BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat

Subject: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Willie-O
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 05:27 PM

It's another grey and rolling day at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy, where the old but serviceable schooner "Mudcat", out of Saint John, bound down the Eastern Seaboard for warmer parts. The South Head of Grand Manan Island is barely visible as she slides down the troughs, heading into international waters. The crew is international too, and the lucky ones are hunkered down in the fo'csle with a bit of hard tack and grog. One is a retired boatbuilder looking for a change of pace, another a veteran of some U.S. marine agency or another--cain't quite say, but he goes by the name of Kendall, knows his way around the Maine coastal waters. Some are grizzled ancient mariners unknown to me, but they look handy with a marlin spike or a tankard.

And me? Just a New Brunswick farm boy, tired of seeing the south end of a cow goin north, don't care to go to the lumber camps again this winter. Met a fellow down by the wharf in Saint John, Mr West, told him I never had been to sea, he shows me a trick or two with a rope and a cowhorn, next thing I know byes I'm outward bound, scrubbing everything in sight, decks, pots, rails, you name it.

Sure hope these oldtimers will help me get my sea legs, show me and the other landlubbers how to get by. I've read too many books about seafarin...oh jaysus, don't think I should have had the beef stew an hour ago.....

....half an hour later, one of the old fellas tamps his pipe and looks ready to begin telling a tale of his younger days...

Us young rookies are hangin' on his every word, wishing we were as wise in the ways of the world...

....

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: kendall
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 05:49 PM

What the matter boy? you call this rough? Why I remember my first trip to sea aboard the old cutter COOS BAY. We were up in the Davis Straights in January looking for ice burgs and sending back weather reports. Man, it was cold..so cold none of the thermometers would work, so, I set a bucket of boiling water out on the quarter deck, and, it was so cold, that water froze so quick, that the water was still warm!

Rough? I'll say it was rough.. number 9 sea it was, everything covered in ice. Even the Captain was out pounding ice. Guess he figured if she turned turtle, he'd go down too. But, rough.. she listed over so far that we had to lower a life boat to get a man out of the crows nest!

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Caitrin
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 06:50 PM

Any room for passengers about the Mudcat? I'm afraid I don't know much about seafaring, but I'm willing to learn whatever someone's willing to teach me.

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Mbo
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 07:07 PM

Call me Mbo. I'm just a wanderer who has come aboard to seek his fortune on the waves. I've never been on a ship before (except the U.S.S. North Carolina) and it seems I have a lot to learn. I've read a lot of sea stories, so I should know my starboard from my abaft (um...not really...) Pass the salt pork? Anyone up for a round of "Away Rio"?

--Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Willie-O
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 07:20 PM

Lead off, lad.

Kendall, wish I had me a bucket of that frozen warm water now...ta warm up the soles of my feet.

Now like I told ya, I don't know from seafarin...hell I never been more than ten acres from de shore before.

Fact is, there's a girl in Saint John who's kind of in a marryin' way...an interesting condition ya might say. I didn't think that was fur me, but now I'm gettin' downright sentimental about her. Don't think the skipper would turn her around on my account, though, so I'm in fer this trip anyway.

Wish I'd been a better person...listened to what me mother said...

Well no I don't know what she said...I told you, I wasn't listening!

Rio, then.

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Micca
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 07:25 PM

If you want a serious insight into what its like to join a ships company cold and have to fit in with your "Board of Trade companions" read the beginning chapters of Joseph Conrads "The nigger in the Narcissus" all the ex-seamen that I have ever shown in to have agreed that tho' times have changed Conrad got the feel of joining and fitting in to a ship just about perfect. Apart from that since its cold on deck try this, I learned it from a guy who was on the Murmansk run in the war, Take a "7 beller" that is a pint mug (British pint 20 fluid oz.)Put 2 dessertspoons of Cocoa powder and 2 dessertspoons of condensed milk in and mix to a smooth paste, add boiling water to about 1+1/2 to 2 inches from the top and stir carefully until it is all mixed and smooth, then add an inch of good Navy Rum to the top and stir in carefully. Drink, stirring it ocassionally, before it sets. It is one of the best "Winter Warmers" in the book it is especially good when you come off duty.

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Mbo
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 07:28 PM

Was you ever in Rio Grande?
Awayyyyyyyy RIO!
It's there the river flows down golden sand
And we're bound for the Rio Grande!

Then away, boys, away
Awayyyyyyyy RIO!
So fare thee well, my pretty young girl
For we're bound for the Rio Grande...

--Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Willie-O
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 08:12 PM

The anchor is weighed and the sails they are set
Awayyyyyyyyyy RIO!
The girls that we're leavin, we'll never forget
And we're bound for the Rio Grande.

Good one MBO. Guess I'll make it through the trip.

Why Caitrin lass, o course you're welcome on board this unlikely vessel. Fraid you'll have to put on men's clothing--its kinda traditional. More convenient too. Then I'll tell you all about the extensive training I had before I shipped out--at the end of the song, you'll know at least as much as me and have the advantage of not having forgotten most of it yet...

Oh as I went a walkin down Ratcliffe highway,
I stepped into Paddy West's house
He gave me a feed of American hash, and he called it English scouse
Sayin "Cheer up, me hearty, for you are just in toime,
Now put your name down on the line, and quickly you will sign"

Put on your dungaree jackets,
And we'll give the boys a rest
And we'll think of the cold nor'westers
That we had at Paddy West's.

I told him I never had been to sea
Nor ever had seen Cape Horn.
He says "When you leaves me house, me lad
You're a sailor from the day you was born."
He laid down a rope on the kitchen floor
And likewise an old cow horn
When I stepped out the door, sure I'd crossed the Line
And been three times round the horn.

Put on your dungaree jackets,
And we'll give the boys a rest
And we'll think of the cold nor'westers
That we had at Paddy West's.

When I went down to Paddy West's house
The wind began to blow
Oh he sent me up in the garret
The main royal for to stow.
When I got up in the garret,
No main royal could I find,
So I turned around to the window
And I furled the window blind.

Now it's Paddy he piped all hands on deck,
Their stations for to man
His wife stood in the kitchen
With a bucket of water in hand
The wife let go the bucket
And the water landed on me
Says Paddy, "Clew up the tops'l, byes,
She's takin' in the sea!"

Put on your dungaree jackets,
And we'll give the boys a rest
And we'll think of the cold nor'westers
That we had at Paddy West's.

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Marymac90
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 08:31 PM

Aside to Micca, and totally off the subject-sorry, folks

Micca, that's almost exactly how we made cocoa when I was a child, living with my grandparents. Oh, we didn't use the rum, of course, and instead of condensed milk we used evaporated, but otherwise it's the same. Most all US-ers just put cocoa in the cup and add boiling water. The cocoa we get here is sweetened, and has dry milk in it.

I think my family did things in a British or Irish way, without even knowing that they were. Thanks for sharing that with us.

Mary McCaffrey

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: kendall
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 08:48 PM

Aye lad, I made a mis speak before..what I meant to say was the water froze so quick that the ICE was still warm.Now, thats cold I'll be bound.

One of the first things you need to learn is that a sheet is not a sail..it is a line, they are used to trim the sails. A halyard is a line that is used to raise and lower the sails. There are only 2 ropes on a sailing vessel... the tiller rope, and, the bell rope. All the rest have other names. Oh, and one more thing lad, never whistle.. that is the exclusive right of the Captain and the Bos'ns Mate. Now, into the futtock shrouds we ye, and SEE IF YOU SEE ANY LAND!! sorry, couldnt resist.

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Willie-O
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 09:01 PM

It's bad form to whistle in jail, too. A guy I used to work for hired a biker, ex-con for a short period...on his third day, Scott found him trying to choke the life out of another guy on the crew. They were separated, and the guy's only explanation was "He was whistling. I asked him once to stop."

OK I'll bite. What are the futtock shrouds?

Bill C

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 09:12 PM

Well you could have have blown me down in an "Irish hurricane" when I saw this tight little ship in the bay of Fundy. You guys really know how to get a landlocked sailor, who swallowed the anchor 13 years ago all misty eyed. I couldn't ask for a better crew to sail with. If ye would all sing "Donkey Riding" it would make this old Lancashire sailor very happy. Were you ever in Quebec stowing timber on the deck? Come have a pint at Paddy west's and we will all get our A/B's Certificates. And for those of you who may need it the Rescue Coordination Centre Halifax is 1-800-565-1582 Cheers, Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Willie-O
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 09:37 PM

Aye, lad--an 800 number ye say! That's enough to gladden a Scottish skipper's heart. Useful indeed.

Were you ever in Miramichi?
Bonnie Laddie, hieland laddie
Where ye make fast to a tree
Bonnie Hieland Laddie

Were you ever in Mobile Bay
Bonnie Laddie, Hieland laddie
Screwing cotton by the day? Bonnie Hieland laddie...

I knew we'd see the ancient mariners dropping by, just a matter of time. Now spin us a yarn of your days before the mast (I hear it's a recent invention)

Willie-o

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Mbo
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 09:38 PM

Good one, Willie-O mate! I'd been playing Paddy West since I first started playing me guitar, and recently found it was the same tune as "The Wind That Shakes The Corn." Great 2 chord song. I have me guitar in my lap right, now, and was singing it. I can't hear you very well in this wind, but I'm sure we were all singing together! BTW, Cap'n Kendall, who's the figurehead of? And can we kiss it? (a little Shakespeare joke...sort of)HO HA HO! Want to do the Irish Rover next?

In the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and six
We set sail from the coal cay of Cork
We were bound far away with a cargo of bricks
For the fine city hall of New York

She was an elegant craft, she was rigged fore and aft
And oh! how the tradewinds blew her
She had twenty-four masts, and withstood several blasts
And we called her "The Irish Rover."

There was Willie-O, Hey!
Up from New Brunswick way
And young Caitrin from North Caroline
There was Micca, our cook
Who read many a book
And Dave, no stranger to brine.

There was Mbo, young lad
Who played guitar like mad
And Mary, who's cocoa's where it's at
And Kendall, good man
It was he in command--
Our skipper on the schooner Mudcat!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 10:11 PM

Hi y'all-

Is there any interest here in a possible Mudcat cruise?
Real! NOT virtual! There are some marvelous charterable
schooners available, and a 4 or 5-day cruise
for one person runs about three hundred bucks or so
including everything.

If 30-40 mudcatters are interested, we can improve significantly on that.
Plus you can haul up sails, singing chanties.

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Dave Swan
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 10:20 PM

Dick,

What a great idea. If there's a way to get there we'll give it a shot. Dave & Pam

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 10:34 PM

I hear me old matey Fred Smithers of Secunda Marine in Dartmouth has a grand one for charter. (S.S.Highlander Sea) but I'm afraid I haven't kept enough pieces of eight in me sea chest for a charter though! Champagne taste and draft beer income you know boys (and girls) Ye canny kiss the figurehead (until at least a month at sea) but you would have to ask a guy who carves them why. Try Gary Brown in ketch Harbour or the Maritime Museum for info. As for me old yarns boys (and girls) When I shipped out with Noah........... but those bloody Norsemen were hard to deal with..... After teaching navigation to St. Brendan I...... Nelson my son let me tell you....... Steam will come and go, but sails are forever...containers are the future boys..... Ah but you have heard them all before. Why don't you join me at the Seamans Mission in Halifax on Christmas day and we can celebrate Christmas with some Cubans who make $14 a month.

And now me lads be of good cheer, for the Irish coast will soon draw near, and we chart a course for old Cape Clear, Oh Jennie get your oat cakes done. whip jamboree whip jamboree......

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: kendall
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 11:01 PM

a real cruise sounds like a capital idea, if I can bring my guitar and cat-o-nine tails !!
The futtock shrouds ..the masts of the big ships were in two, sometimes 3 pieces, but, lets take the ones with one extension. At the top of the first mast, where it joins the extension, there is a small platform with a hole in it which a seaman had to climb through. It was there that he had to grab the futtock shrouds to continue up the mast extension. A shroud is the "ropes" which ran from the dead eyes to the top of the mast. There were usually four of them, side by side. Running horizontally like steps of a ladder were the "rat lines" the men would grab the shrouds and step on the rat lines. The main job of the shrouds was to keep the masts in line. Lets not get too technical.. it could be boring

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Caitrin
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 11:15 PM

Men's clothing's alright. I can't imagine trying to do anything on a ship in my medieval lady gear from the last incarnation of this thread. I'll go fetch my dungaree jackets.

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: kendall
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 11:21 PM

.. we'll sell all our salt cod mollasses and rum..way to rio
And be back again 'fore thanksgiving has come
And we're bound for the rio grande

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: DonMeixner
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 11:47 PM

I think a split rig is a good choice for this hear ship. I'm partial to a ketch for a shorter boat. Easier to single hand I think. Kendall has the real experience here with these sailer types.

A bout twenty years ago I built a 38' eastern rig shrimper to be used as a research boat off Sea Brook NH for the power co. Normandeau and Assoc. christened her The Seneca and they took delivery in Baldwinsville were the boat was built. The Skipper wanted a sea trial of sorts before he took her home but where he wondered in march in the middle of NY State could he get a decent try out of the little ship. We said Lake Ontario and he laughed at the notion of a lake holding any juice that would adequately trial the boat. We took her out of the canal and into the harbor and said "OK Scott, theres the Lake , it your boat." It had been blowing twenty from the west all night and the lake was building. The harbor mouth opened into a western exposure and the second she left the soft side of the sea wall we hit 14' with 100' between the peaks. The bottom of Mexico Bay is very shallow and the water builds quick there. Scott saw all ne needed of of Lake Ontario in less than 15 minutes. He surfed the boat into the harbor and we retired to the Music Hall for Coffee and Whiskey. Bringing a smallish boat about in those conditions wasn't the safest as Kendall will tell you and had we had to go more than 1000 yards with that kind of following sea I'd wonder about our returning.

Any body who says the Great Lakes ain't much has never seen them nasty.

Don

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: kendall
Date: 19 Dec 99 - 11:55 PM

the great laKES are far worse than the Atlantic for rough weather (ask the E. Fitzgerald) on top of that, the water is fresh, so, less buoyancy. Thats why we use Plimsol marks

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 01:39 AM

Me bully boys of Liverpool I'd have you to beware, if your sailing a packet ship no dungaree jumper wear, but have a big monkey jacket all ready to your hand, for there blows some cold norwesters on the banks of Newfoundland.

We'll scrape her and we'll scrub her with holy stone and sand, for there blows some cold norwesters on the banks of Newfoundland.

All you "sweet water" sailors on the lakes have never seen really rough weather.. The Edmund Fitzgerald struck bottom on Caribou island shoal, then broke up later before she got to sheltered waters past Whitefish point I spoke to someone on the ship behind her nothing would convince him other. Yours Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Marymac90
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 01:52 AM

Mbo, thanks for including me in your song-I feel like a real mudcatter now.

Dick, let me know when the cruise will be, and if I'm solvent, I'll sign on. We won't HAVE to climb the rigging, will we? The young lads (and lasses in men's clothes) can do that sort of stuff, right?

I grew up near Lake Ontario, (that was THE BEACH to me till I was 26-never saw the ocean till then) and know what they say about it is true. We were always warned to watch out for the undertow. Think Stan Rogers' song White Squall for an idea of it.

Nautically yours,

Mary McCaffrey

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: catspaw49
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 01:53 AM

As a Lakes sailor with a lot of Atlantic racing time too....I assure you that the Lakes can be trecherous in the extreme. The WORST experience I ever had was just outside Sandusky Bay on Erie....knocked down 3 times, bare poles. Unbelievable.

Sign me up for the "cruise."

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 02:21 AM

Aye, any body of water can be dangerous. Lake Erie is so damned shallow your keel probably struck a sand bar, and threw you over. When your Christmas dinner is rolling on the galley deck, you just don't care if its fresh or salt water that did it; you ain't going to eat turkey or pudding thats all. Only jerking ya lanyards mates have a safe watch on yer voyage. S.S. Mudcat (middle watch)vessel moving easily in fine weather, wind SSW 10 knots shipping green seas over both masts in dense horizon haze. Visibility zero in the dark. lights are bright and the Lamptrimmer just turned in for the night. two lookouts posted f'rd TTFN

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Roger the skiffler
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 04:51 AM

When I came aboard the crew shouted "It's Jolly Roger" and ran me up the signal halliard, NOT very funny, maties.
If you're not careful I'll tell you the tale of how I once nearly rammed the royal yacht Britannia in Portsmouth harbour, probably a hanging offence in those days.
What about a quick chorus of the Sloop John B: "The stewardess she got stewed, ran round the deck in the nude...."

SPLASH!
Man overboard
RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Micca
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 05:55 AM

Mbo, I NEVER shipped as a cook, being a certificated Able Seaman, but I could have done a better job than some I sailed with. BTW on British ships why is the cook always called Doc regardless of his name? one I sailed with panicked when HM customs came on board again unexpectedly and tipped 2 bottles of smuggled rum into the only place of concealment to hand, a pot of Tomato soup, it was the must repulsively alcoholic starter for lunch ever.

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 07:17 AM

Really rhe first thing to learn Starboard (pr star'bd)(right hand side of the ship facing towards the bow) derived from steering board side of the ship that the steering oar or board was lashed or attached, (green light side)
Port, (left hand side of the ship facing towards the bow) the side of the boat which was presentrd to the pier, wharf, quay, dock or "port"(because the steering board was in the way)(Red light side)
Remembered by:There is a little "red""port" left.
Second thing to learn.
Bow,pointy bit at the front. Stern, opposite end to the bow. (Can sometimes be pointy too). Regards Ted who spent some not inconsiderable time racing and cruising on the east coast of Oz.

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Willie-O
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 08:45 AM

Hey, Spaw's back! And just in toime....

My booklearning informed me that Lake Erie has the worst most dangerous storms of all the Great Lakes _because_ it is so shallow.

Roger it's yer own damn fault for wearing those black and white tights aboard--this ain't a castle hall ya know.

Whoa! A real cruise...now there's a plan. Great suggestion Dick!

I have some limited experience with inland puddle sailing... a number of years ago I bought a used 12' plywood replica (o.k. interpretation) "skipjack", with somewhat flimsy running gear. As in, 10 mil clear plastic sail secured with duct tape and (might as well have been) curtain hooks to an aluminum mast that It had been built by an aged West Quebec Anglo, with no trailer but a cart so he could wheel it down the street by hand to the local yacht club on the River Ottawa. I think he must have been Scottish, because when he discovered it would cost him about $50 a year for launching and landing privileges, he promptly put the boat up for sale. I was the third owner, took it out on Dalhousie Lake, all of about three miles long, with a neighbour friend who had some sailing experience. The east end of the lake is narrow, shallow and weedy and the wind is from the west. We tacked and tacked and tacked till we finally cleared the point, got into the lake proper and caught a real breeze. The photographic image of what occurred is only in my mind but remains exceedingly clear. The sail came unhooked from the bottom of the mast and flew straight out like a pennant...which caused a very rapid capsize, propelling my 250-pound mate over the gunwale like a large cannonball, with his glasses leading the way...we recovered the glasses, and a waterlogged copy of "How To Sail"...so much for book larnin'. (We re-rigged the boat with a smaller, real sail and mast, and only sailed it from the other end of the lake after that.)

So Cap'n Kendall, where be the best charters? (Talking next year here...) Maine coast?

And what's that strange shape on the horizon? Can't be a full-dressed ship in this weather, can it?

Willie-o

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Dani
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 09:35 AM

Are you serious, Dick? This sounds like a dream.. The kind you stuff money in jar to pay for. Should I start looking for a jar?!

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Caitrin
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 09:51 AM

Well, the only thing I've ever sailed is a Sunfish in the Bogue Sound in perfectly warm and sunny weather. It was fun, though! :)

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Peter T.
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 10:38 AM

I sailed brigantines on Lake Ontario, and never want to do that again. The ocean sounds nice though.....
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: kendall
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 11:16 AM

I know of no schooners for charter, but, in Camden and Rockland there are schooners that take a gang out for a week. The crew do all the sailing, and the passengers can help if they wish. Wouldnt it be great if the whole passenger list was nothing but Mudcats? If you want to do that, save your dubloons..last I knew it was $500.00 all inclusive. (lobster feed and all)

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Mbo
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 11:30 AM

Oooh, Bogue Banks is not a good place to sail. Sand is building up on the bottom, and even very small craft are running aground. There's a multi-million dollar project in the works to dredge to bottom to make it deeper. Only thing is, it's all going to be back again in 5 years. I once build a model of the U.S.S. Arizona--how does that put me in the standings? Anyone want to the next verses of the Irish Rover?

--Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Willie-O
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 11:41 AM

I don't think anyone in their right minds would charter a schooner to us bareboat (sail it yerself) even with a few experienced sailors among us. But I'm curious where Dick has a $300 figure from, (For me, $300 US is $500, and $500 is $750...) and likely we'd get more folks signed on for a shorter trip.

Bill

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Big Mick
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 11:56 AM

I would be very interested in this one Dick.

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: InOBU
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 01:34 PM

The guestion, Willie O - what are futtock strouds, you ask...
Having sailed on a few square riggers, first when I was about sixteen... As you go aloft, when you reach the top (a wee platform at the first third of a mast)the platform is held in place by shrouds with ratlines on them, and you hang backwards as you climb overthem, something you reamember not fondly from your first time aloft, as well as the fact that the higher you go, the more overall movement there is, and the closer together the shrouds are, and if you are a teenager, and as a result the lightest guy on the footropes, so the spar is around the level of your shins while it is at everyone elses waist, well, you ask your self, where is the romance in this, it is a bloody hard, painful and terrifing job, but it is addictive.
Now a few quesitons before I ship with you all,
Is there a centerboard cook?
Did some eejitt turn the hatch covers over?
and is there no walnut aboard?
Larry

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Willie-O
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 02:10 PM

Sorry, Larry, way too deep for me. I'm just a green hand. despite the grey appearing in my beard. Maybe Cap Kendall knows.

Willie-O

p.s. if we do go on a real sailing cruise, can we get a boat without futtock shrouds? I feel I know too much about them already...

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Mbo
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 02:30 PM

Anybody got any good ghost ship stories?

--Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: KathWestra
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 03:25 PM

Dick & mates --
One of the best weeks I've ever spent was aboard the Stephen Taber out of Rockland, Maine. She's a beauty, the oldest coastal schooner in continuous operation, according to her captains, Ken and Ellen Barnes. Ken and Ellen are great folks, and great fans of folk music. Ken played the highland bagpipes every morning to raise the sails, and every evening as we dropped anchor. He also plays concertina and guitar, and both of them sing. Ellen's a magical cook who bakes fresh bread every day on her galley woodstove, rustles up a pit-cooked island lobster feast once during the week, and generally makes everyone feel very much at home. They urge their passengers to bring musical instruments (although I was the only one on our cruise who did). One of their sailing weeks in August of 2000 includes the Swan's Island Folk Festival. I think the Taber can accommodate about 22 people. Current rates in the brochure I got last week are $795 for the week during peak periods, a little less if it's early or late in the season. Where and how much we sailed was determined by wind and weather. Everybody got a chart to record where we actually went.

I like the Mudcat cruise idea a lot, and I'd bet Ken and Ellen would be tickled pink to have the likes of us on board. (Kendall, if you see him, ask Gordon Bok about the Taber. I think he once crewed on her.)
Kathy

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Mbo
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 04:01 PM

We had a million and six baked potatoes from Mick,
Two million of B. Bonnie's thongs,
Three million and three tunes from th DT
And four million of Rick Fielding's songs.

We had five million lutes,
And six million flutes,
Seven million of 'Spaw's styro-stetson hat,
And eight million bombos and hairy charangos
In the hold of the schooner Mudcat!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: kendall
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 04:44 PM

in the schooners out of Camden, all the cooks are "centerboard" cooks. No..I am not going to explain that one..

how about a mini festival in Camden with some day sailing? there are boats to go out on for the day..? I'm not licensed to carry passengers, and a vessel big enough for all of us would probably not float. If we generate some real interest, I'll call Gordon and ask what is available.

Yes, I know a hell of a ghost ship story and its true. Called THE DEAD SHIP OF HARPSWELL by John Greenleef Whittier ...what flecks the outer gray beyond the sundowns golden trail? The white flash of a sea bird's wing, or gleam of slanting sail?

the crew was murdered by pirates in the Carribean, yet, she sailed home to Maine, the Captain, who was left to die tied to the mast, was put ashore by the ghosts of his crew who then disappeared into the fog. That ship was seen many time sailing into the harbor, only to vanish before making it in.

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Barry Finn
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 07:58 PM

I wouldn't give a hoot if it was a Yankee parish rigged blood bucket, if the head were forward, outboard & under the bowspirit where the waves could wash all & I'd not be stuck downwind of the debris, anything except a vessel where the hatches are turned over, I don't even care if it's heading out on Friday (well, maybe). Just sign me up. Barry

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: kendall
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 09:37 PM

I have a couple of friends who have sail boats that I use on occasion, Gordon Bok has a 32 foot ketch, and Chuck Romanoff has an 18 foot herrishof (sic) there are many others available in Camden, but, not for free. Step lively maties, you'll be signing the articles now eh lads? And, if you give me the "black spot" make sure its not on a page from the bible, or, you'll suffer the same fate as my old shipmate Israel Hand.

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Mbo
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 09:42 PM

A bumper sticker popular here in Pirate country--"Have you flogged YOUR crew today?"

--Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: T in Oklahoma (Okiemockbird)
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 10:56 PM

Schooner ahoy! The sloop Andrew the Dory wishes to pull alongside and discharge a passenger. Take our passenger...please!

(T in Oklahoma steps up to the little sloop's rail) Have I permission to come aboard ?

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Susan A-R
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 10:59 PM

Sounds great, but could we do it when the ice doesn't freeze so fast it's still warm please? I sailed when I was a teen ager, with Dad as captain, he did a lot with navigation courses, and really knew his stuff, and I wasn't bad at following orders. (Reasonable ones, that is) I could certainly manage lounging around on deck, singing and eating seafood.

Susan A-R

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: kendall
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 11:36 PM

we'll have no trouble filling those billets lass.

Subject: RE: BS: Aboard the Schooner Mudcat
From: Caitrin
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 11:47 PM

Mbo, that's a pretty heavy cargo. A whole lot of millions.