A Poem About Sailing On Eastchester Bay

 This poem was written by my friend, Jim Porter, the master of his canoe sterned Ocean Voyager 26, “Aria” on the occasion of the retirement from sailing of Selwyn and Evie, whose Tartan 31, “Evie F” also graced the Harlem YC mooring field. I’m guessing that the poem was written about 15 years ago, but the feelings of euphoria, fear and boredom experienced when solo sailing in our home waters are universal and as true today as they were back then. He has captured, with rhyme and meter both the big wind days at both ends of each season and the hot calm days of mid summer. Though the author was generous in sharing his boat with others, he gave her the name “Aria” in recognition that he would be sailing solo frequently. Selwyn, a mentor to me, has long gone on to Fiddler’s Green, the mythic final resting place for sailors, but Evie lives in California and Jim in New Jersey. Jim wrote this poem as a song but the music has gotten lost.

                                                                Aria’s Aria

                              (Have You Ever Sailed On Eastchester Bay?)

                                                                                                           James D Porter, Jr.

                              Have You Ever sailed on Eastchester Bay?

                             When the white caps are out and the rigging is strumming?

                              Have you tried to put your Staysail away?

                              When the fore deck is heeling and the hull is a’ humming?

                               Without hand at the tiller, she finds her own way

                               And heads for Throgs Neck with magnetic attraction.

                               Flying to windward, it‘s the gusts she obeys,

                               As she reaches a speed of five knots and a fraction.

                                On Eastchester Bay that’s a regular day

                                In September, October and sometimes in May.

                                Have you ever sailed on Eastchester Bay

                                Praying for breezes in the heat of midday

                                While the sun bakes your brains out

                                And it’s airless and calm? Yes,

                                It’s hotter than sin at the Ledge and Big Tom.

                               On Eastchester Bay, that’s a regular day

                               In July, June and August, but rarely in May.

                              We’re Eastchester sailors accustomed to this.

                              And we’re crazy enough to think it is bliss.

                               So let’s drink to the Bay and the Ledge and the Rocks,

                               To the waves, and the wind and the clouds in great flocks,

                               To our boats, and our friends and to those whom we miss.

                               We’ll keep sailing on Eastchester Bay…

                               Yes…

                               We’ll keep sailing on Eastchester Bay.

                                                                                    (for Selwyn and Eve Feinstein,

                                                                                    Harlem Yacht Club sailors)