Happy Birthday Mary

Good morning everyone. Blockfest 2008 continues on this week in the barn. Alex and Elisa have been sanding and overhauling the last batch. We are taking extra care with the footblocks (the one attached to the deck through which the halyards fairlead so that everyone can pull in a line along the deck). Those foot blocks have only been thoroughly overhauled a few times over my 16 year tenure. We give them the annual greasing and paint but this process on the bench in the barn gives us a chance to use the fine toothed comb. So far all of the blocks look great. (No mice in the rigging this year!)

On the birthday front we are celebrating 2 very special birthdays this week. Mary Day was launched on the 21st of January 1962 just 2 days under six months after her keel was laid.

Our lovely and gracious executive chef de la cuisine was launched on the 23rd of January 19?? We aren't telling you the year but, for the curious, you can find out without asking only you have to come sailing. Do you need any other excuse to go for a sail on the coast of Maine? Both Mary's are an inspiration to us. How do they keep going year after year? Both Mary's are loved by many. We could make comparisons between their grace and beauty and they both come out tops in our book. Happy Birthday to both Marys! Thanks for the many years of joy you both have brought us all and long may you both sail the Maine coast.

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...

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A Golden Windjammer Anniversary

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...

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