Sailing Chavurah sails to Norfolk
The Sailing Chavurah began its cruise on a rainy Saturday in June. Cruise Chairman Alan Karpas changed the destination to Selby Bay Yacht Club where sailors and crew met. Selby Bay Vice Commodore Julien Hofberg found berths for 4 sailing boats which ventured the weather to sail from Worton Creek, Patapsco River, and Rock Hall. Captains and Crew from boats from the south came by car for the first of many shared meals. After dinner, Steve Permisson held a Havdalah Service outside under the stars. The movie Defiance was shown for those who hadn’t seen it.
The next morning 10 boats departed for the Solomons. A raft-up on Back Creek with shared Hors devourers ended a pleasant down wind sail.
The northerly winds continued to prevail as we then sailed to Olverson’s Lodge Creek Marina on the Virginia side of the Potomac River. Olverson’s is one of our favorite marinas with true southern charm. Mr. Olverson gave a few members a ride to the local supermarket and pizza shop where we purchased dinner. The Elverson's joined us for our dinner which we had under the tin roof pavilion. A brief rain shower and a cool night ended another pleasant day on the bay.
Our sail south took us out of the Potomac and into the Great Wicomico. Enroute we saw the Menhaden fishing fleet out of Reedville. Guess they were catching lots of fish since the pelicans were also fishing. A 10 boat raft up was easy for our Cruise Chairman Alan. We met on the catamaran Ite Oa Oa for Hors D’oeuvres. Afterwards we sat on the trampoline and discussed the movie Defiance.
Our group was ready for a day at leisure. Next stop Fishing Bay Harbor Marina on the Piankatank River. Social Chairman Arlene Karpas renamed our cruise “Camp Chavurah”. In the morning, women met on Suture Self for a knitting lesson by Andrea Landis. Yarn, needles, and instructions were given out for making our granddaughters American Girl ponchos. Jane Brecher revealed that she was a retired yarn store employee and gave help when stitches needed to be fixed.
While the women knit, the men met at the pool for a lesson in splicing led by Marty Landis. While no rope was completely spliced together, everyone shared their expertise and experiences. Marty showed a line which was spliced by the boson of the Royal Clipper tall sailing yacht.
Friday night found us rafted up in the Severn River off Mobjack Bay. Suture Self hosted our gathering for Shabbat Dinner. Steve Permisson led us as we lit candles and said kiddush. Ira and Jane Brecher, new members, celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary with us.
Fair weather and northerly winds continued to prevail and the Sailing Chavurah sailed to Norfolk and the Tidewater Marina in Portsmouth. Marty Landis was having so much fun sailing past Fort Monroe, in front of a tanker that was getting underway, and around the parked ships off the Naval Base, that he missed the Elizabeth River. He sailed over the tunnel of the Merrimac - Monitor Memorial Bridge Tunnel and was overtaking two trawlers when he realized that the water was soon to be 3 feet deep (not enough for his 4 1/2 foot draft). A quick turnaround, a look at Newport News and the James River, and a course correction took him to our destination.
Sunday was a day for sightseeing. We went in small groups to Norfolk by ferry and saw the Nauticus Museum and the Battleship Wisconsin. Many ate at the restaurants in the Waterside Marketplace. The walking tour of Portsmouth took us past many houses dating from the Revolutionary War.
On Monday we began our journey north. Unfortunately, the winds were not as favorable and we tacked our way back to Mobjack Bay and the East River.
A southern cruise is not complete without a stop at the Tides Inn. We were joined here by the trawler Ariel. Hideaway got crew, Matthew and Sara. Obsession got 3 teenagers, granddaughter Stephanie and 2 friends. Obsession, a 36 foot Catalina is the smallest boat in our group and now had the most people on board! Mark and Faye from Bay Leaf came by land to join us.
Before dinner, Dave Berman gave a talk on netsukes. At dinner, Social Chairman Arlene used a hat to pick team captains -- Alan from Hideaway(white team) and Marty from Sea Note (blue team) -- and teams for our July 4th “Color War” activities. Competitions were described and planning began.
Using the tables by the pool, Camp Chavurah had craft activities in the next morning. We began with Andrea showing us how to paint tote bags with fabric paint, stencils and stamps. Bags were made with boat names, grandchildren names or just with nautical themes. Then had Dannee help us make bracelets and necklaces. Our captains mainly rested by the pool.
In the morning all boats left by 10 am. Julien Hofberg had organized a race to Reedville. Those racing met at the green can after passing under the bridge on the Rappahannock. Suture Self started the race. SeaNote and Ite Oa Oa used spinnakers and a new class was declared. Obsession was in the lead. The wind died down. Channel 72 was filled with “Have you turned your engine on?” Finally engines were started and Obsession was declared the winner.
In Reedville off the Great Wicomico we went upwind of the fish processing plant and created an 11 boat raft up with Suture Self as anchor boat. Ira took his dingy out to show the teenagers the river but his engine didn’t work so Alan took the girls. When it was time for dinner, Irv was calling across the water for Alan “bring the girls back!”
Our return to the Solomons was to Zahniser’s Yachting Center. We dinned at Stonys Crab Restaurant. Beth and Cy came south in their trawler Grand Banks. Mark and Faye joined us again by car. Gary and Amy joined us for the day on July 4th.
The next day was July 4th and time for Color Wars. Everyone met at the swimming pool at 10 am. The first events were in the water. A water jog, pass the ball over head and between the legs, and a relay race left the teams fairly even.
On to the land events. First a relay race to fill a bottle of water with a sponge. Then pipe cleaner nautical symbol and saying contests, a nautical jigsaw puzzle contest, and finally a fruit carving contest. The judges, Amy, Gary, Ted, and Barbara really had it hard. But the winners were the blue team! Sand mats were the prize for the members of the winning team....but the losers didn’t lose by much and received playing cards as a consolation prize.
Following the events, we had a barbeque with hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, salads of all kinds, appetizers, brownies and apple pie for dessert and of course our fruit carvings which tasted delicious!
After an afternoon rest at the pool, we were all ready for the fireworks. Some walked to get closer and some watched from boats. All had a great time.
In the morning, we sailed north. Each to our own home port. As we went we radioed thanks and good byes to our sailing friends as each reached their final destination. We had done over 460 nautical miles in approximately 90 hours of sailing, spotting sea life including rays, pelicans, dolphins, and fish. Passing though areas of the bay with very sophisticated towns and small rural backwaters. These two weeks we will remember as the best two weeks, until next year when we’ll go together as a group someplace else on the bay.
We’ll still be sailing this summer. Our next group activity is to meet at Harbor View Marina to take families out in our boats as part of Easter Seals Cruise for Kids.