Actually, when the Constitution was refurbished more recently, she was strengthened from the keel to the mizzen-top.  And when they finally cut her loose under her "own power" (i.e. sail) she performed far beyond the expectations of the naval architects that had been studying her (speed and maneuverability).

 

She can still move, "under her own power".  The Navy has opted to not have her go out under sail b/c they want her to be preserved, and no one, NO ONE wants to deliver the news that someone screwed her up.

 

I believe that HMS Victory is also seaworthy, BTW.  Ah, Nelson - he shoulda been an American ;>

I guess the Constitution could go under her own power -- which would consist of having her crew engage in "kedging" -- rowing out front of it with an anchor and dropping it, and having the onboard crew winch the anchor in, thus pulling the ship along. 

 

Otherwise the ship does not have her own power, obviously relying on the wind.

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Just like the USS Iowa had no power of its own, relying on bunker oil.  A little more steady - but Old Ironsides was very obviously never outdistanced by a superior force in her time.  A tall ship in 1812 was the most complex, sophisticated, intricate machine known to man.

 

Are people trying to post links?  That part of the Internet is broken, it seems. 

 

 

 

 

 

Nichevo,

 

Don't forget the Iowa could engage in kedging too, in a pinch.

 

Actually, it just arrived here in Southern California from Suisun Bay up near SF just a few weeks ago.  However, it used neither kedging nor bunker oil but was towed the distance.

 

I don't know what that link stuff is at the bottom of my first post. And possibly at the bottom of this one.

 

 

 

 

 

Actually, it just arrived here in Southern California from Suisun Bay up near SF just a few weeks ago.  However, it used neither kedging nor bunker oil but was towed the distance.

 

I don't know what that link stuff is at the bottom of my first post. And possibly at the bottom of this one.

 

Yup.

 

I bet Constitution sailing is faster than Iowa kedging.  Or even towing. 

 

Stroke!

 

'All together now, if you can manage it: and Davis, you row dry for once.'

About sailing ships, like HMS Victory and USS Constitution..... are there still people around who know how to operate them ? Yes, there are people who navigate sailboats, like yachts or racing boats, but old ships with many sails and masts are probably much more complex. It is dangerous, too, I think. Sailors need to climb up the masts to adjust sails. It's not for the faint of hearth.

 

DG

 

I think the danish merchant marine or something still uses a sailing ship to do some of the training of young sailors, or maybe it was the navy, so they can learn seafaring from the beginning, i saw back 20 years ago something about that in TV. Also the danish royal ship i believe has two masts minimum and can still use sail. hope this answers your question.

 

PS. I dont think that those young danish sailors only train in sailing ships :P

Thanks for the answers... I wonder if climbing up the masts breaks some modern safety standards and regulations.

 

DG