You do have a good point on the departure frustrations.  As you probably know, due to political pressure the Coast Guard ordered the ships to keep a 2-mile separation while departing.  The largest of the ships also had to keep a 1-hour separation when departing.  The reason for this was to make sure there was no parade of sail.  We were in the harbor yesterday and never saw a crowd of boats, so there was no problem.  If you monitored the marine VHF radio you would have heard each ship request clearance before departing.

 

Bottom line; let’s invite the tall ships back as soon as possible.  I will be on the front line watching the ships arrive and depart.

 

Craig Spear

 

From: MassBaySailors@yahoogroups.com [mailto:MassBaySailors@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Bill Scanlon
Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 12:13

To: MassBaySailors@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MassBaySailors] Re:Tall Ships Departure

 

Hi All,   Ed, great reply.  Thank you for sharing your "inside" view.   I think a lot of us feel that "compared to prior Sail Boston's" this one fell short.  Most of us expected that, from following all the political posturing leading up to the event.   I know I feel, as a proud long time Boston and Massachusetts resident, I wanted our port & community to be the best visited by these vessels and crew, because it always has the potential to be that.   As the political battle began and ended I still feel the same;  Although, Mayor Menion had a legitimate gripe with funding, he also has the political where-with-all to have resolved it (quietly, behind the scenes) and then join with the rest of us in making the event what it could have been.  I will not stop believing that this was a very selfish move on his part and it should costs him in an election year.   All above said, it was still exciting to have the tall ships here.  We stayed at Spectacle Island Sunday night to be in good position for their departure on Monday morning. it was a good call, several WYC boats (and at least 1 MBS, Betty) were there with us.  It was a good plan.     Bill Scanlon Sr. Winthrop Yacht Club 2009 Vice Commodore USCG Master 50 GT S/V "Ruby" an 84 Catalina 30   Navigare necesse est, vivere non est necesse