Tuesday, July 4, 2017

On the Water

Schooner Adirondack II (Source)
The Adirondack II is a gaff-rigged schooner with a wooden hull, and was completed by Scarano Boat Building in Albany, NY. Schooner Adirondack II was completed in 1999, and was brought to Newport Harbor when the original Schooner Adirondack departed Newport to begin operating out of Chelsea Piers in New York City. She is Coast Guard certified for 57 guests. Her masts reach over 70 feet above deck and has just under 2000 square feet of sail area. She is 65 feet on deck, 80 feet overall, and has a draft of 7 feet. On a high wind day, it is not uncommon for her to reach 10 knots under sail. She is a very lively and fast vessel, and all of her captains feel that she is an absolute dream to operate! (Source)
Well, we had expected that The Nuke and the grand-dogs were to be in town to celebrate Independence Day. However, it was not to be, for duty called and she had to work part of the weekend and could not get away. The disappointment at Chez Sarge was palpable.

On the other hand, she had booked a sailing adventure out of Newport for Sunday afternoon. She couldn't make it, The Missus Herself and I were forced to go ahead and take the cruise for her.

Sacrifices. We make them for our children.

The Nuke had thought it to be a sunset cruise, well to be certain, had we taken the cruise at another time of year it would have been. But at the beginning of July one should not expect to see the sun go down between 1700 and 1830. Unless, of course, the Apocalypse was upon us. As it was not, we saw bright sunshine the whole way.

Now technically speaking it was a Dark and Stormy cruise.

What? No, the weather was fine, why would...

Oh! Let me explain.
Newport Dark and Stormies, a local version of the traditional drink and a favorite among the local sailing community, are served aboard this sail. The drink features Newport's own Thomas Tew's Rum and Rhode Island's Yacht Club Ginger Beer, developed to go with Pirate Tew's rum. (Source)
While The Missus Herself did not have a beverage aboard the schooner, I did. For research purposes dontcha know?

The Newport Dark and Stormy is a most excellent beverage. After consuming mine I felt this great urge to start saying "argh" and perhaps to convince the crew to start waylaying other vessels and generally playing the pirate. I also had this great urge to have another, perhaps more, ya know for the research wot's innit.

However, the Adirondack's crew assured me that piracy was indeed illegal, and that there is a significant Coast Guard presence in the local waters. Also The Missus Herself assured me that any more Dark and Stormies and I might have the opportunity, like Luca Brasi, to "sleep with the fishes."

Sigh...

So I limited my activities to just the one Dark and Stormy, some photography, admiring the sights, and no piracy.

"But that boat there has a much smaller crew than ours..."

"Sit down, Sir. We are not going to board any of the other boats. As fun as that might be. We could lose our licence to serve alcohol dontcha know?"

Hhmm, perish the thought.

Anyhoo, if you're ever in Newport, chase those links above, book a sail. It's relatively inexpensive and the Dark and Stormies are but five bucks a pop. Yummy, good stuff.

Oh, here are some of the photos I took. As a bonus there's a video I took at the end. (No skipping ahead now...)

A brilliant day to head out into the Bay!
Newport is always a bit crowded in the summer. This is nearly empty compared to when we returned to the pier.
The crew cleaning up after the previous cruise.
I must have a word with the port authorities, this is not the proper way to mount a cannon!
MV Renaissance. I think I could get used to living that sort of life.
The crew hoisting sail.
Outward bound.
Hands aloft! Er, never mind...
That tall ship is the Oliver Hazard Perry, built right here in Little Rhody. Want to learn how to sail a tall ship? They will teach you.
There is nothing so pleasant as wind-filled canvas on a fair day!
One of the local buoys.
A couple of the local gulls.
(Detail from the preceding photo.)
The crew seeing to our comfort. Yes, those are Dark and Stormies...
A full selection of beverages could be had, from water to rum.
Clingstone on The Dumplings.
(That's the name of the house and the name of the rocks atop which she sits.)
You can read more about Clingstone here.
It rents for about ten grand a week.
The crew giving us the guided tour.
I love the slap of the waves against the hull. I could listen to that all day.
Now that is a blue sky!
The Star Spangled Banner on the battlements of Fort Adams.
(Hhmm, reminds me of a song...)
Another view of the Perry as we round the Fort.
Yes indeed, welcome to Newport!
It was a fine way to spend a couple of hours.
Back to the pier. Sigh...
Sea and sky. I love it.
Ahoy mateys! Stick around for the video.


A rather talkative bunch weren't they? But we all had fun!

Enjoy the Fourth, may your day be filled with fun and Independence!

Remember what it's all about and how we got here.

It wasn't cheap.



30 comments:

  1. So, did the owner of Clingstone moon you as you sailed past?

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  2. Sacrifices. We make them for our children.

    Did the child appreciate your sacrifice?

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  3. Yeah, it's shame you you were "forced" to make such a sacrifice. Looks like you had a great time. I've always wanted to sail the seas in a real sailing ship but never got the opportunity.

    I spent the summer of '79 taking tourists out on two and three day deep sea fishing trips out of Panama City and it was an awesome summer but I would have loved to go sailing just once.

    I hope The Nuke appreciates your efforts! ;-)

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    Replies
    1. The first thing one notices is the lack of engine noise.

      It was sublime.

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  4. Sailing involves ropes. A bewildering array of ropes. (although I think some of the ropes are called lines) My Navy career taught me that we who worked in the engineering spaces are called sailors, but we know nothing of sailing. Although by the same token the engineering spaces contain a bewildering array of pipes and some of the pipes are also called lines.

    I am still trying to get a local source for the chocolate hazelnut porter.

    I don't think that spending time on foam raft in our pool counts as sea duty, but there will be adult beverages!

    I was exposed to Newport when my can did some visits there in the seventies, and my wife and I picked a weekend in September in 1983 to drive up there. We were sure that since it was after Labor Day the crowds would be gone. And except for those few people who were there to see the America's Cup race, we were correct. On top of all that, we lost and the America's Cup went to the Aussies.

    Great post and good memories.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had my Heretic at a local pub here in Bristol. There doesn't seem to be a local retailer who carries it.

      Bummer...

      I normally don't do Newport in the summer because of the lack of parking and the crowds. The Visitor Center solved the parking problem (though it was too damned expensive) and the crowds stayed on land.

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  5. Looks like a heckuva lot of fun. Gets the ol' nautical juices flowing. Think I'll grab my cutlass and go force someone to bury a chest.

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  6. HMMM. rum and real ginger beer I have. Should I go for it? If it's like a moscow mule, I should sit down probably. It is hard to get old.

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    Replies
    1. Do it! Of course, you'll regret it but, hey, enjoy the ride I always say!

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  7. Happy Independence Day to you and yours, sir!

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  8. It is said that a man who boards a power boat has a destination in mind; the man who boards a sailboat is already there.
    I still say you joined the wrong service, Sarge; this old sailor has never lost his love for the sea.

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    Replies
    1. There are days I think you're right Rev. The sea seems to be in my blood.

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  9. Clingstone seems to be a pretty house, but what's up with the toilets in the garden?

    You people up north are weird...

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  10. So y'all got "roped" into "picking up the slack" eh? :) Tough duty, you seem to pull FAR more than your fair share, Sarge. Plus you just had to provide the photos to rub it in ...don't know how much more of this fun I can take.

    PS: Have a Happy Fourth and Don't Give Up The Ship! (Or. to quote the head of the US Merchant Marine Union who said to his wife on his deathbed: "Don't let the bastards steal my pension!") I guess he knew his people, lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Those are some fine last words right there!

      Have a great Fourth Virgil!

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    2. The smoke signals preclude viewing photos, but sounds like you had a good time. Happy Independence Day! May the celebration thereof continue!

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    3. It's back to work tomorrow. But it's only for two days.

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  11. Happy Fourth Sarge! We did the Adirondack III in Key West some years ago. I got to drive! https://goo.gl/photos/sYtT2FUT3cWNjU4RA

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  12. That looks like a carronade, rather than a cannon. HAPPY FOURTH to All, from The Badger's Burrow!

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    Replies
    1. Well, it is sorta short and squat looking innit?

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  13. Ah, that brings back memories. I lived in Brenton Village for a year before moved over to wrong end of Cliff Walk. The dumplings were at relative 000 from my bedroom in Brenton Village and my parents had given me a telescope.
    I sailed there for many years on the Mercuries, Rhodes and Shields out of NNYC and littler stuff out of Newport Yacht Club.

    I sometimes wonder if other people knew that little kids were out there sailing about in the path of great dangerous ships and vessels but knew the rules of the road, wouldn't some lame-ass du-gooder demand that they be licensed and supervised at all times by adults with driving licences?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nice neighborhood!

      Yes, the "wussification" of America. Telling folks how to raise their kids, said advice normally given by PhDs with zero children.

      I survived riding a bicycle with no helmet. Operating a power boat at the age of 11 with no formal training other than, "don't run into anything" and "slow down in shallow water, it's where the rocks live."

      Sigh, where will it end. (With all of us learning to speak Chinese?)

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    2. zed chance of that since Chinese is said to be a tonal language and I don't/can't do tonal. :)

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    3. Chinese is indeed a tonal language, I have no time for such things.

      Delete

Just be polite... that's all I ask. (For Buck)
Can't be nice, go somewhere else...

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