Fleet Captain's Report

Screw Up Flags and Long Cruise

Screw Up Flags

If you were at the first meeting in September, you heard that four members “earned” screw up flags this summer. “Congratulations” (or condolences) go to Craig Ranta for a run-away dinghy, Dean Lentgis for locking his keys in the parade car; Kent Soffel for hitting a rock twice in Alaska (different rocks); and Don Wilson for hitting a rock in the San Juans.

Long Cruise

Did you know that it is the same distance between La Conner and Seattle and Olympia and Seattle? Some people can get to La Conner in a day. We, on the long cruise, took 10 days to get to Olympia.

Our long cruise started out at the Outstation with a salmon dinner for nearly 40 hungry boaters. The next day found us at Des Moines, where the dock crew rearranged boats to accommodate our group, which at that time included Big Brivet (our boat), Hey Jude (V/C Don and Judy Wilson), DelicaSea (Dave and LuAnne Armstrong), Warp Speed (Jon and Joyce Vaughn), Wish Giver (P/C Rich and Christine McCroskey), Aqua Amo (Bill and Millie Grayson), Escargot (Diane and Terry Carlisle), High Time (Bob and Carol Randolph), Choppers (Marge and Terry Baker), and Moon River (John and MaryLouise Alvig).

It was a hot day in Tacoma, so we took over the shady part of the dock for a get together on the first night. After exploring the various museums and downtown area, we ventured to the Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner. New members Jim and Jeanne Miller and their son, Josh, drove many of us and joined us for dinner.

Our cruise included many such great dinners, potluck hors d’oeuvre parties, potlucks, barbecues. We even had fresh crab, caught by Mark and Sheri Pywell, who joined us at Filucy Bay. Barb and Larry Knutsen met us at Fair Harbor. Earlier, we had said goodbye to the Bakers, Vaughns, Carlisles, Wilsons, and Randolphs.

After a visit to the ferry museum and barbecue on the grass at Fair Harbor, we journeyed to Jarrell Cove, where we all got onto the park dock. It was really hot, so Rich and Chris McCroskey helped cool us down with some homemade margaritas. MaryLouise Alvig introduced Dorothy and Barb Knutsen to kayaking, while Chris McCroskey tried a 3-mile walk around the cove, and LuAnne Anderson searched for photographic moments. Most of the day was lazy and we hid from the heat until the weenie roast. There is no electricity at the dock, and Larry Knutsen’s all-electric boat experienced a “brown out” -- perhaps because he ran his hot water heater all night?

We awoke to clouds and the start of wind, which stayed with us on our passage to Olympia -- 15 to 25 knots easily, but fairly flat seas. Millie and Bill Grayson experienced a battery problem which delayed their departure and we gathered at their slip and cheered and sang when they joined us hours later.

Our first night in Olympia found us at Anthony's Hearthside Grill for their happy hour. While Andersons and Pywells made plans to leave, the crews of the five remaining boats explored the Farmer's Market and "Sand City," an annual sand sculpture event. Big Brivet was the venue for the final event, wrapping up a fun cruise with absolutely wonderful people!

Thanks to all who participated in our Fleet Captain’s cruises this year. It is YOU who made them fun!

Larry Dubia
Fleet Captain (ret)