Sodus Bay Yacht Club
CLUB
CRUISE 2008
By Bob and Janet Wood, with editorial commentary by Pam Hatch
After
last year’s Club Cruise and all that transpired with our boat, i.e.,
three new batteries, new filters, new head, I decided that I would not
go again. However, I was convinced that this was going to be fun and
besides, everything on the boat had been fixed. So, off we went on our
first leg to Fair Haven. There we were joined by a large contingent
from SBYC that included the Lerouxs, the McGregors, the Riggles, Pam
and Nancy,(on Snoop and Moose) Nina LeFrois and Alys Klingenberg, the
Lyles, and the Pizers. A bocce match between FHYC and SBYC ended with
the other guys winning. Good food with lots of drinks and laughs
followed – a great day.
Our next port of call was Oswego to where only Pam and Nancy, the
Pizers, the Lerouxs and the Woods continued. We arrived later in the
afternoon with lots of sun but no wind. The Ebmeyers, the Willettes and
the Vandes have joined us. Another great cocktail party was held on the
Oswego Yacht Club deck followed by an interesting taxi ride to a great
Italian restaurant in town. How many people do you think can fit in a
6-passenger van? With a driver?
The next day we departed for Henderson Harbor. Again it was sunny and
warm but not much wind. We had our usual five o’clock cocktail party
followed by a delicious potluck supper. We decided to stay while the
Ebmeyers and Vandes decided to continue on to Cape Vincent and Pam and
Nancy went back to Sodus. Alone across the Lake, unable to SEE or hear,
but we lived to tell about it. The group enjoyed an afternoon sail on
Autumn Lady (finally some good wind), then cocktails and a cookout on
the grounds of the HHYC.
Sackets Harbor and Navy Point Marina was our next destination. On our
way into our slip, Capt. Bob commented that he smelled something
burning – not a good sign. So, let the boat rest, signed in, had
cocktails and then dinner at the Brew House restaurant. The next day
after breakfast at Tin Pan Galley, Bob set about finding what was
happening to the engine and discovered that the water pump was not
working. Luckily, the marina had a pump that fit, so it was installed
and all was well. Cocktails and a cookout in the picnic area of the
marina, followed by a euchre tournament on Willette’s boat. There seems
to be a question about who won or how they won? Decided to stay another
day because of unfavorable sailing weather. Word has it the ladies
decided they needed to stay another day. Took a walk into town, toured
the Barracks, did some shopping,($$$$$$) went swimming, fueled up and
pumped out, cocktails again, then went to dinner at the Boat House
restaurant.
The next morning was overcast, rainy and cool. Left the dock at 7:00 AM
with the Pizers and Willettes while the Lerouxs stayed so they could
attend their grandson’s lacrosse tournament that was taking place at
the Barracks. Had a good wind so we motor sailed for a couple of hours
and all was well until a loud blaring sound was heard coming from the
cockpit. A red light said “Engine Overheating”. Oh Lord – here we go
again! It was decided that we would continue because the wind was good
and besides – “This is a sailboat”.
That was fine for a while until the wind shifted.
Meanwhile, our cruise companions radioed to ask if we were all right.
“Of course”, said Bob, “this is a sailboat”. After a couple more hours
we were still quite a way from our destination of Sodus Bay but on
course to go to Rochester! Oh great! We had 54 miles to Rochester, 34
to Sodus and 14 to Oswego. So it was decided to make for the latter.
Now the wind had completely died, the weather had turned hot and sunny
and we were dead in the water.
During this quiet period which lasted for much too long, some choice
words were exchanged between the Captain and the First Mate, words like
“never again”, “you still don’t know how to sail”, “stuff it”, etc.
(First Mate? We heard there was a Captain and an Admiral on that
Sailboat!) We then found that the engine would run for about four
minutes before it stared to overheat, so we inched our boat closer to
Oswego. At about 5:00 PM we radioed Oswego Yacht Club to alert them
about our dilemma. We needed a long dock to sail onto but that was not
going to be happening for a while as we were now going one knot or less
and I wasn’t talking. Another call came from OYC asking if we needed
assistance, but of course the answer was “no”, because “this is a
sailboat”.
Finally, we could see the break wall of Oswego Harbor. We slowly
approached and sailed into the harbor at which point the wind finally
picked up. We sailed onto the long dock of OYC and were met by a large
group of helping hands. I hugged them all and vowed I wasn’t going on
that boat for a long time. We went into town for dinner and some wine
(still not talking), came back to the boat, no shore power so we went
to bed early.
The next morning, words of apology were exchanged and all was well – at
least we were on land. Bob emptied the sail locker for the umpteenth
time and wiggled down to inspect our “new” water pump. While he was
squished in the locker, two angels of mercy appeared next to our boat.
The Pizers had driven to Oswego to help us. (I hugged the two of them:
Arnie and Carol- in case you don’t know it.
After much conferring, the PhD and the CPA found that the impeller had
crumbled and needed to be replaced and there also were obstructions in
the heat exchanger. After about three sweaty hours and with the
telephone help of a local mechanic, the boat was fixed and we all had a
‘kumbaya” moment as we watched the water pump through the engine and
out through the transom! It was then decided that Arnie would sail the
boat back with Bob while Carol and I went by car to Sodus. Four hours
later, the boat was back at our marina and again all was well.
The question is: Will I ever go on a cruise again? As my mother would
say: We’ll see!
(editor's note by Pam Hatch) Yes, you will Janet. Who else will we be
able to tell stories about and laugh with? Besides an adventure must
have a little excitement. I recently asked Janet how long she had been
married and she said 46 years. I said wow Bob must be a saint! My arm
is still black and blue from her asking “What about me?”
Club cruises are always an adventure filled with laugher, helping
hands, good food, and friendships - which I think for many of us it is
the best part of the cruise. Why not think of joining the group next
year on the Club Cruise, there is always something happening, new
things to learn about the others on the cruise, fun and lots of laughs.
OH YES - and cruising!
