Ever since I was a little kid, I have always dreamt of sailing the seas in a tall ship. Pirate movies, Hornblower, were all products I used to stimulate my imagination and dream of the vast empty spaces of the ocean. It was a romantic image of freedom to me. As an adult, and a historian, I have learned the truth of the hardships of life on the tall ships; the filthy conditions, the violent discipline, all contributing factors that made the sailors life on board hell. Oh yeah, and the sheer terror of the battle! Today, HMS Victory sits in dry dock at Portsmouth Harbor. It is the oldest commisioned ship in the Royal Navy, but it is mostly a tourist destination and used for ceremonies. The vessel is the most famous sailing ship of
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