VICTORY CHIMES Ship's Log |
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Decked-Out in Our Sunday Best We've been talking about making the new sails for six months on social. We've completed Phase I and they're kinda spectacular. |
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So, let's tell the story behind the talk: sailmaking. There's a fair bit of magic to it, sails work like curved airplane wings, but they're made from rolls of flat cloth. You can see in the picture, and on any sailboat you've ever seen, that the sails are flat material, but when filled with wind, they become arcing three-dimensional wing shapes. The final shape of the sail has to be calculated and enacted in the stitching. |
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There's a lot of math involved. And, as anyone knows, complicated math is magic that shows its work on the test. The next level of magic is being able to account for the natural give and stretch that sail fabric can have. Yes, once the sail is constructed, depending on the fabric, it is going to give and stretch a bit. That has to be accounted for from the beginning. Otherwise, like a new pair of pants, it can be end up being a bit of a mess once it cycles through the "wash" of getting winded, wet, and dried. Historicity, Yeah it's a Thing This new set of sails is made from traditional sail cloth cotton canvas. With all the techy, modern alternatives, it might seem a bit stodgy or backwards to use traditional cotton canvas for new sails. So why'd we do it that way? Beyond the historicity of using material current to the ship's build in 1900, there is actually a practical point to using cotton canvas for the ship's new sails. As you know though, Captain Sikkema loves him some history. All of the ship's small boats, there are six (!), were chosen - with a few even built by him - for their historical significance. They're one of the unique attractions of our ship. No one else can offer such a variety of extra exploring experiences. We've got a page devoted to them. |
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Eachhas their own little backstory. To meet the fleet, click the button below. Make sure to come back to learn about what a FidPricker is! | | |
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This is the process of adding a "cringle" to the peak of the mizzen. The cringle is the whole rope loop set up there at the peak of the sail. The rope around the thimble (that metal ring) and the rope enclosed in sail material, called "bolt rope," distributes the pulling tension along the sail's edges when the wind fills it. In the first picture, the wee bat is called a Fid. In the second picture, the stabby tool, for pushing strands of line through to weave them together is called a Pricker. We have it on reasonable authority (ie zero) that the restaurant FudRuckers was originally going to be a maritime-themed franchise called FidPrickers. |
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Why Did We Use Old Timey Canvas for the Brand New Sails? Because it works. Not just works, but works well in concert with the rest of the ship's rigging. Model A Fords have those tall, skinny tires. Wouldn't wider modern tires be better? No. They are wider and so have more grip but that grip, with no power steering, means they're much harder to turn when parking. Also, the wider, heavier tires means the brakes have to work harder. Making that one change would have a cascading effect on a lot of other parts and systems. Mo' tires, mo' problems. The point is that the ship's rigging was designed for use with cotton canvas. If the sails were made of a super strong modern material, then they'd be the strongest part of the system. You'd have a sail stronger than the rigging, stronger than the masts. This means that if a rogue gust came along, the sails would be strong enough to take down the rigging and masts. Think of it like the bumper on a car; it's strong, but crumpling is part of its job. So, safer and more authentic. You know who that makes really happy? Yes, Sam really likes the perfect Twofer of it: Historically Authentic & Safer. The ship handles and feels just like it did when it was built over a hundred years ago. And, if you're into the history of the ship, and an authentic experience from this last of her kind vessel, then manning that wheel, with the knowledge that it's pretty darn true to her working roots, is a real point of pride. |
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L: Sherman works at the loft and crewed with us. R: Sam at the sail loft on a winter's day. |
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Phase II: The Sequel - Coming Soon We were only able to raise a quarter of our goal for the new sails. The pared down funding meant we had to build up our efforts. Long days, and lots of them. We'll be talking about the fundraiser again for Phase II. Phase I was the Mizzen and Main. If you'd like to donate, we would appreciate it. |
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Twenty, Twenty-Too
The coming season is going to be too much fun!
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In addition to the musicians we've got booked - like local wonder Louisa Stancioff - we've also got a new suite. In honor of the new sails, and the mast it cozies up to, the new suite is The Mainsail Suite. Down the starboard hallway, it mirrors the Admiral's Suite. It's a secluded, wonderful addition to our cozy cabin roster. Being new and being a suite, folks are clamoring for it. You can see it on the new ship chart here. |
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If you have any inkling of booking a trip, please do it as soon as you can. It's a sad time when we have to tell folks that we can't accommodate them. Right: A goofy favorite picture from last year. That's Marcel and "Red." From Denmark, Marcel is back this year. We've learned that the fun mix of people these trips attract is part of the magic. There is something special about this ship, these waters and the Great state of Maine. | | |
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Think of it like a Sale Trip prices will be bumping up, for any new bookings, at the end of March. The best way to look at is that - from now until April 1st (no joke there) - all trips are "on sale." There is no great way to put it, but we wanted to let you know and - if it nudges you off the fence, and onto a trip, then at least we'll both have something to be happy about. |
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Musical Notes We get asked a lot about our trips with musicians aboard. A "concert?" On the ship? Explain. Is it loud? Do we HAVE to go? We call our Summer Concert Series- Sea Great Music. All the musicians and groups are acoustic and "unplugged." Authentic to the sailor's life, it is only voice and instruments. The music is never loud. The bands typically play for an hour or so. The "concerts" are intimate; lit by the glow of oil lanterns. Generally, it's after dinner. The ship's size allows for seating up close or from back in the mizzen lounge area, or while sipping coffee in the grand salon below decks, or from the comfort of your cabin as you read or snuggle. However you listen, it's a magical experience. When The Chivalrous Crickets (AUG 5-8) are aboard, there might be, in addition to their "regular" extraordinary tunes, rollicking drinking songs harmoniously howled a cappella with pub glee. With Skylark (SEP 18-22) you'll enjoy English and Irish ballads. What's it like to have Live Music Aboard? Mellow or energized, it is always an emotional experience. The setting is always serene and picturesque; inaccessible but by boat. The sky is cooling from the embers of sunset to the blue-black of summer's late dusk. It is quiet enough to hear a fish splash or a seal huff as it curiously bobs about. The only amplifier is the great guitar-like wooden hull of the ship. |
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You're aboard a ship that is the last of her kind in the world. You are anchored in coves that most visitors will never see. You are hearing music often not widely heard though beloved; passion projects or niche to earnest devotees. It's a cozy and special experience to hear such music thrum the ship as we sit gently at anchor in a peaceful cove. |
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What's Better than Cool? Cooler. |
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Don't forget that the ship is BYOB. We'll stuff you with food and dessert but, for Wine O'clock or "Beer Me" you're gonna have to haunt the ship with your own spirits. On deck is a big (BIG) cooler, circled there in its bigness. Bring whatever you like. You can chill it in there when you need to. And, on the side there is a bottle opener. As for the picture and to answer the question of "what the heck are they doing?" Well, they're doing The Wave of course. Last August, it became a "thing" to do the wave to the laughter and confusion of any passing vessel. Yet another advantage of being the largest ship going is that doing The Wave is really doing something. We get such fun people on our trips! |
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You Know What You Should Do? Twelve times out of nine, that is one of the most annoying things someone can say to you. But really, you know what you should do? Share this newsletter. You're cool, you have a cool friend or two, right?. Well, we're trying to spread the word about our fun and frolicking trips. So... You see where this is going, don't you? Yes, share this newsletter. What kind of friend would know about some fun thing, and NOT tell their friends? Not a cool friend, that's for sure. |
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We hope to host you aboard this season! For daily updates and musings, follow us on Social - |
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