The Godspeed At
Harborfest 2011
A first-time
sailor's photo journal
click on any image to see a
larger photo (photos by Georgia Irby-Massie, *by John Robinson, all rights
reserved, queries to glirby@wm.edu)
Wednesday, June 08: Jamestown to
Cape Charles
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our shadow on the Water |
the ghost fleet |
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approaching the James River
Bridge |
a replica 17th century vessel
stops traffic |
the bridge rises for us |
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under the James River Bridge |
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on the other side of the Bridge |
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Fort Monroe Lighthouse |
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under sail |
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off-duty watch |
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the view from the portal in my bunk |
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Thursday, June 09:
Cape Charles to Norfolk
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The lovely morning light in Cape
Charles |
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the neighborhood |
Russ models Whit's delicious
breakfast sandwich |
A local artist paints the
Godspeed |
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a mother osprey and her three
chicks |
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relaxing |
under sail |
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Thimble Shoals Lighthouse |
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The Gazela |
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Submarine |
Norfolk waterside |
Quiet on the pier on the eve of
the festival |
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sherbet after the "Harborfeast" |
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Friday, June 10:
The Parade of Sail
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the Gazela |
the Norfolk Rebel |
Kalmar Nyckle |
with Peter Meekins, Sailing Master of
the 1985 trans-Atlantic Godspeed sail* |
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with John** |
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saluting parade onlookers in Norfolk |
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Russ aloft |
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Coast Guard rescue demonstration |
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Saturday, June 11:
Harborfest at Norfolk
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the Skipper's made-to-order
breakfast with Cape Charles raisin bread |
a seventeenth century sailor* |
the Skipper's famous pasta salad |
tugs compete |
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Todd's famous pork barbeque |
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Sunday, June 12:
Harborfest at Norfolk
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Todd's pancakes and fresh fruit salad |
the Schooner Virginia |
seventeenth century sailor on pier duty* |
seafood pot pie from Hell's
Kitchen |
Monday, June 12:
Norfolk to Seaford
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the view from my portal in
Norfolk |
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the Wisconsin |
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the Coast Guard Cutter Beluga
leaves |
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the Eisenhower leaves |
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I couldn't be happier* |
spray breaking the bow |
at the helm* |
firing the cannon* |
Smith's Marine Railway in Seaford, established 1842 |
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cows at Smith's |
a new feline friend |
Al Capone's boat |
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Monday on the
"lumpy" Lower Bay: two minute video
All my life I've
dreamed of the high seas and learning how to sail any kind of vessel, from a
tiny sloop to a ship of the line. After a year of volunteering with the sail
crew at the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, I've learned port from starboard,
clew garnet from tack, braces from shrouds. I've cleaned and cleaned and cleaned
(and cleaned), down-rigged and catalogued, scraped, and whipped-stitched robands.
I've learned my knots (to the delight of the cats who love to help me
practice!), studied belaying plans, and have been trained to work aloft (which I
will do at any opportunity). I've freed bowlines and hauled sheets. None of this
could I have done without the encouragement, and assistance of my
fellow shipmates, to whom I am indebted for their patience and for
generously sharing their knowledge, experience, and wisdom. If nothing else, learning to sail a tall ship
is an exercise in team-work, esprit-de-corps, and hard work. Yet there is so
much more to learn. In the meantime, I enjoyed a memorable week of sailing the
beautiful Godspeed on the Chesapeake Bay, spending clear and stormy nights on
deck (thinking the whole time how privileged I am!), and talking with strangers
about one of my passions. The photographs above are the best from a large
collection, and I apologize to my fellow shipmates if at any time I was a
nuisance with the camera. This was certainly the adventure of a lifetime, and
the first of what I hope will be many.
