On the Bay for Memorial Day

Good morning everyone. We are anchored this morning in Cradle Cove and a cradle it has been all night. We are of course on our first trip of the year, a shakedown cruise if you will. I for one am delighted to be off the dock and out on the bay. The crew is ecstatic to see their hard work in action. We have received more than a few comments on how lovely the boat looks.

We departed Saturday morning after breakfast. Mary’s cream cheese coffee cake along with eggs and sausage and a fresh fruit salad made it easy to raise the sails. We did not have much wind on Saturday but finally an afternoon breeze picked up and away we went at a leisurely 8 knots, Mary Day hardly tugging at her sheets. We enjoyed a lobster picnic on the beach.

A sunset sail brought us to anchor in Buck’s Harbor. Rain fell Saturday night and a few sprinkles came early Sunday but in true Maine fashion the sun came out in the afternoon and we enjoy a good beat up the bay at 9+ knots. Seal pups are everywhere and even porpoise are in the bay.

White winged scoter, guillemots, osprey, and eider ducks are all in residence.

We even enjoyed an impromptu wedding for Josh and Karen. It wasn’t hard to find a brides maid and best man for these wonderful people. The wedding outfits reflect the festive nature of the ceremony.

Congratulations to the very happy couple (although this ceremony is only good for the duration of the voyage so don’t worry Mom and Dad. You will get your chance!).

With high pressure building in the stars last night were brilliant. Mary broke out her accordion and we played tunes in the main cabin by the warmth of the fireplace. What a way to start the summer.

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

Comments

Michele B said…

Wow! What a lovely first sail of the season! A wedding, good sailing, and, as always, Mary's great food! Sigh! I have to wait until September for my sail. Maybe I'll have to consider going on that first sail one of these years. :)
Mary Day, you look more beautiful than ever. All that loving, tender care paid off. Hugs to all.

May 27, 2009 at 10:06 AM

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