Home Sweet Home

Location: Vineyard Haven, Martha's Vineyard, MA

Weather: Mid 70s, mostly sunny, occasional rainy days. Summer is finally shaping up.

Update: Home Sweet Home. When and If has returned to the Vineyard just in time for summer to kick in to full swing. Everyone says we brought the good weather with us. Things have been busy and crazy lots of fun. Seeing old friends, making new ones, and being back on our mooring in Vineyard Haven Harbor. Here we are surrounded by our granddaughter ship Juno and fellow Nat Benjamin Design Liberty as well as the two Black Dog schooners Alabama and Shenandoah. The rest of the harbor is filled with other beautiful, wooden boats and of course a few fiberglass visitors. Even some motor yachts (stink pots as we like to call them) to mess up the view. Vineyard Haven is a port well known for their fondly kept tradition of messing about in boats. Gannon and Benjamin is a fully functional wooden boat building shop almost cooperative in it's operations, http://gannonandbenjamin.com/ Sail Martha's Vineyard offers free sailing programs to any child interested as well as sailboat racing and rowing camps, http://sailmv.com/ and on any given day you can watch dozens of boats just out for an afternoon sail in Holmes Hole and maybe even join them.

As for When and If, we are up to our usual summer schedule of private and chartered sails. This year we are trying to explore a few of the lesser gotten-to harbors and anchorages around the Elizabethan Islands.

Ships News: The 2009 Vineyard Cup was held last weekend. There were 3 days of racing this year. The short course on Friday was called off as we were drifting past the furthest mark due to the wind dying out completely and a foul tide. Saturday was an all day race with a beat up to Quick's Hole around Lone Rock and a fast run back to the Chops. This was a huge test of seamanship as there was heavy fog all morning and a tidal switch 1/2 way through the race. Sunday was a short course again with a pursuit start for a change of pace. When and If came in 5th overall in our class. Not to bad for a mostly green crew. http://vineyardcup.com/

When and If is looking forward to the 37th annual Opera House Cup on August 15-16th this year in Nantucket. http://www.operahousecup.org/page/ohc

Well. That's enough for now.

For more information about classic sailing charters aboard the schooner When And If visit www.schoonerwhenandif.com

or find us on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vineyard-Haven-MA/SV-When-And-If/24782432236

It's a beautiful day for sailing!

Block Island

Location: Block Island, Rhode Island

Weather: Cold and Rainy

Update: The Good ship When And If left New York yesterday after an epic final hurrah around Manhattan and New York Harbor. We went out for a sail at about 9pm just after the sun went down and the city light began to come on. The feeling was magical. We did a salute to the Statue of Liberty all lit up and silhouetted in pink clouds. Remnants of the day light and afternoon showers slipping away. We came about to view New York City in all her glory and I realized the truth of the saying "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Except I made one personal addition, "Beauty is in the perception of the beholder." These monstrous buildings, when view from an old General's Schooner in the middle of busy New York Harbor at 10:00 at night, were an absolute piece of art. We were stunned and awed and the reality of what we were actually looking at (a metropolitan mess?) seemed to melted away.

Our sail to Block Island was not as peaceful. The mother of all lightning storms, cloudy skies, and not much wind made for a "Let's just get there already" sort of trip. It was a little scary at times, and very wet, but it makes you appreciate the places you visit more when you have work to get there.

Block Island is a cool little spot. Nice for a one night fling and perfectly placed for a stop over from New York to Martha's Vineyard. If you enjoy the "island life" New England style, it would be worth checking out.

We'll keep you posted. Should be in MARTHA'S VINEYARD tomorrow!! When And If is returning home! Very exciting!

Until then keep checking our website for more info on Schooner Sailing Charters.

www.schoonerwhenandif.com

you can also find us on Facebook!

Cheers!