Summer sailing and Corona

[Mas]

More and more coastal communities are closing their facilities to non residents and we can understand why. We just a couple weeks ago said goodbye to over 30,000 young, immortal, know everything yet clueless, rules do not necessarily apply to me University of Virginia students, along with the incredible loss of revenue from them including the largest single source all year, graduation weekend. I do remember being that age and guilty of all the above. Many folks we know that are out cruising from the winter are struggling with returning as countries close borders, restrict boaters from going ashore, etc.

Last year was a bust due to injury, this year's looking like it might also be in jeopardy Mas is still home with us in a barn here. Interlude is currently on the hard in the southern Chesapeake area, bottom done, but gunna hold off splashing as the county's board of supervisors have sent directives to all the marina and facilities to tell slip holders who are from out of town to stay home for many of the reasons you might imagine. Our marina, which is family owned and relatively isolated, has indicated that all are still welcome if needing to work on or check on their boats but to please limit or delay discretionary visits (read actually sailing). This could change as stuff does daily.  All restaurants are closed except any that offer 'to go'. All the activities with our little yacht club have been canceled, the sail loft can't meet customers on their boats as can't practice appropriate distancing, yada yada. Bottom line we don't wish to have a boat in the water that we can't check on or use. Until something changes, our summer cruising plans look less than spectacular. Hopeful though!

What's the summer cruising scene looking like for our Compac friends?

[5monkeys]

MAS,   I think it makes total sense to hold off on splashing the old girl until a time where it looks like you could visit and put her to good use. As a trailer sailor, I'm not ready to give up on the season just yet. I'm still looking forward to some spring projects on the boat, followed by at least a few good sails. Seems once outside we ought to be able to social distance just fine. However, if the boat ramps are closed.. now that's gonna be a problem.

[kahpho]

Driveway cruising. I'm raising the mast, leaning back with feet up on the opposite gunnel and tipping back a cold one in lieu of dipping the rail.


Honestly don't really know. Just mind wandering in isolation.

[slode]

With MN just announcing a 2 week shelter in place I should have lots of time to get Sylvia ready to go.  There's a few ramps around that may not be officially "open" and may not have docks out, but should still be accessible.  But we're still over a month out from having open water that's not going to give you hypothermia from just looking at it.  There were people ice fishing last weekend.  And with no dock you're going to get your legs wet.  So I'll probably wait till at least mid May, that is if we're allowed to leave our house for anything but buying food by then...

[Sunny Day]

Launch time - soon come....no problem mon....

[Bristol14]

In Massachusetts, the Governor included Marinas as essential businesses that can stay open during the crisis. He must be a sailor!

Of course all is dependent on staff health and safety, but this certainly gives us hope.

[Tim Gardner]

Ricky,

Just trailer your 16 to Smith Mountain Lake, and sail here.  I promise to stay 6' away.

TG

[Mas]

Well Timmy, Ricky appreciates the offer as good chance you couldn't get within feet of us anyway!

It is proving to be difficult for many who have already been out cruising to even get home. Know that on a Compac forum we are usually thinking a couple days sail at best but I'm talking folks who either live on their boats and cruise or at least half the year and they are all in warmer climes tryin to head home before the summer, read hurricane season.

...up über early as getting the land yacht loaded to drive down and prep interlude to be left unattended for an extended block of time.

[Reighnman]

At this point summer boating seems unrealistic for the majority of New Joysians. The national news might make it seem like all of NJ is the epicenter and just weeks from the peak but it's really northern near NYC. If the case pattern continues, can't really see how public health officials would deem it wise to allow hoards of people from all over NJ, NY, and PA onto tiny ill-equipped barrier islands for a week and then back to their communities. Seems like a recipe for disaster. Things are changing everyday so let's hope something breaks our way.

[Mas]

I hear ya Reighman. We are beginning to have Covid cases pop up here, One two weeks ago, 16 as of yesterday. I understand geometric expansion so we have only a short time before it could get pretty widespread here. The county where Interlude is on the hard has zero cases so far and the board of supervisors there have asked folks to please stay away. It is why I am now dealing with Interlude to be left unattended for an extended period as wish to respect that wish and not potentially bring issues to an area not the least bit equipped to deal with it. I am sure it is much the same there in your area, The county there depends heavily upon the boating season that they are asking to not happen. They are justifiably concerned.

I finally gave up with some folks, on the "big boat" forum I participate with, understand such requests from localities. Many folks on that forum keep saying that they won't cause any issues and they are still planning to go to their boats regardless because they are "self contained and won't be around others", understand that they will still be causing angst in the small coastal communities where they keep their boats by simply being there. They will fill up their boats, provision, pump out, need boat work, yada yada. It is not about them, it is about respecting people who call an area home and are knowingly sacrificing their livelihood.

We will prevail. Hang in there and sending fair winds to our New Joisey friends! Try to keep Bob from hoarding PBR, EPA already has enough super-fund clean up sites!

[Tim Gardner]

you talkin' about Bob's septic system?

[philb Junkie19]

Don't know what spring and summer will bring. Right now just stayin'  home. Tried a recipe for 'beer bread' It's as basic as you can get'.   Used one bottle PBR, (seriously) 2 3/4 cups flour, 3 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teasp. salt. Don't report me to the EPA.  It was no hardship to use the PBR. It was hanging around since my brother in law's last visit. Anyway the bread is lot like a biscuit in a loaf and good enough that I made a second.

In case anyone thinks to try it: Mix the dry ingredients, add the beer, mix it all and bake at 45 min. at 375 in a greased loaf pan.

Bob did mention Guinness in a recent post, maybe trying to rehabilitate his image.  I think using Guinness in bread might raise questions of judgement but bet it would be good.

[Bob23]

Hey! I resemble that!
Rick...so true all that you say. We just had 2 deaths on LBI...ya know why? Because one of the deceased daughters came down to LBI to celebrate her mothers 90th birthday and was unknowingly infected. Both her mother and her also older friend passed away.  Now that's some birthday gift!  So, while I detest isolation I can see the logic here.
  Anyway, lest I rant on and on, I raise my glass of PBR to you all!

Phil:  Wow...Guinness bread...who could ask for anything more! I'll try this and get back to you! As for questions about my judgement, it is unquestionably questionable. But y'all can be the judge of that!!

Bob23

[brackish]

Can't speak for the summer, but from now until Memorial day it will be business as usual for me.  Bay Springs Lake is the definition of social distancing, a Corp lake with no development on it. This time of year when I go to the marina I rarely see anyone much less get within six feet of them.  Out on the lake there will be some fishermen as the fish go into the spawn, but not enough to create an illicit group and they use the Corp ramps not the marina.  Looking at the weather and hoping for a decent weather window on 4/7 plus or minus to do an overnight cruise with a full moon. 

Summer? I generally give it up in the Summer not wanting to compete with the powerboat crowd.  Plus too hot and often without wind.

Stay safe folks, it is easy for me, but those with a lot more pop density have a challenge. Use common sense for your personal situation.  My mother is 96 and the other four in her household are all over 60 and have chronic issues that would be consider immune system or lung capacity compromising.  My mother is actually the healthiest.  They are fully quarantined, I won't even go visit her, but call most days.

[Tim Gardner]

On the serious side of things, many of the sailors on this site are well over 60.  We need to protect ourselves and our immediate families.  In our mold mitigation business, we use PPE regularly. We use the equipment to isolate ourselves from the atmosphere we work in. It is entirely different equipment than what we see the folks on TV wearing.
Specifically, surgical n95 masks protect others from you more than you from others. Wear-em when visiting others.
And, after donning gloves, disinfect them (because you handled them) before touching common items like doorknobs, faucets and the like.

That is all!