The Longship Company
a fine December day for sailing
With Chestertown's Downrigging Weekend already a month behind us, the Longship Company of Oakley MD sets sail on last time in 2017 before taking its own rigging down. Ours is a much easier task, requiring less crew to undo the shrouds and braces, unstep the mast, lower it without putting holes in boat or heads or dock. Later we will row it to a launch ramp on the other side of the creek (a wide, sandy Bay creek), haul it up onto the trailer, and stow it in the big tent for the winter.
Vikings apparently took down their masts every time they rowed. Of course they were a sturdy lot, and probably younger.
Meanwhile, we had sun, light winds, and reasonable temperatures. By evening, a supermoon was rising in the east.
As part of the rowing/downrigging crew, I didn't get as many pics as I'd like... especially of actually dropping the mast.
Here's some good shots of the ship underway. Distant shots are from my kayak in another year. And no, I did not go overboard, the freeboard on this ship is very low, so you can lean over the side with a camera and get good shots... as long as the camera strap is wrapped around your arm...
Look for the video on youtube.
Vikings apparently took down their masts every time they rowed. Of course they were a sturdy lot, and probably younger.
Meanwhile, we had sun, light winds, and reasonable temperatures. By evening, a supermoon was rising in the east.
As part of the rowing/downrigging crew, I didn't get as many pics as I'd like... especially of actually dropping the mast.
Here's some good shots of the ship underway. Distant shots are from my kayak in another year. And no, I did not go overboard, the freeboard on this ship is very low, so you can lean over the side with a camera and get good shots... as long as the camera strap is wrapped around your arm...
Look for the video on youtube.
