The Commodore's opening address to the Naval Establishment officers at the first virtual meeting April 25.
Good evening to all and welcome to, I hope, the first of several virtual meetings to hammer out solutions to some of the problems that the Naval Establishment has looming, and discuss the future both immediate and long term, to ensure the continued good health of our passion, that of re-enacting the navies of the great age of sail.
The Naval Establishment as you see it today, was first conceived about 30 years ago and began as a loose affiliation of sail training organizations, historic sites with maritime connections and assets, groups of Naval re-enactors and privately owned traditionally rigged boats and ships. The idea that grouping these assets together to create a critical mass for special commemorative events appealed to all as the public attention generated by these were supportive to each group in their own way. Sail training organizations had renewed interest in their activities as folks learned they could sign on as trainees, historic sites had increased gate receipts, and re-enactors now had crowds to which to demonstrate (and we all know how much re-enactors love to do their stuff to an appreciative public). We all had a venue in which to play.
In time, the Establishment became a more formal entity as numbers of participants grew and concerns about on the water safety became more prevalent. I mean, if someone shows up in an admiral’s uniform and tells you to take your ship/boat over there, it would be nice to know he actually knows what he’s doing. For this reason, each officer in the Naval Establishment is required to show competence in vessel handling and maritime safety so that you have some confidence that the uniform actually means something.
This does not mean that there are not others out there that have all the necessary skills even if they do not carry the Naval Establishment distinction and I could name several that I would trust. It just means that being impeccably dressed as Horatio Nelson does not guarantee you the weather side of the quarterdeck.
As time moved on and the Naval Establishment expanded and contracted with the various financial demands of governments, sites, sailing ship organizations and individuals, there was always an attempt to maintain a standard of expertise for the crucial elements. However, as big water based events became fewer, more activities on land were encouraged and the standard of dress and other aspects (ropework, period surgery, music, food, etc.) became a bigger part of the Naval Establishment’s repertoire. There are member groups that do these things par excellence and I am delighted. The public see much more of this than the workings of a tall ship or boat because they can get up close and ask questions. The public, for which we should all be grateful, gives legitimacy to what we do.
More recently, the tallship participation has waned as funds become ever more scarce and as a consequence, we have witnessed the rise of the longboat flotilla as the boats’ costs can be more easily managed by individuals. In this manner, we hope to maintain the seaman’s skills necessary to continue with our waterborne spectacles that have such appeal.
In my tenure as the chief officer of the Naval Establishment, I have focused on two things, the skills of the seaman (because for us, the drowning is real) and expansion to truly encompass our great continent with representation everywhere. The former is ongoing and I hope to have guidelines for skills for landsman, ordinary and able seaman for distribution soon.
But in my quest for the latter, I have discovered in the groups that have joined the NE or are affiliated, a passion for all elements of the Navy of the era.. well perhaps not weavils in the bread or flogging.. but certainly grog!
So today is an opportunity to put your stamp on the NE and its future, to make your mark.
Seize the day.
Carry on.
