With Friends Like These…

I recently ran across this quote by Graydon Carter, who is the editor of Vanity Fair:

“Arrogance, ignorance, and incompetence. Not a pretty cocktail of personality traits in the best of situations. No sirree. Not a pretty cocktail in an office-mate and not a pretty cocktail in a head of state. In fact, in a leader, it’s a lethal cocktail. Our president and his administration were arrogant during the lead-up to the Iraq war in that they listened only to those who would tell them what they wanted to hear. They were ignorant in the lack of scholarship and due diligence they brought to the matter of how the invasion would be received by those being invaded. And they were incompetent at almost every level in the execution of the war and its aftermath.” — from “Three Horsemen of the Apocalypse”

Although it was written in reaction to the political landscape of 2007, I found that it resonated with me when thinking about the current situation that Falls of Clyde is in. (Replace “war” with “preservation efforts.”)

Should the people currently running the Friends of Falls of Clyde organization chance to come upon this post, I would challenge them to take a hard look at themselves and admit that the act of honest introspection is way overdue.

Arrogance, ignorance, and incompetence.

Deadly, indeed, should Falls of Clyde be sentenced to an ignoble fate on their watch.

Change is Needed – Comments on the Latest from the Friends of Falls of Clyde

The following is a message that was recently posted on Facebook by Bruce McEwan, the president of the Friends of Falls of Clyde (FFOC):

“Friends of Falls of Clyde met with the Deputy Director of Harbors Division today. He wants a commitment as to when we will complete our fundraiser for the drydock cost of $1.5 million. We have asked for the year 2016 to complete our fundraiser and get the ship into drydock. He is taking our request ‘under advisement,’ but we will not know the exact timing until we hear from him. The message is clear, we MUST meet our goal as soon as possible. While we have grant applications pending and some to submit, we need to show that we have grassroot support from individual donors. Supporters need to donate now to show that this is an achievable and worthwhile goal. Go to Indiegogo or directly to our website ate [sic] http://www.friendsoffallsofclyde.org.”

Those of you who follow my blog, know of my past involvement with the FFOC and understand how much I love the ship and want to see her restored to her former glory. It’s been about a year since I resigned from the FFOC board and it has been an interesting (and distressing/depressing) time as an outsider looking in.

Mr. McEwan says the “message is clear.” Indeed, it is. The FFOC board has not learned from past missteps and continues to tread the same path.

A project on the scale of preserving and ultimately restoring the Falls of Clyde takes time, commitment, and passion. Has the FFOC board been doing all it can?

Supporters are being called on to step up. What are the board members doing to step up their game? Where is their presence in the sailing ship/historic ship communities? What are they doing to network and to learn what it takes to dry dock a ship like Falls of Clyde, given the fact that NONE of them have the practical experience needed?* What is the board doing to gain more local waterfront support?

There appears to be no PR or marketing plan. What effort is there to really win grassroots support? How is the new Indiegogo campaign going to be different from the last one? What is the compelling message that will inspire people to reach into their pockets, AGAIN, to give hard earned money to the organization? How is the call for action being spread outside of Facebook and the organization website? Social media can be a powerful tool if used correctly.

The FFOC needs to do a better job of reaching out and informing people. Don’t assume that the general public knows what is happening. I run into people on the waterfront who ask me what is going on and get emails and other forms of e-messages from folks looking for more information.

Why is there no steady/weekly presence on the ship? People have commented to me that they never see anyone doing any work on board the ship. I have to agree. I am at the harbor on a weekly basis, and rarely see anyone. Basic maintenance is important. More effort should be made to do it. After I left the organization, a board member bragged to me that they had a number of volunteers lined up? Where are they? If the board members can’t be bothered to spare time for the ship, how can they ask others to do the same? Board members, how much of a priority is the ship in your lives?

There are technical issues that still haven’t been addressed. Also, it would be a good idea to learn how to do the basic technical stuff and not rely on others. Just saying.

There are two words that come to mind that describe the current board. I won’t say them at this point. However, I will say that it is painfully obvious that it is time for fresh blood, new ideas, and people who are willing and able to sacrifice time and put in the effort to save the ship.

Time is running out.

(I feel like a broken record.)

*They should be reaching out to the folks at South Street Seaport and scheduling a visit to observe the work being done on Wavertree.

At the Harbor on a Pleasant Day

I did a search of my photos and found that I didn’t have any pictures of Riasu Maru. So it was off to the harbor this morning…

Kokua with Haleakala:

After the terrible weather we’ve been having (and the tsunami scare), one would think there would be a work party on board Falls of Clyde checking on things and taking advantage of the nice weather. I guess not. Sadly, I’m not surprised. It’s freaking depressing. Poor girl…slowly dying from neglect.

She’s also listing slightly to port and is a little bit down by the stern. Does anyone care? Hello Friends of Falls of Clyde?

Riasu Maru approaching Pier 9:

Throwing a heaving line:

The pilot on board Riasu Maru, Captain Sinclair Brown:

Returning a heaving line:

I had a nice chat with this gentleman. He used to be an agent and was just helping out this morning. As usual, I wasn’t thinking and neglected to get his name.

Hoku Loa and what looks like a submarine in the distance:

Captain Brown heading off on Kawika:

“Walking Away from Rainbows”

Many years ago while attending college in the Philadelphia area, my favorite radio station was WMMR. I used to listen to the Morning Zoo with John DeBella. One year, the program was broadcast live from London for about a week and featured various guests stopping by the studio.

The band GTR had recently released its first (and only) album and guitarists Steve Howe and Steve Hackett were two of the musical guests.

If I recall correctly, when the subject of his departure from Genesis (just before the band became hugely popular) came up, Steve Hackett replied that sometimes one has to walk away from rainbows, even though they are beautiful. For some reason, that’s stuck with me throughout the years.

He subsequently recorded the instrumental piece “Walking Away from Rainbows.” In an interview posted on Innerviews, when asked about it, he said:

“I think everyone gets the feeling at some point that it’s time to move on from whatever situation….There’s a feeling of sadness, but there’s also a feeling of resolve.”

I recently decided to walk away from my own rainbow…Falls of Clyde. It was a hard and painful decision.

I spent six years of my life doing what I could for her, often alone. While I grew increasingly frustrated and angry, I hung in there…for her. I shed blood, a lot of sweat, and tears for her. I was one of her crew and she was my ship. I loved her. Still do.

I am disappointed, but not in myself. I worked hard and I know I did my best. I can hold my head up high.

I am sad, but not for myself. I am sad for her.

That’s all I’ll say.

Diligence

It is important to do what is right, not what is easy or convenient.

“‘What will people say?’ is pretty nearly always a very shabby question, but one which too many public men ask themselves when hesitating as to how they shall act, forgetting that the only questions ought to be, ‘What is really and truly right? what will men of experience and virtue think? or, what shall I have eventually to say to my own conscience on the subject?'”—Captain Basil Hall, RN from Fragments of Voyages and Travels (Volume II, Series II)

Tool Rant

The power tools that were stolen from the ship haven’t been replaced, which is a bit of a pain when one wants to do work.

The thief left the grinders…possibly because they were disassembled and the various lock nuts and wrenches were mixed together in a box and he couldn’t find them. They were fine back in 2010. I should know, I used one of them to cut through most of the welds on the spars.

So, what’s a girl to do?

Buy new tools!

Since I paid for them (angle grinder and random orbit sander) out of my own pocket, they stay with me. In a perfect world, I would happily donate them to the ship. However, people are people and they don’t really take care of stuff that doesn’t belong to them. I don’t relish the thought of getting hurt by a poorly maintained tool.

Unhappy Week

Yeah. It was bad.

I really considered whether things are still worth the frustration and bad feelings. Up to now, I’ve always said “yes” without hesitation. Now, I’m not so sure.

One thing that came out if it, was a clear indication and understanding of where I stand. It’s not in a good place. I don’t like it. However, there is nothing I can do about it. I can’t change people. I can only change myself and the way I think.

I take comfort in the support of friends and those who know and understand old ships (you know who you are). That support is precious and I thank you. It’s kept me from walking away.

Anyway…enough doom and gloom.

A mishmash of things today.

Another rivet bit to add to the collection:

It’s not a recent occurrence, as it was in a pile of debris. (Wow, odd angle, my hand looks stunted.)

The frame where it probably popped off from:

NEWS! It’s noted on the Friends of Falls of Clyde website, so I can finally say something here. Dry dock is happening soon. Yes. That’s the plan anyway. Nothing is firm yet.

With that in mind, there are things to do.

One of my projects is seeing that the pumping system is in order and completed. It works as it is now, but we still need to extend the line to the two #1 tanks and the pump room.

I took an inventory of what we have on hand:

Paul arrived at the ship and said something that made me laugh. Laughs have been in short supply lately, so that was quite nice. Discussion, a walk through the ship, and he was on his way.

I finished the small project that I was working on, which was to replace the stretched-out bungee/”Posted – No Trespassing” sign combo:

Purely cosmetic, but I do take pride in making the ship as presentable as possible given the circumstances.

I actually nodded off for a bit in my chair on the ship. After that, I didn’t feel like doing anything else. Time to go.

Mokihana was leaving, so I went to the end of the pier to watch.

Saw something curious stuck to the wall (next to a nice healthy wana):

A bit of Googling…Nudibranch eggs? That would be cool. I like nudibranchs.

Grace:

Grace and steel:

For a change, I decided to head over to Kaka‘ako Waterfront Park.

Lots of ‘a‘ama, popular rock:

Olivine basalt:

A marbled blenny, I think?

I like blennies too.

A series of photos from a different perspective (see Making a Day of It for the view from the pilot boat)…

Mokihana in the distance, on the way to California:

Honolulu headed out to Maui:

Maui in the distance:

Maui in the Honolulu Harbor channel:

Maui in the harbor:

Boat of the day, Noho Loa:

***

“On a sailing ship to nowhere, leaving any place.
If the summer change to winter, yours is no disgrace.”

Communing

Rain. 😦

Although it was already 0800, it was dark enough for the Aloha Tower lights to remain on:

I took advantage of the water on deck and did a bit of…er…swabbing. 😉 I also did the usual rainy day drill of checking and moving buckets around.

A bit of news early in the week disturbed me. I still feel uneasy about it, but there’s nothing I can do…except spend time with the ship.

Yes, I talk to the ship and to those who have gone before. My non-ship friends will think it’s crazy, but those of you who love and care about old ships will understand.

Shifting a pile of dirt and rust in the lazarette, I found these old-style square nuts (nod of thanks to my FB friends):

Better lighting from hatch:

One of the things I love about working on the ship is that I am always learning new things. I never really noticed the square nuts before, but there are a lot of them.

In situ on a frame:

Just for the heck of it, I took a look at some of my pics from Balclutha. What do you know…

For attaching the cargo battens, I assume?

Looking up at the deckhead:

And on Balclutha for comparison (with lovely COATS mark):

Frames on the starboard side:

Planking cut away near the aft bulkhead of starboard tank #5:

Ends of planking:

Moving forward, just aft of the mizzen mast:

I’d seen these holes before, of course. However, the lightbulb went on this time.

Were the pumps located on the weather deck above, before the ship was converted into a tanker?

Again, going to a photo taken on board Balclutha:

Something that may be unique to FOC, one of the pipes leading to the mizzen mast:

Forward to the main mast and its spigot:

Quite odd.

Looking aft along the tween deck, with the main mast at left and a water tank at right:

The deck under the water tank is really dodgy. There are holes, through which you can see into port tank #2:

Our lovely ballast water…sediments stirred up a bit.

Forward to the boiler room.

Rivet detail from another water tank:

A peek into the Scotch boiler:

As the day went on, the weather improved.

On the weather deck, I took this photo of what was left of one of the yard arms that had been sawed off:

Okay, back to the world outside…

Lost hardhat floating by:

Hachinohe Maru, the wood chip ship, still at Pier 1:

By coincidence, the home port of Aomori Maru, the Japanese ship that was at Pier 8, is Hachinohe.

I was surprised to see a red pencil urchin in the water at the end of the pier:

New Sailing Star, winner of the unique ship name of the day contest, was leaving the harbor:

The Navatek got stuck behind New Sailing Star:

It was like watching a sporty car following a slow moving truck.

This made me laugh:

I guess the silly skull thing is good for something after all.

My usual stroll around Aloha Tower…

Aomori Maru chafing gear:

Not unexpected, but still a bummer…the sundry store is gone:

Falkor at Pier 11:

American Contender detail:

Sanding More Stuff

More about last Saturday’s work on the ship…

I felt energized, so I decided to do some sanding:

Goodbye old, yellow, flakey varnish and dirt!

In progress:

Left: Long-term neglect. Middle: Sanded but not yet cleaned. Right: Sanded, cleaned, and varnished.

A long, but good day.

As I was leaving the ship, it was pointed out to me that there were two young boys climbing and standing on the mooring lines that lead from the port side of the ship to the street. Great, just great.

I walked over and asked the gentleman who was standing nearby if they were his children. He said that they were and that he was watching them. I asked him (nicely) to have them get off the lines. His reply: “They are just having some fun.” Uh, yeah. How much fun would it be if they fell off and cracked their heads on the sidewalk? There are sturdy, yellow barricades on both sides of the lines. Doesn’t that tell you something?

A few additional harbor scenes…

Someone lost a snack on the lower part of the wall facing the bow of the ship:

Tanker Hai Soon 39:

Walking to West Marine to meet up with a friend, I came across this section of missing fence:

Wonder how that happened?

She’s NOT a Pirate Ship!

I worked on this before, but it was, as we say in Hawai‘i, a kapulu job. So, I redid it. The whole thing will have to be replaced eventually because the wood is badly termite eaten. In the past, someone tried to repair some of the damage with wood filler, but it wasn’t done very well (yeah, kapulu).

The work on the rails on the poop deck is paying off. The area is looking much better:

As I was taking the above photo from the second level of Aloha Tower Marketplace, a local family walked up and stood next to me. The father said to his daughter, “Look at the pirate ship.”

Cringe. Sigh.

I was tempted to say something, but held my tongue. If the circumstances were different, I would have gently corrected him. (For the record, I was not wearing the FOC pirate theme T-shirt!)

Pirates (à la Johnny Depp) are popular and the swashbuckler genre has increased the general public’s awareness of and interest in tall ships. The downside is that every big sailing ship with more than one mast is seen as a “pirate ship.” FOC doesn’t have the traditional faux gun ports (which can cause some confusion) painted on her hull like some of the other surviving ships from her era. She does have square freeing ports that look somewhat like gun ports. However, anyone who is familiar with historic ships would know the difference.

Manoa arrived while I was at Aloha Tower. It’s always fun to watch ships turn in the turning basin.

Not a sight you want to see if you’re in a small boat in the water:

Harbor water churned up as Manoa was turning around:

One of Tosakaien Maru’s rat guards: