Jenny Bennett used to write for the Boothbay Register. I remember thinking, ahhhh, a new voice at the paper. Lovely. Her writing was clear and sharp, to the point with no messing about. But, things changed at the paper and Jenny, along with others, disappeared. Bummer.

Then one day I found out that Jenny had moved in across the road from us on Southport. I saw her walking her yellow lab along Hendricks Hill Road and said hi, as neighbors sometimes do. We visited long enough for me to discover who she was and to compliment her for articles I had read in the paper. Little did I know that her “career” at the paper would be short lived. She said she was doing some part-time work at the Hodgdon facility down the road and keeping her pencil sharp with writing work.

Then COVID-19 visited us all and everything changed.

I looked at Jenny's website, JBMwords.com, to see what sort of things she had done, and saw the wonderful quote by Robin Williams, one of my all time favorite people, “No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.” Hmm, thought I, perhaps we should have a closer look.

Jenny was not exactly euphoric about my idea to feature her in one of my “Register” columns. I think she felt it unnecessary. Honestly, I think she was a bit shy, feeling that it might shine a light on something not worthy. But, I was a nag and eventually, with the subtle urging of her daughter, Eleanor, convinced her.

Jenny is quite an accomplished sailor. She grew up on the southwest coast of England (Devon), Newton Ferrers, on the Yealm River, and learned sailing on the bay there. She attended college at University College Cardiff, Wales, where she studied English. After college she taught sailing to gain more experience and pay the rent, then she jumped on a boat, The Atlantic Clipper, a 110' wishbone ketch, delivering freight from Plymouth, England, to the leeward islands, Antigua and Anguilla. That adventure was short lived when return product from the islands, copra, became unavailable. Empty ships don't make money.

Next, on to teach sailing in Greece and more than toyed with the idea of setting up a sailing school in Turkey, but complications with politics imposed. After that, her writing began in earnest at Classic Boat magazine, in the UK, 1987-1992, becoming editor of The Boatman and The Yachtsman magazines. In 1994 she took a call from Carl Cramer at “Wooden Boat” magazine, flew to Bangor and drove to Brooklin taking a job as managing editor for three years. From 1997-2005 she was back to England as editor of Maritime Life and Traditions, returning to Cornwall. A more recent leg of her journey brought her back to the Wooden Boat school where she taught a three-week course, “Elements of Seamanship” using the famous Herreshoff “12 1/2”.

Phew! What a busy lady! And now she lives across the road here on Southport, but you'd never know it unless you happened to chat her up along the side of the road walking her yellow lab, Mabel, which more people should do. Pleased for you to drop anchor on the Rock, Jenny. Hope we will see more of your writing locally again soon. All the best.