Old Point Comfort Yacht Club :: Forum

Suggestions for a New Boat Owner? [by Anne Racel]

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 09:04:19 -0700

General Discussions:: Suggestions for a New Boat Owner?
Okay, it's finally happened. I'm this close to owning my first boat: a 1975 Cal 29'. <

Now, when I start a new project, I tend to go a bit overboard (figuratively, not literally ). I have signed up for a boat safety course given by the US Coast Guard Auxillary. I'm planning on signing up for a sailing class or two. I've started loading up my library: Don Casey's Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual, The Sailor's Handbook, and a couple of knots books. The boat itself has chart books for the Chesapeake Bay and Intracoast Waterways between here and Florida. I'm definitely planning on attending some of PMU's courses.

I've sailed enough as a crew member to have some familiarity with the things. But I know I'll need alot of time at the helm before I really feel comfortable.

So what other suggestions can you seasoned sailors offer me? How else should I prepare and educate myself?

A big public 'thank you!' [by Anne Racel]

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 05:56:04 -0600

General Discussions:: A big public 'thank you!'
My luck. I've had family reunions the last two Cock Islands. Ah well! I can't blame anyone by myself this time, since I was put in charge.

So why is this boating related? Well, a number of family members wanted to go sailing while they were here. So in an effort to make lemonade from lemons (or whatever the appropriate cliche' is), I asked several members of the club who were participating in Cock Island if they would mind some passengers along for their return journey. Dave Arnold(Fair Winds), Jim Beaudry (Pegasus), Steve Ritz (Excelsior), Jeff Rogers (Halaha)), and Dick Beaver (Ellen B) said 'yes'.

Jim and Jeff were the ones planning on leaving the earliest, at about 9 - 9:30 a.m. So we piled the 20 planning on going into 3 vehicles and headed from our places in Sandbridge to Portsmouth 'early' Sunday morning. Jim came by shortly after we arrived to say he was ready to head out. So we peeled off the first group and they sailed away.

Jeff found us right about that time and told us he was in a bit of a fix. Seems he'd left Halaha the night before and came back that morning to find her sitting on a sandbar. He showed my family of landlubbers the sad sight of her slightly tipsy body in the water and said he was hoping the tide would come in enough by noon to be able to free her. That was no problem, since Dave and Steve weren't planning on heading out until about then anyway.

One nephew planning on coming was having troubles dropping off a rental car. They went to two different Hertz rental agencies before they finally headed over to the airport. Luckily, the later departures allowed them to make it in time to catch a ride, too.

Dick was the next to take off. So we divided off the next group and they sailed away.

I really appreciated Dick taking on this task for me, since I really didn't know him.

The rest of the group headed over to the Cock Island Lounge for some coffee and snacks while they waited for their turns. Meanwhile one of my sisters and I drove over to Ft. Monroe to catch the folks at the other end.

The first group arrived and we sent them to Portsmouth to finish the car shuttling. About that time, I got a phone call from Steve Newman, who was riding with Dave. He asked where the passengers were that were supposed to be sailing with Jeff and I told he to check the lounge. Later I learned that Jeff was stuck in place until about 5 p.m. that evening.

We picked up snacks for the later groups to munch on, then waited for them to arrive.

Winds picked up more as the day progressed and the later boats were able to sail a bit more than the earlier ones were.

Everyone arrived at the other end with smiles on their faces and stories to tell. They all were quite impressed with each of their captains and crews, for the chance they were given and the knowledge the captains and crew shared with them on the ride.

So again, a big THANK YOU to the captains and crew!

Crewmember Looking for a Skipper [by Dennis Miner]

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 19:56:28 -0600

Series Races:: Crewmember Looking for a Skipper
Please see the Crew List page. Nancy Rohe would like to serve as a crewmember. Let's get her out on the water! Call me (867-1028) for her contact info.

Dennis Miner
Rear Commodore for Racing

Crew List [by Dennis Miner]

Fri, 2 Mar 2007 11:00:48 -0700

Series Races:: Crew List
Check out the new Crew List page under Racing. You can sign up if you want to crew or you are a skipper looking for crew.

Re: Intros [by James P. Davis]

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 19:26:08 -0700

Other Stuff:: Intros
You did it, wonderful.<br /><br />Thanks

Re: Pointer Maritime University [by Anne Racel]

Fri, 1 Dec 2006 06:26:11 -0700

Other Stuff:: Pointer Maritime University
There's a couple of ways that we can handle this. One is to use the 'content' area, where I put your first post. The other is to implement some 'blog' software. I think the latter will be easier, and I've input the software today. I'll send you email with instructions for using it.

--Anne