Isabella Schooner Unfurled

[Gcosloy]

On August 13th a group of us left Conomo Point and paddled down the Essex River to the location where the Isabella Schooner was to have it's maiden launch. When the ship floated free of it's underpinnings and crashed sideways into the water only to right itself quickly, many hearts were caught momentarily in their owner's stomachs. Well imagine my surprise to greet the ship's owner with family and friends running full with the wind near Great Misery and West Beach yesterday. The wind was about 12 knots and Leong and I were heading in the opposite direction going against this wind heading toward the Danver's river. Under full sail, the Isabella was magnificent to behold. That same wind was at our backs driving us back to Manchester. The paddle out against the wind averaged no more than 2 knots, the return trip averaged 6 knots. To see the ship at the boatyard where it was built felt historic; to see it out on the sea under full sail felt like magic. As the Greek Philosopher Heraclitus exclaimed, "We both step and do not step in the same rivers. We are and are not." Heraclitus must have been a kayaker.