The Sailing Club - May 2005 report

Trip Report
Intro IV: Continuing A String of Success
2005

by Steve Krakauer

Memorial Day weekend is typically filled with parades, barbeques, pool parties or going 'down the shore'. For twelve dedicated Club members that would have to wait, as our fourth Annual Intro Trip provided for a different sort of fun for Saturday and Sunday. Designed to attract potential new members, it did not disappoint, as five of the dozen were 'newbies' - Bruce Gollob, Barbara MacMillan, Cindy Peterson, Theresa Petras and Suzanne Tice - some with sailing experience, some without. Showing them the way were Skippers Julio Menendez and Jo Johnston, who was making her tri-annual appearance, as well as Steve Krakauer, Tova Mayer, Jane Schumann, and Richard and Irene Van Deusen.

Driving to Rock Hall on Friday was not without its holiday traffic challenges, but everyone made it in time to enjoy sunset dining on the outside deck at Waterman's Restaurant, consuming crab in variously prepared methods. After dinner, as the crew of Liberty was loading more and more gear aboard, the thought of the "Gilligan's Island" crew came to mind -what were they doing with all that luggage for such a short trip?!

Dawn on Saturday was calm and serene. However, the sky to the east had a reddish hue to it that would prove that old adage true. You know, the one that ends "red sky in the morning, sailors take warning." But the sun rose on schedule and slowly the crews of Legacy and Liberty stirred to life, some from the aroma of the coffee brewing in the galley, others from the rattling of the pots and pans in order to brew said elixir of life and giver of energy. Even though both skippers had completed their charter company briefing the afternoon before, we still didn't get away from the docks until 10:00 or so. Actually, as the winds were light and variable, there was no rush to get out. They would be freshening, to put it mildly, as the day progressed.

And sail we did! Though there were occasional dead calm lulls at certain points on the bay, by early afternoon the winds were getting to the far side of 20 knots as the storm front approached. Fortunately, the part of the storm that passed our way had more bark than bite. While Julio had to do a quick mainsail furling job on Legacy, we were able to pass through the storm and, after a quick downpour the skies cleared. As the storm moved on, the winds eased back to their morning state of light and variable, so that by raft-up time, they were kind and gentle. Just enough to keep the bugs away.

The anchorage behind Gibson Island on the Magothy River provided idyllic surroundings for our massive two-boat raft, albeit we had a lot of company on this holiday weekend. The beautiful sunset, with wispy orange and red clouds, made the variety of food all the more delectable. Should the Sailing Club ever be looking for a new business to get into, I am convinced that catering raft-up parties would be a big success. There was enough food to feed a flotilla three times the size. Which was a good thing, as the crew of Legacy was quite hungry. It seems that although they all agreed to what they were going to have for lunch on the first day, no one was assigned to actually provide for it. No wonder they were so anxious to get the party started!

The wind on our return to Rock Hall continued its light and variable mood form the afternoon before. But with only a few miles to go, there was no rush. But as all good things must come to an end, so too did our little adventure. With smiles on our faces, and firm convictions to sail some more, we dispersed to catch up with those barbeque parties and such that we had previously rebuffed, the trip home being made quicker because of the wise decision not to travel on Memorial Day Monday.