What does the 2nd mate do? | Home | The First Step... Making Pirate Fishing History

The fact that you were cute when you were a child doesn't stop me from being jealous for the nice time you'll have at sea.
Safe, and fun, sailing, and write more posts for us!

I've just gone all soppy, even though that is now the third time I've heard the story - but never has there been pictures! And I love your shoes even when you were three! Good sailing to you and Fluffy red dog...

Great story Sara - So what exactly fluffy red dog made of?

I guess I knew I would have to give myself up to the world of Fluffy Red Dog once the story was out - so here goes.....FRD is a finger puppet...I once got a marble stuck where the finger puppetting should go on..in fact that might have been when his eye fell out!!!!
He has a leather face - as will I after two months of sea air! and a leather tummy, wrapped around a very short toilet roll kind of thing....his hair used to be bright red (as did mine a few weeks ago) but now he's greying (obviously I am not!) and it appears to be made of a rather soft downy fur (I hate to confess, but now you have made me look closely - I think it is rabbit fur!!!). Most people think he is revolting, but I am glad he has a couple of fans now!

Cool! Is he like a tracking hound, helping you sniff out where all those damn pirates are? Go FRD!

Perhaps when you nab some of those sea faring looters, you can see if one of them has a spare eye patch for him ;)

Goog luck with this phase of the expedition and a wee pat for FRD :)

I think it is very romantic that fluffy red dog is at sea again on the same coastline as when he was given to you. But i was wondering, how old was your true love (the second mate) when you were on the Aldersgate and i do you have any idea what he is doing now? I wonder if he remembers you? And what was the fluffy red dogs story before he was given to you...so many questions!

Oh, how sweet! Love the old photos, but would also like to see what that little give grew up into!!! How about a photo of you and FRD (Fred) on the Espy?

Is it possible to get an entry on the weblog written by the FRD? I'm sure he can tell us something very interesting, he can see a lot with a glass eye...

Fluffy Oggy looks able to recruit a million Ocean Defenders all by himself. Go get 'em!

I'll be glued to the blog: all the excitement, all the action, all the ability to tell the responsible companies and politicians exactly what they can do to save our oceans; and none of the sea-sickness! Big hugs to you and all on the Esperanza, good luck!

Wow! So many questions indeed! OK, so more FRD background is clearly needed.
I am hoping he is a pretty good pirate fishing hound so that we can start sniffing them out pretty soon!
I have no idea of the name of the second mate, nor where he came from - I was young (err... 3 years old) and in love, what use were names to me!
My father told me many years later that the 2nd mate was about 17 at the time, which would make him 54 now. As for FRD's life before Sara ... I guess you'll have to find another sniffer dog to find the second mate and ask him!
Standby in the next couple of days for FRD to make his first Ocean Defenders TV appearance!

Hiya Sara,

Finding an old flame can be very exciting, although my good friend Edna always tells me "old flames are like dead matches"
Have a go at this website: http://www.mowbars.plus.com/A19.html

There the names of two Deckies that sailed on the Aldersgate in 1967, They might remember the name of your pall.

Love,
Eric

Thanks for the tip - FRD is going to drop them a line!
I just realised I got my dates wrong. It was August 1969, not 1968, that I was on the Aldersgate, wouldn't do to track down the wrong mate, would I!!!!!

Hiya Sara,

Don't worry, I'm confident that if he's still around we'll find him before the end of the trip.
I'm now working in close cooperation with Edna on this project. Databases are being searched, contacts in the industrie aproached and satelite tracking systems are on standby.
Good luck with the campaign out there!
Love
Eric
p.s. here you can find a nice picture of the Aldersgate in her glory days

Sara
Do you know I've known you for over 20 years and I had never heard the story of FRD. But then again I had never seen those fab piccies of you looking so cute and colourful(!) either...SO here's my question - if yu've still got FRD, have you still got those sweet little shoes? You could tap dance a tune to your saxaphone and save the Esperanza from even the wickedest pirates... PArp Parp
Miss you
Mitra