Squam Day

Annual Chowder Race

By: Charles Giuliano - Nov 13, 2014

Squam Day

Squam Day
Annual regatta
Chowder Race
Catered by Woodman’s of Essex
Served in enamel pans
Donut on the handle
Star Boats sailing over from Rockport’s Sandy Bay
A tow from Conomo Point
Yachts from as far away as Marblehead
Fleet setting sail
Lightnings, Fish Boats, Turnabouts
Rigged and tacking to starting line
Off the Annisquam Light House
In the open bay
Cup for all over fastest craft
Competitions by class
From up river they came at race time
Brothers
Old timers in linen suits
One at the tiller
Other hiking out trimming sails
Brims of straw hats bent back by the breeze
An apparition
Like an Eakins or Homer painting
Ancient gaff rigged sloop
Long and thin like a canoe
Flying by at a furious clip
Finished the course in record time
Then poof
Gone in the salt mist of memory

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Reader Comments

"I worked as a waitress at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead one summer. We were not allowed to fraternize with the patrons, ate rancid food leftover. Everyone working waited for Race Week. That was the big money. I really hated being a servant, and finally ended my stay by pouring too much water in glasses, overflowing and walked out!"

Posted By: jane Hudson on 11-13-2014, 11:43 am
"Turnabout!Last summer I moored my boat at the Annisquam yacht club and asked the young man steering the launch if there were any turnabouts left and he looked at me like I was some sort of idiot.Are there Star boats and lightnings left?I did meet a fellow name Pierce pronounced Perse, he said, who remembered my sister.But he was older than me."

Posted By: Martin G Mugar on 11-13-2014, 10:18 am