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One last trip to Mattituck – Shortly after the end of the Murder Mystery Cruise Mike and Ellen (with Ellen’s sister, Nancy and hubby Gene) left on a week-long cruise to the east-end of Long Island. Galatea II tailed along with myself and Aris aboard. Saturday evening we enjoyed a terrific chicken dinner aboard Morning Magic, Mike’s boat. The next day we had to split up, with Mike, Ellen (aboard Morning Magic), Gene, and Nancy (aboard Kin Ship) heading East, and Aris and myself (aboard Galatea II) heading back to Huntington. We had to get a relatively early start. Aris will never forget his alarm clock Sunday morning. He was comfortably “cutting Z’s” in the aft quarter berth, wouldn’t respond to the smell of fresh brewed coffee, wouldn’t move when asked to rise and shine, and still didn’t react to being nudged. But when I cranked over the diesel, he responded by jumping up, screaming, and hitting his head (I don’t know if he’ll ever forgive me). And after we got underway, he didn’t appreciate the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch. I have to say two things here – it was very rough (3’ following seas, blowing about 20 knots), and I personally love P B & J sandwiches (especially with grape jelly on soft, white bread). Honest, Aris, I though you’d like Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches.

Vice-Commodore’s Cup – A lot credit goes to Bob Miller for providing the idea for this, and Brian Coon for doing the technical organization. Kudos go to Pete Wolpensinger (Summer Salts) who came in 1st place. 2nd and 3rd places were captured by Bob Miller (Good Times), and Oliver Bodine (Vitamin Sea), respectively. And I’d be remiss if Bob Baumann wasn’t given special credit for going out alone and taking 4th place! Way to go, Bob (perhaps he got some of his skill and nerve from his participation in the Murder Mystery Cruise). And who can forget Ray Snaith who had the conviction to follow his beliefs and sail the course backwards! Unfortunately, there’s no trophy for being the only skipper to sail the course in the opposite direction.

Commodore’s Cup – This event will have to wait until next year. With 30 – 35 knot winds, and rain, it was a unanimous decision to cancel the race. Next year, guys.

Weekend events – Milford Yacht Club proved to be a great weekend destination for Frank and Leslie, then later in the season for Kurt, Sue, John, and Elvira (who had Joette and Rich aboard). The pool at MYC was really enjoyed, as was the Stonebridge Restaurant about a mile from the club. And we’ll never forget the night before, in Port Jefferson, when we decided to walk to Mario’s Italian Restaurant in Setauket for dinner. We needed it, however, to work off the Scotch Sours Elvira whipped up on board Galatea II – and she was very generous in making as many as we wanted (more than we all needed).

The last cruise of the season – Kurt Crowley (Woozy II) and John Sherman (Galatea) had the idea that they’d like to get on last weekend away in October, and planned a short trip to Westport, CT (Saugatuck Yacht Club). All the arrangements were made –reservations, food, etc. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t care about our plans and the wind was blowing 30 – 35 knots. We attempted it, but with the wind on our nose, there was no way we were going to attempt crossing the Sound in those conditions (calls came over our VHF from Woozy II with the message “abort, abort”). So, we opted for Lloyd’s Harbor.
Lloyd’s offers very little protection from winds out of the North. Other than a beach, there is nothing to protect a vessel from the wind. At least the rough seas are reduced to mild chop. After grabbing a mooring on the North side of the harbor (closer to the beach, hoping for a little more protection), Woozy II rafted up with Galatea II, and we settled down to a scrumptious meal prepared in Galatea’s galley (lasagna fresh from Price Club).
After an exciting evening listening to all the noises created by two boats bouncing around together, imagining the “one weak link breaking” (and winding up on the lee shore), we got up at around 7:00 AM, made coffee, and headed in for breakfast in the warmth of the club. The last cruise of the season was not a huge success.

Food for Thought –
“Money often costs too much”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Happiness comes through doors you didn’t even know you left open”
– unknown

“I tell you and you forget. I show you and you remember. I involve you and you understand.”
– Eric Butterworth

“If you don’t stretch your limits, you’ll set your limits.”
– Unknown

“Say what you mean, mean what you say, but don’t say it mean.”
– Unknown

“Most of us would rather risk catastrophe than read the directions.”
– Mignon McLaughlin

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