Joe wrote:
They had 270 boats at the start yesterday. I Bet Jim Cate was up on
the topsail of the Elissa. She had all her top sail out at the start..
15-20 gusting to 30, but about 17:00 the wind stopped and it's been
dead since. I bet it's a big bobbin party off Sargent about right now.
It is now the largest point to point Regetta in the USA.

Joe

Joe, I haven't been on the Elissa's crew for several years. - It
required months of training, study, maintenance work, etc., and I
couldn't spare the time while working at NASA. When I was on the crew,
I knew the history, specifications, sails, components, etc. of the ship,
and I could identify and explain the function of each of the 183 lines
in the running rigging. My job, as a docent, was to conduct tours of the
ship for visitors.

Our section of the crew was responsible for the foremast, and we climbed
the rigging up that mast many times. - Including walking out on the foot
rope beneath the upper yardarm to set the top gallant while the the ship
was rocking around offshore. It's exciting, the view is spectacular, and
you learn to walk very carefully.

As you probably know, the Elissa docked in Galveston several times
during the 19th century, and I understand that it logged more "mileage"
than any ship of its time because of the many years it was in service.
One benefit of serving on the crew, in addition to the chance to take
her out to sea, is the free training you get during the months of
lectures, hands-on drills, and exams, etc. - The cost of training on a
tall ship, if you can find it, can be pretty expensive.

Jim