Windjammer Friendships

Good morning everyone. Another week has flown by and we are headed back to Camden this morning. The folks aboard have shared many laughs with each other this week. Thursday and Friday proved to be delightful weather days. The wind really blew Wednesday night into Thursday morning. We tucked a reef in the main for the first time this summer and ran out the river at a good clip. But as happens with weak high pressure and the low moving off to the east so quickly the wind eased up during the day and we shook the reef out before days end. The winds were light all day yesterday but the wind came onshore with the turn of the tide.

The interesting observation was made yesterday that in this day and age a windjammer vacation is quite unique. Truth be told, this vacation is not for folks who want to remain anonymous. On the large cruise ships one can literally disappear in a crowd of thousands but not so on a windjammer cruise. Part of the magic here is that we get to know each other with all our beauty and foibles and humor. When this schooner was launched she boasted 6 three person cabins. It was a day and age when folks didn't mind sharing space. We still have a couple of those cabins and folks still share but not to the same extent they used to. Personal space and boundaries are different today than they were 45 years ago. (Does it strike any one else as ironic that the website My Space is actually a big community forum where we can share ourselves and is not really my space at all?) But one thing hasn't changed. People still like to laugh. They still enjoy the friendships they find here. And as the schooner week goes by the boundaries break down and a sense of friendship builds. It is OK to come up on deck in your pajamas in the morning, complete with bed head, and try your luck at the head. We quickly realize that we are all quite human and to share that is a real gift. It makes me think back to the day our friend the Major passed away, surrounded by compassionate friends holding his hand, talking quietly, witnessing and sharing his humanity. Why live anonymously if you don't want to die anonymously? Aboard a windjammer we find humor and compassion and beauty everyday. And that is very cool to share.

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...

Black Dots Make Me Smile

Good morning everyone. Happy Ground Hogs Day to all. If today’s forecast comes true folklore tells us we will see an early spring here in our neighborhood. What does the groundhog say about your weather forecast? We start a new month, albeit a short one but a month in which we gain an emotionally crucial 1 hour and 13 minutes of light. By months end the sunrise will be at 0620, a full 37 minutes ahead of this morning. Jen and I were shocked how light it was so early yesterday even though it was overcast. So while the weather is one thing we spend much time talking about the light is what really makes the psychic difference here. One of the things you will find me talking about in blogs, especially in summer, is seals. We have more lousy, unfocused pictures of little black dots on the ledges and every one of them makes me smile. Each picture reminds us how delighted we are to see seals. Harbor seals (phoca vitulina) are the most common seal here in Maine and their numbers have gr...

Sailing Vacations
A Maine Windjammer

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