News from the old Razorback on the way home to America

Since 05-13-04

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

----- Original Message -----

From: "James Davis" <jrdavis.subvet@comcast.net>
To: "ARaton Bill Decker" <bdecker@shentel.net>
Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 4:38 PM
Subject: Fw: Razorback 05/11/04

----- Original Message -----
From: "Master USSRazorback" <Master.USSRazorback@telaurus.net>
To: <BOpple@aol.com>; ........
 Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2004 11:43 AM Subject: Razorback 05/11/04

Smooth sailing to day, This is the Mediterranean on post cards, a deep blue as far as you can see with smooth waters. We stopped and rode the Razorback for a couple hours. The Mayor raised the last of the flags to be use as fun risers. On the sail we are flying an American, Turkish and the Arkansas State flags, I am sure ships passing are still trying to find out what country the Arkansas flag is from. Max our two Turkish Subvets, Adnan and Turhad and I went inside the Razorback to check the condition after the high seas. There was a few items on the floor but she rode the storm well and we found no water. We started with a 1o list and it was still 1o when we checked inside. We did find water had gotten inside #1 and #2 torpedo tubes as the hydraulic doors had opened, we closed both outer doors by hand crank and darned the water off. Yaaaaa, we still remember a few things about this 61 year old lady

Max and I took our normal spot on deck sitting in lounge chairs to watch the boat. This is the life. This afternoon we stopped of the Island of Malta and the Mayor and John Adams left, They will meet the boat in Key West Florida in a month.

So where are we now?. N35o.55 by E14.35 in the Sicily channel between Sicily and Tunisia. Speeds are 7.5 knots and the seas are smooth. We have plans to make Gibraltar in 6 to 7 days weather permitting.

There are five crew members on the Tug plus the owner Latham Smith. He is the type of skipper you can put all your trust in and I wouldn't be worried how bad the weather was, After more that 40 years at sea he knows his stuff, Mortland is the Captain and handles the tug with ease, Jim the chief engineer looks at his engines like they were his own and is proud of how clean and orderly every thing is ,He is also a great cook, Rudolf is also an engineer and I believe he can fix anything. Then there is Jay the first mate who also has been at sea for years and Sam at 18 a seaman who has been on the boat for over a year. all are a family and have welcomes us all to there home at sea.

Tonight the Turkish Sailors made a great Turkish soup for dinner, Maurice; how come you never made anything like this???

We are sending these emails to Ms Linda Pierces class in Arkinses, How luckey your State is to be receiving this Lady,. enjoy her and love her as all of we Raxorback Subvets do when she gets to her new home.

Good night

Bob Opple Razorback Subvet