Saturday, June 18, 2011

Marion, Massachusetts and the Marion Bermuda Race


Marion, on the South Coast of Massachusetts, is a sublime, small, coastal New England town.   Known for Tabor Academy and the exquisite Sippican Harbor brimming with sailboats,  the village has a scale that is spot on, rejecting the oversized houses and over sized vehicles too common today.




Getting Some Supplies
 



The best villages keep their very large trees.




..
Marion is also the home of the venerable Beverly Yacht Club.










For over three decades, in odd numbered years, the Beverly Yacht Club has hosted the Marion Bermuda Race.


Yesterday, we headed out to watch the start of the race.


Our Captain  - United Stated Coast Guard 50 Ton Master, My Husband's College Roommate, and A Veteran of This Race
We passed Tabor Academy's floating classroom.

We went out in Buzzards Bay about five miles.
Bringing out the Marks

Beverly Yacht Club's Gracious Hosts

I brought my RHADC hat from the last race.


The weather was not what I would call lovely. It was overcast and rainy, with two foot waves.



The conditions meant layers were in order.


At the starting line, the usual jockeying for position occured.

Helpful Directions to Bermuda from the Committee Boat
The Committee Boat
Lining Up Before Heading Off
We then retuned to shore.

A Water View of Marion




We went in for a late, enjoyable, and dry lunch.

23 comments:

LPC said...

Such a wonderful description of a day. Such evocative photos. I wonder, have you ever sailed down on the Cape? At the Wianno Yacht Club? That's where my mother's family hung out. My uncle sailed until his death last week, at 80. Lived on his boat for many years. I don't suppose they listen to Jimmy Buffet, in Maine?

Jed Wall said...

I enjoyed the post on Marion, MA. It's a beautiful community and I'd love to visit there!

Raulston said...

Visited Bev. Y.C. once as a lad and to this day still hold fond memories. Thank you for the moment of recollection. I am at the MET and saw a nautical painting and though of you; checked my phone and saw this wonderful post. Thank you.

M. if the younger Aldrich will be looking at schools in the future and has Penn in mind I would relish the opportunity to show you three around campus. Have an exceptional weekend.

Kerry said...

Such great photos of a wonderful day. That is actually my favorite kind of weather.

Preppy 101 said...

What a beautiful place, even in the grey of a rainy day! xoxo

Town and Country Mom said...

We spent a lovely day in Marion about 15 years ago. Met some very nice antiques dealers there. It's a beautiful village, and I'm happy to see that it looks as though nothing has changed. Thanks for posting.

M said...

Living life to scale. Sigh. Lovely post, per usual.

j.mosby said...

Muffy,

Small world, I've been to Marion, MA, many times, knew a few grads of Tabor Academy, great seeing the "Tabor Boy" the academy's boat!
Have had the pleasure of sailing around Beverly Mass in my past! I believe that's where Hood sails are made?
Looks like summer sailing is off to a fun start! Block Island next?
We need a picture of you sporting a red Mount Gay Rum sailing cap!

Anonymous said...

I liked the comment about not cutting down mature trees. I am from DC but have the misfortune of spending the next 2 years in Toronto (the land of soulless condos and 'russian' style homes featuring stone cladding and gold taps. In Toronto, it seems, that in order to build these disgusting new-builds, all the builders are hell bent on chopping mature trees.

Patsy said...

The Tabor Boy!

Spent quite a lot of time in Marion. Love the 'Wave.

Hood Sails HQ is in RI. Ted Sr. moved Little Harbor and Hood Sails down to RI many years ago

Main Line Sportsman said...

"Seeadler" is owned by a friend of mine...B.R. He asked me to help bring the boat up to Mass. from Chesapeake for this race...but I was busy coaching my son's Lacrosse team at the Liberty Tournament. How interesting that you get a photo of B.R.'s boat on this post...looks like a fun day.

Anonymous said...

Muffy,
Your husband's college friend should have entered the race. In three days you would have been drinking Dark & Stormys at the RBYC bar and swapping tales with the rest of the entrants! :-)

Barbara said...

What a great day, thanks for sharing the beauty the location and fun of the race. Of all the photos you've shared of your dad I think this one is my favorite - a splendid shot indeed!

Carmie of the Single Nester said...

Thanks so much for the tour! The MA coast is someplace I would love to visit.

Anonymous said...

We have an old Beverly Yacht Club sign hanging in our living room. I'm sure it was illicitly acquired, although my husband hasn't elaborated on how it happened (young sailors are so bad). Coincidentally, the parents of a recent friend of ours were managing the club at the time of its disappearance and she stopped in her tracks when she saw it. Anyway, it's nice to see pictures of where it belongs.

Muffy Aldrich said...

@LPC - Thank you and yes we have been by Wilanno, although they usually do their sailing on the lake, don't they? It is certainly an impressive place. Sounds like your uncle knew how to live!

@Jed - I am sure you would enjoy it, although a little more formal than Pemaquid and Round Pond. :)

@Raulston - That is an incredibly kind offer that I won't forget. Thank you.

@Kerry - I actually agree with you. I love that kind of weather. Just not the best way to start a five day sail.

@Preppy 101 - It couldn't look bad if it tried!

Muffy Aldrich said...

@Town and Country Mom - Sounds like a great day. You're right - it doesn't ever seem to change, thank goodness.

@M - Scale is good. Thank you.

@j.mosby - Why am I not surprised?! We too had some friends that recently were at Tabor. (Patsy answered your Hood question.) Block Island is on the list, but we are missing race week!

@Anonymous - Nothing quite gives me that sick feeling in my stomach like watching the cutting of a healthy mature tree. These were beautiful.

@Patsy - You know everything!! Thank you! I love the wave too.

@Main Line Sportsman - How funny would that have been to run into you there?! And to have a picture of your friend's boat? Too much!

Muffy Aldrich said...

@Anonymous - That's what I'm saying!!

@Barbara - Thank you so much. He looks larger than life.

@Carrie - There are so many truly beautiful towns on the Massachusetts coast. From the North Shore, the South Shore, South Coast and of course the Cape.

@Anonymous - What do I say to this?? I would LOVE to have a Beverly Yacht Club sign hanging in my living room! Too, too funny! Thanks for posting this.

ThePreppyTimes said...

You've captured everything so beautifully, thanks for sharing.

LPC said...

We sailed in the little harbor. But this was 1968, so, it may be that much has changed. As for my uncle, now that I think about it, I'm not sure where he usually anchored.

MB said...

Have you ever done the whole thing? We used to do it from Newport. There is nothing like it. It's an exhausting few days for sure, but it is also a lot of fun. It's always so nice when you get across the gulf stream into the more calm waters of happy valley and arriving in Hamilton can't be beat. We always seemed to have the energy for a few Dark-n-Stormys with crews from around the world after the race. My mom (and later fiancee and wife) would fly in and meet us. Then we would all have a more leisurely sail back to Boston.

Main Line Sportsman said...

By the way....saww B.R. this weekend after he got back from Bermuda...Seeadler came in 3rd in it's class!

Muffy Aldrich said...

@MLS - Very impressive! Thanks for posting this!