Cat Tales March 2002

View from the Bridge

Richard Schatz, Commodore

The other day I was driving across the Severn River Bridge and happened to look to my right, upriver. What I saw made me a little jealous. There was a sloop with the wind coming from the stern drifting easily home on that scenic river. The temperature was a balmy 62 Degrees, gentle winds, and it was the middle of February. I found myself wishing I were on my boat doing the same thing. Unfortunately, my boat is on the hard.

After relishing the moment, I was brought back to three weeks earlier, on that same bridge, when I looked to my left towards Annapolis. This time it was a fleet of boats gliding around the buoys on a similarly beautiful day at the end of January. I got the same feelings, the same wish.

In the fall when it's time put the boat away, many of us don't think of the opportunities for sailing that may arise during the winter. We just do the routine. At our marina, it's the same fee whether we are in the slip or not. It would be even less expensive to leave it in and not pay the storage fee on the hard. Those of you who have your boats in the water still, I salute you.

We have had such a great winter for sailing that I think I might pull my boat for any repairs and put it back in right away for just such days. Even one day! Can you imagine how therapeutic it would be to spontaneously go down to the Marina on one of those rogue days of Spring-like weather, jump in the boat and take her out? Just going down to the slip occasionally to check it out and be in that atmosphere is even more therapy. There is some kind of magic down by the water during the winter that is very special.

I think we should have "Frostbite Fleet". Those of us who keep their boats in the water could be on a calling list and at the prospect of a great day on the water, call one another to sail out somewhere close, raft up for lunch and sail home. It's just a thought.

Remember: "There is nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing around in boats.".....K. Grahame

Seize the Bay!

2002 Flag-raising Brunch
April 6th, 9:00 AM
Deep Creek Restaurant
Arnold, Maryland

Vice Commodore Ray VanHorn has arranged a great deal for our Flag-raising Brunch. We will meet at the Deep Creek Restaurant in Arnold, MD on April 6th at 9:00 AM. The restaurant will provide us with our own room and a buffet of::

• Omelette Station (custom-made omelettes)
• Potatoes
• Bacon
• Sausage
• Fruit
• Biscuits & Muffins

The cost is $12.50 per person.

There is a reservation form in this newsletter. We are asking members to RSVP by Wednesday, April 3rd, with a check, to our Treasurer, Joan Savage. Please give Ray (410-268-7779) or Joan (301-762-6752) a call so we can get a head count prior to the Brunch and the restaurant can be sure to accommodate us.

CCYC members Pete and Karen Denholm will be our guest speakers. After spending the past year sailing around the South Pacific, they plan to tell us all about their adventures from Panama to Australia. They will be bringing their pictures for everyone to drool over, so you will not want to miss this one.

Directions to the Deep Creek Restaurant and Marina:

• From Rte 50 E, take exit 28, Bay Dale Drive
• Bear right to Bay Dale Drive
• At stop sign, turn right and go over Rte 50
• At 2nd light, turn left onto College Parkway
• At 1st light, turn right onto Shore Acres Road
• At approximately 1-½ miles, take right fork onto Deep Creek Avenue
• Deep Creek Restaurant is ½ mile on right

See you there!

Catalina 30 For Sale

I received the following note from CCYC members Harvey and Susan Silver:

We are selling our 1987 C30 (hoping for a C400). It is clean and well maintained. In addition to the usual, we have CNG stove; GPS, cassette/radio in the cockpit, cockpit cushions, ST4000 autopilot, wind, depth, speed. This is a standard rig with a fin keel, dodger and awning. We are located on the south river. Asking $32,500.

Please let the world know...your help will be appreciated. My home phone number is 410-956-7804 if you need more information.

March Member Meeting

We had quite a turnout for our Member Meeting March 10th at the Cantina D'Italia Restaurant in Annapolis. Our speaker was Jerry Crabtree, founder and Skipper of Sea Scout Ship SEA DEVIL. Jerry has conducted several long cruises on the Chesapeake Bay with the Sea Scouts anchoring out in "gunk holes" all up and down the eastern and western shores. He told us about several of his favorite anchorages and after hearing some of his ideas, we decided to modify our 2002 schedule to include some of his suggestions. The following chart is the revised plan for our cruises and raft-ups. If you're interested in serving as Raft Captain for any of the events, contact any of the Club Officers to volunteer.

2002 Cruise/Raft-up Schedule

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