More summer

August and September continued to be a pleasant summer on the bay.  In August we had a Brothers only Tip A Few hosted by Rocket Boy.  Twelve intrepid Brothers braved the slightly overcast weather to eat hot wings. nachos, and drink beer, O yeah, and discuss Table business, at The Lagoon Restaurant located at Bay Point Marina.  This also gave us some time to spend with Brothers Limey and Blue Stash, who would soon be casting off their lines to cruise to the sunny waters in the south.  We will miss their company but are happy knowing they are following their dreams.

August also gave us a chance to again spend time with The Solomon’s Table, this time at their Big! Big! Big!  Crab Races.  Every August the Solomon’s Table Host a wonderful Zaf, complete with Seafood, BBQ, Drinks, fun, and great times.   Cruz and Upwind arrived by boat while the remainder of us came by land yachts.  This Year’s event was made more special by the induction of the Annapolis Table and the meeting of the National Captains. Congratulations and Thanks to the Solomon’s Table for a great event.

September, although was fairly quiet, the landsman would have noticed the Brotherhood flag flying over the anchorage off the City of Hampton when Talisman and Shanty rafted up for the Hampton Bay Days weekend.  This month also found the Brothers and Captives gathered at Rebel Marina for a Tip a few hosted by Upwind and June.

Summertime Fun

June has traditionally been a full month for the Brothers and Captives of the Chesapeake Bay Table, and this June was not an exception.  Last year at this time we hosted the National Zaf, piggybacking it onto Norfolk’s yearly Harborfest celebration, followed up by the annual Solomon’s Table/Chesapeake Table Raftarancho.  No Zafarrancho this year, but the Raftarancho took place as usual.  June gave us much good news, but also provided us with some troubling news, as well.      Vessels from our extensive fleet continued to ply the Chesapeake Bay, the ICW, the great Atlantic Ocean. Come to think of it, just another usual month in the lives of the Brothers of the Chesapeake Bay Table.

As I mentioned earlier, this month brought us some troubling news, as we received word that our esteemed Brother Brise Galets, suffered a bad stroke on Pappy Jovial’s arrival in Cherbourg France. Fortunately Pappy Jovial had already made Port when the attack happened and the Medics arrived in time.  Brise Galets spent some weeks in the hospital but has since been recovering with the loving care of Karen, his Family and the French Brotherhood. All in the Table are keeping them in our thoughts and wish him a continued recovery.

Although there was no Zaf at this year’s Harborfest, four black flags good be seen flying at the bulk head.  Harborfest was pretty much a bust this year with a tropical storm bringing us very brisk winds and rain on Friday, But that did not dampen the time spent just hanging out together.

Unfortunately, other commitments and timing did not allow for a large attendance at the Yearly Solomon’s/Chesapeake Bay Raftarancho.  It seems a great time was had by those that could arrive by boat or land craft, anyway. 

 

June’s host for the Tip A Few was Tinker and Captive Clair at their home in Willoughby.  With a porch overlooking the Chesapeake Bay it is a splendid place for a get together and has a perfect view of the setting sun.

 July’s Tip a Few was held at Rebel Marina and Co- hosted By Brother Tortuga, Captive Allie, with Brother Blue Stash and Captive Diana. 

Summer Solstice Cruise - 2013

The culmination of things...of a winter waiting for spring to roll around...of planned boat maintenance...of expensive, unplanned boat repairs...and of a spring waiting for spring to arrive.  The start of the North Atlantic Hurricane Season started with the beginning of June and by mid-month the first tropical depression had visited the Chesapeake Bay.  With a late start to the sailing season, our traditional Summer Solstice Cruise was coming right up!

The crew of Fresh Air left the week earlier intent on two weeks of floating around the lower Bay.  They managed to sail into Solomon s Island before Tropical Depression Andrea tore up the Bay.  That storm system kept them there - in the company of their Brothers - for three days before heading south again.

Talisman left a day late due to some last minute refrigeration problems.  A great run up the Bay had us at Antipoison Creek eight hours later.  The creek is just a few miles from Indian Creek, site of the upcoming Rafterrancho.  But that was days away...there was sailing to do!  Fresh Air called the rendezvous for Mill Creek, off Ingram Bay.  We rafted, we ate, we drank and got some star gazing in before calling it a night.

With rain and thunderstorms scheduled for Tuesday afternoon and some problems with Fresh Air's dingy motor, we decided to head up two creeks to Ingram Bay Marina in Towles Creek.  A good marina with good prices.  Wednesday was grey and windy.  We played our "slug day" card and stayed in the marina.  [Half price Wednesday helped that decision along.]

Things calmed down by mid afternoon so we hopped in the dingys and headed out to explore those places the deep draft boats cannot get into.  That eventually led us to Cockrell Creek, home of the Omega Fish Plant at Reedville.  Conditions were calm so we decided dinner at the Crazy Crab was warranted.  We ate, we drank and enjoyed the setting sun with other boating couples...there for all the same reasons.

Tomorrow, we leave in search of the 2013 Rafterrancho.  Just eight nautical miles south.

What can you say about May?

May in the lower Chesapeake Bay is …. Well May... it May Rain …it May not...it May be hot …it may be chilly…it May be just about anything.   This Last month we saw a little of it all.  The beginning saw some fluky weather that caused some issue’s for those working on Maintenance.  We we’re beginning to wonder if we would ever see Orza back in here slip. (She arrived in June). Talisman, Fresh air, and Seascape made it up to Poquoson for a weekend.  While Talisman and Shanty took a trip up to the East River in Mob Jack Bay two weeks later to fly the Brotherhood Flags up there.

May brought us good times, as Brother El Calbucano-Tom Smith- and Captive Eli sailed out of the fog to rejoin the Table.  We welcome them back and look forward to spending many good times together again.  Of course if we don’t get our e-mail list right we may have to replace him with a nice woman named Theresa Smith.  El Calbucano is actually one of our founding Brothers. So once again, ORZA Brother-Welcome home!

Speaking of welcome home, Rocket Boy and Sherry made it back from cruising in the Bahamas.  It is really good to have them back, all tanned and rested. 

May’s Tip A Few was hosted by Boats and Trish Davis at their Tiki Bar.  Hamburgers and Sausages grilled by the ol’ grill master himself (that would be Boats).  We had a good turnout of twenty, as some of the Brothers had left for Chile to Pick up Pounce.

That brings us to Brothers at Sea

With the return of Blue Moon that leaves us with:

Pounce-Pilot, Country Boy, Broad Reach- Somewhere of f the coast of Chile.

Hampshire Rose –Limey and Holly –ICW in South Carolina

Casual Class- Blue Stash and Diana- ICW North North Carolina

Pappy Jovial- Brise Galets and Karen- Cherbourg France

This month we have a guest writer in Rocket Boy.  He has written the following article on their trip south.

Cruising and the BOC

Sherry and I recently returned from our 6 ½ month cruise on Blue Moon down the ICW, to the Bahamas and back.  While I’ve always wanted to take such a cruise I thought that we would have to miss the Brotherhood fellowship that has become very important to us. 

Well, we did miss our monthly Tip-A-Few Zafs which we enjoy.  However, we were with Brothers much of the time we were away. On our first night after getting underway we were visited by Brother “Upwind” and June at Great Bridge. 

Then we met up with Brother “Brise-Galets” and Karen on board Papy Jovial in Swansboro.  We would travel south together for much of our trip.  Papy Jovial and Blue Moon both docked at the Dockside Restaurant in Wrightsville Beach where I met Tom and Barbara Zalewski.  Tom had arranged discounted dockage for us in front of the restaurant right on the ICW.  Brise-Galets had met Tom on a previous trip down the ICW and we both think he could be the focal point for the beginning of a table in the Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach area.

We left Papy Jovial in Wrightsville Beach and wouldn’t reconnect until we got to West Palm Beach, FL.  However, we visited with Savannah Brother “Swedish Navigator”, Gary Johnson, and Delores in Cocoa, FL.  Gary took us shopping so we could provision the boat in preparation for crossing to the Bahamas.  While in Cocoa we were also able to get together with Solomons Island Brother “Quartermaster”, John Simpson, and Monica for dinner and drinks at their condo in Cocoa Beach.

Upon arrival in West Palm Beach we were picked up at the marina  by Houston Brother “Fidget”, Steve Wolfson, and Lili who drove us to downtown West Palm for lunch at Bradley’s Saloon where we met up with yet another Houston Brother “Julio”, Bill Hallmark, and Mary where we celebrated Lili’s birthday.  Later that evening we picked up Brise-Galets and Karen before going to Steve and Lili’s condo in Jupiter Beach where we enjoyed dinner.

A couple days later Blue Moon and Papy Jovial crossed the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas.  While in the Abacos the crews of Blue moon and Papy Jovial enjoyed dinner with Bahamian Brothers Ted and Barbara Dowty and David Culpeper at Patricia Farrell’s home in Man O’ War Cay.  Following our visit to Man O’ War we returned to Marsh Harbor where we picked up New York Brother “Big Hopper”, Robert Coles, who joined Papy Jovial as crew.

We then started working our way south until arriving at Governor’s Harbor, Eleuthera where we spent a couple days with Brother “Limey” who was onboard Hampshire Rose waiting for Holly to return from doctors visits.  Limey treated us all to a great conch and rum punch dinner on board Hampshire Rose one evening.

We left Limey in Eleuthera and headed to Georgetown where Papy Jovial took on a fourth crew member, Brother “Piper”.  Blue Moon and Papy Jovial continued south ultimately arriving in Rum Cay where we spent several days snorkeling, fishing and having potluck dinners.  This is where Papy Jovial’s and Blue Moon’s path diverged.  Papy Jovial continued south ultimately headed to France and Blue Moon started slowly working its way northward.  We would reconnect with Hampshire Rose in Georgetown for a few days before heading to Emerald Bay Marina on Great Exuma.

Imagine our surprise when we were contacted by John Simpson on Stargazer who was returning from Puerto Rico with Gary Johnson on board.  They joined us at Emerald Bay where we had a great time catching up before both boats headed to Black Point, Exuma where we all had a great Bahamian dinner at Lorraine’s Café.  Stargazer left the following morning headed to Nassau and Blue Moon continued our exploration of the Exumas.

On our way north we ended up stopping again in Cocoa to visit Gary Johnson and enjoyed the hospitality of the Savannah Table seeing Brothers “Peregrine”, Tony Perry and “Joczka”,Joe Horvath with their Captives at the beautiful home of Brother “Dogwaes”, Albert Seidel, and Alise.

As you can see my concern for missing out on Brotherhood activities while cruising was unfounded.  We just saw members of our Brotherhood in different fun places!

Rocket Boy

Thanks Brother

Last Month I asked the Question-

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

What was your answer?

This was mine.

The importance of the Octalog is not just in what it says but what it implies. What it stands for.  We tell others that we are an organization without rules, and then we point to the Octalog and say this is what we believe.  According to The Greatest Dictionary: The title- The Octalog, means, literally: the Eight Commandments.  Commandment is a heavy word.  Whether it is political, religious, or ethical, it is a word of “command”, not a request.  I believe that our founding Brothers were aware of this and chose this very idea for a purpose.  The Commandments in the Octalog are not to tell us what to believe but how to- ACT!    When we are brought into the Brotherhood we swear we will uphold these commandments.  No papers are signed, no signature are recorded, just the word of the inductee, witnessed by the Brothers.  Pretty meaningful in today’s world.  So in an organization without rules(or very few) that crosses political, religious, and cultural bonders, we hold these eight commandments close to our hearts. 

In my mind this makes the Octalog a very important document!

 

This month’s thought:

Execute with respect the orders of the Captain as they were those of your spiritual father or older Brother.

 Let me hear from you

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?

Blog Re-launched!!!!!!!

Well, it has been awhile, but the Table’s blog has finally been re –launched.  And it’s good to be back in the water.
When I took on the reasonability of the blog, I thought of what I would write to start it off.  I came up with “the first thing I would like to do is”, Then I realized there were some many”first things”.  Of course I would be remiss without thanking Brother Upwind-Peter Dennant- for keeping the blog up when Brise Galets, the blog founder, went a sailin’. 
 I think the most important first thing to do is to welcome you, the reader, back to the blog and tell you a little about what I hope to accomplish. 

So what is that?

This Blog is about the Brothers of the Chesapeake Bay Table, not just about what we did at the last Tip a Few but who and what we are.  Our Brothers are active; we interact with each other away from Brotherhood events; although we always say that when two or more Brothers are together we are having an event, most have boats and use them often during the season.  We even have Brothers and their Captives living the life; cruising.  We travel to other tables near and far to commune with our Brothers and we relish the times they visit us.

So I guess I would like to use this blog to promote Brotherhood Spirit through the Spirit of the Brothers of the Chesapeake Bay Table.

So, what has been happening at the Chesapeake Bay Table since we last wrote? A lot!

Since the 2011 Raftarancho we have enjoyed 17 Tip a Fews, 3 raft ups, another Raftarancho with the Solomon’s Table. We hosted the 2012 Nation Zaf with 144 attendees, inducted 3 new Brothers, and many of our number have traveled to other tables, both nationally and international.   I thought I would spend some time talking about the past events however that would take up a lot of space, so let’s just say we’ve been busy.  And start afresh.

As always in the winter things in the Southern Chesapeake Bay slow down.  Our boats are tied to their slips for the cold winter storms (with the exception of those cruising in the warmer climes), although if you find yourself at one of the marinas will surly trip over some of us just hanging out. 
However, Brothers like to trip over each other on a regular basis.  So, this last January Brothers and Captives got together at Boogieman’s-Sam and Carol Morgan- for a wonderful evening.  Carol served up delicious gumbo, while other provided appetizers and desserts; a warm time on a chilly winter night.  

 The Tip a Fews for February seems to have all been down in the Bahamas.  You read correctly, that’s what I said.  A number of tip a fews were held between Marsh Harbor and Rum cay.  These involved the boats and crews of Hampshire Rose, Limey-Rob and Holly Sanger,   Casual Class, Bluestash-Stew and Diana Kaufman, Blue Moon, Rocket Boy-Preston and Cherrie Carraway, Pappy Jovial, Brise Galets and Karen, and yours truly Piper (crewing on Pappy Jovial.

March Found us at a brothers only meeting hosted by one of our newest Brothers, Broad Reach-Larry Bryant, at his humble abode.  As he lives on the water front it was almost as good as being on the water.  After a time of pizza, beer, and business, Broad Reach showed us his latest hot rod for us to drool over.  I don’t think that counts as envying his motor. Does it?

Brothers at sea:
Although some of our cruising Brothers and Captives have web sites, 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- Marsh Harbor

Limey and Holly-Marsh Harbor

Rocket Boy and Cherrie-Last heard was just North of Savannah Ga. Heading north

Brise Galets and Karen- Anguilla

Thought of the Month:

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.

This 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?