Sail Boston 2009

Our sailing season aboard the Schooner Isaac H. Evans is nearly half over already and it's time to start planning for 2009. There's a big event planned for July 8-13 in Boston and we are considering attending. What we need to know from you is...would you like to sail to Boston aboard the Evans? If so, what length trip would you be interested in? What do you think a trip like that is worth? Or, better yet, what would you be willing to pay for the experience?

This is a totally new idea for us, and quite frankly, as exciting as the idea is, it is also a little scary. It's going to take a lot more work and a lot more planning than just our typical jaunt around Penobscot Bay and surrounding islands. But....we know it can be done and we're anxious to hear what you have to say about how we can make it the best trip possible.

Some of the things we're considering include a 10-day trip. We'd take several days to go down, spend a couple days participating in the event, and take several days getting back. Or perhaps a total of 6 or 7 days with several days getting there and a couple days participating in events then a second group boarding for a couple days of events and several days returning to Rockland.

Or maybe we should just skip the event all together and keep doing what we normally do.

What do you think?

Turk's Head Bracelets

Jon is the deck hand and mess mate on the Evans this summer. When he isn't washing dishes or helping Ria prepare another fantastic meal or handling a sheet or hauling a halyard he likes to teach guests how to make Turk's Head bracelets. You've probably seen them before in souvenir shops in coastal towns. They're generally white cotton and when you slip them on you immediately feel like an old salt. Jon has white and green cord on board and you can make as many as you like. One young guest made one for each wrist and one for each ankle!

Ian joined us for the Great Schooner Race trip and is shown here working on his bracelet.

And here's Ian and Owen later that day hanging out on the jib boom (check the first photo to see Owen learning to make his first Turk's Head). Unfortunately we can't see their wrists in this photo...are they wearing their bracelets?

Of course, the best way to learn how to make a Turk's Head is on board the Evans from a real sailor but if you want a head start check out http://www.troop54.com/knots/TurksHeadKnot/TurksHeadKnot.htm
There's even an animation that walks you through the process. Arrrrgggghh!