Thursday, May 07, 2009

Theme Thursday - Wind

I live by the ocean in a Summer resort. Oceans generate wind, and wind has several recreational uses, but the most important recreational use here in Newport is - sailing. So my post this week for the "wind" theme is sails filled with wind and speeding the boats through the water. Aren't these just lovely ladies?
























I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a gray mist on the sea's face, and a gray dawn breaking.

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.
– John Masefield, Sea Fever

This week's video takes us back a way. Since the theme this week is "wind", I immediately thought of Ian and Sylvia Tyson and Ian's classic, lovely song "Four Strong Winds". Here they are singing it on a Canadian television special, and joined by some special friends on the last verse.



Photographs © 2008 & 2009 by A. Roy Hilbinger

24 comments:

  1. I love this Masefield poem, Roy. It's one of my favorites. Nice photos, too.

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  2. That is one of my favorite poems. The pictures are wonderful, I think I like the second one the best. To see the sail boats is one of the reasons I like about visiting Newport.

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  3. Wow you live in a photographer's paradise! Great job at the oh so difficult blustery topic!

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  4. Not a very original comment, but the absolute truth: I love sailboats. They're one of the few reasons I wouldn't mind being rich...

    Beautiful pictures, Roy.

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  5. Thanks for the Ian and Sylvia clip. I hadn't heard Four Strong Winds in far too long.

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  6. Wow those photos!!! I have been to that actual spot...Narragansett Bay?, I think? You captured it beautifully. Thank you Roy

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  7. My husband has always coveted sailing vessels. I'll be sure to show him your lovely photographs.

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  8. love the ship pictures. makes me want to be out on the water. wonderful poem as well.

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  9. I am lost if there is no water. What happens when there is no wind, how do the boats operate then?

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  10. Your ladies are beautiful! I love raw power that comes across in the 3rd photo. Thanks.

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  11. Very nice post, great combination for a tough theme!

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  12. Thanks everybody!

    Hey Aniko!! Welcome to Blogger!

    Holly, the top two shots are on Narragansett Bay, but the big shot is on the ocean off Brenton Point.

    Debo, all those boats are equipped with utility engines, so if the wind dies it's no big deal.

    Ronda, the third shot is my favorite, too. That was taken during last year's Classic Yacht Regatta. It was pretty windy that day, and that boat was hull down and moving fast. Heh, heh! I'll be willing to bet the crew was hanging on for dear life.

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  13. Lovely! I might see some of this soon. Plan to visit either Sunday or Monday :-)

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  14. Oh those pics are just beautiful!! Thanks for sharing! You must live in a great part of the world :)

    Happy TT
    xoxo

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  15. Good for you Roy. I was hoping someone would use this Canadian song.

    Mwa

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  16. Dot-Com - This Sunday or Monday???? Email me! (click on email in my profile). Although given the forecast and the time of year, I can't guarantee anybody's gonna be out sailing.

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  17. Great shots, and thanks for the video. I can't believe I'd never heard this lovely song, but I'll be the first to admit that my professed abundance of musical knowledge has some huge gaps where the folk era is concerned.

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  18. Living on arguably one of the world's most beautiful harbours I love to watch the yachts, spinnakers billowing . .although I'm not a fan of sailing! Tipped one up once and it scarred me for life!

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  19. That last one is an absolute pearler!

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  20. oh, roy, this is such a beautiful post -- i mean blog!!! i am getting out of my lazy ways and updating, as you know, thank you.

    -hugs

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  21. I'm running out of adjectives for your photos. They are...well, they are, and that's a good thing.

    Someday I will learn to sail. Thanks, Roy!

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  22. Thanks so much, everybody!

    Baino - Heh, heh! I can't count how many times I've been in the water, at least on a smaller boat. On the bigger boats the risk of tipping is a lot less; competent crew tend to make up for the mistakes of the incompetent (like me).

    Kris - I like how that one turned out myself. I'm contemplating converting it to either a b&w or a sepia. Because I shot it through a telephoto lens (that baby was way out there) there's enough grain in it to give it a good, almost historical look. Check back in a few days; I might post it in a separate entry.

    Hi Arleen! I'm heading over to your blog now; I just saw the notification that you have a new entry up.

    Silver Fox - I'm just an unreconstructed old folkie. I was around and playing (guitar) and singing when songs like that were hitting the airwaves, so on some subjects those songs are what pop into my head.

    Megan - Absolutely do learn to sail; it's a lot of fun and a great way to cool off on a hot day.

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  23. ...gorgeous. It must be incredible to be able to walk out your door and be so close to such beauty and variety. Beautiful photos...

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  24. I want one! :D Or can i borrow one? lol. but you have to teach me how to sail first.

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