‘What sailors REALLY run on’
 
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From The Boatshop
by Ron Magen

‘What sailors REALLY run on’
The hazards of Drinking & Driving on the Water

With the ‘official’ beginning of the Summer sailing season this month {July} and the ‘National Party’ on the 4th, I present some interesting comments. Please note the input from ‘across the water’. I don’t take ‘author credit’ for this month’s column, just for ‘remembering & editing’ the ‘conversation’.
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From: "Phil Collins"
Subject: Learn from 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. She carried no evaporators (i.e. fresh water distillers!). However, let it be noted that according to her 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 five British men-of-war and captured and scuttled 12 English merchantmen, 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 whisky 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 whisky and 38,600 gallons of stagnant water.

PHil C.
upholding a fine old tradition...
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— Phil Collins wrote:
>> The U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides) as a combat vessel carried 48,600 gallons of fresh water... 79,400 gallons of rum.<<

Obviously, this Constitution sailed before the 18th Amendment.

This should show us all the importance of knowing where to shop:

Jamaica... 68,300 gallons of rum.
Azores... 64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine.

five British men-of-war... 12 English merchantmen, ...the rum aboard each.

Firth of Clyde... 40,000 gallons of single malt

arrived in Boston, . . . no rum, no wine, no whisky and 38,600 gallons of stagnant water.
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Message: 12
From: Lew

>> — Jeff UK wrote:
>> You Yanks know how to party, and don't let a little thing like a war spoil the fun.<<

Jeff,

No problem! On that date:

"On July 27, 1798 . . . Her mission: "To destroy and harass English shipping."

...we were not actually involved in a war anyhow. The late unpleasantness had ended at Yorktown in 1781, with paper formalities shortly thereafter; and the next nastiness would not formally begin until 1812.

Mind you, the word "peace" would not precisely describe the situation in 1798 either...

-Lew
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Message: 15
From: "Phil Collins"

One of these days, the revisionists will get around to correcting the story - the REAL reason for the war wasn't Taxes - it was just dreamed up as cover story to explain the behavior of sailors!

I hope at this late date my posting that doesn't offend anyone... (why the heck should it?) But I did think that 475 guys drinking 252,000 gallons of booze in 210 days was a remarkable and admirable
feat. 2 ½ gallons per day per man! Think of the hangover!
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Message: 16
From: Lew

Actually, the real reason that the USS Constitution was sent out to harass the Brits in 1798 is very
intricate, and a google search on the phrase "quasi war" will turn up some good summaries. Six frigates were authorized because of the Quasi War, and they make something of roll call. Alphabetically:

The USS Chesapeake
The USS Congress
The USS Constellation
The USS Constitution
The USS President
The USS United States

The quasi war may even explain how a US warship carrying such orders could dock and re-provision at a British colony (Jamaica). Understand this, and you may be ready to makes heads or tails of the XYZ Affair.

By 1798 the American Revolution was long over - 17 years by that time - and so "taxation without
representation" (absolutely the dullest and most bureaucratic rallying cry ever) was no longer an issue.

Consider:
"Workers of the world unite!"
"Who is on the side of The Lord, with me!"
"Down! Down! Down! Saddam!"

And now consider:
"No taxation without representation."

Pretty lame-ola, huh?

>> I hope at this late date my posting that doesn't offend anyone... (why the heck should it?) . . .<<

Offend?

Of course, today we'd never launch a ship from Boston to cruise the Atlantic for Jamaican rum, Portugese wine, and single-malt Scotch. A panel van headed for New Hampshire, sure - twice a week if necessary - but never a frigate.

-L
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Ron Magen