That Sterling Hayden (1916-1986) was a famous actor from the 1940’s-1970’s, who stayed on Rocky Neck for a time and liked to eat at Sailor Stan’s, where he sat in the middle booth?  Rocky Neck artist, L.A. Dahlmer, recalls sitting across from Hayden at the popular Rocky Neck breakfast spot. Hayden returned to Gloucester in 1983 for the release of Joseph Garland’s book Down to the Sea: The Fishing Schooners of Gloucester, the introduction of which he had written.

I just love this quote from Sterling Hayden’s book: Wanderer: “To be truly challenging, a voyage, like a life, must rest on a firm foundation of financial unrest. Otherwise, you are doomed to a routine traverse, the kind known to yachtsmen who play with their boats at sea… cruising it is called. Voyaging belongs to seamen, and to the wanderers of the world who cannot, or will not, fit in. If you are contemplating a voyage and you have the means, abandon the venture until your fortunes change. Only then will you know what the sea is all about.

‘I’ve always wanted to sail to the South Seas, but I can’t afford it.’  What these men can’t afford is not to go.  They are enmeshed in the cancerous discipline of security. And in the worship of security we fling our lives beneath the wheels of routine – and before we know it our lives are gone.

What does a man need – really need? A few pounds of food each day, heat and shelter, six feet to lie down in – and some form of working activity that will yield a sense of accomplishment. That’s all – in the material sense, and we know it. But we are brainwashed by our economic system until we end up in a tomb beneath a pyramid of time payments, mortgages, and preposterous gadgetry, playthings that divert our attention for the sheer idiocy of the charade.

The years thunder by, the dreams of youth grow dim where they lie caked in dust on the shelves of patience. Before we know it, the tomb is sealed. Where, then, lies the answer? In choice. Which shall it be: bankruptcy of purse or bankruptcy of life?”

He dropped out of school at 16 to go to sea and ended up in Gloucester, where he worked as a Grand Banks fisherman and learned the art of sailing. He was mate on Irving Johnson’s Yankee on its noted circumnavigation in 1937. He was navigator on the Essex-built schooner Gertrude L. Thebaud under Captain Ben Pine in the 1938 Fisherman’s Cup races v. the Canadian schooner Bluenose. Partly due to the intense media coverage of those races, he was discovered by the press: his photo in the Boston Post captioned “Thebaud Sailor Like Movie Idol” led to modeling opportunities in New York and a call from Paramount Pictures. After captaining a voyage to Tahiti, he signed with Paramount in 1941. The blonde, 6-foot, 5-inch actor thrilled audiences in some 60 films. Dubbed the “Beautiful Blond Viking God” by Paramount Pictures, he is best known for his roles as General Jack D. Ripper in “Dr. Strangelove” (1964), for which he was nominated by BAFTA as “Best Foreign Actor”. Other noted roles were a corrupt cop in “The Godfather” (1972), Roger Wade in “The Long Goodbye” (1973), Leo Dalco in Bertolucci’s “Novecento” (1976), and a comedic turn as the CEO in “Nine to Five” (1980). He often expressed his dislike for acting, stating that he only acted to pay for his sailing. Utilizing his love for the sea and knowledge of sailing, he also authored the best-selling 1976 work “Voyage: A Novel of 1896”. He was married three times with six children, and died of prostate cancer.  Hayden was a genuine adventurer and man of action, not dissimilar from many of his movie parts.

This is a repost of an old Did You Know post from years ago that I recently came across. His words, and the fact that he liked Sailor Stan’s, needed to shared again.

E.J. Lefavour

Are minivans the new Dad Mobile?  Maybe.

The all new Chrysler Pacifica is going strong by using comedian, Jim Gaffigan, in their latest series of commercials.  Pretty funny, and kind of brilliant, if you ask me.

Comedian Jim Gaffigan essentially became famous making jokes about fatherhood and the qualms that come along with it, making him the perfect candidate to sell the all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica to skeptical dads all over North America.

In Chrysler’s first official TV spot for the Pacifica, Gaffigan explains how the minivan is ‘great for your dad brand.’ He makes a good point, seeing as the minivan has for years now been the go-to vehicle for families and the 2017 Pacifica is the safest and most well-equipped Chrysler minivan to date.

Hello. Joey
SailGHS has had a spectacular year, capping off 2016,undefeated, with a win against Concord Academy on Wednesday. Our crews arer ;Austin Monell with Stephen Young, Sarah Jacklin with Isabel Gleckner (Captain) and Jeremy McCauley with Amanda Budrow. The Finish Line Committee is Lucy Garberg, Sophia Lopez, Kerry McNally and Olivia Lopez.
There is some post season action coming up,time and place TBD once all the teams have completed their commitments. I will keep you updated.

The Empty Bowl is in full swing!  Don’t forget to stop by!