The sailboats at the WoodenBoat School are being rigged and readied for the water, as you see from this image taken yesterday.
The sails are soon to come, but many of the ropes are out for rigging and moorings. On-the-water sailing classes begin June 25, although other classes began at the School on June 4.
When it comes to modern marine “ropes” for recreational vessels, you’re not going to see much of the Manilla hemp used in days of yore when apprentice seamen had to “learn the ropes” on sailing vessels. Today, you have an amazing choice of wild colors and compositions. Take a look at this collection behind the WBS boathouse:
The mystifying number of materials when it comes to types of rigging and mooring/docking ropes today includes nylon; nylon polyesters; polypropylenes; braided, double-braided, and hollow-braided; floating; reflective; low-stretch, and high-absorption ropes.
The mooring gear also can be stored and transported in curious ways:
(Images taken in Brooklin, Maine, on June 8 [rope cluster and moorings], 13 [boats], and 16 [crate and loader—added later], 2023.)