The Fair Winds Cruise The Fair Winds Cruise was something new for Mathews Yacht Club cruises. Rather than the usual cruise to a reciprocating club or other marina destination, Fair Winds was an anchoring cruise led by Will and Martha Story in FABULA. The concept of the cruise was to proceed to separate anchorages on the nights of August 23 and 24. The anchorages to be chosen after considering the participating yachts and the predicted weather. So it was that on Friday, August 23 six boats from the MYC converged through rain, lightening and thunder to meet at an unnamed anchorage up the Eastern Branch of the Corrotoman River.
They had been promised a Party Cruise with a strong nautical emphasis and this is what they came for. The vessels were: QUINTAN (George and Martha Cummings), CLADDAGH (Chip and Peggy Kinsey), QUINTAN, George and Martha Cummings Pearson 34 Chip and Peggy Kinsey s Gemini 34, CLADDAGH BILLIKEN (John and Becca Brown), BILLIKEN, John and Becca Brown s Hunter 34
INTRIGUE (Bob and Sandy Warren) and, FABULA (Will and Martha Story with Crewmember Michael-Dion Davis-Ruskovitch.) FABULA, Will and Martha Story s Morgan 32 PLOVER (Bill and Chris Burry) who provided the party raft, Bob and Sandy Warren s Endeavour 32, INTRIGUE The rain stopped just as the party started. Michael- Dion ran the taxi service in FABULA's dinghy for those not rafted. PLOVER, Bill and Chris Burry s Dickerson 41, under full sail Delicious hors d'oeuvres were shared and new friendships were formed among the cruisers. Becca Brown, with Sandy and Bob Warren
On Saturday morning after Colors and cruise announcements, with local lore, the boats departed for their next anchorage participating in a Harbor Start lead by FABULA. CLADDAGH, BILLIKEN, and INTRIGUE fall in behind FABULA, leading the Harbor Start down the Carrotoman The procession of boats, 50 yards apart down the Eastern Branch, was so stately and impressive that other boaters and shore dwellers emerged to take pictures of the parade. Martha Cummings, aboard QUINTAIN, watches and awaits their turns to join the procession
We were rewarded with fabulous sailing on the BEST DAY OF THE SUMMER! sporty 20 knot Northeasterly winds, bright sun, cool temperatures. About 3:00 the fleet began to arrive in Milford Haven east of day mark 12. The original six were joined today by RICOCHET (Richard and Letitia, George, Ord and Virginia Williams, Franz and Gerd Myer), CELTIC KNOTS (with members in waiting Jack and Louise Caldwell) LUNA (Ali and Angie Abassi). [Sorry, we didn t get any photos.] The fleet in the Milford Haven anchorage
At the Milford Haven anchorage, the fleet was also visited in the Sandy Point anchorage by Vice Commodore Mike Francisco, Brent Goo and her Canadian brother, Tim Scheid, Debbie and Mark Callahan, Jay and George Cummings, Bill Burry, and Will Story, in CLADDAGH s comfy dinette, enjoying some tasty treats Wendy Brown, and perhaps others. At 5:30 the partying began. At one point 21 cruisers and 2 dogs were seen enjoying food, drink and as always sea stories, onboard the spacious and hospitable CLADDAGH.
The purpose of the Fair Wind Cruise was to have a safe, seamanlike and fun several days at sea. Those who participated would agree, that goal was achieved. Commentary by Martha Story PLOVER Rides at Anchor as the Sun Sets Over Milford Haven