by a team practiced in constructing ships using traditional building techniques.

The large double outrigger ship is a design most likely to have enabled the Indonesians to colonize Madagascar and trade with other African shores.

The Borobudur ship is depicted in stone carving relief's that are found on the side of the Borobudur Temple that have been dated back to the 8th Century.

And now the Phoenicia has made landfall at friendly ABYC.

Over two and a half thousand years ago one of the greatest journeys in mankind's history began on the Egyptian shores of the Red Sea. Greek Historian Herodotus tells us how, in 600 BC, Phoenician mariners achieved the first circumnavigation of Africa, a voyage into unknown waters previously considered too dangerous to attempt.

In 2008 reconstruction of a Phoenician / Mediterranean trading vessel, built at the ancient Phoenician port of Arwad, was started. The boatbuilder was Abou Hamoud and sons. The Phoenicia then embarked on their major objective which is a a journey to re-trace the Phoenicians' route around Africa.

The Phoenicia left East London at 06:30 a.m. on 23 February and entered Algoa Bay after an approximate 120 nautical mile journey at 01:00 p.m. on Wednesday 24 February.

From PE the Phoenicia will sail to Mossel Bay and then on to Cape Town with Philip saying that the rounding of Cape Aghullas will be their most strenuous leg.

Greeting the Phoenicia as she sailed into the ABYC Marina Channel were an array of four ancient cannons all fired in general salute to mark this remarkable voyage. Two of the cannons belong to Port Elizabeth based cannon builder, Zane Parker who built the other two cannons belonging to the Bean's from Schotia.

The ABYC was blessed to host numerous hard working press people from such august establishments as Die Burger, The Herald, E-TV, SABC, PE-Blog and MyPE. Young Dean from The Chartroom pulled out all the stops at very short notice to feed the hungry journalists on their return from 'bobbing on the briny'.

Accommodation on the Phoenicia is spartan to say the least with the crew having to don headlights to navigate down below to their quarters. The toilet is a traditional one which does not provide much privacy as you literally have to hang your nether regions over the side and 'do your business'.

Have a look at the Video of The Phoenicia on The Herald site.

See all the Phoenicia Images.