La Belle Epoque (George/Ann Christian, Bob and Priscilla McGreevy,  and West family)

Tranquillity (Tom Orlowski. Crew: Ben Livermon (Elaine joined by land)

Wind Rush II   (Steve/Carol Butkus, and Belle)

In Concert   (Mark/Deborah D'Etcheverry, Darren Kincaid, and Claire) 

Wind Tether   (Tom Grigsby and  guests)

Frankly Speaking (Frank and Grace Brown)  

John and Becky Wandling joined by land for drinks and dinner

 

Event Summary:

 

All boats departed independently on Saturday with the 5:00 P.M. WYCC “Welcome Social” in mind.  Weather was perfect for both sailors and power boaters alike.  Clear to partly cloudy, temp mid-70’s, wind SE 5 (gusts 10-15).  The sailors, getting good wind, stayed out of the Warwick River until just prior to WYCC lighting the “drinking lamp”.  By 4:30 PM, all craft were moored for the evening.  WYCC’s Alan Dewall (with help) provided superb (and most appreciated) dockside assistance to all arriving craft and crew.   Thanks again, Alan. 

 

Around 5:00 P.M., the cruisers ventured to WYCC’s “observation deck” where we were graciously welcomed by the club’s Commodore.  Personalized welcome packages for each boat awaited us along with complimentary beer, wine, and hors d’oeuvres.  Around 7:30, we ventured to the restaurant for dinner.  We enjoyed a wonderful meal, shared laughs, and closed the evening with a joint toast to Ben and Elaine Livermon who would soon be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.  An impromptu party broke out on La Belle Époque and more laughs were shared by all.

               

    

 

Sunday’s weather offering was clear and offered beautifully flat water for the power cruises home.  The sail boaters, gathered out at the mouth of the Warwick River in anticipation of the “Pagan River Challenge”.  With little to zero wind, this was certainly going to favor the light air boats and skilled captains.   Tom Orlowski served as both the “Racing Committee” and a participating racer.  Without two fixed marks to designate the “imaginary starting line”, Tom O designated the starting line to be an imaginary line between Warwick River Day Marker #2 and his boat “Tranquillity”.  This meant that the starting line shifted between Warwick River #2 and somewhere between the Ghost Fleet and the JRB.  (Note to racers:  Need to pass the hat and purchase a “Committee Boat Anchor” for Tranquillity).  The race was shortened due to lack of wind.  First place went to  Allan DeWall (Cat Rageous). Second place went (yet again) to John Edwards (Recovery) who ventured over from Smithfield on Sunday morning.

 

 

 

As fate (and Murphy would have it), Mother Nature would offer little by way of wind until, you guessed it, docking at Gatling Pointe.  With both wind and current allied against us (10-15 knot wind and monster flood current), it was truly a “sailors’ circus” trying to get our boats safely into dock.  Although a struggle to land, everyone got in safely. The “harrowing” nature of Sunday’s landing was perfectly reflected atop Wind Rush’s starboard flag halyard……an upside down burgee announcing “Past Commodore In Distress”. 

 

 

Mark R. D'Etcheverry

Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

On behalf of the Boaters’ Club, I want to thank Wayne Willis for once again serving as cruise captain for the Blessing of the Fleet. I also want to thank the Reverend Gary Barker, Rector at Christ Episcopal Church, for blessing the fleet.

 

 

Members met at the gazebo at 3:00 p.m. and the Rev Barker gave a Memorial Day prayer for all those that have served our country with a special emphasis on those that have made the ultimate sacrifice. A second prayer was given emphasizing protecting us during the upcoming hurricane season and also protecting us during all our upcoming cruises.

 

 

 

 

 

After the prayers at the gazebo members disembarked from the dock and lined up for a parade down the Pagan River. Tom Orlowski’s boat, Tranquillity, served a platform from which Rev Barker blessed each boat that passed by during the parade.

 

On Tranquillity with the Rev Barker is Rod Geist who is serving as our historian by documenting club activities with his photographs and also maintaining the club bulletin board located at the entrance to the pier. Thank you, Rod.

 

After the parade of boats members gathered on boats and celebrated. We had a great turn out for this event and once again I want to thank Wayne Willis and Rev Barker.

 

Bruce Taylor, Commodore