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MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE SAIL CREW OF THE MARITIME MUSEUM OF SAN DIEGO VOLUME 4 NO. 44, AUGUST 2009 U.S.S. Dolphin Opens to the Public July 4th, 2009 Courtesy of Ted Walton Photography Ted Walton of Courtesy Aboard the Berkeley, Museum Director, Dr. Ray Ashley introduces the newest addition to the maritime fleet at the Members opening on July 3rd, 2009. On July 2nd, the Maritime Museum of San Diego opened the U.S.S. Dolphin at a special Members’ Night preview for its The electronic edition of the Euterpe newest addition to the fleet. Museum members were treated to a unique and insightful view of the museum's newest addition to its Times is now linked! See an email or a historic fleet. url? Just click on it and you will be Included was a discussion by Dr. Ray Ashley, director of the museum, regarding her place as a museum vessel and her place whisked away to that destination! in San Diego and Pacific Maritime History. Among the membership, many former crewmen of the Dolphin added to the unique flavor of the night. Two days later, July 4th, as the United States celebrated its 233rd On The ‘Tween Deck… birthday, the Dolphin officially opened to the public. Increased crowds were indicative of a new depth of maritime history added •Crew Testing to the museum by the Dolphin. •Movies Before the Mast Between the Dolphin, the B-39 submarine and the proximity to the U.S.S. Midway Museum, these ships represent the closing •Star of Scotland Continues periods of World War II, the Cold War and the near present past. From the aircraft that line the decks of the Midway, to the record •Lane Victory attaining depths of the Dolphin, to the ships themselves, the (Continued on Page 2) "In issuing this number of our bantling to the Euterpe public, we assure our friends that our pages will ever be open to open and fair criticism whether of ourselves, our friends or of those few who do not come within the latter category." - Stead Ellis, 1879 1 Dolphin (cont) n o ght i e Cr t r e B f o y s e t ur Co MMSD Volunteer Art Prior and his guest look on as another member peers through the periscope. dimensions of 20th century naval developments are succinctly represented. San Diego is a "Navy Town." San Diego, for most of her life, was the Dolphin's home port. For the former crew who initiated the struggle for her survival, the city and Museum as a whole n have collected together as caretaker for one of the most historical o ght i diesel-powered submarines in U.S. Navy history. e Cr t r e B f o y s With the addition of the Dolphin, the museum now boasts six e t ur historic ships that can be toured for the cost of a single entrance Co fee. For extra costs, the Californian and Pilot are available as MMSD Volunteer and Docent Tom Mathiowetz was on daily sea-goers, increasing that fleet to eight. hand to answer questions at the July 2nd opening. As the unique relationships with the yacht America and privateer Lynx are strengthened, historic vessels will not only be on display, but the busy activities of a historic seaport will be visible as well. The U.S.S. Dolphin not only represents its place in maritime history, it represents a historical step for the museum as it continues to pursue a methodical and transitioning future as one of the premier museums on the West coast. ~ Brad Holderman, MMSD volunteer, editor. n o ght i e Cr t r e B f o y s e t ur Co MMSD Volunteer and junior crew, Sam Creighton is seen here at the helm of U.S.S. Dolphin. Through the month of July, crowds continued to be strong despite a struggling economy. By enlarging its fleet, the museum has widened its appeal to included those with U.S. Naval interests. In the future, the inclusion of the replica San Salvador and a historic tuna fishing boat, the Maritime Museum of San Diego will not only represent San Diego maritime history, it will be the forerunner of maritime museums on the Pacific Coast. 2 Movies Before the Mast: Volunteers Make for Success Courtesy of Bert Creighton Courtesy of Bert Creighton MMSD Volunteers Alex Creighton and Malcolm Swall Aboard the Star of India, sunset signals the start of man the projector. another Movie Before the Mast. July 10th and 11th saw the opening acts of the MMSD's Movie By the time the audience is let in, the heat of the summer day is Before the Mast season. The brutal reality tale, The Perfect breaking with a cool breeze wafting across the bay onto the Storm, starring George Clooney, opened on Friday evening, July decks. On a cloudless evening, the setting sun can at times be a 10th. The next night, things were balanced out with a Family brutal curtain call to the day, but it also marks the dimming of Night showing of Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas. the lights for each show. With two remaining shows to be had in the month of August, a continued success is expected. The remaining films are Deep Blue Sea on August 14th and The Sea Gypsies on August 15th. Released in 1999, Deep Blue Sea stars Samuel L. Jackson and Thomas Jane. Set in an underwater research lab, an a search for a genetic cure for Alzheimer's disease is conducted on Great White sharks. The experiment has the side effect of making the Great Whites far more intelligent and the ensuing carnage, thanks to CGI effects, takes place. The Sea Gypsies (1978) stars Robert Logan in a story similar to the Swiss Family Robinson. A man, a woman and three children begin a circumnavigation, but are shipwrecked on an uninhabited island. In the true genre of family fare, the natural world presents Courtesy of Bert Creighton its share of cuteness and danger as the unrelated people become Robyn Gallant instructs museum volunteers prior to a family unit. setting up for the evening. The Movies Before the Mast program presents a unique way of In order to put on the events, a diligent group of volunteers arrive enjoying a maritime oriented film while enjoying the quiet several hours earlier in the day to make preparations. Under the atmosphere aboard a closed Star of India. Heavily dependent on direction of Robyn Gallant, volunteers set about prepping tables, a committed group of volunteers, the program owes its success in popping popcorn, setting up chairs and rigging the screens'l due part to this select group. aboard the Star of India. ~ Brad Holderman, MMSD volunteer, editor. 3 Crew Testing – Over the futtock at last… onto her deck in order to breathe life into this iron jewel. The 21st century, the museum and each individual requires that the crew, in the elaborate preservation of a 19th century sailing vessel, stay in one piece. Safety is paramount. To ensure this safety, each volunteer hopeful, regardless of his or her previous standing is required to pass a qualification test. These tests are broken down into three sections: written; knots and belay; and physical. The written part of the testing comprises general knowledge of seamanship skills, sail theory and common history applying primarily to the Star of India. The knots portion requires the basic knowledge and ability in six basic knots and hitches. One is expected to perform these in a single, fluid motion. Additionally, proper belaying techniques are expected. The physical is perhaps the most difficult phase of testing as the aspect of safety is greater in this element of working aboard a square-rigged ship. The test is broken down again in several sections. These sections will establish if one is able to work the deck, continue to the jib-boom, or last, lay aloft along the shrouds towards the upper rigging. From the simple hauling of a 70lb sack (deck), to the one-armed hang (jib-boom), the grand finale for aloft topman is the ability to make one pull-up. An additional requirement of two recoveries on the practice yard Courtesy Brad of Holderman involves hanging in a safety harness, then climbing back onto the On the poop deck of the Star of India, crew test their footrope. knot skills. On July 12th, 2009 the mandatory annual testing for sail crew For me, it was a day that I had been contemplating for several was conducted aboard the Star of India. The testing is in art, years. Previously, I had been too heavy, so managing a pull-up required by the U.S. Coast Guard to ensure the safety of both was harder than expected. crew and passengers, aboard the many ships of the fleet of the MMSD. However, in the last couple of years, I managed to work off quite a bit of weight. Last year, I did the hang quite easily, allowing One hundred years ago on that day, the bark Star of India lay in me to lay out on the jib-boom and the lower course yard on HMS the frigid waters of Alaska. Scattered around Bristol Bay along Surprise. All of this avoided my greatest worry, the futtock with the other ships comprising the fleet of the Alaska Packers' shrouds. The futtock shrouds are a fairly small section leading Association, the summer months were the heart of the salmon outward from the mast to the outer edge of the top.

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