ABOARD THE SURPRISE IN SAN DIEGO HARBOR

OCTOBER 2010

The last week of October Atonia Walpole spent a week in San Diego and did

two trips to explore the (nicely unpeopled) Surprise, used in the filming of

Master and Commander. The commentary is Atonia's.

PAGE ONE:

First glimpse. She’s docked at the Maritime Museum in San Diego, CA. I’ve paid my $11 (senior fare) to tour all the ships and assorted floaters docked there but I won’t be climbing in and out of all of them. The Surprise is my main focus. It’s Sunday morning between 10:30 and 11:00. I’ve walked from The Westin Gaslight Dist. At Horton Plaza for anyone who is familiar with the area. It’s quiet and I’ve got the ship to myself.

 

I’m aboard looking to my right and there’s the double wheel and the mizzen mast behind.

I’m on the quarter deck. She might take out that Russian sub parked behind her. Right below here is the main cabin.

Looking from the back end toward the front. There is a double step down from the quarterdeck. There is a piece of canvas stretched across the middle of her to keep out the weather from the open ladders.

The front of the ship. Forgive my nautical terms.

Ship's bell HMS ROSE.

This is that bit that sticks out in the front that Jack Aubrey was seen to be standing on several times in the movie. It goes out a good ways.

The main mast and that’s where they weighed anchor by sticking poles into the slots and manning them

Down onto the second deck. The gunroom, obviously, and many other things as well. Here you see steps and the deck appears to have been lowered for public access. See steps going up to the guns. That was never shown in the movie and wouldn’t have been original to the Rose. Many alterations have been made including his and hers facilities at one end. There are many displays on this deck. Some I thought rather hokey (cardboard sheep, etc) But there are some nice relics as well.

Killick’s chickens have survived, rather tough I should imagine by now.

Physicians Potions.

Hammocks for seamen

Holystones in the bucket

Weapons for boarding and for guns

“Lesser of two weevils?”

 

ON TO PAGE TWO

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