What You Don’t See

Charleston, South Carolina

Capt. Christopher Flansburg

Roseway just made her transit from Cape Charles, VA, to Charleston in stellar fashion. Was there wind? Yep. Some. Enough to get us going 10kts at times. I love that and Roseway is happiest doing so. What you see is an old gaff-rigged schooner with red sails moving along gracefully in all weathers, most times in a seemingly effortless way.

What you don't see. Recently we hauled in Mystic, CT, to pull a garboard so the U.S. Coast Guard could complete a safety inspection below the water line. The garboard is the lowest plank on the hull, aka the “devil.” Maybe you've heard the term "The Devil to Pay" — it's from this plank and the difficulty in caulking it. We also took the opportunity to do maintenance caulking in other areas.  We never stop taking care of her because she keeps us alive. One big lesson I relearned is that wood boats are built strong. Really strong. Also there's never one part that stands alone.

What you don't see: this piece ties into that piece into that piece, etc.— almost as if shipwrights were saying to the sea, "Try to take this one apart!"  You would have a really hard time pulling one apart. It took two full days to pull one 14-ft Garboard and the boys were not messing around! The Mystic shipwrights and museum staff looked in awe at the condition of Roseway's timbers — the size, construction, and condition.

I'm really looking forward to our passage to St. Croix with a newfound respect for the shipwrights of a hundred years ago and all of those too many to mention who have taken care of her so she can continue to carry students safely long after I'm gone.    

Also. We are going to catch lots of fish! (I hope.)   

Capt. Christopher Flansburg, Roseway

P.S. For additional inspiration, I recommend turning to Sterling Hayden's Wanderer