Sailing Vacations
A Maine Windjammer

Great Schooner Race 2008

2008-07-02T04:16:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone. A look at the schedule will tell you that this is Race Week in the Windjammer fleet. The Great Schooner Race is unlike most races in the yachting world. No set course… the course is made up the day of the race depending on the weather. The classes are divided up by age and relative speed and size. The handicap system tries to even things out but goodness knows it is all just guess work. In the end it boils down to skill, luck, and just plain fun with guests jumping in where they see an opportunity.

Mary Day starts at the back of the pack along with the American Eagle… the only other schooner regularly in our class. The schooner Roseway was up for a visit and sailed in our class as well. The J & E Riggin, Nathaniel Bowditch, Heritage and Angelique sail in what we call the Leeward Class sailing a slightly shorter course and getting a 15 minute head start on us. The pre World War One coasting schooners, Victory Chimes, Grace Bailey, Lewis R French, Mercantile, Stephen Taber, Isaac H. Evans and Timberwind start 15 minutes ahead of them and sail and even shorter course. In the end it usually works out about even depending on how the winds hold. In the case of yesterday’s race the early bird got the worm but the second mouse got the cheese.

On the up wind leg the Leeward class really showed their stuff and were in a cluster by the time they rounded the windward mark. American Eagle luffed us up from our weather advantage shortly after the start forcing us to tack away. Not to worry. I had personally given up any hope of catching the fleet so sailed my merry way to the far side of the bay. It was there that the wind and tide gave us a boost. In most places the breeze seemed to be easing up with the last of the ebb tide but held where we were and gave us enough lift so that we had a clear weather advantage on American Eagle when we crossed tacks. The Leeward class all of a sudden started to loom a little larger but distant none the less. All we needed now was a little luck (OK… a lot of luck!).

I lost track of the Coasters whose course was several miles down wind of ours but evidently they sailed into a hole, a place with no wind whatsoever. The Leeward class rounded the weather mark and promptly sailed in to a hole as well. I was frustrated to have to sail around yet another island just to weather of their turning mark until I realized that the we might hold the wind. And sure enough we did. The extra mileage began to look like an opportunity. We sailed a very fine line of wind while their sails hung limp in the hot afternoon sun. We had just lowered one of the small boats to tow us through a brief calm (yes, under oar power as allowed by the rules) when the onshore breeze came with the turn of the tide. Away we ran on the downwind leg to the finish line. Could we catch the Coasters? No way, no how. But as they say, it ain’t over ‘tyil the big lady with horns on her hat sings the final note.

The Coasters were stuck only a ½ mile from the finish in their own private calm as we whisked our way toward the finish. We managed to close the 3 mile gap in short order before hauling the wind with us. There was a very fine edge of wind close up under the Little Deer Isle shore that carried us past most of the Coasters. The Grace Bailey had clearly crossed the line under sail a good 5 minutes before us but the French and Taber lay close ahead. The perennial winner of the three master class, the Victory Chimes, had also cleared the line and won for an unprecedented 19th year in a row! The French sliced the ribbon just a minute ahead of us and the finish between the Taber and Mary Day was neck and neck. With the weather guage in hand we crossed just moments ahead of the Taber covering her in our lee. So it was not our day to be the fastest in the fleet but first in class and third two-master over the line was a fair prize in my book all things considered. The Leeward class finish was taken by Angelique who narrowly beat out the Heritage. The racing was all in all quite exciting and we loved the final lap down the Eggemmoggin Reach in company with the rest of the fleet to our evening anchorage at Wooden Boat.

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

Leaving the Nest

2008-06-29T03:54:00.001-07:00

Good morning everyone. We just finished another wonderful week. The combination of natural history and photography is just great. I was amazed to see all the photos everyone had taken during the week. To see the coast from such diverse perspectives is inspiring. Sailing with our Audubon naturalists Erika and Ethan and photographer Jim Dugan is such a joy. They ply their craft with skill and passion. Jim will post some of his photos.

This was a fairly amazing week all around. Lots of laughter, some very exciting sailing and lots of it, and beautiful weather despite the doom and gloom forecasts. While all of that was very heartening I was touched by the sight of a fledgling leaving the nest for his first solo flight. After a couple trips together Sawyer sailed off while we were anchored in Pulpit Harbor Friday evening. I was excited for him and remembered my first solo trips and how liberating they were. He got a little spook on one jibe when the rail dipped down. Nature commanded his respect from the start. But now he is now free to roam the oceans and I am certain he will learn just how big and beautiful the world can be.

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

Hardship and Deprivation

2008-06-26T03:25:00.001-07:00

Good morning everyone. Al and I were talking back by the wheel yesterday about the hardship and deprivation associated with a windjammer vacation. I think it takes a very special person to endure the kind of treatment one is subjected to out here. Yesterday morning the captain did not let us get ashore. Instead we had to go sailing under the majestic 600 foot cliffs of Somes Sound, the only fjord on the East coast of the US. The captain is a little bit of a whacko. He enjoyed sailing right up to the edge of the cliffs and marveling at how deep the water remained. I guess that is one good thing about a fjord. We did not know which way to turn our heads for all the natural beauty around us and many had stiff necks from looking up. I wish they would get some new birds up here. All we ever see are bald eagles.

Then the “old man” made us haul the yawl boat and sail out into the open ocean. He had all the sails set once again and the westerly breeze took us quickly offshore to see the Great Duck Light. Even the loom of Mt Desert Rock was seen by the time we tacked back in shore. I don’t know what the hurry was but we were going 9 knots the whole way. I wish they would do something about this sun. I am going to run out of sunblock soon. Poor Al had to hide under his shirt in the rocking chair for any relief. He looked like camel rider from the Sahara and claims to have learned the trick from a dear friend back home who knows about these things. My hair was a mess by the end of a day of sitting out in all that wind. I don’t mean to whine but the Captain is a lazy man. He makes his guests steer the boat.

Last evening was the final straw. The “whacko” at the wheel parked us off this beach out in the middle of nowhere and forced us to sit on the beach and eat lobster. The cook had to walk around and force the last few lobsters upon us. Aren’t there laws about this kind of treatment. No malls, no stores, no nothing. The sunset made the rocky hills of Mt Dessert all golden colored. Of course, Cap had to park that darned schooner in the foreground spoiling the picture. Several folks went swimming and claimed that the water was really warm. You can’t fool me. Finally, the crew rowed us back and we got rid of the last of the cookies. Those things are dangerously addictive. I don’t know if we will ever be the same after a week of this hardship and deprivation. Ed, Al may be a little fragile when he gets back to the office so just humor him with the thousands of pictures he is taking with his new camera.

Have a great day! Be well. Do Good.

Clearing away the Fog

2008-06-25T03:03:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone. Lots to report to you this week. We have had a very busy last few weeks as you might guess combined with a lack of technology to get the blog out to you. Thanks for your patience. Working backwards… we are presently anchored here in Southwest Harbor. Yesterday was just about the best sail of the season. A westerly wind carried us under the bridge and easterly through the Eggemmoggin Reach. The topmast cleared by just a few feet… quite exciting. The onshore breeze carried us across lower Blue Hill Bay and across the Bass Harbor Bar past the lighthouse with full sail set. The cameras were pointed in both directions as the scenery was just amazing. Having any scenery at all is a wonder after Monday’s fog which followed a very foggy last week.
Some of you know we have been the platform for a sailing leadership academy for the fraternity Delta Tau Delta for the past 5 years. I am so pleased to be associated with these fine men and to see a fraternity so committed to bringing out the best in these young adults is very heartening. These guys worked their tails off all week long learning the ins and outs of life in these close quarters. Never did we lack for enthusiasm or for volunteers to get the job done. Each morning broke with yet another shade of fog and drizzle, a run ashore and then a dip in the invigorating waters of the chilly North Atlantic. I challenged them to grab the week by the horns and discover what it had to offer and what they were made of. On Friday they brought the schooner home to Camden with precision and care. They certainly left the schooner better than they found it and touched my heart with hope for these young men. That these men overcame the coldest foggiest week of the season and did it with alacrity is a credit to the strength in their hearts.

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

Not Half Bad

2008-06-14T04:19:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone. We had quite the ride out of Blue Hill Bay
yesterday. With the apparent wind around 35 knots steady we were
thankful for the the deep reef in the main sail. We were just flying
at 10.6 knots with the few sails we had set. In no time at all we
were anchored in the village at Isle Au Haut.

Isle Au Haut is one of my favorites. Sharing that anchorage with
guests feels like real privilege.
We had a couple hours to hike in the park and explore the village.
The church there high above the harbor overlooks the Camden Hills.
Inspiration is not difficult to find in the simple hardwood pews and
stained glass windows. Coyotes have made their presence know there
recently. Last Fall we saw one swim across the Thorofare. The deer
are actually a sub-species of white tail that are genetically smaller
from having evolved to the limited food supply the island affords. I
have camped on Isle Au Haut many nights and cherish my sense of the
place. Of course I feel that way about all of the Maine coast but
some spots just sit a little closer to my heart.

Yesterday we sailed off shore to see the puffins at Seal Island.
They were there but not nearly as numerous as in past years. We
wondered whether scheduling a puffin cruise while the puffins were
nesting was such a good idea. You see... they nest in burrows
underground. You need real specially binoculars to see through the
granite ledge. Still we got our fill of puffins and many terns and
auks. The northerly wind that carried us offshore so effortlessly
came onshore just as we reached the Seal Island and carried us right
back in to the light at Owls Head. Not half bad I say... not half bad!

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

Fitful Sailing

2008-06-12T03:59:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone. We are snuggled up here in a great cove just
off of one of my favorite islands. We had a wonderful picnic here
last evening after, what I can only call, a fitful day of sailing.
The wind was all over the compass rose. At one point in the afternoon
we were becalmed when only a hundred feet away we could see and hear
the rush of the wind on the waves where it was blowing 20 knots. The
schooner must have skidded a boat length sideways when the wind first
hit and off we went at well over 9 knots like a race car that finally
found fuel. And just as quickly we sailed out of it and had to push
with the yawl boat again. So went our day, sail a little, push a
little.

Last nite we ate Mary's blueberry pie, read poetry by Ruth Moore and
tried to find the North star, the cares of the day far astern. Today
we appear to be blessed with lots of sun and a brisk northwest wind
that promises to carry us out of Blue Hill Bay. We shall leave the
mountains of Acadia on the quarter and head off to who knows where.

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

Keepers of the Light

2008-06-11T10:12:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone. Wow what a couple of days we have had.
Monday we left Camden and the heat behind. It was clear up into the
70s here in town and 80s further inland. This captain was more than
happy to leave the humidity on shore. Something peculiar was in the
air for everyone including the wildlife. I don't know if I will ever
see it again but we sighted 18 razor billed auks and a puffin without
leaving the bay. Generally these birds are seen offshore outside of
the bay. Now I have seen one or two razor bills inside the bay but
never this many with such consistency. The winds were light all day
so we sailed right through dinner. The light was just phenomenal at
sunset.

Tuesday we enjoyed a very lively sail with the wind southeast which
blew us back through Merchant Row and up here to the head of
Eggemoggin Reach. Fog was thick so we may have to get back to
Merchant Row to enjoy it in the clearer weather but the fog does lend
a certain mystical whimsie to the spruce and granite shores.
Thunderstorms were looming here in Maine so we headed for the
anchorage at 9.6 knots with all sail flying and managed to get a walk
ashore before supper. We were up for a good part of the night as the
wind gusted from passing storm cells. It was all quite thrilling.

During this Audubon naturalist cruise we are looking for new
connections between us and nature. One not need look far but the
example set by the first Audubon wardens here in Maine is of special
interest. The lighthouse keepers at Matinicus Rock, Great Duck Light
and Eagle Island Light, just to name a few, assured that the puffin
and auks we saw on Monday were not just an accident. I can hear a
bald eagle chirping outside my cabin in the pines onshore. Its call
reminding me that wildness still stirs my heart and that saving
threatened species, large or small, is a good thing to do.

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

Other Plans

2008-06-06T04:06:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone, We are anchored up here in Mackerel Cove,
Swan's I for the first time this year. We arrived to see the "Earl
of Swan's" standing on his porch waving. I had sent him a packet
this winter and never heard back so I was a little nervous about the
possibilities. Just 26 days shy of his 91st birthday I don't believe
Earl plans very far ahead. He was quite pleased to see us and
granted his permission to let us anchor in his sunset view. He sent
a very full bouquet of lilacs back for Mary. Guests that visited
Earl with me found him as charming as could be and left him with big
hugs from the ladies. Earl just grinned.

So this is a lighthouse cruise short though it may be. With a toad
soaker of a forecast for Wednesday we were very surprised to see the
wall of rain pass north and south but leave us largely alone until
the days end. With the wind easterly all this time we have been
hard pressed to see too many lighthouses. Curtis, Eagle, Pumpkin,
Blue Hill and a distant glimpse of Bass Harbor Head are all that we
have noted. Tomorrow we will set out in earnest to bag a whole bunch
more. Seems as though the wind has had other plans for us. I used
to fight the wind more than I do these days. It is sometimes
difficult for this captain to appreciate the mystery. I can only say
that we are delivering exactly what we advertised..."see lighthouses
from the decks of a traditional schooner just as they would have many
years ago". Well the wind was no more or less "cooperative" then
than it is now.

Yesterday was also a big day as we made our first transit under the
Deer Isle bridge and the crew was some impressive. We cleared with
inches to spare on the top of a spring tide. Molly and Rob rode the
mastheads. A big cheer for the crew. Sara says.. hey Mama! She is
doing a great job as chief mate.

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

Sailing Once Again

2008-05-30T06:01:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone. The roll of the vessel under foot once again
does feel good. We had a great Memorial Day Weekend shakedown
cruise. The weather was just fantastic and the guests were awesome.
We left the harbor with a stiff northwest wind that carried us across
to Merchant Row and our first lobster picnic of the season. A sunny
beach, a warm fire, and more than enough lobster finished out a
perfect first day. We all had big eyes as we short tacked Mary Day
up into the anchorage in Pulpit Harbor on Sunday. I wish I could
have been onshore watching. Camden was too close and Monday came too
soon.

Our turn around was quick as we greeted a school group from
Connecticut on Tuesday and off we sailed again in a stiff northwest
wind. The crew has been truly amazing teaching all day and standing
their watches by night. This is not the most relaxed way to start a
season and they deserve all the kudos for hustling and keeping their
young charges moving as well. Yesterday we sailed in a stiff
southwest wind that blew up to 30 knots as we short tacked through
the Merchant Row. With a deep reef in the main and just the staysail
and foresail the boat balanced beautifully. The kids steered us all
the way through the rock strewn waters with confidence and ease. The
boat actually sailed itself without a hand at the wheel for most of
lunch!

So we are pleased with our start to the season. Jen and I are
thankful for a hard working and cheerful crew. We should have a few
days between cruises and the crew will get a well deserved break. 24
hours may not seem like much but it is an eternity when the bay and
islands are calling us to come sailing once again.

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

Spring Fitout Finally Coming to an End

2008-05-19T04:21:00.000-07:00

Good Morning!

Springtime along the Maine coast is a wondrous time of year. After 6 snowy months under cover the windjammer fleet begins to emerge from its winter slumber and one by one the boats emerge from their cocoons.

Crews put in long days getting the vessels in shape. People stop us along the street to compliment how beautiful the boats look with fresh coats of paint and varnish. The shipyards and chandleries are bustling with activity.

And after all the topmasts are rigged and block and halyards are run aloft the sails finally come aboard. Ours are coming straight from the sail maker’s loft where they have spent the winter having every inch of seam and every cringle inspected.

Watching the mainsail carried down the dock like a caterpillar and finally bent on to the wooden mast hoops is a little humorous as the floats sink under the weight of thousands of square feet of canvas all rolled up like a sausage.

Staysails and jibs are bent on to traditional steel hanks with marline that lends a particular pine tar perfume to the air and the callused hands of the crew. Like an insect pheromone the pine tar lets our bodies know it is time to go sailing soon…. very soon.

About now the vessels are getting ready for the annual rigorous Coast Guard inspection. Hours of training and hard work will be put to the test. We will work through the weekends sprucing up the cabins, making beds, polishing the brass, double-checking the life jackets and charts. We run through emergency drills time and time again. When the Coast Guard arrives we welcome the opportunity to “show our stuff”.

Guests will be arriving soon and the cycle will be complete. Summer officially starts when we cast off the mooring lines and leave the harbor behind… destination unknown.
And now you know a little more about how much goes on behind the scenes. Here along the Maine coast traditional sailing vessels and the crews who keep them alive are as much a part of the season as spring peepers and robins.

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

Midnite Oil

2008-05-14T03:31:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone. Here at the global headquarters we have discovered a new fuel supply that we are tapping into with wild abandon. It is an energy source that is renewable on a daily basis and seems to have no limits when put under pressure. Midnight oil is what I am speaking of course and we are burning it in great quantities. As the saying goes... we will have plenty of time to sleep when we're dead.

The crew is really stepping up to the plate getting everything ready. We have Coast Guard deck inspection on Monday and many details to take care of before then. The passenger cabins and companionways are all getting a makeover with new paint and varnish. Just when the crew thought they were done sanding we are once again tackling a major painting project.

During this past weekend we began a new electrical installation that will allow us to supply 110 power to all of the cabins. The new inverter/charger will supply a very limited (read No Hair Dryers!) amount of electricity to the passenger cabins for folks with sleep apneia who need a positive pressure ventilator called a CPAP machine to keep ticking through the night. These are appearing more and more frequently and the portable inverter we have does not fit the bill any longer. The battery bank that supplies power to the navigation electronics is being replaced as well. Each battery weighs in at 165 lbs. and let me tell you that getting them up out of the bilges is not fun.

Training is also big on the menu these last few weeks. As you can see the crew learned to prime the pump and we ran through some fire drills reviewing appropriate tactics for large wooden vessels. I am fairly confident that they don’t have time to read this but don’t be surprised if I spring a drill on them today. Prevention is the key of course and by the time the crew is done there will not be one area of the boat that they have not seen intimately. Next week we bend on sails and by Friday we will be ready to go... I think.

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

Paint and Tar and Elbow Grease

2008-05-07T03:18:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone. The weather here in Maine continues to hold for us. The blackflies have appeared inland at our home and drive us to the coast where the cool sea breeze makes life more tolerable. Temperatures inland threaten to reach the 70-degree mark. Yeeeesh! Let’s go sailing.

Our schedule is currently driven by our annual Coast Guard deck inspection on the 19th of the month. With most of the rigging finished we now turn our attention to passenger accommodations. We will brighten things up with new paint on the overheads and in the companionways. In the past these have been painted off-white. We are going to try a bright eggshell white this year. Some of the bright work needs renewing with a hand rubbed effect varnish. The whole combination feels bright and cozy all at the same time. Not that any of us spends much time in our cabins but we do think the little touches make a huge difference.

Our last crew member Molly has finally joined us. She is currently attending the Maine Maritime Academy where she specializes in small vessel operations. She was thrown straight to the masthead where she sat for the better part of a day hooking up all of the wires that support the foretopmast. From the photos you can see that she can eye splice with the best of them. You can also see that rigging a schooner sometimes takes a few schematics to accurately describe how the rigging should be lead. Every boat is rigged just a little bit differently and every year I change one or two things. There is nothing static about these boats.

Jen and Alex spent yesterday prepping and painting the green accent on the stern. There are some folks in this world that can’t paint a straight line working right side up on hard ground (I know... I am one them!). Imagine painting an ellipse on a bouncing paint float upside down. Once again my amazing wife proves that defying gravity is not all that difficult. At least she makes it look easy. Alex learned not to paint with his mouth open. Of course Dad does what he does best.. stay out of the way. As you can see it did not take much bait to lure him and Sawyer off the schooner. There is something about men in plaid.

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

Thanks to Professor Jim Dugan for grabbing our camera during his lunch break and taking these photos.

Happy May Day!

2008-05-02T05:40:00.000-07:00

Good Morning! It's a beautiful one at that! We're still enjoying the sunny days, cool, but at least they are sunny. Ice on the decks in the morning makes for the first trip to the heads an exciting one! The crew have been "itchy" to rig and rightfully so. They have been sanding and painting for months now with the end of painting in sight. Rigging takes their jobs to a whole new dimension. Each block is hawled up and shackeled and moused in place. Lines are rove in a certain direction (sometimes taking more than once to get it right). Topmasts are ever so carefully lifted up and attached to their heel ropes. The crew are using these rigging days to "learn the ropes" as they say. Pins are in place on the pinrails now to hold their respective lines. Today they will be placing the jibboom back out for the head rig to go up. That funny piece they painted and smirked at this winter called the martingale (this is a test for Ed & Al) will finally make some sense for them. What a great day it is when it all comes into place.

After the rigging goes up, the schooner takes on a new look and feel, beginning to come alive. She seems as though she's sitting at the dock, tugging on her mooring lines, ready to be released. Patience, we say, sails will be bent on soon and passengers will arrive soon (21 days and counting!). It's hard to believe, but it only takes two days to rig the vessel...two very long days at that!

So it seems only fitting to share this photo of Alex on the masthead on May Day...as Sawyer and Nadie are preparing for their May Pole dance at school...It's amazing that May Day traditionally divides the year in half...can that be???

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

P.S. To those who have commented since this was published,

According to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, striking dolphins is clearly criminal activity. Now we won't judge what you do in your spare time but we here at the global headquarters of the schooner Mary Day protect the rights of all dolphins to swim the oceans freely without fear of being stricken by a piece of varnished wood. What did they do to deserve such poor treatment at the hands of maniacal schoonermen and square riggers alike, arm chair or otherwise, as they gracefully swim in the bow waves bringing joy to the hearts of many? On the other hand the term martingale speaks of beauty and grace. In that spirit we have chosen the more sensitive and graceful term to describe such a beautiful object. I reference, of course, Van Nostrands 1922 " Standard Seamanship for the Merchant Service", second edition, sixth printing, authored by Felix Riesenberg, C. E. (credits and accolades too long to list) where on pages 182, 192, and 194 he refers to the dolphin striker and martingale as one and the same.

Besides which, we just wanted to see if you were paying attention. By the reports of brown outs throughout the Alabama power grid it is clear that you were paying very close attention. On behalf of all of us here at the global headquarters... thank you... we are glad someone is reading this thing.

Best,
Jen and Barry

Whirlwind Week

2008-04-28T03:06:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone. Well it has been another very busy week here. After a whirlwind 24 hour shipyard event we rolled straight into school vacation week and painting topsides. The weather here the last few weeks has been just extraordinary. Sunny dry days with temperatures up into the 70s... is this really spring in Maine???

The crew spent 3 days massaging the topside planking and the results really show. They pushed really hard on Wednesday working late painting the beige and white on the bulwarks. Thursday was a very full day painting the topsides. On Friday the crew prepped and painted the bowsprit, and the yawl boat "gallows" along with its beige strong back. But wait there's more!

Training is a huge part of what we do this time of year. The crew will know this boat inside and out by the time they are done getting her ready to sail. This weekend, for the first time, we taught a first-aid course specifically geared for windjammers. The crews from the windjammers at the head of Camden Harbor spent the weekend reviewing techniques for dealing with medical and injury emergencies when we are just beyond the reach of 911. While much of the course involved American Heart Association first aid and CPR & AED curriculum the scenarios we practiced all involved what happens when the ambulance just can't get to where we are. Much time and discussion was dedicated to simple but very important concepts in providing extended care for injuries. We practiced scene size-up, initial assessments, and how to perform a more focused history and physical exam so that we can communicate the condition and nature of the situation. In our scenarios we provided care for injured crew members with multiple issues and passengers having "the big one" in the top bunk of their cabins (try doing CPR in those confined quarters!) complete with hysterical bystanders. Those scenarios, while just pretend at the dock, brought home the difficult nature of what we are confronted with when the 911 system will not arrive in 15 minutes. The response from the crew members was tremendous and demonstrated their commitment to passenger safety.

What's next you ask? Stand by...we're all having a day off!

Have a great day. Be well. Do good. Stay safe!

Homeward Bound

2008-04-20T04:01:00.001-07:00

Good morning everyone. We launched the schooner yesterday on the tide (1 hour before high tide, that is). All went well on the trip back to Camden. We are grateful to have had Mary's smiling face gracing our yard period. She even brought the brownies!

This was a quick yard period for us. Normally we might spend a few days in the yard but the forecast for rain (which was wrong by the way) drove us to work by lamplight late into Friday evening and raise the sun yesterday morning. Pre-planning was critical. The crew had already painted the majority of the water line area and the green boot stripe so minimal staging was required saving hours of time. The great deal of work we have done in years past allowed us to take a little less time as well.

The return trip to Camden provided the opportunity to review the "station bill", crew duties in the event of any kind of emergency. We even did a man overboard drill as we motored past Curtis I Light. Sara and Alex recovered the fender and the proper CPR was administered accordingly. And as if 21 hours of work in 2 days (that is 147 people hours +/-) was not enough the crew turned to and oiled the deck for another 4 hours as soon as we hit the dock (an additional 24 people hours). We are very proud of this crew and they are discovering what a days work really looks like. I know they are tired and will be sitting in the pews for morning service praying that we go sailing soon. Feeling the roll of the vessel on the way to and from the yard was heartening. To feel my hand on the wheel, at home once again, with such beautiful weather.... well I am ready to get sailing as well.

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

Speeding thru the Yard

2008-04-19T03:07:00.000-07:00

Good Morning!
This week is or was a major turning point for us. Weeks or I should say months, have been spent sanding and painting, sanding and varnishing. You get gritty, you get covered in paint. The crew wonders if there is an end. We just keep reittering the words, be patient, it will be over, we will be sailing soon…..just keep painting! The weather this past week seemed unreal. Temps were in the 60’s! The snow has finally melted and the ice on the lakes have gone. People were out golfing and fishing on the lakes. We took off the cover and launched three boats….signs of winter times are finally gone! By taking off the cover and going for a ride in the yawl boat was the refreshing breeze for our wings to keep us flying thru this busy time of fit out.

From taking off the cover and launching boats on Tuesday, we went right into yard prep. The waterline was prepped and painted and the Mary Day was turned around ready for the early departure to the yard. Early Friday morning we slipped out of Camden Harbor to arrive in Rockland by 9:30. We hauled out on the railway and the crew hit the ground running….bottom pressure washed and scrubbed, centerboard trunk de-musseled, thru- hulls cleaned and regreased, zincs changed, bottom scraped and seams compounded. There was even time to paint the quarter & fore bits! By lamplight we finished the day edging the waterline in prep for spraying paint on Saturday morning. As I write this at 6am, Barry is down there now spraying the boat, hoping to be done for a 11am launching. He said he wanted the “super car wash” method. I think we managed to pull it off!

Have a great day! Do well, be good. Enjoy this beautiful time of Spring!

Brush Work

2008-04-11T01:43:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone. The weather this week has been just beautiful and we have “made hay.” The Michelin team came to tar the rig on Monday. Cabin houses were painted Tuesday and Wednesday. The reflection of the cover in the mirror finish was amazing. Topsides have been sanded from the cover skirt down including the green boot stripe. You will notice the vacuum attached to the sanders. Alex and Jeb sanded the Velcro right off the disc! Even the “dumpsters”, those deck storage areas above the main saloon were sanded and painted. It is all looking great. The crew has been putting in some very long days and we are grateful for their hard work.

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

Beans for the Captains

2008-04-04T12:15:00.000-07:00

Good Morning! It's one last time to boil sap! The barrels are overflowing and we're getting busy down at the boat. With all this great syrup that we harvested it's only fitting to share a maple syrup recipe. This is one of Captain Barry's (and Captain-in-training, Sawyer's) favorite! Enjoy!

Mary's Baked Beans

2 cups dried navy beans, soak overnight in water
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
1/4 cup mustard
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 T cider vinegar
Tobasco hot sauce, optional, to taste, (Captain's favorite part, "the hotter the better!")
salt & pepper to taste

Drain navy beans and mix with garlic and onions in a large soup pot. Cover with water with an inch above mixture. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover and simmer for about 1 1/2 hours until soft. Add water to the pot as needed to maintain the inch above mixture level while cooking.

When beans are soft, drain and stir in barbecue sauce, mustard, maple syrup and vinegar. Add hot sauce salt and pepper to your liking. To bake the beans, transfer to a bean pot or baking dish and bake, uncovered at 350 for approximately 30 minutes, stirring often. Pieces of leftover breakfast bacon can be added for additional flavor. Serves 6

Aboard Mary Day this is served with a ham dinner. Ashore, both Captains prefer a good ole' hot dog with their baked beans. Even better, enjoying them alongside a campfire... Enjoy!
Be well, do good, have a great day!

Good day to be a duck

2008-04-04T12:02:00.000-07:00

Good Afternoon! It’s another beautiful day in the New England state of Maine, rain mixed with snow showers. The robins must be thinking twice about arriving back so soon. Speaking of signs of spring returning, yes Ed, the loon showed up yesterday in the harbor, gracefully swimming out beyond the Mary Day along with the winter ducks still lingering about. Canadian geese were spotted on the edge of ice on Lake Megunticook each perched on one leg. My guess is they were questioning the ice out date like the rest of us! (April 25th, no April 19th, …..). We all win in the end when it magically disappears.

Another great sign among us was the excitement of Sawyer and Nadie playing on the beach down in the harbor. The ice along the shore of the harbor has melted and the sand has appeared. They were quick to build their long awaited sand castle, the first of many to come for this summer. They were both glad to be down there and to mingle among the crew as we worked aboard. Sawyer is becoming a great reporter and wanted to take the following photos for the blog….

We end this day with the crew working in the rain/snow showers stacking the enormous loads of firewood for the 2009 season. Departure is receiving a few new supports for her thwarts, Rosie is being thoroughly sanded by Mr. Makita and Sara and safety training has begun. All in all it was a productive day for such a rainy one!

Hope your dry and in a warm place! Be well, do good, have a great rest of the day!

A crazy loon and a Texas Tallship

2008-03-28T13:52:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone. Sailing aboard Elissa here in Texas has been fantastic. The crew of volunteers have once again made this a great experience and their dedication is beyond believable. After completing a series of daysails and an overnight trip offshore we are currently in Houston at the brand new Bayport Cruise Terminal. We brought the ship up the Houston Channel yesterday afternoon, probably the first square rigger in many, many years to sail (well...motor sail) carrying upper and lower topsails, a few staysails and our inner jib. They made a difference giving us another knot and a half of speed along with a helpful push from the incoming tide. The folks here at the Houston Yacht Club have been the best of hosts for Elissa.

Our night offshore was lit by the waning full moon. I took the 12-4 watch and had a crackerjack crew able to tack and ware the ship in the 20 knot breeze. The sloppy 4' seas created by the shallow Gulf did not make things any easier so we found ourselves motoring dead slow ahead through tacks with our conservative "after dark" rig. Shrimp boats running offshore at night are well lit but do not seem to stand by on any normal VHF channels. Oil platforms are mostly lit... though we saw a few exceptions and some that were not charted accurately. All in all it makes for an exciting night and keeps one on their toes. We will be here for a few days before heading home. I sure do miss Jen and the kids. I know the crew at home are working hard to get as much of the shop work done as possible before we start down on the boat Monday morning. The docks are in and we are ready. I saw a loon swimming and diving near the ship today. Unless he is crazy he should be heading north soon.... real soon. Just like me!

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

Windjamming in Texas

2008-03-23T09:02:00.000-07:00

Good morning y'all. As the accompanying photos will tell you I am in Texas aboard the barque Elissa. I flew down on Wednesday for the beginning of 12 days of sailing in the Gulf. Mostly we will be daysailing from Galveston but there is one overnight passage planned for the middle of this week. I brought my camera and hope you enjoy a few of sights. The dolphins were bow riding yesterday on the way back in the channel. This shot is for Sawyer and Nadie.

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

Hardware

2008-03-17T03:33:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone. We boiled down the first batch of sap this week, 30 gallons worth. Sawyer dutifully tended the boiler, literally an old boiler that was found living out in our back woods. There was never any reason for that boiler to be there but there it was just the same. The wood for this first firing was 3’ lengths of what were spruce rafters on the shop attached to the house. That roof has for years been leaking clear through the sheet rock and over head light fluorescent fixtures. Our contractor friend Scot gave Alex and I a hand as we stripped the old roof, replaced all 22 rafters and applied a new sheet metal roof. We still have the soffits to finish but it is “good enough” until I get back from Texas in a few weeks.

So I really wanted to tell you about the hardware store and how everybody is somebody if you take a minute to listen. Our local “big box” beater is not vanishing anytime soon from what I can see. It is the place I spend your money because I think you would vote for the little guy in the fight to keep small town America going. Linda Norton works behind the counter. She helps folks find the odd things that little hardware stores have. Like the plastic license plate screw holder that fits in the hole in your Chevy bumper… it is in the box on the back wall next to the ones that fit in the Ford bumper. I am not kidding she helped a women find one the other day. Screw sold separately. Linda also does the custom paint mixing and that, as you will see, is something she does better than most. While the rest of the world sleeps between midnight and 4 AM Linda paints with passion. What you don’t see at first glance is that she is actually a very well known marine artist specializing in sailing vessels. She has been featured in several prominent nautical magazines. She recently painted Jen and Annie in the fore crosstrees furling the topsail. Linda writes, “Two of the ladies of the Mary Day are aloft furling the topsail. Rope, ditty bags, and knives tied to their belts, they work carefully and swiftly in unison. Conversation is unheard from where I stand and I doubt needed. The female crew of the Mary Day are well known and respected for their sailing abilities.” I am pleased to see anyone get credit for hard work but these 2 women have spent the better part of their adult lives practicing their craft and deserve all the admiration that Linda gives them. And, yes, I am just a little bit proud to know them.

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

From Sap to Planks

2008-03-10T05:17:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone. We hope you folks had a nice a week as we did. The sun has really been working hard to bring spring to New England. The sap has been rising in the trees and we chose this weekend to tap the maples. We only have 20 taps out at the moment but if the weather holds as predicted we will be boiling very soon. 24 hours after tapping Sawyer and I hauled in 20 gallons of sap just yesterday. The first run of sap usually makes the fancy syrup so I think our timing is just right. I can taste Mary’s pumpkin pancakes now.

Alex and Jebb have had our harbor yawl boat “Chadwick” in the barn this week. The varnish really needed some work and it is really coming along well. Alex is very good with a varnish brush. My neighbor Glen built a new fuel tank from a recycled stainless steel tank to fit under the towing thwart back aft. It is just perfect and will help Chadwick trim more evenly on her waterline. I will spend some time over the next few days plumbing in the new tank and moving the battery to a new location. Working on the yawl boat in a wood heated barn is a real balancing act. We need the heat to dry the paint but it tends to dry the wood as well. We should get that boat out of the barn in the next few days to make sure the planks don’t dry out too much. We won’t do any bottom work until just before we launch sometime in mid-April. It's amazing how much we rely on trees from sap to planks... there's alot of beauty that comes from those trees.

And for anyone wanting to know....Chadwick is named after "Major Chadwick",once a dear friend to all, who always had a kind word, a welcoming phrase of the day, and a warm hug to boot. He continues to give us strength. The following photo is the Major aboard the Mary Day back in the 70's, just when we were still pups.

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

Hunney

2008-03-03T05:30:00.000-08:00

Good morning everyone. You should see the snow banks around here. Another 8" of snow came down Saturday and the driveway is beginning to take on the tunnel effect. We had a family day today skiing at the Camden Snow Bowl. Sawyer was quite amazed at the view of Penobscot Bay. We could see forever.

Last year I wrote a blog about our cat, Gussie Hodgkins. For those who have sailed with us you have heard the tale of how she was named for the heroic life saving station surfman who rowed out to a schooner on the ledges (no small feat as you can see)and saved not only the people aboard the wreck but rowed a second trip to save the poor the poor cat that had been left behind. Ted Panayatoff, our official Mary Day pharologist (lighthouse expert) on our lighthouse cruises recently unearthed photographs of the wreck of the Joseph Luther and of “Hunney” the actual cat that, after being rescued by our hero, spent the remainder of it days at the Hunnewell Beach Lifesaving Station at the end of the Kennebec River. Ted works as tirelessly as Gussie Hodgkins to keep the history of these lighthouses from fading into a distant memory. His book about the Rockland Breakwater Light, his work at the Maine Lighthouse Museum and the lighthouse cruises that he sails with us are just a few of the ways he shares his wealth of knowledge. I think we’ll name our next cat Ted.

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

Making Sawdust

2008-02-25T03:08:00.000-08:00

Good morning everyone. What a beautiful couple of days we have had around here. The sun was just brilliant these last few days and you can really feel the warmth despite the northerly wind. I am starting to think about putting out the maple taps. It won’t be long day before spring is here. Yahoo!

Alex and Elisa finished the large acreage varnish work in the barn this last week. On Friday afternoon we hauled in numerous small pieces, oars, spreaders, ladders, etc. that will be the focus for the next week. Jim Dugan put in a hero’s effort this last week launching our new home page for the web. I know I spent a couple days sitting with him and he spent countless hours that I did not see. It was time for a new look and Jim did a great job simplifying the look of the site and yet adding a little bit of “flash” as well. Let us know what you think. There is more to come so stay tuned.

The exciting news around here was the tuning of the sawmill this weekend that we have just purchased with shipwright friend and former crew Brad. With thirty two acres of woods filled with pine and oak we should be able to justify this mill in short order. The mill was used to saw out most all of the timbers for a small “pinkly” schooner here in Camden. Built by a real ingenious craftsman this mill is homemade but saws quite a straight line when dialed in. We actually brought it here before Christmas. My neighbor down the street dug holes for the concrete piers that keep the mill leveled up just before the frost crept too far into the ground. The Honda engine doesn’t skip a beat with a sharp blade slicing through the locust log you see here. In this picture Tom is sawing out an eight foot timber to build a “log” anchor windlass similar to the one aboard Mary Day. That locust should last just a few days shy of forever. We have plans and material on hand to extend the track to about fifty feet. That should be enough to whittle out a stick or two. Brad also just got a lead on a dozen more locust logs. Let's make some sawdust!
Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

Sailing Vacations A Maine Windjammer

Great Schooner Race 2008

Leaving the Nest

Hardship and Deprivation

Clearing away the Fog

Not Half Bad

Fitful Sailing

Keepers of the Light

Other Plans

Sailing Once Again

Spring Fitout Finally Coming to an End

Midnite Oil

Paint and Tar and Elbow Grease

Happy May Day!

Whirlwind Week

Homeward Bound

Speeding thru the Yard

Brush Work

Beans for the Captains

Good day to be a duck

A crazy loon and a Texas Tallship

Windjamming in Texas

Hardware

From Sap to Planks

Hunney

Making Sawdust

Sailing Vacations
A Maine Windjammer