October - December 2002 The day we sailed off the berth and it took 21 topmen to furl the The of 9/28 The ship and her crew performed - By Peter Davey By Hugh Lander magnificently in the challenging con- ordinary seaman (sail) - Manager ditions and she reached 8.6 knots at one stage. Ken paid high tribute to his crew This sail will go down as the one that Saturday 28th September turned out to adding that he was very proud of them. all others will be measured by. be an absolutely memorable day. Our One of our crew took a photograph We sailed off number seven wharf, ship went to sea with 6556 passengers showing a total of 21 crew lined out under the bridge and out of Sydney Har- and 56 crew. Strong westerlies had been along the main course as they bour without using engines or tugs and forecast and the Weather Bureau got it strove to furl the sail at the end of the it was four and half hours before the absolutely right. cruise. The ship handled the conditions engines were engaged. Your diarist was out racing on the perfectly heeling over and sailing steady During the day there was no seasick- harbour and our yacht had to forfeit giving the passengers an exciting (mal ness from the crew or the passengers – when we experienced gear failure with de mer free) ride. the crew were too busy and the passen- winds over the deck gusting to 40 knots Well done team and, to the passen- gers too enthralled. straight out of the west so we knew all gers lucky enough to be out on the day When we came to return to harbour about the conditions. can I say how envious of you I am. May we were punching into 40 to 50 knots. Our Master, Captain Ken Edwards, there be many more such days. We had to get back by 1700 for the pas- estimated winds at sea at 45 - 50 knots sengers. Normally on a square-rigger, but he described the day as one of the when you are on the yards, the stronger most memorable highlights of his long James Craig Crew News the wind the more it presses you onto career as crew and officer on a square- Compiled by Peter Davey the yard. rigger. It all began when, in a first for With the wind from dead ahead com- our ship and in a feat probably not of- Production and photos bined with a drum tight sail trying to ten accomplished since the days when (except where credited press your legs off the foot ropes it made tugs first began operating, James Craig to others) by John Spiers the conditions on the yards interesting. was sailed off her berth without the aid Initially 10 topmen tried to furl the of either tug or auxiliary engines. Cover artwork by Sean Douglas course. We could not bring in an inch Ken said that he had done it only All crew members and others of sail. With 21 we finally beat the twice before, once when he actually associated with the James Craig course. sailed Young Endeavour off her wharf are very welcome to submit When I no longer go over the futtock in Darling Harbour (Cockle Bay) and material for this newsletter shrouds and hang up my knife and mar- through Pyrmont Bridge (open at the The opinions expressed in this lin spike I will always have the memory time) and again when he sailed Regina newsletter may not necessarily be of the day that I was one of the topmen Maris off her berth in San Juan, Puerto the viewpoint of the Sydney who furled the fore course sail on 28/9. Rico, “missing the Junction Buoy by one Maritime Museum, the Sydney Bravo Zulu to Captain Ken Edwards foot”. Heritage Fleet or the crew of the Master Mariner. James Craig or its officers.

Page 2 OPPOSITE: 21 topmen finally get the course stowed. Photo by Steve Smith. RIGHT: Sailing under the harbour bridge. BELOW: Sailing (barely) down the harbour. BOTTOM: Sailing past the Opera House with third mate James Parbury on the foredeck.

Page 3 We followed the ghosts of ships past ust after the war, a vessel came to ing the wharf at six p.m. to pick you JSydney manned almost completely by Our sail down the harbour up”, and the Pamir radioed “Will come New Zealanders. She was the last reminded me of the following down to meet her”. It was dirty south- square-rigged merchantman to sail in passage from the book, The easterly weather so Captain Collier and out of this port, the big, four-masted Restless Waterfront by Capt tacked ship and headed down, but when Pamir. She was of particular and James Gaby. (Antipodean he arrived off Sydney Heads, there was personal interest to me because her mas- Publishers 1974 ISBN 0 no tug, and the squally wind was jam- ter, Captain Collier, and I had gone to 86944 024 1). As I can find no ming him up against the land. school together, to sea together and even trace of the publishers, I hope “I thought about heading for Botany in sail together, and we had met in no-one is going to be upset Bay where there’s a straight passage in, Callao, Peru, he as first mate of the over copyright. The photos I but she wouldn’t lay up to Botany so”, barque Gladbrook and I as first mate of took about 30 years ago while and he waved his right hand palm up, the barque Dartford. backpacking, I think near “there was nothing else for it, Sydney The Pamir berthed at the western side Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego or or the rocks”. of Circular Quay, and thousands of Rio Gallegos in Patagonia. “It must have had you worried”, I said, sight-seers went on board. Very few Can anybody identify them? knowing what it was like to be jammed squareriggers that ever came to Sydney John Spiers. in on the land in a . outmatched the big Pamir in size: in “Just quietly, it did. I could have fact, I can only think of two, the huge wrung someone’s neck, but there it was, Danish Kobenhaven and the French La ent and the other a stevedoring super- no use flapping your hands. If I didn’t France. intendent. My jovial entrance was right make a run in then, I’d soon have been The Pamir was built for the famous out of place. “Where’s the body?”, I out of position for it anyway. German Flying P Line of Cape Horners asked cheerfully. “You chaps look like “What sail were you carrying?”, I and was almost the last word in square- there’s a corpse about. What’s doing?” asked. rigged science: bridge amidships and They’d evidently said all they had come “All except the royals, but the six and halliard - none of the to say and got up to leave not even both- t’gans’ls: were up there doing a good old pulley-haul about her. ering to answer my zany inquiries. job. I hauled up all the courses so we All the ancient mariners in Sydney “Don’t worry about my report. All’s could con her in, and I told myself, Well, swarmed aboard like bees around a well that ends well”, Captain Collier Collier, get her in or get your bag honey pot. Of course the press swooped told them as they left the room. packed!”. on board on her arrival, but somehow From then on it was like the reunion “Did a come out to you?” they missed the greatest highlight of her of two long separated brothers. “What’s “Yes, he did, but she was squared entry into Sydney. It wanted a man like the matter with them? They had such away when he got out to me, and I Captain Villiers to do that justice. I got dismal faces and worried looks that I couldn’t stop for him. She had to be the story and caught the drama of it smell trouble”, said I. travelling when she went through the when I hurried on board not long after We settled down, and he told me the Heads so that she’d have plenty of way she berthed. story. He had made his landfall up by on her when she rounded to. Anyway, I Sitting in my friend’s cabin were two Broken Bay about five p.m. and had have Sydney exemptions, and there men with very solemn faces. I knew wirelessed his position to the company. wasn’t any point in two of us worrying. them both, one a marine superintend- Back came the reply, “The tug is leav- The Big 3,500-ton barque sailed in

Page 4 at 9.15 p.m. straight through the Sydney ness with her square madly flap- beating into the harbour, and then think Heads in a blinding southeasterly rain ping in the veering wind and the bur- of the skill and teamwork for a giant the squall. It could not have hit them at a den still full on her fore and aft sails size of the Pamir. The came worse time. Told about it the next morn- through the quarter of a mile before she in under the same conditions years ago, ing, the lighthouse keeper wouldn’t be- could up helm and sail comfortably up but she rounded into Manly Cove, a far lieve that she didn’t have engine power. to Clark Island and anchorage. easier proposition than weathering the No big ship without it, he reasoned, I felt proud of my old shipmate. Sow and Pigs. Apart from her, I’ve never would have dared to come through the “What happened to the tug?”, I asked. heard of another big ship sailing in at Heads on a squally night like that. What “That’s what had those two jokers night since the emigrant ship days. The a sight it would have been by day - the worried”, said Captain Collier. “When unfortunate Dunbar tried it on such a huge barque driving in with twenty-five they radioed that the tug was leaving the night, and she crashed onto the Gap. sails set, her three square-sail masts wharf at six p.m., they forgot to say that When the Pamir’s sailing days arrived, clothed in canvas and towering 175 feet it was the Port Kembla wharf, forty-five Harbour Master Captain Murchison and high, all sails drum tight. miles south of Sydney. It was the old I had lunch with Captain Collier. As we With split-second timing, her helm Hero too, and it would have taken her shook hands to part, Captain Murchison was put hard down after she passed four hours to get up. I wouldn’t have said, “Put on a good show for us, Cap- Hornby light. dreamed of coming down near the Heads tain”. Then her brace winches really came if I’d known that. They’re worried that He had his wish fulfilled. As the last into their own; hand braces would never I’ll go to town on them in my report, mooring line came off the bollard, the have rounded those yards fast enough. but as you heard me tell them, all’s well crew were swarming up aloft to loose sail. She rounded like a thoroughbred into the that ends well, and that’s where it ends. The tugs towed her away from number eastern channel where she lost the wind They needn’t worry. Tell you what, seven Circular Quay and swung her out in her square sails, and only the sheer though, I wouldn’t like to do it again on into the entrance. By this time, all the speed of her drive through the Heads and a dirty night like last night. When I lost fore and aft sails had been hoisted, and her fore and aft sails took her to wind- the wind, I was wondering how it would before she reached Bradley’s Head, all ward of the hungry Sow and Pigs, the only end. No telegraph to ring full speed then. square sail was set, the towline was cast reef in Sydney Harbour. just had to sweat it out. The mates and off, and the very last merchant wind ship They were the critical minutes, for crew did their work like champions. to leave Sydney’s harbour sailed majes- wind can be blowing from one direction That’s a feather in the cap for the Do- tically out into the Tasman. It had been in the open and from another direction at minion kids.” a brief glimpse into Sydney’s most col- the same time in a land-locked area. But And that is a true story that has never ourful era, the days of the tall ships and she sailed up past the reef in pitch dark- been written before. Watch a big yacht skilled merchant square-rigger sailors.

Page 5 The SHF birthday bash

By Hugh Lander

n the weekend of the12-13 Oct- Oober the fleet really flew its colours high. Several thousand people, many of them in period costume, came down to Wharf 7 to join in with us the 100th birthday celebrations for two of our great ships, steam launch Lady Hopetoun and steam tug Waratah. His Excellency the Right Reverend Dr Peter Hollingworth AC OBE, Governor- General of the Commonwealth of Aus- tralia addressed invited guests and members of the public at a short cer- emony before he and Mrs Hollingworth unveiled commemorative plaques. The official party then left on Lady Hopetoun for a very pleasant harbour cruise be- fore disembarking Dr and Mrs Hollingworth at Kirribilli House. Sponsors and supporters of the fleet met on the quarter deck of James Craig for a light lunch as members of the pub- lic were invited to inspect James Craig and to see for themselves the various museum activities. A popular feature of the weekend was the free harbour

Page 6 Left: Crew man the yards (photo Mike Richter) and wharf scene. This page - ‘Elvis’ and chorus line and marines make smoke and noise . cruises on board Lady Hopetoun and the tours over Waratah. The weekend was a marvellous opportunity to share with the public one of Sydney’s better kept (until now) secrets. Over the two days there were march- ing bands, buskers cake and period cos- tume competitions and other fun things for visitors to do. The NSW Colonial Marines dressed up in their red coats and white britches fired their ancient muzzle loading muskets and regularlty surprised the crowd by firing their 6lb cannon. All in all a great occasion for all and a wonderful chance to show off our fleet and bring new members into the fold. As well as being a chance to show off our wares we also made a net profit from the weekend’s activities. Well done to all and a mighty vote of thanks to all those wonderful volunteers from all parts of our great organisation. We could not do it without you but, in fairness to the small band of museum staff who put it all together - thank you too.

Page 7 Tacking - a guide to the evolutions

By Sally Ostlund swering order from the master on the poop, and all hands took up their sta- Ship’s head passed acking a ship. How does one do it? tions. The mate and his watch were on TWhat exactly are the procedures? the forecastle-head, bos’n at the fore- through to new In trying to understand the evolutions tack, ‘Doctor’ [cook] at the fore-, The sails on the main and mizen[sic] more clearly I consulted a few of sources Chips and Sails and the starboard watch hung becalmed behind the sails on the which are of two basic types: First hand at the gear ready to haul the foremast. accounts by experienced mariners and up, the second mate at the main-tack, “Mainsail haul!” sang the master, and manuals of seamanship. third mate and an apprentice at the the lofty, vertical canvas planes of the Frank Worsley sailed on the Wairoa main-sheet, three apprentices at the main and mizen[sic] swung swiftly from as a sixteen-year-old apprentice on an sheet. the port tack to the starboard tack as the approximately 90-day voyage from apprentices hauled madly on the Lyttelton New Zealand to London Eng- Beginning the tack cro’jack, racing the frenzied starboard land sometime in the 1880s. The iron Captain Bungard made a slight move- watch as they hauled on the main braces ship Wairoa was built in 1875 in New- ment of his forefinger to windward, in [main and mizen square-sails are castle (England) by Palmers’ Co. Her response to which the man at the wheel being hauled parallel to one another]. length was 204 feet, width 34 feet. She eased the helm down. The sails flat aback on the foremast had 20 feet depth of hold and a gross “Ready about,” the mate reported. were boxing the ship’s head off to the registered tonnage of 1,057. She meas- “Lee, oh!” came from the master in starboard tack. ured 190 feet WL to main ; with a high ringing tones which resounded all sky sail yard 20 feet long, a main yard over the ship – a clear, unmistakable Ship making no headway 60 feet long, and a main sail 450 square order. yards of canvas in area. Her square sails The fore-sheet and head-sheets were but still on new tack clewed in to quarters (near to center of let go. By this time the ship, unlike a fore the yards). The New Zealand Shipping Collins steadily but quickly hauled and aft-er, had lost her way through the Company (N.Z.S.Co.) owned her over on the spokes of the wheel until water – the helm had no effect, but the from1875 to1894. When Worsley sailed the helm was hard down. “Helms a- pressure of the for’ard canvas was mak- on her there were 27 crew members, lee, sir,” he reported to the master, as ing her head pay off correctly. including captain and three mates, we apprentices hauled in smartly on the “’Midships” was the next order from cook, steward, bos’n, carpenter, spanker. the master and Collins swung the wheel sailmaker and 4 apprentices. The fol- The rudder, the release of pressure until the rudder was amidships. lowing description of tacking a ship is forward and the increased pressure of As the Wairoa’s head fell away from taken from Worsley’s account of his first the spanker aft, all conspired to swing the wind, the after-sails began to fill. voyage: First Voyage the ship’s bows towards the wind. The master was waiting for this, and For’ard the were slatting, the the orders: “Fore bowline!” and “Let Preparing to tack sheet-blocks banging about and the fore- go and haul!” followed like pistol shots. The Old Man….ordered the man at sail was thudding. As she came flying The mates let go to starboard, both the wheel to “keep her clean full,” and up into the wind all the sails flapped watches hauled furiously on the port fore shouted: “All hands on deck! See all and pounded like thunder. braces, and the foreyards came around clear for going about” … “Raise tacks and sheets!” The mas- complainingly against the pressure of I…pattered around the decks after ter’s order rose clear above the tumult. the wind. Stringer, assisting him to coil the braces Up went the clews, and the great main- Meantime the ship had gathered a lit- down clear on the deck, so that pres- sail flapped and fell back against the tle sternway and the master signalled ently they would run out freely and not mast. to Collins, who had stepped across to check the yards swinging as we tacked “Cro’jack [the lowest yard on the starboard, to “put the helm down.” ship… mizzen mast] braces,” stringy hissed, When a ship has sternway the effect of The helmsman was keeping her clean and Tosswill and I fled to the main fife- the helm is reversed, so the Wairoa paid full - there was not even a wrinkle in rail, leaving him to handle the spanker- off more and the wind heeled her over the weather leach of the , the sheet with a little surreptitious help from to port. The flapped full, the gleaming snow–white bellies of sixteen Collins. foreyards came around with a fullock square sails strained out to leeward, and and were braced sharp up. the Wairoa was dancing along at 8 Ship’s head to wind The port watch hauled aft the knots. We reached our stations just as the foresheet and hove down the fore-tack, The watch had just unhooked the ship came head to wind. Then we heard while the starboard set the mainsail in main–tack tackle and let go the main the chain-sheets rattling over the similar fashion and the apprentices bowline. wire as the mate’s watch hauled hauled aft the sheets. The mate on the forecastle–head and over to port and flattened them aft. the second mate in the waist sang out: Before this was finished she had Ship sails off on new tack “All clear for running.” swung on until the wind was slightly The ship lost sternway, forged ahead “Stations about ship,” came the an- on her starboard . and heeled over on the starboard tack.

Page 8 ‘And all I ask is a tall ship . . .

In other words she had been put about. and haul the spanker boom amidships “Commands for Tacking” The master had succeeded in staying her. when the helm is put a-lee? Preparatory steps: Ans. By doing so I help the ship to Cadet OOD: “All hands to sail sta- Nicholls’ Seamanship come up in the wind. tions” Note. If the mainsail is not hauled Mast Captains: “fore (main, mizzen) when getting ready for going about, the manned” when enough cadets are at the guide 1908. tack and sheet must be raised as soon as mast to handle sail it lifts, ready for swinging the yard. Cadet OOD: “Ready about” (this com- Q. How would you tack ship? Q. If ordered to see all clear for going mand means “prepare to tack”) Ans. See all clear for going about, keep about what would you look to? Mast Captains: “fore, (main, mizzen) the ship clean full, and station the hands. Ans. I would have the weather jib manned and ready.” This command When ready, put the helm a-lee, ease off sheets put over the stay and the slack should not be given until all lines that or let go the head and fore sheets, and hauled aft; also the weather foresheets will run have been faked out; haul the spanker boom amidships. out of the beckets ready for hauling aft, all…buntlines, bunt-leechlines…have When from 1 to 2 points from head to mainsail ready for hauling up if neces- been taken off their pins; all lines are wind, Mainsail Haul. Haul the head sary, and the braces clear for running manned; and everyone is ready to start sheets over when the wind gets on the with their ends hitched. the evolution other bow, and ease off the spanker boom. Q. When is a ship likely to miss stays? Bringing ship into the wind: When filling aft, fore bowline, let go and Ans. When she has very little head- Cadet OOD: “Helm’s alee.” haul, and trim all sail for the other tack. way, that is, in very light airs; or again, This is an informational command noti- Notes on tacking in a strong breeze when under low sail fying all personal that the maneuver has If a ship looses headway before she gets and in a head sea. begun. head to wind, she may miss stays. Haul- Cadet OOD to mizzenmast cap- ing the after yards too soon deadens the US Coast Guard tain: “Haul the spanker boom amid- ship’s headway and makes her more ships” likely to miss stays. On the other hand, The US Coast Guard’s training ship Cadet OOD to helmsman: if the after yards are not hauled before Eagle is a 1,816 ton, 295 foot steel “Right (left) rudder” The rudder com- coming head to wind, they will not come barque, which has three masts and 22 mand is normally given as the spanker round easily. The best time, therefore, sails, ten of them square. As many as boom begins moving amidships. If timed is when the leeside of the sails at the main 165 cadets can be trained at a time. I’ve correctly the spanker will continue to are getting becalmed by those on the fore. taken the following excerpt from the drive the shop forward as the turn up- The crossjack should be started just be- book Eagle Seamanship, which is pub- wind is made, and it also will provide a fore the main…. lished by the Naval Institute press for the turning moment. Q. Why do you ease off the head sheets USCG. Bracing the main:

Page 9 Cadet OOD to main and mizzenmast captains: “Rise tacks and sheets” This command is given when James Craig the weather leeches of the main square sails begin to lift. On this command the mainmast captain takes in the mainsail restoration and douses the main , and the mizzenmast captain douses the mizzen staysails…. The mizzenmast captain wins two usually holds the mizzen staysails as long as possible to take advantage of their driving power and turning ef- World Ship fect…. Cadet OOD to mainmast cap- tain: “Mainsail haul.” This command Trust awards should be given as soon as the weather From Hugh Lander – leeches of the main square sails begin to back. The whole world has been watching the Head to wind: progress of our ship – not only the re- Cadet OOD to foremast cap- covery and restoration but also the train- tain: “shift the headsail sheets”, or if ing of our crew and, more recently our the vessel has lost headway and may not commercial operations. come through the wind, “lead aft the The vision and dedication which have main sheets,” in which case the culminated in the unique achievement headsails are reset flat on the old tack which has seen James Craig sail free so that they will back and help swing again have made an impact on the mari- the bow off onto the new tack. time world in general. The London based Cadet OOD to mizzenmast World Ship Trust has recognised the captain: “Ease the spanker.” The importance of the project by bestowing spanker is eased out as necessary so that upon it two of its most important awards. it will not hold the bow up into the wind. What happens Australian Heritage Fleet’s Patron and The cadet OOD should give orders to James Craig major benefactor, Robert the helm as appropriate. If the ship’s Albert’s contribution has been recog- head comes through the wind, the rud- to women nised through an Individual Award for der should be eased to prevent the ves- his “significant and exemplary role in sel from swinging too far off the wind support of the James Craig restoration on the new tack and losing ground who go to sea and other maritime heritage causes”. downwind. If the ship comes dead in James Craig was honoured through the the water and then gains sternway, the USS CONSTITUTION met and granting of the Trust’s prestigious Mari- rudder should be shifted to back the ship defeated HMS GUERRIERE, the time Heritage Award. around onto the new tack. first in a grand succession of As a she joins other distin- On the new tack guished vessels such as - among oth- Cadet OOD to foremast cap- victories in the War of 1812. It was ers - (UK 1510), (Swe- tain: “Let go and haul.” This command during this ferocious battle that the den 1626), USS Constitution (USA is given when the begin to seamen, astonished at the way the 1797), Great Britain (UK 1843), Star fill. The foreyards are braced quickly British cannonballs were bouncing of India (USA 1863), Cutty Sark (UK, around to the new tack…. off the Constitution’s hull, cried out - 1869) and ( Cadet OOD to mainmast and “Her sides are made of iron!”; Thus, 1885). mizzenmast captains: “Set the main- These highly sought after awards must sail.” On this command first the main her nickname, “Old Ironsides.” What be presented by the Head of State of the and mizzen staysails are set and then was not known at the time was the recipient country. the mainsail. No further commands are fact that a US Marine, serving They will be presented by His Excel- needed from the cadet OOD. aboard Old Ironsides as George lency the Right Reverend Dr Peter After all sails are set, each Baker, was actually Lucy Brewer. Hollingworth, Governor-General of the mast captain trims sail and fans the Eventually the Marine Corps Commonwealth of Australia at a dinner yards appropriately for the new tack. to be held on the evening of 7th March Sources: First Voyage in a Square- reluctantly acknowledged that Lucy 2003. rigged ship Cdr. Frank Worsley 1938 Brewer was in fact the very first This dinner will be the climax of Syd- Lloyds of London woman marine. It would be over one ney Harbour Week which will run from Nicholl’s Guide to Sea- hundred years before the Marine 2nd to 9th March next year and which will manship Corps seriously began to recruit be run under the auspices of the Sydney Eagle Seamanship women - August 1918 Harbour Foreshore Authority. All Hands Aloft

Page 10 A great time was had by all on our recent trip to Broken the magnificent photos taken of us on the way from the Bay. The sail up was one of our best - and wait till you see helicopter by Ron Israel during the trip

Visitors - This is the best site that I have This low resolution (72 dpi) David van Kool found for square-riggers PDF version of James http:// Craig Crew News is Among the various visitors to the ship www.infa.abo.fi/ optimised for screen there has been a French couple who ~fredrik/sships/ have been to Belem, Kiwis who know display with small file size square- (which also minimises plus many others familiar email problems). with our ship in various stages of re- .html Printouts from this version covery, from Hobart to her present sail- will look “soft.” ing splendor and at wharf 7. check out. Boys Manual If you would like to do good The most interesting to date has been of Seamanship and quality printouts from your the pair of Little Penguins coming Gunnery dated April 1871 computer (pictures look alongside on several occasions during http:// August. The fishing must be good be- ( Navy) much better) a higher www.pbenyon.plus.com/ resolution (300dpi) PDF is cause they have made a lot of noise and available by contacting are more visible than normal; suffi- B_S_M/ [email protected] ciently so to point them out to other visi- Contents.html tors to the ship. - Peter Davey

Page 11 The buntline hitch gains its name because it is used to help in furling the sail’s bunt (belly), a long line was tied into a (loop) in the boltrope on the foot. The line is then led aloft to the masthead and then through a down to the deck, where it was pulled to gather the sail as sheets were eased. The knot securing this line to the cringle had to be small, so there was little chafe, and also firmly knotted—it was too far aloft to be retied if it opened up. Its a dog’s life . . .

A small article that may be of interest to all of us who draw lookout duties. Have checked it out with a compass and it is pretty accurate. It is part of a number of bush navigation tricks to telling the time etc. These may be of interest later. Morrin

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