Hi Marc
From Charlie's picture of the Mystic (thanks for putting a name to that face) it looks like the fore mast has a boom with a furled sail on it but from where I'm veiwing this & even with my reading glasses on it could very well be mermaid wrapped in a golden shroud. I haven't heard of a Hermaphrodite Barkentine either only a Hermaphrodite Schooner but looking in Royce's 'Sailing Illustrated' he has an illustration of what he calls a Hermaphrodite Brig (see section on "Square Rig family") which is rigged square on the fore mast & fore an aft on the after mast he also says that this rig the Brittish preffered to call a Brigantine & the American rare Brigantine would be fore mats all square & the after mast square rigged without the main sail with what looks to be a fare & aft main'sl instead. which doen't matter a twig seeing as the vessel in question has 3 masts, just thought that the terminology though a bit confusing a bit some times when discussing all the mixing of rigs, was intesting.

Bonnie, speaking of "great dedication and camaraderie" as you just did the thought came to me that there are a whole boatload of people like you that are always hard at work behind the scenes doing the odd things that need to get done & which the festival couldn't do without & which the public never gets to see (thankfully). Like hospitality, odd bits of coordination for any number of things & people, bedd arranging & ass wiping/whipping, using vast amounts of people skills to calm the waters & those drowning in them. As a past volunteer, performer, guest & plain festival goer I get to see what's to done be folks like you, Marc Bernier, David Littlefield, Rick Spencer & a bunch of other folks that aren't really part of the staff or that go far beyond their staff positions or festival positions to make the festival as sucessfull as it has been. We all know how hard the money is to come by & what cuts have taken place because of today's finicial enviorment. It's any wonder at all that the Museum keeps/allows the festival to continue when most museums are cutting these types of things completely out of their programs.

So, right back at you, and to all the other behind the scenes people that wear all the various hats & work all their magic & spirit to keep the festival upbeat & running smooth so that others just get to sit back, relax & enjoy it as they should, without ever having to experience the headaches that those that make it happen do.
After all they shouldn't have to pay for a headache.

Would you like me to pass you an asprin?

Could I tell some stories of some the miracles worked & some of the fires that you folks have put out and I haven't even seen the half of it and some of the great times had, I've seen some of that, great jobs yourselves.

Thankfully

Barry