CRUISE REPORTS
Cruise Reports
are to be filed by the Captain after each Cruise.
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Burnt Store Marina Luncheon Cruise Report
March 1, 2010
The luncheon cruise to "Burnt Store Marina" on March 1st turned out just GREAT! A good time was had by all and for once the weather co-operated. We had lots of sun and smooth waters.
A big thanks to all that attended.
Bob and Dottie Olsen
Cruise Captains
Naples Art Festival Cruise Report
February 19-22, 2010
Fourteen Boats attended the Naples Art Festival on February 19-22. The following members were present:
Caldwell, Gaddy, Lowndes, Kapin, Scaccianoce, Klaren, den Ouden, Alexander, Ufer, Dunn, Tait, Reiche,
Lang, Walsh.
The weather finally cooperated and delivered a weekend of warm temperatures and sunny skies for us to enjoy the festival.
Our festivities began with Dock tails at the Naples Boat Club. Pat Flannery (Dock Master) could not have treated us better and gave us the use of the clubhouse for our activities.
Saturday found everyone at the Art Festival and concluded with dinner for 28 at the Back street Bar and Grill.
Gerry Tait led a spirited bike tour of Port Royal on Sunday. Dinner Sunday night was for 14 at the Boathouse.
No mishaps were reported on the trip down to Naples or on the way back.
A wonderful time was enjoyed by all.
Dan Caldwell, Cruise Captain
Palm Island Marina Cruise Report
January 15 - 18, 2010
Eleven boats made the trip to Palm Island Marina for this January cruise. The weather looked threatening when we departed but it proved to be a sunny and almost warm Florida weekend.
Participants included the Cohens, Taits, McElhenys, Langes, Weatherlys, Andersons, Kapins, Alexanders, Plotts, Caldwells, and Haswells.
Friday held the usual welcome docktail party. On Sat we had a Pirate Treasure Hunt taking dinghies to the Island for a great lunch at Rum Runners Restaurant. Upon returning, the Marina Yacht Club hosted a beer bash for us followed by our Bar-B-Que dinner at the Marina.
Sunday was a lazy day with some of us walking the beach at Don Pedro and others watching the football games. We all met for an enjoyable dinner at Leverocks.
In all, the Marina was outstanding, the weather fantastic and company,as usual, great. The cruise was enjoyed by all.
Al Alexander and John Anderson
Cruise Captains
January 1, 2010
The last minute cancellation of over half the expected slips for the Sanibel Cruise was the reason the Tween Waters Cruse was born. Little did we know it would be the first and only 2010 cruise completed prior to the Change of Watch meeting. Originally there were seven boats signed up for the Tween Waters Cruise but due to an unfavorable weather forecast only two of the original seven actually participated. Aggressive recruiting among attendees at the Pelican Bay, New Year's Eve cruise resulted in an additional two boats signing on to continue South. Hardy souls all.
- Bob and Sue Taylor on Last Tender
- Bob and Diane Ufer on Summer Thunder
- Steve and Nancy Johnson on Chat-Eau
- Dan and Sharon Caldwell on Rhumbline
New Year's Day found our boaters facing the forecast of inclement weather and a passage from Pelican to Captiva. We agreed to sit it out until the squall line passed over us. Heavy rain and strong winds diminished by noon and the flotilla of 3 transited South uneventfully.
The Taylors had spent the previous two nights in Ft. Myers and Bob managed to perfectly time their departure from Ft Myers to arrive at Tween Waters just as the squall line passed overhead. Bob is fearless. Sue knows this.
Friday night our adventurers dined together and had a delicious meal at the Bubble Room. They later rocked and rolled throughout a windy and chilly night at the dock.
Saturday dawned clear and cold. Overnight temperatures had plunged into the low 40's. Undeterred, the crews managed a group picture and a walk down the beach to the Mucky Duck for lunch. Later that evening we had a pot luck dinner aboard Summer Thunder which was graciously offered by the Ufer's. It was at this point that we dubbed ourselves the "Foul Weather Friends" and toasted our spirit of adventure.
The Crow's nest was boasting 'live music' that night so we drank and danced to the music of the 'Modulators' (a terrific eight piece band from Cincinnati). We had a lot of fun, contributing to a memorable evening.
Departure from Tween Waters was completed by 12:30 on Sunday, January 3 with all four boats transiting home without incident.
Conclusion: The cruise was a huge success. All participants agreed that the day of rain and subsequent low temperatures did not detract from the enjoyment of cruising with friends. A toast was made to our new Foul Weather Friends who, despite Mother Nature's fickle proclivities, were determined to boat, socialize and party together.
Dan Caldwell, Cruise Captain
New Years Eve Celebration at Pelican Bay Cruise Report
December 31, 2009 - January 1, 2010
Thirteen boats braved the threatening forecast of a passing cold front predicted for January 1st to make their way to Pelican Bay anchorage to be together and welcome in the 2010 New Year. This was a first trip as Co-Captain for the Jack & Joan Osborne, who along with veteran Co-Captain Paul Elliott, brought the necessary preparations for the party.
Participants included Osborne’s, Paul Elliott, Linehan’s, Johnson’s, Willsey’s, Crimmins’, Burkhart’s, Haswell’s, Klaren’s, Schirk’s, Caldwell’s, Ufer’s, and Reichie’s.
The “party platform” this year was the very substantial raft-up of the two 40 foot Manta catamarans, “Catalyst” (Rob & Sue Linehan) and “Chat-eau” (Steve & Nancy Johnson), which provided lots of room for serving up goodies and having party goers enjoy being very comfortable.
It could only be described as a spectacular evening weather-wise. The anchorage was lit up by an uncommon “Blue Moon” (the second full moon in this month). In addition, the approaching weather front brought high Cirrus clouds which produced a remarkable giant circle of ice crystals around a seemingly oversized and very bright moon. Lots of Ooooohs and Ahhhs from party goers in advance of the New Year arriving.
Paul Elliott (Chantey) and Jack Osborne (Second Wind) provided entertainment with Paul playing guitar and singing and Jack backing him up with a hammered dulcimer, helping folks stay awake. And, it seemed that everyone did stay awake to celebrate the New Year with Champaign and noise makers while we watched the Times Square ball drop on the large screen TV aboard Catalyst.
The next morning, some small number of boats did join the planned “brunch” being hosted by the Schirk’s aboard “Jet Stream”. A large portion of the group of partiers, hauled anchor and either headed for home in advance of the cold front arriving, or, headed on to the following planned cruise.
Thanks to everyone who joined us and to those who provided the hosting vessels. It seemed that a good time was had by all.
Jack and Joan Osborne and Paul Elliott – Co-Captains
Brunch Cruise to the Isles Yacht Club Report
December 5, 2009
The Isles Yacht Club is always a great destination and the December 5th Brunch Cruise found the Breakfast Brunch Buffet to be just great! The weather was a little chilly for the three boats that ventured out in the morning, but the Manager of the Isles Yacht Club met us with a warm smile, eye opening Mimosa's and hot coffee.
Other boats had planned to make the short cruise to the Club but because of the cooler than expected temperatures, opted to cruise by land cruiser instead. Bruce Gensmer says that he admits it, he is a wimp. He is a wimp who moved here from Minnesota. He is a real wimp not taking his boat out today.
We had a great group of over 20 Islanders visit in the lounge waiting for our last boat to arrive. When the McMahon's and Bruce Armstrong and Cecy Glenn finally pulled up to the dock, we all left the warm confines of the Club to welcome the stragglers on the deck and usher them into our gathering. Mimosa's were lifted up in honor of their arrival. It doesn't take much to ask a PG Islander to lift a drink in honor of anything!
The McMahon's travelled out in the harbor before coming in to the Club and report the sighting of a local Osprey who had caught a nice mullett, only to have a buzzard steal it from him! Sounded a lot like the football game last night, where the buzzard from Alabama stole the game from the Florida Gators.
After finishing a great meal and enjoying the special Islander style companionship, the sun had finally peeked out for a warm return trip home. Thanks to all who participated and to the Isles Yacht Club for doing a great job hosting us.
John Beane
Cruise Captain