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Working the Boat
The materials may be new but in many respects the same jobs are carried out
in the same way they were in the late 1700s. I was struck by the fact that
much of the handling of rigging and sail were performed almost exactly as described
in "The Young Officer's Sheet Anchor", a book by Darcy Lever originally
published in 1819.
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Hank on the main course yard messing with a fore course brace. The
main course is harbor furled - the sail is on top of the yard, the
clew is layed in a dog ear, and the gaskets are made off in close-layed
turns.
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The author doing a 'trick' at the wheel during helm watch. From left
to right: Jesse (Mate of the Watch), Captain Bailey (yes, he's short),
and myself driving the boat. The spar suspended above the captain is
the spanker boom.
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Tom doing sailor stuff on the main course yard arm. The fluffy stuff
on the course lift line is 'baggywrinkle' - chaffing gear to protect
the sail from being damaged by chaffing against the line.
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Hank and Shannon at the fore mastcap tension the main top gallent mast
stay after we unhoused it in New York City.
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A close up
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"On the capstan! Walk around!". The capstan is a man-powered winch
used for raising the anchor, houseing and unhousing masts, and getting yards
up and down the masts when rigging the ship.
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Ed and Tim touch up the hull with paint in New York.
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Tom chinks the deck as Tina looks on
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