Constitutional!

Today was a great day for Sail Crew. It was truly one of the most beautiful days I have ever spent in San Diego.

We spent the morning checking the lines, fixing minor problems, making sure the pinrails were accurate on the Surprise. I am making cheat sheets for everybody, so I had to have an accurate pinrail diagram. A few of us worked on that while the topmen unfurled the sails, but we got no further than that because the Director of the Museum came down to chat with our captain. They chatted, and chatted, and chatted some more. But eventually Mr. Ashley let us get to it. Before we resumed our work, the Captain gave us the news that the Museum had made a deal with the US Navy. A select group of crewmen from the USS Constitution, one of this country's original Navy fighting ships from Boston, are going to come aboard the Surprise for the November sail. And we are going to TRAIN them!!

Apparently many years ago the Surprise, formerly the Rose, was one of the primary sailing school vessels on the East Coast, and specialized in training the folks taking care of the Constitution. So, this is sort of a reunion for them. And a boon for us, because it will give us a bit of excitement, and fill out our crew a bit.

The best part of it is this: For as long as anyone can remember, there has been this little old man sitting at the Museum admissions booth dockside, greeting people as they come in. He is 92 years old, and is the last surviving crew member of the last active crew aboard the USS Constitution, before she was pulled from active duty. He sailed on her as a teenaged seaman in 1933. And now a bunch of crew from his old ship are going to sail onboard the Surprise, and he is going to be our Helmsman! He's going to be steering the ship!

We were so excited about this. Its awesome.


The USS Constitution, nicknamed "Old Ironsides" because shot fired from British ships were seen to bounce off her hull during the War of 1812. She has a long and storied career in the US Navy, being one of the original frigates ordered built by George Washington. She even had copper fastenings wrought by Paul Revere! She spent time in the Mediterranean, which was documented in one of Forester's fictional Hornblower books.

Check out the Navy's site for her, and if you are ever in Boston, she is a must see! Her part in the founding of our great country is just as important as the document she was named after! http://www.ussconstitution.navy.mil/