English: Many devices… The gravestone of Evan Phillips, Master Mariner, of Cardigan, who died in 1860. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Visual Description: “We come on the sloop John B . . . “
MTUSR = STRUM, TOENF = OFTEN, FIDREF = DIFFER, RAMACE = CAMERA — Giving us: STRTEDIAME
Clue/Question: He became so good at putting up the sails that he did this.
Answer: MASTERED IT
(I think this would have made a super Unclerave’s Wiseguy of the Day Contest, but I took too much time with the Cryptoquote Spoiler to allow for all that goes along with the contest. So, you guys dodged another bullet, I guess. Don’t worry, though. I’ll be sticking it to you guys, soon enough. Just you wait!
English: Russell Crowe lights up at Cannes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Some really good clue words, all nicely jumbled. I struggled a little with “often”, even though it’s a Jumble staple. It didn’t take me too long to come up with “camera”, but as it turns out, it is new to the Jumble, and ralis95 will need to update his clue word database, once again! The answer letter layout was beautifully cryptic. I don’t think many got the answer from it! The cartoon itself, probably helped most of you guys to get the answer. The Master Mariner is standing at the mast! But, the answer is just a little on the obscure side, which suits me just fine! Master is a very specific designation of professionalism in England. Some of you may be fans of the movie, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, with Russell Crowe. I thought it was a really super movie, and was hoping for a sequel. But, so far, No! Maybe if they had made it in the 1940’s, or ’50s, instead of the 2000’s, there would have been more, but people today seem to prefer fantasy and comedy, over historical fare. Oh, well! A great toast in the movie goes: “To wives and sweethearts! May they never meet.” Alright. I’ve already blathered on for far too long. Be well and do good, friends.) — YUR
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Unclerave's Wordy Weblog 
Enjoyed your comments today. I had trouble with the same words except the answer really avoided me. I gave up and waited for your comments.
Glad to have been of service to you, OG!
— YUR
I think you missed the really bad pun they were making: He “mast”-ered it–that is, he hoisted it up the mast. Although I’m a fan of the Patrick O’Brien series and have read most of those books, I don’t think “Master and Commander” was the actual inspiration for the answer.
Unc- Have to admit i breezed through todays Jumble. My favorite aquatic movie is of course JAWS. I remember sitting in line at the Rocky Point drive in movie, my parents and my 5 siblings in the ford country squire station wagon in August…. Of course no air conditioning… Ha wouldn’t even go in our backyard pool for the rest of the summer…. Enjoy Wimpy
David Baird,
I didn’t miss it, brother. That’s why I said “The Master Mariner is standing at the mast!” If you have the earliest version, pre-update, you may not have seen that “mast” is also in italics. But, it’s there. But, just as you laid it out, if they were JUST going for the simple pun they would have used those quotation marks. I was just giving the guys credit for a dual pun. Don’t you think our guys are smart enough to pick up on more than one aspect of a pun??? LOL! (These guys oughta pay me for makin’ ’em look so smart!)
— YUR
Wimpy,
Of course a Lon-Gislander breezed through it. You guys are all Master Mariners! Right? JAWS is great, but there are loads of great aquatic movies, bro. The vastness of the ocean makes for a great background/setting/venue. Put the most arrogant SOB in the world on a life raft in the middle of the ocean, and you’ll see how quickly he is humbled.
— YUR
Since I did not get any of the words at very first glance, I tried putting the letters in a circle–bingo–hit all but camera in an instant. Camera took me a minute—well, actually, a bit. And, know nothing about sails, sailing, etc., the answer took a bit too. But, I got it!! Although, I did think I’d be coming here looking for the answer!
Unc- Would you believe I had to google Lon-gislander before I got It. Time for bed Thanks for the Laugh and stay off that Expressway…. LOL Wimpy