What I Saw But Missed 2

Here was the first use of the title.

I took the first four photos here on May 25, 2018 in Washburn WI.  Don’t know where Washburn is?  It’s near the SW end of Lake Superior, just south of Bayfield, and I was searching for fish tugs, i.e., focused.  I recall noticing the masts and that pinky stern over beyond the boat in the foreground.

The mast rake and size was familiar, as were the ratlines.  And the stern lines .  .  . truly unique.

I even walked over there and thought the details of the bow . . .  what I call the head rig . . .  was something I’d seen before.

I recall the words “Thomas Colvin” bubbled to the surface of my brain.  But I saw this before 0800 at the start of a long day that would involved a car trip to Sault Sainte Marie, i.e., lots of miles to gallivant safely while seeing the most interesting sights. That trip ended and led into another in my picaresque journey through this part of my life.

And then yesterday, the social media entity I call “bookface” popped this photo to the surface as having been posted 11 years ago, exactly.  Indeed that was me, slouching way back into a pinky stern, keeping my feet clear of any adjustments the tiller man needed.

And a friend wrote to ask, “and where is that boat these days?”

I was busy at that moment, so only later in the afternoon did I get back to the question.  Since google helps answer a lot of such questions, I consulted it and came up with Rosemary Ruth Sailing Charters out of Washburn WI. At first, I regretted having been through Washburn twice in May.  How could I not have seen it, I wondered.  That led me to go to my photo library . . . thinking I’d seen it and it hadn’t registered.

But there she is, in plain sight, close enough that I could have touched it.  For photos of this delightful small schooner, click here.  For photos of her high and dry from 12 years ago showing the weld signature that I should have checked in Washburn, click here.   For photos of me on the tiller, click here. Then owner Richard Hudson (click on his tag at the top of the post)  put her on the land while he got Issuma, a sturdier schooner. and sailed tens of thousands of miles touching four continents and crossing the Northwest Passage.  For some of those photos, click here.   See Richard’s own blog, as his journey continues, here. For some video, click here.

Thanks to bookface and thanks to Tom Briggs for asking her whereabouts.

What Rip Saw 2

A year ago, I wrote here about my following in Rip van Winkle‘s footsteps, hiking to the summits in search of the ghosts with the keg of purple magic liquor.  This post stays at river level, where sights appear like a 50’ Issuma hustling along with only slightly-shorter  Rosemary Ruth on the hip.   By the way, notice Issuma’s homeport Whitehorse:  “issuma” is the Inuktitut word for knowledge, idea, wisdom or mind.

Before the river was called “hudson” it was called “mohican knee took,” if I might spell it out that way.  It’s still a place of magic, visual charm here as Cynthia Pioneer heads north past Rondout Light.

Hudson River or not, Allyson Ann is a genuine Beals Island lobster boat, a charming apparition that can sweeten anyone’s day or night.

Atlantic Coast pushes building material south, material quarried from holes obscured in the distance midlevels by suspicious looking clouds.

Saugerties Light lies below the high peaks, a B & B where you can reserve a room if you dare;  whatever would it be like to sleep straight through here for 20 years.

GDM 264 is a specialty you’ll not often see . . . a cement suction barge.

The river banks this time of year possess themselves and you with a few days of natural alchemy, which

draws you in with wondrous ruins.  More on the gift of ruins soon.

For a short intro to Hudson Valley legends and place-name explanations, click here.

But if you can, get out and dance to the fall splendor before its music ceases for a year.

All fotos by Will Van Dorp, who has abstained from from Rip’s purple magic liquor . . . and had an extra cup of coffee instead.

Issuma’s Tow

Issuma has traveled off four continents in the past two years:  Europe, Africa, South America, and North America.  In the past year alone, Issuma‘s landfalls have included Argentina and Nunavut.  Yet, Issuma‘s skipper Richard Hudson has logged hundreds of hours sailing in the sixth boro, as well.  His tow, the vessel slinging here on the towline–for sale–is none other than the charming Rosemary Ruth.

Issuma is Richard’s third schooner.  See all the stories from Issuma back to Orbit II (which now lies thousands of feet below the surface of the North Atlantic between Iceland and Ireland)  here.

Here Richard and Gabriela pose in front of the two schooners at anchor off Thomas Cole-base, Catskill.

Issuma–unstepped mast lying cabintop–by now might be off farther north and west, headed for Toronto before winter closes the Erie Canal.  The tow will be left behind in Catskill, awaiting a new owner.

Here Richard and Bowsprite return from a sounding trip up Catskill Creek.

More fotos of the trip up the Hudson Valley coming soon.  As an aside, with a vista like this, I find it credible that Henry Hudson, making this trip 401 years ago, could have believed this waterway would lead through the continent.

All fotos by Will Van Dorp.  If you are interested in Rosemary Ruth, contact Richard today.

Related:  Rosemary Ruth IS a signed piece of art.  See the weld signature here.

Winter Sailing 2

February 2008 just ain’t cold here yet: see this post from a cold 2007.

 

Yes, the oft-mentioned Rosemary Ruth (search the name) is available. Equipment list, etc, is here. Richard–in blue–has a surprise boat in store.

 

No, it’s neither of Rosemary Ruth‘s taller friends, but the nearer one bears a second look.

 

Here’s a closer up of the stern of her neighbor right now in Hoboken. Great name and excellent pedigree (or log).

 

A contented tugster knows nothing beats a pinky schooner for providing a seat way stern that allows one to feel the dancing–its pitches and yaws–even on the light breeze of a mild winter sail. Hmmm…. would I have the $$?

Photos by or of WVD.

Return

The new year sun breathed hot on the snowy hillside above the Winooski

 

forcing a melt. And as the water I am, I sought my level

to find the bell had “told” … this vessel to move

 

and frogma announced this one seeks a new master. It’s a steal.

 

It seems like yesterday Rosemary Ruth splashed back in, and …

it feels like I’ve been gone for ages. Call me Rip v Winkle.

Photos, WVD.

Tillers

Thanks to the tillerman, this post, long enough gestated, gets published. Over two months ago I posted about wheels, and if you look at the last foto in that post of Cornell‘s wheel sans projecting spokes, you’ll understand what modifications are made to protect the helmsman’s face/teeth during quick maneuvers associated with docking assists.

 

Scroll thru to nautical etymologies here to “tiller” to see the crossbow connection. Sorry, not alphabetical. While looking there, is there a difference in usage today between scow and barge?

 

Most assuredly the helmsman on Rosemary Ruth is handling a tiller. Read the saga of Orbitlog here.

 

Note the tiller/rudderpost connection here. Scroll down for the rest of the vessel.

 

Here’s the front section driven by that tiller/prop farther above. No mast? Why the low freeboard? Come back tomorrow. The two fotos immediately above were taken in southern Long Island.

Btw, happy thanksgiving. And thanks for reading the blog.

Photos, WVD.

Pairs in Springtime

escorts… like bridesmaids, Xena’s Gabrielle, doulas everywhere

 

People wellwishing to starboard and vessel companioning to port.

Blessings of the Quyak folk…

 

Big G motorfolk …

 

and slower paced schoonerfolk who if allowed would go all the way, all 1000 days too, but for now content themselves blogging ‘n documentary griots

 

Anne playing on the sea, playing with the leviathans (see v. 25, 26) be they metal like Alice or CMA CGM Sapphire or organic like the the brothers of the albatross and the sisters aunts and cousins of last week’s whale. Play well for a 1000 days.

 

All photos by Will Van Dorp.

Still More Sail 3

Thanks to Elizabeth, here’s a photo of what could be perceived as a strangely-articulated four-masted schooner with two fairly short mizzens and a pinked stern.

Here’s another of her photos, both taken in September 2005, of a folkboat* and the Lettie. Anyone know where the folkboat lives or what it’s called?

A good thing about all this spring rain is that it brings us closer to the time all these sails will be adorning again the harbor.

*I stand corrected on this point thanks to Xenon:  the nearer sailboat is a knarr, not a folkboat.

 

Green 2

“Green with Envy” I thought to call this. Or “Threesome” might be titillating. It was bound to happen someday: Alice, Rosemary Ruth, and me . . . all within sight of each other.

Rosemary Ruth was eastbound on the East River this very afternoon when . . .

a bulbous bow did she espy. The bow looked familiar.

Could it be . . . the wandering Alice is back in town?!@# Let’s tack, she insisted. NOW even if it means fighting the tide, she did declare.

Back to Jersey City she went. The East River is certainly not big enough for them both.

And me, the two-timing (or three or who counts anyhow) Tugster, back to the bloggers’ confessional did I hike. Such an intriguing pair they make!

All photos and silliness by Will Van Dorp.

Cold Sailin’ 2

I owe all these photos to Mike. I’ll admit to being too cold to focus on my camera.

Words cannot describe this feeling, heeled over in a good wind and running against the tide. Seamanship and design (check pinkies) are things of ineffable beauty, even on a cold day.  Some might say “especially” then.

Staying out of the wind is a good idea… ducking behind the cabin but not being overcome by cabin fever (check Feb. 20)…

…if you can.

Back in the marina just across the dock, the white stuff still emprisons. Or not… One just needs to be resourceful.

Here’s more on Thomas Colvin.