After the rigging goes up, the schooner takes on a new look and feel, beginning to come alive. She seems as though she’s sitting at the dock, tugging on her mooring lines, ready to be released. Patience, we say, sails will be bent on soon and passengers will arrive soon (21 days and counting!). It’s hard to believe, but it only takes two days to rig the vessel…two very long days at that!
So it seems only fitting to share this photo of Alex on the masthead on May Day…as Sawyer and Nadie are preparing for their May Pole dance at school…It’s amazing that May Day traditionally divides the year in half…can that be???
Have a great day. Be well. Do good.
P.S. To those who have commented since this was published,
According to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, striking dolphins is clearly criminal activity. Now we won’t judge what you do in your spare time but we here at the global headquarters of the schooner Mary Day protect the rights of all dolphins to swim the oceans freely without fear of being stricken by a piece of varnished wood. What did they do to deserve such poor treatment at the hands of maniacal schoonermen and square riggers alike, arm chair or otherwise, as they gracefully swim in the bow waves bringing joy to the hearts of many? On the other hand the term martingale speaks of beauty and grace. In that spirit we have chosen the more sensitive and graceful term to describe such a beautiful object. I reference, of course, Van Nostrands 1922 ” Standard Seamanship for the Merchant Service”, second edition, sixth printing, authored by Felix Riesenberg, C. E. (credits and accolades too long to list) where on pages 182, 192, and 194 he refers to the dolphin striker and martingale as one and the same.
Besides which, we just wanted to see if you were paying attention. By the reports of brown outs throughout the Alabama power grid it is clear that you were paying very close attention. On behalf of all of us here at the global headquarters… thank you… we are glad someone is reading this thing.
Best, Jen and Barry