I have written in other places on this site about the annual gathering of Friendship Sloops in Rockland. This year’s gathering was held despite two days of pouring rain and fog, which prevented some members from attending. There was one day of fantastic weather though, and here are three photographs taken that day.
I think most of us who cruise are hoping to find that perfect unspoiled and secluded spot to drop anchor for the night. It is a reality that with so many of us using the seas either commercially or recreationally, evidence of the presence of humans can be found on even the most remote shorelines.
While on a recent cruise in Maine waters, we anchored at a privately owned island. The owners of this island generously allow the public to land on, and explore, all but a small section of the island. We rowed to a lovely sandy beach, tied off the tender, and began to walk the granite shoreline. As we walked, or rock-hopped the evidence of “civilization” lay everywhere; smashed lobster traps, lobster buoys in various stages of disintegration by the scores. Bits of pot warp, and old planks, and bits of fiberglass that may have been a boat at one time, littered the shore. Our discoveries were interesting, but also discouraging. Then, we stumbled upon the edifice shown in the photograph below:
My reaction was; “Cool”. However, I am aware that there are those who view such a sculpture as a form of graffiti, environmentally insensitive, and inappropriate to a “wilderness” setting.
To my mind such spontaneous acts of creativity is the antithesis of the ruined plastic loberstering gear that had washed up on the same shore. To be confronted by the byproduct of an industry that has, due to economic pressures, moved away from biodegradable materials, leaves one kind of impression. The re-arrangement of found materials in a non permanent way to create temporary art seems, to me anyway, to represent the opposite values to an industry that accepts the loss of non-biodegradable material into the sea as an acceptable byproduct of fishing.
I am not trying to trash the lobster fishery. In many ways, I think the self-regulation and the arguments over sustainability that have been going on for the last quarter century within the lobster fishery are a model that other fisheries could learn a lot from.
What I do find annoying are the “leave-no-trace” purists who would categorize the sculpture we discovered as a form of vandalism and who disassemble such ephemeral works of creativity. I would rather see the effort put into developing biodegradable lobster buoys.
Meanwhile to the unknown sculptor I say; rock on.
It seems like every cruise on the boat develops a theme of it’s own. There was the trip that it rained the whole time, the flat calm trip, the children falling down the hatch trip…you get the idea. The most recent cruise was a four-day delivery. I was very fortunate to have as crew a couple who have recently bought a boat of their own, and who were interested in seeing how to sail a traditional gaff rig. They were very good company (they passed the ultimate test, which was that the ship’s wolf took to them immediately) and they took some spectacular photographs, and yet the theme of the trip seemed to be unusual repairs that can be made with waxed twine.
The first night out, as we were washing up, I noticed the sink pump was making a strange air sucking sound. It turned out that the ball valve in the fresh water line had failed. Some 45 of the 50 gallons of fresh water that I had taken on board a week earlier had already leaked out into the bilge. As we examined the failed valve the next morning, we noticed that the spring that held the valve under compression had given out. I struggled to think of what I might have on board that could substitute for the worn out spring, I came up blank. Then one of the crew (not the wolf) asked if we might have some sort of waxed thread or string that could be seized to the valve in place of the spring. Since maintaining a traditional gaff rig is virtually impossible without several types of waxed twine, we had several thicknesses of line to choose from. After several minutes of improvising, the valve no longer leaked, and we could refill the main water tank.
Later that same day, while motoring though a calm we started having difficulty with the diesel throttle. The vibration from the engine would cause the throttle to gradually, but continually, ease off. I had run into this before, and the long-term solution involves breaking down the throttle and shifter assembly and reassembling them: not something to attempt while crossing the shipping lanes in Casco Bay. Once again, twine to the rescue. A few wraps of waxed twine between throttle and shifter and the problem was solved for the rest of the cruise.
The truth is we had a terrific first cruise of the season and the number of problems we had with systems was minimal. As I rowed away from the boat for the last time after the cruise, I noticed that one of the slide boards was crooked. Oh well, it can be re-seized with twine.
The later half of this week, in Rockland Maine, and event will be staged at the Rockland town docks that will be of interest to anyone who loves classic sailboats and events where sailors gather. It is the annual Friendship Sloop Gathering. Staring on Wednesday afternoon sloops will begin arriving from all over the coastal North East to participate in four days of fun.
There will be races held off the Rockland Breakwater Thursday, Friday, and Saturday afternoon. A Parade of Sail Saturday morning, and between the sailing and rowing events the sloops will be rafted up at the town landing allowing Friendship Sloop Society members to socialize.
Some of the boat owners will be focused on the racing but an important part of the event is to allow the public access to these beautiful boats that come in such a variety of sizes and shapes. As many as twenty five boats can be rafted up at the public docks for this event and the public are encouraged to come down, chat with boat owners, their families and crews, ask questions, and see these beautiful vessels up close.
I can’t be there the whole time this year due to commitments at work, but Saxon and I will be there part of the time and definitely on Saturday, and our boat will be there the whole time. So, if you are going to be anywhere near Rockland this week, and your looking for something to do that is both fun and free, come watch a race from the breakwater or come down to the docks and say hello.
