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July 2008 Vol. 38 No. 7 |
Smitty Smith |
Wow, did summer get here all of a sudden or what! July will start off with a bang for the 4th at the club house. I know Carol is putting together a great time for the 4th and we have a front row seats for the fireworks. Screwpile will be on before we know it, LG and his crew of, it seems thousands will put on the best regatta on the bay again this year. And a great Oxford Cruise is coming up at the end of the month. Oxford is one of my favorite places to cruise on the bay. Along with all the other races, cruises, Friday’s and social activities, we have a full plate. We have had lots going on at the clubhouse with the Jr. Camps that started last month and the new air conditioning that has been put in to cool the front room for the hot August days. In all, we have been working real hard around SMSA and will continue to be throughout the summer and into the fall, so thanks to all the folks that make things happen and keep us sailing around the bay no matter what kind of sailing you do. With the fall, we have the Officer and BOD elections happening and all the admin stuff in November. If you are interested in becoming an Officer or a BOD member or you think you know someone who would be interested talk to them now, it’s not too early. Ask the current position holder about their position and give them a hand and find out what it is they do and how things work in SMSA. It an exciting time in SMSA with our new home, we are able to still concentrate on sailing and bringing people into the sport we love. It is the people in the club that make the club work, so step up and volunteer for a position as a Officer, BOD Member, or a Chair Position for next year and get involved and join the fun. Sail Safe. |
Terry & Glenn Walters Facilities Chairs |
Get Ready for Screwpile Saturday! If you attended the pre-Screwpile Open House at the clubhouse last Summer, you’ll remember what a great time everyone had! Well, this year’s Screwpile Saturday Open House promises to be even bigger and better, thanks to Cindi Eaton and her band of volunteers! LG Raley plans to invite all of our Skippers to the party this year for some pre-racing socializing, and we expect to see large numbers of crew and Race Committee there as well. Cindi Eaton is taking the reins for organizing the party, and already has plans in place for food and additional drink stations set around the facility. Additionally, I’m told that there’s a special drink being developed for the event—the “Mark Rounding”. We plan to open our doors at 5:00 PM and go until around 10:00 PM. Please be sure to contact Cindi, and see how you can help! We’ll need plenty of volunteers to make this a huge success! |
Shawn Stanley Junior Chair |
It is not too early to think about the upcoming election…and no, I am not talking about is the Presidential election, although that one is generating a lot of media attention as well! This fall we will need to fill at least four positions on the SMSA Board of Directors. If you would like to get more involved and help steer the direction of our club, please consider volunteering your time to serve. Remember, this club is run by volunteers, so that we can ALL enjoy our beautiful Chesapeake Bay. Contact Past Commodore Shawn Stanley if you are interested. Ballots go out in October! |
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Terry & Glenn Walters Facilities Chairs |
Facilities - SMSA Clubhouse, the Cool Place to be! With the Summer activities at the Clubhouse ramping up, your Facilities team is working hard to keep ahead of the many tasks that need attention, to make your facility even more enjoyable for you! If you haven’t made it to the Clubhouse since mid-June, then you haven’t yet had the opportunity to enjoy our new air conditioning in the main room! HUGE THANKS go out to Donny and Jean McDougall, who donated the old unit from their house to the club. In addition to that kind donation, the McDougalls lined up contractors to install the unit, oversaw the purchase of the air handler that is now mounted above the ceiling in the main room, and acted as Site Foreman during the installation effort! And here’s the added good news—it looks like the whole project will come in well within the budget established for us by the Board of Directors. We can’t thank Donny and Jean enough for everything they’ve done—please pass on your appreciation as well, next time you see them at the clubhouse or on the water. It’s volunteerism like this that makes our job much easier. Speaking of “Thanks!”, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank Bob Waldschmitt for the kind donation of the light fixtures that you see hanging in the main room. This was totally unexpected and completely appreciated! The light fixtures were installed during our Spring Cleanup, and are much more efficient (as well as quieter) than the old units. Another “Thank You!” goes out to Susan Holt, who donated the programmable thermostat that controls our furnace! During the winter, this was a huge advantage to us, allowing us to get the clubhouse warmed up prior to our many functions. Thanks, Susan! Tired of sore feet after your night of tending bar? Well, hopefully the new anti-fatigue pads that we’ve added behind the bar will keep that from happening the next time you’re there. Tell us what you think. Finally, with Smitty’s help, we troubleshot and replaced the floodlights that service the North side of our storage yard. This should make it safer and more convenient for our small-boaters and other post-sunset events. There’s still a long list of projects that we hope to get accomplished through the Summer. As always, we’ll gladly accept any volunteers to take a project by the horns and see it through to completion! Thanks again to everyone who’s helping to make our facilities better for you—we appreciate it! |
Laura Stanley Membership |
Please extend a warm welcome to the following new SMSA members: Dan Schneider III (Dak) and his fiancée Hannah Bulynko (our current Summer Camp Instructor) were recently approved by the BOD for a family membership. Dak and Hannah were sponsored by Dak’s Father, Dan Schneider. Dak and Hannah both participate in our Wednesday Night and weekend racing program, aboard American Flyer and Cheetah. Dak and Hannah have also been frequent participants of our Friday Night socials. Craig Hodan was recently approved by the BOD for an individual membership. Craig was sponsored by Sarah Southworth. Craig is part owner of Krugerrand and is a long-time participant of our big boat racing program. Craig became a bit more familiar with our cruising activities last summer, as he and Sarah participated in the Mixed Couples Race/Cruise. So, it’s not a surprise to find out that Craig has identified racing and cruising as his key club interests. Welcome aboard, we are happy to have each of you as new SMSA members! |
Shawn Stanley Junior Chair |
I hope you are enjoying your summer. At the risk of forgetting someone, I’d like to take a moment to thank all of the volunteers that helped with the high school and junior program this spring. They are a great asset to our club. If your name was omitted, please accept my apologies, and rest assured that your time and energy is greatly appreciated. First are all of the parents of the students that help with transportation and logistics throughout the season. It is great to see them involved and excited about their child’s activities. Junior Committee: J.R. Johnson, Bill Horn, Jim Young, Guy Barbato, Stovy Brown, Betsy Fehn Coaching – Stovy Brown, Guy Barbato On the water help – Jim & Kris Young, John Weir, Tom Moulds, Bill Horn, J.R. Johnson and anyone else you may have seen anchored out on Age of Reason, Beam Reach or in a safety boat during the season. On shore help – Laura Comeau-Stanley, Maggie Weir, Jane Crawford, Frank & Rita Gerred, Angela Horn, & Anne Brown. Maggie, Jane, Frank & Rita played a critical role as safety officers during the season. Their presence on shore at the clubhouse while the students are sailing helps keep things flowing smoothly and allows the coaches to concentrate on coaching. We are still looking for safety officers during the summer day camps, so, if you’d like to volunteer some time in any of these roles, please let me know! As mentioned above, already happening this summer are our traditional SMSA Day Camps, this year led by Hannah Bulynko. Hannah is a long time sailor, most recognizable for having crewed aboard Smokin’ and Cheetah in recent years. She and her financee’, Dak Schneider, recently submitted an application for a family membership. So, in addition to gaining a Camp Instructor, we’ll also be gaining a new club member. There are still openings in our camps, so send us those children and grand-children that may need a week of sailing! |
Fred Siesseger Kalypso |
Smith Island Cruise Report, June 7-13, 2008, Hot...Hot…Hot. Despite the heat wave, SMSA cruisers spent three days exploring the Smith Island nature preserve, meeting local folks, partying into the night, and feasting on crabs.
Fred with his parrot When the official flotilla sailed into Smith Island marina on Saturday, they were welcomed by crew of three boats Koel (Gresh and Rene Sackett), Mongoose Magic (Dale and Antha Koontz), and Blue Heron (David and Sally Arbuthnot) who arrived a day earlier to explore the island and take a nature tour. In addition, some landlubber family members from Kalypso, who wanted to partake in the crab feast, came on the ferry from Crisfield and took air-conditioned rooms at the marina’s nice B&B. Cat Morgan (Jack and Nikki Goodman) arrived shortly before the ferry. After visiting the small but interesting museum dedicated to local lore, SMSA cruisers settled into dock chairs overlooking the beautiful heron rookery to share the usual course of hors d’oeuvres. Anticipation built for the evening ahead when Pauli Eades, the marina proprietor (and artist), was seen leaving the nearby shed of Captain Eddy with two bushels of freshly steamed crabs. Soon, all cruisers were sitting at paper-covered picnic tables on the dock, pulling apart crab appendages, while enjoying Pauli’s wonderful potato salad and corn on the cob. Although sated, diners left room for generous portions of a ten layer chocolate Smith Island cake, recently designated by the legislature as the official State of Maryland cake. As the sun and sailing stories faded after dinner, the group was joined by the Methodist Minister and regaled into the night with interesting stories about his island flock of 264 good souls. The next morning, cruisers decided to stay another day on the island, except for those workaholics with jobs on the mainland who left on the morning ferry back to Crisfield. Before leaving, all visited the studio where Pauli was putting the finishing strokes on a 35- foot long canvas mural for the Arlington restaurant, Whitlow’s of Clarendon. The main activity of the day, however, was a crab picking party in the air-conditioned dock house lounge, since there was almost a bushel of uneaten crabs from the previous night. . On Monday, all boats departed early and sailed to an open anchorage behind Sandy Point in the Great Wicomico. No sooner were anchors dropped than swim trunks were donned. Josh, a young crewmember on Koel, led the group into the water by diving athletically off the bow pulpit. (The rest of the group slid in slowly). Happy hour was held on Kalypso, with tasty appetizers offered by all boats. But, it was hot. In an effort to get some cooling breeze, so many cruisers sat on the windward side of the deck that the 14,000 lb. boat heeled over by 30 degrees. The next day, with the heat index over 105 degrees, Koel, Blue Heron, and Mongoose Magic returned to their home ports, while the rest sailed in 10 knots NNW to the nearby Deltaville Marina, which has a large air-conditioned boaters lounge. Fortunately, a weak cold front moved through the area that evening, and temperatures returned nearer to seasonal levels the rest of the week. On Wednesday, with a 15-20 knot N wind, sailing also improved and the small flotilla headed around Stingray Point up the Rappahannock to a beautiful anchorage in the eastern branch of the Corrotoman.
Kalypso sailing in 10-knots There was no wind on Thursday, so the captains decided to motor across the Rappahannock to the Urbanna Yacht Haven Marina, which has recently built a nice boaters lounge with a large screen TV and other amenities. After touring the nearby catamaran manufacturing plant and enjoying ice cream at “Moos”, sailors retreated to the air-conditioned marina lounge to share hors d’oeuvres and play a game of pool. That evening, on a walk around town, Kalypso’s captain led a search for a Maltese cross which he nailed to a tree three years earlier while retracing the 1608 voyage of Captain John Smith. (Smith left Maltese crosses at various spots marked on his map of the Bay, but none has yet been found). The tree was located but now there was a new house on the lot overlooking the river. The socially adept crew of Cat Morgan offered to knock on the door to ask permission to explore. This led to an interesting chat with the owners who were delighted to learn of the Maltese cross, remarking that they now have a new conversation piece for lawn parties. On the way back to the marina, sailors checked out the surprisingly lively night life at Café Mojo on the main street. The wind turned SW at 15 knots on Friday. Leaving Urbanna at 6AM, the captains found sailing conditions so fantastic that it was decided over the VHF to continue all day. Anchors were finally dropped in Horseshoe Bend on the St. Mary’s river at 4PM, after a 67 mile sail at hull speed. Arriving at the same time to join the cruise was Swan, who had sailed down from Solomons. Happy Hour ended just in time for the St. Mary’s orchestra concert. On Saturday, cruisers sailed back to Solomons in an almost perfect breeze of 15-20 knots WSW. |
Mark Brownhill Wavedancer |
Potomac River Fireworks Cruise July 3-6 You are invited to join us on a Music and Fireworks extravaganza at St. Mary's College. On Thursday we will sail down to Smith Creek and anchor. Then on Friday we will scoot over and anchor in Horseshoe Bend and dinghy over to the college or watch fireworks from the water. The Friday night festivities includes Jazz music (american ballads, marches and ragtime), and fireworks will light the sky to the 1812 Overture. Saturday we can either pop over to the Yeocomico where they often have more fireworks, or just have a lay day. For more information go to http://www.smcm.edu/rcs/. We will monitor 9 and 16 during the cruise. Check-in will be at 1000 and 1400 and we will be hailing on channel-9. Let us know by email or by phone if you plan to join. Mark and Carrie Brownhill, Wavedancer |
Wayne Wilson Virginia Dare |
Philadelphia Cruise - July 6-18 A reminder that the Philadelphia Cruise is scheduled to depart Solomons on July 6th. This will be a two-week cruise logging 354-nm, featuring three nights in Philadelphia. We have planned some stops in marinas along the way and at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia. If you plan to join in, then quickly make your marina reservations, particularly for Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia. All of the marinas and their web-links with phone numbers are listed on the SMSA web, on the Cruising page. Scroll down to the Philadelphia Cruise. The cruise legs are relatively short, making for a leisurely pace with lots of sundowns along the way. In Philadelphia, we plan to take in some U.S. history – find a restaurant (or two) and see the Phillies play the Diamondbacks in the new Citizens Bank Park. Wayne and Sally Wilson, Virginia Dare |
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Mark Brownhill Wavedancer |
Second Saturday Cruiser's Raft Lewis Creek July 12-13 The next Second Saturday Cruiser's Raft will be on the water in Lewis Creek on Saturday July 12, weather permitting. We'll start the raft in time for a 4:00pm happy hour. Boats that would like to stay in a raft for a potluck dinner, bring something to share. Boats will have a choice of rafting or anchoring for the night, or heading home before dark. If the weather forecast on Friday does not look good for being on the water, we'll move to the clubhouse and follow the 5:00pm format of prior months. I will email cruisers Friday night to confirm.
Getting cooled off The Raft on June 14th was on the water at St. Leonard's Creek. The weather was hot so we stayed out of Rollins Cove and anchored in the main river. Most of the crew walked the plank and cooled off in the jelly fish free water. We had six boats in the raft early afternoon including Carpincho (Peter and Pat Carlson), Motu Iti (Rick and Cindy Pretsch), Lickety Split (Donna Maneely and Les Griffith), Swan (Ken and Ellie Mowbray), Viginia Dare (Wayne and Sally Wilson), and Wavedancer (Mark and Carrie Brownhill). It was nice to see some new faces at the raft, including some race/cruisers. Carpincho headed home after happy hour to take care of pet issues, and Swan broke off the raft at the first thunder clap. Yes, there was a chance of thunderstorms, but post happy hour, we were mostly feeling optimistic that they would pass by our location. It hit hard and suddenly with strong winds and spectacular lightening. Virginia Dare was anchor boat, with three other boats attached. Wayne Wilson casually commented that he thought the anchor was dragging, and we turned on the GPS to confirm. Yes, we were dragging and what's more, the rock wall on the shore was uncomfortably close. No problem, Wayne started up the motor to compensate for the dragging forces. Then She-BANG! Gusts hit the raft and turned it broadside to the wind. Wayne said, "I think we are in trouble" as his wind meter registered 38.5 knots! "Scramble!". Everyone dove for their boats to break up the raft. The outside boats were away quickly, but Donna got stranded on Wavedancer, leaving Les to fight out the storm by himself. Wavedancer was almost away when the bow line got stuck. After a bit of frantic manuouvering, Sally Wilson broke it free. Motu Iti, Lickety Split and Wavedancer started doing slow laps in the river, everyone trailing loose lines. Virginia Dare's snubber-line got tangled in their chain, and Sally battled the elements for a long time to retrieve their anchor. After a what seemed a very long time, all the boats were free and fighting the strong winds, rain and some hail. The storm eventually passed, the winds subsided and then changed direction. As the rain reduced to a gentle drizzle, the raft reformed for dinner and some nightcaps aboard VA Dare, and everyone shared war stories. Wayne monitored two other storms, but they passed either side of us. Flying Orchids became the theme of the raft, which was a measure of the bizarre nature of the afternoon and evening. |
Rich Freeman and Patty Kimmel Reflections |
Join Patty & Rich on Friday, 25 July, when cruisers will depart their homeport and head towards the Tred Avon River where we will anchor off The Strand at Oxford (N 38° 41.8’ W 76° 10.3’) right after low tide. Happy Hour will begin at 1700 hours aboard Reflections. VHF channel 9 will be monitored though out the cruise, with check in times of 1000 and 1400 hours. On Saturday, cruisers will take to their dinghies and head for shore to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Town of Oxford. Oxford was officially founded in 1694, making it one of Maryland's oldest towns. Today, Oxford is a quiet town that is enjoyed by visitors who appreciate its history and charm. Oxford has a lovely town park located on Morris Street. The park has a beautiful view of the Tred Avon River. There are picnic tables and swings overlooking the river; a nice place to enjoy a picnic lunch. The tiny Oxford Custom House, located next to the ferry terminal location, is an exact replica of a custom house that served Oxford during its Colonial past. The Custom House is open weekends from April through late autumn. Oxford also has a very nice museum and the historical society is quite active. Commemorating the 325th Anniversary of the Port of Oxford in 2008, local Oxford artists (founding members of a group called Art Guild of Oxford (AGO)) have been decorating the town with nautical and artistic works -- with support from the Town and sponsors. Visitors are welcomed by white wind-waivers at the Causeway Park and near the Oxford Ferry Dock. A large panoramic painting of the town park is adorning the windows of the historic Oxford Mews building in the middle of town. Burgees are woven through the trees in Town Park, and the entrance ramp to the Oxford/Bellevue ferry sports a welcome banner. The Oxford-Bellevue Ferry, believed to be the oldest privately operated ferry in the United States, makes the trip across the Tred Avon River to Bellevue every 25 minutes. The ferry runs from 0700 to 2100 hours, M-F and 0900 to 2100 hours Saturday and Sunday during the summer. So be on the lookout for the ferry when heading to the anchorage. We will have to jointly decide where happy hour will be on Saturday and where the cruisers will dine in the evening. On Sunday morning, cruisers will depart and head towards their homeports, returning after a fine week-end on the water on a good boat with good friends. Rich Freeman and Patty Kimmel, Reflections |
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