Why HMS Lydia?

Paul from GeekPress asked me "Why HMS Lydia?"

I thought I'd recycle my posts about this and put them below. This more or less started as my captains blog for sailing, but it evloved. Kind of like the old quote: I used to be Snow White, but I drifted. Anyhow, now that summer is here, I'll probably start with a little more of the sailing bit.

So below are the posts:

Why HMS Lydia?
I don't have a good reason for naming the blog after one of Horatio Hornblower's first ships as captain. I just did. If you've never read Hornblower, you're in for a treat. Start with Mr. Midshipman Hornblower and follow his career from beginning to end.

and

More on HMS Lydia
Again, this was Hornblower's ship in "Beat to Quarters".

In this ship, Hornblower captured La Natividad, which was under Spanish domination. He surprised them and took the much larger ship without ever receiving a shot.

Unfortunately, he was required by orders to turn La Natividad over to a madman, with whom the British had allied themselves against Spain. Days later, Hornblower comes to find out that Spain and England are now allies.

Hornblower takes it upon himself, as his duty, to re-take La Natividad before she can sink a valuable Spanish cargo vessel.

The Lydia takes on the much larger Natividad in a fight to the death. At the end of the battle, Hornblower tows the Lydia across the becalmed sea into action. As the Lydia is towed, he has the men who dance the best jig compete for the top prize. Hornblower does this to keep the men's spirits high as they move slowly into action, but it cements his reputation as a man of iron nerves.