This week:
So we have a spankin’ new crop of volunteer crew here – 175 fresh souls – more or less. Actually about 2/3 was shiny and new and 1/3 of that was made up of slightly moldly old crew, but we’ve got so used to them we’re keeping them anyway. Cheese and wine improve with age – why not crew? Think of them as Bleu.
So – now begins the ancient annual cycle of confusion, enlightenment and catharsis. It’s a fantastic journey – please come back and join us Saturday or you shall miss the boat, as it were.
We muster at 09.00 this Saturday 31st July, with Mast Captains and Instructors on duty by 08.30. Please be prompt. Early arrivals will be offered productive work and a cup of hot coffee… and should sign into the log book for hours accordingly
The full year’s class schedule and the details are on the web site, which seem to be almost entirely up-to-date now (hip hip, huzzah &).
http://www.galvestonhistory.org/Elissa-sailtrain.asp
Sunday you will be led astray by the diabolical Dr. Recinos, who will have my full power of attorney (as I will be hiding elsewhere). Come give him a hand with all the work we need to do to get the mainmast ready for training in the next few weeks. I bet he’d even chill you a root-beer for later if you asked nicely.
Our masterful hurricane preparations at TSM single handedly broke up Tropical Storm Bonnie, I’m pleased to say. I heard it on the Weather Channel. Well done that, crew.
I implore you all to take care of your personal preparations as well; run out your spare lines, stock up on water, hard-tack and batteries and put a plan in place before another one comes our way. Don’t wait until Wal-mart is bursting at the seams with people you’d ordinarily avoid even in clean, well-lit spaces… do it now.
Things to be Thinking About:
A TSM Committee meeting will be held on Saturday August 14 at 4:30 at the Seaport Museum toward the end of Class III (refreshments will be provided). Please come to learn about upcoming news, and hear the reports of the various committees. As this is the first meeting of the new year, we’re looking for chairpersons and vice chairpersons to fill all the subcommittees. If you have been serving on a subcommittee and wish to continue, or if you want become more involved, please let me, John, Joe (outgoing Committee Chair) or Ed (incoming Committee Chair) know. It’s participation that makes democracy work. Rock the vote, dude.
Stuff and Such:
Mad dogs and Englishmen are dauntlessly pressing on with the concept of small boat outings in the warm evenings – usually Tuesday after 17.00. It’s a bit up and down, but E3’s new mizzen is more than just a pretty drawing on a dog-eared old manila folder now. Once that’s done it should make sailing her about twice as complicated, so bring your sharp wits, opposable thumbs and your prehensile tail if you wish to play.
Monday night work parties are good for the soul. A handful of UTMB stalwarts (and two brand new recruits) sent down the fore yard port lift, fully rigged the dock (practice) yard and tested/repaired all the troublesome old chain-hoists. We got more done in 3 hours than some layabouts manage in a lifetime. Come join us Mondays from 17.00 to 20.00 or thereabouts and make yourselves useful – makes the years and pounds just fall away, I’m told.
Need I remind you that we’re always looking for new geezers and geezerettes to train up on Tuesdays. Hard work, hard play, earn hours and free chips!
The Elissa Drydock campaign is underway, so if you’re wondering what else you can do, shoot on over to the web site http://www.galvestonhistory.org/Elissa-donate.asp and think about pitching in. We’re coming out of the water in January for our regular bottom scrubbing, hull testing, zinc renewing and anti-fouling extravaganza – and it don’t come cheap. We’ve got a stack of things to do and can use all the pecuniary support you and yours can offer.
Making my escape before anyone notices I’m gone…
Toodle pip,
Charlie Wright
Waterfront Manager
Texas Seaport Museum / ELISSA
Pier 21, Number 8
Galveston, TX 77550
(409) 763-1877
www.tsm-elissa.org
A Project of Galveston Historical Foundation
