NEWBURYPORT — About a third of his way from southern Florida to the Cleveland area of Ohio, Coconut Telegraph boat owner Carl Dirkes made port along Newburyport’s public docks on Monday for a few days respite.
“We decided to stop and smell the roses,” Dirkes said Wednesday morning before setting sail once again.
The massive 1983 Barrington schooner with a 63-foot-tall mast made its way up the East Coast stopping at New York City to check out the Statue of Liberty before sailing into Boston Harbor for some closeup views of Beantown.
Continuing to hug the coast up along Maine, Dirkes said he and his crew will be checking out Nova Scotia where they may see beluga whales and icebergs before slipping into the St. Lawrence River. From there they will sail into Lake Ontario and finally into Lake Erie.
The Medina, Ohio, resident says his vessel, which shares a name with a Jimmy Buffett song and is slang for a rumor grapevine, should make his home state by mid-June.
“We’ve got 2,000 miles to go,” Dirkes said, adding the Coconut Telegraph can sleep about seven but is best suited for four passengers.
Newburyport Harbormaster Paul Hogg heaped plenty of praise on the Coconut Telegraph, calling it a marvel of current know how.
“It’s a unique setup compared to traditional boats – really lightweight, easy to handle, and it shows how sailing is starting to mix with newer technology while still keeping that classic feel,” Hogg said.
Although Memorial Day weekend is considered the official start of the Greater Newburyport boating season, there were too many vessels to count on both sides of the Merrimack River as of Wednesday morning.
Hogg said it was great to see Newburyport “coming alive again” after a long stretch of ice, snow and freezing temperatures.
“I’ve been watching the start of the season closely, and it’s always exciting when everything gets back on the water, boats coming in and out, people getting ready, and just that overall energy around the river again,” Hogg said.
For Newburyport, the boating season isn’t just recreation, it’s part of the culture, Hogg added.
“Once May hits and things warm up, the harbor really shifts into full activity, and you can tell summer is right around the corner,” Hogg said.
For those interested in following the Coconut Telegraph’s journey to Ohio, check out its Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100048175406008
Public dock fees vary by boat length, duration of stay and when during the week, according to the city’s website. For a full list of fees and regulations, visit: https://www.cityofnewburyport.com/harbormaster/pages/dock-mooring-accommodations