Commodore’s Log Marilyn Allen
Greetings Salty Dogs – I passed Cherry Creek reservoir yesterday when the temperature was 50 degrees and found myself looking for boats. What was I thinking? Only thing I saw were a couple of ice fishermen. Crazy!
Yearning for an early season sail? The Why Buy boats become available April 1 so be very nice to your neighborhood Why Buy member and try to get in a few early season sails before the owners put their boats in when it’s a little warmer and our club events start. First event is early May.
We had a great turn out for our combination February meeting and Landlubbers. A HUGE thank you to Kathy Hug, who organized and put on the whole event. She also stepped in as Vice Commodore for the end of the year after our previous Vice Commodore resigned prematurely from both his position and the club. Thank you, Kathy. You really picked up the slack for us. And thank you also to our two new (sort of) board members, Bobby Olsen who will be Vice Commodore and Larry Moreland as Secretary.
I just received a bill for our annual insurance so please, if you haven’t renewed or joined yet, do so. Our treasury could use a little plumping up as we wait for sailing season to begin. Be sure to send your application and dues to Marilyn (temporarily) at the address on the form, NOT the address on Parker Road. Or pay dues on-line.
At the Landlubbers banquet, we honor and occasionally roast, members who have made a memorable impression on the club. A special award this year went to Tom Prebynski for not only his long-term support of the club and sharing of his boat, but also the kind donation he made earlier this year. He received our Philanthropist award. Another unique award was given to long time member Zeke Zebauer as our Newsmaker. He was featured on the front page of the Dillon paper over a wedding ring that jumped into Dillon. Ask him. Other awards were to Gary Kieft: First Mate Extraordinaire, for his amazing docking abilities in the face of 2 “perfect storms”.
While ALL the coordinators did outstanding jobs and were deserving of Coordinator of the Year, the board selected Diana Bliss and Dave Westfall for coordinating the Lake Mac sail. We had members from 3 clubs, campsites and eating spaces to coordinate and the challenge of an expensive multi-day trip that almost put the club in a big financial hole. Through their efforts, the club broke even. THANKS, DIANA AND DAVE.
I’m honored and pleased to say that the Salty Dog of the Year award and plaque went to…..me! Thank you so much to those who suggested me and voted for me and then provided those nice words that Kathy read as she presented. I was really touched and honored. Thank you to the great 2019 Board. I think we worked well as a team and I appreciate every one of you.
We’ve got lots of our members in wonderful warm places and we can all be a little jealous! Safe sailing to them while we wait for the ice to melt. Somehow, that just didn’t seem fair!
Your Commodore, Marilyn Allen
Vice Commodore’s Log Bobby Olsen
An adventure in the Bahamas !
For any sailor, the best days are out on the water enjoying the soulful massage of the wind in sails, the camaraderie of fellow crew and the aroma of a sea breeze. But storms, bottom ripping coral reefs, sharks, the mighty gulf stream and a mutinous crew are the perils that many a captain has faced, but few would relish. Pity poor Captain Peter.
Our next meeting will feature Salty Dog member, Peter Baumgartner. Peter will share both glorious moments and disastrous mishaps on his October 2019 trip from the lower Chesapeake Bay to Eleuthera in the Bahamas.
Escape the cold and dark of a March evening and join us Thursday, March 12 at Piccolo’s. Diners arrive between 5:30-5:45; meeting begins shortly after 6.
Membership Announcements Ronni Wilcox
Please Renew Your Membership for Calendar 2020 Now
Use our On–Line Payment Link At :
https://www.saltydog.org/membership/
Sailing Schedule 2020 Gary Kieft
The preliminary 2020 Sailing Schedule has been posted here. www.saltydog.org/on-the-water-events/
**** To volunteer as a Sail Coordinator, please contact Gary at onthewater@saltydog.org ****
The Sailing schedule is a work in progress —- Please submit comments or questions to Gary
Sailing St. Vincent and the Grenadines – A 2020 Winter Escape
Seven excited crew gathered at DIA late on January 21 for our red-eye flight to St. Vincent. Two more crew joined us as planned in Miami. A good start! Captain Anne Hammond had laid out a 1-week charter at our November planning meeting where crew became acquainted, including a young couple from Anchorage who we met by internet. Prior to departure Anne also prepared a schedule of crew duties that alternated daily to ensure everyone exposure to navigating, sail handling, anchoring, mechanical and electrical systems, and keeping order in the cabin/cockpit areas.
Upon arrival at the new St. Vincent airport, we were met by a taxi arranged by our charter company, Dream Yacht Charters. We were delivered to Blue Lagoon Marina to board our new French made 42 foot Fountain Pajot catamaran,”Cocoricco”. She had 4 cabins, each with a private head; 3 refrigerators, a huge salon and cockpit, and 2 bonus forward crew cabins where we could stow our bags. Three crew were soon dispatched to a nearby market with a detailed grocery list to provision for our crew of nine. No small task.
After a night onboard and breakfast, staff gave us a chart briefing followed by a boat orientation. The “cat” had some unfamiliar rigging, anchoring and water maker features. Afterwards, a pilot took us through a narrow opening in the reef to begin our first sail to Bequia. We were met by competing locals who want to guide you to a mooring ball. Once tied up we took advantage of water sports, ATM, fruit market and Max’s Italian Restaurant which charter staff had recommended. It proved a good choice. Next morning as we left Bequia we tried to raise the main sail with no luck. We called the charter company and a local guy shimmied up the mast to untangle lines and gave us a tip on how to use the unusual rigging system.
Friday took us to Mayreau. We were met by a local who directed us to a good anchorage on a sandy bottom close to shore. Soon we were offered fresh fileted mahi mahi to buy for an onboard dinner. With plenty of daylight, crew did some swimming, snorkeling, a walk on shore, or relaxed on board. Our two energetic and youthful Alaskan crew also tried out their blow-up paddle board and rental kayak. Our watermaker did not seem to be working. With a great deal of reading, valve checks and flipped switches our crew solved the problems. Sundowners and a grilled fish dinner made a welcome conclusion to a challenging day.
Tabago Cays was a short upwind sail so we motored to and through a crowded channel with a blind corner to see our destination bay full of boats. Tabago Cays are peppered with mooring balls but a scant few were available. We spotted a free ball but it had an elusive tether. One of the crew, having recently seen a video tip, threw a loop of line around the ball and tugged it to the bow for threading. This strategy is worth learning for mooring balls with no tether or that cannot be picked up easily with a boat hook. After a full afternoon of activities, we enjoyed dinner. Picture a lovely bay, orange sunset, warm breezes, and a delicious lobster dinner with all the trimmings, catered to us on board our spacious catamaran for Saturday night.
Anne had researched some unique offerings for the island of Mustique, home to the rich and famous or rich and not so famous. A really special and entertaining Sunday evening awaited us at Basil’s Restaurant, the host of the Mustique Blues Festival. We spent several hours with blues music, sundowners, snacks, dancing, dinner and a fabulous sunset, all the time rubbing shoulders with the local rich and famous! Or so we like to think. We may have been a little under-dressed!, Come morning, we bought pastries at a French bakery, fresh tuna just off the boat, and great fruit market treats. Mustique has it all.
Another unexpected treat awaited us at the end of a brisk Monday sail to Canouan. Dream Yacht Charters had an agreement for a free slip for one night at a new luxury marina at Glossy Bay. Uniformed dock hands greeted us; we were directed to a concierge who gave us cold water and a cold washcloth to cool our brows; there were free dinghy rides to the bar, beach or restaurant, fabulous showers and free taxis. We didn’t ask the price per foot to stay another night! We felt like we had been transported to another world. It was definitely a step away from the local Caribbean scene.
Tuesday gave us a 2nd night at Bequia and the opportunity for the couple from Anchorage to catch a ferry back to St. Vincent. Unlike our mostly retired crew, they had to be at work soon. Our now crew of 7 missed the energy and quickly developed skills of our youthful new sailors. Finally, on Wednesday we sailed north hoping to anchor for a lunch north of Blue Lagoon. The anchor was locked up and so we ate underway. Our last night was on board in the marina with a dinner of week-old bratwursts we had bought for an unforeseen night on board. But with our remaining beer, they hit the spot and it proved a pleasant evening before our Thursday morning checkout.
With 2 plus days before our departure, we checked into the Alexandrina Hotel. Newly renovated, it was a quiet, scenic location above the bay. Though it was a bit isolated, taxi service was easily arranged. Friday afforded us the opportunity to take an island land tour. We expanded our knowledge of island life and island history, visited a botanic garden and saw Wallilabou Bay where “Pirates of the Caribbean” was filmed.
Saturday meant we had to pack our bags, say farewell to the warm Caribbean, and savor our sailing adventure.
Now we can reflect on problems we encountered and lessons we learned.
Problems encountered:
- A windlass that would automatically lock up and/or trip the breaker for undetermined reasons that even the staff could not resolve.
- The water maker was far more complicated than simply pushing an on/off button.
- An unusual mainsail required special raising and lowering procedures to keep slugs from jamming and battens away from the lazy jacks.
Lessons learned:
When chartering, it is nice to be the FIRST to charter a NEW vessel that has all the latest bells and whistles. However, the charter staff briefing may overlook important tips for using unique rigging and complete directions for all the equipment. Call for help if there is a serious problem. We were lucky to have some really talented problem solvers on board.
Now we adjust to snow and cold temperatures.
Thanks to Anne Hammond for pulling together yet another great sailing adventure.
John and Patsy Venema
Dry Land Activities Andrea Lewis
March 28th at 5pm State 38 Distilling
Address: 400 Corporate Circle Ste B, Golden, CO 80401
Come and see how gin is made ( and tastes ) –
We will get a free sample as well as a cocktail –
Hoping to round off the evening with dinner in Golden
Please call, text or email me as soon as possible as price is dependent on the number of participants.
Hope to see you there…
Andrea – Dry Land Coordinator 303-881-7376
Questions, Comments, Ideas, Suggestions, please contact our Dry Land Event Coordinator at: dryland@saltydog.org
Sixty Three Days … Smell that Faint Sea Breeze …
