USS Constitution Boston at Sunset

  As the day came to an end I made my way down to the Pier where I would board a motorized boat to take an evening sail around Boston Harbor. We boarded, found seats and purchased last minute food and beverages. For the next hour and a half we would be delighted by the scenery, the stories, told with an accent, enjoy the sea breeze and everyones company. Just as we started our return to port, the skyline was darking, gradually the sun disappeared the cannon was fired and the sailors aboard tha USS Constitution lowered the Ensign. Being the first ship in the US, mornings to raise and evening to lower its flag, as all other Navy ship follow its lead. The sun now sets on Boston Harbor. A this tradition has been taking place since its first victory and evening in 1812.

LIBERTY SAIL BOSTON HARBOR

Spent an hour and a half on the Liberty, just returned from the Bahamas, now stationed here for the next few months, giving passenger cruises out of Boston Harbor each afternoon, with ten crewmen the Liberty was a safe bet with some wind and the sea.

TAKING OFF FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE

  A large square sail, hoisted by young sailors from all over. Some students, some more experienced in this field. The Captain takes hold of the helm. We're gliding across the water, second sail in three days, two tall ships, each from different ports, a Glouster fishing boat that sails in the New York and Pennsylvania area. For a tour on the back bay in PA, just $25 and an hour and a half on the Lake Erie. Seemed like three hours, so relaxed a light breeze just enough to move us around. 
   Now a day later I arrive on Boston, and the following the day a late afternoon sail in Boston Harbor to a brisk breeze we take out and the the sails are up. We move out as the wharf disappears, we get acquainted with the crew. I slip below to take a look, books in the wood cases line one bulkhead, there  are bench seats covered with cushions,  the birthing and head are near to this lounge, I find out in another port area is a galley and some more racks. The ship has ten crew, and the captain has brought them up from the Bahamas, we sail the bay, the sails come down and soon we're docking and I'm off. Motored around the bay later that evening a site seeing cruise, leaving Boston the next day I see the the small sail boats on the Charles river.
  Driving North I get the feeling I'm not returning. Have I just started to get use to the strong accent. The Italian roots in Boston make the eastern draw very strong. Now in New Hamphire more relaxed, now easier to understand and the accent is still there. Enjoying a few others company I learn a few tricks and feel a bit more relaxed.
  Will make my way to the coast in the morning and see the Atlantic Ocean.

Spending Time with Dolphins

With almost two hundred dollars invested for each of us, we spent the afternoon at the pier setting up for an excursion with dolphins. We walked over from the Market Place, at the Pier they were doing some construction a building was going in. We changed into our swim suits, paid and took a few pictures while we waited for our guide to meet us at the boat.

About ten of us motored over to a small island and were geared up with flipper to swim. I swam with a dolphin that they called Coral, we dove and swam for several minutes. The guides took pictures, I helped out by taking a few pictures for one couple from Austria, and after we all swam we were guided back to the boat to return to the Island.

The dolphins were well trained and actually got very close, we have a couple pictures taken by the guides, one of a big hug and kiss. They were fed fish, and we got to visit with all the dolphins after the swim, the new baby Sande was watching us with much curiosity. She will probably be trained within the next few years to swim with the tourists. Good time was had by all.
 

NO THREAT OF BAD WEATHER

There's a wonderful land where I go by
       Myself
I just take a book from the library shelf,
   Turn its pages, and presto! I'm there.
 In that wonderful country of Yesterday,
   Where "to-morrow" is always the "now,"
Where the hood ship Adventure is spreading
    Her sails,
While the sea-foam breaks white at her
   Prow.

Where the desert sands burn in the African
   Sun,
   Where the North shivers under the snow;
Over the mountains. And valleys. Where
   Strange rivers run,
  With hardy explorers I go.
I share, too, in the magic of fairies and
   Gnomes;
 I have followed the ways of the sea'
 I have studied the fish in their watery
   Homes,
 And the bird and the ant and the bee.

I have followed the trail of the first pioneers
   Over prairie and mountains range'
I have lived with their dangers and shared
   In their fears
  In a country so new and so strange.
And then - just like magic - I'm high in the
   Air
 In a glittering aeroplane!
Swooping in bird-flight now here and now
  There-
Up, up through clouds and the rain!

O ship of adventure! Your sails are spread
   Wide
  As they fill with the winds of the West;
Restless and swaying, you wait for the tide
  To bear your way on your quest.
 With you I will sail for a year and a day
 To the world's most unreachable nooks,
For there's nothing to hinder the traveler's
   Way
Through the wonderful Country of Books!

                Edith D. Osborne

Boat Equipment & Graphics

NO MAN NEED BE COMMON, NO LIFE NEED BE ORDINARY

Thoughts on choosing a boat name, with examples, including take-off dinghy names.

• Patience is what I’ve named each of my boats, to remind me to have some with the crew, and that with a sailboat all things take time. My Crownline 250 cr express cruiser of course named Impatience. Dinghy is Lil’ Patience.

• Because i "survived" my military service in I Corp Vietnam (USAF '67-'68) as a medic, and more recently a lengthy career in law enforcement, plus having a very rewarding & satisfying 'post retirement' forensic consulting business, while enjoying good health .. and a extremely supportive wife (also in police work) .. we named our boat: Laus Deo. If you google that name you'll find that this Italian phrase is imprinted on a brass plate high atop the Washington Monument in Washington, DC, and that it means PRAISE BE TO GOD! And it is in that spirit of Celebration, that we chose Laus Deo

• I am a University of Florida graduate (GO GATORS!!). My husband is a University of Central Florida graduate (GO KNIGHTS!!). We both love our schools, and we wanted to combine our mascots into one name.

• Being a Firefighter, Bill worked a second job on his off days for almost 20 years. He often stated, “I can’t wait to quit my second job, and spend my off days fishing”. When we finally bought a boat we realized the name was warranted for other reasons ! We are now on our third boat…..all have been called “Second Job”

You can choose and design your boat name or registration number at this site. Hundreds of suggested names, listed by topic. After ordering the lettering and/or graphics they are sent to you by mail with instructions.