Tall Ships
Avast ye lubbers! This will be the hold where I store all my interesting facts and ideas about ye olde time shippes made out of wood. I hava always been interested in the old sailing ships ever since I was a kid and went to see the Esmerelda at Sydney Harbour. I think it was a Chilean sail training ship. I have some photos at home that I will have to dig out and post. The pirate movies starring Johnny Depp got my fancy going and then I started reading the Patrick O'Brian books about Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin and now I am hopelessly hooked.
I have done some research into the shipbuilding techniques of these old wooden sailing ships so there are a few pages about how the ships were constructed. And also some history of the different types of ships from the 16th to the 18th Century. And some info about ships of the line in the Royal Navy of Britain and how ships were rated. My history of wooden ships is finished and tells of the development of the building of wooden ships from dugout canoe to the glory of the Napoleonic frigates.
I have also done some research and reading about the early maritime history of Australia and am fascinated by the exploits of Lieutenant John Shortland(Jr) who discovered our fair Hunter River. Also John Shortland Sr did a fascinating voyage into the Pacific exploring lots of exotic islands. Governor Philip has documented that in his journals, and I hope to dig up some more on that as well. So that is a research project that I plan on doing once I get around to it. And also the history of HMS Reliance who had a lot to do with the fledgling colony of New South Wales. Lots of work in that lot I assure you. And the Endeavour and the Lady Julian the subject of the film the floating brothel.
And as I am going through the books by Patrick O'Brian I am documenting the geography and ship specifications as I go and that is lots of fun. I have finished the Aubrey/Maturin series and the last couple or so I have included the Google Earth locations file as well. I had better go back and start reading them again I guess.
The latest story is about the Bugis Pinisi Schooners that are still being made today using traditional methods in Southern Suluwesi in Indonesia. These wooden ships still carry cargo and goods throughout the islands of Indonesia and south-east asia. They are the most beautiful boats imaginable with their high raking bows and their sensous lines. Following on from this story is the information about traditional wooden boat building in Vietnam that describes a very interesting method of hand sewn planks. It is a very unique method of wooden boat building.
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