Sailing!

Thanks for your patience.  We had a few days off and then we had bad weather and ship trouble.  That all added up to us not getting to sail until Thursday.

It was worth the wait.

Its a long story but here is a shot off the port beam of us while sailing...

We are heading west so if you look close you can see some of Pennsylvania in the far background...

So we started early today to get maintenance done early because the big news was that the Governor

Tom Corbett

was coming to the ship at 15:30 to make a big a big announcement. We wanted to get some sailing in before that.  It was supposed to be my big chance to practice tacking and waring (sp?) out on the open water.   We got out a little later than we wanted because, since we were in Erie, there was a thick fog that didn't break until about 10:30am.  The fog would not really be a problem for us - the ship is big and equipped with the latest radar, GPS, and other nav/com gear.  The real problem would be the dudes out fishing that morning in their 20' fiberglass boats that would not show up on our radar.  SInce the Niagara has about 290 long tons of displacement it would crush a little Bass boat and probably  not even slow down.

Any who, we got under way about lunch time.  Since the slip, where the ship lives, and the channel out of Presque Isle are both narrow places the ship is maneuvered using its twin screw diesel engines to get to open water.  Check out this Google Earth capture...

White Arrow:  Slip where the Niagara lives      Black Arrow:  the channel out of Presque Isle

Everyone on the ship is assigned duties on the station bill - so in any given situation you know where you are supposed to be and what you are to do.  My job during General Quarters - like when leaving the dock - is helm.  In other words I get to steer the ship!  Totally sweet, right.  Like i said in an earlier post, we don't have a ships wheel - we have a tiller.  Here is the photo...

Background:  look close you can see a big tan colored wooden bar.  That's what you push back and forth to steer the ship.  Very simple, but effective, technology.  Foreground:  Big wooden box called the binnacle that houses the ship's electronic navigation equipment and throttles for the engines.

My second job was lookout.  I unfortunately couldn't get a photo of this but my job was to stand on a high point on the front of the ship and look for anything that could potentially cause trouble for the ship and report it to whomever "has the con" (control of the ship).  Since we were out on the open lake there was little to report but it was an awesome view.

We sailed around for a bit and practiced a maneuver called waring (sp?) where we controlled the direction the wind hit the sails by moving the ship instead of the sails.  I din't know we were doing it until after we were done and the chief mate told me about it.  Heh.  We cut our time a bit short because remember the big announcement?  We had to get back to the slip to see the Governor.

There was a bunch of press and cops and slicked back hair for the big event.  The governor announced that the state was pledging $4.8 million to refit the Niagara...

The Gov's big announcement and some of my new friends on the crew:  L-R Kaitlyn (2nd Mate), Allison (3rd Mate), Sydney (4th Mate), Cheyenne (Boatswain), James (AS), Kelsey.

I also got to see myself on the news last night because after the announcement we went back to work but many of the news cameras were still rolling for footage.  I was aloft on the fighting top and they used a quick shot of me up there as part of the story - sweet.  I couldn't find the one that has me in it but you can check out the story - and more importantly the ship - here... Niagara Funding Story

The big deal about the whole thing is that the best place in the country to learn about square-rig sailing is on the Niagara.  This $4.8 million dollar commitment means that this tradition can go on at least another 25 years.

All around just an awesome day.  Sailing on a ship like the Niagara is just an amazing experience.  I am going out again Saturday but it will be a bunch of drills so I am not sure how much pure sailing we will get to do.  I will let you know - but probably not until Sunday.

Ahoy! 

Day 28: Final Duty Day and a Foresail!

We got the big sail on the front of the ship on.  It's called the foresail.  I don't have a photo because I was on duty and was inside most of the time.  There was about an hour and fifteen minutes where I was out on the starboard arm of the yard - out over the water - helping to bend the sail on.  It was a unique experience.  Let me show you some stuff before I get too far...

This is the Niagara at full sail.  The lowest square sail at the front of the ship (the one you can see the most of) is the foresail.  

The arrow points to where I was to help bend the sail on (attach it to the yard)

As we wind down to the final days of blogging let's meet the purser (the person on the ship in charge of the handling the money and like things) - Emily Hoffman

Where are you from?  Point Breeze.  Pittsburgh representin'.

What is the most enjoyable about being the purser?  "Being able to be involved in the behind the scenes activities of the Niagara and being able to help with the whole organization not just the sailing."

Have anything interesting to the Kiski community?  "I grew up in Pittsburgh and never heard of the Niagara and now that I am here it is an amazing opportunity to learn about history and traditional sailing.  I encourage anyone to do the training or apprenticeships aboard her.  It is an invaluable experience."

Oh, it's Emily's birthday today!  Happy birthday Emily!

Many of the other crew wanted me to write a quote for them.  Do you have a quote I can repeat here?  "Let's go Pens!"

Thanks, Emily.

Our word of the day - only because it is my favorite name for a part of the ship...Boomkin!

It is sort of boring part of the ship - it holds tight the bottom corners of the foresail (more foresail talk for the day!)  Here is a pic...

The things radiating out from the feet of the man are the boomkins.  We just installed them yesterday so I didn't really know about them but like I said, they are now the thing on the ship with the best name.

I will try and squeeze something in quick tomorrow but our internet shuts off early so I cant make any promises.

Ahoy!

Day 27: More Sail Progress..

We made some good progress today and got up the fore topmast staysail AND the jib sail.  Managed to snap a shot...

Right:  jib        Left:  fore topmast staysail

We are well on our way to sailing.

I wish I could find a way to express how cool this is to do/watch.  When I came here the ship looked like this...

...and now we are nearly ready to sail.  The process has been fulfilling and rejuvenating and frankly more than a little humbling.  When the main staysail filled with air yesterday, and again the sails today, it was sort of awe inspiring.  Sort of a validation that all our hard work was worth it.  Like I said, I wish I could express in words how sweet it was...

There is an accompanying "funny" story to go along with this, though.  When we first put the fore staysail up we had it about 1/3 of the way up and someone on deck said, "Ah, that looks like it's upside down."  Then walked away.  Crap.  It was upside down.  We had to draw it back in and reattach the hanks.  I think I talked about this before but the staysails are not attached directly to the stays.  They are lashed to the stay with a hank to make it easier to slide up and down the stay...

Here are some hanks on the stay (where they ride to support the sail).  And two hanks sitting on a deck box.

How about meeting our Chief Mate.  He is the guy who is basically in charge of the ship.  The captain is the highest ranking officer but I don't really see him much.  I see the Chief Mate all the time...all the time.  Hey David Goldman:

What do we call you?  Chief Mate or Goldie

How long have you been sailing?  this is my 11th year

How did you end up on the Niagara?  ...by accident...I was in the Caribbean when I got offered the job in November but couldn't join the ship until June of the following year - an they still would have me. 

What is the best part of working on the Niagara?  It's an interesting ship to sail on because it is so complex - there are so many more moving parts.

What pearl of wisdom would you like to impart to the Kiski community?  How about a story?  "I was on the schooner Westward that has a smaller crew than here.  We were going around Cape Hateras in 10-15' seas. The bow sprit (front of the ship) was dunking under the water.  So we started playing a game - who could scamper out on the head rig and get dunked the least.  Nobody really won - but I was smart enough to put on my swim trunks.  Victory!"

And now another word of the day (apropos for the day)...

Cut of His Jib

This is a saying that is used to mean that you approve of someone's personality or attitude or behavior.  "Bob, thanks for all your help, I like the cut of your jib."  But the origin of the saying is from sailoring.  The front sail (see top picture above) is called the jib.  Experienced sailors could tell much about the speed and maneuverability of a ship by the shape and size of the jib.  Thus being able to make a judgement of the quality of the ship simply from a good look at the jib sail.  

Only 2 or 3 blog entries left.  Keep on reading.

Ahoy!

Day 26: My last Tuesday and we were sailing! (sort of...)

Today is my last Tuesday.  It was a beautiful sunny day but just a bit cold.  Everything is starting to come together.

Here is the ship with all of the spars on it.  The flying jib boom is on but not pushed out (but its not in the picture anyhow).  Look how many more lines are starting to run all over the place - they all have a purpose!

Today we got the main topsail staysail.  Check it out, we were (kind of) sailing...

Without sounding too corny this was super cool.  We set the sail and the wind blew right on cue and and *BAM* we had were "sailing".  Got permission to grab the camera cause it was just too cool.

Otherwise I got to hang out under the bow and put a seizing on the flying jib boom stay (the part that holds in place the piece of wood that sticks the farthest off the front of the ship).  I also spent about an hour and a half in the education room reorganizing because the annual NASOH will be at the museum next week.  (I think it stands for North American Society of Oceanographic History).  (AKA a bunch of history nerds who like sailing and boats)

While they are here let's meet some of the crew.  Today is a two-fer...

Grant Bredeson and Emma Wabrowetz

I have them together because they are a thing (and because I am running out of time and want to get everyone in).

How long have you been on the Niagara?:  G:  a little over a year    E:  since July 5th, 2013

How long have you been sailing?  G:  Professionally since 2009      E:  since July 5th, 2013

Why the Niagara?:  E:  I saw them in port when I was in high school and thought it was really cool

                               G:  I needed a job and I had some experience and the pay is good on this ship over                                            many others.

What interesting thing about you can I tell Kiski?  G: aside from working for Mellow Mushroom (shout out to Mr. Spahn and Mr. Howard) I have been in martial arts since five years old and study Capoeira (a Brazilian martial art - that involves lots of dance oriented movements.            E:  I like traveling...I don't like talking about myself.  (Let me tell an inspiring story about Emma:  We went to Education Day together last week at the SeaWolves baseball game.  Right in front of us a few boys made fun of another boy to the point where he was clearly hurt.  Emma made a point to track him down and tell him to not worry about those "jerks".  The boy was very touched and I thought it was inspiring.

Now a return to word of the day.  Bare Poles

When the ship is afloat with no sails set it is considered to be "bare poles."  Short and sweet.  Teach it to your parents (kids/siblings or whomever...)

We grow closer and closer to actually sailing.  Stay tuned.

Ahoy!

Post 25: Starting my last week.

Well I am done here in one week.  Next Monday is my last day - sort of.  What do I mean?  Well I will go back to Kiski but will come back to sail the following week.  I don't know if I told you that yet or not, but now you know.  Much of the blogging is a blur since we are so busy - that's why it's way easier to just talk about what I did for the day, then I know I couldn't have talked about it before!

So check this out...

Saw this today on the hard.  These are the ship's anchors.  They weigh about 1500 pounds and they don't get dropped when at sea very much cause the anchors and the "rodes" (huge ropes that pull them up) are very unwieldy.

Training day today.  We did leather work and were allowed to make sheathes for our own tools.  Check out my handiwork...

This is my "rig".  Left:  My standard Leatherman tool.  Middle:  My knife in it's sheathe (which I made today)  Right:  My marlin spike (made by a local-to-Saltsburg latheman) in its sheathe *which I made today, also)

Same rig with the tools out or the sheathes.  You use this stuff everyday.

The knife was made as a gift for me by Nicholas Brown (see earlier blog post bio) over the past weekend.  The people here are great.

I used up a bunch of my words-for-the-day while describing things in earlier posts so I will have to pick some people's brains to come up with a few more to finish off the last few days.  Consider it on hiatus for today.

I do have another bio for you however.  Matt Kent

Matt is here to help with up-rig (putting the ship back together from the winter storage).  He has been sailing for five years but is quite knowledgeable about rigging the ship.  He is also the guy I would say I bother the most with questions about what the hell I am doing - trust me, there are lot's of questions.  

Where do you live Matt?  I live in a yurt on a wilderness reserve in upstate New York.  

Not Matt's yurt but a yurt for example...

What do you do for a living?  "I'm either a rock climbing guide, or a microscope technician, or a tall ship sailor.  Sometimes I build custom aquariums."

What do you want people to know about tall ship sailing?  "Adventure in your life is very important and the history and tradition is important.  There are more people in the world that fly fighter jets than know how to sail tall ships."

Thanks for the bio Matt and thanks for all the help during my sabbatical.

See ya all tomorrow.  I got a photo of the ship with all the yards and a "stay sail" bent on.

Ahoy!

Day 24: Duty and *drum roll* yards installed!

Gonna lose the interewebs very soon - darn Erie library - so I'll make this quick.

I'll get you a pick Monday of the ship.  We got the last yard on today and we pushed out (not all the way) the flying j'boom.  She is now as wide as she gets and almost as long as she gets.  That means, aside from bending on some sails, the big things are all done.  We still have lots of small things but sailing will commence May 18th.  *three cheers*

Word for the day?  Bridle

This is a useful tool on the ship.  It is a line that is deadended on one side, run through a fair lead (a wooden circle), and then the other end goes through an "I" bolt (or something similar) which functions as the working end.  It creates a "V" shape, right?  So as you pull on the working end it will pull on the load in 2 places providing an even pull across the load and stability for the load.  It is similar to the way a horses bridle but with a deadend on one side (instead of two working ends).

And let's meet Allison Taylor.

Niagara's 3rd Mate.  She is in charge of NavCom (navigation and communication).  She was an AB (able seaman) last year on Niagara also.  Before coming to Erie Allison worked on the Coast Guard Barque The Eagle.  It is a Coast Guard training ship that is sweet.  Check it out...

It is a Barque (like we are a Brig) because it has three masts and the aft most mast runs fore and aft.

Hey Allison just walked in...

How long you been sailing?  8 years.

How many ships?  12 or so.

Why did you end up on the Niagara?  Recommended by someone to come on board and was then invited back as an officer for this year.

What is your favorite thing about sailing?  "Really there are many things but it requires each person to have many skills and knowledge sets.  You just have to understand so much science and practical things like hiring and dealing with the finances."

Is there anything you would like my students to know?  "There is a yoga saying that helps me relieve stress:  

Om Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu.  It means "May Peace & Happiness Prevail."

Thanks Allison.

See you all Monday-ish,

Ahoy!

Day 23: SeaWolves and another spar...

Darn.  Had a photo of me with C. Wolf at the game today for Education Day but it somehow got lost in the aether.  I will look for it but at least here is a photo of "him"...

C. Wolf

Even on sabbatical I can't get away from teaching.  At the game we talked about the ship with elementary school students and handed out "Brig Niagara" temporary tattoos.  It was a nice break from the difficult physical work we have been doing.  And it was Erie SeaWolves vs. Altoona Curve.  I couldn't lose. (glass half full, right?)

To avoid yesterday's issue - when Susanne left and I couldn't talk to her - let's meet Adam now...

Adam Stanisz

What do you do around the ship Adam?  Ship's carpenter.  (Sweet, says me!)

How did you learn those skillz?  The Apprentice Shop in Rockland, Maine

How did you end up on the Niagara?  I worked on another ship, The Highlander Sea, with a guy that works at the museum now.  On the Niagara since December of last year.

What's the best thing about working with the Niagara?  "There is always something new challenge to overcome."

What are you responsible for?  "Anything made of wood."

Anything else?  "One of my goals is to start an educational program teaching the principles of ship's carpentry here at the museum so volunteers and others would know not only rigging and sailing but carpentry too."

And the word for the day...Sole

The sole is the floor of the ship below deck.  This whole concept is a bit weird.  So imagine you are below deck.  The boards below your feet are called the sole.  The boards to your left and right (the "walls") are called the ceiling.  The boards above your head are called the overheads.  Got it?  Yeah, I thought the same thing.  

So we got another yard up today and it is huge.  We are almost a ship.  One more yard and then we will bend on the sails and we will be just about done.  Very exciting.

On a totally different note I was taking note of the fact the crew has a very strong sense of community.  I have always been proud of how Kiski has a sense of community - the crew puts us to shame.  I was mentioning this to some of the crew in casual conversation and the Chief Mate seemed to make a great point.  The bounds you make with the crew have to be fast and strong.  Why?  Because you literally have to trust your shipmates with your life.  I don't want to over-dramatize this, but everything hanging over your head on the ship - blocks, ropes, thimbles, hearts, deadeyes, hanks, etc. - are secured in place with rope lashings BY YOUR SHIPMATES.  Plus when you are out at sea and have all your sails set and a squall suddenly appears you need to rely on your shipmates to properly strike the sails as fast as possible so avoid the danger of capsizing in the storm.  Kiski has it's own unique sense of community that keeps me there year after year, but the Niagara has something special.  I will miss it.

Until tomorrow,

Ahoy!