mainhalyard.net

May preparation

mainhalyard — Fri, 28 May 2010 00:00:24 -0400

After an extended period of being out of the water, I finally find myself employed again, and therefore able to ...

On Board Yuletide, July 2008 Martha's Vineyard

mainhalyard — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:25:44 -0400

Lake Tashmoo, July 2008.

Some changes to the lake this year. The entrance has shoaled half of the channel. No ducklings or other wild birds anywhere. Normally I would see baby swans, baby ducks, baby Canadian Geese, none of those things this year, and sadly, Fred the Greylag Goose is also no where to be found. What there are a lot of are terns, they have taken control of the beach at the head of the harbor, and hundreds of them are diving and swooping, and claiming their turf if you get too close. I love these tiny birds for their tenacity. I stood on the shore, watched and listened as a mother tern fed her babies, who stayed on the beach as she flew back and forth with sand eels in her beak for them. I was exhausted with her efforts! Each "family" appeared to have their own call, and after a while I was able to identify the baby calls with the mother calls. I was surprised at how very distinct the calls were.

It has been an unsettled summer, with many rainstorms and wet weather.
I actually got fed up on the Fourth of July weekend, and went for a sail in the rain. A few weeks later I was out again, sailing in circles as the current of Vineyard Sound pushed and pulled me.

All in all, some great sailing this season. Such a delight to tack up Vineyard Sound towards Menemsha. And the return downwind run is always exhilarating!

Lake Tashmoo Channel Entrance 2008

mainhalyard — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:56:43 -0400

The entrance to Lake Tashmoo has shoaled dramitically this year. A word of caution on approaching the channel. The entire ...

Spring varnishwork

mainhalyard — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:58:01 -0400

The beginning of each season starts inside the vessel, as I clean and sand the interior varnishwork. While it is ...

Gusty winds from the north on an August evening in Tashmoo

mainhalyard — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:23:49 -0400

This past weekend we spent aboard Yuletide. Arriving on a Friday night, I could see the lights from the Oak ...

Colored fog on the Portland coast: July 4th some time ago

mainhalyard — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:04:18 -0400

Recently we saw some fireworks, or rather we saw the clouds illuminated by fireworks. It reminded me of years ago ...

Seawater that glows at night

mainhalyard — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 19:21:31 -0400

One of the true beauties of August is the glowing waters of Vineyard Sound.
Last Friday evening was the first ...

Sailing Backwards in Vineyard Sound

mainhalyard — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 16:54:32 -0400

In Vineyard Sound you can actually sail backwards while going to windward!
Last weekend Cheryl and I went out for ...

Catboats

mainhalyard — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 10:45:10 -0400

Catboats are beautiful in their timeless lines, and powerful hulls. I have flown across Buzzards Bay in record time, skimming ...

Horseshoe Shoals

mainhalyard — Sat, 12 May 2007 10:49:52 -0400

Horseshoe shoals is off of Popponesset and Cotuit. For years I boated out of Popponesset bay, and then Cotiut Harbor. ...

Hauling out of Mattapoisett

mainhalyard — Thu, 03 May 2007 10:29:17 -0400

A wide open harbor that offers little shelter in a storm, Mattapoisett looks out across Buzzards Bay, to the Elizabeth ...

Working aboard the SS Nobska and the Islander, 1971

mainhalyard — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:48:32 -0400

The Nobska was a handsome vessel, with a great deal of age and history long before I stepped on board ...

Fishing in Norway, 1973

mainhalyard — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 13:20:01 -0400

Fishing in Norway

Back in 1973 I spent some time in Bronnoysund, Norway. While there I learned a great deal ...

Yuletide to Tashmoo, Our new home

mainhalyard — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 17:39:34 -0400

This Past Saturday, July 29th, Cheryl and I sailed Yuletide off to our new mooring in Lake Tashmoo!
We left ...

Yuletide Launch 2006

mainhalyard — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 17:08:57 -0400

This year's launch was the latest in Yuletide's 21 years

Catching Halibut in Norway

mainhalyard — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 14:01:35 -0400

Many years ago I lived along the coast of Norway. It was a wonderful time in my life, where I ...

Hadleys Harbor in October

mainhalyard — Tue, 27 Sep 2005 15:33:07 -0400

We took Friday, Oct. 23rd off, to get away to Hadleys for a long weekend. Out on Buzzards Bay by ...

Labor Day 2005: Lake Tashmoo

mainhalyard — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 14:38:00 -0400

Labor Day 2005 on Lake Tashmoo

We had planned to spend the entire week on the Vineyard, but heavy ...

Floating Bluefish

mainhalyard — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 23:06:52 -0400

Today I went sailing aboard Haven, a Cape Dory 31 out of Mattapoisett. It is owned by friends Larry and ...

Earl and the Colors

mainhalyard — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 22:52:57 -0400

I went to dinner tonight at the New Bedford Yacht Club. Loring and Joanna are members, so they invited me ...

Yuletide

mainhalyard — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 13:06:11 -0400

This is Yuletide's 20th year afloat. It seems like no time at all that I was working at Cape Dory ...

Daysail to Hadleys Harbor

mainhalyard — Mon, 08 Aug 2005 18:04:40 -0400

Yesterday I had the chance to get out for a daysail with my buddy, Barry DeSt. Croix. It had been ...

Squibnocket

mainhalyard — Mon, 08 Aug 2005 17:33:35 -0400

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

This past Sunday I went fishing with my buddy Charley. A couple times each summer we ...

Lake Tashmoo

mainhalyard — Mon, 08 Aug 2005 17:32:32 -0400

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

It was a late launch this season. I got the boat in on the last day ...

Cuttyhunk

mainhalyard — Mon, 08 Aug 2005 11:32:51 -0400

My first weekend back on Cuttyhunk in twenty years.