It is over now. We have photos.
Pete Judd, Murphy’s Lawyer
Warm weather started the Memorial Day Weekend Cruise to Penrose Point in Carr Inlet. The Potluck was held above the state park dock this year to avoid dingy damage from the rocks on the beach. Hot-wings, salads, BBQ chicken, and deserts had nobody leaving hungry.
Saturday night brought winds steady at thirty knots, gusting to forty, causing some anchor drills, and breaking up a couple of rafts.
Most of the fleet left Sunday morning for other destinations, leaving just 3 of us for a second but much calmer night. One of our new Members (name withheld) took an unexpected swim while testing his new dingy, and gained a new respect for the local water temperature.
Boats attending were Adventure, Arrr-23, Island Time, Liberty, Murphy’s Lawyer, Murrelet, Selah, Touch Rain, Unity, and Vela.
Pete Judd, Murphy’s Lawyer
After a good breakfast, opening day ceremonies, and the blessing of the fleet at the Olympia Yacht Club, 40 decorated boats paraded from the KGO tower into downtown Olympia and then out to the Olympia country club to be judged for best decorated and best dressed boats. This year’s theme was Tie a Yellow Ribbon and there was no shortage of yellow bows, ribbons, and streamers displayed from our boats.
It was windy for the boat parade, witch made it difficult to keep some of the decorations in place. We could see boats retying and adjusting the decorations throughout the parade.
After the judging, most boats motored to the OYC Island Home out station, to have a great BBQ hosted by the OYC folks. At the award ceremony Bob and Beth Conley on Pandora and Chuck Gros on Island Time both took home trophies for their decoration efforts. The blind folded dingy race was not held because of weather.
Sunday afternoon for the trip back there was little or no wind with temps in the high 60s. Some of us spotted a grey whale around Hope Island.
SSSS boats attending where Night Wind, Murrelet, Balder, Boru, Retreat, Selah, Bright Angel, String Games, Island Time, Koosah, Damn Yankee, Pandora, Columbia Transit, Kalakala, and Murphy’s Lawyer.
Pete Judd, Murphy’s Lawyer
Thirteen boats where represented on this very warm Cruise to Hope Island. Winds where light and the temperatures where in the mid 60’s, as the boats arrived at the mooring buoys or anchored around the island. The after dark potluck was on Murphy again, and there was no shortage of good food and drink. Two boats that will remain nameless did stop unexpectedly when the bottom found their keels as they attempted to raft up. Kudos to Christine from Selah for helping with the garbage. Sunday morning brought more sun and warm dry weather but almost no wind, the boats started departing late in the morning to early afternoon for the trips home.
Boats represented where Sapphire, Island Time, Spirtwind, Murrelot, Morning Star, Odassea, Sugar Magnolia, Selah, Strider, Rushwind, Sandpiper, Hiromi, and Murphy’s Lawyer.
Pete Judd, Murphy’s Lawyer
14 boats signed in for the New Years Cruise at Boston Harbor, 10 arriving by boat and four by car. A couple of the boats where on their first SSSS Cruise. Those coming by boat had cool, but dry weather for the trip to the harbor, and just a few sprinkles for the trip home. It was a much smaller party on the beach and deck here than two years ago, probably because of the rain during the potluck and bonfire, But a few of us stayed up for midnight and the fireworks.
Boats attending by water were: Murrlot, Meegqll’s Passion, Gadzooks, Graffiti, Magic Carpet, Sugar Magnolia, The boat formally know as Sea Witch, Hiromi, Sparrowhawk, Sand Piper, Selah, and Murphy’s Lawyer. Those attending by road were: Arrr-23, Comet, Magic Carpet, and Nameless.
Pete Judd, Murphy’s Lawyer
Eleven Boats where represented at the Annual Wine Tasting Cruise, this year being held at Westbay Marina. Three boats came by water and braved the cold but dry weather. We managed to consume 17 bottles of wine and some great potluck. Kudos goes to Dwayne Young with the Salomon/Portabella mushroom Kabobs. The best-dressed bottle goes to Chris DuVal with a nautical motif of knotted rope and small anchors and other such things covering the bottle.
Our Member at Large, Dee Dee Helgeson, managed to get a half a dozen of the gentler sex to form a ring and do the Hokey Pokey. What a sight. And maybe shows how much the wine was enjoyed.
Boats attending were Island Time, Arrr 23, and Murphy.s Lawyer. Boats represented by car where, Selah, Kalakala, Strider, Outragures Sun, Beagle, Magic Carpet, O-My-God and Adagio.
Reminder: Please bring your own plates and silverware to the potlucks.
Pete Judd, Murphy’s Lawyer
Wow, what a weekend! Our annual Halloween Cruse to Longbranch was fun for all. The weather was with us! Friday night, three boats, Isabella C, Kalakala, and Koosah were tied at the dock at Longbranch. A front was passing through with gusts into the 30s and huge buckets of rain. For a while, we thought that we would be the only boats on the Cruise. At 0300 the moon came out ... stars were everywhere! The next morning confirmed our luck: the rain had passed us by!
The other 20 boats departing Olympia on Saturday had a sail to remember. Winds gusting to 35 knots from the aft provided fast sailing! Liberty reported going over 10 knots and Strider was in the high teens most of the trip. Vela’s taffrail log almost melted it was spinning so fast!
By mid-afternoon the boats started arriving. Each one had a story! Murphy’s Lawyer’s engine quit just as it was getting ready to dock. A clogged fuel filter was the demon in that stressful yet successful landing.
The kids and some adults started carving pumpkins. All enjoyed the sunshine! Sue Bishop, game coordinator extraordinaire, had grownups and kids playing toss the candy into the basket tied around the partner’s waist. She brought down the house when they played musical tombstones! Ask Sue. Larisa and Dylan Wade provided the Fish game in the back corner of the shelter. Along the docks many were decorating their boats for Halloween.
Around 1700, Dwayne Young presented the Pumpkin Carving Awards. Each entry was awarded a certificate with their name on it that Dwayne printed up on his boat using his computer and printer! In addition each carver received a special prize.
The potluck was stupendous! What a delicious way to enjoy the Pacific Northwest! Good company and great food.
At the conclusion of the meal, all went back to their boats to don their costumes. About 1900, Lisa and Frank Mighetto presented certificates for the different categories of costumes. Every costume received a small prize for their efforts. Pat and Steve Sischo announced the results of the boat-decorating contest. Seven boats received awards. The only bribery that was discovered was that Boru, a winner, had given some special candy to the judges that they readily admitted accepting.
The night now belonged to the kids. What a haul! With over 20 sources of sugar on the docks, they had a blast. Even the youngest sailor, 9 months old, on Ali Paroosa, seemed to enjoy the festivities. As the night advanced, all could see the nearly full moon climbing into the sky from the east. It was now time to retire to the boat to count the stash.
As the kids tasted what they had collected, some adults adjourned to the cozy shelter of the Longbranch Improvement Club. The shelter has lights, electricity, propane heat, and most importantly, thick plastic covers that roll down to keep out the cold and keep in the heat. Alex Bromen had a special treat for the adults: he brought an espresso machine and one gallon of Baileys Irish Cream. The adults enjoyed that!
On Murphy’s Lawyer, a movie was playing and on Destiny II Eric was conducting math classes for some of the kids. The class used cards and the idea was to see who could come the closest to 21 without going over 21.
Saturday evening became clear and cold! The frost was on the pumpkin and the docks as well. The clocks were set back one hour and you could still hear kids counting candy or cards.
Sunday morning witnessed the sunrise over Mount Rainier. It was another wonderful day. The kids kept busy catching the small fish around the docks as the adults walked around enjoying coffee, donuts and each other. The topics of conversations included how great the weather was to the latest boat project.
Boats started leaving around mid-morning. Some sailed in a 5 to 15 knot southerly wind. All departed Longbranch, we are sure, with the feeling that we were the luckiest sailors in Puget Sound ... no rain for the entire weekend! The next day another front settled in!
Boats attending the cruise included: Adagio, Aletheia, Ali Paroosa, Arr 23, Boru, Destiny II, Gadzooks, Isabella C, Island Times, Kalakala, Koosah, Liberty, Misty Isles, Murrelett, Murphy’s Lawyer, Osa, Sea Adler, Segundo Vinto, Strider, Vela and drive bys Neptune’s Court and Judi Kruller.
Linda & Dave Knowlton, Koosah
WOW, what a turnout, 17 boats anchored in the shallow waters of Vaughn Bay, and by late afternoon George and Betty of Vela had the fire going on the beach. No fire marshals showed up this year and everybody gathered around the fire for the potluck. As usual the food was great and plentiful. After dinner we had a blindfolded bowline-tying contest with the winner being Max Doerse from Unity with a time of 2.91 seconds. He won the coveted Bayliner Buccaneer coffee mug.
Most of the boats left on the early afternoon tide, and under gray skies, motored back to their homeports. Vela and Gadzooks left early and sailed home, getting back by 1400.
Boats attending where Zorba, Arr-23, Selah, Balder, Bright Angel, Kalakala, Strider, Pandora, Moonrise, Destiny II, Murrelet, Unity, Pia, Vela, Gadzooks, Murphy’s Lawyer, and the boat formerly know as Seawitch.
Pete Judd, Murphy’s Lawyer
Seven boats braved the unfriendly weather forecast to find McLean cove. Chuck Gros was the host for the Cruise and the potluck. He set a record for the largest number of people on board his boat at one time. It was reported to me that everyone had a very good time.
Boats attending where Island Time, Sandpiper, Isostasy, Zorba, Koosah, Misty Isles, Selah, and Arrr 23.
Cruise photos, by Rich DuVal
Pete Judd, Murphy’s Lawyer
The make shift star raft worked even though the temperatures where in the upper 90’s. Lots of wind after everyone was in the bay. Pictures will be forthcoming. 5 boats comprised the star raft and a lot of beverages where consumed before the pot luck was started at around 20:00 hrs, Dishes where passed from boat to boat, and my most memorable was the fresh blueberry cheesecake.
In the morning we feasted on fresh caught crab, and then split up for the sail home, Light airs in the morning and then 16 to 20 knot winds in Budd Inlet made for a nice ride home.
Boats attending where, Sonsie, Sandpiper, Arrr 23, Zorba, Magic Carpet, and Murphy’s Lawyer.
Pete Judd, Murphy’s Lawyer