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!
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