Launch 2020 is just plain weird.

[TomY]

My boatyard has been proactive shutting down for a month and practicing prudent distancing, masks since opening. It set the season back for all of us to make these changes. I go in on Monday.

But it's a new world. No customers are allowed in the yard, employees only. For the first time, I won't be setting up my spar on horses or helping with the actual stepping on deck. I'll drop off my spreaders and hope for the best. I've missed combing the docks with my camera this spring.

They only ask customers to tell them where to leave their boat (moorings or public docks). I was given special consideration and am allowed to row to my boat and board. I'm quite proud of that.

No complaints, the whole yard (about 70 people) is working and no one is sick. Fair enough. Next year will be different but it's not likely things will ever be quite the same after 2020, at least on shore.

There is no place like being out on Rockport Harbor, in a light Northerly breeze. That will never change.

 

[Will Gilmore]

Rockport is one of the most beautiful harbors in all of Maine as well as the East Coast, over all.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[TomY]

Am I far enough away?

Walt, the hydraulic trailer driver has to pick my boat up from the public landing to the left. Then he drives up the hill a bit and backs into the boatyard where the travel-lift waits. I missed my annual chat with Walt. Maybe next year, we'll catch up.

I'm used to being on deck for most of this. 2020, I had time to burn so I rowed around the harbor. I've put new oarlocks on this year with nylon inserts, so I wanted to test them out.

Nice and tight, felt good to get rowing again.

Squeak-less, I moved silently around this Osprey mom feeding a newly hatched fledgling.

Nothing has changed out on the water.

 

[Will Gilmore]

I love rowing. I remember rowing our tender around the harbor, while visiting Rockport when I was 14. I could row right around Andre's pen and say 'hi.' The harbor looks a lot busier now, then back in '77.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[TomY]

I love rowing. I remember rowing our tender around the harbor, while visiting Rockport when I was 14. I could row right around Andre's pen and say 'hi.' The harbor looks a lot busier now, then back in '77.

-Will (Dragonfly)

I wish I had met Andre'. I've heard the local tales from the family and neighbors. Hard to believe he would climb up from the harbor, cross two roads, and belly into their kitchen for a few hours.

 

[Will Gilmore]

Hard to believe he would climb up from the harbor, cross two roads, and belly into their kitchen for a few hours.

I never heard he did that, but the sea lion that played him in the movie did.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[sailme88]

My boatyard has been proactive shutting down for a month and practicing prudent distancing, masks since opening. It set the season back for all of us to make these changes. I go in on Monday.

But it's a new world. No customers are allowed in the yard, employees only. For the first time, I won't be setting up my spar on horses or helping with the actual stepping on deck. I'll drop off my spreaders and hope for the best. I've missed combing the docks with my camera this spring.

They only ask customers to tell them where to leave their boat (moorings or public docks). I was given special consideration and am allowed to row to my boat and board. I'm quite proud of that.

No complaints, the whole yard (about 70 people) is working and no one is sick. Fair enough. Next year will be different but it's not likely things will ever be quite the same after 2020, at least on shore.

There is no place like being out on Rockport Harbor, in a light Northerly breeze. That will never change.

View attachment 181193

This is just crazy...You're up in Knox, supposedly fairly open... Down here in Cumberland where restrictions abound, the yards are open....

 

[sailme88]

Am I far enough away?

View attachment 181472

Walt, the hydraulic trailer driver has to pick my boat up from the public landing to the left. Then he drives up the hill a bit and backs into the boatyard where the travel-lift waits. I missed my annual chat with Walt. Maybe next year, we'll catch up.

I'm used to being on deck for most of this. 2020, I had time to burn so I rowed around the harbor. I've put new oarlocks on this year with nylon inserts, so I wanted to test them out.

Nice and tight, felt good to get rowing again.

View attachment 181473

Squeak-less, I moved silently around this Osprey mom feeding a newly hatched fledgling.

Nothing has changed out on the water.

Nice pic... Few years ago we watched an Osprey parent circling above the platform nest. A dump duck ...aka. seagull overflies the nest and see the young.. does a wing over and heads for the nest. Parent of the year apparently using the young as bait also does a wing over... That osprey when through that gull like crap thru a goose... a red spray and feathers everywhere.... those kids got a great meal.....

 

[TomY]

I never heard he did that, but the sea lion that played him in the movie did.

-Will (Dragonfly)

I've never seen 'the movie' on Andre' but there is a very good documentary that was on PBS a few years ago. Harry Goodridge (according to his daughters and son in law - a friend) was one of those rare people that connect with animals in a rare way.

Here's the trailer of the documentary.

 

[TomY]

This is just crazy...You're up in Knox, supposedly fairly open... Down here in Cumberland where restrictions abound, the yards are open....

True, but the yards customers that store boats, come from around the world. Many come from the Boston/NYC metro area or Southern states for the summer.

The yards employees are all local and we have no recordable transmission of the virus. The yard is 'open' but the yard owner is protecting his 60-70 employees while still getting your boat launched.

Instead of customers milling around the yard and at the docks, or below in thier boat with a few workers, they just pick their boat up at a mooring.