I have enjoyed sailor/maritime poetry for many years. I have several books of 'maritime poetry collections'. Memorised a few of them ('Sea Fever' by John Masefield, of course) and occasionally recited them to the crew on 'Odyssey'. But, about the 'Lady Maryland'. I thought she was built in Baltimore by Peter Boudreau. As far as I know, the CBMM had nothing to do with her design/construction. I hope you are having some fine sailing experiences this Summer! You both certainly deserve some fun time after all that work you put into 'Steadfast'
We are still docked for an assortment of reasons and systems and logistics and insurance but at least I have the motion of the water underneath me, even as I write this.
Did you see the movie Odyssey?
My info on LM could very well be inaccurate. I thought I learned that at the GCBSR last year when I met her lady Captain. Hope the Keys stay safe this season. We should head south October. J
I still have my copy of "The Odyssey" from either my senior year in high school or first year at Univ. of Maryland. I was supposed to read it back then, but I never did. I have tried a couple times over the past decades to read it, but just couldn't find it catching. The movie theater downtown is closed for the Summer, but I would like to see it. When 'Odyssey' was a private yacht (I was on the crew for 5 1/2 years!) we went to Greece for 2 years ('88-'90). Loved it! The Chicago owner and his wife were both Greek-American and really enjoyed sailing around the Aegean and getting into the 'Greek spirit'. They were on board in Summers only. In September we would go to a marina outside of Athens with just 3 of us crew on board, and sit until May/June when they would come back to continue cruising! Always projects to work on Monday-Friday, but come weekends I took off sightseeing as much as possible! Lucky for me the captain was a real dullard and not interested in sightseeing, so he almost always let me use the rental car! This Summer has been pretty slow, sailing wise. Haven't been out on my friend Wayne's boat since April, just a daysail. We had wanted to sail to the Bahamas in May-June, but the government there tripled the entry fees, and Wayne said it's just not worthwhile. But I do hope to get some train riding done this Fall!
I should have done this yesterday, but chose the private way and now I have more to publicly say. I’ve shared joy from a piece of your personal world, and soon the pain when Steadfast’s sails unfurl. For those who have only read your voice, face to face is a much better choice. If I had the power to make you stay, that is simply not my way. There are places to go and stories to tell and we all know you do that well.
I love this Ken, as I do all your creative work. Those compliments brought a few tears of my own, I can assure you of that. What a lovely landing spot STEADFAST chose. Thank you! ~J
These waters never stop bringing forth treasures, though we've made it terribly difficult for some of its inhabitants. Thanks to folks like you and Ken, the beauty of the 'old ways' can still be seen and appreciated if we make time to listen. Beautiful poetry, the second one so very moving. Thanks for bringing them here, Janice.
This is beautiful J! What an amazing thing that you have befriended Ken Asplen. I love his poetry, it captures the essence of the sea and a time gone by. You and the Sailor are doing a wonderful thing with your preservation of STEADFAST. With fewer and fewer of the old beauties around it's even more special. Well done you!
Lucky me to end up here ...throughout the project he would occasionally stop by and check on progress, always telling a story about how his father built these boats right on this very property in the heydey of the oysters, millions of which fed our troops in WWII. He's one of the good guys.
Thanks for the kudos; when it's your home it's a choice that is not really a choice if it's the life you want to lead...always learning, aren't we? Watch out for those tropical systems yourself LJ!
You are making me cry! This part of our world is vanishing and I am trying my best to hold onto it. My treasured "Meriah" with its Chesapeake Mobjack heritage takes me back to the Bugeye and Pungy traditions that are fading into the past and I am desperately holding on to that mooring attached to my memories and realizing that I too am anchored to the past. Yes, the poetry says it all.
"Mobjack"? My spidey senses just kicked in! You have a 'Mobjack'? 1936 L. Francis Herreshoff design? My good friend Wayne here in Key West has one, but built of fiberglass in the 1980s. Wonderful sailing ketch. Beautiful and fast, a real head turner! We've cruised the Bahamas for 1-2 months each of the past 3 Summers. A joy to sail! Her name is "Southwind". I think that is her original name. Wayne has had her about 10 years now.
Hi Bob. There is a nice photo of Meriah in the Bahamas at the end of the article in the link below. We went offshore for eight years from British Columbia to the Atlantic via Panama on our way back back to where I grew up in the Gulf of St Lawrence. Really enjoyed our stopover in Key West in early June 2003 before continuing north to Canada for the summer then back to the Caribbean.
He is brilliant, isn't he? I'm glad you're with me on that mooring! Some of the younger sailors have no idea what we're about as we cruise. They ask the darndest questions! MERIAH is a lucky girl, and she knows it.
Some days I, too, feel like it's a tad futile-- when we're ready to hop back onto solid ground who will want my beautiful vessel? Probably no one. Her sister ship is the WILLIAM HAND and has been for sale for nearly a decade, I think. You can google it. She's slightly larger and a whole different level of yacht.
Wow, 2.3 million, and a beautiful vessel, for sure! But you have your soul invested in Steadfast... a personal relationship with every detail. Happy sailing! Your reward for all that hard work.
This story really touched my heart. I have been apart of save the old wooden boat since I was school age. The poetry made me think of my body. Once healthy and useful going through life. Now slowly deteriorating. You want to get up and go but sometimes it’s a struggle. Thanks for the great read and poetry. Until next time. Keep writing my friend because I love it!
I had not correlated that in the forefront of my mind, but did elude to it unintentionally, so thanks for bringing it to the surface, true true indeed.
Wooden boats have taken things you love from you, haven't they? And so many resources, time, love, money least of all.
I so appreciate your comments here, Debby. I'll keep writing as long as readers like you stay aboard. Thank you. Very much. ~J
You just made my beautiful summer morning even better, Mona. THANK YOU. Unexpected characters most certainly abound. Thank goodness I've had some time to get to know them, listen to them, and now, share them. Enjoy your Sunday. ~J
I have enjoyed sailor/maritime poetry for many years. I have several books of 'maritime poetry collections'. Memorised a few of them ('Sea Fever' by John Masefield, of course) and occasionally recited them to the crew on 'Odyssey'. But, about the 'Lady Maryland'. I thought she was built in Baltimore by Peter Boudreau. As far as I know, the CBMM had nothing to do with her design/construction. I hope you are having some fine sailing experiences this Summer! You both certainly deserve some fun time after all that work you put into 'Steadfast'
Hey Captain Bob!
We are still docked for an assortment of reasons and systems and logistics and insurance but at least I have the motion of the water underneath me, even as I write this.
Did you see the movie Odyssey?
My info on LM could very well be inaccurate. I thought I learned that at the GCBSR last year when I met her lady Captain. Hope the Keys stay safe this season. We should head south October. J
I still have my copy of "The Odyssey" from either my senior year in high school or first year at Univ. of Maryland. I was supposed to read it back then, but I never did. I have tried a couple times over the past decades to read it, but just couldn't find it catching. The movie theater downtown is closed for the Summer, but I would like to see it. When 'Odyssey' was a private yacht (I was on the crew for 5 1/2 years!) we went to Greece for 2 years ('88-'90). Loved it! The Chicago owner and his wife were both Greek-American and really enjoyed sailing around the Aegean and getting into the 'Greek spirit'. They were on board in Summers only. In September we would go to a marina outside of Athens with just 3 of us crew on board, and sit until May/June when they would come back to continue cruising! Always projects to work on Monday-Friday, but come weekends I took off sightseeing as much as possible! Lucky for me the captain was a real dullard and not interested in sightseeing, so he almost always let me use the rental car! This Summer has been pretty slow, sailing wise. Haven't been out on my friend Wayne's boat since April, just a daysail. We had wanted to sail to the Bahamas in May-June, but the government there tripled the entry fees, and Wayne said it's just not worthwhile. But I do hope to get some train riding done this Fall!
J
I should have done this yesterday, but chose the private way and now I have more to publicly say. I’ve shared joy from a piece of your personal world, and soon the pain when Steadfast’s sails unfurl. For those who have only read your voice, face to face is a much better choice. If I had the power to make you stay, that is simply not my way. There are places to go and stories to tell and we all know you do that well.
K
I love this Ken, as I do all your creative work. Those compliments brought a few tears of my own, I can assure you of that. What a lovely landing spot STEADFAST chose. Thank you! ~J
These waters never stop bringing forth treasures, though we've made it terribly difficult for some of its inhabitants. Thanks to folks like you and Ken, the beauty of the 'old ways' can still be seen and appreciated if we make time to listen. Beautiful poetry, the second one so very moving. Thanks for bringing them here, Janice.
The pleasure is all mine, Elizabeth, I thought you in particular would be captivated. As always I appreciate you, thanks! ~J
This is beautiful J! What an amazing thing that you have befriended Ken Asplen. I love his poetry, it captures the essence of the sea and a time gone by. You and the Sailor are doing a wonderful thing with your preservation of STEADFAST. With fewer and fewer of the old beauties around it's even more special. Well done you!
Lucky me to end up here ...throughout the project he would occasionally stop by and check on progress, always telling a story about how his father built these boats right on this very property in the heydey of the oysters, millions of which fed our troops in WWII. He's one of the good guys.
Thanks for the kudos; when it's your home it's a choice that is not really a choice if it's the life you want to lead...always learning, aren't we? Watch out for those tropical systems yourself LJ!
What a beautiful friend to have.
Yes, always learning. We are in the quiet season south of the equator right now, so all good. 💙
So pretty. They make my 64 year old wooden gal a young lady
What do you have with so much soul and beauty, Fi?
She's a Lapworth 50 Janice.
You are making me cry! This part of our world is vanishing and I am trying my best to hold onto it. My treasured "Meriah" with its Chesapeake Mobjack heritage takes me back to the Bugeye and Pungy traditions that are fading into the past and I am desperately holding on to that mooring attached to my memories and realizing that I too am anchored to the past. Yes, the poetry says it all.
"Mobjack"? My spidey senses just kicked in! You have a 'Mobjack'? 1936 L. Francis Herreshoff design? My good friend Wayne here in Key West has one, but built of fiberglass in the 1980s. Wonderful sailing ketch. Beautiful and fast, a real head turner! We've cruised the Bahamas for 1-2 months each of the past 3 Summers. A joy to sail! Her name is "Southwind". I think that is her original name. Wayne has had her about 10 years now.
Hi Bob. There is a nice photo of Meriah in the Bahamas at the end of the article in the link below. We went offshore for eight years from British Columbia to the Atlantic via Panama on our way back back to where I grew up in the Gulf of St Lawrence. Really enjoyed our stopover in Key West in early June 2003 before continuing north to Canada for the summer then back to the Caribbean.
https://svmeriah.substack.com/p/sailing-with-meriah
Getting Ready for Offshore Voyaging
https://substack.com/@svmeriah
FEB 23, 2025
He is brilliant, isn't he? I'm glad you're with me on that mooring! Some of the younger sailors have no idea what we're about as we cruise. They ask the darndest questions! MERIAH is a lucky girl, and she knows it.
Some days I, too, feel like it's a tad futile-- when we're ready to hop back onto solid ground who will want my beautiful vessel? Probably no one. Her sister ship is the WILLIAM HAND and has been for sale for nearly a decade, I think. You can google it. She's slightly larger and a whole different level of yacht.
THANK YOU for this note. ~J
Wow, 2.3 million, and a beautiful vessel, for sure! But you have your soul invested in Steadfast... a personal relationship with every detail. Happy sailing! Your reward for all that hard work.
This story really touched my heart. I have been apart of save the old wooden boat since I was school age. The poetry made me think of my body. Once healthy and useful going through life. Now slowly deteriorating. You want to get up and go but sometimes it’s a struggle. Thanks for the great read and poetry. Until next time. Keep writing my friend because I love it!
I had not correlated that in the forefront of my mind, but did elude to it unintentionally, so thanks for bringing it to the surface, true true indeed.
Wooden boats have taken things you love from you, haven't they? And so many resources, time, love, money least of all.
I so appreciate your comments here, Debby. I'll keep writing as long as readers like you stay aboard. Thank you. Very much. ~J
What a pleasure that was! The heart of a seaman, the soul of a poet. I love that unique world you live in and always look forward to reading more. ❤️
You just made my beautiful summer morning even better, Mona. THANK YOU. Unexpected characters most certainly abound. Thank goodness I've had some time to get to know them, listen to them, and now, share them. Enjoy your Sunday. ~J