Climbing The Rigging of An 18th Century Tall Ship 

This ship we filmed on, Phoenix, has appeared in some well known historical movie and TV series. Can you guess what they are? 🤔

Sail on the Captain Scott a 3 mast schooner out of fort William 1985 aged 15. Silly but left a child and returned a man. Gave me a confidence in my own ability. To always be able to conquer my fears. When hauling in sails in a storm at 2am and the mast moves in every direction. Hands are cold and wet from the spray. Look back now with pride in what the crew taught me. Thank you to the crew and ship mates.

My uncle joined the Royal Navy in 1955 and obviously they weren't using these ships for combat, but they had used to sail them out to sea, and he had to climb the rigging at sea in high winds. Bonkers

Spent two summers a crew member on a tall ship. It takes a long time to get used to climbing the rigging. You never get used to in a heavy sea.

A-plause!!!!! I'm a US Navy vet & can honestly say I have utmost respect & love for all the shipmates, American & British, that went before! What bravery & dedication!!!! Dan, you are amazing!! Btw- how long did it take you to get up top??? Keep up the fantastic work!

Hello from across the pond! I'm a huge history buff and have been watching Dan Snow since I was a kid. This stuff is legitimately so insightful,, and conveys the stories of the past in such a tangible, accessible way. Such a massive fan of what y'all are doing. Would give an arm to get to do this sort of thing some day. Would love to know whether y'all are headed stateside any time soon!

As a boy sailor in training we had to climb the 145 foot mast in HMS Ganges. Really scary, and it wasn't moving 🥺

What a wonderful idea to show what it was like (a little bit, anyway) to climb those riggings and to give a sense of what one had to do to lower and store the sails. Down right impressive!

My father, grandfather and great grandfather at least all served in the Royal Navy so enjoyed watching this. Not something that I would care to do though.

My first interaction with a tall ship was an overnight stay, and a full day of open water sailing on the Iron-hulled James Craig (ship), and while the windy weather was perfect for a good day out, it was unfortunate that I only learned for the first time I had seasickness, right after the ship met open water. Story goes I was standing at the stern quarter-deck facing forward and my seasickness caused me to blackout. If the rocking hadn't caused me to fall forwards, I would've certainly fallen overboard into the mouth of Sydney Harbour, mid-Winter. Was a really surreal moment to have 2 massive guys from the group I was sailing with, holding me by either arm and dragging me down 2 small flights of stairs to midships, all before laying me down on a gathering of padded wooden crates like a real-life rag-doll, all while I was in a daze having regained my sight a few seconds after going down. This experience and my interactive tour of the HMS Endeavour (replica) meant that I'll always have great respect for the people who willingly do the hard yards on these ships. As someone with a fear of heights, I was somehow persuaded by my colleagues into climbing the James Craig's 33m (108.2ft) tall (from the deck) rigging before she left the harbour (even now, I question how I was successfully persuaded), so watching the video sent shivers down my spine. Either way, congrats to Dan for the challenging climb, and the person who climbed with the hand-held camera.

I love these videos! I have recently become very fascinated with 18th century ships and pirate weapons. Great job, thanks!

Great video!

That's very interesting. In movies set during that time period, even the realistic ones, this all looks so easy. It really doesn't bring across what a massive mess they have to deal with. Also, the legally distinct PotC music is a nice touch.

Is there any way yall could make a nelsons navy playlist? Had to search through myself for all these

And no crow's nest to take a break in. Thanks, Dan!

That certainly looks challenging. I would love to have the chance.

Very daring!

I love your vids, Dan! However, watching this one gave me body aches haha. Respect to you for climbing.

That's was brilliant. Dan! Get down from there! 🤭

Master and commander and hornblower

Superb.

I watched the replica of "Captain" Cooks Endeavor which may be slightly larger (92ft mast) as it exited New Zealand's Tory Channel in rough weather. With its near square bow taking on the incoming waves on an out going tide. The ship was hitting near 45 deg fore and aft in about 4 second sweeps, so someone foolhardy enough to be in the crows nest was covering at least the width of a football field each stroke... I have a feeling if they threw up on the back swing, with the right updraft off the bows, they might have reaped what they sowed (so to speak)... Getting their own back?... I have done this myself in our yacht (36ft Pelan motor sailor, not from mast height mind) where the tide was 12kts over the ground into an oncoming 40ft swell (a storm from Nelson through Stephens Passage (A friends yacht with 40ft mast was disappearing in the leading trench when we were still on the crest of the previous wave)) The most scary thing I have ever done and I rode motor cross bikes...

Did you film any other parts of the ship?

Bugger that !

I have a fear of heights, but would try to climb to the course spar. I would draw the line at trying to climb the futtocks. That would just be to much. So, I would go up the main shrouds and through the top rather than over the edge.

Your descriptive remarks say that the ship, the Phoenix, was an authentic wooden tall ship similar to those used by the Royal Navy in the 1700s. That's true, but the ship was actually built, I think, in 1929.

I apologize for being a crass American, but fuck that shit!! I can’t even imagine the courage of somebody doing that in open seas!

From the top of the main to the water line on the victory was 200 feet, so youtube tells me

I’M trying to imagine why you would stand up there without your safety line hooked in. Four points of contact or not.

Nope, stay in the Army………!!! I’m getting those funny feelings in the gonads!!!!

A good topman shouldn’t be concerned about a moderate sea state. When you are rounding the horn going bows under with the main sky sail set the sea state will not be moderate. We jolly sailor boys were up up up aloft with the land lubbers lying down below below below

Anyone notice he's not secured by a harness while climbing and when standing at the top of the mast?

No, not lower or raise the sail. SET the tops'l. Off gaskets, stand by buntlines and clewlines.

Hi

Where is this harbour?

I like the content, but the camera work is not up to the standard we've come to expect from History Hit. Drone shots and Go Pros are what they are, but the main camera needs more care.

Here's how John Noakes did it ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sSuZXlUxwbk.html

Yeah that's a no from me dawg

Fear of heights. Nope, just nope.

That is a brig, not even classed as a tall ship, they are tiny by comparison 😂

As usual, all the TV action's down south. Should've climbed the Trincomalee up at Hartlepool. She's a frigate, and larger than a brig (as lovely as this one is).

You don't look cool with your safety line untethered.

not to be too negative, but when I was young me and my friends would regularly build treehouses in conditions much worse at similar heights. I'm not impressed. Do this in rough weather on open seas and I may change my mind.

Good- but the audio was overloaded and the delivery was a little rushed (possibly due to terror of heights-can't blame you).