The sky was overcast with golden
sunlight filtering around the edges of the clouds, as we arrived at
the old lighthouse, the same lighthouse were my grandfather served as
keeper 100 years ago. The wind is causing the waves to break on the
breakwater sending salt spray into the morning air.
Out of the distance comes the
schooner J & E Riggin, built in 1927 as a oyster dredger, she has
been sailing the cold blue Atlantic for 85 years. One quickly looses
a sense of time and place in the presence of these historic boats
that have sailed out of the past. However, they are just as much at
home in the 21st century as they were in the 19th
and 20th. Carried on the wind she glides past with almost
no sound at all, like a ghost ship.
About a half an hour latter
American Eagle and Heritage arrive together. What a sight to see
these two majestic ships race to the harbors entrance. In her
younger days American Eagle would race for the harbors entrance with
a load of fish caught on the Grand Banks. It was the fastest boats
that would get their harvest from the sea to the market first while
the price was at it's highest. It is estimated that she brought over
40,000,000 pounds of fish during her fishing career!
The last ship of the day is
Heritage. Heritage is the perfect combination of grace and beauty.
Heritage is the newest ship in the fleet. She was designed, built
and sailed by Captain Doug Lee. A new boat with very old blood
lines.
All too soon it is time to return
to my world of computers and cell phones. But I will return to the
old lighthouse in Rockland harbor next week. I will be leading
another Tall Ship Photo Safari on Saturday June 23rd
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| J&E Riggin |
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| J&E Riggin passing Owls Head. |
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| American Eagle |
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| Heritage |
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| American Eagle and Heritage race into Rockland Harbor. |
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| Heritage in the wind. |
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| In Rockland harbor. |
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| The great windship Heritage. |
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