A Class Aet Sailing
the Star ofIndia
COURTESY WWW.BAYSHOTS.COM
Star of India under her own power offSan Diego, California, in November 2006 and (inset) under plain sail while with the Alaska Packers Association, somewhere in the Unimak Pass, dated 1918. daysail aboard the Maritime Museum of San Diego's 1863-barque Star of India this past Novem ber demonstrated what can be accomplished in a museum, in historic ship preservation, and with sail training programs. Underway, every detail was acco unted for and, perhaps it is a California thing, but everyone involved in making it all come together seemed so laid back about the whole affair. Even the captain, Richard Goben, was relaxed and calm from the moment the tugs rook hold of the hawsers to when the ship was safely berthed back on the waterfront at the end of a long day. Midway through the sail, he even rook a break from the quarterdeck and joined the professional musicians in the ship's waist to play a few tunes on his m andolin, which he just happened to have in his sea bag. For a ship that sails but rwo days a year, she moved through the water with ease. Granted, the museum staff and volunteers set the sails dockside more often than not, giving them ample experience in setting, striking, and stowing sails, bur underway these skills rake on a whole new meaning. Once we found a sailing breeze, Star of India came through stays flawlessly-every time. The very eager volunteer sailing crew took their roles seriously. Not only did they handle their lines and sails with skill, but, in berween maneuvers, they were more than hap py to share th eir enthusiasm with the rest of us, ahem, passengers . Sailing aboard the Star ofIndia today cannot compare in any way to what it must have been like back in the heyday of her sailing and wo rking career. That autumn day, the wind was fair, the temperature in southern California perfect, and the catered food was spectacular-not exactly traditional ship's fare, thank goodness.
A
14
Even the charming gentleman who had volunteered to keep the port-a-johns clean and functioning down below made us feel how privileged we were just to be aboard. Som e people might have boasted abo ut how they wished fo r a sudden squall. We'd race aloft to stow sails, which had been struck in haste, and be able to see the scuppers awash with green water, but, in reality, that's a lot of discomfort and stress, both on the ship itself and in the minds and stomachs of those charged with keeping the ship safe. Anyone who has spent a lot of time at sea on sailing vessels of any size doesn't really wish for that sort of thing. Those who do only say that because The multi-talented Captain Richard Goben takes a break .from the quarterdeck to join the musicians for a Jew tunes on his mandolin.
SEA HISTORY 118, SPRING 2007