Friwwworld: Founding General Meeting Tonight

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Founding General Meeting Tonight

The association-to-be had 33 members registered and paid, with a total of 221,000 kr in the account today. Tonight at 7 pm (GMT +1) at the Maritime Center in Svendborg the first meeting of the association will be held, and it is expected that the group will adopt the by-laws suggested and amended by Thomas Bretton-Meyer (thomas@annemargrethe.dk), lawyer Palle Petersen and a working group consisting of: Morten Eeg (Morten@annemargrethe.dk), Thomas Dahl (thomas.dahl@annemargrethe.dk), Bjarne Møldrup Kristensen (bjarne@annemargrethe.dk), and Arne Larsen-Ledet (arne@annemargrethe.dk).

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Memorandum of Understanding

Svendborg, 5 March 2008

To the Sailingship Association Anne Margrethe from David Moodie

I believe that the galley, mess and crew’s quarters from 1968 and 1971, which are fitted out in the forward part of the main cargo hold of Fri, is an area of considerable historical value in itself. I would personally, and on behalf of the many volunteers who have made the story of Fri unique in the past 37 years, wish to preserve it.

I understand that the Association may want to remove it in their restoration of the ship to its original condition. It is my wish that if this is to be done, that I be present, that the removal be done with consideration for rebuilding, and that the material be deposited in the container or at dockside, free of charge.

Others might argue likewise for the Grenaa motor, which is assembled with parts from her original Grenaa from 1948, and the fishing cutter Grenaa motor we installed in Grenaa in 1980, which was built in 1961.

I would hope that the Association will in general approach their task with professional respect for the historical elements in this restoration. In other words, the historical elements of the period from when the original construction of the ship began to be changed. (For example structural changes to accommodate the first and subsequent motors, beginning in 1925, and hatch coaming changes in 1948, and the galley/mess from 1968 and 1971, may not be appreciated by the lay eye.) In other words, that a coordinated effort to ensure documentation, and in some cases preservation, be made during a transition period, with historical value as a consideration.

David Moodie

Owner and skipper of ‘Fri’

1971-2008

Thoughts on the preservation and history of ‘Fri’ ...

Svendborg, 3 March 2008

... on the occasion of the ship’s purchase by Sailingship Association Anne Margrethe

The stated purpose of the Association is to preserve ‘Fri’ in her original state, as ‘Anne Margrethe’, new building number 112, 1912, Ring-Andersens Skibsværft, Svendborg, med navnet ‘Anne Margrethe af Svendborg’.

I turn over to the Association a ship with a very unusual history, and I will be willing and able to assist after the purchase to help document this, if it is the Association’s wish.

At this point I would like to make the following comments:

Fri is an unusual ship for many reasons. Please consider the facts:

The first unusual element is that the ship was designed as a pure sailor for a skipper from Hadersleben in 1912. A ship built in Svendborg for a German owner, but a Danish- speaking German owner!

This was a time when steam and early diesel motors were seen as the future. But she was not designed to be fitted with a motor later, as many in her time were. Her first skipper, Claus Grastrup, (we were told by his daughter Helga Grastrup), went ashore and retired in 1925 rather than install a motor, as his shipping agents demanded.

As her owner for 37 years I can state with certainty that fitting a motor to this sleek and fine sailor has caused many problems, which have followed the ship since then. The various motors may also have saved the ship several times. But a near sinking on her first ocean passage in 1969, almost certainly was attributable to engine vibration in a stormy sea.

The ship was flagged in Hadersleben, Germany until 1922, when she was first flagged in Denmark. She then sailed exclusively in the Baltic and Skaggerak until 1968, with various homeports, including Vejle, Grenå and Aalborg.

The subsequent unusual history of the ship includes physical changes made to her by her first American owner, Norman De Vall of San Francisco. The two most important changes he made were the removal of the wheel house dating to 1948, and the fitting out of an expanded crew’s quarters under the forward cargo hatch and to just aft of the mainmast of her ketch rig. A wheel house was almost always fitted to sailing vessels when they were fitted with motors. The galley was in the after part of this wheel house and was moved to the forepeak after removal. Taking the wheel house off was an attempt to make the ship look original! Fitting out the expanded crew’s quarters was done to accommodate the larger crew needed for an ocean passage.

The crew’s quarters were further changed by my brothers and me, David Moodie, when we purchased the ship. Norman’s galley was moved from the forepeak and fitted out on port side in the new crew’s quarters instead of the two berths and benches Norman had fitted there. Thus the forward cargo hatch with Norman’s skylight provided light for the galley and its new table, capable of seating 13.

This galley and mess became the heart of the ketch ’Fri’ on her voyages in the Pacific and beyond. My argument is that an independent museum/historical evaluation should be made before this part of the ship is removed, if removing it is the intention of the Association.

I regard this as an important matter: the fact that a physical element such as this galley/mess/crew’s quarters can be an invaluable aid in understanding historical events. The galley/mess constitutes a substantial part of what the Danish Ship Preservation Fund regards as “en høj kulturhistorisk fortælleværdi” a strong cultural/historical iinterpretation value… of the ship.

This galley and mess played essential roles in extremely unusual negotiations between crew and authorities on the ship’s route, and constitutes in my estimation a treasure, which has become integral to an “original” interpretation of the vessel, though not original at all! That the galley with its wood stove functioned safely for 30 years constitutes grounds to consider it as preservation worthy. That this area of the ship functioned both for the crew, as a meeting and eating place, and for thousands of visitors as an intimate historical experience in open ship events is also reason to preserve it.

A fact of life in ships’ historical interpretation is that a ship is a process of change and maintenance. One chooses to save some things, and change others. One takes on “interpretation glasses” of the strongest sort, for example, when one chooses to call an original sailing vessel “original” and then install a motor. Having a motor and removing a wheel house is another example! (Motoring directly into storm weather without a wheelhouse is one of the great masochist pleasures on the planet!)

If the goal is to preserve the ship in her original condition with schooner rig, perhaps this should be done thoroughly. Preserving a vessel built for sail alone as a pure sailor is a commendable project, especially with a vessel of ‘Fri’s size. Placing the motor in a ship’s boat is a practical solution used by many sailing charter vessels in the US. In this way the finely dimensioned structural elements in the present engine room and transom of ‘Fri’ could be strengthened/restored to an original approximation of ‘Anne Margrethe’.

Preserving ‘Fri’ as a ketch with auxiliary motor, including also the existing expanded crew’s quarters from 1968 has been accepted by the Danish Ship Preservation Fund. See attached Galease Fri, Tilstand Report. I quote from page 10, “SKIBSBEVARINGSFONDEN vurder derfor skibet som meget velegnet til bevaring i sin nuværende form.”( The Ship Preservation Fund therefore considers the ship as very well suited for preservation in her present form.)

David Moodie

Part Owner and Skipper

1971-2008

John Sylvester got bitten! Thanks!

The reach of Fri is connecting, broad and unforgettable. Maybe it's because all the senses get involved, with feel of wood, hemp and heavy cloth, wet/cool/dark nights on face, anxiety in stomach, laughs in belly, lunge of hull with dousing spray, wind wail, heaving blocks, squeaks, the smell of oakum, Greta/diesel oil, the toughening of hands/mind, any food tastes good, blissful deep sleep off watch, smell of coffee/taste of peanut butter, the small light off the compass card spinning, the dawning sight of land, arriving, with birds/fish aflutter and the wind fragrance that is no other.

Unique history

A short history of Ring Andersens' ship no. 112 from 1912

’Fri’, ex ’Anne Margrethe’, ex ’Knudsine’, ex ’Elsbeth’, ex ’Sølyst’, ex ’Fri af Aalborg’, ex ’Fri of San Francisco’.

First skipper Grastrup sold his ship rather than fit it with an engine. 13 years under sail alone in the Baltic.

Interned in World War I, in Sweden, and released.

Witnessed a vessel immediately forward of her sunk in Kiel Bay by mines.

Participated in the Nov. ‘43 smuggling of Jews to Sweden in World War II.

Survived a collision with a steel Mærsk cargo vessel in 1950, also in Kiel Bay.

Under sail and motor 108 times past Skagen to Oslo Fjord with ceramic drain pipes as 'Sølyst', Grenaa, DK.

Last cargo sailing ship from N. Europe to San Francisco with Tuborg, Cherry Heering, Guiness Stout, Teacher’s Scotch, skipper N. de Vall

Sailed water to native Americans occupying Alcatraz Island, San Francisco.

Sailed around the world on manila, cotton, flax and hemp.

First recorded vegetarian crossing of the Pacific.

Never fitted with radar.

Never had a depth sounder not made of string and lead.

Repaired herself with local timbers, recycled materials, volunteer labor.

1972 -“Ohu” movement (back to the land) cargo sailing in New Zealand

1973 -114 day voyage before illegal capture by French Navy at Moruroa

Only ship of her kind to witness atomic tests at close range.

Only ship of her kind to visit and aid victims of atomic tests.

When allowed into Moorea for repairs, honored by French warship captain for seamanship in the test zone and in international waters off Tahiti.

Witnessed 30^th anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings in those cities.

Sailed without visas into Cold War Soviet sea and airspace, Peace Odyssey mission in 1975.

Ditto Korea, China, Hong Kong, India

Heaving down under own rig and hand power in Sri Lanka in 1977.

Hand made msinge (eucalyptus) bowsprit under a berry tree in Maputo, Mozambique

Open hearted anti apartheid visit to S. Africa and Namibia with books for a freedom library. Restrained from shore leave in a three port and six week period.

Denmark OOA tour of 13 cities for a sustainable energy future in 1980.

Helene Tiama Moodie born on board to Therese Kristensen, Oct. 1st 1981, Amsterdam, Netherlands

PLENTY International charitable cargo to the Caribbean 1983. Soyabeans and sustainable energy.

Nicaragua Peace Fleet cargo of medicine, medical texts and hospital supplies in 1984 including entering the Contra mined harbor of Bluefields.

1985- Water for Life Campaign (against toxic chemical discharges) in the Great Lakes with Greenpeace USA and Canada.

1986 - protest at Statue of Liberty Centennial. "Give me Liberty from Nuclear Weapons"Greenpeace banner in parade of sail, displayed for Reagan and Mitterand on board nuke carrier John F Kennedy.

1987 - sailing with Svendborg as goal from USA, Liv Anne Margrethe Moodie born three and a half weeks after arrival.

1990 - collective traffic tour of Denmark for Greenpeace, opposed to Great Belt road bridge.

1991 to ’95 - Piraten von Stralsund entertainment and port festivals, paid for extensive repairs at Ring Andersens

1996- Won "Heaving Down Block" from Wooden Shipowners association in Denmark for best preserved vessel

1999 to 2007 ran aground on Reef of Selective Truths (caught in dispute with Søfartsstyrelsen)

2007- born again in Svendborg at 95 years of age

Friwwworld

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Founding General Meeting Tonight

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Memorandum of Understanding

Thoughts on the preservation and history of ‘Fri’ ...

John Sylvester got bitten! Thanks!

Dreaming at Sunrise

Blog Archive

Schooner 'Anne Margrethe'

Ring Andersens Shipyard, Svendborg

Links to good sites

Unique history

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