Learned to sail the "OLD FASION WAY"

[Patrick S/V Shangra-La]

Just sitting here wondering how many of us learned the old fasion way to sail.I spent several years on the Tall Ship Bounty, as the medic and an able-body seaman. We volunteers either did maintenance on the boat, gave tours, or a number of other duties when the boat was in St. Petersburg, Fla, or Fall River Mass. We were trained to sail the boat, then for every 4 hours of volunteer time we earned an hour of sea time. We would do day sails and short trips around here. When it was time to move the Bounty from one port to the next we were offered the chance to go with the boat then fly back home.Learning the old fassion way was quite an experience. Every thing on the boat was as it was 250 years ago. It's quite a good feeling, when going on a ship like the USS Constitution, to know exactly what it takes to sail it.I'd like to hear from more of you what experience you have with "big sailing ships" schooners, full rig ships, and wind jammers, and brigs.

 

[Paul Akers]

Never Sailed on her, But...

...saw her many times when she was in Fall River. I kept my Hunter in Portsmouth, RI and used to cross paths with the Bounty when I crossed Mt. Hope Bay bound for an anchorage on the Kikimuet River (Kicky). The bounty recently finished a rehab stint in a Boothbay Harbor (Maine) boat yard before heading transatlantic to Europe. I saw her in Portland, ME harbor a few years ago before she returned back to Maine for a long refurbishment. She had lots of visitors during that stop.

 

[Paul Akers]

USS Forrestall (CVA-59)?

I worked with her in the Med in 1971, the year I got out if the Navy. I was on a refrigerated cargo ship and replenished her once. She is now in mothballs at a slip at the old Naval Base in Newport, RI. I see her frequently when I'm on the bay, sailing. She currently sits right beside the old USS America (CVA-66) which was stationed in Norfolk, VA when I was there. I saw the Forrestall in the Portsmouth, VA shipyard, when my ship was there, and the Forrestall was being worked on after her drastic, on-board fire in Vietnam, I think it was.

 

[higgs]

Old fashion way

When I started sailing I was a kid on my dad's Flying Scot. I did not really get involved until my early twenties, however, on my dad's O'Day Widgeon - an 18 footer. From there I went to a 22, then a 24, a 32, and now a 34. Now days many buy a 34 as a starter boat.

 

[Deadhead]

USCGC Eagle

Summer training cruises on the Barque Eagle at the United States Coast Guard Academy included a 1 week stint during 4th class (swab) summer and a 6 or 12 week stint during 3rd class summer. We did haul lines. And scrape. And paint. And learn celestial navigation. And furl the Royal sail in serious (50+ mph) winds and heavy seas.I first saw the Eagle during the 1976 bicentennial Operation Sail in New York. 2 years later I transited the Panama Canal while aboard her. Sailing the Eagle was definitely the highlight of my stint at the Coast Guard Academy.

 

[Rick Webb]

Deadhead

What year did you graduate from the Academy?

 

[Deadhead]

USCGA

I did not graduate from the Coast Guard Academy. I was a member of the class of '81, but ended up resigning. I liked the boat thing, just not marching to it.I took my credits and ultimately graduated from Rutgers University - College of Engineering. I went from studying Ocean Engineering to a BS in Agricultural Engineering. (LOL)

 

[Rick Webb]

Deadhead, I Dated a Girl from Your Class or the one Just Before

I was attending the University of Hawaii when I met her. I probably did not do the best I could have in her regard. Guess I needed to grow up more or learn more maybe both. I think my wife would say I did, at least she has not told me any different in the last twenty two years.Are you in north or south Jersey? My wife is from Carlstadt just a few miles from Riverside in North Jersey.

 

[Deadhead]

Rick - I may have known her . . .

. . . because there were not a lot of girls at the Academy at that time. Class of '79 was proud that they were the LCWB (Last Class W/ B*lls). Class of '80 had a few girls, and our class had maybe a dozen. Do you remember her name?Riverside, NJ is in Burlington County about 11 river miles up the Delaware from Philadelphia at the confluence with the Rancocas Creek. Up in north Jersey near Carlstadt in Bergen County there are River Edge Boro and River Vale Township. New Jersey is not very original when it comes to town names. I am aware of 4 different Washington Townships!I actually live in Bethlehem, PA. I work near Flemington in Hunterdon County, NJ. My girlfriend lives in Atco (Camden County), NJ and works in Philly. The boat is central to just about everywhere in my world, and my own private Idaho in the middle of it all.Enough geography.

 

[Rick Webb]

Louise

I'll send you an emailHer wetting down for JG was in 83 so she must have been an 81 gradThere is a Riverside just north of Patterson. You live in Pennsyvainia and work in New Jersey and your girlfreind Lives in New Jersey and works in Pennsylvainia sounds like you spend alot of time in the car.