It was rather sad, especially since these AMAZING wooden boats all converged at the behest of a guy who's this boat-racing and restoration god, and were supposed to race Saturday but it was supposed to blow 30mph so it was postponed till Sunday which was as flat a calm as I have ever seen.
I was not on Jeff Brown, since I had to work at a running race in the morning, but I flew back, scrambling from point to point on the shore, borrowing binoculars and marveling with a few other spectators that the big "Class A" boats had to do this monster loop in no wind at all . . . fortunately there were many "rescue"boats standing by, including my uncle's dragger, to tow 'em all in, poor dears, except for the one or two that had motors.
But it was a lovely sight. My new friend Guy, who has forgotten more about sailing than most people learn in a lifetime, took all these photos. I wish I could identify the boats but they included some new York 30s, a Stuart Knockabout (oh my god what a lovely boat), some watch Hill 15s, 3 (count 'em) Rozinantes, a cutter, a Fish, a Marlin, a Crowninshield, and a bunch more.
And of course a Smackee.
Here he is, leaving the cutter in the dust. Look at that roaring wind, willya?
Do you know who was aboard? I will tell you who--an Olympic sailor (Barcelona) and Don Street, the guy who wrote the definitive book about sailing in the Bahamas. Plus Charlie, who's like Guy.
I am surrounded by talent here. Why oh why won't any of it rub off on me???
Here they are earlier, with a bit of a breeze. That was about as wild as it got.
So now unfortunately I have a new favorite boat, based on all the prettiness I saw Sunday. It's a Herreshoff 12 1/2 fiberglass hull, gaff rig. Sigh.
