The Final Post

As it turns out blogging from a 120 ft. wooden Gloucester Schooner off the Coast of Maine requires more technical expertise than I possess.  So back home in Maryland, having sorted and edited some pictures I am making a final entry that sums up the June 5th thru the 9th.  The pictures will tell the story better than my words, but my propensity for chat requires that I express some observations and feelings about the sailing and our trip in general

The American Eagle is a magnificent ship.  After a fifty year history of fishing the Grand Banks she was rebuilt by Captain John Foss in 1986.  John is a member of the Maine Windjammer association with 30 years experience leading trips in the waters off the Maine coast.  John is a man with an enormous depth and breadth of knowledge about the geography and history of the Maine, sailing, and just about anything else you want to chat about.  He has a quiet dry sense of humor that will leave you smiling if you listen close.  The most impressive thing about John is the absolute control he holds over the American Eagle and the crew.  He is a commanding figure who never raises his voice above the level of conversation while exuding quiet confidence.  John does this with a wry grin.  His orders are requests and always followed by "Thank you."

The crew on the American Eagle reflects John's meticulous nature.  They are energetic engaging young men and women who are competent sailors and excellent hosts.  As a passenger on the Eagle you are treated like a guest in a 5 star hotel, while in the comfort of shorts and tee shirt, weather permitting.  Part of a trip on the Eagle is recreational eating.  The food is abundant and delicious.

My last comments are about my son Jake.  This trip was his graduation present.  The trip was for him and was his choice.  Selfishly it was about my relationship with my son.  I figured this may be the last time in this life I would be able to spend extended one on one time with my son.   Father and son will always be father and son but some lucky ones of us get to cross a bridge with our fathers.  For those of us who get the opportunity to make that passage we will never again be just father and son, we will  be father son and friend.  Thanks you John Wines for walking across that bridge with me some 40 years ago. Thank you Jake Wines for walking across that bridge with me against the backdrop of art that was 10 million years in the making, God's finger print in Maine.