#tall ships

[victusinveritas]

Gdansk, Poland.

#poland #cities #europe #tall ships #age of sail #fog

[incognita-soul]

Darrell's first day as a ship's cat and bosun's mate on the tall ship Lady Washington!

Here he is inspecting the quality of coils, making sure passengers were heeding the "no smoking" rule, and standing bow watch through the anchor hawse.

He looked very dapper in his PFD and sunglasses! (I highly recommend looking into Surfer Cat for harnesses and PFDs made to fit cat bodies specifically. their gear is well designed, and they are a small company with excellent customer service!)

#im so proud of my son he did so well! #don't worry we haven't replaced marlin he's still our official ships cat #he's just not as comfortable in his pfd yet so he spend the whole sail sulking on the binnacle and i didn't get any good pics of him #lady washington #ships cat #boat cat #black cats #tall ships #age of sail #my post #caturday #darrell blogging #boat adventures

[bantarleton]

Iconic.

#master and commander #Royal Navy #history #military history #tall ships #age of sail #aubrey maturin

[lucybellwood]

A while ago Falynn K. asked this question on Twitter:

"So on a tall sailing ship you have the mast, and you have the yards across it--is the yard/spar actually attached to the mast, by like i dunno, a pin or something, or is it strictly roped/lashed to it?"

This is a totally reasonable question! A lot of folks who haven't sailed square riggers might think that the yard stays put, but in fact it needs to move up and down the mast so the sails can be fully set. (Y'know how everyone's always talking about halyards? They literally haul the yard up. You're welcome.)

So to answer the question: yards are held loosely to the mast by a looped line strung with large wooden beads called a parrel. The beads roll up the mast as the yard is raised and lowered. Here's a drawover that hopefully clarifies a little:

Once you start explaining things about tall ship anatomy it's hard to stop, so there's a bit more context for how the sails work:

(These are pages from my comic A Week at Sea with OHP, which you can read online here or grab as a print minicomic here.)

Hope this is helpful!

#boat stuff #tutorials #ship mechanics #age of sail #art tips #tall ships #square rig sailing #oliver hazard perry #tall ship #sail training

[haridraws]

Thinking about Them (ships)

#SHIPS #age of sail #tall ships #they're 1790s 5th rate frigates in case anyone but me in the universe is interested #ship tumblr please interact. unless you're telling me I drew it wrong and being mean about it. in that case no need to interact #atg #comics development

[ltwilliammowett]

Good morning my dears, I hope that you have found something nice under your tree and I thought I'd give you a little one too - all the beauties that didn't make it into the calendar.

George Stage - Full rigged ship

Peking - Steel-hulled four-masted barque

St. Lawrence II - Brigantine

Charles W. Morgan - Whaler

Vasa - Galleon

Osberg Ship - Viking Longship

Étoile du Roy ('King's Star'), formerly Grand Turk also known as HMS Indefatigable - Frigate

HMAV Bounty - Full rigged ship

#naval artifacts #naval history #tall ships #merry christmas #medieval seafaring #age of sail #age of sail replicas

[clove-pinks]

1840s French navy ships by Antoine Léon Morel-Fatio, all from 1844: Sixty-meter Frigate/Frégate de 60, War Schooner/Goëlette de guerre, Corvette, War Brig/Brick de guerre, Steamboat Outfitted for Battle/Bateau à vapeur armé en guerre, and First Class Ship/Vaisseau de 1.er rang.

@ltwilliammowett

#age of sail #1840s #age of steam #naval history #french navy #1844 #marine art #tall ships #warships #capital ships #antoine léon morel-fatio #maritime history #the sea #i always forget that brig in french is 'brick' lmao

[copperbadge]

Pictured above: the Amerigo Vespucci, a three-masted tall ship, encounters two US aircraft carriers: the Independence (black and white image, 1962) and the George H.W. Bush (color image, 2022). 

Built in 1930 for the purpose of sail training, the Italian Training Ship Amerigo Vespucci is designed after 18th century 74-cannon "ships of the line”, naval warships common to the Age of Sail. She carries a standard crew of 16 officers, 70 noncoms, and 190 sailors; she has an overall length of 101m/331ft and a maximum width of 15.5m/51ft with a steel hull and a top speed of 10 knots (19km/h). The masts are steel but carry traditional canvas sails and use only hemp rope; mooring lines are synthetic per port regulations. Currently she carries both diesel and electric engines. More details and specifications at Wikipedia. Her sister ship, the Cristoforo Colombo, was given to the USSR as war reparations after WWII. 

There is a commonly-repeated story that when the Amerigo Vespucci encountered the USS Independence in 1962, the Independence signaled the Amerigo Vespucci to ask, “Who are you?” 

The ship replied, “Training ship Amerigo Vespucci, Italian Navy.” 

The Independence then is reported to have responded:

“You are the most beautiful ship in the world.” 

Well, they weren’t lying about that. 

Wikipedia’s only truly useful citation for this encounter is a YouTube video of the USS George H.W. Bush meeting the Amerigo Vespucci in 2022.  

This encounter was also documented in a US Navy press release from September 2022, which has better information for the initial exchange. The 1962 photo leaves no doubt the Independence and the Amerigo Vespucci did encounter one another, but the exchange of communications does not have strong visible documentation. The press release states that the NHHC website has a record of the encounter, but does not link to it. 

The NHHC website, which is a massive pain in the ass to use, has a records page for the black and white photo above, but that appears to be the extent of its documentation. Presumably there’s a logbook for the Independence or the Amerigo Vespucci or both, but that’s beyond my ability to locate. I have not been able to find a record that isn’t embedded in 21st-century documents which don’t have strong citations. There is no record of who on the Independence felt the need to compliment the Amerigo Vespucci, or how the ship responded. The Italian Navy’s history of the Amerigo Vespucci, now available only through Archive.org, does not mention the encounter.

The earliest record I could find of the Amerigo Vespucci referenced as “The most beautiful ship in the world” comes from a post at VisitVenezia, which Google believes was posted in 2004 (there’s no date on the post itself). The earliest reference to the actual meeting of the two ships is a vague reference in a blog from 2012, which merely states that “another ship once radioed, you are the most beautiful ship in the world.” There is no citation for the story’s origin at that post. If the exchange did happen, the story of it appears to have surfaced to civilians only in the 21st century. Most other records 2012-2022 eventually trace back to Tumblr, actually. 

The USS Independence’s Crew Book for 1962 has been digitized; reading through it there is, as they say, a lot to unpack, but despite numerous pages dedicated to the sights of the Mediterranean, there is no mention or photo of the Amerigo Vespucci that I could find. It does list the two commanders of the Independence, Melvin R. Etheridge and Bob J. Robison, as well as the full 1962 crew. And if you like men in uniform, 60s military technology, or poorly printed photos of Europe in 1962, it’s a fun way to spend an hour or so. 

In any case, the Navy says it happened, and it’s a great story. We do have documentation, both in the video above and in the September 2022 press release, of the 2022 encounter. The USS George H.W. Bush, captained by Capt. David-Tavis Pollard, asks via radio, “Sailing vessel on my starboard side, please identify yourself.” 

The ship responds, “This is Italian Navy ship Amerigo Vespucci.” 

The US ship asks, “Are you the one that sailed by the USS Independence in 1962?” 

To which the Italians reply, “Yes we are. We are the senior national vessel in active duty.” 

The US ship responds, “Amerigo Vespucci, you are still after 60 years the most beautiful ship in the world.” 

To which the Amerigo Vespucci answers, “George Bush, we are flattered and express fair winds and following seas for your deployment.” 

I’d love to know who sent the original messages, and where it might have been recorded; if folks have access to documentation or know sailors who served on the Independence or the Amerigo Vespucci in 1962 who might remember it, please feel free to let me know. After all, I’d like the story to be true. 

And she is, then and now, a beautiful ship.

#amerigo vespucci #military history #naval history #tall ships

[benjhawkins]

#kalmar nyckel #tall ships #mine

[victusinveritas]

The French barque Belem en route to Dublin with 60,000 bottles of wine in her hold. The 112 year old tall ship was originally launched to carry chocolate from Brazil to France.

#tall ships #age of sail #barque #meanwhile on the french main

[incognita-soul]

It's been a wild first few months of the season on Lady Washington, full of uprig, field trips, dockside tours, and public sails. i swear the only way i'm getting through it is getting to bury my face into Marlin and Darrell's fuzzy bellies on a daily basis.

Marlin is doing well on his first season back on the boat as Chief Morale Meow Officer since 2019 and has as of yet not escaped to commit treason on navy bases again. Both bois are adjusting well to sharing space in the aft cabin and have started cuddling more (a few years ago when I brought Dary to the seaport during the winter they spent the whole winter cuddled up in the same cat bed in front of the space heater). During sails Marlin can usually be found sunning himself on the main hold hatch, often on top of a passenger's bag.

Darrell the Bosun's Pawsun's Mate has been gaining more confidence being on deck and exploring the boat, but he still prefers to stay below when passengers are aboard, especially when those passengers are rowdy middle school classes. His obsession with staring through the anchor hawes continues, and his new favorite things are curling up in the merch boxes in the main hold and hanging out in dark places so he can a) give me a heart attack thinking he's missing, and b) embrace the void.

photo credit for half of these shots goes to the incredibly talented and utterly ravishing Sydney @the-lone-star-state and the other, equally amazing Syd @birdybirdnerd

#darrell blogging #boat adventures #marlin blogging #boat cat boyfriends #lady washington #tall ships #age of sail #my post #boat cats

[bantarleton]

The Aubrey–Maturin collection of Dave Krug - magnificent!

#history #age of sail #tall ships #napoleonic wars #aubrey maturin #aubreyad #master and commander #royal navy

[lucybellwood]

I’ve been meaning to repost this mini-essay I wrote for Global Maritime History back in 2015 for AGES and since today's dash is full of people lamenting the burden of Boat Knowledge this seems like the right time.

ONWARD FOR TALL SHIP ART TIPS!

I often get questions from people who are concerned that their illustrated boats aren’t going to be up to snuff, and the short answer is generally: don’t sweat it. If you’ve drawn a thing that has a hull in the water and sails in the air, you’re off to a great start, and if you consult a few handy reference images, you’re bound to end up with something that looks mostly ship-like.

HOWEVER. There are a couple things that often get lost in translation which—if you pay attention to them—can make the difference between a passable tall ship and a vessel that definitely looks like you know your baggywrinkle from your bunghole. Here’s two tips to get you started.

Flags in the Wind

Generally when we think of a thing that’s going fast, we imagine a flag streaming out in the wind behind it, right? Well, when it comes to square rig sailing, things aren’t always so simple. If the wind is coming up from behind a ship—or from the side—to push it forward, the flag may be flying in a direction you wouldn’t expect! How are the yards angled to catch the wind in the sails? What’s driving the vessel forward? Sailors often look to flags for a quick indicator of wind direction—use that thought process when drawing your ships.

Keep Your Shrouds Tight!

Those rope ladder-looking things sailors are always clambering up? They’re called shrouds, and they also form a large part of the tensioning system that keeps a ship’s masts stable and upright. Stays (lines that don’t move i.e. stay put) are arranged throughout the rig to maintain even aft-to-fore pull on the masts and prevent them from keeling over. Shrouds form the lateral component of that system, so here’s an important fact: they will not be saggy. No saggy shrouds. No saggy stays. In addition to making the mast unstable, it’d be a devil to climb in heavy weather.

Note: the ratlines (the “ladder rungs” of the shroud) can have slack in them—it’s the vertical lines that should be tight.

When the crew is “tuning the rig,” they’re putting slack in all the stays and then re-tensioning them to ensure that the whole operation is as stable as possible, so unless you’ve got a bunch of idiots running your fictional vessel, keep ’em tight.

And another thing…

I see a lot of people running their shrouds down to the deck, rather than alongside the vessel. Don’t do that! I mean, okay, sometimes shrouds do attach to chain plates on-deck, but most of your classic Golden Age of Sail vessels will have them running alongside to the channels. Also: they end in deadeyes to help with the tensioning of the line and to keep things stable, so don’t forget your deadeyes!

Honestly, these are the biggest things that I see artists flub when drawing tall ships, so if you can keep them in mind, you’ll be head and shoulders above the rest!

If you’re looking to go more in-depth with your research, I would recommend…

Seeing if you can find a modern replica of the type of ship you’re after and then centering your reference search around the name of that ship. I get far more extensive results when I’m searching for “Privateer Lynx” rather than “1700s topsail schooner.” Don’t discount the many photos tourists will have taken while visiting these ships!

Nose around on model ship-building forums. There is no greater boon to the modern nautical artist than these obsessive craftspeople, who will spend hundreds of hours replicating classic ships in minute detail—often photographing the whole process so you can actually see how the rig of a vessel is put together! God bless ’em.

And that’s all I’ve got! I hope you’ve enjoyed this brief foray into accurate tall ship representation. Fair winds and following seas!

#tall ships #boat stuff #maritime history #tall ship #maritime art #lucy bellwood #art tips #age of sail #personal work

[the-golden-vanity]

The Peruvian four-masted barque Unión, one of the largest sailing ships afloat, alongside the U.S. frigate Constellation, one of the oldest, on a rainy day in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Photo by @the-golden-vanity.

#BAP Unión #barque unión #training ship #four master #sailing ship #modern sailing ship #USS Constellation #frigate constellation #frigate #age of sail #19th century #an age of sail original #sailing vessels #sailing ships #tall ships

[ltwilliammowett]

Schooner Opal off Iceland by Nick Bondarev

#tall ships #schooner opal #iceland

[clove-pinks]

September 11th, and every USAmerican is thinking about the anniversary of the Battle of Lake Champlain: September 11, 1814. At the same time U.S. Navy Master Commandant Thomas Macdonough defeated the British fleet, the U.S. Army triumphed at the Battle of Plattsburgh.

M'donough's Victory on Lake Champlain, 1846 lithograph (Naval History and Heritage Command).

Enemy fire eventually silenced all of the guns on one side of the Saratoga. At this point, Macdonough performed the masterstroke that turned the tide in the battle, winding his flagship around so that he could bring fresh guns to bear on the British ships. Lieutenant James Robertson, who had taken command of the Confiance after Downie’s death, tried to bring his flagship around by employing the same maneuver, but without advance preparation his lines became fouled and his ship immobilized. The Saratoga relentlessly pounded the British ship with broadside after broadside. The fire was so intense that a British marine who had been at Trafalgar claimed that “that was a mere flea-bite in comparison with this.”

— Donald R. Hickey, The War of 1812: A Forgotten Conflict

USS Saratoga in 1814: a Vermont-built corvette (Wikimedia Commons).

#war of 1812 #age of sail #naval battle #tall ships #royal navy #military history #battle of plattsburgh #battle of lake champlain #uss saratoga #maritime history #naval history #us history #us navy