Historical Seas Tall Ships Regatta-Istanbul Port

[Greg Beetham]

That MIR is a massive ship for a sailing ship, the main deck is much higher than the one in front, she wouldn't be bothered by rough seas that would have the others reefing sail. I like that view showing all the masts and rigging down the way Yildiz, good one.
Greg

[sury]

Forgive my ignorance in matters nautical. I thought tall ships are wood beams and polished teak.
I did not realize tall ships are ironclad too. I like the geometric patterns of the masts, Yildiz.

Sury

[aster]

Forgive my ignorance in matters nautical. I thought tall ships are wood beams and polished teak.
I did not realize tall ships are ironclad too. I like the geometric patterns of the masts, Yildiz.

Sury

Hi Sury,

To build a ship, of the size of Mir (Russia), which is more than 90 m in lenght, out of wood (teak) would be extremely expensive today and they would have to cut down a precious forest in the size of an avarage-sized country to complete just one ship. That would mean suicide for human kind. Forests are far too important in the world where our resources are already limited and we have to take care of all trees if we want a future with oxygen and 'cooled' down weather and prospering crop fields. We must not forget the fact that, recently, some big lakes dried out after centuries of being full of water and water creatures.

Iron can be recycled and reused. Iron cladding makes maintenance easier. If we bear in mind that these big tallships are 'sail training' ships for young students / cadets that are on duty whole year round crossing many seas and oceans, they need a vessel that can withstand the harsh conditions while keeping the expenses down.

These sail training ships mostly rely on government endorsements or generous rich people who provide the funds for the maintenance and journeys to ports of the world.

We read from books that are on Earth's natural resources history and science that, many of the world's richest and most important forests were cut down in a period when people of seafront settlements, communities built ships out of timber. Those ships would break apart or sink more easily, so they went and cut down more trees.

I believe that, in our present state of the World, the wood should only be used with limitation for vessels of the like, maybe only for small traditional boats and special occasion yachts that will be looked after for longer periods of time.

Yildiz

[bakubo]

Great series of photos! I especially like the one of the ship's mast in the second set.

[aster]

Thanks, Bakubo.

Nothing like the real experience though. I was very impressed with these A class ships, especially with MIR and DAR MLODZIEZY which are the biggest. Great feeling, being on those decks...

Yildiz

[Dr. Harout]

Forests are far too important in the world where our resources are already limited and we have to take care of all trees if we want a future with oxygen and 'cooled' down weather and prospering crop fields. We must not forget the fact that, recently, some big lakes dried out after centuries of being full of water and water creatures.
Yildiz

Amen.
I plant trees each and every year, and teaching my sons to do the same.

[UrsaMajor]

Thanks, Bakubo.Nothing like the real experience though. I was very impressed with these A class ships, especially with MIR and DAR MLODZIEZY which are the biggest. Great feeling, being on those decks...

Since you have previously demonstrated an interest in science fiction, you might enjoy reading "Island in the Sea of Time", by S. M. Stirling. A significant part of the action in the book takes place on the U.S. Coast Guard tall ship "Eagle".

Like food, literature is a matter of personal taste, but i will comment that I enjoyed the book myself, and the descriptions of the "Eagle" under sail were well done, IMO.

In case it is of interest, there is more information about the book (which is the first of a trilogy) at:

http://www.amazon.com/Island-Sea-Time-S ... 491&sr=8-1

FWIW, the second and third books of the trilogy have much of the story set in the Middle East - albeit the Middle East of 3000+ years ago, at the time of Babylon, Troy, and Agamemnon.

With best wishes,
- Tom -

[aster]

Thanks Tom,

I have taken a look at his books at Amazon. Yes, I think I can find a different realm in his books.
I lived in the region that was called Mesopotamia for a while, better known as Iraq to modern man and I'm famliar with its cultural and historical legacy. Visited the museums and the archeologial sites and went inside some of the holly mosques which had gold-clad domes as a tourist. I have no idea what became of them after the recent events on Iraqi soil...

Thank you,

Yildiz

[bakubo]

I lived in the region that was called Mesopotamia for a while, better known as Iraq to modern man and I'm famliar with its cultural and historical legacy. Visited the museums and the archeologial sites and went inside some of the holly mosques which had gold-clad domes a tourist. I have no idea what became of them after the recent events on Iraqi soil...

Sadly, the gold dome of the al-Askari Mosque in Samarra, built in 944, was destroyed with a bomb by Sunni extermists in 2006 and then in 2007 they also destroyed the two minarets. Later that year they also destroyed the remaining clock tower:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Askari_Mosque

Is this one of the places you were able to see when you were there?

[paulmurphy]

Lovely shots Yildiz, the tall ships are amazing to see in real life, and they are coming my way in August (Hartlepool is only about 30 miles down the coast).

Hope I can capture some images with the same sort of feeling

Best wishes

Paul

[aster]

I lived in the region that was called Mesopotamia for a while, better known as Iraq to modern man and I'm famliar with its cultural and historical legacy. Visited the museums and the archeologial sites and went inside some of the holly mosques which had gold-clad domes a tourist. I have no idea what became of them after the recent events on Iraqi soil...

Sadly, the gold dome of the al-Askari Mosque in Samarra, built in 944, was destroyed with a bomb by Sunni extermists in 2006 and then in 2007 they also destroyed the two minarets. Later that year they also destroyed the remaining clock tower:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Askari_Mosque

Is this one of the places you were able to see when you were there?

Yes, it indeed is one of the holly mosques I visited and was able to go inside. No photography was allowed though. I also saw the holly mosques in Najaf where Prophet Mohammed's grandchildren Hassan and Hossein are buried. I remember the golden lattice work around their tombs where people would say their prayers and recite from the Qur'an.

It was in July and almost 55 C degrees there. I remember I felt faint from the heat and the crowd circulating around me.

Very sad about Al-Askari Mosque. People's creed should be respected and it was very symbolic for a majority of devout Muslims. It's a horrible way of hurting people, destroying a place they hold dear to their hearts and souls.


I also saw and climbed the stairs of the ancient Tower of Samarra where there were a couple of Ziggurat-like ancient structures visible in the distance. Mesopotamia is a cradle of cultural and historical legacy for the whole of human kind. Its destruction doesn't reflect good on humans at this age and in the so-called enlightened world.

Great Mosque of Samarra and the Tower (Minaret)

Yildiz

[aster]

Lovely shots Yildiz, the tall ships are amazing to see in real life, and they are coming my way in August (Hartlepool is only about 30 miles down the coast).

Hope I can capture some images with the same sort of feeling

Best wishes

Paul

Thank you, Paul. You're very kind.

I'm sure you'll take excellent shots, Paul.

You're an expert with wide angles and colours and I'm certain that they'll look beautiful under the British sky. Best decide which lenses too use early on, because those ships just won't fit into the framing of a walkaround lens unless they are far away from shore.

Looking forward to your shots!

Yildiz