The final walk
SALTAIRE38.blogspot.com "In the time of your life--live." That time is short and it doesn't return again. It is slipping away while I write this and while you read it, and the monosyllable of the clock is Loss, loss, loss, unless you devote your heart to its opposition (--Tennesse Williams)
4 comments:
Into the sunset? Captain Al would have run aground on Farm Shoals if he had attempted such a directional path........
no radar or GPS on this vessel for Capt. Skinner. Just knew the waters/ Great South Bay by compass and time to get to buoys and docks- that is all that was needed. No vhf fm marine radio either-just ssb. A true legend.
The Islander NEVER had SSB(single side band) When radio's were first mandated she had an AM set and after that set she had a Motorola FM marine radio. I should know I worked on the ferries for quite a few years and ran the Islander more times than I can remember.
And yes, Skinner was better at navigating in the fog or bad weather than any current radar set, Loran, GPS, etc. The deckhands on foggy mornings were out on the bow in order to kick the buoys out of the way - Skinners compass courses were always dead on. Best Fog Skipper FI Ferries ever had.
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