the 2009 Chesapeake Wayfarer Cruise
Participant Reactions and other Background
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exchange with Pauli at the Smith Island Marina:
From: Mary Abel
Sent: Saturday, May 16, 2009 4:40:02 PM
Subject: Wayfarer Chesapeake Cruise

Hi all,
 
Yesterday (5/13) I talked to Pauli of Smith Island Marina / Sunrise B&B and I want to pass on some info that may affect the Wayfarer group:
 
1) Pauli has 2 "big" boats booked for her marina overnight on Friday, May 29.  The men from those boats are sleeping on their boats (and will also be able to use the Marina's common room & bath);  the women aboard have reserved the whole B&B.  I forgot to ask her, but later realized: If our group of 5-6 Wayfarers are there on the same night, will there be enough room at the docks for ALL boats to tie up overnight???? 
 
 2) Pauli remembered that last year she provided a hot breakfast for some? all? of those Wayfarers who slept on their boats (in addition to those of us who stayed in her B&B).  She said she will be happy to provide breakfast for our Wayfarer group again if we give her a little advanced notice.   I forgot to ask what the cost will be for those not sleeping in the B&B itself, and I also forgot to ask if her kind offer is still good if we are there the same time as all the people from her two scheduled big boats.
 
Our group needs to let Pauli know so she will have necessary the supplies on hand; it has been a very slow spring for her and right now those 2 scheduled boats and our group are the only ones she is currently expecting that week (and our actual arrival date is not confirmed!).
 
Pauli & Steve:
410-425-4220
 
Count Tony & Mary in for breakfast (regardless of our stay in the B&B or in the Wayfarer at the dock)
 
-mary


----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2009 9:46 PM

Hang on there a minute, gang! I appreciate Mary's good in-put and timely suggestions.  But one of the things we haven't done in the past--and I would prefer not to start now--is begin making land-side reservations which force us into specific cruise destinations and schedules.  We may wake up Wednesday morning (or any other morning) to a gale and not want to sail anywhere...or it may be the perfect day to head for Tangier...or it could be that Smith Island will be our best choice.  We can only guess now that Friday will find us at Smith Island.  By Wednesday morning I would say we should have a pretty good handle on the week's weather situation and we can let Pauli know what our plans are.
 
With two cruising boats at Paula's marina, things will be a little tighter than we are used to...but we should be able to manage okay.  The same goes for her facilities.  We'll just have to take what comes...
 
DICK


From: Pauli Eades <paulizk@verizon.net>
To: Richard Harrington <rmharrington@sbcglobal.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 11:11:31 PM

Hi Dick,
   
Just in case you're checking on line on the way, it's really blowing a gale here, Tues. night. Calling for the same tomorrow. I was counting on seeing you all tomorrow (Wed.) but I'll just keep a watch out for you.
I'm looking forward to seeing you all again and meeting the new ones in the group.
 
After this weekend's guests, I am short on supplies and don't have any rum. So, if you do get this message, remind everyone that there are several liquor stores in Crisfield.  We have just the one little grocery store here, too. Just no alcohol.

I'm looking forward to meeting your new friend, too. I hear she's a real trooper.
 
Be safe and we'll see you when you get here.
 
Sincerely,

Pauli
Smith Island Marina
Wayfarers' Yacht Club


----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2009 9:06 PM

Pauli,
 
Thanks for your thoughtfulness.  In spite of the iffy weather week, we had a great cruise.  Everyone was happy, especially the newcomers.  As always, your hospitality was tops.  See you next year.
 
DICK


----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Pauli Eades <paulizk@verizon.net>
To: Richard Harrington <rmharrington@sbcglobal.net>
Sent: Saturday, June 6, 2009 3:55:46 PM

Hi Dick,
   
Hope everyone made it home safely. As always, I enjoy having your group here. We were going to call Uncle Al that night, and he called here while we were all getting drenched in the storm. The storm knocked our internet and phone services out until today (a week). I'll let him know he was missed and let him try to guess who went overboard.
  
We haven't had a dry day since you left. I can still picture you coming in the boat house door drenched to the bone! I hope Jane had a good time. She seems very sweet and she must think you are quite the adventurer and quite capable....as we think you are,...or insane!
  
You guys were the talk of the island all week. Some even showed signs of interest in becoming a Wayfarer.  I think it's really cool what you do.
 
Have a great rest of the summer and hope you win all of your races.
 
Thanks again for coming to our little marina; you brought it a lot of life after a long, dreary winter. I'm glad the newcomers had a good time, too. Seemed like a good group.
 
Take good care,
Pauli
Smith  Island Yacht Club


----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, June 07, 2009 9:06 PM

Hi Chesapeake Wayfarers,
 
I thought you would enjoy seeing the above message from Pauli.  I am always surprised when a nice note like this one comes along--I forget that we really are doing something special.  Sometimes I lose sight of that aspect.  Shortly I will download and send a few of the photos I took during the cruise.
 
DICK
...  
from Robert Mosher (W3445), one of our newcomers:
Original Message -----
From: Robert Mosher W3445
Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2009 6:38 PM
Subject: Chesapeake

Dear Al:

Here are my headlines from the Chesapeake.  I will send photos later, and details even later.

Robert
W3445

Breaking Headlines of the Chesapeake Cruise

Fifty-knot winds

Two Wayfarers overboard

Trollop of Tangier is perfect host

Women Gone Wild, kisses and kisses

A Weird of Wayfarers documented sailing into Tangier

Cruising the Gut

Grown Men weep, but Mary keeps her boat ashore

Barefoot Wayfarers, sandy beaches, sun, clear skies and steamed crabs

Wayfarer passes jelly fish in 1-knot winds

Hardcore sailors wait for wind and contemplate food supplies

Becalmed Wayfarers rescued

The Black Pearl Attacks Girl

The Dry Islands of the Chesapeake

A Weird of Wayfarers faces off with Horde of power boaters

Why do snails cross the road, in single file?

What does it take to blow up a Wayfarer?

Dick and Jane go Sailing (Level 2)

Jane of the Jungle does it all!

The mother ship Osprey ends drought on Trangier

Girl in Ewell excited by so many single men

Wayfarer recognized for feats of exploration

Wayfarers unrecognizable

Details at 11:00.

...
from Richard Watterson (W10243):
Original Message -----
From: richard watterson
Sent: Monday, June 01, 2009 2:43 PM

Hey everyone;

I had a great time sailing (and rowing/motoring) with all of you on the Ches'peake.  Uncle Al, I too have pics that I have to sort and will deliver to you.

Richard Watterson
...
excellent background info/links from Gary Hirsch (W1321):
Original Message -----
From: Gary Hirsch
Sent: Monday, June 01, 2009 8:42 PM
Subject: Chesapeake Cruise & more

Al,

Check out these websites:

http://marinas.com/view/overview/610_Tangier_Island_VA
http://marinas.com/view/inlet/520_Big_Thorofare_Inlet_Smith_Island_MD
http://marinas.com/view/marina/5185_Smith_Island_Marina_Ewell_MD
http://marinas.com/view/restaurant/228_Bayside_Inn_Restaurant_Smith_Island_MD

I haven't checked other ports, but they claim to have the largest database of marinas on the web.

Gary
...
from Mary Abel:
----- Original Message -----
From: Mary Abel
Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2009 9:22 AM
Subject: Chesapeake pre-cruise pics

hi al,

attached are a few pics taken monday night at our house while gary was telling the group about the caps.  i was busy getting the group dinner on the table and these are the only pics i took.  i'm not sure if anyone else took pics that night.

hopefully the guys took some pictures of the trip for you.  they should have at least taken one of the "dark 'n stormy" salute as tony took the 1/2 gal. rum and 12-pack of gingerbeer (and two other bottles of whiskey) in my stead.  at the last minute i decided not to go, as most of the group staying at our house were taking about anchoring off an island to overnight it and i need indoor plumbing ... and am not too enthused about sleeping in a drifting boat (tony still doesn't have a decent anchor) in a swamp with the bugs or the rain...

after the watts island drifter, tony is somewhat conceding that at times a small motor is not necessarily a bad thing to have...

-mary
...
from Brandon McClintock (W3576), who came all the way from San Francisco:
----- Original Message -----
From: Brandon McClintock
To: Hans Gottschling
Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2009 9:24 PM
Subject: Many thanks (vielen Dank?)

Dear Hans & Erdmute, (& Max)

I must appologize for the delay in writing.  While enroute home I learned that our telephone/internet line had been accidentally cut.  As you can now see, the repair has been made.

In any event, I wanted to thank you both so very much for your kindness and gracious hospitality.  I thoroughly enjoyed meeting you and learning some of the finer points of Wayfarer set-up and rigging.  Erdmute, I have given my wife your card and she is completely in awe of your artistic skills (not to mention being hopelessly envious of your beautiful garden). I hope your forthcoming art show goes well.

All things considered, my adventure on the Chesapeake and traveling to Toronto ranks as one of my best ever lifetime experiences.  I covered 6,728 miles and the trip was worth every one of them.

We're attending a family wedding this weekend so when I return home, I'll organize my pictures and forward some to you.

Thanks again for everything.  I'll keep you posted on my learning-to-sail-a-Wayfarer progress.  I plan to launch next week in the Sacramento River Delta for a little practice sailing.  Hopefully I'll be able to find the source of the leak.

All the best,
Brandon


Original Message -----
From: Brandon McClintock
Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2009 9:37 PM
Subject: Journey of a lifetime

Hi Al,

I just forwarded you a copy of my e-mail to Hans & Erdmute and wanted to let you know that my internet service is once again up and running. Because we're attending an out-of-town family wedding this weekend, I won't be able to send you any pics until I get back.  But send some I will.

There's no question that this experience easily ranks in my top ten for this lifetime.  All the people I met, both sailors and otherwise, will remain in my "good" memory file for as long as I have one.  Milton Parks readily comes to mind as a truly memorable Tangier Island character. So stay tuned; I'll send you some pics and perhaps a few musings next week ...

Cheers to the Schonborn family,
Brandon
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