HMS Ganges - Manning the Mast!

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worldoftheshadows

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Just a few photos from a trip we took to Ganges a couple of weeks ago with the intention of seeing a few bits we hadnt had time to do last time, Signal School, Nelson hall etc.
With the light starting to fade we decided to have a go at getting up the mast - the climb was less challenging than i had expected with the exception of a small complication caused by the fact that a security bod was in the building oppisite.

theres some interesting photos & history of the mast at: http://www.hmsgangesassoc.org/mast.html



Mast from across the quarter deck:
1802474061135f064.jpg



RM approaching the lower yard arm:
18024740611314101.jpg



Looking across towards the canteen, the building with the lighted window to the left of the door is where mr security does his thing:
180247406113953a2.jpg



Looking up at the join between the steel lower mast and wooden topmast:
18024740612735619.jpg


 
Great stuff dude! Although how the security dude never saw you is a mystery, because as you know, the mast is pretty much right outside his office! He saw me whan I was right down by the old fort!!
 
Great stuff dude! Although how the security dude never saw you is a mystery, because as you know, the mast is pretty much right outside his office! He saw me whan I was right down by the old fort!!

Really? On every occaision we've been security has always seemed to be nonexistant / incompetant.

I did enjoy climbing the mast though, it was doing something that belonged to another age. An activity thats very much at odds with the excessive health and safety about now.
 
Really? On every occaision we've been security has always seemed to be nonexistant / incompetant.

I did enjoy climbing the mast though, it was doing something that belonged to another age. An activity thats very much at odds with the excessive health and safety about now.

He just came out and spoke to us, and when he realised we weren't there to smash the place up, he just left us to it. He even told us the way to get out without climbing through fences and brambles!!
 
Worldoftheshadows, it was easy to go up because you didn't have to climb round the Devil's Elbow, 80ft off the deck in overalls and plimsoles with a bitter Suffolk wind biting into a skinny 15 year old body! :lol:

I visited the GMC (the Galley) back in 2002 and the floor was deep in guano! Someone had been idle during their clean ship routine! :mrgreen: :cry:
 
Worldoftheshadows, it was easy to go up because you didn't have to climb round the Devil's Elbow, 80ft off the deck in overalls and plimsoles with a bitter Suffolk wind biting into a skinny 15 year old body! :lol:

I visited the GMC (the Galley) back in 2002 and the floor was deep in guano! Someone had been idle during their clean ship routine! :mrgreen: :cry:


Nice to hear from someone that did time at ganges - what year were you there?

Unfortuantly its not possible to climb round the devils elbow as the rigging is missing - the only way up is through the lubbers trap, most of the woodwork on the mast is in porr condition and the steel rigging is not too good either - in the third photo you can see the remains of a frayed steel hawser on the left of the mast.

theres some interesting pictures of the button boy climbing to the top in this article: http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/content/eveningstar/kindredspirits/story.aspx?brand=ESTOnline&category=davekindred&tBrand=ESTOnline&tCategory=Features&itemid=IPED22%20Aug%202007%2007%3A31%3A57%3A040

Dave
 
How many remember seeing John Noakes, former Blue Peter presenter attempting to climb to the very top of this mast as button boy?

Can't remember if he quite made it to the very top - I vaguely recall he didn't manage to shin up the final bit.
 

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