Skip to main content

More Maine Windjammer Magic

Image
By


Good morning everyone. Our dear friend the Major called this place the Foggy Kingdom. Yesterday proved him right, again. But at least we had some wind. We enjoyed some clearing in the afternoon and a walk ashore here in Mackerel Cove at Swan's Island. This morning we have clear blue skies and no fog in Blue Hill Bay though there looks to be a little hanging on offshore.
Yesterday I was hoping the helm watch would have another day of steering by line of sight but given the fog we were forced to steer by compass. The navigators were thrown headlong into dead reckoning and the bow watch sounded the foghorn at 2 minute intervals. The marlinspike station had the crew learning the ropes, ticking them off as they walked about the vessel.Gybing several times as we sailed down wind was our tacking drill for the day.

>A few bald eagles graced us with their hunting displays to the dismay of the gull colonies on Southern Mark Island. But the real thrill of the day was being overtaken by a seal pup. Late in the afternoon I heard a flapping sound under the transom. I figured we had hooked a lobster trap somehow and was pondering how to avoid the small yachts on the radar in front of us and shed this gear dragging behind us. Honestly it sounded like a cormorant beating it wings on the water…flap, flap flap…flap, flap, flap. I dreaded what I would see but peered over the transom just the same and there was a seal pup. Back to the wheel in a hurry to avoid gybing and the oncoming yachts I got the blow by blow from the guests gathered at the transom who said the pup was swimming alongside the rudder and under the yawl boat towing astern. And then it was gone without a trace or any explanation. How cool (and magical) is that?
Have a great day. Be well. Do Good.


Photos by Tom Haraden.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hail Mary

By
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...
28 comments
Read more

A Golden Windjammer Anniversary

By
Happy Birthday Mary Day! 50 years ago today Mary Day slid out of the shed at the Harvey F. Gamage Shipyard in South Bristol, Maine marking the beginning of a whole new chapter in the history of the windjammer fleet. The Gamage yard had not launched a schooner since 1933 and Mary Day was the first commercial coasting schooner launched since 1938. That also makes her the first commercial coasting schooner launched in the second half of the 20th century and the first schooner ever launched for the windjammer passenger trade. There may be a few more firsts in there but that doesn't really matter. What is most important about this celebration is the fact that Mary Day was launched today and began her career touching the lives of thousands of people. This schooner was built by people, for people and has never done anything else but bring joy to peoples lives. She has become a legendary windjammer here along the Maine coast as part of the largest fleet of commercial coasting schooners...
1 comment
Read more