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Read an inteview today of folk music legend Pete Seeger, 91. He said: "I'm a long time believer in the power of beauty and the compound curves of a sailboat are supremely beautiful."
Always liked that guy.
John Russell 1999 C250 SR/WK #410 Bay Village, Ohio Sailing Lake Erie Don't Postpone Joy!
Sailing has a way of finding universal truths. Maybe it's because sailing gives us time to think big thoughts. Regardless of one's politics, what sailor could disagree with Seeger's sentiments about the beauty of sailboats? I felt the same about Ted Kennedy. Regardless of your politics, what sailor could not appreciate the fact that, as he neared the end of his life, he spent as much time as he could, sailing his boat?
Pete S. did more than just talk about the beauty of sailboats. He commissioned this masterpiece:
<b>Link to the organization that Seeger founded to restore the Hudson river:</b> http://www.clearwater.org/festival/aboutclearwater.html Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. is a 501(c)3 tax exempt nonprofit, member- supported corporation whose mission is to preserve and protect the Hudson River. In 1966, folk music legend and environmental activist Pete Seeger, in despair over the pollution of his beloved Hudson River, announced plans to “build a boat to save the river”. At the time, the Hudson was rank with raw sewage, toxic chemicals and oil pollution; fish had disappeared over many miles of its length. Seeger believed a majestic replica of the sloops that sailed the Hudson in the 18th and 19th centuries would bring people to the river, where they could experience its beauty and be moved to preserve it. Inspired by that vision, the 106-feet-long tall ship Clearwater was built and launched in 1969. The sloop was among the first vessels in the U.S. to conduct science-based environmental education aboard a sailing ship, virtually creating the template by which such programs are conducted around the world today.
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Steve Milby</i> <br />...what sailor could not appreciate the fact that, as he neared the end of his life, he spent as much time as he could, sailing his boat? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">...and a lovely boat she was (is)...
A principal decoration in my living room is this model of Shamrock V, Thomas Lipton's last challenger:
It isn't "museum quality", but it shows the beautiful shape and proportions of those huge Js.
Another avid sailor and legendary scientist is [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Lovelock"]James Lovelock[/url], age 91. A leading planetary scientist, inventor, and proponent of climate change research and mitigation, Prof. Lovelock reportedly would disappear aboard his sail boat for days to weeks on end to think, draft manuscripts, or test the sensors/equipment he was developing. Unfortunately, I cannot find a pic of his sailboat right now.
"Ted Turner sailed into the meeting, and I mean sailed. He holds himself as if he were at the helm of his sailboat, in the process of winning the race." Joseph Barbera
You'll enjoy this link to another J Class yacht, Endeavor, actually a link to the whole J class. Click on the History button after you stop drooling over the pictures. I remember reading about her rebuild shortly after it was completed. Elizabeth Meyer rescued her from oblivion, spending over $5 million of her own funds on the project. No telling what the total came to. Absolutely beautiful!!!!
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.