The Buccaneers of Bjornstad - Battle Sail on the Lady Washington

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Battle Sail on the Lady Washington
12 March 2017

What's better than sailing on San Francisco Bay aboard a magnificent square-rigged sailing ship? Engaging in a three hour running cannon battle with another one. And wearing gear that suits the occasion. Bjornstad members boarded the brig Lady Washington at Jack London Square in Oakland for three hours of maneuvering with the Hawaiian Chieftain, a gaff-rigged topsail ketch - and exchanging a lot of cannon fire. Both ships are home-ported at Gray's Harbor Historical Seaport in Washington state. Here's what our day looked like...


The Hawaiian Chieftain with the Bay Bridge behind her. She will be our opponent for the battle to come.
The Hawaiian Chieftain and the Lady Washington. Two proud ladies doing battle on the Bay. On another day... Photocredit: Eventbrite.com for SF Bay Adventures
Bidding farewell to our berth at Jack London Square	Captain James handles the Lady Washington like a fine musical instrument
Isaac, the gunner, energetically prepares us for the battle to come	Rick soaks it all in
The Port of Oakland's container cranes - from the container's viewpoint	Another fine ship - on station...
The Hawaiian Chieftain follows us onto the Bay	Our colorful crew keeps watch
Ed just might be the Dread Pirate Roberts	Fred and Dori have booked passage to the Nearly Far West
The crew goes aloft to trim the sails	She's rigged with about five miles of lines
Jack and Ed are taking this voyage seriously	A large caliber solution to a disagreement
The powder magazine is open for business	The maneuvering begins
Isaac primes the swivel gun	She'll be under our guns in short order
The Lady Washington captures the winds	Our 3 pounder is primed and ready
Fred steels himself for the exchange of broadsides...	... by singing a sea shanty: "What shall we do with a drunken sailor..."
If we take a port tack, we can bring our guns to bear on her rudder	The Lady Washington crosses the "T", exposing the Hawaiian Chieftain's stern - and her rudder
The Hawaiian Chieftain responds with a message of her own	A little flame, a little smoke and considerable noise
On this ship, you really need the right hat	Or bonnet
Sails and feathers	The cutlass: cutting edge fashion
We may have to board her...	The Hawaiian Chieftain prepares to trade broadsides
The boarding party makes ready	"Yo ho, Yo ho, a pirate's life for me..."
We colid call ourselves the San Francisco Pirates - or maybe the Oakland Raiders	Our prize crew - if the Chieftain lowers her colors
Let's call it a draw...	She's a worthy adversary
Bjornstad on the Bay	Not a bad way to spend an afternoon
Keeping the Lady shipshape	Climbing the rigging
Sails and lines	Belaying pins
What's our next heading?	If we sail South by Southwest...
The trade winds will favor our crossing...	Make for the horizon
The Bay Bridge - West of Yerba Buena Island and Treasure Island	The Bay Bridge - East of Yerba Buena Island and Treasure Island
The sun shines on our endeavours	Lower the topsail
Oakland awaits	A good day on the Bay
The Hawaiian Chieftain heads for her berth	Motoring in by diesel
Jack London Square beckons to the Lady Washington	All hands ashore