Great BIG Rowboat

[James McMullen]

So if you were walking along the quay in Anacortes last week you might have seen what looks like a nice little Whitehall. . . .
http://inlinethumb38.webshots.com/18533/2022466970088484686S425x425Q85.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2022466970088484686LVWqBd)

. . .until you get close enough to see the SIZE of this baby! Look at this picture with a figure inside for scale:

http://inlinethumb13.webshots.com/17228/2074141630088484686S600x600Q85.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2074141630088484686GZUIWp)

It's the Bantry Bay Gig Verite, which was up from Tacoma for the Pacific Challenge longboat races last week. This boat is a copy of a French Admiral's barge from the 18th century. It is 38' long and pulls ten oars which vary in size from 14 to 18 feet long depending on the station. Since Verite's crew needed to leave this boat in Anacortes for a week under the care of her coxwain, Sara, before trailering her home, a bunch of us locals siezed the opportunity to take her out for a row on Wedensday evening.

http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/44250/2046406540088484686S500x500Q85.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2046406540088484686cWZTcb)

[James McMullen]

Just look at all these willing galley slaves. We didn't have to send out the press gang or anything!

http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/39754/2060461380088484686S600x600Q85.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2060461380088484686OLbUqx)

Thinking strategically, I managed to claim the thwart for stroke oar, putting me close enough to wheedle and plead with Sara for a chance at the "tiller" which in this case was actually an 18' sweep oar. At last she relented, and under my bold leadership and ready hand with the lash, our scratch crew managed to row for minutes at time without crabbing any oars or stopping to rest too much.

http://inlinethumb34.webshots.com/42593/2780677240088484686S500x500Q85.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2780677240088484686FcANpU)

This boat moved pretty easily, I tells ya--three knots without breaking a sweat, four and a half knots when putting a little effort into it--surging faster yet those few times we managed to get all of our oars in sync. I'm sure that a crew that trains together regularly can get her to perform much better yet.


http://inlinethumb63.webshots.com/37118/2807797050088484686S500x500Q85.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2807797050088484686FnRdIz)

So Sara didn't trust us enough to let us put up the dipping lugsails just yet. . .but maybe next time. . . . .

[I, Rowboat]

James --
In that first photo of the slave crew, at least two of 'em are smiling. Surely you managed such mutinous sentiments with bold and decisive discipline.

Will she be gone by Friday evening? I will bunker in Anacortes for provisions at that time.

[Peerie Maa]

They are cracking boats under sail as well;
http://www.atlanticchallenge.org/pix/gallery/genoa06/genoa%20%2833%29.jpg

[johnw]

Yes, I've seen them sail. Awsome.

[adampet]

I had the pleasure of rowing and sailing with the Cape Cod Atlantic Challenge crew a few years back. We rowed from Mill Pond in Chatham out through Stage harbor and into Nantucket sound where we hoisted sail. They really can get a head of steam up with a co-ordinated crew on the oars. Sailing was a blast, though tacking the dipping lug was hard without practice. We missed stays more than a few times and had to help ourselves around with a few oar strokes.

Adam

[James McMullen]

I really wanted to sail her too, but Verite's real crew perhaps wisely took the sails away with them. . . .
I'm chomping the bit for next time, though.

[Bruce Hooke]

Looks like a grand outing in a mighty fine boat!

[Hwyl]

Verite' ain't that the truth.

When I grew up there were a number of gigs like that around, from the old HMS Conway. Cool boats indeed.

[isla]

And I thought this design (http://www.selway-fisher.com/OtherDB.htm#FRIGATE)from Paul Fisher was big :o

[Richard Jones]

To see such boats in the Northeast, go to Lake Champlain Maritime Museum in Basin Harbor Vermont, where they have 8 similiar craft in their on water fleet. 32' and 25' Pilot Gigs. They have a building and repair program there.

[JEM]

Wow! That's a biggun. I bet with everyone rowing, it got going to a good clip.

[Craic]

Recently they were racing over a dozen of them under sail & oar in earnest, in the Morbihan Week in Brittany, quite a sight. http://www.semainedugolfe.asso.fr/?mod=liste_bateau&id_flottille=1&ordre=nom_bateau&tri=asc

[Nanoose]

...I'm sure that a crew that trains together regularly can get her to perform much better yet.

Really, James? :rolleyes:

Contender for the understatement of the year aside....thanks for the thread and pics. Very nice boat. Do you know when/where she was built?

[Tom Robb]

Thanks HWL. The laugh is much appreciated:)