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Star of India was built in 1863 at Ramsey in the Isle of Man as Euterpe, a full-rigged iron windjammer ship. After a full career sailing from Great Britain to India and New Zealand, she became a salmon hauler on the Alaska to California route. Retired in 1926, she was not restored until 1962–63 and is now a seaworthy museum ship home-ported at the Maritime Museum of San Diego in San Diego, California. She is the oldest ship still sailing regularly and also the oldest iron-hulled merchant ship still floating.The ship is both a California Historical Landmark and United States National Historic Landmark.
Rob.
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Another ale from the Scilly Isles.
Attachment 31486
London-bound with her exotic fruit cargo, the schooner Challenger struck rocks and sank off Gunners Ledge on 21st November 1843.
The crew of eight managed to row to Bryher with only one oar, and because of them the whole island was put under quarantine.
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This one is a really....
Attachment 31488
Rob.
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Attachment 31493
The Association, flagship of the British fleet, struck the Gilstone Ledge in 1707 and sank within three minutes. Three other ships foundered that same night with the loss of two thousand sailors. This was described as the worst naval disaster of all time.
Attachment 31494
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Here is the Admiral who went down with his ship "The Association" in this fiasco.
Attachment 31495
Sir Cloudesley Shovell.
Now that is a name!
Rob.
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Attachment 31523
The brewery wrote," In 1577, Francis Drake in Golden Hind, with four other ships, set out from Plymouth to sail around the world. By June 1579 Drake’s ship was the only one remaining and it was anchored in a bay just north of San Francisco, further north than any other Europeans had been. This was where California was claimed for England and named Nova Albion. On his return to England in 1580, Drake, as the first Captain to circumnavigate the world, was knighted and his discovery of Nova Albion led directly to our colonisation of America."
Now, if we had only been able to hold on to Nova Albion.....
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That looks like a.....
Attachment 31525
to me Dave.
Rob.
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Attachment 31528
The brewery wrote," The Victoria Cross, introduced in January 1856, was first awarded to Charles Davis Lucas. The 20 year old Lucas was the mate on H.M.S. Hecla as it bombarded a fortress in the Crimea, when a Russian shell landed on its crowded deck.
The fuse was still fizzing when Lucas sprang forward and threw it overboard. It exploded as it hit the water. No one was hurt, and he was immediately promoted for his bravery.
31 years later he retired as a Rear Admiral, a real cool customer. "
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Now for another mariner.......
Attachment 31531
Rob.
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Attachment 31533
About this hero of the sea the brewery, wrote" Captain Webb, a Merchant Navy officer from Dawley in Shropshire fully immersed himself in the sea, both as a brave rescuer and as the first cross channel swimmer. His first attempt was thwarted by strong currents, but on August 24th 1875 he dived in again at Dover to emerge 22 hours later at Calais. Afterwards he did exhibition swims and stunts until eight years later he died swimming the Niagara Falls rapids. This brave man is probably best remembered for featuring on Captain Webb match boxes."
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This one is a rather ill starred captain.
Attachment 31538
Rob.
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This drink too commemorates the Titanic.
Attachment 31545
The brewers wrote," This beer is both a memorial to those that lost their lives and a tribute to those that saved many with their calmness and courage.
White Star Line's R.M.S. Titanic, the largest and most luxurious ship of her time was on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, when she collided with an iceberg 375 miles south of Newfoundland.
She eventually sank into the icy depths of the North Atlantic just over 3 hours later, on 15th April 1912 with the loss of 1517 lives."
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More White Star Line ales from Liverpool.
Attachment 31549
Pier 59 being the place in New York where the titanic was due to dock.
Rob.
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This drink commemorates a little known adventure.
Attachment 31551
The brewery wrote, " The 6th June 1896 saw Norwegian fishermen George Harbo and Frank Samuelson set out to row the Atlantic from New York. Lured by prize money and fame they crossed it in 55 days.
On returning, their steam ship ran out of coal off Cape Cod and everything made of wood was ordered to be broken up to fuel the boilers. Rather than risk their boat Frank & George lowered it into the sea and rowed back to New York.
Fame & fortune eluded them and they sank back into obscurity to leave a record that lasted 115 years."
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Well at least George and Frank did not lose a man overboard.
Attachment 31553
Rob.
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Attachment 31564
The brewery wrote," On the 18th January 1788, the first convict ship anchored in Botany Bay. A fleet of 11 ships had sailed from Portsmouth the previous May with 778 male & female convicts plus 550 officers, marines, crew and their families.
These petty criminals, never to return to Britain became the founders of modern Australia.
Conditions were tough in Britain at the time and it was even tougher down under, but look how things have changed over the last 225 years."
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Another record breaking Channel swimmer:
Attachment 31585
About this the brewery wrote," On August 18th 1985, New Zealand fireman Philip Rush stepped into the English Channel at the start of an epic swimming marathon.
68 miles and 28 hours later he stepped onto the French side to become the World record holder for the fastest two-way and three-way crossings.
This is a record that stands to this day and as a retired swimmer Philip now plays an invaluable role as coach to New Zealand's Olympic marathon swimmers.
Kiwis can't fly, but this one can certainly swim."
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Not something to drink when the Press Gang are in town.
Attachment 31587
Rob.
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Attachment 31591
The brewers wrote," Thomas Hardy was a Royal Navy officer who took part in many prominent sea battles before rising to the rank of Flag Captain to Admiral Lord Nelson, for whom he commanded H.M.S. Victory at the battle of Trafalgar in October 1805.
Nelson immortalised Hardy by saying "Kiss me Hardy" as Nelson lay dying below decks and from then on overshadowed Hardy in history.
Subsequently Hardy went on to become Vice Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, first naval lord."
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Now that one is clever Dave! :clap:
Rob.
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I can't top that, but I can give you the........
Attachment 31593
Rob.
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Attachment 31601
About this the brewers wrote," Lionel Lukin is credited with the invention of the first 'unimmersible' lifeboat and in November 1785 his prototype went to Ramsgate for sea trials at the hands of a local pilot.
The pilot thought the boat ideal for use in heavy weather. At the time, the smuggling of goods from France was rife along the Kent coast. The crafty pilot realised that Lukin's boat could be used when the Custom's cutters were unable to put to sea.
The end result was that Lionel's lifeboat fared extremely well but was impounded in a foreign port never to return."
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Something to raise the spirits if not the anchor.
Attachment 31606
Rob.
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Today a heroine of the sea.
Attachment 31609
The brewers wrote," Light house keeper, William Darling and his daughter Grace were on duty on the North East Coast when the drifting S.S. orfarshire struck rocks and broke up in heavy seas. At 5.OOam on the 7th of September 1838 Grace spotted survivors on Big Harcar Rock and she and her father rowed to their rescue through heavy seas and high winds. Eight survivors were brought to
safety by an exhausted Grace. Both father and daughter were awarded gold gallantry medals with Grace becoming Britain's greatest heroine, only to die four years later, aged only 26, of T.B."
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Well I did at least keep the Lighthouse theme Dave.
Attachment 31611
Rob.
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Today's drink honours Thor Heyerdahl and the Kon-Tiki expedition.
Attachment 31707
The brewers wrote,"The 7th August 1947 saw the raft Kon-Tiki grounded on a Tuamoto island reef. The primitive craft had been constructed, mainly of Balsa Wood, to demonstrate Thor Heyerdahl's theory that ancient civilisations had made long sea voyages using only sea currents and the wind.
Thor and his companions sailed 4300 miles in 101 days across the Pacific, from South America to the Polynesian Islands.
Fittingly Thor, a Norwegian Ethnographer and adventurer was a Master Brewer's son, obviously reaching parts that other Ethnographers couldn't reach."
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A famous story.
Attachment 31738
The brewers wrote," Drake was told of the Spanish invasion whilst playing bowls. He finished his game before his fleet harried the spaniards back up the Channel to Calais. There they took refuge for the night until the fire ships were sent amongst them to force them out into the open sea.
Strong winds then finished Drake’s job by forcing the spaniards up the east coast of England and right around to Ireland leaving many wrecked on the rocky coast.
A victory for hearty English ale over Spanish plonk."
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Another beer associated with Sir Francis.
Attachment 31775
Rob.
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Today we remember Captain Cook.
Attachment 31813
The brewers citation was," On the 6th October 1769 a surgeon’s boy at the mast head of Captain Cook’s H.M.S. Endeavour spotted the coast line of New Zealand to claim it for our Country.
Cook once said that his aim was to go “further than any man has been before me and as far as I think it is possible for a man to go” Move over Neil Armstrong & Co. This seafarer charted the entire New Zealand coast in six months by sailing 2400 miles before coming back home."
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This one brings us up to date more Dave.
Rob.Attachment 31818
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That is a good one, Rob.
Since the Dunkirk movie is in the cinemas at the moment, this beer is quite appropriate:
Attachment 31825
The brewers wrote," Admiral Ramsey was responsible for wartime Naval operations in the Dover Straights and he spearheaded Operation Dynamo to bring backour troops from the Dunkirk beaches.
He and his staff assembled 850 boats, mostly private fishing boats and pleasure cruisers, and by the 4th of June ‘the miracle of little ships’ had rescued 338,226 men. Ramsey went on to be Naval Commander of the return fixture, the Normandy Landings, but unfortunately, he later died before the war ended in an air crash."
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Another rather obscure one.
Attachment 31828
Rob.
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Today we celebrate an engineer, whose engines have powered many ships and perhaps cost him his life.
Attachment 31842
The brewers wrote,"Rudolph Diesel, born in Paris in 1858, patented an engine in 1882 that was to bear his name and make him a fortune. It was more efficient than any other method for driving locomotives and ships.
In 1913 he sailed for England for talks with the Admiralty. He disappeared in mid Channel and his body was found 10 days later with no cause of death being apparent.
This led to speculation ranging from suicide to murder, either by wealthy coal owners or the German Government to prevent the Royal Navy re-equipping with diesel engines."
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Nothing so esoteric as your post Dave, but something which owed its success to Diesel.
Attachment 31846
Rob.
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A piece of history for London boatmen.
Attachment 31851
The brewers wrote," Thomas Doggett, an 18 Century Irish actor used the services of Thames watermen as water taxis during his daily routine.
In gratitude for their services he established a race in 1715 for six newly qualified watermen. They raced their boats on the 1st August 1715 from the Swan Inn London Bridge to the Swan Inn Chelsea, a distance of 4.5 miles.
The prize, a traditional waterman's red coat adorned with a large silver badge, went to the now forgotten winner of that first event
The Doggett's Coat & Badge Race, now run in July, is the oldest continuous sporting challenge in the World."
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I have a dogeared coat and badge Dave!
However, for today's ale ........
Attachment 31853
A dogeared hulk.
Bligh.