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Tuesday 8 September 2020

Heeling

It was a beautiful September morning with a breeze and temperature in the high teens Celsius. The boardwalk was busy as families took advantage of a holiday to take the kids out to see the animals. The shoreline, busy with migrating birds for the last month, was quiet except for the gulls.


Out in the Summerside Harbour, a number of sailboats were headed out past the lighthouse and breakwater for the Northumberland Strait. 





My husband’s reaction to the sailboats was predictable. “This is close enough for me,” he said as he looked out at the boats while I took photos.


My husband had a close call in a fishing boat or rather out of a fishing boat when it capsized. He was lucky they were close to shore. The next year when he visited his uncle in Ontario, while out in his uncle’s sailboat, a freak storm caused anxious moments. Needless to say, he doesn’t go on anything smaller than the Titanic now, and we know how that ended. I concur. While I’ve never been in a sail boat, heeling looks frightening to me. Regardless, the sailboats were a lovely sight for these two seniors as long as others were in them.





Some of the boats looked small from the shoreline, barely visible but for their white sails. How many such boats or tall ships have passed beside the Indian Head Lighthouse since 1881 when it went into service?

 

During the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation in 2017, tall ships came into the Summerside Harbour. We watched as some of the vessels left port. I love this photo of one ship beyond the breakwater as the other approaches it. 





The distant vessel looks like a ghost from the past. Back here in the present day however, the boats are smaller, the voyages much shorter and the sailing for enjoyment.


One of the boats, the Sunrise, catches the southerly breeze as she clears the lighthouse/breakwater and heads towards Confederation Bridge. 





The southerly wind causes her to heel to port. She was a beautiful sight as were the others when they joined her there.





Along the shoreline a Ring-billed Gull looks out to sea as if watching the sailboats.





No canvas sails required here.





Answer to a question:


Anita from beautiful Norway at https://lastreasures.blogspot.com asked what kind of camera and lenses I use. 


My camera is a Nikon P900. The camera is 16 megapixel, user friendly, with excellent optical and digital zoom and allows automatic settings for various conditions. It is sufficient for my needs. I have no interest in anything beyond this point and shoot camera.


36 comments:

PerthDailyPhoto said...

I couldn't agree with your husband more Marie. I love everything about the sea, the yachts, the tall mast ships, lighthouses, watching the different moods of the ocean.. all the while with my feet firmly on terra firma 😉 Beautiful nautical images here today 💜

Anvilcloud said...

I was once offered the opportunity to crew on a sailboat on Lake Huron. I chose not to.

Helen said...

Your Nikon does a sensational job with you guiding it, especially in the tall ship image and the seagulls in full flight.

Shammickite said...

My (late) husband had a sailboat, a large one, and loved to sail, but I didn't enjoy it at all. I used to go out on the water with him, but I preferred the calm days, when he preferred the windy days.

eileeninmd said...

Hello Marie,

I like my feet planted on the ground, I am not a sailor or boat person. I have taken a few whale watching and other boat rides, some were good some made me sick. I do love the views of the gulls, sailboats and the lighthouse. Very pretty coastline! Take care, enjoy your day!

Martha said...

It's a great little camera, your photos are gorgeous! I agree with your hubby, I prefer my feet planted on solid ground, and I've never even had close calls like he has.

DJan said...

The shot of the Sunrise in the sparkling water is wonderful, as is the final shot of this series. I think your eye for beauty is more important than the camera. :-)

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I'd love to see a tall ships festival in a port some day.

William Kendall said...

A great day to be on the water.

Beside a babbling brook... said...

~happy sigh~

Beautiful...

But only, when seen, from shore....

~smile~

I am fascinated by the power of the sea. But again, only when watching film of it, on my tv.

💛🍁💛🍁💛

Elephant's Child said...

You saw tall ships? Serious envy.
Many years ago I went sailing and I remember heeling as being exciting, exhilarating and a little scary.

Mage said...

Marvelous stuff. Ii won't tell you how much I love sailing. :)

Bill said...

Beautiful photos, Marie. Your camera works well for you. I love being on a boat but I never been on a sailboat, probably a very different experience.

Tanza Erlambang said...

I love to watch boats sailing in the parade when I was kid...wonderful.

Thank you for sharing series of beautiful photos.

Peter Clothier said...

That last picture--particularly gorgeous. Love the way the colors work, the sharp edge of the wings...!

Ruth Hiebert said...

That last shot of the gulls in flight is a spectacular shot. i love seeing and photographing sail boats but have no desire to be on one.

Boud said...

I'm a kindred spirit on the subject of boats, or even big ships and being in or on water in any capacity. Lovely to look at and draw and walk by but not my natural environment.

Your pictures are unfailingly good. And I think you have great light, always a plus.

Polly said...

I used to enjoy going out on a friends boat on river trips but nowadays I'm happier on dry land. Your photos of the gulls are beautiful.

photowannabe said...

I love the way the sun highlights the gulls wings..perfect capture.
the sailboats are lovely too but I am with the rest of your commenters I prefer my feet on terra firma.

Joanne Noragon said...

I believe you have nailed the definition of Heeling.

Rose said...

I would love to watch the sailboats and ships...but I would have similar reaction as your hubby.

Red said...

I like sailing but I've only sailed on a small prairie lake!!!

At Home In New Zealand said...

Although our country is an island and many people love to sail, I have never been in one and have no great desire to ever do so. But I could watch them for hours. Love your photos :)

Susan Zarzycki said...

I love all your photos! They make me a tiny bit homesick for Maine. I used to love to sail but these days I am happy to observe and imagine what it's like out there in the ocean, living vicariously through other hardy souls.💖

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Like you husband, I am not a huge fan of being on the water in small craft, and I have never had an incident such as he has experienced. I went on one cruise, a boring, synthetic not to be repeated experience.

Liz Hinds said...

I am with you! Some of those boats look as if they're about to tip over any minute!

Susie of Arabia said...

I can certainly understand your feelings about boats. Years ago I was on a big paddle wheel boat on the Mississippi River when it was struck by a barge and a big 8 ft gash resulted. We had to be evacuated. It was unnerving, but I still get on ships without a problem.
My brother in Gig Harbor, WA, has a magnificent view of the Puget Sound. He likes to joke around when he sees sailboats in the sound, saying that they've got a lot of nerve, ruining his view!

Tabor said...

Terrific photos. I can feel the spray on my face. I get sea sick, so sailboats are not for me. I need something calm and not too far out in the waves.I always wear my life jacket.

The Furry Gnome said...

I think I'd feel the same way about ceiling! Great photos.

jenny_o said...

Beautiful shots, Marie - absolutely stunning. They make me miss the shore, especially that last shot where the sand is churned up in the water. Such a familiar sight.

I wasn't sure from the title what your post was going to be about. I wondered briefly if the grand-dog was taking obedience classes - a refresher course, only, of course, as he is already a good boy :)

Glenda Beall said...

I am so glad I found your blog. These photos are wonderful. They take me back to my one experience sailing. I loved it. You are fortunate to have these picturesque views. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Debbie said...

hehehehe, your poor husband, to be so unlucky twice!! i'm glad he would not feel any safer on the titanic, like you said "we all know how that ended"!!

beautiful captures, i really love the last one. you have a wonderful camera, i use a nikon too!!

Catarina said...

Great pictures. You captured the sailboats really well.
The last picture is a masterpiece!!
: )

Angela said...

Beautiful images!! Someday I should go in a sail boat, it looks lovely!

Margaret said...

I love the look of sailboats(great photos!) but I would be terrified to be on one. When I wasn't throwing up that is...

Barbara said...

To me, the sea is a dangerous place and I'm just as happy standing on the bank or looking at a photo. Great shots.