Captain Jim

Aye, but we didn't take the cutter from the English, but from the Spanish so, in effect, we redeemed the cutter, yer Lordship...

Quite. Shall we consider the matter of the name closed? So, where did we aquire the ship? Or did we discuss that and I missed it somewhere?

Well, I've been doing some work on the background of Capn' Richard Southard (pronounced South-erd) for the upcoming paperwork and materials to be used at trial. I'm currently making 'bills of lading' and 'letters of marque' for our good captain. Nothing overtly dramatic, but detailed papers that can be used as props for education and dramatic demonstrations. I think Capn' Richard should be a simple man of the sea, firmly set with roots in the working class. I imagine he's elected. The letters I'm making up for him do contain some 'commissions' as the captain of a 'sloop of war', but they are primarily to be used at times of legal consequence like any such letters of marque or privateering that lend an individual or crew the right to take ships. Some of this stuff merely lends the crew of the Mercury right of passage or the limited formality that walks that fine line between pirating and privateering. Of course with the Captain always absent...it's mostly just fun and academic. So shall we take it that our ship is a pyrate ship what uses letters of marque when it is convenient, as opposed to a private venture that has crossed the line and gone a'pyratin' by common consent of the crew? Or was there a mutiny and the original captain of a legal privateer deposed, our good Captain elected to command and a'pyratin' they went? If mutiny by common consent and Southard was the original captain, elected to retain the post by the crew, then his name could be on the original documents and he could be an all-out pyrate at the same time, still passing as a legal privateer when it suits their needs and conditions.

We here have an outfit called "Norman's". Cannot beat the price.

What Coastie said is correct. But the complicated choices of point of sail are dependent on where the "hard" is and how your boat handles. If you can run before the wind, the apparent wind decreases and you take seas astern or to quarter, making as little headway as is needed to prevent pitchpoling (going end-over-end.) The advantage of this is that the storm seems less severe and the waves much less menacing. If there is no room to run (land is downwind) then running is not an option. Then one would have to heave-to, basically trying to sail at an angle to the sea with as little forward progress as possible (which may not be the same angle to the wind) so as to limit the progress toward the land and make the ride as comfortable as possible. Less stress on you is usually less stress on the boat. Sometimes all of your choices suck. Perhaps your boat does not heave-to well, or requires constant attention lest it take a sea square abeam. The variables are almost limitless, especially when you add in the experience of the captain and crew, whether they trust the boat, whether there is some driving order to get to point "B" that overrides good judgment. In all cases, deep water is better. In all cases "wind against current" is bad (this may have been a factor in the Bounty sinking, as they were in the Gulf Stream with an opposing wind. Wind against current builds steep, angular, hard-hitting waves.) I have been in four cases where the choice had to be made. Ran once, hove-to three times. In all cases, once we stopped fighting the sea, reduced sail and went with the flow, there was less stress on the boat and the crew. We rested, ate, drank warm drinks and when the wind abated we went on.

That's what I call getting into the spirit of things.

Indeed, wow.

OH, I so want that.

We were bound to eventually become the go-to source for pyraty stuff. These pages, over the seven years I've been here, have become a treasure trove.

I'm yer man. I'll be leaving Myakka City about midnight, maybe a little later and should be passing through Key Largo at about 5 AM, give or take. I have a Tacoma that trails things nicely.

Extra Old is quite good. The Exra Old is above my pay grade. Must try it sometime when celebrating something special.

You guys are just being silly. Everyone knows that Pyrates kept their money in large iron-bound chests conveniently buried on nearby beaches.

Absolutely.

Mt. Gay. Neat, wrecked (on the rocks ) or mixed with a little ginger ale and lime (sort of a fizzy grog, if you will.)

Happy Natal Day, Mate!

Braze, ye olde dogge! Salutations on yer Natal Day, and may ye have many more circumnavigations of the sun.

Glad to see you posting again. May you have many more circumnavigations of the Sun, my good Sir!

According to the CG, she is gone. These are the final pictures before she slipped away.

http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/1592231/PHOTO-RELEASE-Coast-Guard-rescues-14-recovers-1-continues-search-for-1-from-HMS-Bounty The Coast Guard released pictures of the foundered Bounty.

http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/1592231/PHOTO-RELEASE-Coast-Guard-rescues-14-recovers-1-continues-search-for-1-from-HMS-Bounty The last two pictures we may ever see of the Bounty.

http://5newsonline.com/2012/10/29/claudine-christian-missing/ Claudine Christian is reported to have died.

http://5newsonline.com/2012/10/29/claudine-christian-missing/ Claudine Christian is reported as having died.

Fifteen now accounted for, only the Captain missing. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/10/29/hurricane-sandy-ship-abandoned-ship-coast-guard/1665339/

Nicely done! And look, it came with all those lovely writing implements!

http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_10_29/Hurricane-Sandy-sinks-HMS-Bounty/ Even the Voice of Russia has picked up the story. We've lost a very famous and popular lady. Pray they find the two missing crew.