| Barque Elissa 1877 |
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Splicing up a new main brace
timenoguy and setting it up in
the rig. Notice the brass "star"
on the block - a touch of
BALCLUTHA in Texas
timenoguy and setting it up in
the rig. Notice the brass "star"
on the block - a touch of
BALCLUTHA in Texas
Both above and below deck, the ELISSA is a
beautiful vessel, with teak and birds eye
maple in abundance ~ along with that canny
and beautiful Scottish shipbuilding aesthetic
as shown in the beautiful "Aberdeen" hollow
bow of hers.
beautiful vessel, with teak and birds eye
maple in abundance ~ along with that canny
and beautiful Scottish shipbuilding aesthetic
as shown in the beautiful "Aberdeen" hollow
bow of hers.
Karl Kortum at the wheel of ELISSA. Karl had sailed around the Horn on the last American
square rigger to haul cargo, the Barque KAIULANI,ex Star of FINLAND in 1941. They were
underway when Pearl Harbor was bombed.
From the NY Times:
Mr. Kortum's love of ships and the sea dated from his 1941 passage in the Barque KAIULANI
from Gray's Harbor, Wash., east around both Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope to
Durban, South Africa, and Hobart, Tasmania. The voyage, on which Mr. Kortum served as
acting mate, was the last for an American merchant ship under sail.
square rigger to haul cargo, the Barque KAIULANI,ex Star of FINLAND in 1941. They were
underway when Pearl Harbor was bombed.
From the NY Times:
Mr. Kortum's love of ships and the sea dated from his 1941 passage in the Barque KAIULANI
from Gray's Harbor, Wash., east around both Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope to
Durban, South Africa, and Hobart, Tasmania. The voyage, on which Mr. Kortum served as
acting mate, was the last for an American merchant ship under sail.
I really looked forward to the
annual series of day sails -
especially after being told that one
of my mentors, Karl Kortum, was
to be a special guest
annual series of day sails -
especially after being told that one
of my mentors, Karl Kortum, was
to be a special guest
Serving up a new footrope after having
spliced it in the rigging loft.
spliced it in the rigging loft.
As extras during the filming of "Pancho
Barnes". Quite a bit different than my
filming experience on the BOUNTY in
Tahiti.
Barnes". Quite a bit different than my
filming experience on the BOUNTY in
Tahiti.
Hoisting Don's bicycle into the rafters after
having baggywrinkled it.
having baggywrinkled it.
During the day sails, we carried away
the main royal yard. It sounded like a
shotgun when it sprung. The only thing
holding it together was the jackstay and
oak batten/gate.
the main royal yard. It sounded like a
shotgun when it sprung. The only thing
holding it together was the jackstay and
oak batten/gate.
Sending the sprung/broken
main royal to deck.
main royal to deck.
ELISSA
length on deck 152'
length overall 205'
beam 28'
Hull Material Iron
gross tonnage 411 Tons
draft 10' 6"
Sails 19 sails - 12,000 sq. Ft.
Rigging
Standing 2.5 miles of wire rope
Running 174 lines @ 4.5 miles
length on deck 152'
length overall 205'
beam 28'
Hull Material Iron
gross tonnage 411 Tons
draft 10' 6"
Sails 19 sails - 12,000 sq. Ft.
Rigging
Standing 2.5 miles of wire rope
Running 174 lines @ 4.5 miles
In 1988 I was hired as Chief Rigger on the ELISSA and
tasked with helping to get the ship ready for her annual
day sails. I was helped out by an extraordinary group of
people, the "volunteers". The ELISSA could not operate
without this dedicated and generous group of people
tasked with helping to get the ship ready for her annual
day sails. I was helped out by an extraordinary group of
people, the "volunteers". The ELISSA could not operate
without this dedicated and generous group of people
| 2008 ELISSA rig survey after Hurricane IKE ELISSA Rig Survey 2008 |
Karl Kortum once told me of the time when he laid
out onto the jiboom of one of the laid up ships in
the Alaska Packers fleet. At the end he felt the old
rusty nails that had once held on the sharks tails
that lead the ship on her passage through the Seas.
out onto the jiboom of one of the laid up ships in
the Alaska Packers fleet. At the end he felt the old
rusty nails that had once held on the sharks tails
that lead the ship on her passage through the Seas.
The "sharks tail" and the presentation
to Karl Kortum during daysails. He
kept the sharks tail on his desk until
he retired.
to Karl Kortum during daysails. He
kept the sharks tail on his desk until
he retired.
Mike Williams, Jamie White, and Paul
Bonge yarning
Bonge yarning
Sprung royal yard on deck.
Mike Williams in action
The old workshop and site
What was I thinking...
New tack pendant for the outer jib
What was she thinking...
Cliff Spohr,Principal Emeritus Bass for the
Dallas Symphony. I taught him how to splice
wire rope and was a bit worried when he told
me his "day job", but he said his hands were
heavily insured so no worries.
Dallas Symphony. I taught him how to splice
wire rope and was a bit worried when he told
me his "day job", but he said his hands were
heavily insured so no worries.
All hail the Cook, Karen Wright