Loss of the Bounty

There is one less tall ship in the world.

The Bounty (which was built so they would have tall ship to shoot 'Mutiny on the Bounty' on) sank trying to avoid Sandy the Frankenstorm. Thanks to the coast guard, only the Captain and one member of the crew were lost. Checking online, some of the Captain's friends say that he probably decided to stay aboard the ship - but we wouldn't know what happened until the survivors speak.

Let's drink a toast to that Captain, another for the crew member whose body has been recovered.

One less tall ship in the world. The world is a lesser place for that.

Goodgulf

As for one who has a fondness for wooden boats and ships I send my heartfelt sadness not only for the loss of life but also for the loss of the ship. May you have Fair Winds and Following Seas my hearty brothers.

How sad that two such gallant seamen should have been lost.

The Captain was obviously a far better man than his infamous predecessor; the appalling Captain (he was actually only a lieutenant) Bligh.

My husband and I have both been aboard the HMS Bounty kept on the the coast of North Carolina. This ship also has been used in all the Pirates Of The Carribean movies.

It was a living history exhibit and was used to excite young people in the study of history and the public as a whole. The two lives that were lost are not only tragic, but they are heroes along with those rescued sailors for trying to save this magnificent replica ship.

Still, I hope he didn't go down with his ship. That's one naval tradition that's best honored in the breach.

Very sad, but very brave indeed. Two men who lost their lives trying to save what they felt was far more precious. I raise my glass to them.

Pat

I join in the commiserations - but leap to the defence of Bligh. Don't believe what you see on TV. If anything his problem was being too lenient by the harsh standards of the Royal Navy of the time. His crew was turned by a long stay among Pacific islanders with relaxed sexual mores. Bligh's leadership when he was cast adrift with loyal ship's crew was brilliant and he went on to win several promotions through courage and good decision-making in war, despite the fact that any commander against whom a mutiny had occurred had something to overcome. Nelson rated him highly and Nelson was well-known for an enlightened attitude to his crews.

Not to turn this in to a history discussion, but William Bligh was actually considered a very mild mannered Commander at sea. He was not the tyrant that many have depicted him to be. Instead, ill discipline among the crew, is more likely to have been the cause of the mutiny.

In any case, the loss of the Bounty is indeed a sad one.

I hesitate to take issue with my good friend Barretthunter, (not to mention my new friend Dan Jackson) but to class Bligh as a "mild mannered commander" stretches the imagination. He abused his officers in front of his men and treated the ratings with contempt, so it was no wonder that they rebelled. A true test of his character was his vindictive pursuit of Peter Heywood, who was not a ringleader and was 16 at the time. He did his level best to get the boy hanged. Fortunately wiser counsels prevailed and he ended up as a post-captain.

I agree Bligh fought with great courage at Camperdown and Copenhagen, not to mention his amazing voyage in the launch after his ejection from the Bounty, but his unstable character surfaced again when he was made governor of New South Wales, and he was faced with a rebellion there too.

All this swapping of historical opinions is trivial concerned with the very real tragedy of the modern day Bounty, and in no way diminishes my sorrow that 2 gallant seamen were lost in the recent disaster.

Well said Lincoln, I completely agree.