Alley and I are volunteering for the Top Sail program.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irving_Johnson_%28ship%29Today 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?!?!
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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.
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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!!!
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Just before furling the topsail I'm untying the "gasket".
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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.
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Alley has banned me from posting pictures of her so you just had me to look at, thanks.