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Cat TalesJuly 1996 |
Paul Payne, Commodore
Recent Cruise & Upcoming
Events
During our last outing in June, Sharon & I had a
little excitement when our steering broke down while under full sail and we had
to use the little tiller to bring SUN DANCER home. We
promptly got it into the shop and had it fixed so we could join the 4th of July
CCYC cruise to Solomons Island.
On the 4th, we left Annapolis aboard
SUN DANCER under a warm, dry NW wind blowing 15-25
knots. But, no sooner had we gotten out into the Bay, when the new steering
broke down and we had to quickly pull out the little tiller (again). Not
wanting to miss seeing everyone down South, we decided to keep on truckin (er
sailing) based on our recent tiller success.
It took us about 8 hours to
get there, but what a sail! Since the crew did not get their Wheaties that
morning and the auto-pilot doesn t do tillers, the skipper got a little more
exercise than he wanted. But we made it! We finally pulled up to the dock at
Max & Sherma Munger's beautiful little yacht club on Back Creek with all
the letters flying aboard SHERMAX.
After an
evening of great food and entertainment, we finally adjourned to a wonderful
backrub aboard SUN DANCER. The next morning, I had the
pleasure of serving Eggs Benedict to the assembled crew before steering toward
other matters. An improperly pressed Nikro-press ferrule was fully corrected at
Zahnizer's. Max, thanks again for driving us into town. After re-installing the
works and a gruelling test drive further up the creek, we were ready to haul
everyone to the fireworks later that night.
Next
Events
We re all looking forward to the Annual Crabfeast at the
home of Charles & Freda Gandy on August 3. They have extended an invitation
to anyone wishing to stay at their new dock for the weekend.
This year,
the Catalina Rendezvous is being held at the Harborview Marina & Yacht Club
in Baltimore Inner Harbor on August 9, 10, and 11. A full schedule of
activities is planned for the weekend, including parties, seminars,
demonstrations, discussions, contests and even a Toga party Saturday night!
Plan to attend by sea or by land. Either way, be sure to register for this very
exciting event which you definitely don t want to miss. Hope to see you all
there!!
It's summer again - we know because it's time for the Gandy's Annual
Crab Feast and Beach Party. This is an annual event not only for CCYC members,
but also the Norfolk Catalina Fleet #30, many of whom make the event a part of
an extended cruise to the Northern Chesapeake.
Included in this
newsletter is a reservation form we would like each of you to complete and send
it to Freda so that the appropriate amount of crabs and beer will be available.
We also need volunteers to help with preparations. Please sign up to help where
you can. Send your completed form and check to Freda (calling is also good) as
soon as possible to assist in planning for this event.
Max and Sherma Munger, SHERMAX
The
weather was perfect for a sleigh ride South from Annapolis to the Solomon's.
Twenty-five knots with higher gusts from the Northwest. A perfect Catalina day
to head South. Cool winds continued in the 10-knot range for the entire
weekend. From Spa Creek, SECOND WIND got an early start
and just 7 hours later, tied up to our Mill Creek dock (43 nm). SUN
DANCER missed its rendezvous with Second Wind at the "spider" and
had to trail down alone. Paul Payne now qualifies for the CCYC seaman of the
year award. The wheel steering cable let go at Tolly Point and he continued,
using only his emergency tiller. (Do you know where your spare tiller is?)
Needless to say, he was the last to arrive and has his own "cat tale" to
tell.
SHERMAX was dressed out in her new code
flag set to welcome the voyagers. MISS TRESS and
PAPILLON came up the creek from their close by
Solomon's Island berths. Also, three cats, one daughter, and just five boats!
(All were Catalina 30s, however.) Makes one wonder where everyone else was on
this beautiful four-day weekend.
We had Margaritas at the dock to
welcome the crews ashore. The evening barbecue lasted until bedtime when
everyone climbed into their sleeping bags for the cool night(s).
Friday
was a layover day. Some boat and gear inspections were performed. There was a
lot of interest in "packing" of the shaft logs and ball bearing travelers. Earl
and Lola sailed PAPILLON back to her marina for some
forgotten gear, but returned in time for cocktails. Paul and I ventured off to
Zahnizers to get his steering cable repaired, while Joan, Wayne, Mark and A.J.
just, well... laid over! Later, I talked Paul into a little test of the new
cable and with a few other "laid overs" took a little tour of the local
creeks.
A second shore party and barbecue was held on Friday to finish
off the leftover food and drink from the previous night. From his shipboard
freezer, Mark added some Omaha brand burgers and franks to the grill menu. Why
are sailors so much hungrier when ashore than when afloat? All the chocolate
cake and brownies disappeared in record time.
We followed the
spectacular sunset down to the harbor aboard SUN DANCER
where we anchored off Town Creek for a direct view of the fireworks. Max
watched the anchor, A.J. orchestrated the "Oohs and Aahs" and Paul sounded the
air horn. It was a great display, but noticeably absent of the big "boom" type
noisemakers. The finale was a double mushroom of explosions. The second grew
upward from the first, going over twice as high. It was a quick motor back to
the raftup in the suddenly quiet and dark night.
With Mark and A.J.
Eller leading in MISS TRESS, Saturday's raftup was
moved to Hudson Creek. SHERMAX stayed home for a
weekend of racing with SMSA. (Finished 2-2-2-1 for a second place!). For the
Annapolitans, the winds shifted to the South for a leisurely reach to the
Little Choptank and for the run home on Sunday.
Mark and AJ Eller, MISS TRESS
What lovely
weather we had for our 4th of July outing. After a staggered departure from the
Munger's on Saturday, the weekend continued at Hudson Creek on the Little
Choptank.
The weatherman (also called a compulsive liar in some circles)
called for southwest winds at 10 Kts for Saturday morning through the
afternoon. Well, as you can very well guess, it didn't happen that way.
SUN DANCER and PAPILLON left at
about 0830 and were followed by SECOND WIND and
MISS TRESS at 0900. I believe that SUN
DANCER was able to catch a nice breeze with their colorful
cruising spinnaker on their way to Hudson Creek. SECOND
WIND and MISS TRESS were fortunate enough
to catch a bit of wind (NOT 10 Kts) and sail for about 2 hours of the 6 hour
trip.
When we arrived in Hudson Creek, SUN
DANCER and PAPILLON were already at anchor
- waiting for us slow pokes. In Hudson Creek we all rafted together to enjoy
another pleasant afternoon and evening.
Paul and Sharon joined AJ and me
on a landing expedition to the beach. The Southwestern spit of land on Hudson
Creek has now been claimed for the Catalina 30 Fleet 11 by the Commodore and
named Dragonfly Beach. We made some fascinating discoveries of driftwood and
debris, including AJ s incredible find (a long stick) which she subsequently
returned to MISS TRESS as her driftwood
treasure.
Returning to the raftup, we commenced Happy Hour. Shortly the
raft was joined by Michael and Beverly Davis on CHANTILLY
LASS, a late but welcome arrival from places North. The arrival of
CHANTILLY LASS was cheered by all, as they brought hot
chicken wings to the just commenced Happy Hour.
We were sharing tales of
raging seas and battles waged on foreign soil when we were hailed by a stray
duckling in search of its mother. Sherry and I set out in an attempt to rescue
the duckling and remove it from fishbait status. We succeeded, and then
returned the little waddler to a respite close to shore and the sound of other
ducks.
Later, concerned with the safety of the little guy, Sherry
returned to Dragonfly Beach with a mission: recapture the duckling and place
him in protective custody. She triumphantly returned, rowing her way back as
not to unsettle the duckling with the deafening roar of the motor.
Many
considerations now had to be accounted for, the least not being the 2 cats
aboard PAPILLON and Max the Attack Cat aboard
MISS TRESS. The 2 cats were placed in
PAPILLON's head while the duckling swam in the
partially filled sink. Following Happy Hour, PAPILLON
cast off from the raftup to avoid a midnight sneak attack from
Max.
After a lovely evening under the stars with a wisp of a breeze
throughout the night, we broke the raft about 1000 to head (tearfully) home.
For those heading North, I can only imagine the splendid sail with South winds
at 10-12 Kts. As for AJ and me, we found it unfortunate that the wind was on
our nose. But, that's sailing on the Chesapeake. Ah, what a wonderful life it
is!
Thanks to all who came. To all who didn t, we missed you.
Earl, Lola, and Sherry Holliman,
PAPILLON
By late afternoon on the sixth of July,
the CCYC raftup had formed on Hudson Creek off the Little Choptank. Happy hour
was underway, with everyone driven my an unseen force to the cockpit of
SUN DANCER.
Cocktail discussions were
interrupted by a series of loud peep, peep, peeps. Looking over the stern into
the water, we saw the smallest duck anyone had ever seen. It was alone and
obviously looking for its mother.
After a tossing it few pieces of
cracker, Sherry, the animal lover from PAPILLON, asked
Mark of MISS TRESS if he would take the duck and her to
shore to look for the mother. Mark agreed, and the intrepid adventurers scooped
up the little peeper with a crab net and headed for shore.
Following
Sherry's retrieval of the baby duck, (see previous) A.J. found some Cheerios
which, after soaking in sea water, the duck ate like it was its first real
meal. It was put into temporary quarters until suitable lodging aboard could be
arranged. Mark donated a cardboard box as a temporary home and fabricated a
folding lid using "Duck Tape." Because we knew of a new duck family in the
Patuxent Marina, we decided to take the duck there, hoping it would be
adopted.
At first light PAPILLON departed for
home at Patuxent Naval Air Station. PAPILLON was like a
floating zoo. Aboard were an old goat, his wife and daughter, two Siamese cats
and the Quacker Duck. After docking at noon, the baby duck was placed near the
duck family to see if it would be accepted.
To our surprise, the mama
duck refused to let the new baby join her family, and even chased Quacker away.
With the aid of a crabnet, Quacker was rescued again and taken by car to our
home in Alexandria.
The next day, Sherry took the baby duck to a local
Lake Barcroft refuge worker who placed it with a group of one-week old ducks,
noticeably larger than the younger Quacker.
The duck expert said Quacker
had apparently hatched late, after the mother duck had assembled her new born
and left, not realizing that there was still another egg preparing to hatch.
Therefore, the first thing that Quacker saw after entering the world was a
human, a Catalina person. It therefore bonded with people. The animal refuge
expert said a plan would be implemented to gradually lead Quaker back into the
duck world, for future release into the wild. Thanks to everyone who
participated in Quacker's rescue.