SATURDAY NIGHT AT SEA: Mystic Sea Music Festival.

Due to a lot of land based issues and schedules BIANKA is still not in the water and won't be until after next weekend. I've only been able to spend weekends on board prepping and taken care of some projects that did not get done over the brutal winter. Today I plan an extended stay working on the boat. One that should continue into the evening hours. This is because it's the last concert night of the Mystic Sea Music Festival. It has become somewhat of a tradition to be on board the boat in the evening listening to the live broadcast of the festival concert which is broadcast on WPKN 89.5 from Bridgeport Connecticut (also streaming on line) . No matter that the boat is still in the boatyard I will enjoy the evening's music as I putter around getting things ready for launching. The concert runs from 7 pm to 10pm.

SONGS FOR SAILORS: High and Dry: Gordon Lightfoot

I went down to the boatyard to do one of my off season checks on the boat and there was BIANKA  high and dry patiently waiting for spring on the jackstands:

As I saw here there a Gordon Lightfoot song popped into my head called High And Dry from the 1970's album called Sundown.  It was an album I use to listen to when I was in High School which was a couple of years before I took up sailing. As the song played in my head I thought yeah this lament for a boat or a girl deserves a spot on my MP3 player:

With a lady-like devotion

She sails the bitter ocean

If it wasn't for lovesick sailors

There'd be nothin' left but flotsam

Singin' why me oh my

Is there a better man than I

I hope you find your way back home

Before you're lyin' high and dry

I hope you find your way back home

Before you die 

Though I'm having trouble deciding between two versions of the song there is the original High And Dry from the Sundown album. Then there is the High And Dry [1988 Version] from Gord's Gold Volume II. I just might have download both versions.

A LITTLE SEA MUSIC

One of my favorite things to do this time of year is to be on board and listen to the Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival which happens over three days. This year it is from June 6th to June 9th 2013. I often think to take BIANKA there and be there in person but, there is also something very pleasant to be in a secluded anchorage and hear how sailors use to entertain themselves on deck in the evenings in the days before electronic devices like radios and IPODS. It is usually broadcast live on WPKN 89.5 FM out of Bridgeport Connecticut. 

SONGS FOR SAILING: Pata Pata

I was reminded today that it is Miriam Makeba's  81st birthday and thought why yes her hit from the 1960's Pata Pata  would make a great addition to the MP3 music collection on BIANKA.

ANOTHER MAGICAL EVENING

 I was a little bummed as I finished cooking some Chicken Tika Marsala for which I forget to buy some cream to finish it off so I had to use non fat milk instead.  Oh well. As I sat down in the cockpit to enjoy it along with a nice glass of red wine, I heard from across the channel the channel the jolly sound of a Concertina  being played. The delightful sound of sea shanties one after another were drifting across the water in the still night air providing me with great joy as I dined. The sound was coming from a raft up of two boats where some people were enjoying themselves sans electronics. It reminded me of a recent book I had read of a journey along the New England coast in the 1840's. The author described being at anchor somewhere in New England and hearing the singing and playing of Sea Shanties coming from one of the other ships in the harbor. For me it's was one of those special evenings that elude those on land or get off their boats after a short day sail. It also made me imagine what it must have been like that evening in that harbor in New England back in the 1840'S. Just another magical evening on board the BIANKA.

SHORELINE: Good Intentions

Hanging out on a boat just offshore offers a unique view of the shoreline and how the people and other creatures use it. With the fishing pole by his side I'm sure this fellow came to the harbor with good intentions to do some fishing but, somehow the washed up piece of dock looked like a good place to take a nap instead:

It also reminds me I need to put this Otis Redding tune onto my IPOD SHUFFLE.

SATURDAY NIGHT AT SEA

There are some things that I find that are just better to experience on my boat. One of the real treats for me in the beginning of the season is to listen to the  live broadcasts of the annual  Sea Music Festival held at Mystic Seaport Museum . This weekend was the 32nd one held. It is broadcast live on WPKN 89.5 FM in Bridgeport Connecticut. While being at the site does have some advantages as they have various workshops and concerts during the four days of the of the festival. I still find listening to the evening concerts on board BIANKA with a glass of some libation in my hand as the boat swings around in the breeze and my toe tapping in the cockpit to be another one of those pinch me moments. 

YACHT ROCK: A musical history.

If you remember or survived the seventies and eighties like I did you might know of a unique music phenomena know as "Yacht Rock" aka "smooth music". Like pornography you will know it when you see it, er hear it. What you may not know is the history behind some of the songs of this era.  Viewing the following episodes will show the behind the scenes machinations behind the music.

CAPT MIKE WARNING: Many of the episodes contain "salty" language and violence!


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NOTE: Episode 3 contains no sound but, is included for those who can lip read or are too mellow to care.




The meaning of the music of TOTO is explained in Episode 4
 
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In Episode 5 Michael Jackson explores his dark side seduced by Eddie Van Halen until rescued by TOTO, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins and Vincent Price.




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The legend of Jethro Tull comes alive in Episode 6.




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Smooth sailing out of Compton with Dr. Dre.

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Episode 8: The Captain & Tennielle and the rise of Gene Balboa

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The war between Steely Dan and the Eagles comes to life in Episode 10

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A nefarious Jimmy Buffet will stop at nothing to get his movie produced in Episode 11.


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SONGS OF A SAILOR: VAHEVALA

For some reason the song VAHEVALA by Loggins and Messina popped into my head yesterday. It got me thinking why don't I have that on my IPOD shuffle to have in my sailing mix. Why not indeed? And while I'm at it how about Sailin' The wind too!

NOW WESTLIN' WINDS

New Years Eve and the playing of Auld Lang Syne got me thinking of  Robert Burns.  Jesse Ferguson aka the Bard of Cornwall does a nice rendition of a Robert Burns poem that sounds like it would make for nice listening after dinner while kicking back in the cockpit to watch the stars at some nice little anchorage :

REPORT FROM THE ANNAPOLIS BOAT SHOW: PART ONE

I interrupted my fall cruising for a quick trip down to Washington D.C. by car. On the way I thought I would stop by the Annapolis Boat Show. This the second time I visited the show. To say it can be crowded and over whelming is an understatement. But, it is a great place to see some of the latest products, innovations and ideas for sailing on the water. In the afternoon I spent there I did not see it all. But, I thought I would spend a few posts on some of the things I did see and those that caught my eye.

I guess for some people it is all about looking at the boats. But, since I bought my Nonsuch 30 in 1995 I have not felt the need to look at another boat. So I did not spend time on the docks looking at the latest designs and models from the usual manufacturers but, they certainly were there with the flags a flying:

Though if a new production boat is not on your radar or in your wallet. You might be interested in a nicely varnished used sailboat. Only $371,000 and you can sail it away today! Or rather after the boat show is over in two days. Since it is locked in by the dock layout arranged for the show.

There were also some fine looking smaller craft on view too:

And if you are just in the market for nice sailing dinghy you certainly had some choices:

Then if you are a fan of Guy Clark and Verlon Thompson's song BOATS TO BUILD and just happen to need a neat little nesting dinghy for carrying on board. Here you go:

Speaking of Guy Clark, Verlon Thompson and BOATS TO BUILD:

Unfortunately, there were also little reminders to those of us here in northern waters that the sailing season was coming to an end and that preparations for winter might soon be in order. Though on this beautiful 70 degree day it was hard to imagine it being possible:

TO BE CONTINUED:

A LITTLE SAILING MUSIC PLEASE!

As the temperature dipped again to the point where lighting the fireplace was in order. I needed a little sailing music to get me back in a watery mood. I went on You Tube to listen to one of my favorite musical artists who many have never heard of. Jesse Ferguson (aka The Bard of Cornwall) lives up in Canada and performs both contemporary and traditional songs on various instruments. For example here he plays a mean Bodhran when performing Stan Roger's Barrett's Privateers:



Jesse also has a self produced CD that you purchase by the song or as a complete CD or MP3 here. This fellow has some real musical talent and that's why I enjoy his performances. I hope you do too.