It was an invitation I could not refuse. I had texted Harris to ask where he kept his Arey's Pond custom built Caracal MARIAH. I told him I just wanted to know where it was so I could just go stand on the dock and take a look. Instead, he told me to meet him at his house, we'll go sailing. How very nice!
I have long been a fan of catboats. The Marshall catboats, Mengers and Arey's Pond boats have always caught my eye. The single-masted gaff-rigged boats in the 18 and 19 foot range seemed like they would be perfect for cruising. If I ever get a boat with a cabin, it might well be a catboat.
The Caracal, a recent design (MARIAH is hull #4), seems like the perfect mix of traditional design (cold molded hull) and some high-tech features (carbon fiber mast) built by true craftsmen. It is a beautiful boat, as are all the Arey's Pond designs. Yes, well out of my price range, but I can still admire them, can't I??
I admit I did not know Harris very well. We had crossed paths a couple of times over the years, once in St. Michaels and then just a couple of years ago at the Downrigging Festival in Chestertown. When I heard he was having a Caracal built, I sent him a note asking about modifications he was making to the design. The list he sent me was like he was reading my mind. An extended cabin, extra port hole up forward, slightly deeper cockpit and auxiliary diesel, just to mention a few. With a stove on board, and two bunks, it will be perfect for a little cruising.
The fact that I had met Harris just briefly over the years did not stop him treating me like an old friend. I had received several invitations to group sails he often organized in the fall on the James River. I suspect he knew that I was not much for group outings, but the invitations kept coming anyway. Plus through small boats, we had a ton of friends in common. It was almost like we knew each other already.
The wind was light as we started our five or so hours on the water. It gave us plenty of time to talk about MARIAH and his life-long experiences with catboats - he had sailed on a classic Fenwick Williams catboat since he was a child, eventually cruising on it with his own family. So MARIAH was a return to his life-long love affair with catboats.
After lunch at a waterfront restaurant, we headed back up the James. A very nice breeze filled in from the north giving us a beam reach back to his marina. Big gaff-rigged main filled with wind, MARIAH heeled nicely as she held a true course up the river against the tide. It was just a wonderful day. A beautiful boat, great lunch and an enjoyable conversation with Harris.
Thanks, Harris, for a great sail on a beautiful catboat. Congratulations on MARIAH. Enjoy!
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