Aboard Victory Chimes: A Journal and Photo Documentary

Roberta on the Arts

Aboard Victory Chimes: A Journal and Photo Documentary

Aboard Victory Chimes: A Journal and Photo Documentary

- On Location with Roberta

Maine Windjammer Association

Explore Maine's pristine coast and islands aboard an authentic windjammer. Great sailing by day, snug harbors each night. 3- to 6-day cruises from Camden, Rockland and Rockport.
www.sailmainecoast.com

The Maine Windjammer Association
www.sailmainecoast.com
800.807.WIND
Meg Maiden, Marketing Director
207.374.2952

Aboard Victory Chimes
www.victorychimes.com
Captain Kip Files, Captain Paul DeGaeta
800.745.5651

A Journal and Photo Documentary

Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower
June 12 - June 18, 2005

This is not a detailed and technically researched, travel documentary, but, rather, a mental and visual reflection of a wonderful trip.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Interviews

Day 5, June 16, 2005
Sailing and Stonington
Lobsters and Corn

With quiche for breakfast (vegetable for me, bacon and sausage for the others), chili, fish cakes, soup, and salad for lunch, Pam (with Sarah and Becca in the galley) was a busy bee. She never ceased to amaze me, with the extreme weather, day to day, and everybody’s different appetites, as she created elegant, hearty, healthy, and bountiful meals and snacks several times/day, even fresh lemonade, always available.

As today was a bit warmer, misty, but not pouring, it turned into another touring and shopping day. That meant lowering ourselves on wet ladders into a motorboat to tour an island town, in this case, Stonington, all the while in warm, dry weather gear. My inexpensive, CVS rain poncho became not only a cover over my layers of Ecuadorian poncho, sweater, sweatshirt, jeans, (Why didn’t I bring long underwear and mittens?), and Dorothy’s mittens, but it also became a plastic seat cover on the boat for those next to me. We had already sailed the extra distance to Stonington and walked around on our own. I bought my niece, Jessie, a signed Ruth Moore book in an antique store, and later some puffin and loon magnets for friends, as well as maple sugar for Captain and crew. I carried hot coffee from a small café and walked up and down quaint, scenic paths, abutting the Bay.

Later we sailed to the islands, North Haven and Vinalhaven, carrying along crates of live lobsters for the evening feast of lobsters and corn. Pam and galley crew would be even more busy now, and I was glad they didn’t get loose, not one. Crossing Penobscot Bay, we saw black and white native birds and bobbing heads of seals. We also passed the cutest lighthouse (although they were all quite cute), ferries, motorboats, and other schooners, and, as it remained mostly dry but cool for the afternoon, we were able to do some water-sightings. My strong binoculars came in quite handy (not often used in Midtown, NY). When the wind picked up as Victory Chimes re-positioned (I learned we had sailed in a downwind), Captain brought up the awning.

Drinks and desserts were enjoyed on deck, later in the evening, as Captain read Ruth Moore (same author as the children’s novel) ballads. Captain Kip Files, Captain of this one-week tour, is a seasoned sailor of steel. Whether smoking his pipe or bundling under a hooded parka, whether steering the schooner or supervising First Mate, Michael (who then supervised his crew, usually Goldy, Boatswain, first, and then Joe, Landon, Abby, and Parker), Captain Files never lost his cool, not ever, even in a storm or freezing rain. He managed his entire crew with expertise, and, at times, Pam, Sarah, and Becca, the galley crew, were seen happily hoisting or lowering three large sails and three smaller headsails, switching sail positions to catch or hold the wind, drying or cleaning the deck and tools, hoisting and lowering the noisy anchor and chain, or fixing the several “heads”. This was the ultimate image of teamwork.