W/NW The Romance of Sail: Sailing boats, yachts, dinghies and ships

[KoNickon]

Eye of the Wind
A brigantine rigged sailing ship
At anchor somewhere in the Solomon Islands Circa late 1980's.
Possibly off the north coast of Guadalcanal (I cannot now recall).

Somehow when I look at this picture I am always reminded of the poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson. A bit maudlin I know , but there you go, I must be in a sentimental frame of mind.

"Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,
But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home
Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;
For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crost the bar."

View attachment 4850755

Often this poem is seen in obituaries. I hope you're in a more positive frame of mind! Great picture though.

 

[peterm1]

Often this poem is seen in obituaries. I hope you're in a more positive frame of mind! Great picture though.

Thanks glad you like the photo. I am fine actually - I mostly just love the poem for the "music" and imagery of its words. I feel the same about some British patriotic hymns. The funny thing is I am not really religious, well not conventionally so anyway. I just love the emotions created by eloquent expression like this - they create a sense of the numinous.

And in this case the words seemed especially apt due to the beauty of a sailing ship at anchor at dusk with anchor light burning.

BTW, a similar feeling is evoked in my mind by words of "Banjo" Patterson in a poem called "Clancy of the Overflow" (a fictional character who was what Americans might call a cowboy). In writing of his life in the Australian "bush" the poet says:

"And the bush hath friends to meet him, and their kindly voices greet him
In the murmur of the breezes and the river on its bars,
And he sees the vision splendid of the sunlit plains extended,
And at night the wondrous glory of the everlasting stars."

It's that last line that always get me and draws me into his world.

OK now I am babbling so I will shut up.

 

[boojum]

The tug Aqua, tied up in Astoria. Full moon for free.

L1000049 by West Phalia, on Flickr​

 

[Out to Lunch]

The Netherlands, Hindeloopen. Fuji X-Pro1 - XF 2/18.

 

[boojum]

This is me on my boat, called "Wind Cat" !

PS: unfortunately boat is for sale now ...

Catboats rule!

 

[boojum]

On the way home I caught this ship moored in the Astoria (OR) Anchorage. I was playing with the digital tele function on the camera. It's OK.

Q1000367 by West Phalia, on Flickr​

 

[peterm1]

At anchor,
Tall ship, "Eye of the Wind"
Marovo Lagoon, New Georgia
Marovo Lagoon is sometimes called the 8th natural wonder of the world. Over one hundred kilometres long, it is the biggest saltwater lagoon in the world and is part of Solomon Island's Western Province. To top it off, the people were incredibly welcoming and friendly perhaps because travelers like us were still a rarity. It was a privilege to visit this remarkable but little-known place.
https://pacificislandliving.com/the-eighth-wonder-of-the.../

 

[robert blu]

This is a beautiful thread, thanks to keep it alive.
I know, I should contribute with some photo…I will do…

 

[poortmanc]

Salvage tug "Holland", built 1951.

 

[robert blu]

My brother and me sailing our Flying Junior (I'm the one with the white cap) , the boat was named Jacqueline, my Mom's name.
The photo was taken, film developed and negative printed by my Dad, I guess it was around 1965. Not sure but he was using the Rolleiflex in that time (of course the negative was later cropped).

 

[Out to Lunch]

Ontario, Mississauga. After sailing the Great Lakes for 54 years, the Ridgetown now serves as a breakwater in Port Credit. Leica SL2S - Sigma 2/65 DG DN Contemporary.

 

[boojum]

My brother and me sailing our Flying Junior (I'm the one with the white cap) , the boat was named Jacqueline, my Mom's name.
The photo was taken, film developed and negative printed by my Dad, I guess it was around 1965. Not sure but he was using the Rolleiflex in that time (of course the negative was later photo cropped).

View attachment 4860883

Nothing can compare with sailing where 6 or 7 knots is like the speed of light. The breeze, the ripple of water across the hull, the sunlight, the motion, it conspires to create magic. Unless you are in a storm. ;o)

 

[robert blu]

My wife and me on our small catboat (revisited).
Curiosity: the name of the boat was "Gatto del Vento" wich could be translated in "Cat of the Wind" and the boat was designed by an architect named Gatti which can be translated in Cats! Many cats around LOL !
Photo taken by a friend, on the Lake of Como, more or less 15 years ago.