19th September 2015: The Best Voyage Yet
Summer 2015 has been quite busy aboard Lord Nelson and Tenacious. Tenacious was moored at Poole for their annual Harry Paye Day - a tribute to a local pirate of days gone by, and we showed hundreds of people around the boat in the hope that they will come back and sail with us. We also took Lord Nelson out on a few day sails, the most notable of which was to to see the Red Arrows performing over Cowes. By chance or design we managed to moor Nellie right in the centre of the low level display (forced by cloud) and had a fantastic view of the various manoeuvres.
Then to round off the summer in spectacular fashion I had the opportunity of doing Lord Nelson for the voyage from Great Yarmouth to Southampton. I travelled up by train and met, on the gangway, my old friend and former voyage crew David Sage who wished me off to the local pub to enjoy some genuine sea shanties courtesy of a host of visiting sailors from various ships.
Under normal circumstances it would not be that much fun sailing south down the north sea and beating into the south westerlies but by some strange quirk of nature the wind actually came from the north meaning that we did not need the motors at all until we stopped off at Boulogne, and that was simply to manoeuvre into the quay. After a fantastic watch meal of snails and veal, we sailed the following day to Alderney when to our delight the wind shifted to the east giving us yet more sailing.
At Alderney we moored in the bay and Marchant and his team ferried us back and forth to the quayside. I joined two farmers wives from Norfolk to rent some bikes for the day and we did a tour of the island before returning to Nellie for a mast climb and a BBQ at the stern of the boat.
The final leg of our ten day voyage took us northeast back to Southampton and - to our amazement - the wind veered to the west so all the sails went up and once again the engine was virtually redundant! In the final analysis we spent over 93% of the voyage under sail with the engines switched off!
Many thanks to Watchleader Alan, Buddy Gareth, Andrew, Alan, Mally, Mark and Greg for making it a fantastic trip.
Summer 2015 has been quite busy aboard Lord Nelson and Tenacious. Tenacious was moored at Poole for their annual Harry Paye Day - a tribute to a local pirate of days gone by, and we showed hundreds of people around the boat in the hope that they will come back and sail with us. We also took Lord Nelson out on a few day sails, the most notable of which was to to see the Red Arrows performing over Cowes. By chance or design we managed to moor Nellie right in the centre of the low level display (forced by cloud) and had a fantastic view of the various manoeuvres.
Then to round off the summer in spectacular fashion I had the opportunity of doing Lord Nelson for the voyage from Great Yarmouth to Southampton. I travelled up by train and met, on the gangway, my old friend and former voyage crew David Sage who wished me off to the local pub to enjoy some genuine sea shanties courtesy of a host of visiting sailors from various ships.
Under normal circumstances it would not be that much fun sailing south down the north sea and beating into the south westerlies but by some strange quirk of nature the wind actually came from the north meaning that we did not need the motors at all until we stopped off at Boulogne, and that was simply to manoeuvre into the quay. After a fantastic watch meal of snails and veal, we sailed the following day to Alderney when to our delight the wind shifted to the east giving us yet more sailing.
At Alderney we moored in the bay and Marchant and his team ferried us back and forth to the quayside. I joined two farmers wives from Norfolk to rent some bikes for the day and we did a tour of the island before returning to Nellie for a mast climb and a BBQ at the stern of the boat.
The final leg of our ten day voyage took us northeast back to Southampton and - to our amazement - the wind veered to the west so all the sails went up and once again the engine was virtually redundant! In the final analysis we spent over 93% of the voyage under sail with the engines switched off!
Many thanks to Watchleader Alan, Buddy Gareth, Andrew, Alan, Mally, Mark and Greg for making it a fantastic trip.
1st October 2014: Review of 4th Atlantic Crossing Under Sail
Sailing across the Atlantic aboard the Lord Nelson was a truly amazing experience and one that I will not forget for a long, long time. There were so many enjoyable moments, from meeting Jacob Baker and his family in Halifax, through the visits to Lunenburg and Horta, working with a magnificent 'popcorn' watch, some exciting sailing and, of course, the whale watching and dolphin shows. Even the stopover in London was fantastic because Val came up and we were able to become tourists for a few days.
Perhaps I should start by explaining that hardly anything went to plan. The original itinerary was to take us to Reykjavik and then on to the Faroe Islands before sailing south down the east coast to London. We would have needed some spectacular downwind sailing to achieve that in the time available and once Lunenburg (heading away from Reykjavik at the outset!) was added to the route, it quickly became impossible. The decision was made easier by the fact that a hurricane was tracking the same route as Lord Nelson and even were we to make it to Iceland, it would have been under motor and very uncomfortable. The decision to head for the Azores instead was a good one. Even then the wind was not that kind and we ended up using the motors far more than was desirable but motor assisted sailing is better than no sails at all!
Lunenburg is a world heritage centre and an intended stopover for the previous voyage from the Caribbean to Halifax that had been abandoned due to fog. Meeting our obligations with a short trip there was a good move and gave us a chance to stretch our sea legs before the longer Atlantic crossing. It also gave us an opportunity for the customary egg throwing competition between watches. The idea being to pack and egg using materials found on board and thrown from the main mast to the stern without breaking it. The egg that went the furthest would win. In the end, popcorn watch achieved a credible second place behind the bosuns who, one felt, had the unfair advantage of experience on their side!
Horta was a magnificent stopover at the half way point with a regular visits to the Peter Cafe Sport and tapas in the cove. We left our visiting card painted on the quay, as all visiting boats and ships have done over the years, and set sail for the UK expecting the traditional south westerlies to assist us. In the event the north easterlies (!) meant even more motoring and with a welcome home party in London due to start on the Friday, tensions got a little high as we wondered whether we would make it in time. It really would have been a poor party without Lord Nelson as the guest of honour. In the event, and with considerable gratitude to our skipper, Captain Chris, we did make it and the 'sail the world' sponsors threw a pretty good reception for us.
We made some life long friends aboard Lord Nelson. David, Lizzi, Sherwood, Jess, Tom, James, Cookie Dave, Chips and all of popcorn watch to mention just a few. Special thanks to Helen, Phillipa, Mary and Linda who also helped make it a memorable experience. I hope we meet up again on future voyages.
Sailing across the Atlantic aboard the Lord Nelson was a truly amazing experience and one that I will not forget for a long, long time. There were so many enjoyable moments, from meeting Jacob Baker and his family in Halifax, through the visits to Lunenburg and Horta, working with a magnificent 'popcorn' watch, some exciting sailing and, of course, the whale watching and dolphin shows. Even the stopover in London was fantastic because Val came up and we were able to become tourists for a few days.
Perhaps I should start by explaining that hardly anything went to plan. The original itinerary was to take us to Reykjavik and then on to the Faroe Islands before sailing south down the east coast to London. We would have needed some spectacular downwind sailing to achieve that in the time available and once Lunenburg (heading away from Reykjavik at the outset!) was added to the route, it quickly became impossible. The decision was made easier by the fact that a hurricane was tracking the same route as Lord Nelson and even were we to make it to Iceland, it would have been under motor and very uncomfortable. The decision to head for the Azores instead was a good one. Even then the wind was not that kind and we ended up using the motors far more than was desirable but motor assisted sailing is better than no sails at all!
Lunenburg is a world heritage centre and an intended stopover for the previous voyage from the Caribbean to Halifax that had been abandoned due to fog. Meeting our obligations with a short trip there was a good move and gave us a chance to stretch our sea legs before the longer Atlantic crossing. It also gave us an opportunity for the customary egg throwing competition between watches. The idea being to pack and egg using materials found on board and thrown from the main mast to the stern without breaking it. The egg that went the furthest would win. In the end, popcorn watch achieved a credible second place behind the bosuns who, one felt, had the unfair advantage of experience on their side!
Horta was a magnificent stopover at the half way point with a regular visits to the Peter Cafe Sport and tapas in the cove. We left our visiting card painted on the quay, as all visiting boats and ships have done over the years, and set sail for the UK expecting the traditional south westerlies to assist us. In the event the north easterlies (!) meant even more motoring and with a welcome home party in London due to start on the Friday, tensions got a little high as we wondered whether we would make it in time. It really would have been a poor party without Lord Nelson as the guest of honour. In the event, and with considerable gratitude to our skipper, Captain Chris, we did make it and the 'sail the world' sponsors threw a pretty good reception for us.
We made some life long friends aboard Lord Nelson. David, Lizzi, Sherwood, Jess, Tom, James, Cookie Dave, Chips and all of popcorn watch to mention just a few. Special thanks to Helen, Phillipa, Mary and Linda who also helped make it a memorable experience. I hope we meet up again on future voyages.
August 11th 2014: All Change for Atlantic Crossing
Lord Nelson has just returned from a seven day round trip from Halifax Nova Scotia. The intention had been to sail to the islands of St Pierre and Miquelon but bad weather, courtesy of Hurricane Bertha, forced a change of plans. So whilst Bertha headed east to give the United Kingdom a drop or two of rain (!) Lord Nelson took to Louisbourg. Her departure sounds to have been a grand affair with two 18th century French soldiers in full regalia and with drums and piccolos to mark their departure. The local fort also fired a single cannon to mark their departure.
Back in Halifax, work has started to load provisions for the next voyage to St John's Newfoundland and then on across the North Atlantic to Reykjavik. The new permanent crew arrive tomorrow and the watch leaders will report on Wednesday evening before the main crew join on Thursday as they slip lines from Pier 21, Halifax.
Lord Nelson has just returned from a seven day round trip from Halifax Nova Scotia. The intention had been to sail to the islands of St Pierre and Miquelon but bad weather, courtesy of Hurricane Bertha, forced a change of plans. So whilst Bertha headed east to give the United Kingdom a drop or two of rain (!) Lord Nelson took to Louisbourg. Her departure sounds to have been a grand affair with two 18th century French soldiers in full regalia and with drums and piccolos to mark their departure. The local fort also fired a single cannon to mark their departure.
Back in Halifax, work has started to load provisions for the next voyage to St John's Newfoundland and then on across the North Atlantic to Reykjavik. The new permanent crew arrive tomorrow and the watch leaders will report on Wednesday evening before the main crew join on Thursday as they slip lines from Pier 21, Halifax.
August 3rd 2014: London Homecoming
Lord Nelson will sail up the River Thames with her sister ship Tenacious when she returns to the UK in September. It will be almost two years since she last sailed in British waters and her return to London on September 19th is sure to be an emotional occasion. Her two year Sail the World voyage sponsored by Norton Rose Fulbright has taken her to over 30 countries and across 45,000 miles of ocean including six crossings of the equator. In London she will be moored next to HMS Belfast until September 22nd, when she sails to Southampton to complete her circumnavigation.
Lord Nelson will sail up the River Thames with her sister ship Tenacious when she returns to the UK in September. It will be almost two years since she last sailed in British waters and her return to London on September 19th is sure to be an emotional occasion. Her two year Sail the World voyage sponsored by Norton Rose Fulbright has taken her to over 30 countries and across 45,000 miles of ocean including six crossings of the equator. In London she will be moored next to HMS Belfast until September 22nd, when she sails to Southampton to complete her circumnavigation.
July 30th 2014: What Am I Waiting For?
Lord Nelson is now safely moored at Pier 21 in Halifax from where I will sail with her to St John's, Newfoundland two weeks today before the big ocean crossing to Reykjavik. Whilst she is based in Nova Scotia she will take part in The Halifax International Busker Festival which runs from July 30th through to August 4th.
The festival is the oldest and largest of its kind in Canada and features some very odd performers such as rubber band boy from New Zealand and Alkazam the 'human knot' from Australia. Lord Nelson will be an ‘open ship’ for visitors to come on board and see the unique facilities that make her fully accessible to all physical abilities. Nova Scotia has already taken Nellie to her heart and her visit has been well covered by CBC News who have filmed a virtual tour of the boat in case you are interested. The video shows Captain Barbara as the guide above and below decks and gives an excellent insight into the range of facilities that are available to disabled crew.
My thanks to Jacob for the fantastic picture of Lord Nelson moored in Halifax which he took over the weekend and also for the landing page photo.
Lord Nelson is now safely moored at Pier 21 in Halifax from where I will sail with her to St John's, Newfoundland two weeks today before the big ocean crossing to Reykjavik. Whilst she is based in Nova Scotia she will take part in The Halifax International Busker Festival which runs from July 30th through to August 4th.
The festival is the oldest and largest of its kind in Canada and features some very odd performers such as rubber band boy from New Zealand and Alkazam the 'human knot' from Australia. Lord Nelson will be an ‘open ship’ for visitors to come on board and see the unique facilities that make her fully accessible to all physical abilities. Nova Scotia has already taken Nellie to her heart and her visit has been well covered by CBC News who have filmed a virtual tour of the boat in case you are interested. The video shows Captain Barbara as the guide above and below decks and gives an excellent insight into the range of facilities that are available to disabled crew.
My thanks to Jacob for the fantastic picture of Lord Nelson moored in Halifax which he took over the weekend and also for the landing page photo.
July 26th 2014: Halifax Here We Come!
After a brief visit to Bermuda, Lord Nelson managed to leave the dreaded triangle last week and has since been making good progress north to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she is expected to arrive sometime tomorrow (Sunday). It was intended to stop at Lunenburg first but fog in Nova Scotia (hey, it's clear and 80 degrees plus here!) has resulted in a slight revision to the intended schedule. Lord Nelson's journey northward reminded me of a similar route we took on leg 7 of the Clipper Race where the Caribbean waters were quickly replaced with the slate grey seas of the North Atlantic, large swells with white caps on the tops of the waves. Nellie has been experiencing similar changes these last few days with driving rain and wind picking up to 30 knots enabling her to pick up speed and average around 11-12 knots.
By tomorrow she will be moored at Pier 21 where I will meet her two weeks on Wednesday. I feel a practice packing session coming on tomorrow! Whilst moored in Halifax, there will, no doubt, be many opportunities for local schools and other visitors to see the ship. Visiting different ports around the world and making people more aware of the totally inclusive sailing experience that the Jubilee Sailing Trust promotes is very much part of her ambassadorial role.
After a brief visit to Bermuda, Lord Nelson managed to leave the dreaded triangle last week and has since been making good progress north to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she is expected to arrive sometime tomorrow (Sunday). It was intended to stop at Lunenburg first but fog in Nova Scotia (hey, it's clear and 80 degrees plus here!) has resulted in a slight revision to the intended schedule. Lord Nelson's journey northward reminded me of a similar route we took on leg 7 of the Clipper Race where the Caribbean waters were quickly replaced with the slate grey seas of the North Atlantic, large swells with white caps on the tops of the waves. Nellie has been experiencing similar changes these last few days with driving rain and wind picking up to 30 knots enabling her to pick up speed and average around 11-12 knots.
By tomorrow she will be moored at Pier 21 where I will meet her two weeks on Wednesday. I feel a practice packing session coming on tomorrow! Whilst moored in Halifax, there will, no doubt, be many opportunities for local schools and other visitors to see the ship. Visiting different ports around the world and making people more aware of the totally inclusive sailing experience that the Jubilee Sailing Trust promotes is very much part of her ambassadorial role.
July 12th 2014: Antigua
Lord Nelson has been sailing through the Caribbean these last few days, stopping off at a number of small islands along the way. Predictably, the temperatures on deck has been very pleasant indeed but even in these waters there is no time to be complacent. You can emerge from the shadows of an island and suddenly be faced with head on winds of force 6 or 7 which, as the crew found out this week, can make for some challenging sail changes. Interestingly, with a limited number of disabled crew on this voyage, it appears the able bodied crew have been sharpening up their disability awareness with one crew member restricting themselves to a wheelchair for a whole watch whilst others experience visual and hearing impairments. Lord Nelson is well equipped to cater for all disabilities. There is a hearing loop below decks, an audible compass to aid visually impaired crew navigate and a range of lifts and ramps between decks.. There is even a harness that can be used to hoist wheelchair participants high into the rigging. So everyone enjoys the same benefits of working at deck level and above.
Lord Nelson has been sailing through the Caribbean these last few days, stopping off at a number of small islands along the way. Predictably, the temperatures on deck has been very pleasant indeed but even in these waters there is no time to be complacent. You can emerge from the shadows of an island and suddenly be faced with head on winds of force 6 or 7 which, as the crew found out this week, can make for some challenging sail changes. Interestingly, with a limited number of disabled crew on this voyage, it appears the able bodied crew have been sharpening up their disability awareness with one crew member restricting themselves to a wheelchair for a whole watch whilst others experience visual and hearing impairments. Lord Nelson is well equipped to cater for all disabilities. There is a hearing loop below decks, an audible compass to aid visually impaired crew navigate and a range of lifts and ramps between decks.. There is even a harness that can be used to hoist wheelchair participants high into the rigging. So everyone enjoys the same benefits of working at deck level and above.
July 11th 2014: Jubilee Sailing Trust Ship Tracker
You can follow Lord Nelson as she makes her way from the Caribbean to Nova Scotia by following this link. The link will open The Jubilee Sailing Trust's own web site in a separate window where you can track the progress of Lord Nelson up the east coast of the United States of America. You can also track progress of her sister ship Tenacious who is currently taking part in the Tall Ships Race 2014. She has just finished Race 1 from Harlingen in Holland to Fredrikstad in Norway. After cruising to Bergen she will take part in the second race to Esbjerg, Denmark on August 2nd.
You can follow Lord Nelson as she makes her way from the Caribbean to Nova Scotia by following this link. The link will open The Jubilee Sailing Trust's own web site in a separate window where you can track the progress of Lord Nelson up the east coast of the United States of America. You can also track progress of her sister ship Tenacious who is currently taking part in the Tall Ships Race 2014. She has just finished Race 1 from Harlingen in Holland to Fredrikstad in Norway. After cruising to Bergen she will take part in the second race to Esbjerg, Denmark on August 2nd.
June 25th 2014: Watch Out for King Neptune!
Lord Nelson is starting to leave Brazilian waters and is now heading for the Caribbean and that can only mean that she is shortly to cross the equator. For several of the crew on board this will be their first crossing of the equator and these pollywogs will be subpoened to appear before King Neptune (and possibly his assistant Davy Jones) to undergo an initiation ceremony that sees them emerge as fully fledged shellbacks. On Team Finland, I was called to confess my crimes before being forced to drink a cocktail that included vinegar, tabasco sauce, olive oil and about 20 other (as yet) unnamed ingredients. Of course some of us made the mistake of claiming it was quite tasty which simply resulted in a second glass being offered....
Lord Nelson is starting to leave Brazilian waters and is now heading for the Caribbean and that can only mean that she is shortly to cross the equator. For several of the crew on board this will be their first crossing of the equator and these pollywogs will be subpoened to appear before King Neptune (and possibly his assistant Davy Jones) to undergo an initiation ceremony that sees them emerge as fully fledged shellbacks. On Team Finland, I was called to confess my crimes before being forced to drink a cocktail that included vinegar, tabasco sauce, olive oil and about 20 other (as yet) unnamed ingredients. Of course some of us made the mistake of claiming it was quite tasty which simply resulted in a second glass being offered....
June 11th 2014: North From Rio
Lord Nelson arrived in Rio on 22 May. On her way into Rio she came across a dismasted yacht (not Team Finland this time!) and within 50 minutes had set her up in tow so they could take her into port. A great rescue and the slick operation was a credit to the skills of both regular and guest crew.
With quite frequent rain showers, the crew were happy to complete their routine maintenance tasks before exploring the local sights which undoubtedly included Sugar Loaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer statue. All this needed to be dome bfore the new crew joined the boat on 27 May to undergo orientation training.
Since leaving Rio on 29 May, Nellie has been following the Brazilian coastline north in good winds. The motor was cut and the topsails and top gallant sails set to enjoy some great sailing. The crew have had some balmy nights and clear skies with lots of meteor showers to keep them entertained. En route, they had a brief scheduled stop at the Abrolhos Islands which is a small Brazilian archepeligo which has been designated a nature reserve. As well as coral reefs the island is home to a wide variety of lizards and birds - including the Masked Booby (pictured). The waters arounsd the islands are also breeding grounds for the Hump Back whale and although it is the wrong time of year to se the Hump Back the crew did enjoy the company of a small pod of Mike Whale as they approached the islands.
Lord Nelson arrived in Rio on 22 May. On her way into Rio she came across a dismasted yacht (not Team Finland this time!) and within 50 minutes had set her up in tow so they could take her into port. A great rescue and the slick operation was a credit to the skills of both regular and guest crew.
With quite frequent rain showers, the crew were happy to complete their routine maintenance tasks before exploring the local sights which undoubtedly included Sugar Loaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer statue. All this needed to be dome bfore the new crew joined the boat on 27 May to undergo orientation training.
Since leaving Rio on 29 May, Nellie has been following the Brazilian coastline north in good winds. The motor was cut and the topsails and top gallant sails set to enjoy some great sailing. The crew have had some balmy nights and clear skies with lots of meteor showers to keep them entertained. En route, they had a brief scheduled stop at the Abrolhos Islands which is a small Brazilian archepeligo which has been designated a nature reserve. As well as coral reefs the island is home to a wide variety of lizards and birds - including the Masked Booby (pictured). The waters arounsd the islands are also breeding grounds for the Hump Back whale and although it is the wrong time of year to se the Hump Back the crew did enjoy the company of a small pod of Mike Whale as they approached the islands.
May 18th 2014: The Road to Rio
Lord Nelson is on her way to Rio this week. Rio was her first port of call when she embarked on her Sail the World Voyage back in 2012. Rio was also my first port of call after my inaugural Atlantic crossing back in October 2009.
It's now less than 3 months before I join the crew in Cape Breton for their last leg home. And whilst I continue to build up my fitness, Lord Nelson will be sailing north via the Caribbean and New York before arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Meanwhile the crew of Lord Nelson are enjoying a short trip ashore at Itajai in Brazil. For crew joining Lord Nelson for the first time there is the obligatory safety induction but for the rest of the crew there are the endless tasks around boat maintenance - sanding, varnishing, chipping and painting to tackle the dreaded rust and chaffing that constantly challenges every sailor.
Lord Nelson is on her way to Rio this week. Rio was her first port of call when she embarked on her Sail the World Voyage back in 2012. Rio was also my first port of call after my inaugural Atlantic crossing back in October 2009.
It's now less than 3 months before I join the crew in Cape Breton for their last leg home. And whilst I continue to build up my fitness, Lord Nelson will be sailing north via the Caribbean and New York before arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Meanwhile the crew of Lord Nelson are enjoying a short trip ashore at Itajai in Brazil. For crew joining Lord Nelson for the first time there is the obligatory safety induction but for the rest of the crew there are the endless tasks around boat maintenance - sanding, varnishing, chipping and painting to tackle the dreaded rust and chaffing that constantly challenges every sailor.
April 29th 2014: Sao Francisco Do Sul
Lord Nelson is making great progress toward Rio and is currently visiting Sao Francisco Do Sul in the Brazilian State of Santa Catarina. The port has become established as an important part of the Brazilian economic infrastructure - dominated by container shipping and serving routes all over the world but Europe and Africa in particular.
In recent times, however, it has started to gain a reputation as a tourist destination. Unspoilt by commercialism, this former fishing village has colourful houses, cobbled streets and a laid back atmosphere. It also has some exceptional surfing conditions.
Lord Nelson has been achieving speeds of over 7 knots under sail and the crew have been delighted by the accompanying dolphins and even an Orca whale as they head north.
Lord Nelson is making great progress toward Rio and is currently visiting Sao Francisco Do Sul in the Brazilian State of Santa Catarina. The port has become established as an important part of the Brazilian economic infrastructure - dominated by container shipping and serving routes all over the world but Europe and Africa in particular.
In recent times, however, it has started to gain a reputation as a tourist destination. Unspoilt by commercialism, this former fishing village has colourful houses, cobbled streets and a laid back atmosphere. It also has some exceptional surfing conditions.
Lord Nelson has been achieving speeds of over 7 knots under sail and the crew have been delighted by the accompanying dolphins and even an Orca whale as they head north.
April 27th 2014: Setting The Square Sails
Whilst the fore and aft sails are trimmed in pretty much the same way was as on a modern sailboat, the square sails demand a more complex set of rigging. As previously mentioned, the square sails are designed primarily to take advantage of a tailwind. Each set of square sails is attached to the yard along the top edge - the head - and sheets run from the lower corners (the clews). The lower topsail yard and the lower topgallant yard are fixed whilst the upper topsail yard and upper topgallant yard are hoisted on halyards. A topping lift prevents the hoisted yard from turning in the vertical plane when the sail is not set and downhauls - two per yard - are used to pull the yard down to its lowest position. Braces are attached to each end of the yard (the yard arm) and these are pulled on by the crew so that the whole sail configuration can be manoeuvred to take full advantage of the tailwind.
Sheets (lines) are fastened to the clews of the square sails to trim the sails. On the course sails, these sheets run straight down to the deck whilst on the other square sails the the clews are often attached straight to the yard below. Tacks are also attached to the clews of the course sails and are used to pull the windward clew forward, especially when sailing close hauled.
Clewlines and buntlines are used to to haul the square sail up to the upper yard when the sail is not set (gaskets are used to actually tie the sail to the yard). The side edge of the sail is called the leech and on really big sails you also have leech lines to help hoist the sail to the yard.
That all sounds a bit complicated, I know, but when we say we are setting sail, you can hopefully imagine half a dozen of us climbing out on the yard and undoing the gaskets so the sail can drop down. The team on the deck will then bring the clews down to the lower yard and hoist the upper yard to complete the exercise. Likewise when taking in a sail, the sheets are eased and the sail is furled over the yard using the clewlines, buntlines and leech lines and tied off with gaskets.
Whilst the fore and aft sails are trimmed in pretty much the same way was as on a modern sailboat, the square sails demand a more complex set of rigging. As previously mentioned, the square sails are designed primarily to take advantage of a tailwind. Each set of square sails is attached to the yard along the top edge - the head - and sheets run from the lower corners (the clews). The lower topsail yard and the lower topgallant yard are fixed whilst the upper topsail yard and upper topgallant yard are hoisted on halyards. A topping lift prevents the hoisted yard from turning in the vertical plane when the sail is not set and downhauls - two per yard - are used to pull the yard down to its lowest position. Braces are attached to each end of the yard (the yard arm) and these are pulled on by the crew so that the whole sail configuration can be manoeuvred to take full advantage of the tailwind.
Sheets (lines) are fastened to the clews of the square sails to trim the sails. On the course sails, these sheets run straight down to the deck whilst on the other square sails the the clews are often attached straight to the yard below. Tacks are also attached to the clews of the course sails and are used to pull the windward clew forward, especially when sailing close hauled.
Clewlines and buntlines are used to to haul the square sail up to the upper yard when the sail is not set (gaskets are used to actually tie the sail to the yard). The side edge of the sail is called the leech and on really big sails you also have leech lines to help hoist the sail to the yard.
That all sounds a bit complicated, I know, but when we say we are setting sail, you can hopefully imagine half a dozen of us climbing out on the yard and undoing the gaskets so the sail can drop down. The team on the deck will then bring the clews down to the lower yard and hoist the upper yard to complete the exercise. Likewise when taking in a sail, the sheets are eased and the sail is furled over the yard using the clewlines, buntlines and leech lines and tied off with gaskets.
April 19th 2014: Introduction to Square Rigging
In the build up to the Atlantic crossing, we'll be taking a weekly look at different aspects of Tall Ship sailing and today we look at the complex wardrobe of 18 sails that we have to work with.
The Lord Nelson is a three masted barque - the foremast and the main mast support the eight square sails that give the tall ships their almost romantic charm whilst the rear mizzen mast accommodates fore and aft sails as described below. There are four square sails on each of the two forward masts and they are carried on horizontal spars called yards. They are aerodynamically the most efficient means of sailing downwind but the running rigging prevents them being turned far enough to help when sailing into the wind. They are named (from deck upward) as the course, topsail, top gallant and royal.
To facilitate sailing upwind, there are a series of fore and aft sails similar to those found on sloops and other modern sail boats. Three jib sails are located between the foremast and the bowsprit. These comprise an inner and an outer jib and a flying jib. Between the masts there are two stay sails - main and main top gallant staysails forward of the main mast and the mizzen and mizzen top gallant stay sails forward of the mizzen mast. Finally, aft of the mizzen mast there are the three spanker sails (spanker, upper spanker and spanker topsail) - each attached at the foot to its own boom. They are sometimes referred to as gaff sails.
In the build up to the Atlantic crossing, we'll be taking a weekly look at different aspects of Tall Ship sailing and today we look at the complex wardrobe of 18 sails that we have to work with.
The Lord Nelson is a three masted barque - the foremast and the main mast support the eight square sails that give the tall ships their almost romantic charm whilst the rear mizzen mast accommodates fore and aft sails as described below. There are four square sails on each of the two forward masts and they are carried on horizontal spars called yards. They are aerodynamically the most efficient means of sailing downwind but the running rigging prevents them being turned far enough to help when sailing into the wind. They are named (from deck upward) as the course, topsail, top gallant and royal.
To facilitate sailing upwind, there are a series of fore and aft sails similar to those found on sloops and other modern sail boats. Three jib sails are located between the foremast and the bowsprit. These comprise an inner and an outer jib and a flying jib. Between the masts there are two stay sails - main and main top gallant staysails forward of the main mast and the mizzen and mizzen top gallant stay sails forward of the mizzen mast. Finally, aft of the mizzen mast there are the three spanker sails (spanker, upper spanker and spanker topsail) - each attached at the foot to its own boom. They are sometimes referred to as gaff sails.
April 14th 2014: Lord Nelson Leaves Uruguay
Having rounded Cape Horn and stopped off at the Falkland Islands, Lord Nelson continued her round the world voyage with a northern passage to Piriapolis in Uruguay. The temperatures on deck have risen a good 20 degrees since the Falklands although there are still some challenging sea conditions and winds in excess of 30 knots to keep everyone on their toes. Just like the Clipper Race, time in port is divided between maintenance jobs and leisure time. There is always time to explore the port but equally, you cannot sail until the basic maintenance job are complete and the ship has been declared seaworthy for her next leg. The main tasks being carried out immediately prior to departure include sail repairs, wire oiling and rust removal.
Unlike Clipper, the crew are not required to undertake sea training before they report to the vessel, but thorough training does take place before Lord Nelson takes to the open sea. Several new crew have joined Lord Nelson in Piriapolis and with very light winds when they departed, they were able to practice and perfect the art of bracing the yards and generally get used to life on board.
Having rounded Cape Horn and stopped off at the Falkland Islands, Lord Nelson continued her round the world voyage with a northern passage to Piriapolis in Uruguay. The temperatures on deck have risen a good 20 degrees since the Falklands although there are still some challenging sea conditions and winds in excess of 30 knots to keep everyone on their toes. Just like the Clipper Race, time in port is divided between maintenance jobs and leisure time. There is always time to explore the port but equally, you cannot sail until the basic maintenance job are complete and the ship has been declared seaworthy for her next leg. The main tasks being carried out immediately prior to departure include sail repairs, wire oiling and rust removal.
Unlike Clipper, the crew are not required to undertake sea training before they report to the vessel, but thorough training does take place before Lord Nelson takes to the open sea. Several new crew have joined Lord Nelson in Piriapolis and with very light winds when they departed, they were able to practice and perfect the art of bracing the yards and generally get used to life on board.
April 8th 2014: Introduction
The STS Lord Nelson is a 3 masted barque that has been specially designed and constructed to allow disabled and able bodied crew to sail side by side on equal terms. In October 2012, she embarked on her first circumnavigation of the world, visiting 30 different countries on her 50,000 mile voyage. The ship has already attracted countless admirers in Brazil, South Africa, India and Australia before sailing past Cape Horn to the Falkland Island. I have been invited to join the crew on the last leg of her voyage from Halifax (Nova Scotia) to Southampton. It will be my fourth Atlantic crossing under sail and will take me via St John's, Reykjavik, The Faroe Islands and London.
The STS Lord Nelson is a 3 masted barque that has been specially designed and constructed to allow disabled and able bodied crew to sail side by side on equal terms. In October 2012, she embarked on her first circumnavigation of the world, visiting 30 different countries on her 50,000 mile voyage. The ship has already attracted countless admirers in Brazil, South Africa, India and Australia before sailing past Cape Horn to the Falkland Island. I have been invited to join the crew on the last leg of her voyage from Halifax (Nova Scotia) to Southampton. It will be my fourth Atlantic crossing under sail and will take me via St John's, Reykjavik, The Faroe Islands and London.