Somnambule!

It was late Sunday afternoon. There was only a breath of wind which had died down from an annoyingly fresh south-easterly which wasn’t suppose to be. Everything was quieting down…tomorrow’s Monday morning officially kills most peoples summer vacation.

On the horizon shining from the opposing  setting sun I see a ship approaching, obviously different from all the others hurrying to get back from their Sunday hobby spin.  Two masts became obvious, but something differed. It couldn’t be a ketch or yawl but only a schooner. How exciting! Will she keep course and anchor near by?

And indeed she did. Soon the booms became apparent. Huge and long with beautiful red covers. Then it was obvious the masts were unstayed, fat at the bottom, tapering to the sky with the fore mast at the tip of the bow. This is undisputedly a Junk Rig, a fetish of mine since reading the most influential book that got me in this sailing “mess”, “Voyaging on a small Income” by Annie Hill.

“Unless you are already living on the uttermost boundaries of … Western Civilization, you should read … Hill’s book with greatest caution.”  —Tom Cunliffe

As they ghosted by me, I bowed a welcome jester to the sailor leaning on the forward boom digging the sunset, watching and signaling to the helms-woman where to anchor, as two dogs scattered around seemingly eager to get ashore. No thrills no frills they dropped anchor  nice and close.  Soon they lowered their tender and all went ashore.

The next morning drinking my cockpit coffee,  I admired Somnambule. A 14meters steel schooner rigged as a junk.

 

This is no ordinary boat. I was hoping to get to meet them but alas after their (I’m assuming) morning dog walk, they started their engine and ghosted out just as slowly and quietly as they arrived. I immediately hit the net and got that  Somnambule is a person who sleepwalks, and I like that… they were so slow indiscreet and quiet. They also have a website which google says is in German so I’m missing out on their scoop. Hopefully Somnambule and Zoot Allures will cross paths again!

Feeling a bit sad and lonely with the idea of going back to work looming in my mind, the swans came by. One approached, said a few swan words, flipped me the swan finger and paddled away on one foot. W.T.F!!

Have I overstayed my welcome??

Stay tuned,

Capt Pete

ps… errr…I dunno!