Man the yardarms, Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreh! (Not a pirate picture thread)

Alley and I are volunteering for the Top Sail program.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irving_Johnson_%28ship%29

Today was our first crew training day and we got a little experience on a Brigatine The Irvin Johnson. On the way out we manned the "braces", which are lines that turn the square sails.
We sailed and had lunch, turned her around and headed back in. On the way in I got brave went aloft and helped furl the course topsail.

Furl the what?!?!



Me transitioning from the "ratlines" to the topsail yard. And by the way it looks way higher up there then it does from the deck.



Making my way along the yard. We are standing on what I believe is called a firmline. Because my center of gravity is below the yard (horizontal boom) the only way to hang on is by using my weak-ass upper body muscles. While waiting for the rest of the hands to reach us I started to worry I could not hold on. Once we were fully manned the weight on the line boosted me up so that my center gravity was over the yard and I could sort of lean on it. Whew!!!



Just before furling the topsail I'm untying the "gasket".



Job done and me and a youth volunteer and crew leader Arron (He is only 13 years old!!!) are head for the safety of the deck.



Alley has banned me from posting pictures of her so you just had me to look at, thanks.

cool program, Thanks for posting.

Topsail is aimed at mostly middle school aged kids, most of whom have never seen the ocean even though they live in Southern California. They are considered "at risk kids" from broken homes or gang infested parts of Los Angeles.

This program let's them man a tall ship, and see that there is more to life outside of their neighborhoods.

Ah, those are amazing!

I cannot even imagine being that high! :scared:

This is excellent training for when you two sail your own boat!

Thanks for sharing...

:hi: to you and Alley!

We feel that crewing on such an old fashion ship will help us understand the whats' and whys' of points of sail, plus the program is a very worthy cause. Win win.

:hi:

We were discussing that on the trip in. We still have to resurface the deck, but yesterday was so pleasant we might compromise and take her out before we have a majority of the work done. We still need to replace the anchor windlass, and want to wait until Minnie's has her yearly yard sail and see if we can snag a Simpson Lawrence Seatiger 555 windlass on the cheap. Once we have reliable ground tackle we will see you "out there".

Say hi to your hubby for Alison and I.
db

The eagles are coming out often and there is hardly anyone else here.

I was our windlass for the first couple of years we sailed. I got very good at pulling up that anchor, but was very happy when we got the electric one.

We have some friends that always have one more thing to do before they take the boat out. They end up never taking the boat out.

Let me know if you come over and want to anchor on the south side. We would be glad to help you.

Say hello to your wife for me!

cb

You guys harnessed in up there?

That would be a little wiggy for me, if not.

We wear a harness while on the boom but have to unhook at transition points, and while on the ratlines.
With or without it is still a little wiggy for me. This morning my entire body feels like a slab of pain from unused and overworked muscles.