HMS Surprise

 Under the direction of Australian master rigger, Igor Bjorksten, I stropped dozens of blocks for both HMS Surprise (ex-Rose) and the tank replica for Master and Commander. This was my first experience on a film set. Igor showed me how to use a Spanish windlass and explained the real reasons for tapering splices and serving block strops. I felt fortunate to learn from someone who had learned rigging from an old man who had gone to sea at 14 who had learned from an old man who learned from an old man who had gone to sea at 14….