July 12: Messing Around in Boats

July 12: Messing Around in Boats

July 12, 2018

“Is it so nice as all that?” asked the mole, shyly.

“Nice? It’s the only thing,” said the Water Rat solemnly, as he leaned forward for his stroke. “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing — absolutely nothing — half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”

“Simply messing…about in boats—or with boats…” the Rat went on composedly…”In or out of ‘’em it doesn’t matter. Nothing seems to matter, that’s the charm of it. Whether you get away, or whether you don’t; whether you arrive at your destination or whether you reach somewhere else, or whether you never get anywhere at all, you’re always busy, and you never do anything in particular; and when you’ve done it there’s always something else to do, and you can do it if you like, but you’d much better not.”

No one before or since has said it better than Kenneth Grahame’s Water Rat in The Wind in the Willows, and this weekend we honor the rat by messing around in a whole lot of boats. The Vineyard Cup Regatta kicks off tomorrow morning with three days of sailing races, a harborside party in the Race Village on Tisbury Wharf with locally sourced cuisine (bracelets can be purchased online or at the door), and all kinds of special activities.

As part of the event, the United States Coast Guard will perform a Search and Rescue Demonstration in Vineyard Haven Harbor on Saturday evening between 5:15 and 6 p.m. before the party. You can watch the boats gathering for the start of the races off of East Chop (try Eastville Beach) on Friday at 1 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m. But perhaps one of the coolest things about the regatta is their efforts towards a zero waste event.

And if you’re looking for a low-key way to mess around with boats, try a Kayak Quest or a Sunset Kayak Tour at Felix Neck or explore the waters of Long Cove Pond with a kayak or paddleboard rental at Long Point Wildlife Refuge.

Thursday, July 12 | Make Last Minute Plans

If you blink around here these days, you might miss something interesting. Take tonight, for instance. Marvin Kalb, a distinguished journalist and expert on Russia, Putin, and Ukraine, will be speaking at the Hebrew Center at 7:30 p.m. as part of their Summer Institute Speaker series. And over at the Vineyard Haven Public Library there’s a panel discussion on the Ethics of Altering the Environment to Fight Lyme Disease at 7:00 p.m.

Friday, July 13 | Music in the Air

This morning there are some great art classes at Featherstone: print making, enameling, and painting, all starting at 9 a.m. Between 10 a.m. and noon, we’re taking the kids to a Family Fishing activity on Oaks Bluffs fishing pier.

Tonight we’re setting up our lawn chairs in Trinity Park outside the Tabernacle for the Sunset Concert Series. We might bring a picnic, but we’re also happy to know that the folks from SMOAK will be there with their food truck. Mrs. Biskis will play from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. If we can make it over to Vineyard Haven, we’ll head for the movies after that: Skyscraper is playing at the Capawock at 8 p.m.

Saturday, July 14 | Market to Meadow

We’re going to start our Saturday peacefully with a prayer hike in the beautiful Cedar Tree Neck Sanctuary or some guided meditation. Then we’ll treat ourselves to a stop at the West Tisbury Farmers’ Market (9 a.m. to 12 p.m.) and the Chilmark Flea Market (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

We might wind up the day on Chappy at the CCC Annual Community Fair (5 to 7 p.m., dog show included), though some of us will be heading to Katama to support the FARM Institute with their annual Meals in the Meadow dinner and dance. Whitney, the new documentary film about singer Whitney Houston, plays at the Capawock at 8 p.m. tonight.

Sunday, July 15 | You Gotta Be You

This morning, the Reverend Susan Sparks—America’s only comedian with a pulpit—returns to Union Chapel to deliver the Sunday sermon at 9:45 a.m.

After the beach, you’ve got lots of interesting options for this evening: An opening reception af the Field Gallery for artists Traeger di Pietro and Benjamin M. Johnson at 5 p.m.; Lawrence O’Donnell at the Chilmark Community Center as part of the MV Author Series (7:30 to 9 p.m.); the film Sammy Davis, Jr., I Gotta Be Me as the next Summer Institute Film at the Hebrew Center (7:30 p.m.), and The Vineyard Haven Town Band at Ocean Park tonight at 8 p.m.

save the date
Jul 22 Martha’s Vineyard Author Series: Seymour Hersh | Find Out More
Jul 29 40th Annual Possible Dreams Auction | Find Out More
Aug 19 MV Author Series: Michael Pollan | Find Out More

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Photos: middle, Ray Ewing; bottom, Tim Johnson

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