Capt. JG wrote:
I've only seen clips of it. Amazing stuff.


It's a short film 37min. And is narrated by Irving. Its something to
see guys 170ft above the ship going hand over hand down the forward jib
stay, no safety gear at all. Hand over hand only "using your boots for
one trip down would wear them thru, or letting your oilskins drag would
ruin them." Top that off with the fact Irving carries a big camera
aloft to film it all. One shot shows Irving sewing a sail, his arms put
your Govanators muscles to
shame.

4 hours on-4 hours off for 90 days. You can see the dirty older
doldrums class sails become a brilliant sun and rain bleached white in
the straights. In the storm he is attop the aft cabin in what looks
like a 60+ foot confused choppy sea, and he falls while filming "within
a 1/4" of being washed over".

He made the film for his Kin to watch, even prayed for the mother of
all Cape Horn Storms before departing. I enjoyed it better than the
racing scene's in Victor Fleming's Captains Courageous. And the Dogs a
hoot!

Joe




--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Joe" wrote in message
ups.com...
If you get the chance watch the film " Around the Horn" shot by Irving
Johnson in 1929 aboard the Peking, one of the flying P's you too will
be amazed. The Peking was a 8000 ton, 4 masted Barque, with over 5
acres of sail, thats 44,132 sq. ft. 100+ MPH winds decks completly
under water sailing the wrong way around. See Johnson slide down the
edge of the sails, a 13 ft jelly fish, and a Capt. with the biggest
hands ever. Once 2 crew members were washed over and Capt, Junter ran
to the stern, grabbed a reefing line, dove over and caught the man by
the hair of the head and both were pulled aboard with the capt just
holding on with one hand on the line and one on the crew member, and he
did it twice. In 80 MPH winds one sailor aloft clearing a blown sail
held on and was flapping in the wind like the sail. The ship screams
along at 16+ knots. Over 380 sail control lines. In his youth Johnson
looked like one tough sailor. The film is only available thru the
Mystic Seaport Museam. The footage filmed on board during a passage
around Cape Horn in 1929 shocked experienced Cape Horn veterans and
landsmen alike at the extreme conditions Peking experienced.

A must see!


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peking_(ship)

Joe