Time we had a replica 28-gun frigate

[Guest]

How many fans of Patrick O'Brian's novels reckon it is about time a 28-gun frigate was built in Britain? There is the HMS Rose in the USA so why not a Surprise over here.

What say you to the biggest wooden boatbulding project ever seen on these shores and Lottery hand-outs to fund it?
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Captain Jack

 

[Jacket]

Great idea! And who needs lottery funding. Have you read the article in the latest 'Wooden boats' on the building of a topsail schooner (HMS Sultana, I think). Paid for almost totally by local fundraising.

 

[Guest]

That is good news indeed, but do try to find the website of HMS Rose, the American frigate replica. That is the sort of sailing ship I would like to see sailing off our shores.

There must be thousands of fans of the Aubrey-Maturin books who would give their eye teeth to sail on such a vessel. There must be thousands of wooden boat enthusiasts and naval history buffs who would do the same.


Other famous seafaring nations can build big wooden warship replics, so why can't Britain.

Classic ships in dry dock have their place in history, but let's re-live our maritime heritage at SEA .

Come on sailors of Britain, let's rally round and build a replica ourselves.

 

[AndrewB]

Grand Turk not good enough then?

Only a 10 gun frigate of course, a replica of the C18th HMS Blandford.

HMS Rose is indeed a lovely ship, one of the finest of the replicas. Took some nice photos a couple of years back when we came across her. It strikes as odd that a US ship can be called 'HMS'.

 

[Guest]

I agree that all other replics are fine ships but my point is that Britain must have the best. Indeed, why stop at my original proposal for a fifth rate ship (32 guns)?

Something bigger perhaps: a fourth rate (50 guns), third rate (70 guns) second rate (84 guns) or the mother of all rates the first with 100 guns or more.

Capt Aubrey

 

[BarryD]

Replica?

Agreed - we should have the best - if we're going to build a wooden warship let's build a 74 and call her Hyperion - OK I never got into the Aubrey saga much prefering the Bolitho characters.

Barry D.

IMHO & FWIW, NWGOI.

 

[Guest]

Working presently just across the road from the lovely Grand Turk, moored up at St Katharine's Dock in London.

Also saw a sailing replica of the Golden Hind being horribly mishandled at Yarmouth quay once, must be about a decade ago. Believe she was sailing round the world. Better Half and self went on board for a look round.

Earlier her bows had gone round unexpectedly (to the crew, at least) and her bowsprit had got locked with one of those huge tankers which are the far more usual occupants of the berths there.

They were waiting for the tide to float her off, as I recall, when an EDP hack and cameraman turned up to record it all for posterity. The office was just across the road in those days (gosh, I sound like Bill Cooper now... ;- )) )

Cap'n Jack had better supervise the building of our new frigate. He knows what the naval dockyards will try to get away with if he doesn't and will spend his first voyage preoccupied with the state of her futtocks, and prodding around down below with a marlin spike.

"El manana es nuestro, companero..."