to shovel snow off my boat, I’m heading from Kent Island down the ICW to Charleston, SC, this fall. I’ll probably have different crew for different segments of the trip. The rally definitely helped me prepare for that trip. Of course, once I retire, my long-term goal is to get down to the Bahamas.” Victor Plavner of Sea Patience, a Beneteau 373, says, “I wanted to get more experience doing long-distance cruising in the ocean in an organized and safe manner; the rally provided that. My crew, Tom Poturalski and Paul Foer, were more experienced sailors than I, and that was good. In the end, I was more comfortable with my boat and with extended cruising. It also as nice to experience the ocean, although the C&D Canal and Delaware Bay were pretty boring.” Victor, who sails out of Annapolis and usually does weekend sails, adds, “My boat sailed as I expected, and I learned more about her in different weather and sea situations. Usually, the boat can take more than the people can, and that was true this time. I’ve had her for four years now, and it was the first time I took her out in the ocean. The rally was great and well organized. I plan to do more extended cruises. I’ll cruise more in the Chesapeake Bay and will plan offshore adventures.” Thanks to all the rally sponsors, including Annapolis Hybrid Marine, Annapolis Yacht Sales, Chesapeake Sailing School, Cruisers’ University, Crusader Yacht Sales, Dream Yacht Charters, Forest Drive Carwash, General Yacht Services, Goode Impressions, Gordon Biersch, J/World Annapolis, Mount Gay Rum, Resilience Technology, SpinSheet Magazine, UK Sailmakers, and Weems and Plath. As a result of their generous support, the DelMarVa Rally was able to make donations to Annapolis Community Boating, the Wounded Warriors Project, and Southern Maryland Sailing Foundation. delmarvarally.com
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“Avast, me hearties. Time to relax while others do the ‘dirty’ work.”
To life indeed! Photo by Dan Phelps
All smiles during the DelMarVa Rally start. Photo by Dan Phelps
SpinSheet August 2011 45