Allan Libby writes:
"I frequently felt I was the 14th crew member, though
doubtless many would disagree. Charlie Morgan put it nicely. “We were
all in this together. Some of us just got cold and wet.”
The crew did the heavy lifting but the support staff, and there were
more than a few, greased the sails. I was involved with the Godspeed
from the keel laying in May 1982 through to the welcome home ceremony
in December 1985. As we approach the 25th anniversary of this
impressive achievement, here are a few observations, all of which are
personal, a few of which may have never seen the light of day.
May 1982. Virginia First Lady Lynda Robb laid the keel, driving a drift
pin with a wooden mallet. She wore red. Very red. LBJ’s daughter knew
well how to play to a camera. “God bless the Godspeed. God save the
Commonwealth.”
The keel lay there for weeks, boat builder Carl Pedersen sitting around
waiting for something to do. Superintendent Les Sweeney couldn’t get
materials delivered. Off to a slow start. As construction began, and
then continued, Sweeney and I began to discuss the idea of an overseas
voyage. Presumably, others did likewise.
Sometime, probably mid 1983, I was asked to assemble a proposal for a
voyage. Proposal was about 30 pages. In the end I was off the mark as
much as on. East Anglia had not yet entered the picture, but I did
suggest St. Katherine’s as a place to moor in London, so was correct on
that score, along with a few others.
"This is
Black Angus Radio calling."
I was well outside the politics, but remember the day as it were
yesterday. Ross Weeks was over at Yorktown for a meeting. Before the
meeting, he stopped by to tell me the voyage was simply not doable, for
a number of reasons. Let it go. It’s dead. Period.
I continued on the outside, mainly PR’ing construction of Discovery
and
Godspeed. The voyage began to gain some traction, support meetings were
held with the Coast Guard, Virginia Pilots, state officials and a
number of others.
No idea if or when there was ever an official announcement, but a
decision was made to move forward. Debbie Sowers was taken on as Voyage
Coordinator and later, Joan Betzner was named to handle the media. Ross
and Joan went to the UK to scope and meet with UK officials. Support
grew quickly, and fundraising began. Discussion of how to hire a crew
also began.
Christening took place in 1984. Lucinda Robb, Governor Chuck Robb’s
oldest daughter christened Godspeed with a mixture of Virginia wine and
what Mosesson’s wife referred to as ‘shitty Orwell water.’ I was on the
platform, albeit incognito in costume. Foundation wanted somebody on
the platform that knew the program.
Following christening, the ship eventually went to NNSDC for
outfitting. Boat was out of our hands and we were at the shipyard’s
mercy. Regrettably, it took longer than we’d hoped to get her back. We
lost months and thus, no sea trials that summer. Crew had been
selected, committee selected George Salley as captain and George
selected crew. First visit by Howard Hull, UK Coordinator, and Chris
Swann, North Sea diver. I suggested to Howard that we consider sea
trials in the North Sea, following arrival in the U.K. Howard strongly
cautioned, “The North Sea in winter is not where you want to do trials
with an untested boat and crew.”
Outfitting was finally complete and first time under sail was under
shipyard’s direction. Lou Lazo was in charge. Cloudy, gray day.
Godspeed was towed through Hampton Roads, then into the lower
Chesapeake Bay, west of the Bridge-Tunnel, where she sailed through the
day.
Godspeed then moved to Yorktown for commissioning and thence to
Gloucester Point for final outfitting. Randall Bevan, Recreation and
Amenities Director for Ipswich was the British rep on hand for
commissioning. Trials took place in the lower York River in early
November, where I lucked into one of the definitive Godspeed photos.
Later trials took place in the lower bay. Thence to Norfolk
International Terminal for dispatch to UK.
Early
March 1985, having been disassembled (Norm Cubberly left a note,
“Comes with easy-to-follow instructions,” and a note from crew,
“Be Gentle, Love Godspeed”) Godspeed was loaded onto the
Stuttgart Express for the trip to Felixstowe. We mingled with the
German crew in their lounge while waiting for the vessel to leave,
and they departed Norfolk around 2 a.m.
A
week later crewmen Jack Greer, Neil Tanner, JYF staff Jim Harward and
I left BWI for the UK.
Neil in his pea coat, guitar, canvas duffle, and no return ticket was given a bit of a hassle by immigration at Heathrow. Jack suggested, “Let’s make him sweat a bit.” We got to Liverpool St. Station early afternoon and were hungry. I rang up Ipswich Coordinator Mike Lloyd and told him what train we’d be on, and could he please arrange to have something for us to eat upon arrival. While I was on the phone, Jack found a little French bakery and ordered up some ham and cheese on croissants, so we stuffed ourselves all the way to Ipswich. Upon arrival at Ipswich, Mike delivered us to Willis Faber’s client house at 63 Meadowvale Close, and dropped off some sandwiches which his wife, Liz, had been feverishly putting together since my earlier phone call. Not wishing to offend, we ate again.
Stuttgart Express was delayed a day from France owing to rough Channel weather (a harbinger of things to come,) and arrived mid-afternoon. We were there to meet her, as was Anglia TV, which had filmed in Virginia earlier that winter, and a gathering of British press and TV. Harward had a can of paint, to do some touch up on the hull before she was put in the water. Upon brief inspection, he discovered the locks to the cabin doors had been broken and the ship’s cabins rifled through by somebody, somewhere in route – presumably France. Everything was askew, we were never able to determine precisely what was missing and it remained askew until departure.
Jack
Greer (L) and Allan Libby (BA)
Felixstowe
Dock & Railway Co. Best part of my ‘Godspeed year.’ The
dock fellows were great, breakfast at the Dock Basin Canteen was 35p,
dinner for 95p. Sitting in a dockside pub one evening, Jack was
slipped a note one evening by a would be terrorist, and we reported
it to the port constable the following morning. About a week after
arrival I had night watch, and was a bit apprehensive, but Howard
suggested I’d score points with rigger Nick Corke, Jack, Neil and
Pete Meekins, who had since arrived, if I pulled my shifts. Great
night. First officer of one of the Townsend Thoreson ro-ro’s
invited me up for a tour and dinner, then actually invited me to sail
with them to Rotterdam that evening, returning the following evening.
Toughest decision of the year – do I go to Holland with the
officers. Figured I’d best stay ‘at home.’ The chaplain
tended bar, offering generous portions of Irish whiskey, ship’s
crew served up roast beef with Yorkshire pud, garden peas and sent me
on me way. I fired up the paraffin burner, climbed into Jack’s
bunk and slept until Jack, Neil, Pete and Mike came to wake me at
9:30 the next morning. Best night’s sleep since I left Virginia.
Work began and continued at Felixstowe in re-assembling the ship. Ship was re-fitted, and two sets of trials followed in the Orwell. Getting onboard was the hottest ticket in East Anglia, with scores wishing to sail. We got to repay some valuable favors.
Ernest Skinner, representing the Virginia Dept. of Education, was documenting the voyage on film, and was on hand for the first trial. Ed, his still photographer and audio man was with him. They returned stateside the following day and put Ed’s photos out on the wire. The Daily Press ran it as a section front, above the fold. Crisis. We’d not yet been able to find the U.S., Virginia and Foundation flags, and I got a blistering phone call from the states, where
This
site is still on the ways. If
you were part of the crew, email to:
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