Wednesday, March 18th, 2009
I hope everyone had a happy St Patricks day!
Went ashore in Bequia after we dropped anchor and had agreat afternoon and evening.
Did a bit of Internet stuff and then went and hung out with the crew in two fine beach side establishments
singing sailor’s shanties, drinking rum and generally livening up the neighbourhood.
Bequia is a very popular place there must be a hundred yachts at anchor in the bay here. The town
surrounds the bay with many most things that a yachty could use :-)
The presence of all these yachts makes it feel more “touristy” than the other islands I’ve been to so far.
It’s still really nice though.
I’m going to go and see more of the island today as I also have it off.
More later.
KJ
Here are some pictures from my run ashore in Bequia.
Posted in Ashore | No Comments »
Atlantic Rollers
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Monday, March 16, 2015
Sailing to Bequia Mon Mar 16,09
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009
After getting the ship cleaned up and down rigging all the lumber hauling gear we up anchored and
motored away from St Georges on a passage to Bequia in the St Vincent Grenadines.
As we were heading North the Royal Clipper cruise ship came in. This is a 5 masted square rigged cruise
ship. the only one of it’s kind in the world. It didn’t have any sails set and as we crossed her bows under
all our fore and aft sails we blasted our horn and waved. She returned the salute in kind. I wonder what her passengers thought when they saw our little Barque
We motored for an hour or so to get North of Grenada and then we set the courses, topsails and t’gallants.
I kinda hoped my glasses would fallout of the sails when the were unfurled but no luck, the sea has them.
The passage to Bequia is 70 miles or so depending on how far we have sail off the direct line and whether
we will need to tack or not. We should get into Bequia tomorrow morning so I will have my first night
watch since coming back on board.
More later…
My night watch was very busy. We wore ship just after we went on watch. I was on helm which was
interesting. Then about an hour later the wind shifted such that we couldn’t keep our course to Bequia so
we ended up motoring in.
We arrived at 10:30 this morning and dropped our anchor amongst a ton of yachts. This is a very popular
place apparently. I’ll let you know how it goes
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Posted in On Watch | No Comments »
After getting the ship cleaned up and down rigging all the lumber hauling gear we up anchored and
motored away from St Georges on a passage to Bequia in the St Vincent Grenadines.
As we were heading North the Royal Clipper cruise ship came in. This is a 5 masted square rigged cruise
ship. the only one of it’s kind in the world. It didn’t have any sails set and as we crossed her bows under
all our fore and aft sails we blasted our horn and waved. She returned the salute in kind. I wonder what her passengers thought when they saw our little Barque
We motored for an hour or so to get North of Grenada and then we set the courses, topsails and t’gallants.
I kinda hoped my glasses would fallout of the sails when the were unfurled but no luck, the sea has them.
The passage to Bequia is 70 miles or so depending on how far we have sail off the direct line and whether
we will need to tack or not. We should get into Bequia tomorrow morning so I will have my first night
watch since coming back on board.
More later…
My night watch was very busy. We wore ship just after we went on watch. I was on helm which was
interesting. Then about an hour later the wind shifted such that we couldn’t keep our course to Bequia so
we ended up motoring in.
We arrived at 10:30 this morning and dropped our anchor amongst a ton of yachts. This is a very popular
place apparently. I’ll let you know how it goes
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Posted in On Watch | No Comments »
Sunday, March 15, 2015
A long day! Sunday Mar 15,09
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009
It was an all hands wakeup at 5:30 this morning!
We were aloft loosing the topsails and courses and then onto the windlass by 6:00am.
We heaved up the anchor, sailed off the hook and are sailing towards Grenada under all squar sails but the
main sail. Our watch had the deck for the first watch. I had helm for an hour and it was really tricky
steering as we are going directly downwind.
They expect us to be arriving in Grenada around 2:00pm. Then, IF all goes according to plan, we will load
the lumber and head out to Bequia on an overnight sail arriving sometime tomorrow morning.
This is going to be a very long day.
More later…
It’s later and it has indeed been a very long day.
The bad side of the day was losing my glasses overboard when I was up on the yard working to furl and
gasket up the sails as we came into St Georges. The footrope from the upper topsail yard swept them off
my head as I was trying to duck under another line. I even had a safety strap on them. Oddly enough I
didn’t notice they were gone until I got back on deck. It’s a good thing I have a spare set even if they
aren’t trifocals :-)
Once we were anchored at St Georges I went ashore with a gang to get the the lumber ready to be towed
out to the ship. This was two very large slabs of wood each one 20′ long 18″ wide and 1′ thick weighing
nearly two tons each!
It was probably a lot like loading an 18 pounder onto frigate, except we only had to move two not 24 :-)
Once we had them at the ship it took nearly two hours and a lot of work with tackles, blocks and the
capstan. Once safely laying on the deck we had to drag one back into the breezeway where it will be lashed down. The other one is currently lying just forward of it and I think we will get to move it in the
morning.
We are staying here at St Georges over night and will sail for Bequia tomorrow after we get everything
shipshape again.
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Here are some pictures of Tyrrel Bay and the massive chunks of wood alongside.
Posted in On Watch | 2 Comments »
It was an all hands wakeup at 5:30 this morning!
We were aloft loosing the topsails and courses and then onto the windlass by 6:00am.
We heaved up the anchor, sailed off the hook and are sailing towards Grenada under all squar sails but the
main sail. Our watch had the deck for the first watch. I had helm for an hour and it was really tricky
steering as we are going directly downwind.
They expect us to be arriving in Grenada around 2:00pm. Then, IF all goes according to plan, we will load
the lumber and head out to Bequia on an overnight sail arriving sometime tomorrow morning.
This is going to be a very long day.
More later…
It’s later and it has indeed been a very long day.
The bad side of the day was losing my glasses overboard when I was up on the yard working to furl and
gasket up the sails as we came into St Georges. The footrope from the upper topsail yard swept them off
my head as I was trying to duck under another line. I even had a safety strap on them. Oddly enough I
didn’t notice they were gone until I got back on deck. It’s a good thing I have a spare set even if they
aren’t trifocals :-)
Once we were anchored at St Georges I went ashore with a gang to get the the lumber ready to be towed
out to the ship. This was two very large slabs of wood each one 20′ long 18″ wide and 1′ thick weighing
nearly two tons each!
It was probably a lot like loading an 18 pounder onto frigate, except we only had to move two not 24 :-)
Once we had them at the ship it took nearly two hours and a lot of work with tackles, blocks and the
capstan. Once safely laying on the deck we had to drag one back into the breezeway where it will be lashed down. The other one is currently lying just forward of it and I think we will get to move it in the
morning.
We are staying here at St Georges over night and will sail for Bequia tomorrow after we get everything
shipshape again.
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Here are some pictures of Tyrrel Bay and the massive chunks of wood alongside.
Posted in On Watch | 2 Comments »
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Hanging out on Carriacou Mar 12-14,09
Saturday, March 14th, 2009
Have had a nice couple of days ashore on Carriacou.
This morning we up anchored and sailed off the hook at Paradise Beach and sailed around the coast to
Tyrell Bay on the other side of Carriacou. This anchorage is more sheltered and we will be here till
tomorrow morning.
We are waiting for some of the crew to return from Grenada where there has been a lumber expedition in
progress. They are getting some specific hardwood to be used for a new schooner. They will get the logs
shipped on an inter island freighter to Tyrell bay so we could load it on the ship to take back.
Yesterday was pretty relaxing, I spent it on the Internet and hanging out at the Hardwood on Paradise
beach.
I’m currently in a great little bar/cafe right on the waterfront which has free WIFI so I’m good for the
afternoon :-)
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Posted in Ashore, On Watch | No Comments »
Have had a nice couple of days ashore on Carriacou.
This morning we up anchored and sailed off the hook at Paradise Beach and sailed around the coast to
Tyrell Bay on the other side of Carriacou. This anchorage is more sheltered and we will be here till
tomorrow morning.
We are waiting for some of the crew to return from Grenada where there has been a lumber expedition in
progress. They are getting some specific hardwood to be used for a new schooner. They will get the logs
shipped on an inter island freighter to Tyrell bay so we could load it on the ship to take back.
Yesterday was pretty relaxing, I spent it on the Internet and hanging out at the Hardwood on Paradise
beach.
I’m currently in a great little bar/cafe right on the waterfront which has free WIFI so I’m good for the
afternoon :-)
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Posted in Ashore, On Watch | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Sailing to Carriacou Wed Mar 11,09
Friday, March 13th, 2009
We sailed off the hook this morning which was a fine bit of coordination IMHO.
The anchorage is surrounded by reefs with a relatively narrow entrance passage. The ship was head to
wind and the wind was coming in from the NE directly towards the entrance. So we had to spin the ship
around inside the anchorage using the sails once the anchor was off the bottom. It went without a hitch
and pretty smoothly. I was on the fo'c'sle head assisting with catting the anchor as we set all our sails
except the gaff topsail.
Very cool!
I understand that we will be doing a tacking exercise which should be very interesting as we have not
tacked the ship since I have been aboard. This will get us back into seaman mode in a big way. as you can
imagine it’s important to put aside “beachcomber mode” as quickly as possible when we get under way
More later…
The tack went pretty well. Tacking a square rigger is much more complicated than tacking any fore and aft
rigged vessels as bringing the wind across the bows will throw the square sails aback which puts a lot of
strain on the masts. Also unlike a fore and aft rigged vessel if you “miss stays”, ie stall out going into the
wind without enough way on to get across, the ship will start to go backwards which can damage the
rudder and steering gear.
The key to a successful tack in a square rigger is timing, all the steps must be done briskly and in the right
order to make everything work. My station was on the fo'c'sle head to help bringing the jibs across to the
other side.
The procedure for doing the tack is fairly simple really but it takes coordination. First the head sail sheets
are cast off allowing them to flog, this removes their resistance to the turn. Then the helm is put over and
the spanker sheeted to windward to help the ship turn up into the wind. Then the order to “raise tacks and
sheets” is given. This means to pull the mainsail halfway up to the yard. Next the order to “mainsail haul”
is given and the main mast yards are braced around to the new tack. The timing on this is tricky as it has
to be done just as the ship comes across the wind but before all the sails on the mainmast come aback.
When done right the order is given just as the windward side comes aback and the leeward side is still
blanketed by the sails on the fore mast, this helps the yards come around faster. Apparently if the whole
mast goes aback it can be very difficult to swing the yards around. Once the main mast yards are set the
order to “let go and haul” is given and the yards on the foremast are swung around onto the new tack.
Then the head sails are passed and sheeted home on the new tack. The main sail is reset and we are away!
With the whole crew on deck we did it pretty well and had no trouble. We never got close to “missing
stays”. Very cool.
Being on the focsle head when the jibs are flogging is a awesome but frightening thing. Each sheet has a
block on it that flings around madly, hence the reason they are know as widow makers, plus the sails make
a deep low frequency booming that rattles my whole body. It takes a lot of force to pull the sheets across
to get them set on the new tack as well.
The whole procedure takes only a few minutes or so when done right but if you miss stays it could be a lot
longer process.
I case you’re interested, the alternative to tacking is to “wear ship” which is to turn keeping the wind
behind the sails. This is much easier because it is only necessary to brace the yards around as she turns. It
takes much more sea room however and puts the ship farther to leeward of where she started the turn so is
not a good option if in a narrow channel or where loosing ground to leeward isn’t an option.
We have done that maneuver, wearing, several times while I have been aboard but this was the first tack.
We arrived back at Carriacou around 3:30 or so and anchored off of paradise beach as the anchorage at
Hillsborough still had too big a swell running.
My watch mates and I jumped on the first shore going skiff. One of the new trainees and I walked into
Hillsburough to get some money and then spent the evening on the beach at a great little bar/restaurant
called the Hardwood. They have “dangerously yummy” rum punches there :-) It was a fabulous evening
under a bright full moon on a magnificent beach.
Ahhhh… Paradise Beach indeed!
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Posted in Ashore, On Watch | No Comments »
We sailed off the hook this morning which was a fine bit of coordination IMHO.
The anchorage is surrounded by reefs with a relatively narrow entrance passage. The ship was head to
wind and the wind was coming in from the NE directly towards the entrance. So we had to spin the ship
around inside the anchorage using the sails once the anchor was off the bottom. It went without a hitch
and pretty smoothly. I was on the fo'c'sle head assisting with catting the anchor as we set all our sails
except the gaff topsail.
Very cool!
I understand that we will be doing a tacking exercise which should be very interesting as we have not
tacked the ship since I have been aboard. This will get us back into seaman mode in a big way. as you can
imagine it’s important to put aside “beachcomber mode” as quickly as possible when we get under way
More later…
The tack went pretty well. Tacking a square rigger is much more complicated than tacking any fore and aft
rigged vessels as bringing the wind across the bows will throw the square sails aback which puts a lot of
strain on the masts. Also unlike a fore and aft rigged vessel if you “miss stays”, ie stall out going into the
wind without enough way on to get across, the ship will start to go backwards which can damage the
rudder and steering gear.
The key to a successful tack in a square rigger is timing, all the steps must be done briskly and in the right
order to make everything work. My station was on the fo'c'sle head to help bringing the jibs across to the
other side.
The procedure for doing the tack is fairly simple really but it takes coordination. First the head sail sheets
are cast off allowing them to flog, this removes their resistance to the turn. Then the helm is put over and
the spanker sheeted to windward to help the ship turn up into the wind. Then the order to “raise tacks and
sheets” is given. This means to pull the mainsail halfway up to the yard. Next the order to “mainsail haul”
is given and the main mast yards are braced around to the new tack. The timing on this is tricky as it has
to be done just as the ship comes across the wind but before all the sails on the mainmast come aback.
When done right the order is given just as the windward side comes aback and the leeward side is still
blanketed by the sails on the fore mast, this helps the yards come around faster. Apparently if the whole
mast goes aback it can be very difficult to swing the yards around. Once the main mast yards are set the
order to “let go and haul” is given and the yards on the foremast are swung around onto the new tack.
Then the head sails are passed and sheeted home on the new tack. The main sail is reset and we are away!
With the whole crew on deck we did it pretty well and had no trouble. We never got close to “missing
stays”. Very cool.
Being on the focsle head when the jibs are flogging is a awesome but frightening thing. Each sheet has a
block on it that flings around madly, hence the reason they are know as widow makers, plus the sails make
a deep low frequency booming that rattles my whole body. It takes a lot of force to pull the sheets across
to get them set on the new tack as well.
The whole procedure takes only a few minutes or so when done right but if you miss stays it could be a lot
longer process.
I case you’re interested, the alternative to tacking is to “wear ship” which is to turn keeping the wind
behind the sails. This is much easier because it is only necessary to brace the yards around as she turns. It
takes much more sea room however and puts the ship farther to leeward of where she started the turn so is
not a good option if in a narrow channel or where loosing ground to leeward isn’t an option.
We have done that maneuver, wearing, several times while I have been aboard but this was the first tack.
We arrived back at Carriacou around 3:30 or so and anchored off of paradise beach as the anchorage at
Hillsborough still had too big a swell running.
My watch mates and I jumped on the first shore going skiff. One of the new trainees and I walked into
Hillsburough to get some money and then spent the evening on the beach at a great little bar/restaurant
called the Hardwood. They have “dangerously yummy” rum punches there :-) It was a fabulous evening
under a bright full moon on a magnificent beach.
Ahhhh… Paradise Beach indeed!
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Posted in Ashore, On Watch | No Comments »
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