Michael Culpepper: April 2010 Archives

There are a lot of things that we don't like to do and there are a lot of things that we don't like to do.  However, there are very few things that we don't like to do that we like to do.  Let me explain.

I am not a very great athlete.   It seems that I can either hold my own or flat out stink at various sports.  As a kid, I loved baseball and could field like a champ, however, I couldn't hit that stinking leather ball if my life depended on it.  so that was out.  I tried tennis and had the endurance to play 6 sets if i wanted to.  The problem was, I would lose 0-6 unless my opponent fell over dead.  I was that bad.  Then i tried swimming and i was really good at it.  I was fast and i could go all day.  The problem was, I hated it.  I loved competing.  I loved winning.  I just hated practicing every day.  In college, I boxed on the amateur level for a little while and was pretty good (but in that sport, you could fly a plane between the line between good and very good)  However, while training for boxing, i realized for the first time in my life that i was a very good runner.  I could dominate the casual runner on a 3 miles course.  Problem: I hate running.

When i saw that the Triathalon is coming back to Galveston (ironmanlonestar.com) this weekend, I started thinking about how dedicated these folks are to do all of the training and hard work.  What goes through these people's minds?  Why would they put themselves through all of this training for a t-shirt?  How hard do they have to work?  Well, some of these question were answered by my triathlete friend, (and by the way, triathlete winner!) Betty Massey.

Betty said that she started running when she was 48 and ran 11 marathons between 2000 and 2006.  After retiring from distance running, and being too competitive in nature to stop, she now does triathalon sprints.  Here you swim .5 mile, bike for 12 miles and run a 5K.  She trains for the triathalons by keeping in shape and then, 8 weeks in advance of the event, she does "two a days" combining two of the three sports training in one day. 

One thing I always wondered about was why a triathalon started with the swim.  I wouldn't want to get out of the water and jump right on a bike for the chaffing factor.  I have asked this question to a few people and the best answer i get is something about fatigue and drowning factor which i suppose offers some merit.

This weekend's Ironman Lonestar festivities will bring 6000 people from every state and around the world to the island.  So whether you're into sports or not, it should be a celebrated event in that it brings revenue and exposure to the island and island businesses.

So pretty much, from my competitive nature, this is the event for me.  All three things that i hate and am good at all wrapped up into one event that equals a 2 hour vomit fest.  I should start training for 2011 now!  BTW, if you are signed up for this tomorrow's sprint event, don't get your hopes up on being the first across the ribbon.

Betty Massey: "I intend to win!"
 

Islander By Choice will be writing a monthly column in Galveston Monthly.  This is the first of our entries You can pick up a Galveston Monthly free at many local locations.

April is the month that truly exemplifies spring in Galveston. It's not cold and it's not hot. It's a great time to get out of the winter funk and go out and see the island.

While you're out and about, whether you're a local or a visitor, you should put The Elissa and the Texas Seaport Museum on your list to visit. The Elissa is the Official Tall Ship of Texas, and is not only a floating museum, but one of the only ships of its kind to actually sail. She is a three-masted barque that was originally launched on October 27, 1877.

When you visit Elissa, it is hard to imagine that she was very close to being scrapped in Piraeus, Greece 40 years ago. In 1970, Elissa had been altered and had changed hands so many times - most recently by smugglers - she was hardly recognizable as the grand ship she was upon commissioning. It took a trained eye and a fortunate break of an existing builders plate to confirm that this floating vessel destined to be cut up in a Greek scrap yard was once the proud Elissa.

The acquisition and restoration processes were nothing short of remarkable. Because the port is what made Galveston the proud "Wall Street of the Southwest," the idea was to have a permanent symbol of Galveston's maritime heritage. Upon finding that Elissa had called on Galveston's port in 1883 and in 1886, the decision was made that she would call on Galveston once again - as home.

After purchasing the ship for $39,000 in 1975, the Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) estimated it would take another $200,000 investment for her restoration. Shoring up the hull for a crossing of the Atlantic and refitting the masts, deck, and rigging in Galveston took many researchers, craftsman, and volunteers. Some of the techniques to rebuild her hadn't been used in decades.

To say the least, the budget was blown. Seven years and $4.5 million later, the GHF and Galveston had a tall ship that was the pinnacle of historic ship restoration.

Since Elissa's first modern sailing trip under her original square rigging on August 31, 1982, Elissa has called on ports in Corpus Christi, New Orleans, Miami, Charleston, Baltimore, and Washington DC. The apex of these modern voyages was a sail to New York Harbor in July of 1986 for the centennial anniversary and rededication of the Statue of Liberty. 

On the voyage home from New York, Elissa made a stop at the Mystic Seaport Museum. This museum is home to the 1841 whaling ship Charles W. Morgan. There was no way to know during that visit that the Charles W. Morgan would, in a much different way, call on Galveston 22 years later.

In 2007 the Morgan  began undergoing an extensive restoration and required live oak wood to make new framing ribs. Live oak is the perfect material for shipbuilding because of its strength, resistance to rot, and the sweeping curves of the tree.

In September, 2008 an abundance of live oaks became destined to make the journey to the Charles W. Morgan's aid when Hurricane Ike flooded Galveston with more saltwater than it had seen since the storm of 1900. The loss of Galveston's historic  live oaks had a silver lining in that some would be used for the preservation of another grand ship.

The upkeep of Elissa requires approximately 20,000 man (and woman) hours and costs an average of about $60,000 per year. Twice a year, all of the rigging is pine tared and the brightened wood is revarnished to protect against the elements. Once a year, all of the sails are removed and inspected for wear and repaired accordingly.

To do all of this work, GHF and the Texas Seaport Museum rely on many extremely dedicated volunteers. General volunteers are welcomed year round, however, for those who would like to work toward becoming a member of the crew of the Elissa, the training program begins in July and goes through March.

After dedicating 20 Saturdays towards training, volunteers will be a member of the crew that sails Elissa in the annual March sea trials. These daily sails, to many, are the reward for a year worth of hard work and dedication. However, if sweating your Saturdays away 100 feet in the air isn't your cup of tea, you can make a tax deductible financial contribution that will help preserve Elissa and the Texas Seaport Museum for generations to come.

The museum is the home for Elissa, but also offers a wealth of information about maritime history. A cannon from an original Texas Navy ship is featured there and has a great story of being lost and found numerous times. The four coins that are underneath Elissa's masts are revealed, a lesson in shrimping and shrimp netting is explained, the bell from the USS Galveston is on display, and you can find information on immigrants that came into Galveston's port seeking a new life in America.

Elissa and the Texas Seaport Museum are open every day from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Pier 21. On your next visit downtown, set aside a couple of hours to visit the museum and the majesty of Elissa. I know you'll be glad that you did.

Special thanks to John Schaumberg for contributing to this article.