A new perpetual trophy was added this season. It was awarded to its first recipient at the June Meeting 2001. This award acknowledges the Cruisers within our Club and goes to the Member who attends the most Cruises. It was a close race, with four families in the running: Adagio, Altrice, Balder, and Wind Shadow. The winner was decided by attendance at the Memorial Day Weekend Cruise.
The winner is Adagio. Congratulations!
Cliff, Lisa and Crae Cochran, Vanellus
2000-1 Cruises
Hope Island Day Cruise : Opening Day Cruise : Gig Harbor Cruise : February Cruise : New Millennium Cruise : Microbrew Tasting Cruise : Halloween Cruise : Commodores’ Cruise : Kids’ Cruise
Although the weather was sunny and reasonably warm, this was a windy one. Cliff and I arrived early, and were down below putting the baby asleep to the (soothing?) sounds of the VHF when we heard a familiar voice announcing to power boats in the Squaxin passage to be aware of their wake, as there was a boat aground. A few minutes later we heard a similar message, assuming that it was a repeat of the first message, but this time the message ended with, “There are two boats aground.” Fearing that our State Parks Buoy had broken loose, Cliff and I decided to go topside. Sure enough, there were two sailboats behind us doing the “cocktails at low tide” thing. A powerboat was assisting them to do some unusual gyrations, spinning one boat 360 degrees using a line tied to the mast. Just watching it made our own butts hurt! We hoped that they weren’t new SSSS Members, because this type of experience could really ruin their taste for cruising!
When Ken Reister and kids arrived on Wind Shadow, we discovered that he was the familiar voice performing the good deed on the VHF. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Ken! You’re a true boater’s friend. Later, Ken showed off his toys by measuring the wind at 20 knots using a convenient handheld wind meter; dinghy sailors, are you getting jealous?
Despite the wind, we managed to connect all three boats in a reasonably non-embarrassing manner, despite our fears of looking like we were trying to dock with the International Space Station! After a few challenges getting the BBQ coals started in the wind, we had a great meal. Cliff ate crow as I told him, “I told you not to sit the hot grill on top of the wooden cockpit floor boards!” Although it sounds bad, its nothing that the purchase of a few new pot holders and a good sanding can’t fix, so we’re still married :-)
Hope to see you all at the Memorial Day Weekend Cruise, preferably with a little less wind, but hopefully with some wind, at least until we arrive. See you there!
Attending:
Cliff , Crae, and Lisa Cochran
Ken, Kent, and Brandon Reister with guest Brandom M.
John and Stephen Metzler
We joined our fellow shipmates of Olympia Sail and Power Squadron for Sunday brunch at Jarrell Cove State Park. Even though the weather was cold, wet, and windy, the good ship KAT-A-LAK, owned by George & Nancy Fullerton, new members of OSPS, provided a comfortable dining experience for all, despite the weather conditions. Those of us with a sailor’s mindset, however, are hoping that the windy opening day weekend will foreshadow several more weekends of enough wind to fill the sails, kind of like a Ground Hog Day thing. The premonition seems to be coming true! See Hope Island Day Cruise above.
Fortunately, for the sailors anyhow, there was a sufficient amount of wind that day that sustained itself throughout the day as Cruisers seemed to be prone to engine troubles on this Cruise. The DeMeyers and their boat Balder were among this group. Cliff and I had driven up to the Cruise, since Cliff worked all day Saturday and we weren’t confident enough in our navigation abilities to enter Jarrell Cove on a dark and stormy night. So we offered to do a parts run for our fellow sailors. “No, we’ll just sail back,” said John the die-hard sailor. While we admired his tenacity, we believe that it was only pure luck that sustained the winds to give them a quick ride home. For this, we’ve awarded them the Cruise Spirit Award for the Opening Day Weekend Cruise. Congratulations. We’ve managed to arrange some auxiliary power for your boat. See you at the next meeting!
Attending:
John & Joanne DeMeyer
Cliff, Crae, & Lisa Cochran
Bill Brosius & Cecelia Greenberger
The March Cruise to Gig Harbor drew 10 boats: Acquitted, Adagio, Balder, Cane del Mare, Jody V, Joie de Vivre, Magewind, Magic, Vanellus and Vela, with the eleventh crew from Altrice arriving by four-wheeled transport. Some of us arrived Friday afternoon but most came on Saturday.
We walked the historic district, learning about the Native American encampment, the Wilke’s exploration, and the Slavic and Scandinavian settlers who left their mark. After late afternoon appetizers and beverages, we played string games with varying degrees of entanglement. Ask George Hansen to show you the Turk’s Hat; he uses quarter-inch string with a 50-year-old memory. The potluck meal following featured outstanding main dishes and just enough dessert.
Ron Lee provided coffee for early birds on Sunday morning. Then we gathered at the Harbor Inn for breakfast before casting off for home.
This trip was the first time the Club used Arabella’s Landing, a private marina with a lovely historic home on the grounds. The rates were reasonable, the clubhouse and rest rooms clean and commodious. Definitely worth another visit! Thanks to our Cruise Chairs Lisa and Cliff Cochran for making the arrangements for us.
Emily Ray, Acquitted
Our Cruise Chairs, Lisa and Cliff Cochran, have provided us with one of the busiest and most varied schedules of events in the history of SSSS. This month’s column is devoted to giving one boat’s view of what it is like to participate in a cruise. The opinions and foolishness expressed in the following are those of the author only, and may not, certainly should not, reflect upon anyone but the Commodore.
Cruise Log ...
Wednesday night, 2300 hours: I lay sleepless in my bunk, feeling guilty that as Commodore I have attended so few Cruises.
Thursday morning, 0100 hours: Still restless, I survey the mess that makes up the five unfinished projects on my boat, and contemplate the upcoming Gig Harbor Cruise.
Thursday evening, 1400 hours: Weak from having just given blood and sitting over a beer at the Oyster House with former Commodore John Sherman, I recklessly decide to go to Gig Harbor. When John suggests I leave Friday to get a jump on the long trip, I visualize the four still-unfinished projects and gulp some more beer.
Friday evening, 2300 hours: I am surprised to find, upon looking at my tide books, that I will need to leave quite early the next day to beat the max flood current 25 miles away at the Narrows. I had been relying upon Cruise host Jim Lengenfelder’s Ship-to-Shore article that said there would be favorable tides. Sure, if you’re running on retiree time.
Saturday morning, 0800 hours: All projects finished, unlikely, or hidden from view, for the most part, Magewind leaves her slip at 1-Tree Island marina. Low clouds predominate, temperatures are moderate, and wind nearly non-existent. Fog thickens after a gas stop at Boston Harbor, but that doesn’t obscure the frequent sightings of stunning Red-Necked Grebes and their country cousin Horned Grebes in winter plumage as Magewind motors her way down Dana Passage and onward to Balch Passage.
1200 hours: No bird watchers are in sight on McNeil Island as the sun comes out. I keep my 100 yards off the island, as per the posted signs at the penitentiary, to avoid any unwanted passengers.
1350 hours: After remarking yet again in astonishment at the competence of 19th century sailors, who first made out the obscure entrance to Gig Harbor, I arrive at Arrabel’s Landing. Knowing that I have no reservation, oops, I sidle up to the dock near the entry hut where a young man sits patiently and listens to my plea. No space, he says, although a couple boats haven’t arrived. A slew of the 10 or so boats that will attend the Cruise have arrived, and I am quickly met by Jim Lengenfelder, and George and Betty Hansen. A group is forming for a walking tour of the town, led by Emily Ray. I am forced to stay with the boat and pray for a space. The only alternative, the city dock, is filling up fast. I cross my fingers.
1500 hours: One of two remaining boats with reservations arrives, and I am forced to move Magewind. I raft her to Jim’s boat, and hope that I can stay, even though Lisa and Cliff have already reserved the spot.
Meanwhile, a powerboater arrives and immediately begins hurling expletives at the polite young man, he may be all of 17 years old, because the spot the boater had used that morning is occupied. The young man patiently explains that there must have been a misunderstanding over whether the boat would return for the night. He suggests the power boater raft to another powerboat on the dock. The power boater hurls more expletives, and then rafts.
Cliff and Lisa arrive in Vanellus, and graciously agree to raft three deep to me. We have just enough length for the power cords. I breathe a sigh of relief. We have been allowed to violate the two-deep only raft rule and I will not shiver at anchor.
1700 hours: Twenty or more attending cruisers begin to gather inside the quite nice clubhouse just on shore from the dock. Adults and kids alike eat appetizers and partake in string games, again led by Emily. They learn cat in the cradle and some obscure trick that appears likely to strangle Emily, but miraculously leaves her unblemished. She is asked by one or another of the children to repeat the trick throughout the evening.
1800 hours: The potluck is quite a feast: vegetable dip, orange salad, enchilada casserole, meatballs, rice, chili, fried chicken, tortillas, bread, taco salad, pie, cookies, trifle…more trifle. Jim leads us as each skipper explains the derivation or meaning of her/his boat’s name. Some disagreement erupts among couples, but no real battles. I learn that Balder is the son of some Nordic gods. The good son according to Jonn DeMeyer. I learn quite a few other things, too.
2100 hours: Can it really be this early? I am getting old. Still stuffed, I fall asleep to the sound of little feet trodding on my deck.
Sunday, 0930 hours: Having pretty much wakened, cruisers reassemble at the Harborside Restaurant. Jim advises me on the best way to beat the ebb current that will be building: hug the shore southward upon leaving Gig Harbor, and then cross the Narrows to the opposite shore upon reaching the red mark before the bridge. Stuffed yet again, this time on crepe-like pancakes and more local sailing knowledge, I return to the marina.
Magewind leaves at 1130 with Vanellus and Acquitted. I fail to hug the shore tight enough, and Acquitted, with Emily at the helm, speeds by. They are on a mission to make a dinner engagement. I am on no mission at all, although my competitive urge simmers a bit. I decide to follow them south around Anderson Island on the way back. Magewind has never traveled through the Nisqually Reach.
1415 hours: I realize Magewind is now pretty much right above where the 6.8 earthquake occurred only a couple weeks before. Ironically, I immediately think that I would have been safer in this spot than where I was, inside the state capitol building. I look forward, Acquitted is a mere blur on the horizon.
1600 hours: After again gassing up Magewind, you can never have too much gas when you return to gas-free Budd Bay, I put up the sails. I’ll be damned if I’m going to finish a Cruise without sailing. My sail is more predicated on stubbornness and prayer than wind. The wisps quickly disappear once the sails are up. An hour later, having traveled about 600 feet closer to my goal, the engine is back on.
1830 hours: Snugged back at the slip, I take a moment to toast Jim, Emily, Lisa, Cliff, all the other cruisers, and the patient boy from the marina. I resist leaving the boat and pull some fresh Dungeness crab, purchased at Boston Harbor Marina, from the icebox. Fifteen minutes later, a friend and I share the crab, dipped into melted butter, before preparing for another week on land.
Michael Wilson, Magewind
It took an entire year, but the recount, and the recount of the recount, is finally complete. This year is actually the start of the new millennium! To bring in the new Millennium, SSSS celebrated with their traditional New Year’s Kegger at Percival Landing. The weather cooperated nicely throughout the evening, and the “After Burner” took the chill off the air. Cliff, Crae, and I removed our coats and shoes and sat back on the dock to people-watch on the landing, always a fun event on any weekend or holiday evening.
Several SSSS Members and some boaters from up north, who were also at the dock that weekend, joined us throughout the evening. We started the evening with a potluck. The true standout dish was the most awesome chili any of us had ever tasted. My husband, once a kitchen supervisor for Sea Galley Restaurants, was naturally interested in the dish and tried to find out the secret ingredients from the chef. Took a few beers, but we finally unveiled the secret ingredient, Bacardi 151! Congratulations to our Millennium Cruise Spirit Award Winner, Jo & John Martens, Singularity, for bringing this most interesting dish. The contest for this Cruise was to party and enjoy “Old Acquaintances”. Everyone seemed to do that equally well, so we called the contest a draw and declared no winners. Congrats to all who attended!
Attending were:Cliff, Lisa & Crae Cochran, Vanellus
Even though only a few people made it back to the docks at a decent hour after the Herron Island Race, we still managed to have a wonderful time. We huddled around a propane heater, affectionately called the After Burner as we ate, drank, and merrily talked about the day on the water. The view of the launching ramps from A dock at Swantown allowed for plenty of entertainment too. Someone was launching a small boat and seemed to be having a lot of difficulty getting it backed off the trailer. Some time later, he came down the dock and asked us if we were familiar with the harbor. He wanted to take his son out for a boat ride, but did not get to the launch ramp until after dark, only to find out that his reverse was broken. He mentioned that he did not know the bay at all, but thought that it was OK to wander around close by and anchor overnight. Just so his son felt like he got to go some place. We convinced him to allow us to help him pull the boat from the launch ramp to A dock and spend the night there. I am sure we all slept better that night.
As the evening continued, a few racers wandered down the dock insisting that they were not Cruisers, that they just happened to be walking down the dock! We soon enticed them into the decadence of the cruising world by bribing them with a free beer, and a few of them even took off for a pedal boat ride under the stars! The winning Microbrew of the evening was Fish Tale’s Winter Fish brought by Rod Tharp & Susan McRae. Congratulations to our contest winners!
Attending were:
Rod Tharp & Susan McRae Strider
Sean Trew Tahe
Mike Visser & Drew Phillis Gayle Force
Cliff, Lisa & Crae Cochran Vanellus
As 2100 approached and we still had seen very few race boats return, we decided to call it a night. Besides, the propane tank on the After Burner was getting low and we were starting to get cold. After all, we cruisers are not used to being out in the elements! We promise to get the propane tank refilled before the New Year’s Cruise. See you there!
Cliff, Lisa & Crae Cochran, Vanellus
With the assistance of a propane heater, affectionately called the After Burner, we transformed the end of a dock at Longbranch into a devilish good time! We decided to drive up to the Cruise after thinking about the insurmountable obstacles involved in dragging 35 pumpkins down to our beach, rowing them out to our boat and loading them, while simultaneously convincing a toddler that they are not bowling balls. So instead, we packed up the Jeep with the pumpkins, the After Burner, and the all-important cooler, and safely strapped the toddler into his car seat so that flying pumpkins would not be a concern.
This Cruise was well attended by our younger Members. We had barely begun to unpack the Jeep when the kids started grabbing for pumpkins. They had knives in their hands, so we handed over the pumpkins and let them attack. The party was on and the kids were in control! I spent some time perusing the crowd for a Cruise Spirit award winner while Cliff set up the After Burner. Before long the temperature on the dock rose to about 60 degrees, much to the pleasure of a little ballerina.
We enjoyed a great potluck dinner, and then it was time for the judging to begin! We started with the pumpkin-carving contest. To keep those parents honest, we had a rule that you could not vote for your own pumpkin or your child’s. Every pumpkin got at least one vote... well almost. Mine was the only one not to get a single vote! I thought mine was the scariest and certainly a sure winner. I carved a sailboat about to be hit by a rogue wave. Guess it was so scary that no one could bear to look at it! Next came the costume contest. Same voting rules applied. It barely took the mention of a competition and suddenly a few people in costumes turned into many! We had witches and vampires, aliens, alien princesses, and even the cereal box aisle of a grocery store!
That evening, I sat down to tally the votes. Combining contestants’ scores between the costume contest and the pumpkin contest, Kyra Low won Third place, Larisa Wade won Second place, and Chris Low won first. Chris was a vampire who had a sign on his shirt that said, “Got Blood?” When it came time to purchase a prize for the winner, I thought and thought and thought. All that thinking was just filling time till I came up with a good idea. Then I thought, what would a vampire have in his candy dish? Then it was obvious, gummy worms, gummy spiders, and gummy mummies!
Adagio, crewed by the Wade family, won the Cruise Spirit award for decorating their boat with little ghosts hanging from the lifelines. I decided that the best gift for a cruising family would be a set of travel games. I bought Frustration, for the inevitable moments when people related to one another get confined in a small space too far away from shore to jump ship; Battleship, because kids raised to be sail boaters need to be instilled with an overwhelming desire to sink power boats; and a high-tech plotting device, commonly known as an Etch-a-Sketch.
We have a photo of Dinner on the dock
Attending were:
George & Betty Hansen Vela
Eric & Angela Siegel Rouser
Mel, Deb, Kyra, Chris with Ellie Wilson Low for II
Sam, Dave & Morgan Wild Geese
Ken & Kent Reister Wind Shadow
Mary Campbell & Fraus Naumann the boat formerly known as Sea Witch
Ann, Steve, Dylan, Larisa Wade Adagio
Cliff, Lisa, Crae Cochran ‘87 Jeep Cherokee
All in all, another very successful Cruise!
Lisa Weber Cochran, Vanellus
The September Commodores’ Cruise is usually blessed with Indian Summer weather. David and I decided to attend, since we had been on vacation in 1998 when I was supposed to host. In this vein, Commodore Mike Wilson decided that it was also my turn to host, as he had family visiting.
Hmm, maybe this should be renamed the “Excuse for A Commodore Cruise”, because no other SSSS Commodores, vice, past or otherwise, were in attendance. However, this didn’t dampen attendance or fun. 10 boats attended, a very diverse fleet including Kris Engvall’s catamaran, the trimaran Wild Geese, the catboat Shadow, and various monohulls. There was a good range in ages too, seven children including young Daniel Sparkman who I think is about 6 months.
The tricky part of this Cruise was navigating Vaughn Bay, especially the entrance. With the tide falling to -.3 feet Sunday morning, finding an anchorage with sufficient depth was our first concern. Two boats, Discovery and Altrice, chose to stay outside the spit, since the tide would not rise enough to navigate the entrance out until afternoon. Four of us, Adagio, O-My-God, Vanellus, and Shadow, rafted together in the southern part of the bay. Wild Geese, Skaga, Columbia Transit, and Windancer anchored at the south end of the spit. Kris sailed Magic Carpet up from Beachcrest Sunday morning.
We had a lovely sunset, and a quiet night filled with stars. Next morning, we met on the spit for a delicious breakfast of eggs, potatoes and muffins, prepared by Clif Cochran. Lisa hosted a Man Overboard contest, to see who could toss a lifejacket closest to a buoy anchored just off the spit. Amanda Sparkman won the under 6 division. Dylan Wade edged out his sister in the 6-21 division, after some debate as to whether there should be an age or size handicap applied. Dave Stewart, a fellow LifeSling instructor, won the over 21 division. It was tough to select the winners of the Cruising Spirit award, as everyone seemed to be having a great time. I decided to select Jim and Diana Findley, for being the first boat to brave the entrance and enter the bay.
As others told me, if you have not been to Vaughn Bay, you should go. It is a delightful little anchorage. Who knows, maybe next year’s Cruise will even have a real Commodore?
Susanne Ames, O-My-God
We have photos, including one from the November S-t-S
The Cruising season started with the Kids’ Cruise at our house on Henderson Inlet. We had great attendance by kids of all ages. Activities included drawing your own boat with crayons and colored paper. These were then displayed on the side of our house, otherwise known as the honorary fridge. Other activities included blowing bubbles, sandbox, and mini golf. And of course, no kid’s meal would be complete without mystery meat! The mystery meat was actually buffalo burgers. At the end of the day we were all ready for a nap!
The highlight of the event was the handmade sailboat race. Boats needed to be less than 12 inches overall and constructed of materials from recycling bins. We had only one entry at the beginning of the Cruise, but other cruisers soon became inspired and started digging through our recycling bins to create their own sleek designs. There was some discussion about whether or not Styrofoam was a recyclable material, but when other teams started grabbing the material to reinforce their own designs, the judges caved in.
There were three entries in the race, which produced plenty of exciting action. Team Coca Cola, with crew members Lisa and Crae Cochran, placed third with a DNS, due to structural problems before reaching the start line. The race came down to the wire, after being shortened due to light winds. Team Reister, with crew members Kent and Ken finished less than a boat length behind the winning boat. This is particularly impressive given the fact that the boat was dismasted shortly after the start! Team Franklin Covey, appropriately named for the plastic bag that had sacrificed itself to serve as the sail, took top honors in the 1 foot and under class of the Henderson Inlet Race. Congratulations to crew members Richard, Sabra, Galen, and Carrie!
There is photo of the very small boat race in the October S-t-S, and two photos in the S-t-S On-line.
At each Cruise, the Cruise host will select one boat/participant to receive the “Cruise Spirit Award". The Kids’ Cruise recipient is Altrice, crewed by Phil & Ann Rousseau. This brave boat and crew made it to the Cruise all the way from Shelton in the rain. What is perhaps even more tragic, with no wind! Congratulations Phil and Ann. Who says you need to winterize your boat. This is the Pacific Northwest, not a small midwestern lake. Show us your Cruise spirit during the fall, winter, spring, and summer!
Cliff, Lisa & Crae Cochran, Vanellus