Chesapeake Sailing Club

October 2007

SCUTTLEBUTT

Newsletter of the Chesapeake Sailing Club

A Tribute to CSC Member Gordon Palmer

As you probably know a valued member of the CSC family has passed away.

Gordon Palmer was someone very special - he was a man who made his friends feel fantastic. It began with the big smile he had on his face when he greeted you. The good feelings would build with Gordon's enthusiastic interest in your latest adventures. Talking to Gordon was always a treat.

Of course, he was a man who savored adventure in his own life. He had a unique ability to be fully engaged in life, and truly enjoyed his time on his boat and his bike. He always seemed to have a story to share about a terrific time he'd had while he was out exploring the world.

Thank you Gordon for being our friend. You brightened our days and our hearts. We'll miss you and your abundant energy. And to Jo Ann, we extend our deepest sympathy.

Tom Muha
Commodore

As many of you also know, Gordon was also a member of the Hunter Club. As will all CSC members they too will miss Gordon. Here is what they say.

Hunter Club Eulogy of Gordon

It is with deepest sadness that I have to report the demise of Gordon Palmer, life member of NSHSA and captain of the Windependent today, 10/9/07. To those of you who may not as yet have known Gordon well, permit me a bit of history. To those of you who did, let's fondly remember.

Gordon, and his beloved Jo Ann, were among the first of the group to start NSHSA and to nurture it through its infancy. For a decade or more Gordon was unanimously elected and reelected as Sail Fleet Captain. There are a few among us, perhaps more than a few, who consider ourselves above-average sailors; yet not one of us wouldn't sit at the feet of this great man to learn how to really sail.

We call our annual race championship the "Clean Your Clock" race. No one cleaned more clocks than Gordon. Upon winning the club championship, as he did annually aboard his Hunter 34 Rapid Transit, Gordon would face the champion of the larger HSA club. He was, of course, undefeated; to the point that HSA opted out of the annual race.

In honor of Gordon, I propose that we pow-wow with the Southern Club to re-inaugurate the race, giving the annual winner the Palmer Trophy.

Gordon died today as a result of an accident upon his mountain bike. He was 69 years old going on 16. No one combined the wisdom of age with the enthusiasm of youth better than he.

But he was more, much more, than a sailor. To say he was a friend to all who knew him would be doing him a disservice. Rigging not right - engine not up to snuff - refrigeration not refrigerating? Ask Gordon. He not only diagnosed it correctly, he helped you fix it; but really, in truth, you helped him fix it.

The internment will be a private, family only, service. Please, no flowers or phone calls or e-mails. The loss of the love of your life is an extremely private affair and Jo Ann wishes it to remain so. However, I urge all of you to send your cards and letters of condolence to her. They will, in time, be most supportive.

Wishing all of you.
As sweet a life as his:

John Molnar
Penury's Prize

Upcoming Events

The CSC sailing season is coming to an end and we'll soon begin our cold weather land events. Here's what's up:

Goose Cruise

Date: Saturday, October 20th
Location: Skipton Creek, Wye River

See the geese and enjoy the autumn Wye River. This event will have no host boat, but those in attendance will no doubt have their own spontaneous happy hour.

Early Thanksgiving Feast

Date: Saturday, November 3rd
Location: Eve-Marie Lacroix and Ken Richmond's condo in Annapolis Maryland (check your directory)

Call Eve-Marie and let her know what you intend to bring. This event should be well attended with great food. Eve-Marie's phone number is also in the directory.

CSC Holiday Party

Date: Saturday, December 8th
Location: Don and Joyce Becker's new house in Pasadena Maryland.

Do we bring gifts to exchange, food, will Santa Clause be there? For answers to these questions look to your e-mails as we get closer to the date.

Southern Lady Does Warehouse Creek

No, not the one in South River, the one in Eastern Bay, off Cox Creek. What makes it different? Maybe because cruisers seldom go there. That the cruising guides don't mention it may have something to do with it. If one looks at the chart it does appear a bit intimidating and not a desirable location.

Actually it is a navigational challenge. Cox Creek has a few lumps that stick out and Warehouse Creek is wide with a narrow unmarked channel up the middle. But with a chart plotter it's a lot easier.

Southern Lady cruised to the edge of the six-foot line and could have gone further. There's more water up that end than the charts would have you believe. Not exactly a hurricane hole but a gorgeous place with 330 degrees of marsh. Fishing was good, water was clear, and it's a good place to explore by dinghy.

Stayed three nights. Of course being September, light winds, and a beautiful moon all helped.

If you like to gunkhole, check out Bigwood Cove on the Wye River, just north of Drum Point. Beautiful! Call me, I'll tell you where the fish are hiding.

So what does the Wye look like further up? Busier the further you go. Although there are a number of places you can anchor, the area is more populated as the river narrows.

Frank Cingel

Editor's Note: What Frank doesn't mention is that he spent some time in an Eastern Shore clinic while his gall bladder attack was diagnosed. He is now scheduled for surgery sometime in mid-November.

That's it from here. Have a great cruise and land events and we'll see you soon.

Jim Luciano
Editor

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