Photos of the Day – September 6

Santa Catalina Island

Today’s Question of the Day involves today’s Photo of the Day. Specifically, how is it possible for the crewmember of a boat to, starting from deck level, manage to get so high in the air? Mind you, he didn’t jump from the spreaders, nor was a ‘human cannon’ involved. Answer below

Answer to Question of the Day. It’s long been common for rambunctious crewmembers, mostly young males, to take a halyard to the bow of a boat, then swing themselves out alongside the boat. The goal is to get as long and high a ride as possible, hopefully letting go before slamming back into the side of the boat or landing on the deck. This is most successfully accomplished aboard boats with canting keels, as it’s possible to start out with the masthead exit of the halyard almost being off the side of the boat to begin with.

But as all males know, qualities such as bigger, faster, and higher are always admired. So the crew of the boat, in this case the 86-ft Pyewacket, got to thinking about how new heights might be scaled. The plan was actually quite simple. Put six guys on the coffee grinders, then have them grind for their lives at the instant the boatstronaut jumped off the bow. Is this a great country or what