Readers may recall an article published by Spinsheet in February, 2014 describing how past Annapolis Fleet Captain Derek Watridge satisfied his lifelong ambition by building, from scratch, a reproduction 20th century traditional wooden fishing boat called an Oyster.
In 2003 Derek converted his double garage into a well equipped boatbuilding workshop, and using only authentic techniques and materials, and using original plans, resurrected the British design that was over 100 years old. Using no less than five types of wood and over 3000 copper rivets the vessel, named Pearl early in the construction process, she gradually took shape. Finally, after 12 years of painstaking work and attention to detail, Pearl was declared completed in early 2015.
So on July 29, 2015, 50 or so Corinthians, neighbors, friends, family, and members of the prestigious Davis’s Pub Yacht Club assembled on Aberdeen Creek on the north shore of the South River. Braving a classic and torrential Chesapeake Bay summer thunderstorm Derek’s wife Penny officially named and commissioned Pearl to the cheers and the applause of the assembled company.
Umbrellas were raised as the group scuttled back for a celebratory lunch at chez-Watridge, after which DPYC Commodore Spencer Johnson and DPYC member Keith Drewett, both Corinthians, presented Derek with a substantial rum ration, a brass ‘Rum Locker’ sign and an engraved brass compass.
For more information on the Corinthians, click here.
