My Incredible Adventure – Making a Rope Grommet

DSC_1633Owen and his dad Dave made this rope grommet and then soaked it in the water for a short time to stiffen it up.

From WikiHow

Grommets are round, endless rings of rope useful in a myriad ways aboard ship as well as ashore. They are often used as handles for chests, for rings with which to play quoits, to lengthen rope, and in many similar ways.

The grommet is formed of a single strand of rope five times as long as the circumference of the grommet when complete.

350px-Ropegrommet copy

Steps

  1. Follow the image above for each of the steps. The original image is from a book running sequentially, hence the unusual numbering but it was thought easiest to stick with this numbering for clarity.
  2. Take the strand and lay one end across the other at the size of loop required and with the long end follow the grooves or “lay” of the strand until back to where you started (Fig. 84), thus forming a two-stranded ring.
  3. Continue twisting the free end between the turns already made until the three-strand ring is complete (Fig. 85).
  4. Finish and secure the ends by making overhand knots, pass the ends underneath the nearest strands and trim ends off close (Fig. 86). If care is taken and you remember to keep a strong twist on the strand while “laying up” the grommet, the finished ring will be as firm and smooth and endless as the original rope.

Sail Gloucester 09- The American Eagle 4:40AM 7/6/09

Sail Gloucester American Eagle
Sail Gloucester American Eagle

My Incredible Adventure- The Bounty

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We saw the Bounty off in the distance and Captain Amanda decided to meet up with her.

Here’s some interesting info from the Bounty website:

HMS Bounty…at one with the sea…global voyager…movie star…dedicated to preserving the fine art of square-rigged sailing.

Known for a maritime mutiny that took place over 200 years ago, Bounty remains famous and infamous. Thousands cross her ample decks during port visits wondering what life was like then and now. You know her from her modern movies as well. In 1960, it was Marlon Brando as Fletcher Christian in Mutiny on the Bounty. Today, it is Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean – Dead Man’s Chest.”

Read more hereDSC_1593 [640x480]

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My Incredible Adventure-Beautiful Industry

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Daisy Nell- Schooner Festival Chair Video

Daisy Nell Defines The Term Schooner

click picture to view video
click picture to view video

There is someone chatting away in the background for the first half of the interview.  The audio is much better toward the halfway mark.

My Incredible Adventure-The Working Coil and the Ballentine

From the beginning of the trip to the end, we were pulling, coiling, wrapping, knotting,  and tripping over ROPE (called line in sailing terminology). The crew taught us how to coil the line so it was out of the way but readily accessible.

Here’s Rick learning the Ballentine CoilDSC_1870 [640x480]

Click on Rick’s photo for video

And here’s  another video explaining the whole process.

My Incredible Adventure – My iPhone

There were 11 people sleeping in their bunks. Everyone was exhausted from the day’s activities. And then….

iphone Click on the phone!


My Incredible Adventure-Dishwashing!

dishes

We had to constantly adjust our “on land” thinking. The crew kept after us to not leave our things around, pick up anything that was dropped, wipe up spills right away, and generally be aware of what needed to be done. We also had to gain our sea legs on the rock-rolly trip to the South Shore. Only one of us felt queasy and needed a little help with crackers to feel better.

Mina, the cook, made us a great taco lunch. We ate hungrily, and then it was time for dishes to be washed. Now here’s where we take “land life” for granted. Dishes! We either wash them in a sink with running water or put them into the dishwasher. This was not the way they’re done on board. After you finish eating, you carry your plate, etc. up onto the deck where you first dump whatever’s left on your plate into a bucket. Then you clean off the plate in the first pan of water. You proceed through the line until the end where you dry your dishes, bring them below, and put them away. This includes all cooking pans as well. The system works well and everyone pitches in. Builds teamwork and cooperation!

My Incredible Adventure-Hauling out the Anchor!

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Each time the handle is lowered, the anchor is lifted ONE chain link! This is the most labor-intensive chore I witnessed. I thought about helping out with this, but I’d be dangling on the upstroke!

Click the photo above to see the video!

My Incredible Adventure-Time to raise the sails!

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It was time to hoist the sails and everyone onboard was needed to raise the heavy canvas sails. The crew taught us how to work as a group in this incredible task. Hand over hand, we used every muscle – arms, legs, back.

Some of the terms we learned:

halyard-line used for hoisting sails.

hoist-the length of the luff of a fore-and-aft sail

luff-to get so close to the wind that the sail flaps; also the forward edge of a sail

mainsail-boomed sail projecting aft from the mainmast

mainsheet- line that controls the main boom.

make fast-secure a line.

ARRRRRRGGGGGHHHH!– Whenever commands weren’t followed! Mostly heard from JP when he was in charge.

My Incredible Adventure aboard the Spirit of Massachusetts

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Captain Amanda speaks to Dave as he comes onboard
Captain Amanda speaks to Dave as he comes onboard
On Wednesday morning 11 passengers met

at the dock behind the Heritage Center. The day was wet and cold, but our anticipation overshadowed the weather. We were sailing on the Spirit of Massachusetts overnight to see the Tall Ships in Boston!

Our group consisted of kids, grandmothers, dads, friends, veteran sailors, “newbies” and world travelers. Most of didn’t know each other—yet! And the crew of 9, including our captain Amanda, was a mix of young women and men-college students and seasoned sailors, each possessing a love of the sea.

We all knew that we would not be sailing on a luxury cruise, but I’m not sure we understood that we would be active participants in the strenuous life onboard a schooner.

Even using the “head”(bathroom) was a test of balance, strength and dexterity! (More about this later!)

This is one of the bunks. Very little headroom-even for me!
This is one of the bunks. Very little headroom-even for me!
We were shown our bunks where we would be stowing our gear. I chose a low one where I stuffed everything except the camera.

As we left Gloucester, we motored out past the familiar landmarks. We chatted with our fellow passengers and the crew. But with less than a moment’s notice, a crew member would be off to perform his or her duties.  It wouldn’t be long before we “passengers” would be doing the same thing!

Watch for more on this incredible adventure!

Pics From SailGloucester

Roz (for the Cause) Frontiera and Cindy Hendrickson at The SailGloucester Crew Party

Urania Crew
Urania Crew
Picton Castle
Picton Castle
Picton Castle
Picton Castle
Picton Castle
Picton Castle

Spirit Of Massachusetts- Ocean Classroom

Here’s the ship that Sharon is having her adventure on- The Spirit of Massachusetts.

Spirit Of Massachusetts, originally uploaded by captjoe06.

Captain Amanda will need to keep a close eye on Sharon
Captain Amanda will need to keep a close eye on Sharon
Captain Amanda
Captain Amanda

Sharon has been updating us periodically on her adventure.

Sharon Update: Out at sea

Weds. Night 8pm

We’re anchored off Peddick’s Island in Boston Harbor. Today was wild! Lots of wind! We were flying! We passed the Bounty and the American Eagle.

We’re all pretty tired as we worked hard! 7:30 breakfast! 8:00 we head in
to see the Tall Ships!

Thur 6:00AM

It’s 6am and we can see the Boston skyline through the clouds, The cook is  making breakfast. A few of us are up and about, Pretty hard to sleep with 13 other people’  So quiet up here on the deck, Bye for now!

sharonspirit

Ocean Classroom- The Spirit Of Massachusetts Video

Sharon is off on her year 60 adventure.  Here is the scene when she left this morning-

click picture to view video
click picture to view video

Schooner Thomas E Lannon Wheel and Compass

The Lannon is such a well maintained and comfortable boat.  A work of art really.

For all posts on the Thomas E Lannon Click This text

The Thomas E Lannon
The Thomas E Lannon
The Thomas E Lannon
The Thomas E Lannon
Schooner Lannon Rigging
Schooner Lannon Rigging

Off on a Great Adventure!

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This morning I’m taking off on the Spirit of Massachusetts for an overnight trip into Boston to view the Tall Ships. I’m as excited as a little kid. This has been a dream I’ve had forever- to sail on a schooner and be part of the daily activities that happen on board.

I will try to post from the boat or at least have Joey post for me. Of course I’ll be shooting like crazy and I might be able to upload the photos to Joey!

It will be my 60th year adventure! See you when we get back tomorrow!

The Crew Of The Urania

These guys are having WAYYYYYY too much fun!

The Crew Of The Urania, originally uploaded by captjoe06.

The Urania is off to SailBoston.   The ship is part of the Dutch Navy. She has a main crew of a couple men and then a rotating crew that hops aboard in each port from the ranks of the Dutch Navy.  From what I understand it is a honor to be able to get the chance to serve.
Video with the crew coming at 8AM
for all Sail Gloucester news feeds- Sail Gloucester News Feed