A Stop At Willoughby

There was an old Twilight Zone episode where a harried businessman is stressed from home and the office. On the commuter train one time he gets off at Willoughby and encounters a slow, friendly, bucolic town where everything is slow and easy, and from a by-gone era.

The train he is riding lurches and brings him out of his daydream. The next night on the train, the conductor yells out Stop At Willoughby and the poor fellow gets off and is greeted by the same friendly easy lifestyle. He decides to stay. The next scene is the trains conductor and engineer looking over his body as a Willoughby And Sons hearse drives his body away.

Well, disregard that last part. Let's focus on a place called Willoughby. I think mine would be on this 130 foot Baltimore Clipper schooner class, The Privateer Lynx, that myself and my son-in-law rode on recently.

Nevermind that there was no wind, just being part of it was special.

This ship will end its two-week stay in St. Petersburg and begin a long journey around the Keys and up the East Coast to New York to begin the Tall Ship summer circuit.

I must figure out how to get my own sailing vessel. I think its called Florida Lottery.

Frankly, to see this ship with its yardarms, ropes and timeless lines and then throw the huge flag on top of it, well, its downright awe-inspiring.

Berthed up front of the Lynx is the Sorcha, the mega yacht owned by the owner and founder of Jabil Circuits, a technology company based here in St. Pete.

Flag on the bowsprit. "You know how to do that, doncha, Steve? You just put your bows together and...sprit." OK, reference to an old movie. Nevermind.

The bow of the Lynx.

The bow of the Sorcha. A 200 year difference in shipbuilding.

And soon we will board and be off on a "sailaway".

This is cool.

"Let me drive!"

Life clings stubbornly wherever it can.

A tar climbing up the rigging to grease the mast.

See?

Yes, he is wearing a safety harness.

The sails, attached to what looks like wooden O-Rings, slide up and down the mainmast. Grease helps to reduce friction. Astroglide for masts.

I still get knots in my shoes. I could never work these lines.

OK, we are all on, now out we go.

A pretty neat modern boat, belonging to the Coast Guard.

That's it for today. Wednesday the rest of the trip.

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