The weather gods smiled on us Saturday.

We had a dinner party this weekend with scarily perfect weather. The evening was clear, dry and the temperature that Eden must have had. We dined outside on the brick patio accommodating 14 comfortably. And no b-u-g-s. Magic for sure with an almost full moon peeking through the Silver Maple.


Garden delights
Drinks and such in the garden before hand. Evidence of Bocce on the right.

Our now analog friend Phil is on the left, glass of white Burgundy in hand. He came down for the weekend with a promise of the last sail on Sjogin for the 2008-2009 Season.


Bocce wars
Bocce wars. Tom, Brandon, Daniel and Parker on the battlefield.


Just fits
Room enough. After dark it was tough enjoying the visual side of our dinner but tres romantic.

Sailing pics tomorrow.

Went to the WoodenBoat Show in Mystic this past weekend

We’ve been going for years, even to far Rockland, Maine. It’s been in Mystic for the last three years which seems just about perfect. Wandering around the Seaport while looking a beautiful yachts and honest working craft is a delight.

Here’s a link to the Flickr album.

Or the day after tomorrow but in any event some choice pics from our annual pilgrimage:


Brilliant
The Seaport catboat Breck Marshall seen through Brilliant’s rig.


Elf
Elf, the 1888 racing yacht followed us up from Philadelphia. Perhaps we’ll see the new Maid at the next WBS.


Sea Harmony
That’s Thad Danielson’s Sea Harmony in the background. I think that’s a Fish Boat on the left. Anyone know?


Aida
Aida, one of my favorite Herreshoff designs. Simple shoal draft ketch built in the 20’s?


Egret sharpie
Egret, a Commodore Munroe sharpie. She’s rigged with sprit booms on her two sails. Very handy rig.


It works!
Refreshing amongst all the varnish. An old but very functional crab skiff. It takes a lot of work to maintain that patina.


Shane and Scot
Shane and Scot Bell, WoodenBoat Forum Moderator and a very patient man.


The Clan
Photo by Steven Bauer’s camera.

Speaking of the Forum, here we are with a couple of dozen of our closest imaginary friends. This was the third time Doug and Carter hosted a party like this. Thanks all.

Sailing with the Dingo

Lived up to my tag line this past Saturday morning as Shane and I sailed truly as slow as we could. Steady half knot breeze, gusting to 1. Dry to start, then a light drizzle. All in all a useful way to spend a few hours.



My one-armed helmsman, Shane Eyre. Out sailing in a VERY light breeze along with a touch of drizzle for atmosphere. Dressed for the occasion but still a bit damp.



Caught fondling the varnish.



Still fondling the varnish. It was great to have him on board, we had a nice little sail in spite of the conditions. I gave him the grand tour of Beaton’s, pointing out the various Herreshoff’s scattered around the yard.



Running home in the rain. Almost missed the landing; needed a bit of rudder sculling to finish the job.


What a treat to have his Dingoness on board. I think he makes the seventh WoodenBoat Forumite to sail on Sjogin


In the Cloud
On the porch, in the Cloud. Our correspondent keeping up with his public. I may have done a terrible thing and pushed him to start a blog. The world will never be the same.


of Springsteen fame.
Channeling his inner Bruce: “… the cops finally busted Madame Marie for tellin’ fortunes better than they do.”

Bruce Springsteen: 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) 1973


Lust
You can just make out the drool on the edge of Shane’s beard. He’s watching the uh….keel of our fine young waitress, Miss Mary Margaret.

He’s now had a sail on Tidbit with Forum friend Joe Foster and is in Guilford, CT with “mum and dad”. We’ll see him at the WoodenBoat Show this weekend.

See the thread linked to below for his continuing hi jinks. He’ll be here another few weeks before returning to Oz. Based on what we’ve seen, Shane should be a regular visitor to our shores.

More pics on Flickr.

Back from the USVI

Spent a week enjoying the hospitality of our good friends Dave and Cheryl on Success, their 42′ cutter.

Flickr pics here. More later.

And later than intended but nonetheless, here are a few choice snaps…


Fish Bay
Fish Bay, south side of St Thomas. The National Park starts just to the east. Our home for the week is the second boat from the right.


S.V. Success
S. V. Success, Dave and Cheryl’s 42′ cutter. The other boat is a Fife schooner.


Mooring OK
Mooring pennant OK?


Trunk Bay
Classic view of Trunk Bay. We picked up a mooring there the day after and had some beach time.


Julia and Cheryl
Julia and Cheryl on Trunk Bay beach.


Honeymoon Bay
Honeymoon Bay. We were there on a Monday which turned out to be Movie Night. This is on Water Island off St Thomas; the locals rig a screen between the palms and show movies. We caught glimpses of Yes Man.


Cannon christening
Cheryl and Dave firing our boat christening gift for the first time. It’s a yacht cannon, traditionally used to signal end of day, when colors are struck. Or the Beer Gun as remarked by a nearby boat. Great echoes in Francis Bay.


Local boat
Neat gaff skiff moored in very shallow water in Fish Bay. Could be a local design, though I see a bit of New England influence. (Very hollow bow.)


Cheryl
Finally, a great shot of Cheryl and the emerald water of Trunk Bay. Such is paradise.

Thanks to them both for another great cruise. Our experience grows.

A milestone just occurred for us.

We’ve been here at Ourhouse for twenty years this past October 14th. A pleasant score indeed. A party was in order, pics of which are below. We’re very fortunate and were glad to share with friends and family. Thanks all. More pics on the Ourhouse page

My Julia
Julia chatting on the porch. Cool enough for a fire with the doors and windows open.

Cheryl at the mantel
Our good friend Cheryl at the mantel.

Julia and Annie
Julia and Annie sharing a story.

Happy Dave
Happy Dave, a twenty year veteran of parties at Ourhouse.

We truly did

Sailed as slow as we could last Friday morning. Julia and I were off to prepare for our party celebrating 20 years in Ourhouse but snuck in a few hours on board,

There was a lot of sun but limited wind. Calm on deck, 2-4 kts aloft, just enough to sail and heave to for a bit off Beatons. Cool enough for a fire below where Julia spent most of the sail.

Julia and Serena
Tacking slowly through the fleet. Just enough way to tack with sufficient precision. Serena’s still in commission.

Shooting the pier
Ghosting up to the dock. Slow motion sailing. Not another boat on the Bay so no wakes.

Warming up
Warming up the last sips.

Party pics later….

Monhegan Island adventure

Went to Monhegan Island on Boss Lady on Tuesday, staying in the home of Bob’s friend’s family. Lovely cottage with a 30 mile view to the west. We left in a cold drizzle and light fog around nine, snug in the cabin with a wood fire burning in the Fatso stove. Went around the north of Little Deer Isle and down through the Fox Island Thorofare to West Penobscot Bay and then the open ocean to Monhegan. Fun dodging lobster pots barely visible in the strong ebb tide. Weather cleared in the afternoon giving us a pleasant evening.

On Wednesday we went around the south side of Monhegan with nothing to starboard but Mother Atlantic (Gulf of Maine technically). Perfect conditions; the wind and sea relatively flat without a cloud to be seen. From there we went past Matinicus, peeking in the tiny harbor and around the south side of Isle au Haut, seeing a finback whale and dolphins in the process. We stopped and anchored in Sand Cove on Marshall Island, going ashore to play on the beach. It’s one of the few pure sand beaches on this stretch of coast. Then up through Jericho Bay and Eggomoggin Reach to the Landing. Lot’s of great Boss Lady time. Such an able and hospitable vessel.

Dodging Pots
Dodging pots in the Fox Island Thorofare. Low clouds and spitting rain. Warm in the cabin thanks to Mr. Fatso.

North Haven
North Haven, home of the famous North Haven Dinghy. Building in the center is shaped like a ships stern.

Fish Beach, Monhegan
Fish Beach, Monhegan. Note the wheels on the skiff in the foreground. No docks (except for the ferry) so the locals need to drag or roll their skiffs down the beach. (Or wait for high tide.)

Monhegan Harbor
Monhegan harbor; Boss Lady moored on the right side. Note how open it is to the SW.

Fixer upper
Just needs a new transom.

Sunset from the cottage
Late afternoon light from the cottage where we stayed. Thanks Sandy!

More later,

Russ

On the Reach

Eggomoggin Reach that is. Julia and I are up in Maine enjoying the high life. Pics on Flickr here.

Saturday and Sunday saw Elegant Punt sailing. I built a pair of these Phil Bolger minimal dinghies for a client almost twenty years ago. Amazingly enough they ended up here. The client is a friend of my brother and his family had outgrown the boats. Now there’s a brace of them here at the landing.

Punt racing
Punt racing at one and a half knots.

Fogbow
Fog yesterday morning complete with a “fogbow”, a rainbow like apparition.

On the Reach
Went for a quick sail in Tendress yesterday, just reaching back and forth in the somewhat recently rare sunshine up here.

We hope to go to Monhegan on Boss Lady today or tomorrow, weather permitting.

More later,

Russ

We went for a sail last Sunday morning

with Kent Mountford, up from Maryland for a visit. Out for a couple of hours, delightful conditions, traffic not too bad. Had several nice pauses along the marsh. Lots of bird life; Osprey’s are becoming so wonderfully common.

Kent
Skipper Kent at the helm.

Julia and Serena
Julia enjoying having Serena in view. Really. First time I’ve seen her out this season. Hopefully Charlotte will return to the Bay soon. It’d be nice to see them match race.

Serena
Grace under sail. The perfect gentlemen’s day sailor.

Clean
Finally stopped relying on heavy rains and actually scrubbed her from stem to stern. Looks good enough to get by for a few more weeks before her annual haul and refit.

Catboat
If you squint and pretend the houses are dunes, the photo could have been taken in 1908.

High Summer
High Summer; Margueritas last Sunday.

Happy Summer all.