MS Summer Solstice Regatta Wrap-up 2005

EEEYYHAAAAA ! ! ! Or something like that anyway as
each the 15 Melonseed and the 1 Swampscott Dory skippers surely each
had their own version of that primal announcement of sheer joy when
sailing yesterday.

We sailed out of Padanaram Harbor into a building SW wind that
ultimately blew STEADY in the high teens. I've sailed in a lot of
MS Regattas and in a lot of great winds in my Melonseed years, and
folks, in its own way, this was as good as it has ever been!

The fleet sailed for about an hour or so upwind out to South Nonquit
Beach in about 12 – 15 knots. It was truly wonderful sailing, but
it got a little more sloppy and bumpy and windy the further out we
went. Had we rounded a point a couple of miles ahead I think we
would have been in some real heavy winds an seas so the decision was
to reach into a gorgeous sandy beach and haul `em up for a picnic.

The temp was in the 80's, sky fairly clear, and as summery a day as
you could imagine.
The sit-down on the beach was quite welcome…for a while, but the
building wind and the fantasy of a long broad reach home in 18 knots
of wind finally got us all back in the water.

Imagine the scene: 15 Melonseeds and a Dory in a widely spread group
sailing at full on hull speed (and maybe then some!). Spray was
flying everywhere as each boat seemed to take its turn at lurching
forward as the gusts slammed into its sail. The sail back was so
good that when we reached the beach most folks went back out for
more, and more. A few of us strutted our stuff and in a tight
little group and roared right in between the docks of the legendary
Concordia boat yard, whipped a tack or gybe or two, and as cockily
as we appeared, slipped back out again into the main harbor. Oh
yes, that was an ego boost.

The Melonseed fleet, in small groups sailed around a harbor stuffed
full of Hinckleys, Concordias, Marshalls and a plethora of other
world class fine yachts, and while I am, sure that we looked as good
as them all, WE were the ones having the most fun.

In the evening we had sunset party on the top of a cliff overlooking
the Atlantic, a live band, dancing, libation, great food and the
usual Melonmadness. The award of the Melonhead of the year t-shirt
went to Marc Theriault of Montreal, Canada for his abounding
enthusiasm, driving all the way here to play with us, and
willingness write his postings on this Yahoo page in half English
and half French!. I can't remember who got the "lampshade on the
head" award for the night, but that's another story.

That's enough for now. Got to go bail the leftover salt water out
of the bilge of MS #300, rinse her off and go do it all over again
today in the same winds in Duxbury. Well, someone's gotta do this
stuff, and I'm sure glad it's ME!!!

RC

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day two of the Regatta started with the same basic weather forecast
as Friday, and the winds were actually predicted to be a bit higher
although in fact they were just a little lighter, anywhere from
perhaps 10 knots building to at most the mid teens towards the end
of the day. It was hot though, summery, steamy and HOT.

About the same number of Melonheads as Friday arrived at the beach
at the west end of the Powder Point Bridge in Duxbury and dropped
their boats on the sand awaiting the incoming tide. Once all rigged
and ready we set off on a 2.5 mile close reach just offshore of the
beautiful barrier beach on the east side of the bay. It was easy
and comfortable sailing, plenty of steady wind and just plain fun.
The destination was Gurnet Creek, a delightful salt water pathway
that winds up and well into the marshes in the SE corner of the
bay. The lead boat hit the creek in about 40 minutes, and followed
by 14 others slid up the creek with the incoming tide. It was
really neat to see. The tide wasn't all the way in yet so the hulls
of the boats were below the level of the top of the marsh and all
you could see were the tanbark and linen sails magically moving
along through the green grasses!

Several hundred yards up the creek was a lager open area, sort of a
pool of sorts and a beautiful soft sand beach just about big enough
for the fleet to set down, on and that's where the fun really
began. We hauled `em up, furled sails and everyone "jumped in the
pool"! All day when the tide was out the bare sand had been
collecting the heat of the hot solstice sun and when the tide moves
in over it the sea water heats up to a very warm temp, just perfect
for swimming. We picnicked, played and swam for some time and I can
only think of the words "delightfully summery" as the perfect
description.

Sooner or later though sailing is what matters most and so off we
went. One by one the Melonseeds slipped back out of the creek in a
parade par excellence! I pulled my boat up on the marsh, stood on
the transom and photographed each boat and crew as they sailed by.
What a sight. Happy, happy people, very pretty boats and a scene so
incredibly summery.

Once out on the bay the fleet divided into a group of about 10 boats
that set off on another close reach of about 2.75 miles over to the
Duxbury town Pier, the Yacht Club and all the local waterfront
activity. The others headed back to the bridge. Once larger group
got to the town pier we rounded up and then cruised by the locals,
showing that the Melonseeds still know how to have fun and look good
doing it. After leaving the pier area the wind built to its
strongest force of the day and gave us a rollicking downwind run
about a mile back to the beach. Some fine sailing again! We hauled
the boats and headed home to refresh ourselves for the evening event.

I did my major semi-annual cleaning of the shop and civilized it
enough to make it party-friendly and so that's where we played on
Saturday night. It was a very relaxed evening with pizza and snacks
as the main course. The shop is on a tidal river, the South River,
and in fact the shop for the most part actually sits on pilings
right over the river when the tide is in. There is a big back deck
over the river with tables, chairs and all the comforts of a
wonderfully New England nautical view. We hung there recounting the
events of the last two days and enjoying the company of the always
happy and cordial Melonheads. It was great fun and so typical of
all the wonderful Regatta parties of the past 14 years.

I had brought the new Gunning Dory prototype out for folks to play
with, and several did. Marc T. was smitten, bitten by the bug and
ordered one right then and there! (Yes, it is also that good a
boat.) When I get into full production next winter he will be one
of the first to get one.

Just like the Melonseed itself, there seems to be some undeniable
magic about the gatherings of the Melonheads. So, I'll say it
again, "it's not just about the boats, it's about the people".
These Regattas always seem to work out so well. The weather Gods
shined on us (AGAIN!), the people are wonderful to be with and the
event was a shining success. I can think of several ways to measure
the success of a boat, but none better than to witness the pretty
boats, spectacular sailing and the happy faces I saw in this
Regatta. We may not have the biggest or the most expensive boats on
the water, but pound for pound we may have one of the best.

I wish to thank all who participated. Each in your own way, you did
so many things to make this Regatta successful. Your cooperation in
helping launch and haul boats, the great food you brought to the
party and the spirit of enthusiasm you spread over two days was
wonderful. No boat builder could ask for a better crew, and thanks
for the friendship as well. You make it all worthwhile for me to do
this and to build these boats.

For all of you out there who sail your boats alone in some far away
place, know that the spirit of all this is yours to share too. We
appreciate your support and enthusiasm as well.

Have a great summer everyone. GO SAILING ! !

Roger Crawford

Summer Solstice Regatta 2003

 by Karen Pautz

You might not have heard the sound, those of you who have real jobs, you who are assailed by the white noise of office or auto or home. But at some indeterminate time on Friday, somewhere in the early afternoon (Eastern Daylight Time), if you were sitting very still, you might have heard it. The tiny "snick" of everything -- every molecule, every atom, every great and unseen and omnipotent spirit ever invoked -- aligning itself in perfect order. The sound of a great universe-wide harmonic convergence, where the wind and the water and the tide and the sight of 13 works of floating (flying) Melonseed art absolutely Could Not Have Been Better.

This, gentle Melonheads, was the sail of all sails.

Or, as Roger C. summed it up, mimicking Meg Ryan in the famous scene with Billy Crystal in "When Harry Met Sally,"

Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Oh yeeeeees!

Yeah, I know, I've written before about what wonderful sails I've had (and they *have* been wonderful). But really and truly, this one was the best ever. Jump-up-and-down-and-abandon-all-hope-of-maintaining-any-modicum-of-sophistication-or-class-or-maturity great. Better than chocolate great.

Midwest Melonheads, if you haven't had the pleasure of sailing in the Massachusetts tidal marshes, you can't even begin to imagine what you're missing. On your list of things do to as soon as possible, put "sail in the next Melonseed Summer Solstice Regatta."

Picture a huge bay, bigger than most Corps of Engineer reservoirs. Taste the salt wind. Feel the steady winds. Imagine these really fun creeks (but not rocky-sided, water moccasin-infested Midwest creeks) that wind through the marshes and feed into the bay. Picture 13 Melonseeds, all manned (and womaned) by capable sailors, zipping up the bay and exploring one of these creeks, looping upstream and on all points of sail, till the banks closed in and there was barely enough room to turn around.

The sorely mistaken weatherman was calling for winds of 5-10, but Kurt Kaiser's spiffy wind-o-meter (okay, anemometer) recorded, while we were rigging for the sail, gusts of at least 14. And I'm just sure the breeze was stiffer than that once we were underway. My GPS recorded a speed 6.5 knots more than once (Kurt got 7!), and I’m betting I went even faster but was too busy trying to stay upright to check the reading. I knew we were flying when, on the reach home, I started to think “oh, gee, we’re slowing down,” only to see 5 knots on the GPS.

My oh my oh my. Oh my.

Sailing up the creek was such a treat. (All that tacking in and out of marinas and launch areas finally pays off!). And even more the treat was watching everyone sail away, one by one, after a lunch break on the marsh. The marsh grass is tall enough that, standing on the spongy matt of reeds that passes as “land,” you can’t see the boats or the sailors – only the top two-thirds of the pretty, pretty sails, tanbark and linen, marching away in funky unpredictable choreography.

Oh, yeah, the people are pretty okay, too. And they are particularly kind to Midwesterners with podunk grins who holler “I don’t know how to sail over marshes” and make a quick come-about so as to not completely humiliate themselves by running a-grass.

Today’s participants, in no particular order: Roger Crawford in gorgeous Morning Star (Melonseed #300), Fran Nichols, Elizabeth Durant, Don Salvator, Carolyn Sones, Chris & Kurt Kaiser, Mike LeBlanc, Karen Marciante, Carol Lyall, Kent and Allen Whitehouse, Phil O’Connell (82 years old and a crack sailor and my new role model), Jack Goss and me. Note the abundance of women. You go, girls!

We met at Roger’s shop this evening for a relaxing evening of potluck and Roger’s world-class chowder (and perhaps just a bit of alcohol), and we’ll sail again in the morning.

And yes, in case you’re wondering, today’s sail was more than worth the now-3200 miles that Harrison’s accrued on this trip.

Karen

MS #267, the lovely and pristine and really fast and better-than-ever Folderol, who wants Karen to find a job on the East Coast.