Catalina Fleet 3's Liar's cruise.
Fleet 3 had a busy finish to the 2013 sailing season. September began with a Labor Day cruise that changed plans multiple times and caused some confusion among the troops.
The original plan (or Plan A, as it came to be known) was to meet in the Rhode River for the fireworks on Saturday. But that changed to Plan B when it was announced that there would be no fireworks. The new destination was Harris Creek in Waterhole Cove just north of Dun Cove. That location proved to be too exposed to the 15 knot southerly breeze, so Plan C ended up being Dun Cove.
Plan C was not communicated as well to the attendees as were Plans A and B, but everyone got there eventually. On Sunday the winds had subsided enough that we decided to revisit Plan B and go to Waterhole Cove. Boats in attendance were Ad-Nily-Bot, Merlin, Bonnie Dew, Mariah, Sally J, HMS Fox, Dream Catcher, and Glympse IV.
September 7th was the annual Shaw-A-Palooza event with a free on the water concert in Shaw Bay by Them Eastport Oyster Boys. It was another beautiful sunny day and about 100 boats turned out to celebrate the Chesapeake Bay with the Oyster Boys and fellow boaters.
September 14th was the Day of Absurdity which had been missing from our events for a couple of years. This event ended up being all C-36’s with the C-375 for the hosts. There was plenty of absurdity and a good time was had by all.
September 20th to the 23rd was the annual Baltimore Cruise, hosted by Tom and Pat Hershey. We had not been to Baltimore for a while and took another couple with us. We were able to make it a three day weekend so we had both Friday and Saturday nights in Baltimore. The weather was beautiful on Friday and Saturday and we enjoyed walking around Baltimore and checking out the Irish pubs. Saturday late afternoon the weather turned to rain. We were able to get in a cocktail hour in the marina office area and had a nice walk to Little Italy for dinner, but on the return trip it POURED! We were all soaked by the time we got back to the boats. But by Sunday the weather cleared and we had a beautiful trip back to Galesville and on to Pittsburgh. The others were able to stay Sunday night as well and had a lovely outdoor cocktail hour to toast the beginning of fall.
September 28th was to be the joint Fleet 3 & CCYC Oktoberfest raft up in the Rhode River and the starting point to the annual Liar’s Cruise. Due to the death of one of the CCYC members, the Oktoberfest event was postponed, so Fleet 3 began the Liar’s Cruise with six boats in the West River and two boats in Hudson Creek on the Little Choptank River. The six boats in the West River were Reverie, Sally J, s’Wonderful, Catnip, Glympse IV, and Elusive. Fox and Ad-Nily-Bot were in Hudson Creek. On Sunday we took the bull by the horns and set off for Solomon’s Island. It was a departure from our normal short distance cruise, but the weather forecast was favorable and we went for it. It proved to be a good thing. The entire week was sunny and beautiful, getting warmer each day, but with light winds the entire time. We explored Back Creek, Mill Creek, St Leonard’s Creek and enjoyed the deep and wide Patuxent River, sailing when we could, but mostly motoring.
Bill and Sally Jack
Sally J, C-42 hull 475
