There’s a particular kind of quiet that settles over the Thimble Islands this time of year. The summer crowds have gone, the docks are nearly empty, and the familiar sounds of the season have gradually given way to the stillness of autumn.
As I made my way to the boatyard today, the October sun was warm on the water, and I found myself thinking what a beautiful day it would be for a boat ride through the Thimble Islands. Instead, I was heading away from the islands, preparing to put Volsunga IV away for the winter. There was something bittersweet about leaving behind a place that had been the center of my days for so many months, knowing that another season had come to an end.
It’s a strange thing, measuring a year in boating seasons. Spring arrives with the anticipation of getting back on the water, followed by those long summer days that somehow seem endless while you’re living them. Then, almost without warning, the mornings turn colder, the shadows grow longer, and it’s time to put the boat away again.
Every year, I tell myself the season has gone by faster than the last. Perhaps it has. Or perhaps that’s simply what happens when you spend your days doing something you love.
What stays with me isn’t necessarily the number of trips we made or the miles we traveled. It’s the people. The conversations, the laughter, the familiar faces returning for another visit, and the excitement of those seeing the Thimble Islands for the very first time. It’s watching someone discover a place I’ve known for years and being reminded, through their eyes, just how extraordinary it really is.
One of the great privileges of this work is that I get to share more than a boat ride. I get to share a little of the history, character, and beauty of a place that means so much to me. And no matter how many times I travel these same waters, I never seem to run out of things to appreciate.
Of course, the islands themselves pay little attention to our schedules. The tides will continue to rise and fall, the seabirds will come and go, and the seasons will change whether we’re there to witness them or not. There’s something reassuring in that continuity. Long after the last boat has been hauled for winter, life among the islands carries on.
As for Volsunga IV, it’s time for a well-earned rest.
To everyone who joined me aboard this year, thank you. Whether you came for the history, the scenery, a special celebration, or simply an afternoon on the water, you helped make this season what it was. I am genuinely grateful for every person who chose to spend a little of their time with us.
And while there’s always a touch of sadness in saying goodbye to another season, there’s comfort in knowing that an ending is not the end.
Before long, the days will lengthen, the docks will come alive again, and we’ll cast off for another season among the Thimble Islands.
Until then, thank you for a wonderful 2026.
I’ll see you on the water in the spring.
– Captain Anna
