Re: Test your knowledge... HMS Bounty
If I knew the answer, I'd say!
I'm genuinely asking here.. and I'll tell you why. I've just purchased my first real boat (although i've been around boats all my life and always lived near the water) and i'm struggling to name it.
My father left my family when i was ~2 years old, and my mother raised my brother, sister and myself as a single parent. Around the time I was ~10 years old my mother enrolled my brother and I into the "Big Brothers" program (a program that provides support and mentoring to boys with absent/deceased fathers - I'm sure you've all heard of it). Anyway.. I had "interviewed" 2 big brothers, and had bad experiences (nothing evil, just not a fit for me) and my mother was pressuring me to try a 3rd guy out as my big brother. I was pretty leary, uncomfortable and, at times, afraid of these strange men so I wasn't looing forward to trying this again.
The 3rd big brother I was "assigned" was an english man, about 50 years old. At the time I thought this guy was ancient, and his accent was so strong I could barely understand him. I had to ask him to repeat things 3 and 4 times until I could register what he was even trying to say to me. It was an odd experience for a 10 year old, for sure.
It turned out, this guy was into boats and all things boating and had many jobs and careers that were in shipping, boating or something marine related. He had a wonderful wife, good kids and even some great grandkids that were my age. He had a beautiful sailboat and took me sailing and fishing and really introduced me to all things nautical. I think we watched "Mutiny on the Bounty" at least ten times together. On ferry crossings he'd take me into the ships engine room to chat with the workers (all of which seemed to know and love him).
He was a genuine good soul and taught me many things about life that I am grateful for to this day. Everything I know of boating, the ocean and fishing largely came from him.
To the point now (as i get misty eyed) the sailboat he took me on was called "The Malakaren" or something to that effect. I've searched ship registries and can't seem to find it. The only thing I can remember is that he told me it has something to do with the Mutiny on the Bounty.. i seem to think it was the name of a life boat, or tender...
Google searches turn up some things in the phillipines, which I beleive is where the Bounty ended up, along with the bligh and others. but I can't be sure of the spelling.
Unfortunately, we lost contact after a few years.. and I never did hear from him again. As a tribute to this wonderful man, I intend to name my boat "ISO Malakaren" (in search of the Malakaren).
...I'd just like to be certain of the spelling. Who knows.. maybe one day he'll see it and ask the relevance.
-eso
