Mahone Bay Wooden Boat Festival is starting

[mmd]

I was just over to Mahone Bay and things are heating up, and the show doesn't start 'till Thursday!

The Light Schooner races start tomorrow, and several boats are looking for crewmembers. You don't need to be experienced, just willing to have fun and maybe even drink beer! A few of the Windsprint boats are looking for crew, too - same resume requirements. The Cardboard Boat races are looking like they are going to be a blast!

There are a few dozen lovely wooden boats moored in the bay, and dozens more are expected to arrive in the next day or two. There is a really sweet little black-hulled sloop with overhangs "out to there!", and I saw two really nice traditional gaff schooners over on the Oakland side of the harbour. Lots of Cape Island boats ranging from fishing-ready to cruising style, too.

I'll get the ol' digital charged up and start taking photos tomorrow. If any of you are near enough to make it, get in yer car and drive over here - yer gonna miss a great time if'n ya don't!

[Steve McMahon]

I'll be there Saturday with my 14 year old son. I've missed the festival for the last five years and this will be the first time going without a boat! Hopefully I'll find someone in need of some rail meat. smile.gif

[mmd]

Steve, if a berth for a race is what you're after, go to the launch ramp by the dinghy dock; you'll see all the Light Schooners and Windsprints hauled up. Ask around to find the boat owners/captains as ask if anyone needs a crewperson. You're more than likely to find a ride. Another ploy would be to come to the Mug & Anchor Pub between 0930 and 1100 hrs and sit in on the Small Wooden Boat Association's meeting - we welcome guests and most of the members are boat owners, many of whom are happy to have extra crew. Good luck, maybe we'll cross paths.

[Venchka]

:(
That's me.
:rolleyes:
Green.
Envy.
I'll get there someday.

Ya'll pass a good time, you hear? :D
Hug a Boudreaux!

[Steve McMahon]

I hope we do meet mmd. Thanks for the tip. If the schooner association is around I might be able to pick up my old berth on the Sea Hawk if she's there. If time permits we are going to swing by the cottage on the way and bring a couple of kayaks, maybe put in on the other side of the harbor and avoid parking issues?

[mmd]

The Schooner Assoc. annual races were in Chester last week, so it's likely that quite a few are hanging around the area this week as well. Bonne chance!

Venchka, Boudreau is a name we are familiar with 'round these parts - still a few Acadians about, especially over of the west side f the province on the Bay of Fundy. L'Acadie, mon cher! ;) Have you read "Schooner Man" by Lou Boudreau?

[rbgarr]

Sounds fun. Hope you have good weather. Show us in your pictures what a Windsprint is and what qualifies as a Light Schooner. They sound :cool:

[reddog]

I believe The Schooner Association is planning on having around half a dozen or so of the boats from the races in Chester.There are usually lots of local boats as day visitors and of course the kayaks,canoes and smaller boats.
The weather is looking cooperative also,so it should draw a good crowd.
I'll put in a plug for the ice cream at Joannes Market at the head of the bay as my daughter is working there this summer,scooping ice cream.
Hope to see y'all there.
Earl

[Steve McMahon]

Earl + Michael: You guys need to do something to make yourselves recognisable to those of use who have never met you. How a bout you guys mark "WBF" on your sou-westers and make sure you wear them all day?
:D Cheers

[mmd]

How 'bout if I was wearing a ball cap that has "Mason Marine Designs" embroidered on the peak? Or at the Sunday morning workshop on classic yacht reproductions, I'll be the one facing the wrong way. ;)

[Steve McMahon]

I guess that will have to do Michael. But I still think a sou wester would be easier to spot. :D

[Mr. Know It All]

I had a hat custom made that says "Mr. Know it All" on it, so if I'm ever lucky enough to make it up there to Mahone Bay, y'all should be able to spot me for sure. :D

They say you can spot a WBF person by the glazed over stare in their eyes, anytime wooden boats are in view. The digital camera is usually a dead give away too.

Have fun and please take lots of photo's. smile.gif
Peace-----> Kevin in Ohio

[reddog]

Man,everyone has one of those MMD caps.
Steve,I try to blend in with the crowd but I could be persuaded to wear my fuschia tights with a bikini top,but only if you say pretty please.When do you all plan to be there?
Earl

[Steve McMahon]

Earl - I will definatly watch out for you! I expect we will be there between 9 and 10am on Saturday. I'll dig out my green "Newfoundland Screech" T-shirt for identification purposes. It's the only thing I have left with a picture of a schooner on it. smile.gif

[reddog]

Steve;
I may have gotten carried away with my fashion statement.I'm going to try and get in for the SWBANS meeting at 9:30 AM on Saturday.I'll wear my World Tuna Flat Race Tee shirt,(grey with a stylized tuna rowing a green boat).The tights and top are in the wash.I do believe it's time we all met.
Earl

[Wilson Fitt]

We'll arrive sometime Friday afternoon and, according to the voice mail I recieved, be on mooring #8. Grab the tender out and pay a visit if you see us there. Christina Grant is the boat.

[reddog]

Wilson:
Is that the Christina Grant I see in The Back Hbr. of Chester,moored off Butch's and Steven's boatyard?If so she won't be hard to find at the show.
Earl
rbgarr:The Windsprint and Light Schooner are Bolger designs that actually look like a boat and sail quite handily.The Windsprints are double ended,I believe,around 12 feet.The Light Schooners are quite a bit longer with a transom.Both are designed for ply construction by non professionals.there is getting to be quite a fleet of both that show up for the racing.

[ 07-30-2003, 06:54 PM: Message edited by: reddog ]

[rbgarr]

Okay, thanks. I'm somewhat familiar with those Bolger designs.

I thought they'd be a local design that I'd never heard of. It's always fun to add to my 'fund' of boat info.

[Wilson Fitt]

Yes, that's us in the Back Harbour. We'll be there most of the summer. No long trips this year because we bought a little shack (I mean that for real) on Granite Street that backs onto Butch's boatyard. Just had it jacked up and a foundation poured, and will be busy trying to make it habitable for the next while. The good news is that we can see the CG on her mooring from the upper windows.

[reddog]

Wilson:
She's the finest boat in the harhour.I was just admiring her the other day and wondering what design I was looking at.
I am also familiar with your house jacking as I am the Building Inspector for Chester Mun. I thought the name on the file for that job was familiar but just couldn't place it.Small world.
Earl

[Wilson Fitt]

Thanks Earl. Yes, it would be nice if we could meet, preferably in the cockpit of the CG with libation in hand. All and sundry are welcome to come aboard.

[reddog]

Wilson:
Just got off the phone with my schooner friend.We will be bringing his boat,The Christina Lynn,over from LaHave tomorrow,(Fri. Aug.01).We should be in Mahone Bay by mid afternoon so will look for you.
Oh,The Christina Lynn is a 42 gaff,topsail schooner with a large pilot house.White topsides.
Take care.
Earl
Michael and Steve,hope to see you on Saturday.

[KMAC]

Hi mmd,
I'm a new member. My dad is a ham radio fella and I can track his radio via the internet. I just checked in and he is .5 kilometers outside of Lunenburg. I'm pretty sure he'll be in Mahone bay this weekend. Look for a white minivan with a big honkin' antenna on the back. His name is Sydney MacDonald. You can tell him his kayaks were on the
Rideau yesterday and were a big hit with the kids.
FYI: there is an antique and classic boat show in Mantotick next weekend. I hope to check it out and I'll give you an update.