Torpedo Weapons Recovery Vessel

There was an interesting ship here during the recent blow. She was a torpedo weapons recovery vessel or TWR. I have never seen her here before and had no idea what she was used for. After consulting with Captain Tobey Leske and Captain Blair Perkins, I learned what she was and what her mission is.

Here are a few pictures of her as she was tied to the east face of Stright Wharf-







Click here for information on a torpedo weapons recovery vessel

Nub War Update

I went to the meeting yesterday at the Maria Mitchell Association. There were 6 commercial scallopers there. Also in attendance were Robert Kennedy, Frank Dutra, Whitey Willauer and a few civilians. 

It was agreed upon that the Shellfish Association draft a letter voicing the fishermen's concerns and send it to the State Biologist, Michael Hickey. The letter to Hickey will ask him to leave things alone this season and not change any size law to the raised annual growth rings on the scallops we will be harvesting this year.

There is an emergency SHAB meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October 28 to discuss all of this with Dave Fronzuto and Jeff Mercer (our new Town Biologist) along with the members of SHAB. 

If you are a commercial scalloper, please find the time to come to the meeting. 

URGENT! RE: Commercial Scalloping

This just in:

There is chatter around the waterfront tonite. I've been hearing from some of my informants that there may be a change to the size of the raised annual growth rings on the scallops that we will be allowed to commercially harvest this upcoming season. This year, the adult scallops have a very small raised growth ring, perhaps 5 mm. I'm hearing that the powers that be are looking to only allow the fishermen to keep scallops with a 10mm growth ring and no less. 

There will be a meeting of the scallopers at the Maria Mitchell Association on Vestal Street at noon tomorrow (Wed October 22). I will be in attendance. Hope to see any concerned scallopers there.

Please get the word out. 

Windy Waterfront

Well, we're back into our typical winter weather. Windy and cold. It's been blowing an ever-living gale for three days now. I finally ventured out to the waterfront and grabbed a few shots today.

Looking down the fairway-


Another sailboat on the beach at Monomoy joining the other two wrecks that have been there for a year now-


A rough and cold looking harbor-



A moored boat getting tossed around like a cork at Francis Street Beach-


This old girl wasn't so lucky. Her mooring line parted and she ended up on the beach bumping up against a bulkhead. Luckily, someone put out fenders on her port side to cushion the blow. Otherwise, she'd be smashed to pieces in no time-


The Cap. John & Son 4 pulled into port late this afternoon and tied up behind the Hy-Line office. She looks to be a whale watch boat. She was carrying golfers who will be participating in a tournament tomorrow. They came over from Martha's Vineyard in all this wind. I asked the captain how it was crossing the Sound. He gave me a one word answer- rough!

Brant Point Foghorn

Is it just me or does the Brant Point foghorn have a new tone now?

Nice Evening Down At The Waterfront

We've had some pretty nice days lately. I was poking around the waterfront this evening and grabbed a few shots.

A becalmed Endeavor-




The M/V Eagle heading out-


The west jetty-


An almost full moon-


The end to a beautiful day-

Labrador Sea

I got a chance to see the tug, Labrador Sea as she was backing out of the Boat Basin with a fuel barge late this afternoon. This was the first time I have ever seen her here. She replaced the tanker, Great Gull which is now down in Venezuela. It was an impressive sight watching the captain maneuver the big ship in such tight quarters. Prenny Claflin was on hand in a Sea Ox helping to push the barge.

No Scallops This Year

There are no scallops this year. I went to Monomoy to see how everyone was doing on opening day of the family season. It looks grim. Very very grim. One guy got one scallop and another guy got three.
Reports are coming in from other parts of the Island including the West End. Nothing anywhere.

I've seen this happen before. We cant have a banner year every year. This will be a lean year for the commercial guys. Here are a few shots I grabbed this morning-

The Storm that Never Came

Well the weather forecasters predicted a pretty big storm here over the weekend. Boats were pulled out of the water and everyone that stayed in the water doubled up on their mooring and dock lines. All that for nothing. The storm never hit. We got a good dose of rain but no wind.

Anyway, I was out and about the waterfront grabbing a few shots this weekend.

Hauling out before the predicted storm on friday-


Western rigged draggers laying at the east face of the Town Pier-


A western rigged sea scalloper at Straight Wharf-


A crew member on the sea scalloper welding new shoes on a dredge-


And finally, a house near Petrel's Landing jacked up-


I recently bought a wireless rain gauge. I will be posting totals here after every rain event. Yesterday and overnight we received 4.21" total rainfall.

Great Harbor Yacht Club Construction

The building of the new GHYC has begun. I will miss the old Shipyard buildings that were once there.



Tonight's sunset-

Full Harvest Moon

The full harvest moon as seen from the cricks tonite-
(click on picture to enlarge)

Boats For Sale

A buddy of mine is selling a couple of his boats-


1990 23' Wellcraft
Walk Around Cuddy Cabin
150 Johnson Long Shaft
9.9 Johnson Kicker
Aluminum I beam Dual axle trailer with New springs & shackles
Bimini Top with recent 3 sided enclosure
Outriggers and downrigger
Anchor with new chain and line
Raw water wash down
Garmin GPS
Garmin Fish Finder
15 Mile Radar
Uniden VHF
Am/Fm/Cd Stereo with 100w speakers
Bow Pulpit
Safety Equipment
New Portable Potty
New High Back Full Cushion bucket seats
110 Gallon Fuel Tank
New Marine Battery
New Fuse Panel and complete wiring
New Navigation Lights
$8999.99

Angus MacVicar
(508) 228-1648

Labor Day

Summer is over. It went by too fast for me this year. Hopefully we'll have a nice Fall.

Sunset from the North Shore-


And from East Polpis Harbor-

22' Tripp Boat

I've always been a big fan of the 22' Tripp Boat. Years ago, they were very popular as a bay scallop boat. There were several of them in the fleet. I remember Karsten Reinemo owned one as well as Jimmy Garnett, Peter Eldridge and Henry Wasierski. Howie Whelden still fishes out of one now.

I spotted one out at Madaket Marine the other day. She used to belong to Wiggles Coffin. She has been beautifully restored by her current owner. New deck, paint, etc. Here's a picture of her. Click on the picture for a larger view-



Click here for information on Tripp Boats