May 8th: With new bottom and bootstripe paint and a polished hull, ORION looked like a million bucks when she was launched for the season.

May 29th: It was a cool day with light winds when we finally got to take our first official sail in the Niantic River. I fixed an upside-down sail slug and made other small adjustments.

June 19th: With Harry out of school for the summer, we went for an afternoon sail in Niantic Bay.

We sailed over to the Niantic Bay Yacht Club, had some lunch at their restaurant, and sailed back in beautiful conditions.

June 27th: Harry and I sailed to the WoodenBoat Show at Mystic Seaport. Even though the 10-15 knot wind was on the nose the whole time, the current helped us along.

We stayed overnight then went to the Show on Saturday before motoring back that afternoon. Check out the Google photo album of the trip.

July 17th: I stopped in to visit my friend Tack Ryan on my way to Niantic and checked out his work as he gets O’Day Mariner #3602 MISCHIEF back in sailing condition.

I then had a great sail with my friend Chris Kent out in Niantic Bay, and we sailed to the Niantic Bay Yacht Club for some lunch.

It was a hot day, but the food was great and the sailing even better.

July 19: I took my wife, son, sister-in-law and her husband as well as their two kids out into Niantic Bay to anchor and see the fireworks for Celebrate East Lyme.

August 1st: The 2025 Mariner Rendezvous began! Twelve boats participated in this year’s event, launching from Niantic and sailing to Essex.

There was a small craft advisory for the morning, but we had a beautiful sail under reefed mains and working jibs in ideal conditions with the wind coming from the northeast.

Essex Island Marina was our destination, and ten of us fit on both sides of one dock while the other two shared a nearby slip.

We had a great weekend, exploring Hamburg Cove, sailing on the ONRUST at the Connecticut River Museum, and enjoying a perfect sail home on Sunday. Check out the Photo Album here.