SIDE VIEW
Images of frigid waters, cold winds, foreign lands and people kept us all spellbound at the August program. For those of you that missed it, you REALLY missed it. Don Campbell spoke of the voyages of PEGDON that he and Peg have made, some of the people they met, and the places they visited. Following that was a video they put together that spoke volumes more than Don’s vivid descriptive. At the end was a full house of speechless folks still lost in the imagery.
Thank goodness everyone was speechless, we finished up and had to scoot, according to our agreement with the Ramada Inn. Unfortunately, that didn’t allow for questions. From working with Peg and Don the past year, I feel they’ll always be open for questions on their trip, whether it’s about gear, weather, horror stories of weather or bureaucratic red tape. Just make sure you’ve read the race instructions first......
For those twenty seven boats flying NFCC burgees seen anchored off of Cumberland Island Labor Day weekend, you know what kind of cruise it was. For the rest of the folks that went in to Fernandina, or worse yet, didn’t attend the cruise/race at all, you missed the BEST part of the weekend. Sure there was a little rain on Saturday (tornado in Mandarin? Didn’t I park under a tree?), but as that cleared, the evening, in fact the rest of the weekend, turned ideal. It wasn’t too hot. That was good since the reliable ole’ Seagull became the reluctant SOB seagull and I had to row into the dock several times........
In spite of the unexpected rowing, we had a great weekend. LAUREL ANN made it out of the slip, and all the way to Cumberland with no apparent problems. It was on the way home that Mr. Murphy decided to visit. Halfway across St. Mary’s Sound, there was a short-lived, but very pronounced shriek from the engine compartment that culminated with a loud clunk followed by silence. Silence in place of 2400 RPM from the good ole’ Yanmar. SOB yanmar. Well perhaps I’m too harsh, the final verdict isn’t in yet, it’s either the tranny, or a rod. Either way, LAUREL ANN is once again a project boat (she’ll sail the single handed race if I have to pay SEA TOW to get her to the start line.....) God, but I love sailing.
I’d like to offer a belated thanks to Racin’ Dave of NIAGRA for the slow tow to Fernandina, and Don of ODETTA for the stand-by assistance, and final tow to Beach Marine. By the time you read this, hopefully, LAUREL ANN will be back in her own slip, spilling her guts to me, again. This time I have a head start. There’s a box between the engine and the prop shaft that has some cables attached to it. I think that’s where the problem is. Let’s see, I’ll need the crescent wrenches, the crowbar, and the six pound sledge.........
All you’ll need for the September meeting is an open mind and willing imagination. Jack Allen, the eighteenth century seaman will be spinning yarns, as well as threads, about life as a seaman in the days when the tall ships were more than a beauty to behold, they were the lifeblood of world-wide commerce. Come, listen, perhaps you’ll be surprised at what you find out about. And you might want to wear some old clothes. From what I’ve seen of Mr. Allen, he’ll have you rolling in the aisles while teaching you something.
Don’t forget: October 11th is the day to sail to Mayport to welcome the HMS BOUNTY, and escort her to her berth downtown. Bring plenty of film and video tape.