We are lying
Shelburne and waiting weather for our return to the US. Yesterday we interviewed several candidates for the position of Figurehead Second Class (
FSC). On ships the "figurehead" is located right at the bow just under the bowsprit (technically, at the "stem head"). From this position he or she has a clear view of the dangers ahead. Obviously this is an important job.
From the start one candidate stood out from the crowd. Young Kerry
Arcon, son of local boat builder Charlie
Arcon and his wife Kim, was head and shoulders above the other candidates. We knew this immediately after watching this brave lad survive a bicycle wipe out in front of his home. He faced the consequences with courage and honor (Kerry's mom Kim supplies medical aid to the wounded bicyclist at left).
Kerry's performance during sea trials was not without complications. While we were tooling around
Shelburne Harbor during the interview process and getting to know one another, the spray from the waves gave him second thoughts about the job and he asked if the position of Cabin Boy was stll open. Unfortunately the minimum term for a new
FSC is 3 years and
FSC Kerry still has 2 years, 364 days, 23 hours, and 45 minutes left to serve before he can even be
considered for promotion. To ease the disappointment,
FSC Kerry was awarded an extra portion of ship's rations (photo right) and given afternoon liberty.
This morning I visited the shop (photo left) of local boat builder and designer Paul, a
Shelburne resident who until recently lived in British Columbia. Paul specializes in wooden boats with a traditional flavor and it was a pleasure to watch him at work (photo right). Although many modern materials are used in the process of producing a wooden boat, the basic steps of design and construction are not far removed from the methods shipbuilders developed hundreds of years ago.
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From the start one candidate stood out from the crowd. Young Kerry Arcon, son of local boat builder Charlie Arcon and his wife Kim, was head and shoulders above the other candidates. We knew this immediately after watching this brave lad survive a bicycle wipe out in front of his home. He faced the consequences with courage and honor (Kerry's mom Kim supplies medical aid to the wounded bicyclist at left).
Kerry's performance during sea trials was not without complications. While we were tooling around Shelburne Harbor during the interview process and getting to know one another, the spray from the waves gave him second thoughts about the job and he asked if the position of Cabin Boy was stll open. Unfortunately the minimum term for a new FSC is 3 years and FSC Kerry still has 2 years, 364 days, 23 hours, and 45 minutes left to serve before he can even be considered for promotion. To ease the disappointment, FSC Kerry was awarded an extra portion of ship's rations (photo right) and given afternoon liberty.
This morning I visited the shop (photo left) of local boat builder and designer Paul, a Shelburne resident who until recently lived in British Columbia. Paul specializes in wooden boats with a traditional flavor and it was a pleasure to watch him at work (photo right). Although many modern materials are used in the process of producing a wooden boat, the basic steps of design and construction are not far removed from the methods shipbuilders developed hundreds of years ago.
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