Why did you go to Sea?

[Evan Lewis]

Out of curiosity and a bad memory Brian, was it commonplace to run a back spring from the focsle?

Not only common Duke,but essential.Either from the Foc'sle head, or the Fore Well deck.
Often ,as nightwatchman .in Ports ,such as Barry, and Newport ,loading coal.One would be approached by the foreman Trimmer to assist them ,as necessary.Say" five ft. ahead,out a little aft"
So would make the adjustments required.Such as slacking off the appropiate lines,(Aft ,for example.) Slack off the Stern lines , breast line ,as desired. Walk for'd.slack the Spring accordingly and Haul the headlines. The foreman, would indicate by Whistle ,when the required position was achieved,The ship being very low in the water, and landlocked ,would be very responsive. This was done one out , depending if the mate of the Watch ,was Handy. or in the Chainlocker ,Barry or the Waterloo ,Newport.

Cheers!

[Duke Drennan]

Thanks Evan, I'd always remembered running them from the foredeck but my memory's not as sharp anymore. I think most of us have some experience of sailing with or knowing someone that got seriously hurt when they snapped. Getting pulled through a fair lead must have been rare though.

[Captain Kong]

Hi Duke, the `Vancouver City` was a FORT Type of ship , no actual Focsle head , all fore deck,
I wasnt there, my brother was and he told me this story 63 years ago.
Cheers
Brian.

[Mick Burke]

A mate of mine Benny Maloney docked in Liverpool on a ship called Thorpe Grange about 1955 ,I went aboard and sat on the stern looking out to sea ,wondering what was past the horizon I spent the next 8 yrs exploring it ,greatest years of my life,even had the pleasure sailing with Nev Roberts on the Canada cheers Mick

[leratty]

Know of a guy, believe it was the chippy on a sugar boat lost his leg when a chain hook left in the chain locker came up behind him when the anchor ran away in the Thames estuary, it took his leg off at the knee. Very messy business. Also as to springs saw a few break, I always was on the spring's, used to like listening to the 'chain stopper'' sing. Quite liked being on the spring too as not many did. Two broke over time in Antwerp, still can hear that bang then whooshing noise. Must say have never run so fast or hit the deck as quick as then. I still today recall the noise as it hit the bulkhead-deck et al leaving a not insignificant mark on the former. Also a couple of tug lines going, again one in Antwerp, that sure makes you think as well. I often thought the tug skippers there were at times malicious when pulling us around to head out, just from their & their crews behaviour. But then I was not a tug master, though would like to have worked on a Smit salvage tug if I could. To me they, port tugs just used to sometimes take up the slack so quickly which must put serious extra strain on the line?
Dropping our lines & being pushed off for deep sea, derricks all down God I loved that, what a feeling could do with it right now!

[arthur elletson]

I went to sea because all my family where deep sea fishermen from hull apart from my grandad who was on trawlers and in the mn as c/e . so I applied to go on trawlers and to go to Gravesend .I got replys for a trawler and to go to Gravesend within days of each other when a mate of mine from down our street had just paid off a shell tanker and he said to me go big boating not trawlers I took his advice and spent the best eight years of my life seeing everywhere in the world

[Lou Barron]

Just been cruising through these post Why did you go to sea and i noticed that alot of the guys who posted the message .Where arethey now ????

[Doc Vernon]

Just been cruising -----Where are they now ????

Indeed Louis
One may well ask that question,I have many a time thought about this too,and wondered why ,I know it is a very good Subject started here,but surely there are many a good Subject started!
As we see they are all still with us as Members ,so yes again "Where are They All"
I know many of them still look in on site at times,but for their own reasons don't Post much anymore,or indeed reply to Posts allready here!
It would be so nice if many of these Posters on this Thread would return,and join in once again!
Come on Lads,its nearly Xmas,and the New Year is just around the corner,what say you all just return to duty on this great Ship,and have fun with us as before!
Cheers and Seasons Greetings to you ALL!

[lakercapt]

The other choice was National service and I really did not fancy being shot at by some person that did not wish to be controlled by the British.
Glad I did get to go to sea as I enjoyed my job up until the bean counters and others who had no idea about ships took control and the amount of paperwork increased to the state of stupidity.

[j.sabourn]

#89....When computers first came out everyone was saying it would do away with paperwork and everyone clapped their hands. Since computers came out as regards shipping the paperwork seemed to double... JS