Allure 16/17

[Frank]

Had an awesome sail yesterday!
The Hopetown sailing club had a cruisers race scheduled and my friends Bob and Alice on "Neesa", a Morgan 38 asked me to help crew. We went out to prep and tucked a reef in the main as it was blowing pretty good.
The sailing club's rule is to cancel in winds over 20 knots so after some debate, the race chairman cancelled the start.
So...we did what any sailor would do...we went for a nice sail!
Winds were mid 20's gusting 30.
The Morgan is a heavy boat and handled the wind and seas very well.
Was fun bashing along in the high 6's and up to 7.3 at one point.
After several hours we returned to harbour....all of us a bit tired but grinning from the ride. Fun stuff!!

[lance on cloud nine]

all great photos....but of the 3 marked "beach views", I love the one in the center. thanks for posting!

[Frank]

This is my favorite.
NE ocean beach on Manjack cay.
Pic is from last year.....just seems a great shot to me

Relay....easy anchoring at multiple locations at Manjack. This beach is a couple of miles long and typically has NO ONE else on it!
The outer reef isn't to far offshore...good fishing and diving.

[Frank]

Went to hop in my dingy and realized there was a visiter....
He hung around for over 30 minutes....
Now my dingy "feels so used" 😍

[Jim_ME]

Ha, Frank. You captured a real "tender" moment there...  ;)

[Frank]

Too funny 👍

[ralay]

That's hilarious. 

[Frank]

Day 4 into a 6 day song writers festival here at HopeTown. Patrick Davis (a gifted writer/performer himself) started 5 years ago to bring a group of fellow writers over here to play their songs at different venues on Elbow Cay. It has taken off and what an amazing group here this year. All have written songs you have heard. One has 11 number one hits! It's incredible to sit back and listen to them talk about how the song came about and then play it....often as good as the "star" that they wrote it for. It's a very laid back atmosphere and most of the writers are well lubricated by the time they perform their music. Just a great time!!
If any of you are looking for an excuse to come over next year...this IS it!!
For next year's dates....save
songwritersinparadise.com

Harbour last night...
This morning...

[Frank]

I've been back at Green Turtle for almost a week now. Laundry and groceries today then heading west island hopping to visit friends. Really trying to do the "sail west when the wind will take you there" thing. Nice to not have a schedule and have to motor.
Pics are from my walk into town this morning
You just never know what you'll see...
Shark is only about 4-1/2 ft
Turtle is quite large....shell would be around 30in

[Frank]

 Nice sail up to Manjack, anchored at the N bay....had it all to myself last night. Came down to the Crab/Manjack bay this afternoon to visit friends.
Took a dingy tour up the "mangrove creek" out back to look at sea turtles.
They are SO fast it's really hard to get a decent pic. Took 36 in total but lucked out with my clearest ever.
Sunset tonight.
Allure at anchor

[s/v Faith]

Absolutely beautiful Frank....  Was just looking at pictures from my last trip earlier this afternoon (recoup from a bit of flu)....   

  Thanks for the posts, keep them coming!

[Frank]

Tonight...
Sorry....
They just don't get old to me....

It's been BLOWING
Hopefully head N on Weds for a change...

[CapnK]

They just don't get old to me....

Grog to that.

[Frank]

I'm getting "antsie"
Those that cruise know what I mean...
When things start feeling like Groundhog Day.....nice as it is...it's time to move.
No plan. Have breakfast with the boys tomorrow and a good E wind so I'm headed W.
See where the hook drops....
Just nice the wind has settled down a bit.

[Frank]

SOoooo nice to be underway!!
Lazy man's 'genny only' broad reach making high 4s and low 5s.
Water is beautiful!!
Life is good 😃

[lance on cloud nine]

lovely pics! thanks Frank!

[Bob J (ex-misfits)]

Now that looks peaceful!

[Frank]

So....I'll apologize ahead. The wine is working 😃
Sitting in the cockpit...ipad on Bluetooth to mini Bose sound link ....tunes on shuffle.
Sun set is over but a red glowwww to horizon...
On comes Fiddlers Green.....
Those that don't know......a classic sailors poem...

The Tragically Hip made a song of that title... Ponient   


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7DzRDGeOgWw

They are an old university band from Up home

Years ago, Dan Ackroyd was guest hosting Saturday Night Live and announced them "a band from my home town, Kingston Ontario Canada.......the Tragically Hip"

[Frank]

So.....their lead singer, Downey, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer last year. He wanted to keep touring.....and they did!! ......all summer!!

They never really broke into the USA market......but did well up home.

Great band

Great tune...

[CapnK]

I'd heard the term, but never really knew... (from Wikipedia):

"Fiddler's Green is a legendary supposed afterlife, where there is perpetual mirth, a fiddle that never stops playing, and dancers who never tire. In 19th-century maritime folklore it was a kind of afterlife for sailors who have served at least 50 years at sea."

Lyrics:

September seventeen
For a girl I know it's Mother's Day
Here son has gone alee
And that's where he will stay
Wind on the weathervane
Tearing blue eyes sailor-mean
As Falstaff sings a sorrowful refrain
For a boy in Fiddler's Green

His tiny knotted heart
Well, I guess it never worked too good
The timber tore apart
And the water gorged the wood
You can hear her whispered prayer
For men at masts that always lean
The same wind that moves her hair
Moves a boy through Fiddler's Green

Nothing's changed anyway
Nothing's changed anyway
Any time today

He doesn't know a soul
There's nowhere that he's really been
But he won't travel long alone
No, not in Fiddler's Green
Balloons all filled with rain
As children's eyes turn sleepy-mean
And Falstaff sings a sorrowful refrain
For a boy in Fiddler's Green