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Susan Crowley's avatar

Hilarious. Wonderful story I can so relate as I’m pretty sure Dan proposed because I agreed on a miserably hot day to help sand gunwales and other stuff on his little, fourth-hand wooden sailboat. Years later, he said he wanted a “jenny” for our latest, bigger boat, I was of course hurt and humiliated. So yeah, tough to, er, fathom sailorese.

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Robert  Basler's avatar

Oh, Susan, you're twice the woman Jenny would have been! It's very clear Dan liked the cut of your jib!

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Martha Schuh's avatar

Really enjoyed this story - lots of funny lines but it was the Gorton’s Fisherman that really got me. This is in the running as one of my favorites.

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Robert  Basler's avatar

Thank you, Martha!

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Sandy Read Reiberg's avatar

Could totally relate to this story. It's also cheering me up lying in bed with COVID. If you can find Block Island, I guess I can survive COVID. Bravo, Bob.

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David mannweiler's avatar

Your best so far, capt’n.

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Robert  Basler's avatar

Thank you, David...

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Carlyn MontesDeOca's avatar

Yet another humorous adventure in an extraordinary life.

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Kristen Aliotti's avatar

Great story. Favorite line: "...possibly taking someone's teeth with it." Hahaha. You lost me on the math part, seriously, meaning I might have been seeing Portugal before Block Island. But it did remind me of my year in Miami, and weekend sailing with friends in the Bay. No math required for jumping off the boat into that warm water! And thanks for that review of sailing terms; I hate looking like the landlubber that I am.!

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Jane Rea's avatar

Thanks, Bob. I grew up on the Great South Bay and we had power boats. Sailors call them stink pots, but they were handy for getting to where you wanted to go without having to get up in the dark.

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Kim Straus's avatar

Great story and I loved that you started it with the beginning of one of my all time favorite poems. You were pretty damn good looking in those days, too! Not that you’re bad looking now…

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Leah Eichler's avatar

What a great story

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kirtlye parker's avatar

These stories make me smile. Why did you knot tell some when you lived here. I am getting a whole new picture of Barbara too. Love them. I think you really should write a book!

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Susan Applegate's avatar

Really great! I needed that laugh. Did you actually refer to Keith as The Old Captain to his face?

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Robert  Basler's avatar

that's how he referred to himself on the boat!

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Rita Jane Gabbett's avatar

Once again, too many good lines to count. Great morning grins. Thanks, Bob!

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