Collins: Mystic schooner mascot-ready

Jones up on an offer to sail Friday with them to New London.

Indeed, the ship handling that Jones used to back the big Mystic out of its tight berth at the Seaport, into but not across the narrow channel, pivoting with the anchor to go the opposite direction, was masterful.

And then we were on toward the highway bridge, which began its opening just as the Mystic approached. Jones gave a shout of thank you to each of the bridge tenders as we passed safely through. In fact, shouting— orders like make this, and sweat that— was the order of the day for the crew on the Mystic, who put up full sail, including the square sails high on the forward mast, for a brisk ride down Fishers Island Sound to New London.

Mystic is not only the biggest ship in the festival, but I would bet it’s the only one with two mascots.

Aboard for the trip Friday was Daisy, an old salt, a white boxer with one brown eye patch. But also making a first passage was Remington, a 7-week-old Great Dane, who was doing a pretty good job getting his sea legs, skittering across the teak decks.

I’m not sure you can find it in many nautical handbooks, but I believe there is an old lore than 7-week-old puppies bring good luck in a schooner race.

My money is on Remington bringing the Mystic first across the line today. This is the opinion of David Collins.