April showers.......

may bring May flowers, but they also bring boats up out of the water.  This last month saw a few our fleet up on the hard.  Orza, Talisman, Shanty, and Fresh Air have all received their needed yearly maintenance.  Even Maraj, though not out of the water has had her mast re-stepped, making her a sail boat once again.  The weather in the last part of April had been a little unsettled, sometimes very cold and windy, sometimes rainy, mostly all three.  This slowed down the work and even the return trips, as we waited for the weather windows. 

Of course, most of the table news is that of the above mentioned maintenance.  But even with that, Brothers took time together.  Piper and Upwind enjoyed a leisurely motor on Talisman to the boat yard, and while the various boats were being worked on you could always see Brothers visiting each other and talking; you guessed it boat stuff.
 Pilot and Francine's new vessel is almost finished and he is making preparations for the trip to pick her up.   Soon Pilot and the “delivery crew”, including the likes of Country Boy and Broad Reach, will be flying out to start the trip home.  Floater is scheduled to meet them in Panama.  Their presence will be missed but this is what it’s all about. 
Country Boy, Bui, and Tortuga, along with their Captives, Frankie, Susan, and Ali, get the honors of the first cruise of the season.  Although it was as part of another club many of us are in, they were the first to leave the slips just for the fun of it. 

This month‘s tip a few was hosted By El Maestro and AJ at their house.  Eighteen of us gathered on a Friday evening for BBQ and friendship.  The party started out in the park area behind their place but the nice sunny day turned into a very chilly evening.  So we packed up the food and drinks, and took the party inside. Funny thing was is that no drinks were spilled but how did the chair get broken?  I‘m not tellin’.

Although some of our cruising Brothers and Captives have web site I thought that I would try to keep you informed of their travels.  Of course this is where they were at my time of writing and they may not be there at your time of reading, but that’s OK.

Bluestash and Diana- Leaving Guyana Cay
Limey and Holly-Abacos?
Rocket Boy and Cherrie-Just South of us in the ICW-almost home
Brise Galets and Karen- Half way to the Azores

Something I would like to do each month is give you something Brotherhood related to think about.  Please give it more than a passing thought.  I would be interested to hear YOUR thoughts on these matters.  If you write me I will publish your responses, if you would rather not be published I can write up your discussions and present them.  This is your Blog, feel free to join in the conversation.

Last Month’s thought:

What is the Brotherhood?
Many times while we are out as a group I hear people ask Brothers this question.  What would your answer be?  What is the Brotherhood to you, personally?

This is Brother Tortuga’s thought:

What is the Brotherhood to me?  In my very short time as a brother, if asked I would say that to me it is a fraternal organization in every aspect of the word.  Where our common bond is our dedication and love of the sea.  But we are more than just that, we also have a bond to each other without regard to ones religious or political views, that is based upon the individual character of the man.  Each member knows that his brothers can be counted on for support when needed.  This carries beyond our table.  It carries to all the members from every table, to brothers that you may have never met.  To be a brother you are willing to lend a hand to any other brother that is truly in need and to celebrate with them when times are good.  It is that trust and respect that makes us true brothers.  It is also that trust that made becoming a member of the "Brotherhood of the Coast" such a great honor to me.

Thank you, Brother.

 This month’s  thought is about the Octalog.

Is the Octalog really an important document or just a nice idea, and why?