Working Onboard - Sunday, 13 July 08

July 13, 2008, Aboard HMS Surprise

After muster on the Star of India we began work on HMS Surprise,
getting her ready to sail north in August. The detailed restoration of
the ship's wheel continues, and the crew worked on and below deck. The
aloft crew worked on each mast today.

One of our major duties aloft has been lowering blocks to the deck,
then taking them to the Berkeley's workshop where the blocks are
inspected and worked on. Once the blocks are back in good workingorder they are sent aloft and we bend them back on. Some are rather
large, providing the needed purchase to their line. Everything is
labeled as it comes off the boat so we can return the blocks back to
their proper places in the rig.

Below are a couple of pictures of Surprise's wheel (from the Mainm'st)
and the work aloft.

Fleet Week, Gun Battles on the Bay

From Bert Creighton

MMSD Volunteer Crew

We sailed in support of San Diego's Fleet Week today. This served as a good shake down cruise, bringing some of us over from the Star of India, and giving us experience sailing Surprise.

We sailed against Californian, skipper by Mr. Sutherland. He's a master and tacking in tight areas like we had today, and he kept his ship, for the most part, away from our guns. We still got some good shots in and had a great time in our tacking duel.

From the area in front of the Midway and spectator boats we headed to the Museum for another gun battle, then one more at the north end of the bay. This was a great day, what a privilege and what fun to actually sail Surprise and let her guns sing out. I look forward to sailing Surprise again, very soon.

Captain Welton calls muster...

Here are some more pictures from our sail today:

 

Thanks to Ted Walton for the image above, and the next two.

 

Look Mom, I'm inboard!

There's the Californian... time to give her a taste of our guns.