A Schooner with Style — Halie & Matthew By Rebecca Burg
“L
ook, pirate ships!” Exclaimed a young boy as he and his family toured Key West’s seaport. Impressed, they stopped and gawked at the tall masts. The island’s collection of schooners weren’t manned by actual pirates, of course, but the vessels’ traditional looks captivated the imaginations of all ages. Of the numerous charter vessels ready to take visitors on an adventure, Key West’s resident and seasonal tall ships whisk us into a nautical time warp. We can relive the golden age of sail and experience the raw power of the elements aboard a sailing ship, a rare opportunity for many. The imposing vessel in front of Schooner Wharf, one that turns everyone’s heads, is Calypso Sailing’s schooner Halie & Matthew. Lucky for us passerbys, she’s ready to sweep us off our feet on a day, sunset or night sail. Unable to resist the allure of any sailing vessel, I joined some tourists for a sunset trip. “Line’s clear!” a crewman called. Though traditional-looking, modern comforts were at hand, and Captain Rhon smoothly eased Halie out of her slip with a 300-HP diesel. Once in the turquoise harbor, fascinated passengers played sailor and helped hoist 4,600 square feet
of sails. “It’s done the old-fashioned way,” explained Captain Rhon. Engine off, Halie came to life in a mild, but steady wind and glided at 7 knots toward the sea. “It’s amazing,” admitted one shy passenger, Shane Osvaldo, on his first visit to Key West. Though powerful, Halie was easygoing and steady; a far cry from the small, twitchy vessels that many of us were used to. There were no worries about spilling our drinks from the bar, and the deck, over 90-feet long, offered plenty of lounging. Passengers also had a chance to take the wheel, a thrilling experience. One couple, nervous early on, were grinning and snapping photos. The friendly, capable crew had put them at ease. We were impressed by such an experienced group of mariners. Crewman and bartender Pete Rodriguez had served in the Coast Guard and is originally from California. First mate Shane Hueber worked on schooners for years. A salt from way back, he’d lived in the Virgin Islands and would deliver vessels to far-ranging ports. Deckhand and engineer Rio O’Bryan has lived in the Keys for over two decades, working onboard all kinds of vessels. Understandably, these beefy, broad-shouldered schooner men drew plen-
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December 2009
SOUTHWINDS
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