Oh no he di-int. Isss ON!

Like Donkey Kong - from the Washington Post:  FIGHTIN' WORDS

The deputy ambassador at the British Embassy recently boasted about the British burning of the White House during the War of 1812, calling the sacking of Washington a “great British victory.”

Philip Barton, in an apparent attempt at humor, referred to the attack on the U.S. capital as he welcomed British boxer Amir “King” Khan to Washington this month to promote a Dec. 10 championship match with D.C. prizefighter Lamont “Havoc” Peterson.

“Amir, you may have ceded the home advantage to Lamont,” Mr. Barton said at a reception at the British Embassy, “but you - and he - should know this: There are a lot of us Brits here in Washington.

“We have had some notable victories here over the years. We even managed to burn down the White House in 1814!

“So, rest assured, come 10 December, you’ll have your share of local support. All of us are looking forward to another great British victory.”

Oh yeah.  So hit 'em back, yo!  ...or not.

The U.S. ambassador to the Philippines created an uproar over his claims that 40 percent of male visitors to the South Asian nation come for illegal sex.

Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr. made the comment at a forum in late September and then scrambled to apologize after realizing he got his facts wrong.

“I should not have used the 40 percent statistic without the ability to back it up. I regret any harm that I may have caused,” he said in a text message to reporters in Manila this month.

He expressed “deep regret” for his remarks and promised that the United States will continue to work with the “strong and dedicated partner of the Filipino people in combating the global scourges of human trafficking and sexual tourism,” an embassy official told reporters.

Mr. Thomas sent his apology to Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, and a government spokesman called the matter closed.

Wait.  You mean the Brit ambassador lashed out, and then we went and embarassed ourselves?  And in the end we didn't even address any of the percieved wrongs?  Wow - it's like the War of 1812 all over again there on Embassy Row in Washington.

200 years of progress in microcosm.  Awesome.

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Road Trip - soviet style?

Yes, that's right - it's time again for me to start getting ready to pack up and start driving all over creation on schedules that make truck drivers wince.  And Mini-HORNET is going to be travelling a bit, too.  First, I think I've beaten to death that she'll be on display at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott for the Association of Defense Communities annual conference on July 18-20.  We'll need volunteers to help move on the 17th and again on the 20th, both in the evenings.  After that, she'll be travelling up to Richmond on July 30th, where she'll be on display for two weeks at the Virginia War Memorial in the heart of Downtown Richmond.  It's an exciting schedule and we have lots to get ready.  We also have a few tricks up our sleeve.

On double takes and head checks

Springtime is here and we're rolling out of the winter Dockyard lull - and you know what that means... TIME TO WORK! The Dockyard is humming again and we're going to be starting up our weekly working sessions. Monomoy No. 1 is being prepared to take on Chesapeake Bay again, and we've got a giant foam model to finish! WEDNESDAYS and FRIDAYS starting at 7 pm, the shops will be open, so come on out and lend a hand!

BT

Keeping an eye on local shipyards, this week's noteworthy news is the haul out of Pride of Baltimore II in Portsmouth. If you look carefully while driving on I-464 you can make out her masts near the Ntellos Wireless Pavillion. She's in the process of gearing up for her 23rd season of sailing as Maryland's goodwill ambasador to the world.

But as great as she is, her proximity poses a problem. I don't know about anyone else, but when tall ships are around I can be a real hazard on area roadways. Sighting Pride's masts last Thursday, I swerved into adjacent lanes with excitement as I craned my neck to get a better view - road be damned. Now, I'm not advocating this, nor making light of what is very probably a serious defect but the excitement is hard to contain. Since we have a nice cache of bright yellow vehicle flags at the Dockyard (the kind you normally see emblazoned with a sports team logo - and we use to mark escort vehicles when towing), I've decided to mount one on my SUV to alert adjacent motorists to my condition. If anyone else needs one, please stop by during our regularly scheduled working sessions and we will fill your prescription at no cost. Just another way NHS is contributing to the safety of motorists in the Tidewater Area. Side effects may include tunnel vision, loss of situational awareness, momentary enthusiastic insanity, loss of appetite and degredation of decision making ability. Seek help for enthusiasm lasting longer than four hours. Consult your nautical historical professional to determine if a vehicle warning flag is right for you.

I'm here for you - this is our support group. I'm still working on the twelve steps.

NNNN

James Cagney loves Monomoys

Fast forward to about the 7:00 point.

What's the point? (1) JOs have had drudge jobs since time immemorial, and (2) I believe James Cagney - with his Monomoy - could trump Chuck Norris. Just saying - the gauntlet is thrown down.

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I AM the chairman

So amongst everything that is going on, I took a breather last night and went to see a movie with the girlfriend. We ended up getting tickets for The Adjustment Bureau - and while I don't want to plug the movie, I couldn't help but laugh every time they said 'the chairman'. As most readers know I'm Chairman of the Board of Directors - what dangers there are when you put the person in charge of construction in a place of authority!

But what was so funny is that in the movie, your destiny is orchestrated by a person who is never seen, only referred to as 'the chairman'. He makes the plans and then a complicated structure of suits ensure everyone stays on track. I nearly got a piece of popcorn stuck in my nasal cavity every time someone said something like 'its all up to the chairman - he writes the plan' or 'you need permission from the chairman to do that'. Still cracks me up over my morning coffee.

Works great in the movie - here, on the other hand, we shall see.

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In anticipation of the NHS Board meeting

A little late for the campaign season perhaps, but still very relevant:

Stand by for heavy rolls as NHS comes about

Okay, you're all probably getting sick of this, but there's a lot going on and I can't say anything until our board meeting on the 22-23rd. What I can say is that if you're curious, you should go. And even if you can't - stay tuned to our website on the 24th for more information.

BT

In the meantime, while I have to remain mute about everything, have a laugh:



Just didn't want everyone in the public thinking all deployment videos were as bad as the recent newsworthy clips from Enterprise.

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FULLBORE FRIDAY - Loyal subjects (I trust they weren't too expensive)

Two weeks from today - after that blighted family affair we call Thanksgiving, when the hearth has cleared away and you're thoroughly sick of all relations - the Naval Heritage Society will assemble in Chesapeake VA for the 2010 reenactment of the 1775 Battle of Great Bridge. The most foreign aspect of our participation - if you've not done it before - is that we're dressing up as the British. Yes, the bad guys in red coats (well, about half of us will be in red anyway). And as inherritors of the "evil empire" as we Americans are so often viewed abroad, it would do well for us to examine the roots 'from wence we came'.

Of course the early American naval and marine forces took their first military examples from the British land and sea services. Of course, they added their own distinctly American touches, many of which were brought on by the necessity of building a fighting force from scratch and directly under the noses of a vastly superior and infinitely better organized enemy. Needless to say, their organization, tactics and methods are well worth studying to get a better understanding of what our early naval and marine forces faced, what they adapted from them and what they changed.

That said, for the next two weeks until the conclusion of Great Bridge, I am reverting BACK from wence NHS came, to the enthusiastic LOBSTERBACK - loyal to the rightful soverign of this land, King George the Third. So break out your corniest British accent, we have a rebellion to crush and populace to oppress!

BT

As the first installment of propaganda - I mean encouragement - for you, I'm going to use my semi-regular and moderately obligatory Friday movie-link post to get you all enthused about being royal subjects again.

The navy to which you now belong is one of the largest sea-going fighting forces in the world, equipped with dozens and dozens of great hulking wooden star-destroyers known as Ships of the Line. These powerhouses, although quite nearly useless for any effective inshore work in the colonies, were still quite intimidating. The navy, and the army for that matter are highly efficient fighting forces, quickly adaptable to many forms of irregular combat. They are both highly competitive but work together closely when called upon to do their nation's bidding.

And as if your military might were not enough to get excited about, there is always your elevated status as a crown subject and citizen of the empire. It is definately something to be proud of, that sets you above the rest of the world - including your own colonies - that is worthy of note.

The downside, sadly, is that you'll never seem to get the girl. But come on, really? That's not too bad. As a Brit, even if you're not wearing a smashing red coat, you can still cut one damnably fine image.

Take a few moments to drink it all in. After all, it's already done, and you don't really have a choice in the matter.

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A quick lesson on "not being that guy"

From a recent Navy Situation Report (SITREP):

WHILE ON LIBERTY, SVM WAS SEPARATED FROM LIBERTY PARTY. SVC WAS FOUND DRUNK ON SIDEWALK BY COLOMBIAN POLICE. AS POLICE WERE ATTEMPTING TO ASSIST SVM, SVM TRIED TO RESIST HELP AND BECAME VIOLENT. POLICE ARRESTED SVM AND TOOK HIM TO THE HOSPITAL FOR OBSERVATION. DURING THIS TIME, SVM PLACED A CALL TO A FRIEND IN MIAMI, FL. STATING HE WAS TAKEN HOSTAGE BY COLOMBIANS. HIS FRIEND THEN PLACED A CALL TO 911 AND REPORTED THE ALLEGED HOSTAGE SITUATION. THE POLICE MADE A CALL TO SOUTHCOM TO QUERY THIS SITUATION. 4TH FLEET NOTIFIED IWO JIMA AND IWO JIMA VERIFIED THERE WAS NO HOSTAGE SITUATION. SVM IS CURRENTLY BACK ONBOARD IWO.

Way to go, shipmate. I'm still trying to figure out how to escape the Dreaded Burrito Gang.

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Tools are meant to be broken

First, a word about our recent hurricane preparedness craze - our preparations served as a well needed drill and excercise, Hurricane Earl providing little more than a light drizzle and mildly elevated winds. We are back to business around the dockyard, and all conditions are normal.

BT

Back to business, and much sawdust was made in the Framing Bay as the construction efforts on the 25-foot Launch resumed. The shaping of the keel is going very well, though I am not quite sure yet how I will go about cutting the concavity in the bow and stern sections, and the midships rabbets where the flat at baseline elevation is actually at -7 millimeters. But that is for another day. Today I killed the second power hand planer in as many months, completely frying the drive belt. Luckily that is a relatively easy repair, I just have to wait for a new belt. But I was thinking about all the tools I either break or damage on a regular basis, and what I've learned from that. And before someone jumps to give advise on proper use, I can assure you that the failure is only marginally related to user error at best. These failures have to do with prolonged periods of working hardwoods, or doing other jobs that push their capabilities harder than what most people probably do, or can.

It is basically as follows: there are three main grades of power tool quality, and each has a reasonably predictable durability and therefore service life. And each has its place.

The first grade of power tools are those that seem ridiculously expensive, built like tanks and never fail. Examples are industrial or professional grade high production volume top brand name power tools. Of these I have none. But someday when my obsession with building boats for NHS is starving my kids (which I don't have yet), I might have one or two. Given the current level of operations, I can neither afford them or justify the expense to the NHS Finance Director.

The second grade of power tools are commonly available in quantity from the local Lowes or Home Depot. They aren't always the cheapest but they get the job done, and last for a good while before crapping out. Their accuracy is good, just fine for what I'm using them for, and they make up the backbone of my tool inventory. Most are produced by companies with names you'd recognize, though many of the same companies also produce the aforementioned crazy expensive hyper desirable production machines. But the prices will tip you off which ones I'm talking about. Today's casualty was a Ryobi electric hand planer, a prime example of a common tool in the shop.

The third grade of power tools are the most fantastic and most frustrating at the same time - the cheap knock offs that are okay for occasional use. I buy mine at Harbor Freight - and they are so inconcievably cheap that sometimes its hard NOT to buy them! And sometimes you make out - I've got a circular saw from whatever that generic company name of theirs is, and it has lasted the past year, despite fairly regular use. And then there was the generic electric hand planer that lasted a whole hour before catching fire. That was classy. I have so many 'sea stories' from that project.... but I digest.

Point is, for power tools my recommendation is definately the second option. I understand and really appreciate the first category, and the third category CAN be okay, but the second, mid priced power tools are the way to go.

Funny thing, almost all of my screwdrivers, sockets and wrenches are from the third category - after all I don't break them nearly as often as I lose them, making the cheapest option the most cost effective in that regard. It's also funny that I'm writing something fairly obvious with the assumption that someone is reading this... yeah that's a laugh.

Oh well.

Back to work!

NNNN

Tests Continue on New NWU Variations

This week in Washington, tests continue at the Operational Management and Obstruction Headquarters (OMOH) on several new variations of the Navy's highly sucessful NWU line. Since 2008, the Navy Working Uniform (NWU)(TM) clothing line has been extremely popular with sailors across the fleet. The myriad design options and accessories allow each sailor to express themselves in the line of duty, while the prices ensure they feel like they're shopping at Abercrombie, and keep hundreds of navy and DoD civilian contractors and countless sub-contractors in the black. The latest offering in the line is a dashing 'tiger stripe' camouflage, and includes an optional sporty beret, shown in black for left-handed sailors born on odd-numbered days, but in other colors expected soon. The photo above shows just one part of the extensive testing - using NWU gear in supression of spouses angry about their servicemembers spending so much on uniforms. Look for the new TigerStripe(c) NWUs in gray-dominant and blue-dominant color schemes coming to a NEX near you this fall!

BT

Hurricane preparations continue at the dockyard - we are about half way there. Stay tuned for more as Hurricane Earl approches Hatteras.

NNNN

Fun with kids, or, a revival of child labor

Hello all and happy Friday! I know I've taken a bit longer of a vacation than many of you were expecting, but I have returned and am attempting to make a new start to work around the dockyard. No Fullbore Friday today - I know, I slack with the best of em sometimes.

BT

Tomorrow I'll be out with the Monomoy Pulling Boat at the MWR Marina at Naval Station Norfolk. A group of Sea Cadets from the local "Tophatters Squadron" are coming out for basic seamanship training under oars. It should be fun to have the Cadets, who are all local high-school students, out for the morning - it'll be our first time working with a youth group and I'm excited.

BT

Lastly, a quick observation. And no, it wasn't me - but I witnessed it and it was hillarious. In navy regulations we have a provision that states that "enlisted personnel and officers should be accommodated in separate quarters to allow each their privacy from the other". Despite the common practice of the Army and Air Force to steer away from this, I happen to think the Navy is on the right track in keeping to it. Privacy helps preserve the propriety between managers and managed, and keeps things professional. After all, sometime its good to keep ones humanity private. However at my command, a series of office buildings where juniors and seniors share common heads (restrooms).

Today a very senior gentleman was in the head, and shall we say he was having a difficult and unpleasant time of things in the stall. A junior yeoman walked in, looked at the shoes under the door and said "gee whiz, sir. (sniff) whoa. Umm, your ten o'clock, umm. Yeah. Whoa. I think I'll tell them you're engaged, sir. (covering mouth and nose) Oh man... sorry sir."

The scuffle behind the door belied the complete embarrassment of the occupant. Thinking back I am very proud of myself that I was able to contain my laughter from my place at the sinks across the room. Part of it probably stemmed from having my hand clamped so tightly over my mouth and nose, but I can't be sure.

Yeah, so there are reasons behind that reg.

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Fourth of July FULLBORE FRIDAY!!!

Because the computer is the last thing I'll be working on this weekend: Happy Independence Day! Be safe, have fun - after all, that's what NHS is all about.

BT

There have been a couple of really fun videos out lately. One came out just this morning from Navy Recruiting Command, and was posted on Facebook. Public speaking has evolved a great deal in recent days, and I dare say we are reaching more of our younger sailors than ever. As I've recently pointed out, humor is a great teaching tool.

Another video, recently posted on a respected and highly dependable news outlet, unveils new research concerning the Star Spangled Banner. As it turns out, Francis Scott Key had some serious anger issues when it came to the British. Or possibly he was just a product of his time. In either case, this just goes to show you that there are some very interesting things yet to be learned from our history.

BT

One week until the Blackbeard Pirate Festival! As one of our sailors recently pointed out, this year we're going to start calling it, the Pirate Abuse Festival.

Have a great holiday weekend!

NNNN

Fullbore Friday - yeah one of those

Yes, its back, if only for one out of eight more Fridays! This week is a reflection about operations - and getting the job done safely, efficiently, and using sound judgement. These things can really make or break an activity or an event for yourself or the whole group.

BT

First, a disclaimer. Some links definately fall under the 'bad influence on kids' group. Others are just plain silly. There is some bad language used. Complaints may be addressed to

NHS Complaint Department

c/o Dinsdale Pyranna

Behind the Pipes

Third Stall Along

Grand Central Station

BT

Proper training is a constant necessity. The adage 'if you can't tie a knot, tie a lot' is BS and won't fly here. The average NHS sailor may not be the best hand at marlinspike seamanship, but we're working on that. Taking a few extra minutes to learn the right way to do something will save time and energy later on, rather than making do with what might work.

Learning the edge of "the envelope" is also a necessity in sailing and boating in general. And knowing when to push it and when not to is essential. This we try to pass on with experience and careful study, from one generation of sailor to another, that we can try and avoid crossing that boundary and putting ourselves, our ships and our shipmates in danger.

Considering these essential elements, we now focus on regular operations. During drills and in 'action', it is important to remember to hone your skills and be confident in your actions. Even the right actions, performed sheepishly, can lead to accidents.

Of course, it is important to enjoy the fruits of your labor, too - and I don't mean for anyone to think we shouldn't have a good time. You should enjoy yourself, and feel a deep satisfaction that you are not only increasing your professional skill and knowledge, but engaging in a past time not available for many people. This is all about recreation, for officers and enlisted personnel alike.

For now, I think I'll be happy so long as we don't do anything really stupid. Then again, you could join the Army.

Have a good weekend! I'll be in the shop tonight, tomorrow and Sunday for those who want to come out and lend a hand!

NNNN

Dockyard buildings to undergo expansion

Some of you may have seen the plans strewn across the drafting tables in the lofting bay. The 24-foot launch is soon to become the 25-foot launch, as her aft stations are re-drawn. The original design, which was based largely on an original 1800-era Frigate's Launch and subsequently called the "Frigate's Boat" had something of an ungainly appearance aft. She carried her center of flotation well aft, causing any weight in the bow to force it down and the stern up. Balancing the boat aft is difficult because it is so well supported by the aft flotation that even a small amount of weight forward requires many times the same weight placed aft. So our naval architect, aka me, set to re-draing the lines of the frames from midships aft. Based on an original 18th century Launch in Champan's Navalis Mercatoria, they are far more pleasing in appearance and function. The new transom has more of a "wine glass" taper and a finer look, while some of the aft flotation was shifted forward, the gunwales lowered and the sheer rounded a bit more. The transom was also canted aft a bit, lengthening the overall design to 24' 8" instead of 23' 3".

All of these changes look great in the 3D renderings, and the hull speed of the boat is increased 0.8 knots - which though it doesnt seem like much is actually a vast improvement. Needless to say she won't be as sluggish under oars as I once inferred.

The one problem with all of this is that the boat is now too long for the framing bay (aka my workshop garage).

Wait. No, you're not JUST realizing that we do this all out of my yard, are you? Well, I'm sorry to crush your hopes and dreams. The attached finished garage, now laundry/rec room is in fact the "Lofting Bay", while the detached 3 car garage turned workshop out back is the "Framing Bay". We used to operate out of an old laundry plant turned workshop on 24th Street (now no longer used) that we called the "Carpenter's Shop". The "Spar Yard" is in fact the side yard next to the garage where the spar testing gear is rigged, and the "Gunner's Cage" is in the front of the garage under the workbenches. Rigging and equipment are stored in the rafters.

Yeah, so hopes and dreams be crushed, we are a small operation - and I stress small - operating on a shoestring budget with our sources of knowledge experience farmed out for training. Don't worry, that's not the "Framing Bay" pictured. But it could be.

Back on topic. So the idea has always been that when the Launch is finished and rolled out, we'll tear down the existing "Framing Bay" and rebuild a proper boat shop. After all, the one benefit of owning 3 acres of land in a nice Norfolk neighborhood is that I can always expand. But for now, the increased length of the boat is cause to rip out (for lack of a more refined term) part of the back of the existing structure, lay down a concrete pad and frame in a temporary structure to cover her ass end. It should be very ghettofied and I look forward to it.

And at this point, I'd do almost anything to get this boat finished and out of the shop.

Something's lurking... don't think I don't see what you're up to

There have been many things rumbling around the dockyard lately, and I do mean rumbling.

For starters, the new ordnance carts we purchased to move the new 3-pdr gun and all its equipment have been shuffling in, out and about. I've noticed one of them is a little - um - bent up (?) and we don't even have the gun barrel in yet. Reports said the carpenters were moving trees? Riiiiight. Well at least we can look forward to getting that gun barrel in today (yes, it is arriving today, truck freight) so maybe that will keep those damned rolly rolly wagons out of my way.

Another rumbling around is the sound of the truck we use to haul the Monomoy trailer. The high pitched wisp wisp wisp is probably a clutch needing to be replaced. Where is our motor mechanized division when we need them? Maybe we need to start looking hard into something beefier.

And the last rumbling - that everyone thinks I know nothing about - I hear talk of a "secret weapon". In and amongst the conversation I hear the word "womper". Don't think I haven't seen that movie and don't know what you're talking about. Anyone who is planning on stuffing more canvas onto a boat needs to have it properly approved first. Don't waste your time trying to produce something that will only get shot down in the end. Enough said.

Now, on the same note, if you want to produce another, larger sail, you can start doing some math. Prove to me your concept could work and we'll talk about getting it made. I rather like the idea of an alternative "fair weather" rig for the Monomoy... just don't pretend that you're going to hoist anything up that mast so much as a napkin without my approval.

-Will

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Numbers are your friends.

Everyone around the dockyard knows that I am a huge fan of proving the various merits of things mathematically, also known as running the numbers before starting a project. For instance, if you're going to build a boat, you want to have your sail plan and stability tables and everything else worked out before you start cutting up lumber, right? Right. With the rapid production of the new mast for the Monomoy to meet our deadline this Sunday - also known as the 'great mast-a-thon' - everyone seems to be in the number crunching vein! It's great!

Side note - those of you with filthy minds need not contemplate alternative meanings of 'mast-a-thon'. Enough said.

Back on topic - it was great last night to recieve sets of calculations from not one but TWO members of the spar team who were working out the strength to weight ratios of the new mast to the old, and comparing them to solid spars. One even went so far as to include a re-evaluation of my calculation of the forces upon the mast step and collar. Well done, gents.

I have to say, though, that I think some may be getting a little carried away here. This morning, I found this picutre pinned to my cork board. Ahh, children. I think I'll keep it there a while...

MAST making! its about MAST making! Christ people get your minds out of the gutter!

Will

You can't spell SLAUGHTER without LAUGHTER

Yesterday, day 1 of 6 in the incredible mast-a-thon, we managed to settle on a design and purchase new material. Picking through two huge stacks of 2x4s we were able to locate the requisite four clear, straight grained ones and strap them haphazzardly to the roof of my x-terra. The drive back to the dockyard at 25 mph was like sifting through the debris of a major natrual disaster that had just happened. Three guys- dirty, tired, sore, one with a huge bruise on the side of his face. Expoxy stained and worn.

Every second of free time to that point was spent arguing over how to proceed, what design to use, where to purchase material. All punctuated by someone randomly yelling "there just isn't time!" periodically. This great wailing and gnashing of teeth continued all the way to the store to buy what we needed, and I'm sure Home Depot did NOT appreciate three guys picking half the pile of 2x4x16 stock out and laying it across the floor of the lumber aisle - all to loud shouts and plenty of cursing.

Side note: gents we really need to mind the language around the kiddies. Otherwise, I'll buy you those electronic dog correction collars to wear when we go out in public. Mother F- AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH damn it!

So when everyone was perfectly quiet on the ride back - waiting for the 16-foot long lumber to break loose and slide off my roof at any moment - cars honking because I was driving so slow - the faint sound of the red warning flag fluttering on the back - it really was like 'the aftermath'. Thankfully we're well set up to crank this thing out by next Sunday.

The schedule is as follows: today, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday laminate one of the four sides each day. Drink heavily while the epoxy sets up. Saturday, shaping, fairing and varnishing. Add hardware and test - moment of truth - Sunday morning.

Looking forward to continuing another exciting week at the dockyard...

Will

Just in Time for Lunch- Low-Cost Provisioning Options

One of the recent items of debate being discussed by the Board of Directors are ways to reduce the cost of provisions. Providing participants with meals at events is a tricky thing - people have food allergies, and there isn't always time to cook a great meal when you're running between activities. That's why I find more of our members at the funnel cake stands than I care to admit publicly. But food gets expensive, and considering how much gets thrown away, I think its safe to say the operation is not as efficient as it could be. And we all know efficiency saves time, money, effort, frustration, grumbling... well, you get the picture.

As a dutiful Dockyard Superintendent I feel I should propose some sort of solution to the problem. And I have just the proposal for every one's needs. The Armour Corporation has been making top quality canned and preserved foods since 18-eh hem yeah. Their Pork Brains in Milk Gravy would be a delicious solution. Just open the can, pour contents into heating container, hold over heat source and five to ten minutes later - voila! The 5.5 oz cans are easily meted out at one serving per person per can, which means several days rations can be carried in a single haversack. The empty cans can be used to make miniature tin candle lanterns, paint pots or boat soup buckets. The residual aroma will add an extra bit of charm to whatever is done with them. This delicious food is available from any number of low grade supermarkets for less than $0.20 a can.

So go out and buy some - give it a try. I really do think it will be a great addition to our future programming.

Note, the dockyard will not be providing sickness bags. All issue gear must be returned in a condition that is free of stains or odors. All hands aboard watercraft experiencing symptoms of sickness are directed to the lee rail and should not loiter in bilges. Notify your petty officer if you experience discomfort, swelling, cramps, bleeding or gas with oily discharge. The Naval Heritage Society is not responsible for spoiled under garments.

Enjoy your lunch!

Will

Pre-planned responses solve all of life's problems

Some interesting news from outside the dockyard. This week the Board of Directors is discussing the pre-planned responses for the Conquer the Chesapeake event in May. The event will be the Monomoy's big public debut and will certainly put her crew through their paces. The pre-planned responses, or PPRs, are designed to provide the Monomoy's crew, the chase boat and the US Coast Guard escort on the same page in the event of a problem - a good thing to have. They delineate responsibilities, actions to be taken, and outline a clear course of action that's already thought out to respond in a timely manner. Thank you Captain Obvious. Okay. But I have to say, some of the rejected PPRs are kind of funny. They have very descrpitive titles such as "Attack by Marine Wildlife Pending or In Progress" and "Loss of National Ensign, in Whole or In Part". I know we're being safe - but really? How many shark attacks have their been upon people in open boats - that didn't occur in a movie? Although I can definately see the need to turn around and scrap the event if we lose our Ensign. His Mom would be really upset. But I jest.

No, seriously - it is great to see so much planning and preparation going into this. I already have a laundry list of things to buy, build or repair for the trip, things such as the collapsible bailing buckets and spare anchor and rode. Fish for the mast, line for woldings, selvagee strops and spare blocks. All of it will give me just the slightest bit of comfort when I'm standing on the beach with the boat and her crew, preparing to get underway toward land we can't see yet. I think it will all make us feel a little better. And we're going to need those small elements of comfort - this is going to be one heck of a trip.

Will