Capturing the Imagination of Sailors & Spectators Watch the start of this 750 mile Annapolis to Bermuda adventure
June 8, 2012 Bermuda Ocean Race
Dream it? Dare to?
Cheer on the competitors!
Do it!
June 8th Boat Parade - Noon Start - 1pm at R-2
bermudaoceanrace.com
There’s still time to enter! Deadline - May 1st
facebook.com/BOR2012
HOSTS: Bermuda Ocean Race Committee of Eastport Yacht Club & the St. George's Dinghy & Sports Club, Bermuda Sponsors: BACON SAILS & MARINE SUPPLIES Lee Chesneau's Marine Weather, Gosling’s Bermuda Rums Maggie Lee Designs & SpinSheet
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Bareboat or Captain Charters
Beneteau, Voyage, Lagoon and Leopard (36-50 ft.) JUST FIVE MINUTES FROM THE BEEF ISLAND AIRPORT (EIS) Harborview Marina Complex, Fat Hogs Bay, East End, Tortola, BVI
1-866-776-8256 www.provalorcharters.com 56 April 2012 SpinSheet
meet interesting people and learn something new every trip. The first week of June is our annual Girls’ Sailing Weekend (see right; I’m sitting with my shades and baseball cap on). One of my favorite things to do is encourage people, women in particular, to try something they’ve never tried or have always wanted to do. We sometimes get puzzled looks as we pass by other boaters as they search our faces and realize the captain and crew are women. One year, we sailed past some gents fishing. They must not have expected to see a yacht full of women, as one of them nearly fell out of the boat gawking. I’m hoping to get in a few more weekend trips this year, as well. I enjoy sailing both monohulls and cats. There are many advantages to sailing catamarans; their shallow draft allows you to explore areas that would be challenging at best for monos. Also, since I like to take first-time boaters out, sailing “flat” is a nice way to ease them into sailing. I love how maneuverable they are in tight quarters because of the twin props. My schedule is pretty hectic, so unfortunately, my Bay trips are only three-day weekends. I usually do longer sailing trips to the Caribbean. I’ve been eyeing the Beneteau 31 for quite some time. When I lived in New Hampshire, my boat was on a slip in Lake Winnipesauke. It was easy to jump onboard, throw off the dock lines, and slip away from the “noise.” I miss having the freedom of being on the water anytime I want, whether cruising or just hanging out at the dock with friends. So far, my favorite port is Rock Hall, MD. The town reminds me of some of the little port towns in Maine. The owners are great, and the dock hands efficiently hooked us up. Last year, we arrived early afternoon in Rock Hall to explore and end the day with a seafood dinner. Well, the whole town lost power. We did our part and ate ice cream at Durdings (can’t let great ice cream go to waste). One of our wonderful friends and first mate drove from Baltimore to hang out with us. She drove and found a grocery store with power, so we made our own seafood dinner onboard that night. Yeah Carla! The Chesapeake Bay is rich in history, in the diversity of its people, and irreplaceable ecosystem. All of it is valuable and worth preserving. Take people sailing with you who’ve never sailed. Maybe, they, in turn, will become sailors or at the least, learn to love, appreciate, and value the Bay. - Crystal Tucker spinsheet.com