The Sailing Club, Inc.

Memorial Day Weekend Rock Hall, MD Chestertown, MD May 22 - 24, 2015

"And Freedom's teacup still o'erflows with ever fresh libations" Excerpt from The Ballad of the Boston Tea Party     by Oliver Wendell Holmes       This is the perfect Memorial Day Weekend trip! A sailing trip back in time and arrival back home in time for a Memorial Day barbeque with family/friends. Even if you're not a history buff, you will enjoy the Chestertown Tea Party Festival. There will be parades, a revolutionary tea party (the kind the British did not like) music and great food. Our two nights at the marina (electric hook-ups and showers) in Chestertown will allow ample time to explore both the town and the activities of the festival. The Chester River is the second-longest river on the Eastern Shore and is bordered by beautiful, rolling countryside and lovely estates. Nearly three miles across at its widest part, the river narrows to about a quarter of a mile at Chestertown, with good navigating depths in a well-marked channel. Back in May 1774, in support of their brothers in arms in Boston, legend has it that Chestertown residents rowed out to the British brigantine Geddes at anchor and tossed her cargo of tea overboard. Founded in 1706 (two years before Annapolis), Chestertown provides a rich blend of history, art, music, shops and an exciting variety of restaurants and pubs. Festival highlights are the Block Party Friday evening, Saturday's marching colonial militia, band performances (folk, rock, bluegrass, gospel, 60s and more!), great food, street performers, walking tours of the town and of course, the Saturday afternoon re-enactment of the tea party. There is no cost for the festival itself, although there are events with a cost. Check out the festival at: Chester Town Tea Party Festival Thursday, May 21 - We will make our way to Haven Harbor Marina in Rock Hall, arriving by late afternoon, if possible. After locating boats, unloading gear, etc., we'll make dinner reservations. The evening is a good time to get to know our boat mates. Nearby restaurants are plentiful and they always satisfy. Friday, May 22 - We'll leave the dock as soon as boat checks are complete, head south to the mouth of the Chester River,then make our way north to the Chestertown Marina and our reserved tie-ups. The sites along the river are varied and good sailing will be likely for much of the trip up river. The marina is located at the bottom of Cannon Street, adjacent to the schooner Sultana and sunset photos can be dramatic. As with many old river towns, the center of town is a short walk away from the river up High Street. Dinner plans for Friday evening will be discussed/decided at the pre-trip meeting. There are several options. Saturday, May 23 - Everyone will utilize the festival schedule to plan their day ... or just wander. There is so much to do; it will be difficult to choose. The 2015 festival calendar is not ready at this writing, but will be soon. The re-enactment will take place at approximately 2 p.m., so you'll want to be back at the dock by then. For sure there will be a few British tossed overboard along with the tea! Saturday evening: Starting about 4 p.m., we'll share appetizers with a colonial theme (more on this at the pre-trip); visiting boat to boat, or gathering on one to hear stories of everyone's day. We can then head to town for dinner at a local restaurant, or perhaps just dessert and a nightcap! Sunday, May 24 - After a leisurely breakfast, our boats will make the trip back up the river and head out for some sailing before returning back to Rock Hall by 3:30 p.m. Everyone should be on the road headed for home (or other places), even with a stop at Durdings for ice cream, by 5 p.m. The cost of the trip is $350.00 per person (Skippers - $192.00). The trip price includes charter fees and two nights' slip fees in Chestertown. Fuel, provisioning, pump-out, and other incidentals are additional and will be handled by each boat's crew. The FULL AMOUNT and Release of Liability and Zero Tolerance Form must accompany your reservation form. Please make your check payable to The Sailing Club, Inc. and mail it, along with your completed reservation and release forms, to Mary Ann Gordon at the address below. Reservations will be processed beginning April 3, 2015 with a random draw of those received by that date. All reservations received after that date are on a first-come, first served basis. The Club's standard 30-day cancellation policy applies for this event. A pre-trip meeting will be held approximately two weeks before the trip, at a time and place to be announced. All participants should make every effort to attend in order to meet your crewmates, plan your meals, and make travel plans. Please note that sailing conditions are dynamic, that your safety, and that of your crewmates, depends on your good physical health and agility.

Trip Leader	Assistant Trip Leader
Mary Ann Gordon                2714 Packer Court Bridgewater, NJ 08807         908-575-1457 maryagordon14@gmail.com	Bob Rainey         2006 South Branch Drive Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889 908-872-9101 rjraineyjr@aol.com