The Role of the Bosun

The Role of a Bosun on a Tall Ship

I count myself lucky to have been a tall ship bosun, though I’ll admit it wasn’t a full-time affair. Back along at the turn of the century, I served as a ‘relief bosun,’ mostly on voyages around the Canaries during the winter months. Truth be told, it felt more like a paid holiday in the sun than hard work. I probably embodied the stereotype of a typical relief bosun—taking care of the essential safety maintenance, but the rest of the time was spent supervising from the deck, occasionally finding my way up into the rigging, probably posing more than working! It was a fine balance between keeping things safe and enjoying the life in the sun.

Of course, Weymouth in midwinter was a stark contrast. There, the ship wasn’t at sea, and much of the rigging was strewn across the quayside. We were busy overhauling bottle screws and engaging in all the necessary—but distinctly unglamorous—greasy work. You’d find sleet whipping past your ears, and the cold certainly took the shine off the romantic notion of life aboard a tall ship. But it still wasn’t as tough as in Sunderland Dock, where the sleet wasn’t just cold but black with coal dust. Thankfully, I had sailed the ship there and was leaving straight away and let someone else take over the bosun role, poor sod!

But back to the Bosun’s role—whether it’s a ‘relief’ position like mine or full-time, the responsibilities are essential to the ship’s wellbeing. A Bosun (or Boatswain) is central to the smooth running and safety of a tall ship, maintaining the integrity of all rigging, sails, and everything on and above deck. The engineer was responsible for everything below decks.

Primary Responsibilities of a Bosun

Maintenance and Safety A Bosun ensures the maintenance of all standing rigging—those vital wires or ropes that hold the masts and bowsprit in place. Then there’s the running rigging, which includes the ropes, sheets, and halyards that control the sails. Each piece needs to be in perfect working condition, which also means being able to work rope with splices, whipping, performing sail repairs, and tackling leatherwork and patching as needed.
At the end of a refit period comes a time when you bend on the sails again. That is, put the sails back in position. You then begin to see the ship take proper shape and know you will soon be sailing out on the ogin.
It’s not all ropes and sails, though. A Bosun must also look after the anchors and the machinery that raises and lowers them, capstan or windlass. And, let’s not forget the on-deck safety equipment—life rafts, harnesses, throw lines,and fire-fighting gear must always be in good condition, in their use by date and ready for immediate use.

Sail Handling and Deck Operations
A Bosun carefully supervises any major sail handling operations, in normal conditions the crew should be able to manage it on their own.. Whether supervising tricky manoeuvres, ensuring proper shore line management in port, or executing anchoring operations, the Bosun’s experience is key. A good bosun will have predicted the next order from the Captain and have a clear plan in their head how to execute the required task, and hands on standby to undertake the work.

Training
People come sailing on a tall ship to be part of the crew, they want to get stuck into the sailing handling and keeping the ship on course with well set sails. The bosun is the head of the team that makes it possible for complete beginners to make a useful contribution to the sailing of the ship. There is no way they can train everyone themselves so the ship will use either bosun’s mates or watch leaders to train the people on board. The bosun plays a supervisory role and can step in if more assistance is required.

The training is in pulling on ropes, securing, coiling them, setting and handing sail, trimming sail and handing sails away. Safe training in going aloft using safety harnesses and where to clip them on the standing rigging.. The temptation to skylark has to be resisted as bosun’s have to set a good example. (No, I’ve never been known to slide down a back stay as Jack Aubrey does in Master and Commander Far Side of the World, well maybe once or twice before I was a bosun.)

Ongoing and Preventative Maintenance
Part of the job involves keeping a close eye on the ship’s maintenance schedule, ensuring that the vessel remains operationally ready at all times. Ongoing inspections and minor repairs between major refits are crucial for both the ship’s appearance and function. A well-kept ship not only looks the part but also sails smoother and safer.

Additional Responsibilities
There’s also the smaller yet significant duties, such as ensuring that all blocks and tackle, winches, capstans, and windlasses are operational and assisting with cargo handling when required. Communication is vital, so the Bosun works closely with the Captain or First Mate, keeping them informed about the state of the ship’s equipment and any urgent repairs that might be needed.

Whether you’re soaking up the sun in the Canaries or bracing against the bitter winds of Weymouth, a Bosun’s expertise in traditional seamanship and attention to detail is what keeps a ship a sailing ship.

Good sailing,

Adam

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