Memorial Day Weekend in San Francisco

Of course, we looked at sailing stuff.

historic s-v Balclutha among the educational ships on Hyde St. Pier

We visited sailing vessel Balclutha, an iron ship that hauled salmon, timber, and also men to work in the northern canneries of Alaska.



We watched a video explaining the difficult working conditions, particularly for contract labourers, and how one journalist's live-aboard reports roused public outcry and effected labour changes.

Dave did not like the following sign.




These ships' pulleys were set up in 1:1, 2:1, and 4:1 ratios, allowing the kids to feel how much easier it is to lift a weight with multiple pulleys. Yay for simple machines!

Banana wanted to show you all the size of this cleat. (The big iron knobs the ship's rope is tied to.) The ones on our 23-foot boat are about the size of her hand.