Yes, Nelsons patent boarding ladder was not something that could be repeated intentionally, but as Naemason is well on the way with details I won't spoil it with a summary.

Gervase you're not Australian are you? ;-)

which reminds me, although this amy have more relevance to the current crop of "list" threads, one of the reasons given for ships being female is that the rigging is worth a lot more than the hull!

At which point I'll slip and get under way before the first whiff of grape comes in!

Pete M