The expectation for this year’s On the Water Training was that Sunday would probably be a washout. But Friday proved a delightful day for the drive down, and Saturday’s promised late afternoon showers held off until well after bedtime.

Larry Sherwood, the instructor for one of the two boats, arrived to check out Minerva with the help of Jack Buckley, Joe Brozek and Jim Hills. – a skipper and two first mates. Talk about too many cooks (kidding)!  Everything was as expected although they were puzzled by the rubber mallet in the port cockpit locker. Steve Krakauer, the other instructor, arrived to find the owner of White Wings doing his first of the season ‘shake-out’. He didn’t leave the boat until about 5:30, annoying the whole crew as well as the charter firm. Kudos to Haven Charters for excellent and friendly service and the overall quality of maintenance they perform on their fleet. There were some challenges encountered on Minerva but they were handled quickly and effectively.

Jacki, of the dynamic Jacki & Dave Fife owner duo, arrived to officially check us out. The one item of interest was the hand pump and hose – the “Minerva Sink Sucker”. It seems that this Catalina 36 had an odd quirk. When a water tank runs dry and the boat is heeling, an air bubble forms. When switching over to a new tank, no water comes out. The hose pump is a siphon and replaces the use of a crew member sucking on the galley faucet. How often does this happen?

There were several new members attending this year’s session – Jim Bruni, and Elton Kelly and his wife Claudia Kiefer-Kelly, both retired Navy Lieutenant Commanders from Virginia Beach. We did not expect it to be too much of a challenge for them to maneuver a sailboat – since they probably backed destroyers into slips on a daily basis. Also participating this year were John Francischetti, Marianne McConnell, Jim Smyth, and Cecilia Sweeney.

The crews all arrived in time for dinner at the Harbor Shack and then adjourned to White Wings for a 9 o’clock showing of “Handling Sailboats Under Power.” Afterwards, Larry lamented “I was impressed when I saw it long ago, now that I have sailed for a number of years – not so impressed.”

The following morning, Minerva’s crew found the refrigerator less than cold and a call to Jacki brought her running. The rubber mallet previously mentioned, was needed to hit the compressor a few times to get it working. This tool will now forever be known as the “Compressor Banger.”

Minerva, with a first day crew of considerable talent did docking, turning and reverse drills for a few hours under sunny skies and moderate breezes. Remembering what was expected on Sunday, there were no objections when a little sail was suggested. They set sail above Can 3 and did some man overboard drills. Don’t fall overboard with Larry at the helm! Heaving to on starboard tack, they flipped the battery switch from ‘both’ to ‘2’ and ate lunch. After lunch, an approaching boat that was hove to on port tack released its jib and gave Minerva the right of way. But it was time to get back to the drills, but the engine would not turn over on “2”.  Switching back to ‘Both’, it fired up with no problem.

After more sailing, Minerva headed back to Swan Creek for some anchoring drills, and hopefully raft with White Wings. Steve’s crew was still doing under-power maneuvers, and so unable to join in the ‘festivities’. His first day crew was mostly new members and infrequent sailors, so a couple of hours in the morning had been devoted to going over boat systems.

At anchor Minerva had again switched to Battery 2, and again the engine would not start, so a switch to ‘Both’ and it was up anchor and a phone call to Jacki. An unscheduled MOB was deftly handled by Cecilia when the deck brush head went over while cleaning off the anchor. Back at the dock, both Jacki and Dave were there to check out the troublesome battery. Diagnosis was – dead! Since it was to be shore power at night and engine power on Sunday, this did not present a problem. Just in case, Dave provided an emergency battery starter kit.

After an impromptu party aboard Minerva it was off to Harbor Shack for dinner. Claudia tried a shortcut between Minerva’s stern and the dock. Unfortunately, she was holding on to the horseshoe, which it turns out, was not secured to much of anything substantial, so in she went. With the crossed stern lines preventing the lowering of the swim ladder, recovery was by brute force – lifting of arms and legs. She was fine (she had experience before) and after a shower and dry clothes, she and Elton joined us for dinner. After dinner, Rob Chichester, former Commodore and new owner of Bay Poet – a Hunter 410 – brought some Champagne over to the Minerva’s crew and told of his boat and the re-naming ceremony he had just conducted with his crew.

Heavy overnight rain brought overcast skies that morning and after some crew juggling, it was off to Swan Creek for anchoring and rafting exercises. Everyone had a chance to drive and work the anchor detail. For rafting, White Wings was the anchored boat and Minerva did a number to touch-and-goes before anchoring on the last approach. It was lunch on the raft before White Wings took their turn approaching the raft.

With overcast skies, and a mild threat of rain and possible thunder, the raft broke up and all were back at the dock by 2:00. We had lucked out on the weather and had a great OWT learning experience.

Larry Sherwood & Steve Krakauer

P.S. For a new member perspective, read what Elton and Claudia wrote.