Holidays on the hire seas

Turquoise waters, white sand, sun and palm trees, the Grenadines have it all. As I sat on deck on my first night I watched the lights of St Vincent ignite bringing the hillside glittering to life as the day faded into a warm dark night. And when I awoke the next morning to a soft pink Caribbean sunrise, the view was even better.

Irene is a beguiling ship cared for by a devoted owner and crew. In the words of her skipper Phil Howling " Everyone who has been on here and involved with Irene has fallen in love with her, she's grasped us all". Launched in 1907, Irene was one of the last working ships to be launched from Bridgwater in Somerset. Built as a West Country coasting ketch by JF Carver, she was sold to Symons Brick & Tile, who used her to carry their products around the Bristol Channel and across the Irish Sea, filling her hold on the return journey with cattle feed corn, clay or coal. She remained in active service until the 1960s.

By 1965 Irene had begun to fall into a state of disrepair, having been abandoned on a mud berth on the Hamble, where she was found by Leslie Morrish (see CB25). He was captivated and set about converting her  into a home for his wife and young family, which he then moored on the Thames. Leslie's remarkable devotion to his boat is evident in his book. Goodnight Irene, which chronicles his many adventures aboard her from 1965 - 85, most of which seem to involve running aground. It seems fortuitous that Leslie chose a vessel specifically designed to take the mud.

Since 1996 Irene has chartered in the Mediterranean and now the Caribbean, the only west country trading ketch still afloat. From St Vincent we sailed south to Bequia, Cannouan, the Tobago Cays, Palm Island and Grenada, with each new anchorage seeming to be progressively more stunning than its predecessor . This was very much an action holiday with sailing hops between islands. We explored the towns, trekked through forests to a summit of a 13,000ft volcano, swam in waterfalls and went mountain biking.

Any other time was spent sailing Irene's classic tender Sea Pink, snorkeling, diving, waterskiing, wakeboarding or relaxing. There is no way that you would ever get bored on Irene, and because of this I think it would be an ideal holiday for children, with room for two families of four.

Unfortunately I found that because there was so much to do, we spent less time sailing Irene than I would have liked. However I know that the crew are flexible and would plan a more sailing orientated trip on request. during this years refit Irene's interior has been modified to provide four double cabins, each with an ensuite shower and head. Throughout the holiday we were thoroughly pampered with every need attended to. o if you want a complete break from everything this is the boat.

Breakfasts featured home-made breads and muffins, eggs, cereal and fresh fruit. Lunch was usually healthy yet substantial and dinner was three course, of excellent quality and always more than I could eat. Below decks Irene boasts an impressively well stocked bar, apparently promising as much as you can drink. She even carries a piano to accompany your evening meal - that is if you bring someone who knows how to play it.

All meals were served on deck around Irene's elegant dining table beneath large colonial style awnings. I shall never forget the surreal experience of sitting down to a three course dinner as we sailed past Grenada and the underwater volcano, Kick'em-Jenny, with a carpet of stars above and shimmering phosphorescence trailing in our wake.

Jo Clegg