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Upcoming soon…. Episode 04! The next episode features a conversation with Chris Smith of The Bonnie Boat Podcast and a guerilla podcast with Chris and Jeffrey Wetting of the Shooting the Breeze Sailing Podcast at the 2023 Annapolis Sailboat Show.
Very excited to share today’s episode with you all. Last week I had the opportunity to sit down with Harvey Morgan and spend almost two hours talking about his seven decades of sailing. As a charter member of the Ware River Yacht Club (www.wryc.org), Harvey grew up sailing his brother’s homemade dingy in the waters of the Mobjack Bay and its tributaries. He related many of those stories as he learned about the boat, how to sail it, and how to have some grand adventures in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. Later, Harvey bought his dream sailboat and spent many years sailing around the Chesapeake Bay, up and down the east coast of the United States and around the Caribbean. I hope you enjoy the talk as much as I enjoyed the time spent listening to his stories. You can find the latest episode here.
As I sit in our den writing this, I can’t help but feel both excited and apprehensive at the same time.
It’s been a relatively quiet weekend, surprisingly. Tropical Storm Ophelia, or what was left of it, passed by our area yesterday and overnight. On Thursday the forecast sounded ominous. We were looking at the “almost” perfect storm. Ok, maybe not that severe, but we did have a nor’easter with a tropical system right on it’s heels. Late in the week this past week it looked like we might have two days of sustained storm force winds with a lot of rain and the eye passing right over Gloucester County. Hasty preparations were made. My super amazing wife went down to the club and helped double up lines on the moorings and take down all the canvas on both boats. We prepared as usual for the coming storm; batteries in lanterns, fuel for the propane grill, snacks to eat around the scrabble board under light of lantern, etc. Well, TS Ophelia came and went with thankfully little drama. We had some wind and a super high tide, but we came through relatively unscathed and we’re obviously very thankful for that. During preparations and awaiting the arrival of the storm I had plenty of time to think about the next podcast episode and plan its production.
From the beginning this podcast was intended to feature stories from sailors around the Chesapeake Bay. The idea started after a conversation a couple of years ago with a gentleman that I’m honored to consider a friend, Mr. Harvey Morgan. Harvey is a charter member of the Ware River Yacht Club. That particular day, I believe it was in 2021, we were gathered at the club for a lunch time social. My wife and I were at the table with three other couples; Jim and Jean Garrett, Joe and Holly Morgan, and Harvey and Mary Helen Morgan. I’ll let Harvey introduce himself on the podcast but as a glimpse, 40 years my senior, Harvey had a distinguished career as a pharmacist and then a delegate to the House of Delegates in Richmond for many years. Harvey is an absolute joy to talk with and his stories are fantastic. As we talked at lunch that summer afternoon down at the club, I thought, I should really get with Harvey and capture some of his stories about sailing. Well, I did that and the thought progressed to: I really need to share these stories. Thus, the Splice the Main Brace Podcast was born. I’ve been looking forward to this interview since the idea for the podcast formed.
As I stated up front, I’m both excited and apprehensive about this venture. I’m headed to Harvey’s house in a couple of hours. I wrote a rough outline of questions. I’m sure Harvey’s storytelling will weave together a story without much input from me. I’m excited mostly for the opportunity to share his stories with you. I’m apprehensive because the only thing resembling an interview I’ve conducted so far was the impromptu recording with Kevin and Chris during the 2023 Cape Charles Cup. But, alas, I’ll get over the apprehension and press on. As with many new podcasters, I believe, I suffer from imposter syndrome. Who am I to interview sailors and post those interviews up on the web for others to listen to? I’m not a journalist, for sure. I’m not a world-renowned accomplished sailor. Oh well, I don’t think there are many journalists (not to discount Jeffrey Wettig and his Shooting the Breeze Sailing Podcast) or world-renowned sailors beating down the doors of local Chesapeake Bay sailors like Harvey, so I will.
Today will be the first day with the new microphone setup. Not that you can tell from the audio quality of my previous episodes, but I really am working at improving sound quality. We’ll see how today goes. For now, I’m going to sign off, I’ve rambled enough. This was intended to be a teaser for the upcoming episode with Harvey, which should be up in a couple of days. I hope you enjoy it. Listen in soon!
The passing of time onboard ship is marked by ringing of the ship’s bell. The bell is struck one time for each 30 minutes. Thus, the end of a standard four-hour watch is signified by the ringing of the ship’s bell eight times. Traditionally, the term eight bells has also come to represent the passing of one associated with the sea. Eight bells have been struck for Jimmy Buffett. We have the watch, JB. Sail on sailor.
Episode 02 of the STMB Podcast is a tribute to the life and art of Jimmy Buffett. Follow the link here to listen in. The episode includes a couple of Jimmy Buffett songs and a reading from his book A Salty Piece of Land as well as Herman Wouk’s Don’t Stop the Carnival. I had originally intended to simply read a couple chapters from Jimmy’s book as well as an excerpt from Wouk’s work. However, when I started reading, I was immediately moved by the author’s note Jimmy wrote for A Salty Piece of Land way back in 2001. It was VERY fitting for this episode.
I hope you enjoy the episode. Please drop me a line at scott@stmbpodcast.com and let me know what you think. I promise to keep working on the audio quality. Thanks for listening in the meantime.
After a two-month delay, Episode 01 of the Splice the Main Brace Podcast has been posted to Spotify. Please visit this link to check it out. I’d love to hear back with feedback. Email Scott here.
In this episode, Scott, Kevin and Chris spent four glorious days sailing from the Ware River Yacht Club (WRYC), off the Mobjack Bay, down to Norfolk by way of Salt Ponds in Hampton. We experienced everything from 20kts to dead calm. At one point we were double reefed, but then at another point were bobbing around with sails a’luffin’.
Houston, Tranquility Base here, The Eagle has landed
The very first episode of the Splice The Main Brace Podcast is up on Spotify! Follow the link here. Join Scott as he introduces the podcast, sort of introduces himself, sort of talks about where the podcast is going, and generally rambles for a while. Once again, thanks to good friends Chris Smith and Jeffrey Wettig for the inspiration and encouragement! Y’all rock!
Back in the days of square-rigged ships, splicing the main brace was a job so dangerous that only volunteers would be accepted for the work. The main brace was the largest of all lines used in rigging the ships. In battle, the main brace was sometimes shot out, putting the afflicted ship in mortal danger. Brave sailors would climb the rigging to splice the huge line thus saving the ship. In return, as a reward, they were given a double tot of rum. Over the years, the term Splice the Main Brace has come to mean give me a double shot or let’s have a drink. It signifies a job well done and can be offered as a statement of appreciation.
Many years ago, I was an engineering officer on an ocean-going tug that had towed two 175 ft. ships to Hythe, England from Virginia. During our stay in England, our crew was privileged to attend a private tour of the HMS Victory, Admiral Lord Nelson’s flagship during the Battle of Trafalgar. Upon conclusion of the tour, which was provided by Royal Navy Sailors, we were invited to Admiral Nelson’s great cabin aboard the HMS Victory. Here the tour guide shared numerous stories of nautical terminology that had it’s origins back in the days of square riggers, including the story of splicing the main brace. Afterwards, a false wall in the great cabin was opened to reveal a small bar. We were all offered a pint in Admiral Lord Nelson’s cabin!
This podcast and associated blog have been named Splice the Main Brace as an homage to that wonderful visit, a tip of the hat to sailors of years past, and a connection to seafarers across the generations and around the globe. It is my hope that you’ll enjoy the content, tip a glass of your favorite beverage, and take your thoughts to the sea.
splice the main brace 