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On the day of Chip Ahoy's first sail of Sailing Season
2008, John Graichen ("Malacass") and his friends met up with me out in
Salem Sound to take some photos of each other's boats under sail.
(Jun. 8, 2008) Photo:
John caught up with me from behind as I approached Misery Island heading
for the channel between it and Bakers Island. |
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We'd arranged to meet out here, but John got an earlier
start than me -- I had to
adjust the new
mainsail and boom on Chip Ahoy's mooring before I could get
underway. To get out toward Misery and Bakers Islands and the
channel, where I'd
expected to find Malacass, I ended up running wing-and-wing in very light
air. Photo: Chip Ahoy
sailing wing-and-wing toward the Bakers Island Channel, with Greater and
Little Misery Islands a short distance away on the horizon. |
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As I left Salem Harbor behind I'd reached John by cell
phone aboard Malacass to learn his location. He was out on the
other side of Misery Island, where I had planned to go as well.
He would head back in toward me, we'd meet up somewhere along the way.
(Malacass with Bakers Island and its lighthouse on the horizon, the
granite
Bowditch Ledge Daybeacon between.)
(John
aboard Chip Ahoy passing Bowditch Ledge, Oct. 15, 2006) |
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The early heat wave was on strong, temperature in the
90s, but there was little wind, just air moving lazily. What there
was amounted to "light and variable" at best, shifting around the
compass continually. The sea was as flat and calm as I've ever
seen it. It took us about an hour to rendezvous. |
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While watching for Malacass on the way out, I didn't spot
it -- until John called and told me he was coming up on Chip Ahoy's
starboard side
stern quarter, somehow behind me! We were soon side-by-side
looking for good photo angles, trying to get the most out of the light
air. Graciously it picked up a bit for a short while so we could
get a few photos of more than luffing sails. |
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Malacass, John and friends with Bakers Island on the
horizon. |
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The mild breeze held long enough for
us to grab some decent photos before it died off again. |
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Chip Ahoy heading out toward the islands. |
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Malacass up close with John at the tiller, his "automatic
tiller pilot"
relaxing on the foredeck. |
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Chip Ahoy heading out toward the islands. |
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The ocean was virtually flat, until an occasional power
boat passed -- rarer this season with the astronomical price of fuel, one benefit of
the cost hike. The wakes tossed our boats all over with nothing
but
light-to-no air to stabilize the sails.
Watch the results of this power
boat's wake
CLICK FOR VIDEO |
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Chip Ahoy heading back toward Marblehead.
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Me at the tiller. It's going to
take a while to get home at this rate of speed! |
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John heading Malacass toward Marblehead Harbor on the
horizon. |
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The parting shots, this one of me taking one of Malacass
before heading back slowly toward Salem Harbor and Chip Ahoy's mooring. |
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Sailing Season '08 has arrived! |
