The replica of the historic ship will not be open to visitors at the start of the cruise season following a fire onboard on Wednesday night.

The popular St. George?s attraction was damaged in the blaze, although firefighters were able to restrict the flames to the stern of the vessel.

Last night the vessel?s owner, Nick Duffy, said he did not think repair work would be completed in time for visitors who arrive by cruise ship in the last week of April.

?Am I feeling stressed out? Yes, I am a little,? he told .

?The ship had a tremendous amount of work done on it in the summer and then it was hit by Fabian, and almost immediately after that work was completed, which tore the rigging apart, and now we have a burned section of the ship.?

Mr. Duffy said it was highly unlikely the ship could have caught fire from natural causes as he could not spot any damaged electricals. He is not aware of a fire ever taking place on the historic landmark since he took over ownership in 1995. He said the only thing he has had to deal with is small, random acts of damage.

?I only got access to the ship later this afternoon because they were waiting for forensics to examine it. I really have no idea, but what is clear is that there doesn?t seem to be anything electrical which has come out of it. There wasn?t anything there which falls into the category of spontaneous combustion.?

Visually, the ship still looks good to visitors in St. George?s, and Mr. Duffy said he took some comfort in the fact that the fire did not reach the exterior of the ship.

Fire Service spokesman Lt. Dana Lovell said foul play had not been ruled out and that the investigation was ongoing.

Former owner Graham Maddocks, who witnessed Wednesday?s blaze, told that rigging on the sails had been damaged and that it appeared as if someone had been on board the ship tampering with the lateen sail.

St. George?s Town Manager Lance Furbert said he was sure Police officers will keep a vigilant watch over the town?s historic monuments.

?If there is any suggestion of arson we?re sure the community beat officers will be stepping up their patrol,? he said.

Mr. Duffy said he will have to deal with a loss in revenue but is ready to get on with the job of repairing the ship.

?My concern is along the line of fact that it is a tourist attraction and I need to get it open and looking right.?

He will meet with insurers today to determine the cost of the damage.