QUERIES If there is enough interest and material , I hope to write a book about the yachts Olga and Elizabeth Mary. Olga is the last intact, sailing Bistol Channel Pilot Cutter of the Seeker type, built by J. Bowden of Porthleven , Cornwall , in 1909. EM, as she was known, was built by R . Pearce of Looe, Cornwall, in 1908, and worked extensively as a Polperro- Hooker. For substantial parts of their li ves they were owned by Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick O ' Hara Phibbs , OBE, Royal Marines. These two yachts were sai led exclusively by ' Colonel Pat ' (my godfather) from (in the case of EM) the early 1920s until hi s death in 1975. During these years hundreds of young men (and , occas ion a lly , young women) were introduced to a stand ard of seam anship that relied on self-suffi ciency at sea far removed from shore support and the modem throw-away att itude towards maintenance . It was a hard and exacting school but no one that passed wou ld have had it any other way ; trawling under sail , twohanded , was just one of the many tests! May I ask your readers for any photographs , anecdotes, stories (good and bad) , plus track charts that ex-crews may wish to have included . I would, of course, like to hear from subseque nt and past owners and promise that all material, whether used or not, will be safeguarded and returned. Naturally there will be appropriate acknow ledgements in the book to the sources of infom1ation . Not everyone enj oyed li fe in Olga' s foe's ' ! crossing the Bay of Biscay or transitting the Straights of Messina but there are some fi ne examples of seamanship a nd many amusing tales to be related in convey ing the atmosphere of e lderl y working boats converted with the minimum of sophistication . Olga is mentioned on page I 12 of Norman Brouwer' s International Register of Historic Ships and I a m ce rta in that amongst her crews over the years there must be a number of NMHS or World Ship Trust me mbers; I do hope they can he lp to en li ven the account of her busy and eventful life .
for exchange. My interests also extend to maritime houseflags and funnels , so I would also be gratefu l to know of any books , etc. , covering this subject particularly with reference to American companies . l ANJ.
F.
SCOTT
Maritime Button Study C ircle 18 Winnow Lane Boston Spa Yorkshire LS23 GPA England
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RIDING SAILS YACHT SAILS
I am seeking information of the fourmasted schooner , Henry L. Peckham,
COTTON FLAX AND DACRON
189 1- 19 10 , burned in Iceboro, Maine, and later known as the Pricilla L. Ray .
Box 71, Lincoln Street, East Boothbay, Maine 04544
BARBARA
C.
HILL
20 I 0 Redway Lane Houston , Texas 77062
I have heard that it used to be the custom to inscribe compasses (or binnacles) with the legend, "THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE . , _ I wonder if this really is a historical fact, and when and where it may have originated. It sounds to me as if this may have been done by Christian seafarers, rath er than Phoenician or Greek , although l have seen a Greek version of it in connection with a biblical matter. I wou ld be gratefu l for any lead to an appropri ate so urce for an answer. MAX A . SOLMSSEN 75 Essex Road Summit , NJ 07901
(207) 633-5071
MUSEUM QUALITY
SHIP MODELS "If you Appreciate the Difference"
MARINE CHRONOMETERS Bought, Sold and Serviced Restoration and Appraisals
lliustrated Catalogue sgoo
EWEN SOUTHBY-TAILYOUR
Representing the finest work of internationally acclaimed M orj.el Makers. All models fully docum ent e d. Pric ed f rom Sf ,500.
Devon , England hope you can circulate amongst yo ur me mbers my desire to co ntact an.yone who e ither collects, or is interested in , worldwide maritime uniform buttons. l have a few contacts in the Un ited States who are interested in this subject; but information , particularly on pre-1900 American shipping lines seems to be rather sketchy. l have quite a large number of British and European maritime buttons SEA HI STORY , WINTER 1986-87
J.P. Connor & Co. Agents for Thomas Mercer, Ltd.
P.O. Box 305 , Devon PA 19333 Tel : 215-644-1474
American Marine Model Gallery 20-S Front Street Salem,MAOl970USA(617)745-5777
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