CRUISING ASSOCIATION
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TOP OF THE BAY
CRUISING ASSOCIATION |
North East, Maryland
DOCKLINE - May/June 2001
FROM THE COMMODORE:
Boating season and with it the yacht club openings is upon us. Dave and I have had the new boat out on the last couple of club cruises and it feels just wonderful to be on the water again. I hope our members have their boats in the water because the season is upon us!
TOBCA's first scheduled land cruise was May 12 and we had seven officers going thru the ceremony. We had three yacht club openings that day, Maryland Cruising Club, White Rocks Yacht Club, and Kent Island Yacht Club. We took our first plaque of the season at White Rocks for "yacht club traveling the furthest distance". On Sunday, May 13, while Dave and I were relocating our car to get in the same location as we were bringing our boat, Jane Wiertel, who had graciously loaned us her car to accomplish the task, went to Crescent Yacht Club, and represented TOBCA at their opening. Thanks, Jane.
The weekend before, Jerry Cook represented TOBCA at Charlestown Yacht Club's opening. I take my hat off to him. It can be a little scary going for the first time, alone.
The weekend of May 19, Jack and Candy Varnes along with Jerry and Judy Cook went to Sassafras River YC opening, and Don and Vera Gortowski met Dave and me to do the Georgetown YC opening. See the attached list for openings and their dates. Any member is welcome to attend and partake in the food and party. However, only officers in uniform (summer whites) can go thru the ceremony. I have been trying to educate our members as to the meaning of openings, etc. and don't know how successful I have been. Jane Wiertel said something to me that really hit the mark. "Our members don't understand that they are missing half the fun of boating by not attending balls and openings.
Last weekend, June 2 was Maryland Yacht Club opening and although Dave and I could not be there, TOBCA was wonderfully represented by Vice Commodore Vera Gortowski, who introduced our bridge officers attending, Don Gortowski, Jane Wierel, Yo Hales, and Jack Varnes.
This weekend is Bush River YC's opening. Their Friday night dinner (small fee required) is 5:30 to 7:30 followed by a dance and costume ball. Music by Frank Willoughby. Saturday morning there is a buffet breakfast (small fee required) from 8:00 to 11:00 AM. There is music supplied by Jim Allison noon to 2:00. Free cocktail party from 2:00 to 3:30 (past experience tells me that there will be lots of good food). Following the cocktail party will be the flag raising ceremony. Dinner (small fee required) is at two seatings 6:00 and 7:00. Dinner is grilled steak and salad, poes, vegetables and desert. This will be followed by a dance with music by the "Legends" at 9:00. Usually Bush has a separate dance (chaperoned) for the teenagers. If you can't make it by boat, try to make it byland cruiser.
Note: For those coming by boat, the railroad bridge will be opened for boat access to the Bush River Yacht Club at: Friday night 4:10 to 4:40. Saturday's railroad bridge opening is 7:55 to 8:25 AM. These times are approximate as given to us by the railroad. Unless you have an express cruiser, you will need to go under that bridge when it is opened. Any questions please call any of your bridge officers. To get out of there the bridge will be opened Sunday morning and again Sunday night.
Our first official club cruise was over Memorial day weekend to Rolf's Wharf in Chestertown We had a good turn out in spite of the weather. The rain didn't interfere with our boating as it always seemed to wait until all boats were docked and then the rain quit for us to leave and go home. Fun was had by all. We were driven wherever we wanted to go by a white stretch limousine.
Our next cruise after Bush River is a raft out at Fairley Creek by Great Oak Landing. The choice is you can raft out or make your own reservation at Great Oak for a boat slip and that will be the weekend of June 23-24. Our June monthly meeting will be held at Great Oak either in their meeting room or on one of the boats docked at Great Oak. The time of that meeting will be 11:00 AM. on Sunday, June 24.
Dave and I are looking forward to this summer's cruises and hope you will all join in the fun. Remember, the more you participate, the more fun you have!
FROM THE VICE COMMODORE:
There is nothing new to report at this time. A separate Sunshine Report follows. I'm looking forward to boating with as many members of TOBCA as possible this year.Don and I have been having a wonderful time going to the openings and on the cruises. Memorial Day to Chestertown looked "iffy" weather wise, in the beginning, but we just hoped for the best and off we headed. It turned out that we didn't get any rain during our boat ride and the water was actually smooth. It did rain that night and all the next day, but Sunday was sunny with expected thunder showers mid-afternoon so we changed our plans of heading for Long Cove Marina and stayed an extra day at Rolf's Wharf. They could not have been nicer to us. They carted us all around in a long white limo and let us use their defunct restaurant building for our meeting on Sunday and our community dinner. Well let me tell you, the food was abundant and it was all good!! Thank you to all of you good cooks and also thank you for your help in setting up and in cleaning up afterwards.
At Bush River TOBCA is going to have their first hermit crab races of the summer. I'm bringing the hermit crabs and the race will begin after the 4:10 bridge opening when every one coming in has tied up, etc. So come and join the fun.
Also note the Bush River's YC opening is having a theme of "Halloween" so if you want to decorate your boat or dress in costume for the dance Friday night, please do so.
If anyone has any ideas of what things we can do to make the cruises more fun or interesting please tell me and we'll see what we can do. Don and I are always looking for ideas.
FROM THE REAR COMMODORE:
If you know of anyone who would like to join TOBCA, please make sure they receive an application or let me know their name and address and I will mail them one.
FROM THE FLEET CAPTAIN:
Our cruising schedule is in progress and Vera and I have been having a good time. I am looking forward to seeing all of you on the cruises. If you are not signed up for anything and would like to do so, please let me know. If you have never been on a cruise with our club, you don't know what you are missing. The best part of boating is the camaraderie of our members.
We've added a raft up to our cruise schedule. It will be at Fairley Creek by Great Oak Landing. Most folks will want to raft up, but some will want to stay at a slip in the marina. The club function is the raft up and it is being headed by Brian Toner. If you want to stay in a marina slip, call and make your own reservation. We'll all be dingying back and forth between shore and raft up. The regular monthly meeting will be on land there at Great Oak Landing.
If you haven't signed up for the cruise to Miles River Yacht Club on July 20 and 21 and are interested in going please call me so that I can make your reservation with the club. It's a beautiful club and they are reported to be gracious hosts. They are having a "crab feast" there that weekend so we need to make our plans.
Our vacation cruise is fast approaching, but I plan to have folders to hand out to those of you going on the cruise. These folders will contain helpful information to make the cruise a little easier and more fun.
By the way, the ballots are in and the winner for the theme for the Labor Day weekend party at Todd's Lot is GILLIGAN'S ISLAND. So you can start making your plans for decorating your boat or yourselves. There will various prizes awarded for best decorated boat, best costume, best skit and whatever else we can come up with. One thing for sure, we will have fun at it.
FUEL SAVING TIPS
Hopefully the tips will help save you some money.
SUNSHINE REPORT
Jack Burnley was rushed to the hospital but is now home. He had some problems from hitting his head but seems to be recovering and everything is OK at this time.
As of the last Dockline I did not have an update on Art Young. I am happy to report that he has changed doctors and this new doctor feels that surgery is not warranted and has prescribed an exercise program along with new medication. It seems to be working! We had dinner with Art not too long ago and he is much better.
Betty Todd underwent knee surgery two weeks ago. She's not scurrying around as fast as normal, but she was at the last meeting and community dinner and her knee seems to be healing nicely.
SUPPLY OFFICER:
We are currently looking into some new items for our members. We will have sweatshirts (white w/black logo) shortly for members to check out. Beach Towels, Jackets and Tee Shirts are also being looked into. If you have any suggestions on any specific items you would like to see, please let me know.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
TOBCA CLASSIFIEDS:
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