Those of you who know me, know of my long-standing interest in the history of the Royal Navy in the Age of Sail. I have been feeling rather guilty as of late, because that interest has taken a bit of a back seat due to my involvement in the effort to preserve the Falls of Clyde. Therefore, I was pleased to learn of a connection between the two.

The late John “Jack” French Whitehead (1913–2002) was a master woodcarver who, among other things, specialized in carving figureheads for ships. Two of his projects: Falls of Clyde and HMS Warrior.

From Mr. Whitehead’s obituary in the 8 March 2002 issue of The Independent (UK):

“Originally built in Scotland in 1878, the Falls of Clyde was under a full restoration project in Honolulu for the Bishop Museum when in 1974 Whitehead was given the job of replacing the original carving. A massive 8ft high, it weighed over a ton and a half. Ever the perfectionist, Whitehead flew out to supervise the fitting of the ‘White Lady’, possibly the first time a carving of this size had been fitted on a vessel in over 100 years.”

“One of the last Whitehead and [Norman] Gaches projects was perhaps one of the most important carving commissions undertaken on a British vessel. HMS Warrior was built in 1860 at the Thames Iron Shipbuilding Company in Blackwall, London, the original figurehead having being carved by James Hellyer and Sons of London. By the late 1980s she was under restoration in West Hartlepool, on behalf of the British Maritime Trust and in need of a new figurehead, the original having been destroyed as late as the 1960s.”

Here is the Falls of Clyde’s figurehead as it looked in 2006:

In early 2009, after it had been removed when the ship was being prepared for scuttling in the Summer of 2008:

Although I have had the fortune to visit HMS Warrior, I regret that I do not have a photo of her figurehead. However, here is a link to an article about the ship which includes a picture of Norman Gaches working on it:

Way of the Warrior

(It is interesting to note that both vessels served as fuel hulks before they were restored.)

Thu 26 Nov 2009

The Royal Navy aboard “Adventure” depart Perth twice in one day

We have just re-read the last paragraph of the last Blog – how naïve we were!!!!!!

We sailed from Perth, full of expectation, excitement and enthusiasm – sunscreen applied liberally, sunhats adorned, the sails went up and the fenders and warps were stowed in the bowels of the ship not to be seen for another fortnight.  The ship was made ship shape – we were at sea.  The VHF radio sprung into life advising the skipper we did indeed have to take the trysail track with us and not leave it for shipping to Sydney.  The Skipper swore heavily and dutifully announced that we were not allowed to laugh about this for two years.

The sails came down, the fenders and warps were recovered (just as an indicator this is 60 minutes of aerobic activity-moving dinghy, flankers and opening and closing forepeak stowage) and the ship was made ready to go alongside.  The trysail tack was recovered within 30 seconds with a slick manoeuvre but we were now significantly behind the other two boats-more importantly we were now chasing the weather window to get round Cape Leeuwin and enter the notoriously awesome Southern Ocean.  After some creative navigation and re-hoisting of sails etc we were now moving by wind power alone – fantastic feeling – we rendezvoused with the other two vessels on the start line…. but look… there were four of us in formation 2.  A whale had come to see us off.  All four of us crossed the start line together and we were racing……………fine seas and searing sun – the Skipper’s promise of barefoot sailing and sundowners for the off watch was all looking good.

But wait – the Gods of wind and sea had something else in mind – we had been completely lulled into a false sense of security.  Despite the flying fish and the array of birdlife the weather was beginning to turn. A reef was put in and shaken out then put in again then shaken again – some good practice for all the crew.  A full main and a No 2 Yankee soon were overpowering the boat and it was time to stand back and have a rethink – two reefs and a sail change – not easy to do in these seas – fore sail off and we reduced to a number 3 yankee – the sea and the wind had changed considerably for the worse and this made the simple task really quite onerous- the speed of the change caught us dressed improperly and we were soaked – nonetheless it was still satisfying to look back on completion at a job well done.

There are  –

1. Feeling seasick
2. Feeling as if you are going to die
3. Wishing you were dead

The sea has been unrelenting with 30ft waves and huge walls of water giving the yacht a completely unpredictable motion.  All of the crew have been in the realms of the above – from number 1 through to the majority suffering 2 and 3.  We thought at one point we had only sailed with 14 people but it has now been confirmed that all 15 of us have been upright at some point.  That being said we are all a little bruised, battered and tired and looking forward to maybe some relief from this non-stop roller coaster courtesy of King Neptune.

A good indicator to the sea state is the fact we have seen no other yachts or sails and to that end have only seen one small coaster who glided past us in the night – we all had visions of them playing snooker on their stable platform and watching agog from their bridge at the insanity that was being played out on their starboard side.  Despite all of this, spirit is high and morale was added to with the showers being put on today – our very own human washing machine!

There is a real sense of achievement to round one of the three hallowed Capes under sail and ADVENTURE sits 30NM south of Bald Head (appropriate for some) South Australia.  300NM of challenging sailing complete – what is in store for the next 2000NM?

SHOUT OUTS!

Steve says that water doesn’t go down the plughole the other way round on this yacht despite being in the southern hemisphere – water goes anywhere it can find a home!!! Love to all XXXX

Pete says hi to Tina, Ellie Emma and James, get packing for Christmas and Emma, stop dancing until after we get home! XXXX   A big hello to all back in the GOSCC – after several days of heavy weather, this is still better than being in work!

Col says hello to Pagey Girl. Just had my first shower for 4 days; feel so much better.   I love you and miss you lots and can’t wait to see you in Sydney.  Not too long now.  Enjoy your ‘James Bond Night’ in the Mess.  XXX

Jules, if you’re reading, hope you’re well and the pregnancy is on track, Good luck with the birth!

Neil says Hi to Debs xx, The BFBs, all at Vivid and Hazel & Giles at work, been classic Southern Ocean so far. I’m steering for the light breezes and flat seas but can’t see them whilst we’re in the trough of another monster wave!!

Sara says hi to all back home and has enjoyed the start of this adventurous sail in the Southern Ocean around Australia.  Hoping that the seas will be calm and the wind strong to allow us to have a swift and safe passage for our travels.  Missing her boo!  Counting the days!.  Love to all.  Sxx

Mike says hi to all his family and friends, special mention to Ben and Jess, hope you are behaving?  Hopefully today is a day to celebrate but I will find out when I get back home J Love to Vee, hope you are feeling ok? Must keep battling with Neptune, love to all Mwah xxxxx

Amanda says hi to family and friends. Today I mostly feeling sick and being sick!!! Oh what a great way to spend £650. Lets get Sydney as soon as!!!!!!

Kevin says hi Ros and the kids and Andy if you are tracking us.  Should in Sydney possibly 6/7^th Dec.

Olly gives a shout out to Lucy and Connor!

Tom says hi to all at home. Spent the morning mostly getting wet, then more wet and enjoyed his journey through a few monster waves! But all good fun! Missing you loads Annie, can’t wait to see you again. Love U xxx

Rich says hi to all, good breeze out here, rolling around like a bugger, loving the first few days and here’s to having some sunshine soon! Alex, miss you loads, hope Oliver isn’t keeping you up too much. Big hug for you both. Bring on Sydney! Lots of Love. Rich. Xxxx

Claire et al., Enforced bulimia, coping well and having fun. Jeremy.xxx

Found a new app on iTunes app store; Royal Navy Engineers, see link () it’s free!
First attempt I failed miserably! Can’t figure out periscope one!?
But on second attempt (and a bit of luck) I did quite well!
See pic below

Only gripe is, app crashes when ever I try and submit score! I know it’s not going to be a great score, but would like to see how I fair against everyone else who’s tried it!

A few days ago I wrote a post about the F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation, single-seat, single-engine, stealth multirole fighter, that will also equip the Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force, ItAF) and the Marina Militare, that will use the F-35B from the new Cavour STOVL aircraft carrier. In spite of a carrier variant designated F-35C, the RAF and Royal Navy will use the B variant from aircraft carriers and the U.S. Marines Corps are investigating the use of the Ship-borne Rolling and Vertical Landing (SRVL) method to operate F-35Bs from the aircraft carrier without disrupting carrier operations as the landing method uses the same pattern of approach as wire arrested landings. The F-35C carrier (whose only user will be the US Navy to replace the “legacy Hornets” and complement the Super Hornets) variant will be much similar to the A and B versions, but will have larger, folding wings and larger control surfaces for improved low-speed control. The aircraft will also be equipped with a stronger landing gear and hook for the stresses of carrier trap landings.

The following front, side and top views of the three variants will give an idea of the main differences among the F-35A, B and C.

Pagina pubblicitaria del caccia imbarcato Hawker Sea Hawk in dotazione alla Fleet Air Arm britannica.

Dan Snow

I was asked to interview Dan Snow and finally caught up with him between flights (his, not mine) for a lightning chat. Here’s how it turned out…

Though Dan Snow’s rise to television presenter celebrity status seems to have been meteoric, his pedigree for the job couldn’t be finer. Here he reveals he might well have pursued a Royal Navy career. Interview by Sandra Fraser.

Dan Snow is rushing between airport terminals. He’s flown overnight from Canada, it’s Monday morning and he is in the process of catching another plane to Malta. In true jet-setting style he’s conducting this interview in-between. Behind his familiar voice is the noise of tannoy announcements and baggage trolleys and he sounds a little tired as he negotiates other travellers but he’s a seasoned campaigner and used to pushing himself beyond his limits.

The son of journalists Peter Snow and Ann MacMillan, he’s often announced as The Historian Dan Snow, along with the biographical detail that he’s a 6ft 6in Oxford Blue rower. He admits his interest in rowing and sailing could have seen him end up in a number of other careers, had life taken a different turn. Dan grew up in London, the perfect base for his parents’ careers, and living by the River Thames made it natural that water pleasures should beckon. He learned both to row and to sail while still a schoolboy.

“I got into sailing because I had a family who sailed – Mum and Dad sailed,” he says, walking between terminals, as bleeps and announcements go off in the background. Like so many keen sailors, he started with Optimists and Wayfarers, honing his skills as he went along.

“Sailing teaches you patience. It teaches you to think in a certain way – how to use the elements efficiently – you can’t will the boat to go faster – all good life lessons. It teaches you self-reliance,” he says. “And sailing with a crew teaches you great teamwork.”

Dan went to school at St Paul’s, which offered rowing on its curriculum.  He was encouraged by teachers to use his long arms and legs – efficient levers – to good effect, though he jokes it was because he wasn’t much use at other sports. He joined the Sea Cadets around the age of 12 as an extra-curricular activity.

Young Dan would hop on his bike and cycle to meetings, or parades, as they are more formally known.

“I loved the discipline and learning things about the water – well all sorts of things really – hostage situations, first aid – on a Friday night in Putney. I like to think I learned a huge amount. You have your limits stretched by the Sea Cadets,” he says.

“I could have ended up in the Navy, it’s funny how life goes,” he says.

From St Paul’s, Dan went on to Oxford University, where he studied Modern History and became a member of the Oxford rowing squad, earning a Blue for rowing in the Cambridge-Oxford boat race three years running. He also became the boat club President, though his crew lost in a year he has described as both his best and his worst. His break into television came when the BBC asked if he and his father, best remembered for his Newsnight presentations on election nights, but also a serious journalist of long-standing and distinction, would make a programme together. Though Snow Senior was initially reluctant, the programme was made and Snow Junior’s career path was set.

Combining Dan’s twin interests of history and water pursuits is his idea of double pleasure and he has plenty of ideas up his sleeve if programme-makers have budgets to pursue them. He has already made many programmes about seafaring and ships, including the sinking of the Ark Royal in 1941, the history of the Spanish Armada and a soon-to-be-screened series about the D-Day landings. There have been times during his programme-making career, he reveals, when his Sea Cadet training has come in handy.

“You join the Sea Cadets and you push your own limits. You discover things about yourself. It opens up options and whether you go on to command an air craft carrier or anything else you can use those lessons,” says Dan, recalling trip to St Kilda in stormy weather.

“We were on a little rig heading to St Kilda, going towards the Hebrides, when a big Atlantic storm blew up,” he says. “I remember thinking, this is just like being in the Sea Cadets!”

He loves his job and enjoys being busy, taking all the tiring travelling in his stride.

“No two days are the same,” he says, “I’m off to Malta today and the next day I might be in a library.”

It’s description that could have matched a seafaring career, had he pursued one.

“I could definitely have gone into the Royal Navy proper or the Marines,” says Dan. “I often look back and wonder what life would have been like.”

He recently joined the crew of the TS Royalist and put his skills to the test once more, posting Tweets on the social networking site, Twitter. In fact, his followers will see many of his posts revolve around his water adventures, and he mentions Trafalgar, HMS Caroline and rowing a boat down the Thames, retracing Nelson’s young footsteps.

Dan Snow’s passport may have him down as an historian, but while young men may grow out the Sea Cadets, you can’t take the Sea Cadets out of the grown man.

Dan appears regularly on The BBC programme, The One Show and has a Twitter page. http://twitter.com/thehistoryGuy

His latest book DEATH OR VICTORY: The Battle of Quebec and the Birth of Empire is published by HarperPress, price £25.

Dan’s BBC2 programme Empire of the Seas is being screened in November.

George Patience from Inverness, 74 has now organised a trip back to Corfu where he served in the Royal Navy working on a mine sweeper. He will be returning in August next year along with 2 other veterans he served with.

From the blog of Emma Collingwood:

Unfortunately, “The Radiant Boy” won’t be available in time for Christmas (the book will go on sale in January 2010). A small consolation: the price for “Lieutenant Samuel Blackwood (deceased)” has been lowered by £ 1.00!

Christmas Special:

Buy “Lieutenant Samuel Blackwood (deceased)” for
£ 7.50 (Europe) or £ 8.50 (elsewhere)!

First class postage is included in these prices!

ABOUT THE BOOK

REVIEWS

PLEASE ORDER THE PRINT EDITION HERE!

PLEASE ORDER THE E-BOOK HERE!

HMS Privet has the reputation of being a cursed ship: every first lieutenant serving aboard her dies gruesomely. Lieutenant Daniel Leigh is determined to solve the mystery and volunteers for the place himself, putting his life in desperate danger. Little does he suspect that he will fall in love with the captain, John Meadows, and end up fighting not only for his own life, but for the soul of his lover, too.

Lieutenant Samuel Blackwood (deceased) – a Georgian ghost story featuring a cursed ship, a vengeful ghost, a haunted captain and a very daring lieutenant.

Illustrations: Amandine de Villeneuve
Editor: Alex Beecroft

Contains male/male romance.

Britain’s newest nuclear powered submarine has set sail for the first time today.

Astute under construction

The vessel, called ‘Astute’, is the first of a new class of attack subs set to be the biggest and most powerful in the fleet.

Defence Equipment and Support Minister Quentin Davies was upbeat about the launch.

“This is a significant milestone for Astute as she sails for the first time.” he said.

“Astute will now begin a set of sea trials ahead of her full acceptance with the Royal Navy next year.”

The MOD’s plan to build a total of seven astute class submarines have drawn criticism from campaigning groups.

John Ainsley, Scottish coordinator for the CND, says the whole program was running over budget.

“The four submarines that are finished and under construction now are already £1.2bn over budget” he said.

“Although they aren’t actually nuclear armed submarines this is of concern to us as it shows just how much money replacing Trident could potentially cost.”

The submarines are built by BAE systems.

Once trials are finished they will be able to circle the entire globe underwater and will never need to be refueled thanks to advanced nuclear technology.

Jugglers, jesters and clowns are just some of the attractions at this year’s BBC Children in Need event in the North East of England, which will take place on Friday 20 November from 6.00 to 10.00pm at Hartlepool Maritime Experience, home of HMS Trincomalee.

The event will be broadcast live on BBC One North East during several special segments throughout the evening and will be hosted by BBC Tees‘ mid-morning presenter, Diane Youdale, and BBC Look North’s Jeff Brown and Trai Anfield.

Hartlepool’s Maritime Experience

will be open for free entry during the broadcast and it is hoped visitors will join in the fun with fancy dress, and take part in the special fundraising events happening around HMS Trincomalee.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS

clipped from liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com

Somali-based pirates have struck again.  Hijacking a Greek-owned cargo ship 400 nautical miles northeast of the Seychelles Islands in the Indian Ocean.

London-based piracy expert Nick Davis, tells Fox News, pirates now have “…no problem extending their reach.”   He explains they “leapfrog” from skiff to skiff with a range of some 200 miles for each small boat.  When they reach their target ship they just sail that back to Somalia.

By:FoxNewsChannel

Books in the genre of Christian historical fiction (especially those of a romantic nature) have never been high on my reading list.  However, The Red Siren (Barbour Publishing) by M. L. Tyndall had such a tantalizing title, I couldn’t help but take a peek at the first book in her Charles Towne Belles series.  Plus, the book description mentioned pirates—how could I pass that up?

Set in the early 1700’s in colonial America, this pirate’s tale is also one of a belle named Faith Westcott, the second eldest daughter of Admiral Westcott of England’s Royal Navy.  After her mother’s death and her older sister’s unfortunate married to a terrible man, Faith has undertaken the gargantuan task of caring for her younger sisters, the flirtatious Hope and the pious Grace.  Instead of seeing her sisters married off to the highest bidder, Faith engages in a secret life of piracy on the high seas, with her trusty groomsman, Lucas, by her side serving as first mate.  Using the stolen loot, Faith hopes to provide herself and her sisters with financial security apart from relying on untrustworthy husbands (and an absent father).

All seems to go [relatively well] until a captain from her past—Dajon Waite—shows up and is appointed guardian to Faith and her sisters while Admiral Westcott leaves his family again for another sea-faring adventure.  Mr. Waite seeks to keep the ladies in line while serving as captain aboard the HMS Enforcer, whose main objective is to rid Charles Towne of nuisance pirates, especially a woman known as the Red Siren.  Will Waite discover that strong-willed Faith, who seems to have stolen his heart is the same woman who had stolen his ship five years prior?  And will Faith, who has little faith in God or men, find romance with Mr. Waite and know the love of God who she rejected years before?  You will just have to read The Red Siren to find out!

Faith Westcott is an appealing character with her sharp wit, dedication to her sisters, and oh, her secret life as a pirate.  Reminiscent of real-life pirate lady Anne Bonny (who some say also had flaming red hair), Faith is different than most pirates because she has a passion, purpose, which are overshadowed by compassion and kindness.  While Faith clearly enjoys being in control and commanding a ship, she does not harm others when looting a merchant vessel.  Still, the longer Faith raids ships, the more she realizes the risk associated with her lifestyle and it doesn’t help that the man who turns her knees to jelly is an intense pirate hunter. Plus, he’s a looker!

The Red Siren is well worth your time, especially if you like high seas adventure, plot twists, and interesting characters.  Instead of saturating her story with Scripture, M. L. Tyndall uses just enough—her characters examine their faith in God, but this isn’t a a secret witnessing tool pieced together with a sloppy plot—it’s a good book.  I can hardly wait to read the next two books in the Charles Towne Bell series—The Enchantress and The Raven Saint, which follow the adventures of Hope and Grace Westcott.

Amy’s Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

*I did no pillaging nor plundering to obtain The Red Siren. The book was furnished for me for review by Barbour Publishing. Aren’t they swell?*

HMS Ark Royal och HMS Ocean lämnar Portsmouth, officielt för att delta i en övning i östra Medelhavet. Ombord finns 40:e Royal Marines Commando. Ark Royal är ett hangarfartyg som normalt betjänar Harriers, men har byggts om för att vara helikopterplatform för den förestående invasionen av Irak. Storbritannien har fått som ansvar att säkra Basra och Al-Faw-halvön. Målet för resan är hemligt för de ombordvarande.

Efter avfärd ägnar sig manskapet åt övning; räddning, brandsläckning, laddning, lastning av helikoptrar osv. Långt senare, efter passagen av Suez-kanalen beslutar befälhavaren överste Gordon Messenger att informera major Matt Jackson från 40:e Commando om detajerna för operationen mot löfte om att stänga av alla mobiltelefoner och kommunikationsutrustning. Det är inte utan att man får en känsla av svunnen Age of Sail-tid av detta. Vid ankomst till Cypern begränsas möjligheterna till större övningar av att lufttiden bokats av uppvisningsgruppen Red Arrows sedan länge. På grund av sekretessen kunde inte Red Arrows prioriteras ner för att marinen skall få förbereda sig för för krig.

42:a Commando flyger till Kuwait i ett chartrat jumbojet. Efter landning välkomnas de av flygvärdinnan med att de önskas en “safe and productive stay”.

Amiral Snelson som ansvarat för planeringen av insatsen för Storbritanniens räkning deltar i ett sista planeringsmöte med amerikanska generalen Tommy Franks. Istället för vanliga PowerPoint-slides vid mötet visas den inledande stridsscenen ur filmen Gladiator. De germanska stammarna har erbjudits fred, men vägrat inse att de är besegrade och de möter då en massivt överlägsen fiende. Det är ganska talande för vilken vision som fanns för kriget. Man får nog säga att de fick rätt.