Club Cruising or Going Rogue?
I
love my cruising club. I have to say that, because I’m an officer. Secretary, to be precise, and a pretty darned lousy one at that. They deserve better, for they’re all a great bunch of folks. As much as I love them and the club, I’m conflicted about our cruises. Some of them are reminiscent of the Spanish Armada, a dozen boats heading down the Bay, cramming ourselves into marinas en masse, more like an occupation than a visit. We take over the pool, steal all the picnic tables, dominate restaurants, and commandeer the shower house. We don’t seem to socialize much with the locals, but maybe that’s because they go into hiding upon our arrival. Sometimes they react as I do when I’m heading for the bathroom at the same time a college lacrosse team debarks from a bus at McDonald’s. Big cruises don’t really challenge me. Sure I’m still in charge of my own boat, but I tend to just go with the flow, lemming-like, figuring that others have checked the weather forecast, and decided whether to set sail or not. If Simon rolls out his genny on a reach, so does Monkey Doo. I get lazy. We chat with each other on the radio, fix drinks, and enjoy the sunshine. Nothing seems left to chance. Following the pack, sometimes I don’t even know where I’m going until the destination is reached. This is undoubtedly relaxing, but I can’t help feeling there’s something missing. Club cruising generally means that someone else takes care of booking the marinas, finding restaurants, and making the reservation, organizing sightseeing 42 May 2014 SpinSheet
ity is up to you, and there’s a little more uncertainty and opportunity for adventure. Best of all, there’s still someone around to help in case of gear failure or the inevitable grounding. Safety in numbers. There are pros and cons to both, and sometimes I wish I was part of one or the other. Some are likened to bus trips to Atby Steve Allan lantic City. We all travel together, anchor tours, and shoreside picnics, provisioning or take slips together, dine together, and expeditions into town, and perhaps most about the only activity that isn’t communal importantly, having the comfort knowing is sleeping, which is probably a good thing. that you’re always in good company with Other cruises are more laissez-faire. These helping hands should you experience enare the kind I prefer. Come and go as you gine trouble, steering failure, or shortages please. Be part of the group or not. Anchor of sunblock, or worse, beer. If someone or take a slip. Join in for part of the trip, seriously gets into trouble, as has happened then go your own way. a time or two, you can count on a rescue Then there’s just striking out on your operation rivaling anything the Coast own—going rogue. You, yourself, at one Guard could pull off. with your craft. The intrepid mariner, such as Slocum or Rutherford. Nobody’s schedule to follow but your own. Not spending all day monitoring the radio (and listening to the crackle of everybody else on the Bay) is a welcome relief. Go wherever you want. Do whatever you want, on your terms. But the day wears on, and the nights last forever, and not in a good way. Anchorages can get pretty lonely pretty fast, but if you’re into solitude that sailing ##Being part of the fleet is a great way to brings, that could be okay build experience and confidence. for a while. But then the weather turns. Even in marinas, a long spell of stormy weather can bring on the gloom of For those of us who aren’t world cruiscabin fever enough to test anyone’s nerves. ers, the peace of mind this brings cannot Something goes wrong with the boat, and be understated. Being part of the fleet is a you’re not sure how to fix it. great way to build experience and confiYou think about the club cruise. Right dence, always knowing that a mistake or about now someone would be calling you bad luck won’t likely ruin the whole cruise. with an invitation into a warm cabin full of Even if you have to limp home or into the conviviality, munchies, and laughter, not nearest port for repairs (or to the ER via to mention a rousing troubleshooting seshelicopter), the rest of the group will still sion that fixes your boat. Tomorrow might be in contact via cell or VHF and see that bring another day in port or time to set sail you are taken care of. after the storm. If you’re lucky enough to Other cruises are akin to smaller expedi- have a cruising club like mine, you know it tions (think Columbus or Cook), with doesn’t get any better than that. just two or three boats. This is much more About the Author: Steve Allan is, for the manageable, the natives seem friendlier, moment at least, Secretary of the Northern hospitable even. More of the responsibilChesapeake Cruising Club.
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