Fox Posted May 5, 2005 Share Posted May 5, 2005 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. Foxe"With this Fore-Staff he fansies he does Wonders, when, God knows, it amounts to no more but only to solve that simple Question, Where are we? Which every chi'd in London can tell you." - Ned Ward The Wooden World Dissected, 1707ETFox.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Brand Posted May 5, 2005 Share Posted May 5, 2005 I'll take two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain_MacNamara Posted May 5, 2005 Share Posted May 5, 2005 Send me a copy of the plans... I'll build me a little ship, sez I! Captain of the Iron Lotus It is the angle that holds the rope, not the size of the hole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarborMaster Posted May 5, 2005 Share Posted May 5, 2005 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! I am not Lost .,I am Exploring. "If you give a man a fire, he will be warm for a night, if you set a man on fire, he will be warm for the rest of his life!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Jacob Badger Posted May 5, 2005 Share Posted May 5, 2005 Harr Harrr.....there did't look as ifin there was much resistance ....top vessel sah! Cap'n o' the JADES RISC'S @ anchorage at the port o' Cardiff, Wales, Uk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshuaRed Posted May 5, 2005 Share Posted May 5, 2005 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fox Posted May 5, 2005 Author Share Posted May 5, 2005 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... Foxe"With this Fore-Staff he fansies he does Wonders, when, God knows, it amounts to no more but only to solve that simple Question, Where are we? Which every chi'd in London can tell you." - Ned Ward The Wooden World Dissected, 1707ETFox.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumba Rue Posted May 6, 2005 Share Posted May 6, 2005 Hey, pretty darn nifty! Rumba Rue ** ** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Hawks Posted May 14, 2005 Share Posted May 14, 2005 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. Shoots anything that moves!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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