X-Post Hastings 42 Longship Expedition, Plan B

[Cap'n Atli]

Please excuse the late posting of this information; I had meant to get it off shortly after the deadline of September 30th. However, I was trying to solidify "Plan B", and I still have not pinned down those details.

Plan "B" is to arrange for a tow, with a power boat, there and back again. We have been trying to contact the gentleman who offered us a tow lined up for Friday, October the 22nd, and we had hoped to persuade him to assist us on Monday, October 25, or, after helping with the power boat on Friday, to ask the owner to allow me to skipper the tow back (I've operated under power for many years, too). Even if we are under tow, the Patuxent is a beautiful river, and we can certainly get some time in under sail and oars once we have reached Kings Landing, including night-time cruising and (possibly) a torchlight photo session. We will still need about six or eight crew to enable us to be "self rescuing" should anything go awry with the tow boat (we've towed our towboat in before, when they sheared a prop shaft one snowy Good Friday in Baltimore Harbor). So, IF I can arrange to towboat, who is still interested in a Friday through Monday semi-powered expedition?

Plan "C" is to have the ship already rigged-out for cruising at the museum, grab anybody who wants to go Saturday, after the battle, and convoy about 30 minutes south to the Calvert Marine Museum, go out on the ship for multiple hours (some nighttime cruising involved, if so desired) and then convoy back in time for the feast/party/campfires. We have folks volunteering to get the ship set up and ready to go for this operation. However, we will need a multiplicity of flashlights and coordination to make sure things are stowed properly in the boat shed, where it can be really dark and crowded. Also, if we have too many volunteers, we may need to either set-up a sign-up list (those who have volunteered here would have top priority) or run two voyages, according to whichever schedule works best.

Meanwhile, I will continue to try to get the tow boat lined up for Plan B, and keep people informed as soon as there is any positive (or negative) news.

My apologies to all, and think you for your enthusiasm for the initial concept; but if there are two things I've learned after 38 years, is that you do not want to undertake a long expedition when under-crewed, and you do not count on luck when it comes to the weather. (A lesson from the Spanish Armada, too.)



For the record, the potential crew roster is below. We had only 11 for the cruise up (and not all of those certain) and barely 9 for the voyage back (when, I assure you, folks would be very tired). Please note that on public forums, for reasons of privacy, we use either medieval names or noms de guerre; or first names and initials:

October 20-21

Bruce Blackistone (Atli; Capt.)
Lee W. (LSCo)
Dave L. (LSCo)
Hypo (MMMM)?
Skurfiska (MMMM)
John S. (AA)
Lady S. (AA)
Mrs. MacI
Mr. MacI
Chad N. (HL)
Chad's Brother (HL)


October 22-24 (Hastings voyages at Kings Landing)
(We don't need 15 folks, but it’s nice to see who would be available for afternoon and evening cruises.) Volunteers are certainly welcome.

Bruce Blackistone (Atli; Capt.)
Fred B. (Capt.)
Bill R. (LSCo)
Pam R. (LSCo)?
Marc B. (Able; LSCo)
…and numerous casual volunteers.


October 25-26

Bruce Blackistone (Atli; Capt.)
Hypo (MMMM)?
Skurfiska (MMMM)
John S. (AA)
Lady S. (AA)
Mrs. MacI
Mr. MacI
Chad N. (HL)
Chad's Brother (HL)