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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, July 7, 2004
Takilma’s Jim Rich learns the ropes aboard ‘Lady Washington’
By SHANE WELSH
Staff Writer
Her cannons still ring
true in harbors across the
globe, as the “Lady Wash-
ington” sets sail from port
to port, educating children
and people of all ages.
The historic replica
was launched in 1989 for
the state of Washington’s
100th birthday, and was
recently featured in Dis-
ney’s “Pirates of the Carib-
bean” movie.
Jim Rich, owner of
Takilma Forge blacksmith
shop and former head of
the music department at
Rogue Community Col-
lege, volunteers several
months each year aboard
the vessel.
His duties include
tasks such as guiding tours,
shooting cannons, or rig-
ging one of 168 different
lines aboard the ship.
“As a crew member,”
explained Rich, “you help
maintain the ship, includ-
ing tarring the rigging,
caulking the seams, and
line work.”
“There are 6 miles of
rigging (ropes) to learn.
Two miles of standing rig-
ging (the ropes which sup-
port the masts), and 4
miles of running rigging
(the lines that actually op-
erate the sails),” he said.
The ship has a total of
11 sails connected to an
intricate web of ropes and
pulleys; five square sails
and six fore and aft sails.
Although the original ship
was wind-powered, the
replica has a diesel engine
to assist when wind dies.
The vessel was de-
signed after the original
1812 “Lady Washington,”
which was brought from
England by a Capt. Grey.
It was the first U.S. vessel
to sail around Cape Horn
and function of historical
sailing ships.
For a fee, schools and
tourists can sign up for a
trip to learn about the his-
tory of exploration and
trade or learn how historic
sailing ships operated.
The ship travels from
port to port, three to four
days at a time between
each, conducting mock
battles for tourists with her
large three-pound cannon
and two smaller swivel
guns.
“We conduct battles
for more than 45 tourists
who pay to go to sea with
us,” said Rich. “We make
blank cartridges from
black powder. In the old
days, you would follow
that with a ball and a piece
of wadding so the ball
wouldn’t roll back out of
the cannon,” said Rich.
“Fortunately, we go
LOW CARB DIETERS!
‘Steak & Fish are 0 carbs!’
Illinois Valley resident Jim Rich (center) serves as a crewman aboard a sailing ship
and helps pull line (end of rope, top). The ship includes cannons (bottom).
into the Pacific Ocean, and
the first to visit the Pacific
Northwest, Hawaii and
Japan.
Steering is a little dif-
ferent than what was
shown in the Disney
movie. For the movie, a
“steering” wheel was
added
to
appease
“landlubbers.” Turning the
ship is normally accom-
plished by swinging a long
wooden beam back and
forth opposite the direction
the captain wishes to travel
Sunday, July 11
8:30 a.m. to noon
ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT
*Adults-$5
out to sea far enough so
that we don’t set off car
alarms when we fire the
cannons,” he said.
The crew is comprised
of mostly volunteers.
Three hundred people ro-
tate through the various
positions. “There are only
two people who have to
have any experience or
endorsement; that’s the
captain and the first mate,”
said Rich.
If you’re willing to go
aloft in any weather, and
are healthy, you are a good
candidate for a crewmem-
ber. Of course, approval
must come from the cap-
tain and crew.
The “Lady Washing-
ton” sets sail throughout
the year at various times
and locations. For sailing
times or to schedule a tour,
go
o nlin e
to
www.ladywashington.org.
*Children under 11- $2.50
*Waffles *Pancakes *Biscuits & Gravy *Ham
*Sausage *Eggs *Juice *Coffee *Tea or Milk
(similar to steering on
smaller sailing vessels).
The bar moves large
gears attached to the rud-
der which sways the ship
into position.
“The ship has quite a
few modern things,” said
Rich. “Under the hull is a
diesel engine, radar and
sonar. We have a nice gal-
ley with a diesel stove so
we eat very well; nobody
gets scurvy,” he joked.
Every day, each sur-
face of the ship gets
washed down, from aft to
stern, to prevent seawater
damage and rot.
“We can take 700 gal-
lons of freshwater aboard,”
said Rich. “We also have a
desalinator if we need it
(freshwater converter), but
the water still tastes a little
brackish,” he said.
Sleeping is a little
more comfortable than it
was on the original ship.
“We sleep in bunks.
The original way was just
a blanket thrown down on
a bale of furs,” said Rich.
Grey’s Harbor Historic
Seaport Authority, a non-
profit organization in Ab-
erdeen, Wash., owns the
vessel. Its purpose is to
educate school groups and
civilians about the history
Cave
Junction
Visual & Performing Arts
Cone Ten Pottery
Studio & Gallery
25895 Redwood Hwy. • 592-4646
“2nd Friday 2nds Sale”
Dinner 6 p.m.
Coconut Curry Rice
Curried Chicken & Veg.
Stewed Black Beans & Organic Salad
Carrot & Ginger Cake
Righteous Rags
140 B Redwood Hwy. • 592-6567
Shorts Sale & Blue Tag Specials
Jake Thompson
Solo Guitarist, Jazz & Blues
Rising Suns
146 S. Redwood Hwy. • 592-2430
Featured Artist Terry Martens
“Art Pots” Close Kiln Raku
Sheriff sets
auction list
for Saturday
Phone for an appointment NOW!
(800) 753-2940
For a Free Hearing Test
More than 30 years experience
Grants Pass
Hearing Center
IN CAVE JUNCTION
DATE: Monday, July 12
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
LOCATION: Select Market
OTHER HOURS BY
APPOINTMENT
The Josephine County
Sheriff’s Office will hold
its annual auction at the
Josephine County Fair-
grounds Arts & Crafts
Bldg. on Saturday, July 10
beginning at 9 a.m.
The auction will in-
clude forfeited, found and
unclaimed property taken
from lawful seizures and
investigations. Items set
for auction include camp-
ing gear, tools, bikes,
household items, electron-
ics, and jewelry.
A preview will be held
Friday, July 9 from 1 to 7
p.m. There will be an op-
portunity on Friday for
victims of lost or stolen
property to identify their
belongings.
To claim ownership,
persons must show proof
of ownership, or evidence
of a valid police report
showing the items were
reported to authorities.
The dragon sits by the
side of the road,
watching those who
pass. Beware lest
he devour you. We go
to the Father of Souls,
but it is necessary to
pass by the dragon.
- St. Cyril -
Open 5 to 9 p.m. - Restaurant parking in rear
126 S. Redwood Hwy., CJ
592-4222 or 592-2892
Child’s Play
140 S. Redwood Hwy. • 592-4983
Storytelling On the Hour
Friday, July 9 th • 5-8 p.m.
Explore The Visual, Literary, Performing
& Epicurean Arts Of The Illinois Valley
Exhibits Showing Through July
Bebe’s Art For
Everyone
148 S. Redwood Hwy. • 592-5343
Featured Artist
Pearlene Gavlik Watercolors
2nd Friday String Band 6:30 p.m.
Video Explorer
Epicurean Arts
Pizza Pit
316 S. Redwood Hwy. • 592-6111
IV Boys & Girls Club
Watercolors
Taylor’s Country Store
202 S. Redwood Hwy. • 592-5358
Grilled Ahi or Sushi
Featured Artist
Roy Irving Nature Photography
Route 66 Country Western
222 Lister Street • 592-6649
Blue Moon
Featured Artist Kim Fujita
“Inspiration Vacation”
Kim & Steve Soulful Sounds
119 S. Redwood Hwy. • 592-2266
A Creative Space
Art Collective
Dinner Espresso Desserts
Delicious Dinner Served
Featuring Local Artist Bruce Stone
Digital Interactive Event
B. Wishes Original Music & CD Release
119 1 ⁄ 2 Redwood Hwy. • 592-6484
(upstairs from Blue Moon)
Performing Arts
Singing Loom Presents
Terry Lee
Multi-Versatile Artist
in the Community Room
Stop in for a song with Libby
Taylor’s Country Store
Sponsored in part by
Evergreen Federal Savings
2nd Friday String Band 6:30 p.m.
Route 66
Sing with Libby
Creative Space
Jake Thompson
Righteous Rags
B. Wishes
Blue Moon
Bebe’s Art for Everyone