Flashing Rapier

General Information

The Flashing Rapier is a 16th Century English Private Man-of-War (Ship) Household based out of the Barony of Glymm Mere, in the Kingdom of An Tir. She was launched in 2001 when her Captain, William Richard Drake, moved to An Tir from Artemesia. The Flashing Rapier is run by Captain Drake with help from his wife Serena Zane, and his crew, which currently numbers around 28 members with a smaller core group of around 10 - 12 that is fully active. The ship started in the Shire of Rivers Bend, where some of the crew still reside, but moved to the Barony of Glymm Mere in 2009. The ship is modeled after the "race built galleon" type of ship from the late 16th century and she is the Flagship of William's fleet. The captain and crew strive to keep things in the household within the pre 1600 period. The crew itself reside in several branches from Dragon's Mist to Glymm Mere along the I-5 corridor.

The Badge of the Ship and Fleet, as well as William's personal badge. Fieldless, an eagle's head couped impaled by a rapier, argent.

Ship Specifications

The Flashing Rapier is a "race-built galleon" with 40 guns, mostly of the culverin and demi-culverin types ranged on two decks. She is 143 feet long from Stem to stern and 167 feet if the beakhead is included. Her keel length is 96 feet and she is 120 feet at the waterline. She has a 33 1/2 foot beam and a 13 foot draft and displaces around 1100 tons. She has four decks plus a fo'c'sul of one deck and a stern castle of two decks. She is equipped with four masts, mounting course sails, top sails and top gallant sails on the Fore mast and Main mast, and a lanteen sail on each of the Mizzen and Bonaventure Mizzen masts. She is constructed of Oak and Sapele wood in the hull, keel and support structure, with the castles and decking of sapele, beech and ash. Her sails and rigging are both woven of a heavy silk, reffited on a journey to the orient. She can travel between 3 to 11 knots fully loaded and has a cargo capacity of 12,000 hundredweight or around 600 tons. She was built and launched in 1579 after a very successful voyage on his previous ship allowed Captain Drake to build a new vessel.

The Flashing Rapier - An English Private Man-of-War built in 1579

Crew

Captain HL William Richard Drake Captain’s Lady/Cabin Girl HL Serena Zane 1st Mate/1st Lt. /Master (XO) Robert Flood 2nd Mate/2nd Lt. /Master’s Mate Vacant Adjutant Ethan Elders Cabin Boy/Ship's Boy Dalton Boatswain (Bosun) Vacant Bosun’s Mate Ayden Kincayde Yeoman of the Halyards and Jeers Set, Isolde van Lyt Yeoman of the Sheets & Tacks Vaylen, Allen Kincayde Coxswain (coxun) Vacant Coxun’s Mate Vacant Master Carpenter Vacant Carpenter’s Mates Vacant Caulker Vacant Cooper Pete Siefer Lieutenant Vacant Corporals Vacant Armorer Vacant Mariners/Deckhands Amber Littlejohn, Boston, Bradamante Berta Chief Musician HL Serena Zane Swabber Vacant Swabber’s Mate Vacant Ship’s Herald HL Eglantyne Merryweather Pilot HL William Richard Drake Pilot’s Mate Isolde van Lyt Quartermaster Alasdair Conner Drake, Isolde van Lyt Quartermaster’s Mate Vacant Cartographer Vacant Master Gunner Frances Flood Master Gunner’s Mate Lord Rune in Trygvy Half Gunners Alasdair Conner Drake Quarter Gunners Aine Ballach Quartergunner’s Mates/Gun Captains Vacant Gun Crew Vacant Yeoman of the Powder Room Vacant Powder Monkeys Lia, Riona, Mary Kate Purser HL Kolfinna Knarrarbringa Purser’s Mates Vacant Metalsmith Lord Edmund Radcliffe Metalsmith’s Mate Vacant Clerk/Historian Vacant Clerk’s Mate Helena, Lady Maridah du Gevaudan Surgeon Elizabeth Kincayde Surgeon’s Mates HL Serena Zane Ship’s Corpsman Vacant Corpsman’s Mate Orn Hakason Galley Cook Lady Maridah du Gevaudan, HL Esme de Blacwatyr Galley Cook’s Mates Vacant Ship’s Brewer Lord Rune in Trygvy, Robert Flood Steward Vacant Steward’s Mates Vacant Sailmaster Vacant Sailmaster’s Mates Sorcha McLaughlin Strategist Lord Rune in Trygvy