USS Constitution Under Sail
Mar 24, 2015 13:27:39 #
Mar 24, 2015 13:33:19 #
Hi Bob. I got a one on one tour of her from one of the Cadets of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy who was OD for the day. Stem to stern, below and above deck and all quarters.
How did you enjoy Rhody when you were stationed there?
How did you enjoy Rhody when you were stationed there?
Mar 24, 2015 13:59:06 #
Photon wrote:
Wow- that's the trifecta of having a connection to... (show quote)
Photon, Was she really sailing "free" of tugs in that August 2012 photo. During her semi annual "turn-arounds" she has a small tug lashed to one side, usually the port, so that the people eatching from both shores and anchored boats could see one side without the tug being visible. After the 1997 sail a bunch of Retired senior Admirals raised a ruckus about the risk of having an old wooden ship sailing. They claimed it could put her at risk or damage her. The risk was probably quite small, because even when she was sailing there were "rescue" tugs close by, and she was allowed a very limited wind speed range for sailing. No matter the Navy announced that she would never sail free again, and I've never heard of that being rescinded
Mar 24, 2015 14:57:31 #
JCam wrote:
Photon, Was she really sailing "free" o... (show quote)
I had to do some research to check but I think that it was. Here is an article about it from CBS News-
"During Sunday's sail, the Constitution's crew of about 65, accompanied by 150 sailors selected to be part of event, will unfurl four of its 36 sails, Neely said. The tugs will stand by as a precaution when the Constitution sails on its own. And the trip can't happen unless the weather conditions are right.
The ship won't move in winds less than five mph and anything over about 15 mph would put too much stress on the vessel, Neely said. But the forecast looks favorable"
There were tugs nearby but I do think it was on its own for 10-15 minutes. Either way it was amazing to see.
Mar 24, 2015 15:56:35 #
Photon wrote:
I had to do some research to check but I think tha... (show quote)
Thank you, I'm glad that they are letting her do her thing!
I seem to recall the XO told me that the wind restrictions for the 1997 sail of Marblehead were 6 - 12 MPH which are reasonable for sailors (Officers & crew) not used to square riggers; whitecaps start to form @ 15.
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