Everywhere
you look these days, people are dressed in black. The somber mood of widows' weeds seems to
have pervaded the national psyche, perhaps reflecting the deep gloom and
anxiety connected with a misfiring economy.
Even Madonna, at what was supposed to be the joyous occasion of the
Superbowl, was in black, for goodness' sake.
I find few
things more uplifting than the cheerful sight of sails pulling taut in a brisk
breeze. White ones, red ones, tan ones,
and spinnakers like Joseph's coat of many colors — there's something proud and
upright and inherently happy about sails scudding over blue water.
I don't
doubt there are others, but the only yacht with black sails that I ever knew
belonged to my boyhood hero, Henry Wakelam, and he was making a deliberate
statement, rebelling against organized society.
He built himself a 24-foot Thuella-class sloop designed by T. Harrison
Butler from plans he found in a municipal library book. His black sails, constructed of heavy canvas
that had "fallen off" a railroad car, combined with his solid
telegraph-pole mast, made his little Wanda
top-heavy and she rolled downwind in deep staggers like a sailor coming off
shore leave. Nevertheless, Henry crossed the oceans singlehanded and showed the
yacht-club toffs what could be done on a budget that wouldn't feed a parakeet.
In any case,
the fashion moguls need to be shaken out of their gloomy rut. This black national uniform must go. We've had enough of women in black. We need
lighter colors and lighter hearts to lead a recovery, not only an economic
recovery but a recovery of spirit, too.
What this country needs is more bright jaunty sails to lead the way.
Perhaps somebody with influence could mention this to Mr. Obama.
Today's
Thought
The world
must be getting old, I think; it dresses so very soberly now.— Jerome K. Jerome
Tailpiece
"I hear
Susan is off tranquillizers now.""Yeah, she asked to be taken off."
"Why?"
"She found she was being friendly to people she wouldn't normally even speak to."
(Drop by
every Monday, Wednesday, Friday for a new Mainly about Boats column.)
3 comments:
Good one John
Hey John recently bought a wooden Collin Archer 1977 built in Bundaberg Queensland by Bruce McKay. Her dimensions are LOD 25'6" Beam 8'4" Draft 4'. She looks just like a stretched Thuella plus some extra beam. We have developed a close bond and I am presently getting her ready to sail to Hobart 2015 and then on to NZ. Have you ever heard of a redesigned Thuella in Australia or abroad. Cheers Tom
Hi Tom:
No, I've never heard of any stretched Thuellas anywhere. She must be a little gem. Happy, safe sailing and take good care of her.
Cheers,
John V.
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