And of course I can’t find any damn pictures… sigh…Â HERE is the only article I can find that shows it is from ENGLAND!!!
The U.S. Navy’s oldest commissioned warship sailed under its own power for just the second time in more than a century to commemorate the battle that won it the nickname “Old Ironsides.”
The USS Constitution, which was first launched in 1797, was tugged from its berth in Boston Harbor on Sunday to the main deepwater pathway into the harbor.
CDR Matt Bonner, CO #72, the crew, and 150 additional Navy personnel raised four sails, and set out to open seas for a 17-minute cruise. They also fired a cannon in celebration of the win!
The sail honors the day two centuries ago when the USS Constitution bested the British frigate HMS Guerriere in the War of 1812; and is the first time the Constitution has been to sea on its own since its 200th birthday in 1997.
With the Coast Guard standing by, no doubt. Sorry, couldn’t resist. A proud moment for our country.
I only count three sails set: fore, main and mizzen topsails. Wonder where the fourth was?
This made me get dust in my eyes, it seems. Especially when I read, in the linked article, how the Navy personnel “want to preserve the Constitution.”
I vaguely remember it’s last cruise. I’d love to visit her one day.
WSF- Yeah, yeah… đ
Bob- I’m not sure which was the fourth either!
Rev- Yep!
Robert- WELL worth the time!
Anchors Aweigh!
I was in Boston this week, walked on that ship Friday. Beautiful piece of work….
If there aren’t any Marine sharpshooters in the rigging, it can’t be officially “Ready in all respects”.
I have been aboard her. She is impressive and a worthy âNational Treasureâ to keep maintained and on display. She truly is Old Navy. What impacted and stayed with this old sailor is the lack of unassigned volumetric space — low overheads, narrow passage ways, etc. The men who served in that Old Navy where truly âIron Men On Wooden Ships.â Even the Captainâs Quarters are cramped and sparse, and it was one of the larger sailing ships of that time. It was clear that the priority and focus of the design of that war ship was all about its prime mission of sailing fast and warfighting to win. The human crew and their personal comfort had to adapt to the ship, not the other way around as it is in todayâs âMamma Tuck Me In A Nightâ Navy.
When I was aboard her and viewing the Crewâs Berthing Quarters, I reflected on my personal experience as a teenaged sailor crewman on the USS RANDOLPH, where we swabbies slept in bays stacked A-Hole To Belly Button, Three-Deep on canvas stretched tightly on metal frames racks, sans air conditioning and steaming around the Caribbean in mid-summer 90+ degree heat with 100 percent humidity. I thought that was bad. However, compared to a sailorâs life on the on âOld Ironsides,â I was sleeping in the âBridal Suiteâ at the Waldorf-Astoria with the A/C on MAX.
Here is a link to a dozen pix of âOld Ironsides.â http://news.yahoo.com/photos/uss-constitution-sails-again-slideshow/
There used to be a lottery to select people to ride her during her annual “turn around” cruise. Alas, I never got selected. Do you know if the Navy still does the week long training for newly minted CPOs on board her?
I was sent to Boston/Natick once, and had a tour of the Constitution on my mind, having read her fighting history forever. But when I was in town, she was closed to the public for cause… I was stuck with the North Church and some old graves.
Nice!
She has the mizzen spanker bent on, along with the topsails on fore, main and mizzen masts. They are all brailed up in most shots.
Wikipedia has an earlier photo showing those sails along with staysail and jib set.
I doesn’t look like enough wind for much sailing.
Tim- Yep, literally!
Jeff- Not bad for 200+ years!
Don- Picky, picky… đ
Joe- Thanks and interesting persepective!
PE- I ‘believe’ they do for at least some of the Chiefs.
Earl- That is truly a shame!
Keads- Yep!
Hunt- Thanks, I ‘heard’ they did a get bit of sailing, albiet VERY slowly…