Hi Doug, I don't really understand what trick you're referring to.
Go ahead and reveal it; I'll take the risk that everyone knows about it.
In fact, if this truly decisive trick exists, it's best for everyone to know about it. It seems fairer and more appropriate to share it with others.
But I wonder, if this mysterious stratagem exists, is it possible that I figured it out long before someone as witty, knowledgeable, and astute as Doug?
Impossible!

You know I can't reply to your question Alessandro😉
If I did everyone would be doing it.
Now I know the trick I will dip out of 'name the ship' questions.
Ciao, Doug😎

Hi Shipmates

For those that are interested here are the answers:-

1. The mini Tall Ship is Marjorie -

MARJORIE was built in 1913 by David Monroe & Sons on the Clyde, as a ketch-rigged motor yacht, but was converted to a brig in 1938. Her hull is carvel built of pitch pine on oak frames, fastened with copper nails. She has a pointed bow with a plum straight stem and a cruiser stern. The current engine is an inboard four-stroke diesel with four cylinders. MARJORIE served in the First World War as a River Thames Pilot Boat, with her original Gardner paraffin engine and ketch steadying rig. Although MARJORIE’s own movements during the First World War appear to have been limited to the Thames, one of her subsequent owners had a very distinguished war, being awarded the Victoria Cross.

In 1938 MARJORIE was purchased by Vice-Admiral Richard Bell-Davies VC, CB, DSO, AFC, Croix de Guerre avec Palm and Legion d’Honneur, RN. He had served in The Royal Naval Air Service during the war. In 1915 Richard Bell-Davies was a 29-year old Squadron Commander in 3 Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service.

On the 19th November 1915 he, along with Flight Sub-Lieutenant Gilbert Formby Smylie in a second plane, carried out an air attack on Ferrijik Railway Junction in Bulgaria. Flight Sub-Lieutenant Smylie's machine was received by very heavy fire and was brought down. The pilot planed down over the station, releasing all his bombs except one, which failed to drop, simultaneously at the station from a very low altitude.

He then continued his descent into the marsh. On alighting he saw the one unexploded bomb and set fire to his machine, knowing that the bomb would ensure its destruction. He then proceeded towards Turkish territory. At this moment he perceived Squadron-Commander Davies descending, and fearing that he would come down near the burning machine and thus risk destruction from the bomb, Flight Sub-Lieutenant Smylie ran back, and from a short distance exploded the bomb by means of a pistol bullet.

Squadron Commander Bell-Davies descended at a safe distance from the burning machine, landing his Sopwith Pup as near as possible to the stranded pilot. He held off a party of approaching Bulgarian troops with his revolver. Once Sub-Lieutenant Smylie had climbed into the cockpit with him, Bell-Davies took off and returned to the aerodrome.

It was a feat of airmanship that has seldom been equaled for skill and gallantry. On returning to base, the ground crew counted over 100 bullet holes in the plane. Bell-Davies was awarded the Victoria Cross and Smylie the Distinguished Service Cross in January 1916.

After buying MARJORIE in 1938 Bell-Davies re-rigged her and sailed her until 1939. She was laid up in Weymouth during the Second World War after being rammed and sunk. She was refitted in 1946, but a fire onboard three years later made a second re-fit and a new engine necessary. In 1966, she was inherited by his son, Vice Admiral Sir Lancelot Bell-Davies KBE and, between 1975 and 1981, she was taken to Belgium and Italy. In 2007 due to damage and general wear, MARJORIE was transported to Sharpness Shipyard and Dry Dock in Gloucestershire where she had an extensive refit lasting two years. She now sails the Bristol Channel and around the West Country. Ownership remains within the family, with Lady Bell-Davies, her son and two daughters.

MARJORIE was refitted in 1946, but a fire onboard three years later made a second re-fit and a new engine necessary. In 1966, she was inherited by his son Vice Admiral Sir Lancelot Bell Davies KBE and, between 1975 and 1981, she was taken to Belgium and Italy.

In 2007 due to damage and general wear, MARJORIE was transported to Sharpness Shipyard & Drydock in Gloucestershire where she had an extensive refit lasting two years. She is now sails the Bristol Channel and West Country. Ownership remains within the Family with Lady Bell Davies, her Son and two Daughters.

The second was indeed Belem:-

Belem escaped the eruption of Mount Pelée in Saint-Pierre, Martinique, on 8 May 1902. On arriving at Saint Pierre ahead of the eruption, Captain Julien Chauvelon found that roadsteads were full of vessels. With no place to anchor the ship Chauvelon angrily decided to anchor some miles further away off a beach, which provided shelter when the volcano erupted.

She was sold in 1914 to Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster, who converted her to his private luxurious pleasure yacht, complete with two auxiliary Bolinder Diesel engines of 300 HP each.

In 1922 she became the property of Sir Ernest Guinness, of the Guinness family, who renamed her the Fantôme II and revised the rig from a square rigger. Guinness was Rear Commodore of the Royal St. George Yacht Club, in Kingstown, Ireland, from 1921 to 1939. He was Vice Commodore from 1940 to 1948. He took the Fântome II on a cruise in 1923 with his daughters Aileen, Maureen, and Oonagh.[3] They sailed around the world via the Panama and Suez Canals including a visit to Spitsbergen. During her approach to Yokohama harbour while sailing the Pacific Ocean the barque managed to escape another catastrophe - an earthquake which destroyed the harbour and parts of Yokohama city. Guinness died in 1949. The Fântome II was moored in the roads of Cowes, Isle of Wight.

In 1951 she was sold to the industrialist Vittorio Cini, who named her the Giorgio Cini after his son, who had died in a plane crash near Cannes on 31 August 1949 . She was rigged to a barkentine and used as a sail training ship until 1965, when she was considered too old for further use and was moored at the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice.

In 1972 the Italian carabinieri attempted to restore her to the original barque rig. When this proved too expensive, she became the property of the shipyard. In 1976 the ship was re-rigged to a barque.

Finally, in January 1979, she came back to her home port as the Belem under tow by a French seagoing tug, flying the French flag after 65 years. Fully restored to her original condition, she began a new career as a sail training ship.

On 8 and 9 May 2024, she carried the Olympic flame for the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics torch relay by sailing from Athens, Greece to Marseille.

Well done to those that took part


Cheers



Pat

How do I do it, Doug?
I'm really curious to hear how I do it.

Anymore takers - I will post the answers about 1800 UK time

So what is the name of the mini tall ship ?

Mini Tall Ship and Belem.
Now that I've twigged how Alessandro does it it's easy peasy Pat😁

😎

Good Afternoon Shipmates

Hope you are all rested after the weekend and are ready for the weekday slog, so I though a nice easy question for you to start.

Name the ships