Every year, for many years, Mark Stover has invited me to join him aboard Redhook for a splendid cruise when the ships arrive for Windjammer Days. It’s an event I look forward to and always fun, even when the weather isn't ideal, which it tends not to be sometimes.

This year was pretty nice for a big part of the day. There were some great puffy white clouds which eventually turned into great puffy less white clouds and serious downpour. By the time the rains came, we were almost back at the dock and well undercover on Mark's boat.

I have photographed Windjammer Days since the late ’70s, from many perspectives, including a few times from the air. We made a poster from one such adventure, back in the ’80s, I believe. There were some 15 vessels that year. They were stacked up to Tumbler Island with a Navy ship to boot.

So much, I've come to appreciate, depends upon the weather. That probably seems like an obvious thing to say. Of course, it depends upon the weather, dummy! But I don't mean the weather on the day ships arrive, I mean the weather prior to the festival.

I remember perfectly beautiful days for Windjammer when very few ships arrived in the Harbor. It seemed weird to me at the time, but when you are riding the wind at the wrong time in the wrong place, it becomes a great chore to get to Boothbay in time to participate. Ships could be fogged in or skirting a storm out to sea. The safety of the ship and its passengers is paramount and taking risks is not a wise choice. There is only so much one can do when Mother Nature sends a memo. You go where you can.

But this year a nice batch of ships arrived. Some were old faithfuls and others new to the show. For me, half the fun is spending an afternoon with Mark and a nice group of guests on the water. Beats sanding old sills or mowing the lawn, hands down!