The USGC buoy tender Elm rescues the tug Beth McAllister on November 5th.
Click here for last week’s LAMP Boatworks update. I post them by email to our volunteer boatbuilders but its a good blog topic to keep everyone apprised of what it is we do here. I’ll post some older ones too in the next blog entry. Enjoy!
UPDATE 23NOV2011
A quiet week is in store this week at the Boatworks as we await the arrival of Thanksgiving. Only 10 more days! Why the fuzzy math? As a native Virginian I am bound to honor the 4th of December as the official holiday. Settlers arrived at Berkely Hundred in 1619 and established that day in Virginia as the colony’s holiday. I can only imagine that my ancestors used this day to break bread, roast the old mossyback, and draught ales. My earliest Virginia ancestor, Peter Rowlett, lived near Berkeley at Shirley Hundred and only a scant 342 years ago was giving thanks for having been deemed innocent of charges leveled against him by a shipowner. A sloop he was in charge of loading with hogsheads of tobacco had sunk at its moorings in the James River the night after having been laden. Peter, as overseer, was brought up on charges of improper stowage. After inquiry, the vessel was found to have been in such an unsound condition that its own frailty was the cause of its demise. He went on to be fined for swearing a few years later, proof of ancestry.
In all seriousness, the LAMP team wishes all of you a most happy and enjoyable holiday as we take time to reflect on all there is to be grateful for. Chuck, Sam, Starr and myself are all thankful for each one of you for the talent and time you donate to our museum. LAMP Boatworks is in its fifth year and we are strong and productive. This is because of you. Thank you.
From my desk the appearance of a Chaisson dory tender is rapidly taking shape, soon we will be contemplating her sailing rig (balanced lug I believe) and having the enjoyment of sparring her and then sailing her. I sailed to work this morning (in the driving rain) aboard my little plastic 13’ sailboat and, while fun, it just doesn’t offer the classic ride of a wooden boat. Looking forward to see how the Chaisson sails!
I saw some of you at the cannon unveiling event, it turned out to be a really nice event and if you haven’t seen the date cast onto the trunnion of the 9lb carronade then stop by my desk and I’ll show you some pics we took.
Here’s a good story of the Beth McAllister, a tug who was disabled with her tow off the North Carolina coast on the 5th instant. I’ll bet each crewmember is enjoying a particularly sweet Thanksgiving at home after that harrowing tale. Note that wind speeds were steady in the 40kt range and was gusting to over 100kts. Cheers to the boys in the big black and white ships with red stripes!
http://www.d5.uscgnews.com/go/doc/651/1238447/ (click on the picture, then click on the little text that says ‘download’ to the upper right-hand of the picture box to play, a good video of the rescue)
As Black Friday looms and everyone is flipping through their Rockler and Cabelas catalogues, put this little jewel on your Christmas list. Wouldn’t it just look darling on the bow of the yawlboat?
http://www.gggodwin.com/CartGenie/prod-255.htm
Happy Thanksgiving!
-Brendan