New boat launched

[Fox]

Last weekend saw the launch of the Bonaventure skiff at the South West Pirate Festival at Morwellham, Devon. The skiff is 20' long and has a crew of 2-9. At present her motive power is provided by four oars but by the end of the year I hope to have added a main- and fore-sail, and possibly more oars. The skiff represents nearly 5 years of research and 1 year of building.

At SWPF 2005 her crew behaved well and Bonaventure can now claim to be the only post-dark age UK re-enactment group to own and operate a waterborne vessel. We can also claim to be the first group to have properly re-enacted a boat-to-ship boarding action (we were the first to orchestrate a ship-to-ship boarding re-enactment four years ago).

The skiff will be seen at other events later in the year, and in subsequent seasons.

Rowing into the great dock

Permission to hook on? Don't be so soft!

Boarders Away!

This may be in the wrong forum, Mods feel free to move it. Since there doesn't appear to be a "announce the launch of your new replica vessel" forum, and since I've seen other threads about replica vessels here I thought I'd post in Captain Twill.

[William Brand]

I'll take two.

[Captain_MacNamara]

Send me a copy of the plans...

I'll build me a little ship, sez I!

[HarborMaster]

That ! Is really cool., way to go! Please DO POST with the masts as well., but it is a good looking vessel., the the cut outs for the Oars look like their for cannon!

[Captain Jacob Badger]

Harr Harrr.....there did't look as ifin there was much resistance ....top vessel sah!

[JoshuaRed]

Now THAT is mighty sweet, Foxe! Thanks for posting. One thing that it illustrates remarkably well is just how much of a sitting duck small boat boarders could be if they lost the element of surprise before getting safely on deck. One blunderbuss aimed over the side at point blank range and you're shark food.

[Fox]

Thanks guys!

Actually, during that skirmish most of the crew of the Garlandstone were ashore trying to defend their ship from the other half of my two pronged attack (you can see their feet in the first picture). The two defenders fired their hailshot piece at us, missed, a big bank and a spray of water came up from the adjacent bank (salute to the pyrotechnic fellas), and they ran away in the teeth of our attack. Their shipmates filed back on board pressed at the stern by us and on the starboard side by boarders from the land. After a brief but bloody fight they surrendered the ship, Hurrah

But, you're right Josh, if they'd really tried to stop us we wouldn't have stood a chance. As it was I learned a very important lesson; just how confusing it is to board a ship. I'd been sitting in the boat with them a minute previously but by the time I made it into the fight that was going on on the deck of the Garlandstone I had absolutely no idea who I was supposed to be fighting. I suddenly appreciated the worth of field signs.

As well as the mast there are also plans afoot for a bow-mounted swivel gun...

[Rumba Rue]

Hey, pretty darn nifty!

Rumba Rue

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[Jonathan Hawks]

Now I gots ta say that be looking grand. E'n got the lads climbin the rope of her ta the main. That be what I likes ta see.