Fleet Scuttlebutt

Greetings sailors and all club members!  September and October went well, but not without some unplanned complications.  Much gratitude and credit are due the members who retrieved our keelboat Tranquility Base after she had parted from her mooring on account of ugly weather on October 19th.  She is now on the hard at Mobjack Bay Marina, and none the worse for wear.  The off-season gives us a chance for a thorough inspection and some maintenance.

As November is dedicated in part to gratitude, it’s appropriate that I thank all those who have made this season so enjoyable, and in particular those whose efforts on October 20th and 21st assured that no further complications resulted from the failure of our mooring.  More broadly, we can all be thankful for nature’s many blessings, including the beauty and bounty of our Chesapeake Bay region.

Lately I lose too much time distracted or preoccupied with screens of various sizes.  Indeed, the phrase ‘Screen Time’ can refer to our current era, as well as to the hours we might spend looking at a screen.  Further reading suggests younger generations are suffering in various ways from over-exposure to screens, and the often-wretched content they contain.  Getting a break from electronics, being outside in good and even not-so-good weather, and enjoying the fresh air and saltwater surroundings of our yacht club are great remedies for the peculiar ailments caused by hours of screen time.  I hope you share my gratitude for the opportunities provided by our club and that you will encourage others, particularly younger members, to take advantage of it.  (Disclaimer – I may use a Navionics screen while sailing, as my coastal navigation skills are underdeveloped and rusty.)

Stay healthy and safe, and I hope to see you at our Oyster Roast Social on the 8th!

John Dudley, Fleet Captain