Wow
Awesome community project and
"another one for Curtis"
A Playmobil pirate ship has been launched off the west coast of Africa after stowing away on a full-size Norwegian vessel. The toy ship, named Adventure, was launched in May by two Scottish brothers – Ollie Ferguson, 8, and Harry, 5 – and their family as an update to the tired message-in-a-bottle trope. Chilling evidence …
Power gives way to sail, and as it looks as though the ship's (marginally) on starboard tack they should be stand-on vessel to just about everyone until they near the shipping lanes.
[For the 'lubbers amongst you, the stand-on vessel is obliged to maintain course and speed.]
"Power gives way to sail,"
Not quite that simple, unfortunately - I think there's some caveats that apply if the powered vessel is more than 500 tonnes and/or in a waterway with restricted manouvering options for large vessels.
Or, as my son puts it, plastic gives way to steel, especially very large steel that could crush you and not leave a trace.
"Or, as my son puts it, plastic gives way to steel, especially very large steel that could crush you and not leave a trace."
"Mr Dent. Have you any idea how much damage this container ship would suffer if I just let it sail over your yatch?"
"No, how much?"
"None at all"
They could use this picture I made for a flag: haku.co.uk/pics/ElRegMasthead.jpg
Which they kindly posted on their main site: www.theregister.co.uk/2017/02/08/reg_readers_david_hockney_mockney_masthead/
The National Film Board of Canada's "Paddle to the Sea."
1966. Thrill to the sight of a young child melting LEAD to use as ballast! And Niagara Falls beats a Swedish tree for excitement.
The one and only time I ever tried making the stuff was for a reenactment. I think mine came out slightly softer than the actual stuff. There was a little girl dressed as a pirate and I gave her a piece; I have seldom seen a more sorrowful look of betrayal ever aimed at my direction since.
As a sailing ship this is a non-starter, although it's interesting that they didn't put a full load of sail on it. Scaling rules tell you that a proper scale model will carry far more sail area than is correct for the weight. You have to add ballast to stop the boat toppling over in the wind, or cut the sail area, or both.
But they're also up against hull speed. That's less than one boat length per second at this size, so progress will be slow to say the least. If the vessel gets anywhere, it'll be because the ocean current carries it there.