Fast and Furious on the Tall Ship Fair Jeanne

Today I spent the day between the Fair Jeanne and the Office.  A team from Fuller construction is working like crazy grinding areas of glass on the hull in need of repair.  We also have three people working on the inside painting the entire crew's quarters with fire retardant paint.  The ship right now is pretty clean considering the amount of work that's going on and below the rubbing strake on the outside of the hull is a huge tarp tent covering the entire ship.  The guys grinding the fiberglass look like a bunch of teletubbies from outer space, with white coveralls and masks that cover their entire face.  They don't have an easy job but most of them have done it before, and they are good at it.  

In the next few days I will be concentrating very hard on getting a Crew Orientation put together.  Our crew is excellent and I am excited for them to begin working on both Black Jack and the Fair Jeanne.  They have more than a few long days coming their way but I know they are up for it.  Our crew orientation will go over the objectives for the season and it will be a good time for them to get to know the new Captain.  Bytown Brigantine crew are held to a very high standard and they all have to work very hard as volunteers year-round to be considered for a position.  We hire them because they're good people, good teachers and excellent communicators, not just sailors. Are they the best?  You bet.  

Gnomes and Engines at BBI

After hosting two of my closest friends from Nova Scotia for the week, I was dead tired.  That being said, I began the evening at the BBI Office on Friday face down in the storage room sawing logs.  Mary was supposed to wake me after 20 minutes, but an hour passed before I heard the voices of some board members coming through the front door... and if they opened the storage room door to see me drooling on the floor things could have gotten a little awkward.  

I always have fun during the weekends at BBI, and Friday began with my presentation of Collision Regulations (Rules of the Road) to the crew.  Sounds like fun, eh?  I wonder a lot about the people who actually write that stuff.  Trying to make sense of government publications is like trying to lick an ice cream cone through your ear.  It's not going to happen.  If anyone is a fan of Harry Potter and has read (or seen) the little goblins that work in the bank...Gringott's, I think...well, I imagine that they are goblins....writing col regs locked away in a cave somewhere, or a tower....who knows...but they don't get the chance to communicate much, because if they did, they would quickly find out that they aren't...well...normal.  

Anyway- I got a little sidetracked.  The Cold Regs presentation was saved by Angus (aka Mittonious) who put on a very strange accent (something between Indian and Irish) and became my game show host.  We had fabulous prizes... a couple of pens and mouse pads that we got for free from somewhere...which were unfortunately so fabulous that they all got left behind at the end of the weekend. 

Sunday was the real entertainment with Albert Rolfe teaching us about outboard engine maintenance and repair.  We had 9 outboards on stands and all of us learned how to service them...our biggest challenge was actually an old Evinrude 2hp that looked as if it had been made with clubs and sharpened rocks right after the first wheel.  Unbelievably, Kate, Teeter and Sophie got it running before it died...then died again...and again.........and again....but for a few wonderful minutes, that little 2hp purred like a kitten, a very sick little kitten with a smoking problem.

Winter Program Small Engine Repair

Thank you very much to Albert Rolfe for teaching us about small engine repair.  We got a great deal of practical hands on experience.  Hopefully we will be much better at trouble shooting while the boats are underway this season.  

Stability Lesson from Bob MacLaren

On March 27, 2009 the BBI winter program crew were much enlightened.  One of our directors, Bob MacLaren gave us a lesson in ships intact stability.  It was a lot to learn, but we certainly have a better understanding of the GZ curve.  We might have a few more questions though!

Join us for an adult voyage!

Bytown Brigantine’s adult voyages on the STV Fair Jeanne are designed for people who are looking for a hands-on adventure in a demanding yet rewarding environment.  Our adult sail training programs aren’t for everybody.  Quarters are tight, days can be long, and unlike a cruise, you might find yourself cleaning a toilet.  We’re looking for people who can handle challenge; those who are willing to come together as a crew in order to sail a type of ship that demands teamwork in order to achieve success.  The type of people that enjoy Bytown Brigantine sail training programs are the ones that are willing to learn, though experience, all aspects of seamanship and navigation from tying knots, chart work and setting sails to taking the helm of an ocean-going tall ship in full canvas.

 

Travel and Vacation Show

BBI will have a booth at the Ottawa Travel and Vacation Show this weekend, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 6pm.  Hope you can drop by.  

A couple of more pictures from March Break Camp.