danamorris

After an extended period of being out of the water, I finally find myself employed again, and therefore able to launch the boat. That said, I have quickly developed plans to launch Yuletide for the season. What a joy to think of her afloat! I should start working on her in a few weeks, and drop her in the water before July. Fingers Crossed! Read Full Story

Lake Tashmoo, July 2008. Some changes to the lake this year. The entrance has shoaled half of the channel. No ducklings or other wild birds anywhere. Normally I would see baby swans, baby ducks, baby Canadian Geese, none of those things this year, and sadly, Fred the Greylag Goose is also no where to be found. What there are a lot of are terns, they have taken control of the beach at the head of the harbor, and hundreds of them are diving and swooping, and claiming their turf if you get too... Read Full Story

The entrance to Lake Tashmoo has shoaled dramitically this year. A word of caution on approaching the channel. The entire western half of the channel has shoaled. If you are drawing any water at all, I strongly advise that you hug the Eastern shore as you enter the breakwater. I would wait out any boats in the channel that are leaving lake, letting them pass before proceeding. I have been told that the channel will be dredged this winter, but in the meantime.... Caution in approaching! Read Full Story

The beginning of each season starts inside the vessel, as I clean and sand the interior varnishwork. While it is still cold and wet outside, I am able to get a jump start on the yearly spring ritual. The last two weeks I have spent sanding the brightwork. Once prepped, I washed the interior down, and started the next morning on the first coat. The heaters start at 4:00 am, so that by the time that I get onboard at 6:30 the interior is warm. I am putting in a half hour each morning before... Read Full Story

Wikizines are interactive magazines that anyone can create or edit - and this one is called "Sailing Buzzard's Bay and Vineyard Sound". Here you can find fresh voices and respond in real time. Some members write articles about recent news and trends related to the wikizine's topic, others recount relevant personal stories or share their favorite pictures and video clips. Got an interesting idea or story to share with other members of this wikizine? Well, then put on your journalist's cap and... Read Full Story

This past weekend we spent aboard Yuletide. Arriving on a Friday night, I could see the lights from the Oak Bluffs fireworks color the eastern sky. As I sat in the cockpit in the dark, I could see the colorful glows to the east, and a more ominous, regular burst of light from the sky to the south. As a storm quickly approached both the glow of the fireworks and the glow from the approaching storm became one, it started to rain and I could see that we were in for a spell of heavy weather. By... Read Full Story

Recently we saw some fireworks, or rather we saw the clouds illuminated by fireworks. It reminded me of years ago when I went to visit Dave and Suzie Perry in Portland Maine. It was a fourth of July celebration, and of course, in Maine that means fog, and lots of it. We sat there in Portland with the crowds as we looked across what we thought was the water, you could not actually see it. To be honest, you could barely see your nose the fog was so thick... I sat with the crowds as we watched... Read Full Story

One of the true beauties of August is the glowing waters of Vineyard Sound. Last Friday evening was the first time this season that the earlier sunsets of August caught up with us, and we rowed out to Yuletide in the pitch dark of an overcast evening. The water was as black as ink, and with each stroke of the oars, swirls of blues and greens would drift astern. Tiny spots of color sprang from the sides of the row boat, all leaving a tumult of light behind us. One of the beauties of August... Read Full Story

In Vineyard Sound you can actually sail backwards while going to windward! Last weekend Cheryl and I went out for a sail on Saturday. I'd checked the noontime currents, and they were running fairly strongly towards Nantucket. 2.5 plus at times. The wind was just right, although they were calling for 20 knot gusts. We headed out, and met a strong current running into the inlet at Lake Tashmoo. I had to gun the engine to get Yuletide moving through the current. I had a reefed main, which turned... Read Full Story

Catboats are beautiful in their timeless lines, and powerful hulls. I have flown across Buzzards Bay in record time, skimming across the waves as if on plane. They can be ferocious when over canvassed, nearly pulling your arm out trying to go in her own chosen direction. They have vast amounts of space for friends, and tiny cabins that beg for daytrips. They are a perfect platform for catching bluefish, as the Henry Plummer can attest. Bill and Lisa Elliott own this vessel, which has cruised... Read Full Story