the Royaliste

'We'll be here until sailin' time!!!..........

*Checks tide book*... "lookin' like 8:30, optimal"........

They be predictin' no rain Sunday, so I'm headin' 'er out for a sail..Any locals interested, head on over, an' bundle up!!....Aye!!..... (I kin already hear the snap 'o the canvas!)

..."Hmmm, the former Captain 'o the ROYALISTE just got wind 'o this an' is volunteerin' services.....Gotta luv the Colonial Wars, eh?..(More Naval history on Lake Champlain than anywhere in the western hemisphere) *Goes back to checkin'charts an' chrunchin' numbers*........

So, 'appy birthday, an' many more on the sea ahead!

"RRRRRRRRRR Pleasure, mate!!!"........

Aye!!..An' the more the merrier!!!..It'll add to the 'greens' and 'reds' in the muzzle blast!!.........

"Hmmm, Methinks we'll be needin' a few more deck guns!!! "Blast ye're X's to Texas!!"...(hell, I kin keep the larb'd side busy!)

"Bloody Bloomin' Flippin' 'eck!!!..Happy New Years, ye blackhearted scallywags!!..(You 'pirates' too!).."

"Whoops!!"" ..forgot this one! Great to hear from you. It would dramatically increase the impact of the Bougainville Voyage if ROYALISTE could somehow be part of our 10-day historic tour of Lake Champlain, ending at the the huge Grand Encampment of the French and Indian War at Fort Ticonderoga. With ROYALISTE anchored off the fort as the key vessel of the flotilla, and likely the centerpiece for media attention, I think we all would gain. The headquarters for the voyage will be located on Isle la Motte in Vermont, on Lake Champlain, and we are looking at applying for state and federal grants to help us pull the thing off, Gary. The Canadians will have to look after themselves, but the majority of the boats interested in taking part are American, and hopefully will qualify for those grants. I would hope this might include ROYALISTE! I'll certainly keep you posted, and if in the meantime you can suggest your likely costs, that would help in deciding whether we could chase those funds, or whether it's just too impractical. Good luck for the New Year. By the way, they are making a sequel to Pirates of the Caribbean, which I am sure you know. Can you get involved? Yours aye Vic Suthren Event Organizer The Bougainville Voyage June 2005 Anyone gotta spare pike???

Hmm, 'ere's more from the Frontier....Bougainville Voyage 2005 I feel very optimistic that we could secure a major grant in support of you through the Lake Champlain Basin Program or other funding agency. If you were in the Caribbean the ship might survive (physically and financially) a voyage north along the US Eastern seaboard, to voyage up the Hudson and enter Lake Champlain via the Whitehall Canal (clearance 15 feet: clearly you'd have to re-rig at the southern end of Lake Champlain before voyaging north). After the Bougainville Voyage you could possibly charter on the lake during the summer (presuming you've laid Jones Act problems to rest. The Lake Chaplain Maritime Museum could be convinced to provide you a free berth), and I would then be prepared to seek Canadian funding for an historic voyage (ROYALISTE with accompanying Canadian ships) down the Richelieu and Saint Lawrence to Atlantic Canada, Louisbourg and Halifax before returning to US waters. Then you could winter in the eastern US or Caribbean, or trailer her back to glory in California. All this may be pipe dreams, but let's keep discussing Bougainville. And I'll check on your site to see how you're doing! Cheers for the New Year. Yours aye Vic Suthren "Now 'tis gettin' interestin'!!....RRR!!!

They be makin' a threat 'o rain for the fireworks, but I've got the Ship's covers at the ready, so the party will go on, regardless!!...Might bring an extra sweater or shirt, just in case the wind pipes up!!...RRRR!!

*Plugs in party lights, an' opens the first bottle 'o rum* "It's lookin' pretty good for tonight's festivities!!..Stop on by if'n ye be pillagin' in the 'hood!" *looks for the first mornin' rays o'er the Bay, to the singin' o' the harbor seals*

I just contacted the sponsors again..With a year and a half lead time, something may develop!..And, we've got bigger guns than the last time!!...(Checks list of eastern gunpowder suppliers)...

This could be quite a loong one, tho..S.F. to Upstate NY..again!..Lotta miles, on her hull by sea, or on the trailer!!

Indeed!!..Would be quite the adventure, she's done the 'Raid on Ticonderoga' during the Grand Encampment 1997, 10,000 participants...This would be one hella fine 'homecoming'!!... 'A Pirates Life for Me, for sure!'

O.K. my brother reenactors, here's the skinny: The Bougainville Voyage: Summer 2005 An historical voyage for 18th Century longboats in the Summer of 2005 under oar and sail from Isle-aux-Noix National Historic Site in Canada to Ticonderoga (Carillon), New York, reflecting aspects of the career of French Seven Years' War officer Louis-Antoine de Bougainville. Bougainville, later a celebrated Pacific navigator, commanded the French garrison at Isle-aux-Noix, and served at Carillon during the defeat of Abercromby in 1758. The longboat flotilla is meant to represent a French reinforcing force voyaging to Carillon. Crews will be required to be in correct dress of 1758, and the flotilla hopes to secure the escort of the replica 18th Century French Bomb Ketch "Royaliste". Over the one-week period of the voyage the flotilla will stop at key points on the lake and present demonstrations and presentations meant to draw attention to the 18th Century historical heritage of the lake and its ongoing environmental fragility. Intended stops for the Flotilla are now seen as Isle-aux-Noix (departure); Isle La Motte; Valcour Island; Shelburne, Vermont; Crown Point, New York; and Fort Ticonderoga (arrival). For preliminary information and expressions of interest contact: Victor Suthren, Event Organizer, The Bougainville Voyage, 2581 Flannery Drive,Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaK1V 8M4Tel: 613 730-3243Fax: 613 730-2224 E-mail: suthren@magma.ca

*Rolls keg down gangplank, hogshead does a spin, and comes to rest, standing*.. "Ere, might as well do some serious drinkin'!!" Just got wind of a reenactment in 2005 on Lake Champlain, a' wantin' the 'ROYALISTE' back again!..Might turn into something!!

Ye might be inquirin' of Ryann or Mad Maudlin, they be forumites an' pirates from that area

:) "AYE!!.. Dead men tell no tayles!!..... (An' live pirates!)........ But Drink, me hearties!!!!

:) Bloody Bloomin' 'eck!!..O' course!!..Nauty-cal all the way!!...(Naw, just Pyrate)...........

Ye mebbe....but....*looks at self* Um...ah....me donna think so. "Aw, 'eck!!..Aye ain't a' goin' there, not e'en close!!..But, we sailors know that offshore, one size WILL suffice for all!!!..(As long as the sunblock holds out!)

Aye!!..One 'patch' fits all!!!

Ahoy!..Best be bringin' them ruby slippers!!!... *Makes 'Double RR's' below, and heads back aboard*

:) "Aye!..'Tis gettin' ta be a bitch lookin' fer winter pirate garb!!!...Methinks that pyrate swimwear sounds better for next Christmas!!..*Grinning*