Day 21: The Double Whirlwind...

Not only did we bust our butts today and get a bunch of odds and ends done but the wind was blowing like crazy - our anemometer registered a 49MPH gust!  It made it "exciting" when aloft.

I spent much of my day aloft.  I learned a new lashing - the round lashing or block lashing.  The purpose is to lash a block (i.e. block and tackle) to something else - in my case a I-bolts.  Here is what it looks like...

The white line is the hitch I made.  It holds the block (on the left) - and hey, my toe!

I also helped put the rolling tackle on top of the main mast - in the crazy wind.  That was a little intense.  

All in all a good day because we are set up to put two more yards on tomorrow.  We are starting to look like a ship.  I can't wait to send a few photos of the ship when it's a full ship.

Let's switch gears and meet James Turner. 

James is a 28 year old from northern California who likes mint tea and...wait, wait, wrong website...

James is an able seaman (professional crew member)

How old are you James?  28

From where do you hail?  Northern California

How long before the mast?  pretty much two years

What did you do before sailing sailing?  I was a machinist - CNC operator.

James is most well known for his response to times when people point out mistakes he has made.  James will say, "Oh me." (in a Winnie the Poo-esque voice)

Thanks James and keep on sailoring on!

Here is a shot by me from the fighting top of a group of school kids on a tour of the ship...

We have tours often.  Many schools bring their classes to tour the ship.

And now the word for the day:  Belaying Pin

Here is a belaying pin (it is sitting on the fife rail).  The belaying pin is used to work with lines.  This one, when in use, would be in the hole just under its tip.  In the background you can see one in use - with a line "made fast" and the excess line "coiled and hung".

Tomorrow, Wednesday the 30th,  I will be going to some sort of Education Days with the Erie SeaWolves (the local baseball team) to talk about the ship.  The captain thought it would be a good idea to have my perspective - new guy, sabbatical, teacher, older than the others, etc. - sweet, I am all for it.  I will let you know how it goes...

I know I still have to show you a photo or two of the exposure suit drill we did but I will have to get to that on the morrow.  

Ahoy!