Ahoy, matey! (note that back in the Cretacious Age of Railroading, the Conductor was called the “Captain”) a view of the complete rigging of the above (but how do you tack or wear…) A modern replica of Spooner’s Boat on the Ffestiniog in Wales "The date of construction of the original rail-boat is unknown, but is considered to be before 1863. It was destroyed when Mr Spooner left Tanygrisiau in the rail-boat, to travel down the line under gravity, but without carrying the train staff. (a wooden staff that would have given him authority to travel on that section of single line) Predictably, the rail-boat crashed into an up train at the north end of the old Moelwyn tunnel in February 1886. Those on board jumped clear and no-one was killed, but most were injured.
The reconstructed rail-boat is currently fitted with a dipping lug rig, and with this fitted she has reached 20 mph. (17.4 knots)
You can find out a good deal more information from Festipedia, which is like Wikipedia but specialising in the history of the Ffestiniog Railway"
Handling the sails is just like traversing a narrow channel. Raildirection will cause many tackings or jiving. Hopefully not too much wind straight on but jib sail will help.
Great choice Becky! You know of all the films he did Kirk Douglas said he had more fun doing this one than all the others. You know, it shows!
I’ll tell you, the attention to detail on that US Navy Civil War era ship is incredible, I’m amazed every time I watch the film. There was two things they got wrong, but that’s all. And you wouldn’t know unless you knew.
'76, thanks for the explanation of forebitter! I got to learn something new and cool. Love to expand the vocabulary!
Here, then, is a forebitter sung by the same group who are actual fishermen from a small port in England. They would sing together on their boats and at town functions and then were discovered.
a view of the complete rigging of the above (but how do you tack or wear…)
A modern replica of Spooner’s Boat on the Ffestiniog in Wales 
"The date of construction of the original rail-boat is unknown, but is considered to be before 1863. It was destroyed when Mr Spooner left Tanygrisiau in the rail-boat, to travel down the line under gravity, but without carrying the train staff. (a wooden staff that would have given him authority to travel on that section of single line) Predictably, the rail-boat crashed into an up train at the north end of the old Moelwyn tunnel in February 1886. Those on board jumped clear and no-one was killed, but most were injured.