Windjammer Challenge

Good Morning Everyone. 0 degrees in the door yard. Sunrise was at 0648 and cast a warm pinkish glow across the eastern sky. The last quarter moon is today. I can see it just to the south of us at this moment. Owning and operating a windjammer has some real challenges. This blog could be controversial for some folks. I do not mean it to be that way. I said from the outset that I was going to give folks a look behind the scenes, to share our imperfect lives. For those of you I upset I welcome your phone calls (800-992-2218).
For several years I had the honor of sailing with Skip. Skip had some “disabilities”. He was blind. His cane held up a body that was not the once youthful and active vehicle with which he pursued his vigorous life passions. He was a sailor before this writer was even a pup racing around the waters of Buzzards Bay on the Cape. If I recall correctly, he had a beautiful wooden Wianno Senior. Skip always brought his family along on the schooner to give him a hand with life’s various unavoidable necessities. In his humanness Skip became a hero for me. He became larger than life in my mind for the joy, humor, and determination he shared with the world. Getting around the boat was not easy. But he did it and never complained about what he could or couldn’t do. I could accommodate Skip’s “special needs” not because he wanted special treatment but because his mind was flexible, ready to accept life’s limitations.
On January 23, 2007 the Federal Register published Docket OST 2007 26829, a notice of proposed rule making (NPRM) concerning transportation for individuals with disabilities aboard passenger vessels including small “mom and pop” windjammers. This NPRM is about policies regarding discrimination as opposed to physical accessibility standards. This docket proposes language under which we would need to operate our business and lumps us in with a wide range of passenger vessels. I think the windjammers are different in some respects than many other vessels. So as I read through this docket I have fears and concerns for our future. Will I have any right as a vessel operator to say that I can’t meet everyone’s needs based on any number of criteria while accommodating as many people as possible without putting my guests and my business at risk? What Skip taught me was that his disabilities were just those; they were his disabilities. He did not ask for anything more than a little help and we worked with Skip to make his sailing life as full as possible. While we have never wanted to say no to anyone, our schooner cannot be all things to all people. Skip saw that life has its limits and made his own access where he could. He dreamed within his limits and was an inspiring human being for doing so. I miss Skip and I look forward to meeting more courageous people like him with each and every passing summer.

PS I don’t know who took this picture of me reflecting on the sunset over Blue Hill Bay. For those of you I have offended you are welcome to print this out and use it for a target.

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

Hail Mary

My heart is heavy with sadness as I write this particular blog. Since the beginning of August our dear friend and cook for the last 12 years, Mary Barney, had been struggling with cancer. I have intentionally respected Mary’s privacy and I apologize to you for not sharing any news about Mary’s health sooner. On Monday afternoon Mary passed away very peacefully at home, surrounded by friends and “family”. Her departure was as graceful as the rest of her life. Many people, including Jen, have been doing heroic work to support Mary these last few weeks. Oddly enough Mary was never very excited about transitions though this was about the fastest transition she ever made. And as I struggle to let go of Mary I realize I am terrible with transitions as well. We used to joke about how we liked things just the way they are, thank you very much, so why change what is working already even if it might be less labor intensive. Hard works is its own reward. I used to joke about getting Mary a Cui

Swimming Anyone?

Good morning everyone. Winter is still here in New England though it seems to be taking a rest these days. We have enjoyed a little bit of a thaw. We still have snow covering our field but it is thinning out in the sunny patches. Mary Day rests comfortably in the harbor, bilges dry, cover intact, waiting for the crew to return. Another busy week has passed so I will get you up to speed on everything that is happening here at the global headquarters. Jen is putting the finishing touches on year end taxes. Blockfest 2008 is finally finished. The blocks have received quite the massaging. And while we have the off-white paint out we are starting in on the lifeline stanchions, the davits, and a few other miscellaneous parts. Alex asked me last night how we were doing with our pace. We are doing great but in the back of my mind I know that there is never enough time to do it all. Having perfectionist tendencies is a curse. I want to do it all and know we will never have enough time. There se

Fall Maintenance

Good morning everyone. The sun has been kind to us these past few days and the crew has been spending much time aloft prepping and painting the mast heads and tarring the rig as part of our annual fall maintenance schedule. They were a little silly on tar fumes by the end of the day hence the rat board dance moves. Am I the only one who is reminded of Willy Wonka's little friends at the sight of the crew in their tyvek suits? Schoona-loompas? The smell of tar, after all, is what we sailors live for. Extracted from the stumps and roots of pine trees through dry distillation pine tar will cure what ails you especially some skin conditions and any emotional maladies from being too long away from the sea. All we know for sure is that Mary Day’s rigging is kept hail and hearty by coats of tar mixed with boiled linseed oil. Notice that I specified boiled linseed oil and not raw linseed oil. Tar mix with raw linseed oil will not “kick”. Don’t ask me how I know this… just take my wo

Sailing Vacations
A Maine Windjammer

Search This Blog