Indian Summer Boat Blog

While I was in RI over the holidays, I searched out these amazing photos in my great-grandmother’s photo album.  My mother didn’t realize they existed and has no idea who these people are.  I assume they are my great-grandmother’s friends and are sailing off of RI.  Everyone who might know is now deceased.

I think the photos are of sailing out of Narragansett, RI because there is a place which still looks very much like the harbor shot, only its no longer a harbor.  Back in this time it was a big destination with a number of hotels and casinos and I’ve seen photos of a hotel there that looks like the building in the photo. 

Edwardian era people out a-gallivanting in boats.  I especially like the photos of the captain, I look at the picture and imagine him going, "yup, its mah boa-aht, ayah."  Presumably my great-grandmother (Bear) is among the women in the group shot.  The last photo is of 2 little girls by the fire place.  I include this because I think its one of the most stunning photos I’ve ever seen and the dark haired one grew up to be my grandmother, who taught me to travel, drink and swim and ultimately paid for the Indian Summer.  (The fair haired one is her sister Eunice who became schizophrenic but was a moderately famous equestrian, back in the day).

The boat is what in New England is called a cat boat, or just a cat.  Out here, if you say cat, it means a catamaran.  They’re very easy boats to sail, but apparently can’t sail close to the wind at all because the mast is so forward.

Its been a while since the Indian Summer has left the dock, due to the rain, my time consuming new job, and having to check out one friend’s new baby and another friend’s new baby.  One of the new babies is about 7 1/2 pounds, 19.5 inches and named Skye, while the other one is about 10,200 pounds, 360 inches and named Sirena.  Both of them float and have multiple PFDs, however, only one of them (Sirena) is a boat.  Since this is a boat blog, she is the baby we will discuss.  Skye has her own site under www.theguyots.com

Sirena is a 30 foot Catalina built in 1984 and apparently delivered by Santa to Chris V.  He has referred to her a few times as a "floating RV."  She’s in great condition with all the bells and more than a few extra whistles - I think the only thing lacking is a disco ball.  He purchased her the day before Christmas and got to experience all that lovely "Holy shit what have I done?!?!" that I went through last June.

Last Sunday, I went along as crew on the maiden voyage of Chris, Ken and their boat.  They had hired a lovely boy to guide them through things such as, I don’t know, DOCKING!!!   Chris - practice makes perfect (or at least, that’s what I’ve been told).

The day was beautiful and we spent a lot of time with the new papa getting used to his boat under motor and practicing docking at Ayala Cove - my favorite spot for practicing such things.

I was planning to sail my own baby this weekend, but the weather report is lousy so I’m waiting and seeing.  In the meantime, there’s tons of work to be done on her.