Boating (1st Series- Lonely Boats)

Waiting for Fun
      A trip to the marina to see the array of vessels should be an exciting time.

"Dockmaster in Training"
Copyright Ned Belmont

     The expectations are of  an abundance of marine activities, as magnificent maritime beauties glide effortlessly through the dockage. The creaking of dock lines and the clanging of mast halyards are the symphony of the yard,

     The gentle rolling motion of the dock reminds us we are afloat.

"Halyards - a String Quartet"
Copyright Ned Belmont

         But, such a trip often proves to be a sad stroll through a floating museum of dead storage for boats. If boats had eyes they would cry a river of loneliness.

     Most marinas are sedate places, calm of movement and sadly quiet, except for the singing halyards and pennants aloft.. The forgotten vessels, neglected. Their decks left to the challenges of nature. Dried and cracking teak, tarnished brass and stainless steel to the left and to the right. A flapping assortment of nautical pennants with faded colors, are fixed overhead by once carefully executed nautical knots. They now struggle, tattered and frayed from an exhausting life constantly dancing with the wind. The hulls have become marine sanctuaries, as the many forms of marine life  latch on. The cordage all about; the dock lines, sheet lines,  anchor lines and halyards, once so shipshape and precise and oh so critical to active boating, show their deep signs of aging through the smallest spaces in their braiding.

Sad so Sad
   
      It is such a shame, to see these magnificent ladies of the sea. bridled to the dock slowly dying at the hands of natures wrath, Nature has been a brutal companion for ladies once dressed for the sailing prom.

"Large and Lonely"
Copyright Ned Belmont

"Boat Show Newborns"
Copyright Noah Bridges

How does this happen?

      How do they go from sparkling gems of the boat show to haggard maids abandon at the dock? Where is their owner and all those of the past who have enjoyed hours of boating pleasure? Have these people no souls? Do they really have such deep pockets?

Changing the Picture

      Changing this picture starts with changing the paradigm. Many boats are in their twilight because their families have moved on, their captain has aged and is less active or needs a bit of help. Keeping up with natures challenge does take elbow grease and money.

"Old Sea Captains never quit, they simply look for their next crew"
Anonymous

      There are so many people out there, even in an area like ours so close to the sea, who have never had the chance to go boating. For that matter, never stepped aboard, never had that feeling of floating, never been skimming across the water.They probably have not scrubbed a deck, coiled a line, set an anchor or winterized a vessel for that matter. For these landlubbers, there  are many new smiles to be made and experiences and memories to be gifted by Captains opening their souls and their vessels.

"The glare of elbow grease and TLC"
Copyright Ned Belmont

Offering the opportunity... would be a fantastic gift

• Giving a vessel such a new lease on life will give her a new purpose, a new reason to plow the waves, a new reason to enable new boaters learn her ways and her spirit.
• Giving a captain such a new lease on life will give a renewed purpose, a new reason to teach the ways of the sea and a new romance with his vessel.
• Giving a landlubber such a new experience can create a love of the sea and and an understanding, appreciation and taking of responsibilities for the sea.  

This is serious stuff and a gift in 360 degrees for the captain, the vessel  and the landlubber. .

New life:  for Captain +  for Vessel + for Landlubber = Much Happiness

"Inside the breakwater at Masonboro Inlet"
Copyright Ned Belmont

In return captains can expect help with their vessels, new friends and experiences.

Reach out

So Captains...Reach-out to schools, post notices in the local paper or at the marina or TOWB Rec Dept., or TOWB Welcome Center etc. etc.

Or let me know and I'll try to pass the word.

Thanks for reading,  Noah