The first time I pounded wedges to "lift the ship," it was before dawn in a drizzling cold spring rain back in the mid eighties of the 20th century. Rain was dripp[ng off the massive hull of a frigate and the crews that were assembled from midship aft were spared this bone chilling nuisance. Brett, if it's raining on the June 23, 2001, get a site aft under the hull. You will also experience the shear weight of the vessel if you are under it and it seems dangerous and even more exciting. The comaraderie you feel with all your fellow workers focused on one simple yet colosal task is exhilerating! The vollies are short, but seem endless as we strike the ramming irons in unison against the wedges along both sides of the hull to bring her up even. The rest periods always seem a bit short, but adrenalin is in the air and you just feel like getting the job done. No other task in the shipyard makes the workers from all the trades feel as proud as "lifting the ship" for launch.

wdyat12