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Chesapeake Sailing ClubAnnapolis, Maryland |
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June 2010 SCUTTLEBUTTNewsletter of the Chesapeake Sailing ClubCalendar at a Glance Vice Commodore's Report 
The next land events will be the CSC picnic at Belvedere Yacht Club on August 14 and a picnic at Sailing Emporium on September 25. Details will follow later. Sailing Emporium is a beautiful marina and worth a visit to see the flowers. We look forward to our visit. Check the cruise schedule page for the Social Calendar for this year Fleet Captain's Report 
The opening cruise on May 15th was a sailors delight. The winds from the North gave up a perfect wing-on-wing sail most of the way to Thomas Point. At one point peak speed was 8.3 knots. It was wonderful, especially for the first sail of the season. We didn't want to stop. We sailed past the West River entrance then turned back to go up the South River to the Harness Creek anchorage. This was our first time at Harness Creek. What a great spot - kids in canoes, families in paddle boats and several small power boats bobbing around enjoying the perfect weather. We hosted a BYOB and snacks on Evergreen with Joe and Margie Powers, Aquavit, and Commodore Dave and Janet Ewing, Cherette. The Powers brought Crab spread, the Ewings brought Shrimp and we provided roast Chicken. Great food, beer and wine and great people make for a great time. We all have had that experience! As the sun went down most of the small power boats left. With a few boats anchored we enjoyed the evening silence and listened to the waves lapping the hull. No humidity and no bugs. On Sunday morning we departed with a great sail down the South River to Thomas Point. At the turn to go up the Bay the wind was from the north so we motored up to the Annapolis entrance buoy (AH1) to turn into Back Creek and home. We even enjoyed the motoring part of the trip. We had a little bit of everything, but especially good friends to share the good time. Because of the scrub of the Summer Cruise note that the 12 June destination is changed to Bodkins Point . The June 26 destination remains the Rhode River. Hope to see many of you there. The (Continuing) Saga of That Bird and Bay GyPSy 
Some of you might detect a trend here. That is, if you remember the tale of Glenn's trip up the mast while anchored out during last year's Fall Cruise. You might recall that he had to go up there to dispatch a big bunch of annoying limbs that were woven - very skillfully, by the way - on top of Bay GyPSy's mast. Which was where they had been put by some stupid bird before we had started the cruise, three days earlier (!). What was that bird thinking, anyway?! Well, as it turns out, That Bird was back with a vengeance. Fast forward to one day early this spring. Glenn was driving home from work one sunny April afternoon and got a call from a friend at Belevedere where Bay GyPSy lives when she's not underway. "Your bird is back". Oh, great. (We can guess where this is going, can't we?) 
What's with That Bird, anyway? I mean, it's not like there aren't a dozen other perfectly fine sailboat masts at Belevedere to choose from, and lots of others moored right across the creek. That is, if you're a weird bird who has a thing for bare poles or something. (How about a zillion trees in the neighborhood to pick from, too?) Okay, so what's a boat owner to do? Hmmm . . . I know, just go up and take all the sticks and stuff down. That'll discourage her (or him?). Yeah, right. You can guess what comes next. After taking down the beginnings of what That Stupid Bird had clearly intended to turn into a nest, it wasn't two days until It was back. With more limbs. And an attitude. It just wouldn't go away. Well, no Dumb Bird is going to beat Glenn! No, siree! And it didn't, by George. Actually, it didn't have to. He beat himself. What happened was, they came up with the great idea of running a pole up the mast on the main halyard with a burgee on top to annoy That Bird. And, for good measure, how about attaching a few shiny CDs tied with strings to the top to flutter in the wind and enhance the effect? What a great idea! Except that it wasn't. Well, some of it wasn't, anyway. While it actually did a good job of persuading That Bird to move off Bay GyPSy's mast (Richard and Leslie Payne's New Life, which is Bay GyPSy's next door neighbor, might beg to differ on that point), it had one teensy problem. As it turns out, those shiny CDs on strings wrapped themselves around the VHF antenna and then tied themselves into a great nautical knot. All the way up the mast. Higher than that, actually. And no way was that main halyard coming down, all trussed up like it was. Now, that's a problem. For instance, how does one typically go about getting up the mast in a bosun's chair? Simple. You winch up on the Main Halyard. Oh, but wait - isn't that what's stuck all the way up the mast tied to the antenna? Why, yes it is! Hmmm. What does one do now? Answer: One goes up the Spinnaker Halyard instead. Of course, that would be easier if the thing went all the way to the top of the mast. Which, on Bay GyPSy, it doesn't. So Glenn went up the mast yet again, at least as far as he could, and reached as far above him as he could and bent the VHF antenna as far down as he dared. And, after much effort, he finally wriggled the offending stick, burgee, and knotted CDs free. So happiness reigned throughout the land. Well, almost throughout. Richard and Leslie just to the north weren't so happy, since That Bird had taken up residence on New Life's mast. But, eventually, That Bird found a friendlier tree (or maybe another mast somewhere) and finally went away. And after a trip up New Life's mast to remove a whole bunch of sticks and twigs, all was finally well. At least for now. Of course, there's always next year. Webmaster and Acting Editor
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