Bro Russell's Page

When did you sail aboard Tabor Boy?

1959 to 1962

How many years did you sail aboard Tabor Boy?

4

Were you a member of the Schooner Crew?

Yes

Were you an Officer?

Yes

If yes, please provide position (s) and years(s)

Senir year I was Navigator under Exec. Nat Gladding

Did you make any extended voyages? (i.e. Caribbean, Bermuda, etc.)

Caribbean, Bermuda, Maine, Other

If "Other", please advise.

Chesapeake Charleston a few times Delaware

Did you participate in "Orientation at Sea" program for new students?

No

Tabor graduation year:

'62

College attended and year graduated:

Syracuse, 66, UMass 72

Do you currently work in the maritime field?

No

Current Occupation:

Human rights organization

Website:

http://cartoonistrights.com

Last time you sailed on Tabor Boy?

niot since summer crewing after I graduated.

Do you own currently own a boat?

nope

Favorite Tabor Boy moment

We were in Tarpaulin cove on a work weekend, and Alfie Fuller and I were over the side in the long boat putting the finishing touches on a full hull repaint in that nice Pettit Gloss Black. Of course we were the two most geeky guys aboard, but the word hadn't been coined then.

Well it was dusk, the light was fading and everybody but us was below eating. The long boat has just been totally repainted the week before and this was its first outing with its brand new spanking while gloss paint job. Geeks that we were of course (do I have to say it?) somehow, and I'm sure it was all Alfie's fault, the whole freaking gallon of gloss black went ass over teacup and into the long boat's bilge. About 10 gallons of sea water down there to help slosh it along too. Alfie and I just stood there, just stunned. Cap. Galeser could exhibit a certain lack of a sense of humor from time to time.

Somebody was going to come up and check on us at any minute. We both looked at each other and in one motion without a word spoken we both looked out toward Sippican harbor, 7 miles away . No words were spoken, we both thought exactly the same thing....could we possibly swim?

The exec offier came up and with a look of horror I've never seen since peered down into the dusk to and saw what miraculous works we have done. He got the Boson up and we all started slurping up the mess in the bilges, old shirts, rags, somebody's jeans, a few gallons of terps, and then we could still hear Cap's booming voice coming from below: He didn't even have to come up on deck: Who the hell left Bro and Alfie alone in the long boat? he let out the definitive "WHAT A PERFORMANCE!" of our young lives.

Alfie and I ate late that night, very late. But we were so happy that we still had all the family jewels in tact that we didn't mind.

In the morning, we both came up on deck to a beautiful spring morning, clear as a bell, and we look out across the other smaller boats anchored there for the night. Especially a really lovely while hulled Choy Lee anchored to our stern. It had a really interesting new black waterline stripe.

If your out there Alfie, I still think we coulda swum it.

Bro Russell