Wreck Ashore!
During the four months of 'season', Schooner Wharf Bar sponsors what is called the Wrecker's Race. The race is open to any sailing vessel that chooses to enter, but usually involves the commercial sailing fleet berthed in and around Key West, those which offer a sailing experience to visitors to this fabulous island. The race commemorates the days when the cry, "Wreck Ashore!," went up and those early Key Westers engaged in the business of salvage raced to the reef to be the first to claim salvage rights and the financial rewards that went with that.
I (Theo) joined the hardy crew of the schooner Appledore Sunday for this month's race. At the crack of the starter's pistol, we and the other boats in the race dashed off the starting line and made for the reef. Our crew, like those on the other vessels, hauled sail, pulling lines hand-over-hand.
It was a beautiful day for sailing on Sunday, unlike the previous week when the race had to be postponed due to high winds and heavy seas. (Surely, the prize would still be on the reef next week, it was thought. And no blackguard would attempt to sneak out early -- would they?) As our Captain settled in for the sail, our steward Jeff brought up a plate of meat slices for the crew to strengthen themselves for the long sail home, and adult beverages to slake the mighty thirst that followed the extreme effort to haul sheets (sails) to just the right trim.
Among the schooners, Appledore would this day arrive at the reef triumphant, winning bragging rights and more than its share of the fantastic prizes awarded at the post-race party hosted by Schooner Wharf.
It was a great day for me, giving me a break from the Coffee Plantation for an afternoon. My thanks to Diane, my soulmate, for taking over the shop so I could make the sail, to Jeff for arranging for me to be aboard for the race, and to my Captain and fellow crew members for the thrill of victory.
If there had been a wreck ashore, we no doubt would all be worn out from the effort of securing the wreck, but satisfied at the economic prize that would soon be ours.
I (Theo) joined the hardy crew of the schooner Appledore Sunday for this month's race. At the crack of the starter's pistol, we and the other boats in the race dashed off the starting line and made for the reef. Our crew, like those on the other vessels, hauled sail, pulling lines hand-over-hand.
It was a beautiful day for sailing on Sunday, unlike the previous week when the race had to be postponed due to high winds and heavy seas. (Surely, the prize would still be on the reef next week, it was thought. And no blackguard would attempt to sneak out early -- would they?) As our Captain settled in for the sail, our steward Jeff brought up a plate of meat slices for the crew to strengthen themselves for the long sail home, and adult beverages to slake the mighty thirst that followed the extreme effort to haul sheets (sails) to just the right trim.
Among the schooners, Appledore would this day arrive at the reef triumphant, winning bragging rights and more than its share of the fantastic prizes awarded at the post-race party hosted by Schooner Wharf.
It was a great day for me, giving me a break from the Coffee Plantation for an afternoon. My thanks to Diane, my soulmate, for taking over the shop so I could make the sail, to Jeff for arranging for me to be aboard for the race, and to my Captain and fellow crew members for the thrill of victory.
If there had been a wreck ashore, we no doubt would all be worn out from the effort of securing the wreck, but satisfied at the economic prize that would soon be ours.
posted by Coffee Plantation, Key West at 4:21 AM
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