Coastie04

I'd love to. I'll be gone for most of the next month, so if there is another one in that time, I probably won't be doing much research. I'll pick up the threads when I get back. However, this was one great way to learn about a pirate that I never knew existed. Heck, it's inspired me to do even more research into de Graffe's career. Quite exciting, really. Definitely a great idea. One suggestion, though. At the end, when someone finds the answer, a little summary of the career/incident of the pirate and a couple of sources. I'll try to write one up before I get underway, but sorry if I don't get to it. Coastie

Huzzah! I do believe I have found the answer. The revenge seeker was Blas Miguel, who stormed the beach on St. Lawrence's Day in hopes to find de Graffe in celebration. However, when they attacked, the French led by de Graffe met them at the water's edge. Blas Miguel was "broken alive on the wheel" as punnishment for the attack, which happened during a truce with the French. Then again, I could be wrong on this, but he sure fits the bill fairly well based on what I found. Coastie

OK, I know Jan Janszoon van Hoorn had a quarell with de Graff, but I don't really know the cause. Also, I was under the impression that Van Hoorn died of an infected wound from the fight. Coastie

Was it possibly Thomas Paine or Laurens de Graff? Coastie

I've read a number of accounts (primarily post-GAOP) of pirates that were pretty much land-based gangs that occasionally stole from anchored ships. I know that type of piracy still happens today, so it seems very likely throughout history. So, there might be a connection between signing ship's articles, or any sort of pact for a land-based gang. I don't doubt that many pirates became highwaymen when they didn't have a ship and vice versa. Essentially, the act of stealing remains the same. At least that's my take on it. Coastie

'Skyscraper' orignially referred to a sail above the royals on clipper ships before it was applied to tall buildings. 'Figurehead' was a decoration, often a figure of a person, at the bow of the ship. A figurehead in say a corporation, has a nice important looking position, but doesn't serve any practical purpose. 'Headstrong' originated from the bow of the boat being called the head. Generally speaking, the bow of the boat is (or at least should be) the strongest part of the boat because it gets the most beating from waves. Thus, having a strong head allows you to battle through any sea condition. 'Ringleader' refers to pyracy as well. Often ship's articles were signed in a circle so that officially, there is nobody on top and if caught, the authorities could not identify who the leader is, and also possibly to show the crew that they were all equal. However, like many criminal acts, there usually is at least one instigator with natural leadership, or a ringleader. Those are just a few off the top of my head. Enjoy. Coastie

I recently came across this picture of Chinese pirates in 1891. It reminded me of the second picture of German pirates receiving the same punnishment for their crime much earlier. I know I've seen the German picture on this board before, but I can't remember exactly when it was. I just thought it was an interesting comparison that the same punnishment was used in two vastly different cultures in completely different time periods for the same crime. Coastie

As a sailor, I've been through quite a few 'mishaps' as well. It comes with the territory. From being dismasted (which really sucks, btw), to going aground 4 times on three different sailboats (various boats and circumstances...I wasn't driving for any of them and there was no major damage), to blowing out numerous sails. At least in all my experience, none of the crew were seriously injured, though part of that was luck when our J-35 mast went by the board. A lot of problems can be solved by proper planning and preparedness. I'll point out some things from your own story to prove a point. This is meant as helpful criticism, so learn from it. First, some things you did right: -You took a class to learn how to sail. This is great, though when you are done, you should still realize that you're a beginner (which it sounds like you did). -You checked the weather forecast. Many people who get in trouble go out when it's a great day, but crappy weather is expected to move in. In your case, it was unexpected, which happens. -You went to a lake without much traffic. This could be good or bad. Good in the sense that there's fewer people to worry about hitting, generally more room to maneuver, etc. Bad in that there's also fewer people to help if they see you in distress. -You assessed the situation and made a judgement call to return to the dock when the conditions were worsening. This was still before it became an 'emergency' situation. -You saw and responded to two seperate emergencies: first the trees and then the rocks. From what it sounds like, the boat made it back with minimal damage (although I'd really check out that leak in the centerboard trunk). A sail can rip at any time. Sometimes it just less conveniant than others. You used the oar to minimize the impact. -You had a backup means of propulsion. Sure, a motor is nice and easier, but not absolutely necessary. Sometimes people forget that the wind can die completely and are stuck out there. When there's too much wind, oars aren't generally that useful. OK, now a couple of bad things: -You went out without much experience. I don't know the extent of training you got at the class, and they vary greatly, so I'll just assume that you got the basics of sailing. Not necessarily basics of good seamanship. Also, usually classes use their own boats for training, so familiarization with your own boat doesn't happen. -You weren't familiar with your boat. It was brand new, had a centerboard that stuck (quite a major problem) -You began by going down wind (whether or not it was intentional). In general, it's a lot easier to go downwind than up wind, and if something goes wrong, especially beginners trying a new boat, it's generally better to drift back to, or at least by the dock where you can try to signal someone on shore. Obviously, this is general and depends greatly on the geography. -Lack some gear. It's good to have safety gear onboard such as flares, an anchor, a sea anchor or drogue, an extra sail (usually more for bigger vessels), etc. Though it wasn't mentioned, I'm assuming you had the common sense to wear, or at least have available, lifejackets. -Too hasty to get the boat in the water and go sailing. This, by your own admission, may have been the biggest mistake. Take the time to go over your boat, get familiar with it, and make sure everything works. Chances are, everything onboard has some sort of useful purpose. If you don't know what it's for, how it works, or even what it is, ASK SOMEONE!!! Check not only to see if it works, but also that it's in good repair. An old sail or frayed line can turn into a nightmare. It doesn't mean you need to throw these things out, as they have their purpose, but it's something you should be aware of. Never use old rope as the major lines (i.e. haliard, sheets, downhaul/furling line, or any other line that gets used often or is vital to the operation of YOUR boat). Other things to think about: -It's a good idea to file a sailing plan with a friend, relative, neighbor, coworker, etc. so that if you don't return and check in by a certain time, they can worry and call in help for you. MAKE SURE YOU CHECK IN WITH THEM WHEN YOU RETURN! Also, make sure they know where you went, and what your boat looks like. -Cell phone...good and bad. Up here in Alaska, they usually don't work too far from a town. There are always areas of bad reception, so it's not good to rely on them for an emergency. It's not a bad idea to have one, though. Make sure it's in a waterproof container and will float!!! -Have a radio. A radio can come in very handy when calling for help, especially to other boaters. -Try finding someone knowledgeable that will go out with you on your boat, or at least look over your boat with you and explain what everything is and what it's for. -Sometimes, things just happen. Do whatever you can to protect 1) your safety, 2) safety of others, 3) safety of the boat. Usually, if you protect the safety of the boat, the other two fall in line. When things do happen, have a plan to fix them. Constantly think about and talk with your crew about what you would do if ____ happens (just about anything can go wrong, just fill in the blank). In the Coast Guard, we run drills all the time. We require most commercial vessels to run drills as well. You don't need to make it too formal, but practice in picking up a Type IV floataion device, or an EXTRA life jacket is good. Not only is it good to be familiar with what to do in case of a man overboard, it helps you get better at handling the boat and can be a lot of fun. -Prevention is always the best remody. In our Commanding Officer's standing orders he states that "seamanship is the ability to stay out of a situation that needs it". Adding to that, as I said earlier, sometimes things just happen. Overall, it sounds like you didn't really enjoy it, but have one heck of a sea story as a beginner. Get back out there. Lots of things will come with experience. You don't need to get far from the dock many times to just get familiar with the boat, tack it, practice a man overboard (hint, once you get a little better, one of you should be the 'man overboard' and just sit back and stay out of the way-don't actually jump overboard). Even with all the nasty storms, dangerous situations, large waves, high winds, lost sails, lost gear, etc., I still go sailing. However, after each bit of new experience, even the nice days that go as perfect as they ever can, I learn something new that can help me the next time. Fair Winds, Coastie

I've got moss growing outside (not hard, considering I'm in SE Alaska). I can keep bamboo alive (actually, it looks like bamboo, but it's some other related plant...I only know because I'm engaged to a botanist). So, I'm sure I'll have a garden after I'm married, but what will grow? Who knows. I probably won't be able to spell or pronounce over half of whatever is in it. Coastie

Lay aloft Coastie

Here's an idea: Wear it a lot. Wear it while doing any sort of manual labor, jump into the ocean, roll in the mud, etc. Just a note about the mud flinging that seems to be prevalent: there's really not a whole lot of mud on a boat or at sea in general. If there is some from your last night on shore sleeping in a ditch, it would mostly wash off in your first storm. So, I'd go a little easy on the mud here unless you're supposed to be a farmer or the likes. Tar stains and maybe a bit of paint and powder burns are much more likely than mud. What I'd really suggest (short of actually going to sea in them to get authentic tar stains, sea salt, etc) is taking some vacation, or at least a few weekends in a row, and wear the clothes. I'm not just talking about during the day, either. Wear them from when you get home from work on Friday, or even before if you've got a long commute, until you get up on Monday. Sleep on the floor so you're uncomfortable and put a bit more wear and tear on them. Take a shower in them (rain is fresh water on land and sea-no soap). Go to the beach, roll around a bit in the sand, clay, or whatever lines the shore, play volleyball. Jump in the salt water, let it dry, take a shower, repeat (no rinsing). For the next few weekends, do the same thing. Then there's a few 'extras' that you can add for the truly authentic look. When eating, use various parts of your shirt as a napkin, or just spill a lot. Induce vomiting or get sloppy drunk and just let it go all over yourself. A shower after this wouldn't be a bad thing, as there is often rain with a storm, though jumping in the sea's not a bad option either. Go to the range with your favorite period piece and shoot it a few times to get that black powder smell going. Try to find some pine tar and get a bit of that on your clothes somewhere. It's really good if you can put some on a line and get that unmistakable mark of freshly tarred rigging. Finally, make your own repairs and try to clean it up as best you can with period cleaning supplies (lye soap and salt water maybe? Fresh water was generally too precious to waste on vain things such as hygene). After a few months of this, you should have some fairly authentic aging, and the clothes might feel better, too. Did I miss anything? Coastie

Some notes from my experiences on Eagle... It's impossible to forget that she was a Nazi ship. If you know where to look, there are still some swastikas in the metal of the ship. On one of the original watertight doors there's one, and a few in the Admiral's Cabin. For the latter, you need to look under the very nice wooden pannels if given an opportunity. Also, she's a pretty ship to look at, but when doing maintenance, you find the signs of age. But, as far as tall ships go, she probably gets as much or more than any other ship of her age and is probably the safest 'old boat' to sail. It is common during cadets' six-week third class summer (between freshman and sophmore years) onboard that they navigate for a time with just celestial navigation. Turn the GPS off (at least on deck and if the weather allows) and break out the sextants. Of other historical note, the ship came over to the U.S. with a half-German crew. Instead of scuttling the ship (and the rest of the German Navy-there are areas below that have a depression that used to hold explosives for that purpose) when it was obvious that Germans were days from loosing WWII, the German crew helped the new American crew to fix her up and many sailed across the Atlantic with her. Some stayed in the CT area and I was fortunate enough to meet one of them that's still alive in the area. He also confirmed a story that was thought to be a rumor for a while. Horst Wessel shot down at least one Allied plane during the war. She was at port and with a deck machine gun was credited with shooting down a fighter. Additionally, she has always had the Eagle as a figurehead. However, instead of a shield in the wreath carried in the Eagle's talons, she originally had a swastika. The last German captain gave the gift of a shield designed to cover the swastika as a parting gift to the American captain when they were ready to leave Germany. Ever since, the many replacement figureheads have held a wreath with a shield in it. So, this hunk of metal, referred to by many cadets as "the slave ship", "the love boat", "the bird", "rust bucket", and many other names, has quite an exciting history. She's truly one of those boats that you wish could speak just to tell you her story...and how to better trim the sails. Coastie

Sorry all ye lonely lasses, I recently asked my love to marry me and she said yes. I didn't even have to pour rum down her throat first! I guess that means more for the celebration. Maybe the two gold plated deringers and shiny rock on a piece of metal overcame her senses. She loves plunder as much as me. The 'big day' is probably about a year or so off, but more details will follow to those who would like them. It'll probably be in either WA or CT, but a lot of that depends on where I get stationed next as well. So, drink up! Coastie

Do you mind posting the article you wrote? Or emailing me if you'd prefer? I'd love to read it, as I'm sure everyone who's been following this post would. It definitely sounds like some new info coming to light for the vast majority of us. Coastie

It seems pretty clear to me on the issue of Morgan. He may have employed pirates, though while they served with him they acted under his authority and thus were not pirates. Morgan himself acted under the authority of England, and thus at worst could be labeled as a privateer instead of the Captain of the English Fleet. Think of it kind of like the Jamaica National Guard. Now, if he overstepped his bounds a bit with the Panama incident, fine. It was a matter of bad timing. He probably guessed that the peace with Spain was shakey, and considering how long it took correspondance to arrive from England, he decided to be proactive. He jumped the gun. Whatever Spain called him, it doesn't really matter. If he was captured by Spain and hanged as a pirate, it still wouldn't prove that he actually was. It's not uncommon for enemies to label each other with derogatory titles. Therefore, just taking the facts, Morgan attacked the Spanish, but held a piece of paper from England, a long established nation, saying that what he did was legal as far as England was concerned (no, I don't know what the actual wording was, but you get my point). Therefore, he was not a pirate, regardless of what the Spanish or Dutch or even the Japanese called him. Coastie

I think there is some merit, but I also believe that the 'bum rap' that pirates have recieved is fully justified. In a few hundred years, someone might say the same thing about the terrorists of today. Just think, all the jobs that were created by having to clean up Oklahoma City, Twin Towers, put extra security in airports, etc. Plus, the economic boom that goes along with a war against them. Sure, people are dying, but in the grand scheme of things it's only a few, and there are many more people dying on our highway system, from street gangs, etc. However, while they're over there, every bullet, every helmet, every pair of boots means money in merchant pockets. Plus, at least for a while, the terrorists actually united Americans, making the country stronger. Back to the reality. Terrorists deserve and will always have a 'bum rap' because what they do is illegal, causes fear, and is directed toward us. Pirates were essentially the terrorists of their day. While one can find the good side to just about everything, the reality is that pirates were not the nice 'Captain Jack' style pirates. It was a hard life filled with murder, rape, torture, robbery, and doing just about anything in order to survive (from killing for food to blockading a port for medicine). Glorifying them to this level is bending to Hollywood stereotypes as much as slapping on the eyepatch, strapping on a wooden leg, and saying 'Arrrgh' all the time. Coastie

Check out this jewelry. It's not Disney, but there's a much better selection. The site in general has some great ropework in gold. I love the turks head rings. Coastie

Another recommended read is "Sea of Glory" by Nathaniel Philbrick. It's much later than the GAoP, and 'revolutionary new techniques' were being used, but it describes the charting process and what needed to be done in order to get accurate charts (for the day). Coastie

Well, if it's the Flying Dutchman you're wanting to cruise on, try the Royal Clipper. She's a five-masted full-rigger (one of only two ever built) that sails as a cruise ship in the West Indies and Med. There's even some trans-Atlantic cruises available, I believe. They've got a couple of schooners as well, if I recall correctly. Coastie

Jamaica! It's been a while since I've seen one of your posts. Congrats on your bit in that history channel pirate special. I caught a glimpse of that on my neighbor's TV a few weeks ago. Anyway, hope you're doing well. Coastie

Does my 225' Coast Guard buoy tender count? We board others. I just put models, though, because that's all I personally own. So far, a model of the USS Constitution, Cutty Sark, Lady Washington (scratch built), and I'm working on the HMS Beagle (of Darwin fame). Coastie

Heck, up here in Alaska we hear them every once in a while. The Alaskan State Balladeer, Hobo Jim, has quite a collection out. Besides, I listen to a lot of sea shanties, so sailors are always complaining about anything they can, including cold weather. Rolling Down to Old Maui Greenland Whalers Certain renditions of Spanish Ladies Strike the Bell These are the first I can think of at 2330 on the 4th after some celebration. Happy 4th to all ye Americans. To the French, thanks for distracting the limies. To the Brits, thanks for underestimating our rabble. Everyone else, grab a beer and play with explosives. Coastie

Oops. Oops. Well, it was my friend's militia (also in the Coast Guard). Technically, I'm still a member. However, in order to be effective in Alaska, I'll need a lot more firepower. I've come very, very close to this one. Gotta love company officers with Napoleon complexes. Actually, our doc thought that was funny as hell, especially because I did the audit on his meds. The best poster I saw was slightly modified. Originally, it was for an Academy social and stated "Fake Beer + Women". However, someone modified it to say "Fake (Beer + Women)". Surprisingly, it stayed up for about 3 days in a prominent place! So many times I wish I could... Nor a DC Punch, the Keys to the Sea Chest, or Relative Bearing Grease. Coastie

Here's another that is worth checking out. The hull's a bit bigger and might accomodate more of the electronics. Coastie

If you've got any experience in modeling, it might be possible to take a model ship and put your own electronics in it. However, certain parts would likely need to be hand made or modified in order to either accomodate the electronics or make them functional. Something like this might work, though I don't know much about the R/C side of things or how much room you'd need in the hull. I can only guess as to the stability and ballast you would need. I've only sailed a modern R/C racing sloop a couple of times before. So, as far as the rigging, the posted schooner might work nicely. One control for each of the fore and main sails, one for the heads'ls (though that one might be a bit more tricky), and one for the square tops'l. Obviosly, a rudder as well. Coastie