Sailing Barges Up Close

I’m praying for perfect light on Sunday afternoon when a public viewing of the barges is scheduled on Governors Island.  PortSide NewYork offers this downloadable guide to the barges, Red Hook, and its Dutch history here.  If you have a chance to get there, the details of these vessels will reward you.  For this month from an on-barge perspective, check out the blog maintained by Arjen Wapenaar, captain of Sterre, the 1887 tjalk;  although the text is in Dutch, the pics are great.

I’ve always been taken by leeboards (aka zwaarden), but I’ve developed a new interest in the rudders:  large and exuberant.  And it seems the Dutch themselves love the rudders, transforming a component that could be just functional to  Rudders with a passion for  . . . being rudders.  Notice the size the rudder (aka roer) on the 1888 tjalk Vrouwe Cornelia (Lady Cornelia).

And the decoration, which I offer to the readers over at Neversealand.

The rudder on Lemsteraak Sydsulver includes a boarding ladder and a flag bracket.

The rudder on Groenevecht dwarfs the tillerman.

And all that beautiful wood begs for paint and carving tools.

I’d like to know the various types of wood used in these rudders, like this dark wood on Groenling (green finch).

I’m looking forward to the viewing on Sunday not only for more rudders but also other details:  mast, rigging, houses, blocks, bowsprits, etc.  Check out the boom (giek) support on Windroos, the hoogaars.

All fotos by Will Van Dorp.  Off to Waterford now.