My great grandfather was a tops man on a real square-rigged windjammer as a teen into his late twenties. He eventually settled in Alaska as a gold prospector. Going on to use the gold he found to set up a commercial boat building compony, then making his own boat and going into Commercial Fishing with his sons. I recall herring some stories from him about that life before all the new "Safety" procedures. Sounds like a lot is lost to bureaucratic red tape. Going up bare footed so you could grip the ropes better and read the hum of the ship. Learning to instinctively know by feel what the ship needed or how to trim her literally by how she spoke to you through touch and through your feet (Same as feeling the ship in your hands when we use to have to steer manually). As a boy I remember how it was "Standing wheel watch" compared to how it is now. Way easer and weigh less intuitive. We are losing the art of navigation and ship handling.
I was the foretopman on the three masted bark "Elizabeth II" from 1984-89. I also sailed on the "Dove" and did a day sail on "Bounty" in 1991. No harnesses back then. Laying over the yard with all that gear, trying to furl canvas looks like it would be very uncomfortable. We lived by "One hand for yourself, one hand for the ship". Not sure I would want the false sense of security of the harness. I understand the Safety thing but when it's just your hands and your shipmates, awareness runs very high. We never had an accident and only once did I have to talk a volunteer out of the rigging (she was in no real danger, would have fallen 8 feet into water, she was on the bowsprit). Duyfken looks like a wonderful vessel. Enjoy the experience.
On the frigate l'Hermione we do not have a continuous lifeline with a fall arrester on the shrouds. We have a lifeline that has knots every 2 meters or so. If we fall we only fall 2 meters (~6.5 feet). In good weather we are not even obliged to secure ourselves on the shrouds of the lower masts.
Wow falling 6ft and stopping suddenly would still hurt. They have very strict safety rules here in Oz and Hermione is a beautiful ship . Thanks for watching and leaving a comment. I hope to make more videos on the Duyfken, cheers Paul
@@sailingduyfken5948 In 2016 I saw a person fall from the futtock of the mainmast. On l'Hermione the futtock of the mainmast are about 3.5 m (~11.48 feet) + the length of the tether he fell from 4 m (~13 feet) !!! He didn't hurt himself but he was very scared!
The first time I went on the Alma Doepel, l was told to put on a belt harness then go up the mast. Oh by the way no one was the ship, no one showed me anything. And we also had who could climb the mast faster. But not now.
My great grandfather was a tops man on a real square-rigged windjammer as a teen into his late twenties. He eventually settled in Alaska as a gold prospector. Going on to use the gold he found to set up a commercial boat building compony, then making his own boat and going into Commercial Fishing with his sons. I recall herring some stories from him about that life before all the new "Safety" procedures. Sounds like a lot is lost to bureaucratic red tape. Going up bare footed so you could grip the ropes better and read the hum of the ship. Learning to instinctively know by feel what the ship needed or how to trim her literally by how she spoke to you through touch and through your feet (Same as feeling the ship in your hands when we use to have to steer manually). As a boy I remember how it was "Standing wheel watch" compared to how it is now. Way easer and weigh less intuitive. We are losing the art of navigation and ship handling.
Wow another great story, thanks for sharing and watching, cheers Paul
I was the foretopman on the three masted bark "Elizabeth II" from 1984-89. I also sailed on the "Dove" and did a day sail on "Bounty" in 1991. No harnesses back then. Laying over the yard with all that gear, trying to furl canvas looks like it would be very uncomfortable. We lived by "One hand for yourself, one hand for the ship". Not sure I would want the false sense of security of the harness. I understand the Safety thing but when it's just your hands and your shipmates, awareness runs very high. We never had an accident and only once did I have to talk a volunteer out of the rigging (she was in no real danger, would have fallen 8 feet into water, she was on the bowsprit). Duyfken looks like a wonderful vessel. Enjoy the experience.
Thanks Paul for sharing that story, cheers Paul
In the early days we just had a nylon belt with a lanyard and snap clip.
aah times have changed it's all about insurance risk now.
On the frigate l'Hermione we do not have a continuous lifeline with a fall arrester on the shrouds. We have a lifeline that has knots every 2 meters or so. If we fall we only fall 2 meters (~6.5 feet).
In good weather we are not even obliged to secure ourselves on the shrouds of the lower masts.
Wow falling 6ft and stopping suddenly would still hurt. They have very strict safety rules here in Oz and Hermione is a beautiful ship . Thanks for watching and leaving a comment. I hope to make more videos on the Duyfken, cheers Paul
@@sailingduyfken5948 In 2016 I saw a person fall from the futtock of the mainmast. On l'Hermione the futtock of the mainmast are about 3.5 m (~11.48 feet) + the length of the tether he fell from 4 m (~13 feet) !!!
He didn't hurt himself but he was very scared!
Hands on the shrouds, feet on the ratlin's, hey?
Yep
Very interesting.Thank you for sharing As always stay safe.
Thanks for watching cheers Paul
Thanks for watching, cheers Paul
The first time I went on the Alma Doepel, l was told to put on a belt harness then go up the mast.
Oh by the way no one was the ship, no one showed me anything.
And we also had who could climb the mast faster.
But not now.
Hi OH&S means training is important but hey different times Thanks for watching,cheers Paul
Hi OH&S means training is important but hey different times Thanks for watching, cheers Paul
I climbed those masts onboard her when I was onboard I was also her helmsman and deckhand/rigger
Over in Perth, good on you...she's still going strong in Sydney, thanks for watching, cheers Paul
@@sailingduyfken5948 yup I joined her 2 weeks after she returned to Australia
"How to Climb on a Tall Ship"? Have someone do it for you.........
Ha ha yes there is a case for that though some really enjoy it, thanks for watching, cheers Paul