[C320-list] Old Ironsides

[Bruce Heyman]

Water, really????  Seems once you've made room for a couple of barrels on deck they should be filled with rum!

Bruce Heyman
(949) 289-8400

Fred LEcuyer <fred.lecuyer at live.com> wrote:

>I was trying to figure out how to have more fresh water on board..... now I'll just be looking for areas for barrel stowage.
>
>> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:01:52 -0500
>> From: dean at vermeire.us
>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>> Subject: [C320-list] Old Ironsides
>> 
>> I am copying this from the SailCare news letter.  I can't verify the 
>> facts, but I like the story.  :)
>> 
>> Dean Vermeire
>> S/V Moonstruck II (#847)
>> 
>> 
>> *
>> The U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides)
>>   - an Inspiring History!
>> *
>> 
>> The U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides), as a combat vessel, carried 
>> 48,600 gallons of fresh water for her crew of 475 officers and men. This 
>> was sufficient to last six months of sustained operations at sea.
>> However, let it be noted that according to her ship's log, "On July 27, 
>> 1798, the U.S.S. Constitution sailed from Boston with a full complement 
>> of 475 officers and men, 48.600 gallons of fresh water, 7,400 cannon 
>> shot, 11,600 pounds of black powder, and *79,400 gallons of rum*."
>> Her Mission: "To destroy and harass English shipping." Making Jamaica on 
>> 6 October, she took on 826 pounds of flour and *68,300 gallons of rum*. 
>> Then she headed for the Azores, arriving there 12 November. She 
>> provisioned with 550 pounds of beef and *64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine*.
>> On 18 November, she set sail for England. In the ensuing days she 
>> defeated four British men-of-war and captured and scuttled 12 English 
>> merchant ships, *salvaging only the rum aboard each*.
>> By 26 January, her powder and shot were exhausted. Nevertheless, 
>> although unarmed she made a night raid up the Firth of Clyde in 
>> Scotland. Her landing party captured a whiskey distillery and 
>> transferred *40,000 gallons of single malt Scotch* aboard by dawn. Then 
>> she headed home.
>> The U.S.S. Constitution arrived in Boston on 20 February 1799, with *no 
>> cannon shot, no food, no powder, no rum, no wine, no whiskey, and 38,600 
>> gallons of water*.
>> 
>> 
>> 
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