May 2020

Infographic courtesy of Jenn Buckley

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2020 Flag OfficersCommodoreCathy Talisman

Vice CommodoreRoger Gilmore

Rear CommodoreJenn Buckley

SecretaryLisa Glaser

TreasurerLezlee Kramer

Assistant TreasurerMarty Southard

Fleet CaptainJames Masson

Board of DirectorsBoard Members 2019-2020

Beth BerkobeinDoug FullerRuth PetersonPatty Tishuk

Board Members 2020-2021Frank DamicoHarold SmallGary RhoadsBarb Meyer

Immediate Past CommodoreNick Southard

Windword Newsletter published monthly.Submissions deadline Wednesday following the Monthly General Meeting. Email submissions to Jen Rogers:windword@sailbcyc.org

Commodore’s CornerSubmitted by Cathy Talisman, 2020 BCYC Commodore

View this newsletter in full color online at www.sailbcyc.org

Flag Officer, Board and other BCYC member phone numbers and email addresses available to club members at www.sailbcyc.org

Boca Ciega Yacht Club & Anchorage4600 Tifton Drive South • Gulfport, FL 33711727-321-7295Mailing address for ALL payments by check:Boca Ciega Yacht ClubPO Box 530848 | St. Petersburg FL 33747

Hello everyone,

While we are confined to our home and are avoiding close contact, the club remains open to members.

If you are at the club:

Remember social distancing wherever you are, including the club and the patio.

Make sure to leave the club clean.

Make sure you turn off the lights when you leave.

Make sure to keep the doors locked, especially if you are the only one and/or the last one to leave the premises, including the tool shed.

Most important of all, the door lock combo is for the members only, do not pass it on to your friends/guests or to anybody that you do not know who ask for it. The door lock combo is on our website.

This downtime would be a great opportunity to scrub/fix/repair your boat.

At this time, we still do not know what the future is and when we can resume major activities and social gatherings.

“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions” - Albert Einstein

Hope everyone is safe and healthy.Cathy T

P.S. Due to the quarantine…I will only be telling inside jokes.

Note from the Windword Editor:

We asked you for some feedback on what you have all been doing to keep busy during this quarantine and self-isolation.

Boy, did you all deliver. We received newsletter submissions from 33 of you! (Sea Scouts news in June.)

That is by far the most I have ever seen.

You guys are the BEST! Thank you!

Jen Rogers Editor

May Birthdays

BCYC Merchandise for SaleSupport BCYC and Look Good Too!

Our display case at the club gives you a sampling of items from our ever-changing inventory. They are available for purchase at monthly club meetings and at some work days and club events.

Please email Beth Berkobein at merchandising@sailbcyc.org, and she will try to accommodate your schedule within reason.

We accept cash or checks only. Checks to be made payable to BCYC. Thank you and smooth sailing!

Are we missing your birthday? Please edit your member information in Wild Apricot.

BCYC gear goes everywhere! Send us a photo of you wearing BCYC gear on your travels and we will feature it here.

View this newsletter in full color online at www.sailbcyc.org

Michael Goodrich ....................................................May 1Laura Ratcliffe ............................................................May 1Joan Collins .................................................................May 2Lloyd Mason ...............................................................May 2Kathy Utley .................................................................May 2Gabriel Whitney ........................................................May 2Janice Carroll ..............................................................May 5Don Rogers ...............................................................May 10Gibeon Bradbury ....................................................May 11Dave Roberts ............................................................May 11

Bob Trehy ...................................................................May 12Jeri Main.....................................................................May 14Tony Angel ................................................................May 15Barbara Brennan .....................................................May 17Julie Zajdel ................................................................May 17David Gates ..............................................................May 20Paul Alberty ..............................................................May 21Rick Yoder ..................................................................May 21Valerie Ackerman ....................................................May 22Melissa McCue .........................................................May 22Jurgen Billhofer .......................................................May 23Phong Long ..............................................................May 24Bill Carroll ..................................................................May 26Carolyn McDermond .............................................May 28Tom John ...................................................................May 29

Bemasked and bemused,

Rick and Debby Smith are missing

BCYC up in Cincinnati.

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Advertising RatesBusiness Card Ad

One Month ................$15

Three Months ...........$30

Six Months ...............$50

One Year .....................$75

Quarter Page Ad

One Month ................$30

Three Months ...........$60

Six Months ............ $100

One Year .................. $150

Half Page Ad

One Month ................$45

Three Months ........ $100

Six Months ............ $150

One Year .................. $250

Full Page Ad

One Month ................$60

Three Months ........ $120

Six Months ............. $200

One Year .................. $300

Thanks to Our Photographers!The most popular part of the Windword each month is the club photos, candid and otherwise. We want to thank all of you shutterbugs out there who send us such great material. This newsletter wouldn’t be the same without you.

This month’s contributors are: Cathy Talisman, Susan McQuillan, Rick and Debby Smith, Cheri Glaser, David and Patricia Erdman, Gerard Gaudry, John Budinski, Lee Imperato, Lloyd Mason, Nina Nicholson and Dave Henshaw, Patty Tishuk, Paul and Donna Pittman, Katie and John Meyer, Phong Long and Asa Folsom, Kathy and Gary Rhoads with Pirate Mike, Jen Rogers and Gulfport photographer Wolfgang Deininger.

Thanks to you all!

BCYC Web Site Be sure to check our web site regularly to sign up for events; for What's Trending Now and calendar updates, weather and tide links, full-color Windword online, Wild Apricot membership features and more.

Free Marine Classifieds Do you have any marine related items you want to purchase, trade or sell? Take a step up from the club bulletin board. Email windword@sailbcyc.org

Submit payment to: BCYC Treasurer, PO Box 530848, St Petersburg, FL 33747 Checks made payable to: BCYC

Questions or ad specs: email advertising@sailbcyc.orgSubmit artwork (PDF preferred) to: Jennifer Rogers, windword@sailbcyc.org

www.sailbcyc.org

REMINDER: BCYC BOATUS Group Discount

BCYC's Group number is GA80544Y. When renewing, please add this to your statement to receive $15 Membership dues, plus 10% off on-the-water towing services.

FOR SALE: Mystic; 1971 Morgan 27’. Boat is in great shape for its age! Electric start outboard (Mercury 9.9). Many Sails and lots of extras included. Asking 3600.00 OBO. Will consider all reasonable offers! See Mystic in the BCYC basin, slip B22. Contact: Denis Sousa at denis.m.sousa@outlook.com or 305-900-8524 Greg Sousa at gregkeywest@gmail.com or 305-923-9183

FOR SALE: Irwin 33; Built 1975; I have owned since 1980; can sleep 4 comfortably; berths for 7 very friendly people! Complete boat, dink, TV, antennae, DVD, galley with 2 burner alcohol stove (pots, pans, plates, tow-els, even tooth brushes!). Rebuilt Atomic Four engine, life jackets, wet suit, VHF and hand-held radio, hand-held GPS, whisker pole, stainless steel charcoal grill. Asking $8,500.00. Michael Collins, cell: 813-230-0578; michaelpcollins44@gmail.com

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To avoid scheduling conflicts, please contact Secretary Lisa Glaser for calendar updates. Email: secretary@sailbcyc.org

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

June 2020

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30

Sea Scouts(every Wed 5pm)

Windword Deadline

Board Meeting 7:30 pm

General Membership Meeting 8 pm

Cruise TBD

Cruise TBD

2020 Spring/Summer PHRF Racing Series11 am

Workday 8:30 amRhumb Runner Meeting 12 pmFish & Grab 12:30Potluck Dinner 6 pm

Every Tuesday night: racing 5pm-sunset

Note: for the safety of everyone, ALL scheduled activities and club functions, inclusive of the Rhumb Runners and Sea Scouts, will be cancelled until further notice. Please check web site calendar for updates.

630 PMApril Sunset/Full Moon Sail Out

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

May 2020

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24/31 25 26 27 28 29 30

Sea Scouts(every Wed 5pm)

Windword Deadline

Board Meeting 7:30 pm

General Membership Meeting 8 pm

Cruise TBD

Cruise TBD

2020 Spring/Summer PHRF Racing Series11 am

Workday 8:30 amRhumb Runner Meeting 12 pmFish & Grab 12:30Potluck Dinner 6 pm

Every Tuesday night: racing 5pm-sunset

Note: for the safety of everyone, ALL scheduled activities and club functions, inclusive of the Rhumb Runners and Sea Scouts, will be cancelled until further notice. Please check web site calendar for updates.

630 PMApril Sunset/Full Moon Sail Out

RAFT UP/ 24th 8 am

Raft Up Dinner and Captain's Meeting 5:30 pm

9:00 AMVirtual Coffee Break5:30 PM Virtual Happy Hour

9:00 AM2020 Youth Sailing Program

9:00 AM2020 Youth Sailing Program

9:00 AM2020 Youth Sailing Program

9:00 AM2020 Youth Sailing Program

9:00 AM2020 Youth Sailing Program

9:00 AM2020 Youth Sailing Program

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Support our advertisers. Tell them you saw them in the Windword!

Seafarer Marine Supply has MOVED. Visit their new location!

Proposed By-law ChangeThe following proposed by-law change was read at the January and February General meetings, and will be voted on at the next General Meeting; Friday, May 15, or June 19, 2020, to be determined by Coronavirus (COVID-19) status.

SECTION 1.05 0 EXPULSION OF MEMBERS

(c) Any member expelled from BCYC will not be allowed to return to BCYC property, for any reason. This includes returning as an attendee, participant, or a guest of another member, for any event, public or private.

Enjoy Authentic Greek Food, Seafood &More!Indoor seating and

Outdoor Patio with a Great ViewHappy Hour 1-6pm • Early Bird 3-5:30

Full BarDaily Lunch and Dinner Specials

Open 7 Days a week5501 Shore Blvd. South, Gulfport

(727) 623-4823

www.neptunegrillgulfport.com

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Virtual Club EventsSubmitted by Jenn Buckley, Webmaster

After some trial and error, and some hilarity, we've got more Virtual Coffee Breaks and Virtual Happy Hours to help keep us in touch while in quarantine. Please make sure to check the calendar and most importantly.... REGISTER!!

We are using Zoom which is free to members to use (currently this account is hosted by the Webmaster) and it can be used on any platform - smartphone, laptop, tablet, computer, iPhone, Android, etc. There are security controls in place which means that... REGISTRATION is required! I cannot forward an invite - these events are not set up that way.

Once you REGISTER (link to register is in each event on the calendar and each registration link is for a specific event) you will receive a link for the Zoom Meeting. These links are unique for each registration and cannot be shared.

How does this work?

REGISTER for each event you wish to attend

(check the calendar, click the register link in the event to sign up. You will receive a confirmation email with a link to join - don't lose this email.)

On the day of the event, put on a clean shirt

(brush your hair, etc.)

About 10 minutes before the start time, turn on your computer and pour yourself a coffee, tea, beverage, or cocktail of choice (we're not judging!)

Click the link in your confirmation email* & log in

* Didn't receive an confirmation email? Did you REGISTER? Did you check you spam/junk email folder?

Currently Scheduled:Coffee Breaks @ 9:00 am

Wednesday April 22ndFriday April 24thMonday April 27thWednesday April 29thFriday May 1st

Happy Hours @ 5:30 pmFriday April 24thTuesday April 28thFriday May 1st

Don't forget to check Trending Now and the Online Club Calendar for new scheduled events!

Easter PrayerSubmitted by Joye Swisher, Chaplain (read at the virtual Easter brunch)

Draw us forth, God of all creation. Draw us forward and away from limited certainty into the immense world of your love. Give us the capacity to even for a moment taste the richness of the feast you give us. Give us the peace to live with uncertainty, with questions, with doubts. Help us to experience the resurrection anew with open wonder and an increasing ability

to see you in the people of Easter.

Amen.

The virtual Easter brunch

And Happy Passover, too.

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On the HardSubmitted by Debby Smith, Anchored Faith IX

Now we—and our sailboat—are on the hard for this "little" while, so we work on housekeeping and projects—usually with a smile.Cooking? Cleaning? Trapezoidal portlights need teak frames and trim! Meanwhile we wait to take that boat of ours for a peaceful "swim".

Our boat is at a St. Pete marina getting 'bottom jobbed'"— quarantine cancellations had left them feeling slightly robbed.So we took it in a full month earlier than we had planned, replacing a transducer and painting, follow a good sand.

The You Tubes of sailors keep us on a vicarious cruise; pages of Cruising World and Windword we often do peruse.While we are waiting for the gov'ners to let us move ahead, we hung an unfinished painting of our boat above our bed.

Home sweet home has benefits and comforts we are so agreed, but we lack times on the water and the sense of feeling freed.We miss BCYC friends, along with Gulfport's friendliness. COVID-19 times are stretching our patience, we do confess!

You Still Have to Smile: Submitted by John McLeod

1. Why didn’t the sick guy get the joke? It flu over his head.

2. Why don’t chefs find coronavirus jokes funny? They’re in bad taste.

3. I’ll tell you a coronavirus joke now, but you’ll have to wait two weeks to see if you got it.

4. Nail salons, hair salons, waxing center and tanning places are closed. It’s about to get ugly out there.

5. Finland just closed its borders. You know what that means. No one will be crossing the finish line.

6. What do you tell yourself when you wake up late for work and realize you have a fever? Self, I so late.

7. Did you hear the joke about the germ? Never mind, I don’t want to spread it around.

8. Where do sick boats go to get healthy? The dock!

9. What did the sick parent make their kids for lunch? Mac and sneeze.

10. I ran out of toilet paper and had to start using old newspapers. Times are rough.

11. You know what they’re saying about 2020. It went viral faster than anyone thought it would.

12. What do you call panic-buying of sausage and cheese in Germany? The wurst kase scenario.

13. Back in my day you would cough to cover up a fart. Now, with COVID-19, you fart to cover up a cough.

14. What should you do if you don’t understand a coronavirus joke? Be patient.

15. Is it just me, or is anyone else's car getting 3 weeks per gallon?

16. If Coronavirus isn’t about beer, why do I keep seeing cases of it?

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Keeping Boredom at Bay from Miles AwaySubmitted by Rick Smith, Anchored Faith IX

Staying busy during the corona virus would be an easy matter as we own a 40 year old boat and the list of projects is unending. The problem is that the boat is in Gulfport and we are in Cincinnati! Fortunately I have a boat project I have been putting off for almost two years that I can do here in Cincy.

The genesis of the project started about two years ago. Our "yacht", Anchored Faith IX (formerly Southern Lady), has had owners who have been members of BCYC for well over 20 years. Phil Goodwin owned the boat for 4 or 5 years and, before him, former club com-modores, Ruth Hicks and her recently passed husband, Tom, owned the boat.

Right after we purchased the boat the four salon windows started leaking. We knew this was an issue when we bought the boat. We dealt with the prob-lem by simply recaulking until they leaked again, then recaulking again. After a couple of years I got tired of this routine and decided to replace the windows with exterior surface mounted lexan plastic. Garth Reynolds helped with a couple of good articles he had saved. (Thanks, Garth!)

After making patterns and purchasing the plastic, I routed out the lexan windows and installed them us-ing UHB (ultra- high bonding) 2 faced tape and then caulking using Dow Corning 796. The replacement windows gave the boat a sleek, new look from the outside and a nice, dry interior.

However, as in almost all projects there is what I call the Domino Effect: One fix leads to another issue that needs to be fixed! This project was no exception!

The interior trim rings on the old windows were so brittle that they fell apart upon removal. This left a very unsightly (in the eyes of my wife) finish on the in-terior. For the last two years I have procrastinated and made up excuses as to why I did not have time to make new trim rings. Well, with the COVID-19 quarantine, I have no excuses!

I decided to fabricate the trim rings out of teak to match the interior. The following pictures chronicle the steps in making the trim rings.

Meanwhile, Debby and I look forward to life getting back to a semblance of normalcy and being able to return to Gulfport and see all our friends.

Half-Lap Joints Glued

Working on the Layout

Finished Aft Window Trim Rings

Teak Milled to Size

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ARRGH You Ready for a Party?

Saturday May 23 - Dinner and Captains' MeetingSunday May 24 - Raft-Up!

• Come dressed in your best pirate and wench costumes, or be prepared to walk the plank!

• Prizes for the best wench and the best pirate costumes• The Island Boys Steel Band will entertain us

Details coming soon…check the calendar online, and contact Trish Small to volunteer at raftup@sailbcyc.org.

Mark Your Calendars (We Hope! ) for the 2020

Pirates of Pinellas Raft-Up Party Weekend

Cost is the same as last year - $20 per person | Reservation deadline: May 10, 2020

MENU

6:00 PM Signature rum punch, beer and appetizers

7:00 PM Dinner: Caribbean pork tenderloin, grilled shrimp, salad, mixed vegetables, Caribbean rice, Hawaiian rolls and assorted desserts.

What to do During QuarantineSubmitted by Lloyd Mason

I have plenty to do during the quarantine, I’m building a 1928 Ford boattail speedster. It has a 1932 engine, 1984 Ford F-150 transmission and a 1975 Jaguar rear end. The cab is home made and the back is made out of (2) 1941 International truck hoods. I’ve come to a standstill on the painting, my painter is quarantined over in Brandon. I started out with a bare frame I found in a field in NH. All the parts are from swap meets, EBay and on line searching. One part came from Queensland Australia. While I’m waiting for the painter to be available, I’ll start wiring the lights and dashboard. I was hoping to finish it this winter, the quarantine has made some setbacks. I wanted to take it to "THE RACE OF GENTLE-MEN “ in Wildwood, NJ this fall. No cars newer then 1934. They race on the beach.

To be determined by Coronavirus (COVID-19) status.

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Cruising the BVI, ReduxSubmitted by John Budinski

Editors note: It wasn't always easy to navigate in the BVI. Until recently, getting to the beautiful island of Anegada required insider knowledge or a guide to navigate the tricky entrance. What follows is a story of what it was like in the early 80s, before GPS became commonplace. Says John, "The typical Bareboat's only navigation aid was a magnetic compass in those days, sometimes, not even a VHF radio. The only aid to navigation in the British Virgins was a single Buoy in Tortola's harbor. You used a copy of the Sailors Guide to the Virgin Islands for instructions on getting into harbors. To get to the Bitter End Yacht Club on North sound Virgin Gorda you sailed a range to a house on the beach until you could see a group of islands through a gap in the islands around the sound. Then you followed the beach until you cleared the island protecting the sound. Then you could see the anchorage. There were no mooring balls. You anchored in 50 to 90 feet of water. Calling ashore for dinner reservations, in your dreams. You dingyed in. I've spent most of my life in the good old days using the old ways but now I use my GPS." John's story…

A TALE OF TWO BOATS

Historically, they were the same but in their hearts, they were very different. They both had been praised as Boat of the Year on Lake Michigan and featured on the cover of Yachting magazine but even a casual observer, could see the difference in their heritage if placed side by side.

One caught every ones eye with its expanse of teak deck and display of shining varnish and hardware, much of it unknown to the average sailor. The other, nothing to distinguish it from the crowd. Its heritage of performance not immediately obvious, but known to the cognoscente.

The Elain May, Swan 48, 18 tons of Rolls Royce style and elegance.

Rogue, Newport 41, 15,000 pounds of minimalist struc-ture to a design by C&C Yachts. It’s all about winning.

What’s the connection? After several Bareboat charters in the Virgin Islands, we decided we wanted to go to Anegada, off limits to bareboat charters. The solution, captained charter. They can go anywhere they want and we’re not responsible for anything that goes wrong.

For Norma, there was no choice, Swan 48 with Captain and Cook. What else is there? Bankruptcy maybe? We did it anyway by taking two friends who had never sailed before. Close reaching, rail down through the Virgin Islands, Live the fantasy.

The Captain made life easy. The boat was mine to drive and he didn’t like to run the engine. Except when anchoring, it never ran. Dining was by can-

dle light with champagne, preparation by the cook who also did the dishes. She also prepared snacks morning and afternoon. Norma’s dream.

The failure, we never did get to Anegada. The Cap-tain had never been there and there were other bareboat unacceptable

things to do.

Then there was Rogue. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Our next attempt to reach Anegada was a far, far different experience. No teak deck or rudder trim tab. There was some teak trim. This boat was a sports car compared to the Swan.

BVI, continued next page>>

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BVI Redux, continued from page 11

Our Captain was a whole other animal. I sailed the boat most of the time, but he had a thing about anchor-

ing. I was glad to let him do it. We always entered harbors and anchored under sail. We left the same way. This usu-ally resulted

in major panics on the Bareboat charters anchored around us. It was definitely entertaining.

Our Captain had never been to Anegada either but he was sure he could get us there. Let the fun begin. The instructions said to sail a range on a house on the beach. I didn’t think he had the right house or that he had the range right, but it was his boat and there was a gap in the coral heads. Off we went under power this time. I was on the bow pointing to open water between the coral while he drove. Unfortunately, after a long

time picking our way, we were in a cul-de sac. There were no more open paths. We had to turn around and go back out. By then, it was too late in the day to try again. Back to the mundane anchorages.

Back to the boat. Unlike the sybaritic life on the Swan, our captain ran the engine two full hours every day. This resulted in our returning to the ice plant on Tortola every couple of days because the engine was next to the not so well insulated ice box. There were no AM or PM snacks. What we did do a lot of sailing through the forbidden zones and it was still the Virgin Islands in January. We didn’t get to To Anegada, but it wasn’t a wasted trip.

And then there was the “Captains Story”, “The Mystery of the Miss-ing Anchor” and “The Encounter at the Bitter End”.

Cocktail Hour From Bob Potter:

I am mostly a “booze on the rocks” guy, but here are a couple of mixed drinks I have grown rather fond of:

Chocolate Martini (sounds weird, but amazingly tasty…and not sweet)

2 oz regular vodka1 oz chocolate vodka1 oz vanilla vodkaA few drops of crème de cacaoAdd to an ice-filled shaker, shake, pour into chilled

Martini glass. Slurp.(Recipe courtesy Dr. Ed Hanna, St. Pete Sail and

Power Squadron)

Forgot the name…was a featured drink on a cruise ship last year. I now call it a “Quaran-tini”

1 ½ oz bourbon (what the hell, make it 2 oz) or rye¾ ounce of sweet vermouth¾ ounce of CampariPour over ice, stir, enjoy!

From Cheri Glaser:

The Quarantini - helps with stir-craziness1-2 shots of gin .5 (1/2) shot of St. GermaineRuby red grapefruit

juiceMix together with

ice, strain into tini glass

Garnish with a fresh basil leaf, crushed

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Recovering HideAwaySubmitted by Matt Maloy

The proper way to bring in the first day of the new New Year is a morning sail on the HideAway. After a perfect launch sequence New Year’s Eve we tied off on a finger pier and went to join the party. Of course, we stayed for the World Famous Cooler Drop, a celebratory plastic flute of champagne, and we danced a jig or two before retiring early aboard the HideAway.

The first morning of the new decade brought sunny skies and light air. More of a float than a sail, but then, after exceeding a sailor’s allowed time ashore, we were happy to be aboard.

Recovery Was a Different Story

Overconfident perhaps, I don't know–but somehow, backing down the ramp, I jacked the trailer away from the dock. Somehow, Linda didn't see it. Somehow, the keel missed the keel board. Landing between the trailer bunk supports, it heeled the boat over: Way over. Towards the dock. Somehow, I got too far down the bumpy ramp and put the rear truck wheels in the water up to the bumper. Bob Calvillo saw our predica-ment and came running to help. He saved more than the day!

More recently, we had non-sailor guests aboard for a sail on Boca Ciega Bay. We went over the usual safety list. We explained that because HideAway is a small boat, everybody is a crew member and that whomever is on the tiller is the Captain. The NWS confirmed the wind that day was 14-18 kn gusting to 23 kn. Because of this, I explained that Linda and I may need to talk very loudly and that all commands must be repeated. Since neither had sailing experience, I quietly men-tioned the boat will heel about 25 degrees, but will not tip over, and that they may feel some spray, and the wind in the rigging may scream. No worries!

Sailing with Wide Eyes

Usually the higher wind is on the West side of the bay, nearer to the Gulf of Mexico. On this day the high velocity wind was on the East side. That meant our never-been-on-a-sailboat guests, now promoted to crew, would have to learn early and fast on our cruise to nowhere. It was robust, wide-eyed sailing to the lighter winds on the West end of the bay.

Never heard of Wide Eye Sailing? Well, it’s a HideAway thing. If we have new crew aboard the Captain and the First Mate watch their eyes. The wider the crew’s

eyes become the more conservative the sailing must be. It’s time to come in if their eyes get really wide, or if the wind in the rigging is not the source of the screaming.

Returning to the same pier, Mr. E, our ever hardy 28 year old outboard, coughed, then ceased to function as we tied up. The new Crew had fairly wide eyes, and the Old Crew were fairly worn out, so we decided to let the HideAway rest overnight.

Now the Fun Begins

Hoping for calmer winds, Linda and I returned the next day to recover the boat. Mr. E ran for almost 10 sec-onds, decided he’d had enough, and quit. Usually, I can persuade him to start, but not this time. In order to get back to the ramp we had to turn the boat 180 degrees through the 20-25 kn wind and then attempt sail to the ramp under bare poles. It’s not the sailing that's hard–It’s the concrete boat ramp that’s the worry.

Richard "Capt. Sandbar" Walters came over from his boat. It took the three of us to combat the wind, how-ever, we were successful in phase one of the project. To gain better steerage I raised HideAway's kick up rudder slightly and shoved off. Under no sail we gained more speed than necessary or comfortable. I fish tailed the rudder and held it askew to slow down. Steve Honour and Richard were at the dock ramp to insure the fiber-glass kept the proper social distance from the concrete.

The boat safely tied to the boat ramp dock; now all that we needed to do was put it on the trailer. I brought the trailer around and started to back down the ramp, how-ever, by then the wind had blown HideAway's stern far away from the dock. Aha! This time I had the new trailer guides! (See the video on Sailing HideAway youtube channel).

Under normal conditions the trailer guide would be the fulcrum to lever the stern in. The wind, blowing well into the 20s, over powered both Linda and my efforts to cen-ter the boat. Raising the white flag of surrender, I began to pull the empty trailer out when Ed Mitchell and Steve saw our plight from the club house and came to help. Between the three of them they were able to hold the boat straight and the recovery was successful. The rest, as it has been said, is history.

We want to take this opportunity to thank our rescue crews. Bob Calvillo, Richard Walters, Steve, Ed Mitchell and Steve Honour. We don’t like to think about what could have happened had it not been for their help!

It looks like the writing is on the wall for the HideAway–Now all we need is an eraser.

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An Evening Cruise Under the Sunshine Skyway BridgeSubmitted by Cathy Talisman

On March 29, we took The Rachel out of its slip late afternoon for a Sunset and watch the Sunshine Skyway at night. We passed under Structure E at 6:30 pm and motored our way to the bridge and down the ditch. Perfect weather, perfect temperature. We arrived at the opening of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge at Sunset.

Gradually, the lights on the bridge became brighter and brighter. What a site! We always wanted to go under the bridge at night and finally made it. Wow, those lighted pilings were incredible on either side of the bridge.

I said to Guy, luckily there were no freighters crossing when we did it. As soon as I said that, we look back and saw a freighter aiming for Terra Ceia. We were lucky. I do not know if it would have seen us with our few naviga-tion lights competing with the lighted bridge.

We sailed to South St Petersburg and then took the chan-nel back home. Came back at the dock around 11:00 pm.

What a great night! We plan to have an evening club cruise to the bridge with the cruising chair in the near future.

Landscape & Grounds - Looking for Daisies Submitted by Matt Maloy

In a matter of short moments, Linda and I have gone from the Age of Aquarius to the Age of Quarantine. We haven’t been allowed to venture past our mail box in a good long while. So if you happen to be at the club, please take a moment to look at the plants and water the droopy and/or potted ones. If you find something that looks like a weed, but you’re not sure, hear the words of wisdom – Let it be.

I pulled up some “weeds” with white petals and yellow centers only to be informed they were a special type of Daisy that Linda has been trying to cultivate. I am amazed at all the wildlife in our backyard jungle, especially late at night. Linda promised me that next week she’ll let me move into the garage.

Yes, she did…I hope.

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David and Nina’s First Big AdventureSubmitted by Nina Nicholson

Even though we had this trip planned for months, it turned out to be a great time to use the boat for social distancing. We had this idea of how fun it would be to sail down to Cayo Costa on our first big trip. However

the winds did not want to cooperate. We tried sailing the first day with south winds. Finally gave up, as cats don’t do great on a close hauled plus 2-3 ft waves were annoying. We stayed the night at Longboat Key. See-ing that it was going to be the same the next day we motored to Venice through the ICW. Nice ride.

We finally arrived in Cayo Costa which was a pretty anchorage. We tried to dinghy over one day to walk on the beach but Fish and Wildlife ran us off. We did try to go through the tunnel of love. We had to paddle because of hidden logs plus it was my (Nina’s) weapon to break all of the spider webs. Never sit in the front.

The next day we went into Manatee Lagoon and were happy to see at least ten mana-tees. One little guy decided

our boat was something to investigate. We kept trying to row away but he kept following us and sticking his nose up right next to the boat.

We were able to order take out from Cabbage Key restaurant. The Mahi Mahi sandwiches were delicious and we got ice! We also found that we could walk around another island with no prob-lems.

I would have gone swimming but after reading an article in Multihull magazine where someone saw an 8ft alligator swimming in the cove there, I decided no. Plus I was disappointed in the clarity of the water there. Longboat had beautiful clear water.

So after almost two weeks, we were ready to head home. So excited to now head home with those south winds and flying the spinnaker. As soon as we started checking the winds, you guessed it. They had turn northeasterly but we were able to go close hauled up to 7.8 knots. We made it home and were very happy with the performance of Two Too Tango!

15

So…What have we been doing?

Painting, gardening and making orchid pots Cheri Glaser

The quarantine seems to be a chance to do those little projects on my boat that have been beckoning me for awhile and they all involve VARNISH.

Patricia spotted some dolphins coming to visit.

David and Patricia Erdman

Fun with Face Masks, a new engine for Sanity Clause, and yard work yard work yard work (new fence, raised garden and weeding mulching weeding) Don and Jen Rogers

Gary & Carolyn Herr March 22 sail.

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Mia is practicing her knotsSubmitted by Lee Imperato

There! That's purrfect.

Now give me a treat.

Sailing with a helicopter escort

Gerard and Patricia Gaudry

Donna and Paul Pittman’s style of social distancing at The Great Outdoors, Titusville, FL. Started as a ten-day trip in March but here until the end of May.

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March & April adventures…we are having no problem with this social distancing:)

March 16 - hiked Boyd Hill Nature Preserve March 21- enjoyed afternoon @ BCYC sailingMarch 22 - kayaked @ Clam Bayou Nature Preserve March 24 - hiked Sawgrass LakeMarch 30 - hiked Wheedon island PreserveApril 3 - went to Botanical GardensApril 5 - kayaked Treasure island.April 11 - hiked Lake Chautauqua ParkApril 15- biked around Gulfport April 17- biked downtown St. PetersburgApril 19- hiked Robinson PreserveApril 21- enjoyed a picnic at BCYC with MiaWe use the AllTrails app.

John & Katie Meyer

Enjoying nearby St Petersburg parks Patty Tishuk

Having a great time at virtual happy hours and coffee breaks - thanks to Jenn Buckley

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A Grenadine Honeymoon, in 4 ActsStarring Kathy Rhoads, Gary Rhoads, and Pirate Mike

Act I = ASA 106Act II = Bequia Beach ResortAct III = 3 Pirates of AndatoAct IV = Bequia / Land Based

Act I - ASA 106

After connecting through Barbados and having our temperatures checked, we boarded our Liat flight to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. If any of you have flown Liat, you know what a treat this was! Our first few days were spent hiking the LaSoufierre volcano and bask-ing in remote waterfalls after hair-raising hours of back road driving (on the wrong side of the road of course). Evenings were spent dining out and taking hundreds of pictures of exquisite sunsets.

Sunday brought the start of our ASA 106 course. The boat we were supposed to be on for the week experi-enced issues and had to be replaced by an almost new Lagoon 380 catamaran, Isophil. What a hardship! As the newlyweds, we were given the “owners accommo-dations”, one entire pontoon to ourselves. Since they switched us to a catamaran, we were also able to add ASA 114 for no additional charge. Our crewmate on board, Mike Riley, was enjoyable to be around and our captain, Rob McLean, was the perfect combination of knowledgeable, laid back and fun loving. He, unlike the Maryland School instructors we have had in the past, wanted our sail to be fun as well as informative. We knew he had loads of patience when it took Kathy 10 minutes to raise the main halyard on her own; instead of cursing and yelling for Gary or Mike to grind the winch, he simply rolled his eyes and said, “Well, she’s persistent”!

As part of the course, we sailed South from Blue Lagoon on the main island to Bequia, the next island down. We anchored in Lower Bay and dinghied to a delicious meal at Jack’s on the Beach. Yes, everything was still open at this point and fairly normal. With temperatures in the 80’s and nights in the low 70’s with strong winds, we were all comfortable and having fun sailing. Gary at this point was worried that the ease and comfort of the catamaran (Kathy really loved NOT heeling :-)) might foil all of his plans to keep Seafari! Isophil had a proper refrigerator, a galley that opened up to the cockpit, a queen bed, and storage in actual drawers! Kathy was duly impressed.

Over the next several days we traveled to Canouan (great snorkeling near the rocks on the North side of Chareston Bay), Mayreau, Tabago Cays (a must for every sailors bucket list), Petite St. Vincent, and back to the new upscale marina in Friendship Bay, Canouan (don’t miss Scruffy’s Restaurant). Fortified by a hot shower at the swanky marina, we embarked on our night sail as part of the requirements for ASA 106. The winds were 18 - 20 knots with 25 kt gusts, seas 6 - 8 ‘, and a new moon. Gary was in his element! Kathy also felt secure enough by the large freeboard and lack of heeling to enjoy the night sail. Seeing the Southern Cross for the first time was just an added bonus!

It was the next day when we all realized that events in the “real world” might affect us too. Rob booked the last Air Canada flight back to Toronto. Gary, Kathy and Mike all considered what was to come. We had to cancel our trip to Barbados, as we would be put into forced quarantine, which ultimately impacted our ability to get back home as we were to fly straight from Barbados to FL. The owner of Barefoot charters stepped up and said that he would rent us a boat for a month and we could see if we could get back home after that. Mike Riley, aka Pirate Mike, Kathy and Gary decided to take this route and “shelter in place” on a boat (after our trip to the Bequia Beach Resort). St. Vincent and the Grenadines at the time had zero cases and Gary found he could work from here as his office was closed back in Tampa any-way. The final sail back to Blue Lagoon was uneventful and we all said our tentative goodbyes.

ACT II - Bequia Beach Resort

After passing the written and practical exam for 106 and 118, this half of the honeymoon was supposed to be the “kick back and relax” part of the trip. Reality has a way of intruding on the best of times though.

Honeymoon, continued page 25>>

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Endurance Book Review from the BCYC Library submitted by Steve Honour

“The order to abandon ship was given at 5PM. For most of the men, however, no order was needed because by then everybody knew that the ship was done and that it was time to give up trying to save her. …Walter How and William Bakewell were lying in their bunks… nearly ex-hausted from three days at the pumps, yet unable to sleep because of the sound she was making.

She was being crushed. …The pressure of ten million tons of ice was driving against her sides. And dying as she was, she cried in agony. Her frames and timbers, many almost a foot thick, screamed as the pressure mounted. And when they could no longer stand the strain, they broke with a report that sounded like artillery fire. …

Her sides were 2 feet thick and bowed inward 6 inches under the pressure. Simultaneously, the steel floor plates jammed together, screeching where their edges met, then buckling up and suddenly overriding one another with a sharp metallic report. …

Whenever the pressure ceased for a moment, there was the sound of water running forward and filling up the hold. … The temperature was 8 degrees below zero.”

So begins Endurance, the 1959 book by Alfred Lansing about the ship Ernest Shackleton sailed to Antarctica in a failed attempt to cross the continent. After the excitement of the shipwreck, we are taken back to how Shackleton came to make this trip.

You may have seen the Nova documentary on Shackle-ton’s journey. As with most movies, as amazing as the film was, it doesn’t begin to tell the whole story. Lan-sing was able to piece it all together using the crew's diaries.

Shackleton had been to Antarctica twice before, first in 1901 as an officer aboard Discovery, in an exploratory attempt toward the South Pole. It went badly for Shack-leton and he developed a strong determination to try again. Shackleton was removed from the expedition under medical pretenses, but the suspected real reason was that he was more popular with the crew than the captain. He returned in 1907 as Captain of the Nimrod, and got much closer to the South Pole, but was again forced to turn back.

He was knighted upon his return, and vowed to suc-ceed in another attempt in 1915, where the story begins. Shackleton raised funds and donors for the trip

by giving speeches. But the world was slipping into war at the time, so the trip was underfunded. He had made promises to deliver results to several financial backers; he was under pressure to follow through no matter what. World War I broke out just as he was preparing to leave, and he offered his ship and crew to Churchill for the war effort, but was told to proceed with the planned expedition.

The expedition actually included two ships. Aurora was to sail to the opposite shore of Antarctica, go ashore, and leave food deposits along the way so that when Shackleton’s party reached the pole, they would be able to make it out alive. They accomplished this mission, but lost several members of the crew.

The last stop before heading into Antarctic waters was South Georgia Island to await a weather window. There, he was told that it was a very bad year for ice conditions and was advised by whalers not to make the attempt. But he left anyway because of money and time constraints. After they were at sea for a few days a stowaway was discovered, which made Shackleton furious. Finally, he told the stowaway that he would be accepted as a member of the crew, but that if it came down to no food and cannibalism, the stowaway would be the first to be eaten.

Once there, the ship became trapped in the ice as planned. The ship was notorious in her strength and said to be the strongest every built. The hull was ex-tremely thick, and the frames were doubled. They had stores to last for years, and Shackleton was a popular leader who brought out the best in men. Spirits re-mained high, even though they had to winter over in the total polar darkness.

Spring caused some melting and they fought to free the ship. But they were unable to get free of the ice into open water and she quickly frozen back in again. So they abandoned ship and set up camp on the ice, removing tons of food and supplies. Most personal items were left behind because they had so much es-sential gear they couldn’t transport any more. A banjo was included, as it was considered essential for morale. Progress was slow across the ice because of the walls of ice between the floes. They realized the ice was drift-ing faster than they could move with all their gear and boats, so they reluctantly gave up and waited for the movement of the ice to either carry them out or for conditions to change.

After most of the stored food ran out, they lived on seals. They used seal blubber for cooking and melting

20

ice into drinking water, but the soot covered every-thing. Having no way to clean it, they gave up and were all eventually blackened by it. Hunting for seals turned into a favorite past time. They used the dogs to quickly haul the seal carcasses back to camp for butchering before they became frozen. One time a giant dark figure came suddenly up out of a hole and charged at one of the terrified men who screamed, but was unable to outrun the monster. Another was ready with a rifle and shot it. It turned out to be a sea leopard. The creature had about 40 whole fish in its stomach, which were all carefully cleaned and dried for consumption. A dedicated watch was then set up to ensure that no man was caught by a sea leopard, who are quick and would attack without warning.

Because the conditions were so hard, some of the crew argued that they no longer had to take orders from Shackleton as the ship was gone and he was captain of nothing. But the folly of it was soon realized and they all knew they were better off in one group than break-ing up.

The banjo player only knew so many songs, and after they had heard them all over and over, the spiriting effect of the music wore off. They also tired of all the stories and jokes after everyone had heard them all. (Reminds me of some modern PHRF racing boats I’ve been on…) Boredom was a huge problem, but they really had no other choice but to keep trying, keep enduring.

The ice (luckily) carried them north. The further they went, the more treacherous the ice became. It was breaking up slowly and they knew that one day they would have to take to the boats. Sleeping bags were laid on the ice, which made them all miserable and damp. They were cold and wet all the time. How they relieved themselves was not discussed much, but it was mentioned that there was no toilet paper. The chore was to go off a ways for privacy, and snow was used instead of TP. Makes me shiver just to think of it!

Finally after 6 months, the ice broke up rather suddenly one night. They scrambled to get everything and ev-eryone into the boats, and some men who fell into the freezing water were rescued. They had about 60 miles to sail to land, but the boats were not well suited for carrying all the men and supplies. At first, they could not escape the ice floes to get to open water. They spent the first sleepless night in the boats taking turns fending off the ice.

When they got to open water, a storm came in the night and the 3 small boats became separated. It was every crew for itself, bailing and sailing in the freez-ing spray. By sheer chance they managed to land on Elephant Island and rejoiced when all the boats found the same spot. But they would have to leave. It was a small beach near some cliffs, and the monthly high tide would put the entire beach underwater. One of the boats was sent on an exploratory mission the next day and found a more suitable location and the whole party moved there.

Shackleton quickly prepared and set out on his fa-mous 800 mile small boat passage to South Georgia Island for rescue. The rest of the crew, 22 men, set up camp and tried to carve a room into the ice of a glacier, but gave it up as it would not be safe. So they overturned the other two boats to create a hut. They packed rocks and sea grass under the sides to enclose the makeshift shelter. The floor was wet sand and rocks. It never dried, and the sand remained soupy. It was a spot where birds had roosted and it all smelled of guano. They were able to get the floor somewhat drier with a small sump at the lower end. They had to bail the sump regularly every few hours day and night. A few men had frostbite and were unable to walk. They were tended to by the others. A flagpole was set up on a hill for signaling, and every able man made it a point to visit the lookout every day to scan the horizon, but they all knew that no ships normally came by. If Shackleton didn’t make it to South Geor-gia Island, they would have no choice but to attempt another treacherous open boat crossing.

The boat Shackleton took to South Georgia was modi-fied by using salvaged wood from the Endurance , with a small opening aft for the crew to navigate. The gunnels had been raised to afford more freeboard, and the decking was sealed with canvas the best they could, but she leaked right through the seams. Steer-ing was accomplished by means of 2 ropes attached to a steering arm on the rudder. She had no keel or centerboard, merely the keelson she was built around. She could barely make any progress to windward, but was able to reach.

Knowing the infamous Drake passage was the most treacherous in the world, she was ballasted with rocks. A sandbar in front of the launch point made it impos-sible to launch the fully loaded and ballasted boat so she was first launched and held off shore. Several trips ferried stone and drinking water to her.

Endurance, continued next page>>

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The passage was treacherous. Freezing conditions caused a buildup of ice from spray, and there were no lifelines or safety gear. Oars had been lashed alongside the deck, but they had to be jettisoned because they were loading up with so much ice the boat. Sleeping was impossible due to the rough conditions. They decided to dedicate 3 of the sleeping bags as cushions, and share the other 3 bags, taking turns between the 6 crew. The sleeping bags were made of reindeer skins, which soon began to rot. The smell down below was revolting, and wet reindeer fur got into everything.

Navigation was by sextant and chronometer. They only had one chronometer, which meant the chances of actually finding South Georgia Island were no better than 50/50, but they had no other choice than to try. A storm came up with gusts over 50, so they put out a sea anchor to ride it out. It was a chore just to keep the deck free of ice for fear of becoming to top heavy and capsizing. The rode to the sea anchor became a large ball of ice they were unable to reach.

Pitch blackness of the stormy freezing night made the work treacherous. If they were not chipping ice they had to take turns on the bilge pump, which constantly clogged with reindeer fur. The seas slammed into the bow so hard that water sprayed in through the bow seams. All at once the pounding stopped and they went sideways in the sea. The sea anchor had been carried away. They had no choice but to try to sail on through waves that were the largest Shackleton had ever seen.

The passage lasted 2 weeks. Out of drinking water, they sighted South Georgia Island, but were unable to make it to windward enough to get around the tip. They were unable to find a suitable landing place before dark so they had to stand off for another night. Another mas-sive storm rolled in and they tacked back out to sea, hoping to reach back and forth to hold position until dawn. It blew over 50 kts that night. When morning finally arrived they were out of sight of land. They sailed back to where they thought South Georgia Island was and luckily found it again. They spotted a possible land-ing area and made for it, but the cruel wind was not done with them yet. The storm passed and left them with no wind, but the miserable leftover slop of big waves that would not settle. They were unable to fetch the landing and darkness fell once again.

Strong winds came up that night and they came very

close to crashing into rocks. They needed to get to windward to escape, but the boat just wouldn’t do it. It was too windy to tack, and jibing was out of the ques-tion. They sailed on, hoping for a miracle. Just before they got to the rocks, a back eddy current carried them to windward and they got clear. (Whew!)

They landed the next day, found fresh water and made camp. But they were unable to pull the boat of the water with all the ballast rocks. The sea kept pounding the boat into the rocks on the beach and the rudder was ripped off. The next day they unloaded the ballast and removed the decking to lighten the boat enough to haul it out and repair the rudder.

That was when Shackleton made the decision to cross South Georgia Island on foot. The place they had land-ed was too far for the foot journey so they launched again and sailed down the coast. That day, the weather was beautiful and balmy. The sailing was very pleasant, and they mused that they could have just as easily been out for a pleasure day sail. The move took only a few hours but put them miles closer to their destination. 3 men were left with the boat as Shackleton and 2 others set out to cross the mountainous island, something which had never been done. They had no maps.

The trip across the island was difficult and several dead ends caused them to turn around and retrace to look for another way. At one point they found themselves on a glacier and they felt was taking them down to a large lake, which would be easy to cross. But they realized that no glaciers on Earth flow into lakes, and they had crossed the island but ended up miles down the coast. Sheer cliffs prevented them from following the shore, so they had to climb the glacier again and find another way.

The scene in the Nova documentary where they give up trying to walk downhill and decided to slide on their butts was true. Night was falling and they were at too high an altitude for the clothing they wore. If they did not get downhill fast, they risked freezing to death that night. It worked, but they still had a long way to go after sliding. The other scene where they hear the whistle from the whaling station is also true. They knew that the whistle was sounded at 0630 to wake up the whaling town, and again at 0700 for everyone to report to work. They watched the single chronom-eter which had been faithfully kept wound all these months and counted down the seconds to 0700, afraid to breathe or make a sound that they might miss it. The

Endurance, continued from page 21

22

horn was heard and time matched perfectly. But the final descent to town had to be made right through a waterfall. No other way presented itself. They were all drenched in freezing water one more time.

They caused quite a stir when they made It to town. Jaws dropped as they approached, looking like cave-men with long hair, beards, black faces and disheveled clothing. Strangers had never approached on foot from the mountains. The three crew on the other side of the island were rescued the next day. It took several attempts to rescue the 22 others from Elephant Island. They were there for 4.5 months, worried that the expe-dition boat had been lost. When the men on Elephant Island finally saw a vessel, they hurriedly attempted to run a flag up the makeshift flagpole but the halyard jammed halfway up. Shackleton took the half staff sig-nal as a message that some had perished. He was quite relieved when it was learned that all had survived.

I immensely enjoyed reading this book. The BCYC library is great. This and many other great selections are avail-able for your pleasure. I also liked the Patrick O’Brian series (several volumes available,) which is the basis of the movie ‘Master and Commander.’ I mentioned to Jenn Buckley how much I enjoyed Endurance and she was amused. It turns out she and Tom both also read it and found it so pleasurable that they knew it would be a fine addition to the BCYC library. We have them to thank. They donated it in the first place! Thanks Jenn. What a great group of people we have in BCYC. Whether we can gather or not, we know how to have fun. BCYC itself is a tale of great Endurance.

Editor's Note: "Endurance" is also available from the Pinel-las County Library System (once it reopens) or can be pur-chased at Amazon or other online book sellers. Also watch "Shackleton's Captain" on Amazon Prime video.

Quarantine ProjectsSubmitted by Cruisin' Susan McQuillan

Since we have been under mandatory quarantine, no sitting around adding to our waistline for this couple! John and I have been busy completing many projects that have been on the back burner, some on that back burner for a long time…like our back yard. Since the gym was closed, I took axe, saw and cutters in hand and went to work in our back yard. When we moved in over 4 years ago, the back yard was so overgrown, it was ridiculous. Property management should have had all that cleared out, but they did not. So little by little, I made my way to clearing it all out. Then it sat like that for the next several years until recently. Now it is really nice and we enjoy sitting in the back yard for a change.

John has been busy on our boat, Journey, sanding and prepping the deck for paint, which was way overdue for some TLC. Once prepped and ready for paint, we slapped on some paint and non-skid and she looks great…at least from 10ft away…lol. Bow sprit, still under construction.

I have been getting good use of my Sailrite

machine, making Sunbrella covers for the windows and doors. I even made a life sling cover which was a lot of work, but came out looking great! We got new seats for the fly bridge as well. She is really looking great and is ready for the next club cruise, which we are all waiting for and hopefully will be soon.

We have been enjoying keeping in touch with each other on the virtual happy hours a couple times a week. Zoom seems to work out pretty well…a few glitches, but Jenn Buckley is quick to figure out the issue. A big thank you, Jenn, for setting these up! It’s been great occasionally keeping up with Gary and Kathy Rhoads and Phong and Asa, as well. It has also been great seeing other members getting their boats out of their slips, out walk-ing or riding their bikes as we cruise thru Gulfport on our golf cart, and filming our creative neighbors, Uni Steph and Ali Hippo, as they entertain Gulfport.

Hopefully this quarantine will end soon and we can get back to our club activities and normal living. It surely has been a long strange trip we have all been on. Stay safe, stay healthy and until we see each other again.

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Greetings from Boot KeyWe hope that everyone is in good health and finding a way through yet another challenge life has thrown our way.

While we've been sequestered on our own floating island in the sun, we've had some time to observe and reflect a bit in hopes of uncovering a silver lining. One of those thoughts is that despite our desire for a return to how things were and our best laid plans, we recognize that any return to normal should include the lessons learned - easy or difficult. Throughout this pandemic, we've witnessed folks' fears and anxieties coming into direct conflict with a need for reassurances that everything will be ok in the end.

Another thing we've discovered is that we need each other more than we're aware - small talk and happen-stance interactions we have with each other are really important. Meaningless greetings and small polite exchanges add up over time and influence how we perceive our respective communities. Hello. How're you doing? How's the weather? How's your grandson do-ing? Did you hear about the news last week? Can you believe what he did after she said that? I know, right? What have you got going today? Sounds great, see you later!

Small bits of human contact when we greet each other - shaking hands and exchanging hugs - they all seem to be so much more important now.

Quirks of ourselves - some of us put things off until the last minute; while some of us try to make the most out of every trip - are being challenged because the sup-port system for it is now either gone or in the process of finding alternative ways.

In the interim, while we all figure out new patterns to continue to communicate, interact, relate, and go about our day - Phong would like to note that this is nothing new. As he was growing up, the idea of what ideals tomorrow can bring has always been a big part of the American experience. The World's Fair, Trade Shows, Television Shows (for Phong, it was a show called "Beyond 2000"), Videos on Youtube - examples of rising to meet challenges having always been a part of what makes us, us.

And we believe that something like COVID-19, while disruptive and alarming, isn't too unlike any other challenge we've been able to overcome not just in our personal lives but as a community.

With that in mind, we've decided to keep forging on in the best way we know how. We've been doing every-thing we can to support the community that's taken us in here in Boot Key by helping our neighbors; grow-ing veggies aboard and showing others how to do the same; and participating in night nets coordinated by the community's leaders.

* Helping our neighbors: We’re fortunate enough not to fall within the CDC’s guidelines of individuals at greater risk for suffering complications due to COVID-19 - so we’re doing our best to help those in the mooring field and managed anchorage who have decided to shelter in place on their boats. Phong has been working with a couple other boats in coordinating grocery shop-ping and dinghy delivery services to help them do that. Asa has been sewing washable cloth masks for folks as masks are in short supply and generally unavailable to folks who need them.

* Growing hydroponic gardens: Using a simple hydroponic technique we learned years ago called the Kratky method, we’ve grown a variety of herbs, lettuces, edible wildflowers - even wheatgrass and cat-nip for our chief rodent control officer, Ryo-Ohki. We’ve found the act of caring for our plants to be soothing and a welcome respite from the current life’s travails. Along with having something green and pretty aboard to look at, our little floating victory garden allows us to go longer in between trips to the grocery store. We've shared that knowledge with a few other boats as well and we've been delighted to see their daily progress and tiny boat gardens.

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The Bequia Beach Resort has to be one of the most re-laxing places on earth! Set on the beach on Friendship Bay, Bequia, the resort was built to resemble the British West Indies style of architecture. Sweeping arches, in-tricate teak woodwork, manicured grounds, turquoise pools, tiki huts on the beach, spas, outdoor restaurants and bars; the amenities go on and on… We had a hon-eymoon suite, beachfront, with a netted bamboo bed, club chairs, and large patio. Continental breakfast, rum punch under our tiki on the beach and moonlit dinners made these four days some of the most magical (and pampered) in our lives. The decision on whether to stay or go home, how to get Gary’s work computer shipped, and how to provision for our upcoming boat charter was distracting, but did not overwhelm our enjoyment of our resort stay. Sadly though, the 4 days ended and we were thrown back into our altered reality…

* Night nets: We mentioned in our last article in Wind-word that our daily net controllers had organized discussions on topics of interest to our community at 7 PM on VHF channel 69. Recently we’ve had incredibly informative talks about the best local dive and snorkel spots, what type of edible fish can be found in and around the harbor, and general diesel engine main-tenance. A few movie and music buffs hosted trivia nights for a fun break. Now that we’re all pros at using Zoom, we encourage you guys to share your immense collective knowledge and experiences - we’re sure you’ll learn something new and probably have a few laughs in the process.

On that note, we really enjoyed talking with those of you who signed in to the Easter virtual brunch via Zoom and thank you for putting these together!

Simply put, we would not be living aboard our tiny

Honeymoon, continued from page 19

Stay tuned for next month’s Acts… starting with The 3 Pirates of Andato.

piece of paradise riding out this virus without the help of all of our surrogate boat par-ents at BCYC. It was great to reconnect with you all and we look forward to future virtual coffee breaks and happy hours from remote places while wet, miserable, and at great expense.

Putting together two pieces of advice we've gotten from the communities of BCYC and Boot Key Harbor that helps us get through the day: things will be the most difficult and stressful at the be-ginning and at the end; things will work out in the end - and if things haven't worked out, it's not the end.

Phong & Asa

25

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Are You Looking for Better Insurance Rates & Good Service?

Call Linda MaloyLicensed Insurance AgentBCYC member since 1996Ph: 727-498-2154Fax: 727-391-1204Email: lmaloy@hartselleins.com

Hartselle Insurance8200 113th St. Ste 201Seminole, FL 33772

• Experienced Team• Reliability• Choice• Friendly• Auto• Home• Flood• Umbrella• Business• Condo Associations

Masthead Sailing GearMasthead Sailing GearMasthead Sailing Gear 727-327-5361

4500 28th St. N., St. Petersburg

Visit our new 12,000sf store & sail loft.

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Karen WackerRealtor

Adamo & Associates

Thinking about buying, selling or investing?

Call Karen today at 716-622-5429 or email kwackerflrealestate@gmail.com

FREE Home Warranty when buying or selling with me!

BCYC member

27

Tifton Drive S.

Map Courtesy of Mike McGrail, Anchors Away Graphics

Boca Ciega Yacht Club & Anchorage4600 Tifton Drive SouthGulfport, FL 33711727-321-7295www.sailbcyc.org

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PAIDST. PETERSBURG, FL

PERMIT NO 323

Diane Benedtti & Mixer O'Keefe's Seagal glides peacefully under a Gulfport full moon. Photo courtesy of Gulfport photographer Wolfgang Deininger.