Merry Christmas everyone

[Salty19]

Merry Christmas to all in Com-pac-land! 

May your stockings be overfilled with gear and grog. 

[Bob23]

Thanks. I meant to do that but, like my Christmas shopping, I'm behind.
And a very Merry Christmas to all you fellow Compac nuts!
Bob23

[kickingbug1]

    im just happy being here to celebrate another with the family-----best to all com-pac sailors (especially clr buddies)

[Greene]

Happy Holidays to all. 

Time to light the fireplace, turn on some quiet Christmas music, light all the candles in the house and enjoy having all the family back together again. 

Merry Christmas and happy sailing dreams.

Mike and Brenda

[Bob23]

Christmas day forecast for my part of the woods: 20% showers, high near 49, partly sunny. I
guess we won't be seeing any of this stuff like last year:

bob23

[Billy]

Merry Christmas!

Much thanks for many laughs, useful tips, and much laughter.

Looking forward to another year of sailing and discussion!

[brackish]

Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year to the Com pac family, dysfunctional as it is. 

Yep, Bob, same story here.  Last winter we set a record for number of snow falls and total accumulation, and had the first white Christmas in history.  This year prediction is right around fifty and dry.  However, on the good side, I'm looking at next Thursday as being a reasonably good sailing day, 58F with SSW winds, 6-8.  Spin day.

[newt]

to all who  get to go sailing  on Christmas I say...
Waaaaaa- I want to go!
Watching the spindrift up here in Utah...
Merry Christmas!

[Greene]

It doesn't look like we'll have a white Christmas in Wisconsin, but it will be a wonderful holiday anyway.  We are lucky enough to have all 3 kids back and Brenda's sister and her husband here for a few days.  This is quite a feat considering they come from Minnesota, Alabama Tennessee and one from college in northern Wisconsin.  Later tonight my older sister and her husband from Arkansas will also be here to celebrate.  I don't think we'll be able to get this many of us together again for a Christmas day, so we are going to enjoy this one to the fullest.

Happy Holidays everyone. 

Mike and Brenda

[Pat McL]

Kinda rough down here in Eustis, FL yesterday. 7 kt breeze, full sun, no real chop -- hoping that things improve a bit. We were greeted by a small friend when we returned to dock.


Also met some of your friends temporarily here till spring.


Merry Christmas  -- Pat & Suzy on the Teddy Bear

P.S.  This greeting is especially for Bob23:

From us ("the wishors") to you ("hereinafter called the wishee"):
Please accept without obligation, explicit or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, politically correct, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion or secular practice of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions.
Please also accept, under aforesaid waiver of obligation on your part, our best wishes for a financially successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of this calendar year of the Common Era, but with due respect for the calendars of all cultures or sects, and for the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability, religious faith, choice of computer platform or dietary preference of the wishee.
By accepting this greeting you acknowledge that:
This greeting is subject to further clarification or withdrawal at the wishor's discretion.
This greeting is freely transferable provided that no alteration shall be made to the original greeting and that the proprietary rights of the wishor are acknowledged.
This greeting implies no warranty on the part of the wishors to fulfill these wishes, nor any ability of the wishors to do so, merely a beneficent hope on the part of the wishors that they in fact occur.
This greeting may not be enforceable in certain jurisdictions and/or the restrictions herein may not be binding upon certain wishees in certain jurisdictions and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wishors.
This greeting is warranted to perform as reasonably may be expected within the usual application of good tidings, for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first.
The wishor warrants this greeting only for the limited replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wishor.
Any references in this greeting to "the Lord", "Father Christmas", "Our Saviour", or any other festive figures, whether actual or fictitious, dead or alive, shall not imply any endorsement by or from them in respect of this greeting, and all proprietary rights in any referenced third party names and images are hereby acknowledged.

[patch]

 thinking about joining the lake eustis yacht club.56 miles from me in daytona.they have a flying scot race class.iWCTS informed me about the club.

[Pat McL]

Patch,

Last time I asked, as they built a nice ramp, the yearly fee was $300. Told them we has been sailing this lake since before most of them were air breathers, and that we would only need the ramp a couple dozen times a year. Then I was told that they needed a $300 pre membership fee. Typical yachties, but they are serious racers and a very active club. Membership allows one to keep boat on trailer on the lakefront facility. They seem to race every weekend. We still launch on the Tavares side at Buzzard Beach location, four or so miles WSW from the club. With a decent breeze, we can get across in about an hour, and when the wind gets up, they usually head in, so we have the lake to ourselves -- CP16s are very stable! This is a very good sailing lake with access to one of the best lakes in Central Fl, Lake Harris. Access is via the Dead River, a beautiful mile or so which runs under US441 (23-24 ft from water to bridge bottom). GoogleEarth it and have a look---- Merry Everything !! -- Teddy B

[edbuchanan]

Fellow Com-Pac'ers, below is Herman Melville's take on Christmas.  Merry Christmas to ye!


Chapter XXII - MERRY CHRISTMAS

At length, towards noon, upon the final dismissal of the ship's riggers, and after the Pequod had been hauled out from the wharf, and after the ever-thoughtful Charity had come off in a whaleboat, with her last gift - a night-cap for Stubb, the second mate, her brother-in-law, and a spare bible for the steward - after all this, the two captains, Peleg and Bildad, issued from the cabin, and turning to the chief mate, Peleg said:

"Now, Mr. Starbuck, are you sure everything is right? Captain Ahab is all ready - just spoke to him - nothing more to be got from shore, eh? Well, call all hands, then. Muster 'em aft here - blast 'em!"

"No need of profane words, however great the hurry, Peleg," said Bildad, "but away with thee, friend Starbuck, and do our bidding."

How now! Here upon the very point of starting for the voyage, Captain Peleg and Captain Bildad were going it with a high hand on the quarter-deck, just as if they were to be joint- commanders at sea, as well as to all appearances in port. And, as for Captain Ahab, no sign of him was yet to be seen; Only, they said he was in the cabin. But then, the idea was, that his presence was by no means necessary in getting the ship under weigh, and steering her well out to sea. Indeed, as that was not at all his proper business, but the pilot's; and as he was not yet completely recovered - so they said - therefore, Captain Ahab stayed below. And all this seemed natural enough; especially as in the merchant service many captains never show themselves on deck for a considerable time after heaving up the anchor, but remain over the cabin table, having a farewell merrymaking with their shore friends, before they quit the ship for good with the pilot.
But there was not much chance to think over the matter, for Captain Peleg was now all alive. He seemed to do most of the talking and commanding, and not Bildad.

"Aft here, ye sons of bachelors," he cried, as the sailors lingered at the main-mast. "Mr. Starbuck, drive 'em aft."

"Strike the tent there! - was the next order. As I hinted before, this whalebone marquee was never pitched except in port; and on board the Pequod, for thirty years, the order to strike the tent was well known to be the next thing to heaving up the anchor.

"Man the capstan! Blood and thunder! - jump!" - was the next command, and the crew sprang for the handspikes.

Now, in getting under weigh, the station generally occupied by the pilot is the forward part of the ship. And here Bildad, who, with Peleg, be it known, in addition to his other offices, was one of the licensed pilots of the port - he being suspected to have got himself made a pilot in order to save the Nantucket pilot-fee to all the ships he was concerned in, for he never piloted any other craft - Bildad, I say, might now be seen actively engaged in looking over the bows for the approaching anchor, and at intervals singing what seemed a dismal stave of psalmody, to cheer the hands at the windlass, who roared forth some sort of a chorus about the girls in Booble Alley, with hearty good will. Nevertheless, not three days previous, Bildad had told them that no profane songs would be allowed on board the Pequod, particularly in getting under weigh; and Charity, his sister, had placed a small choice copy of Watts in each seaman's berth.

Meantime, overseeing the other part of the ship, Captain Peleg ripped and swore astern in the most frightful manner. I almost thought he would sink the ship before the anchor could be got up; involuntarily I paused on my handspike, and told Queequeg to do the same, thinking of the perils we both ran, in starting on the voyage with such a devil for a pilot. I was comforting myself, however, with the thought that in pious Bildad might be found some salvation, spite of his seven hundred and seventy-seventh lay; when I felt a sudden sharp poke in my rear, and turning round, was horrified at the apparition of Captain Peleg in the act of withdrawing his leg from my immediate vicinity. That was my first kick.

"Is that the way they heave in the marchant service?" he roared. "Spring, thou sheep-head; spring, and break thy backbone! why don't ye spring, i say, all of ye - spring! Quohog! spring, thou chap with the red whiskers; spring there, Scotchcap; spring, thou green pants. Spring, I say, all of ye, and spring your eyes out!" And so saying, he moved along the windlass, here and there using his leg very freely, while imperturbable Bildad kept leading off with his psalmody. Thinks I, Captain Peleg must have been drinking something to- day.

At last the anchor was up, the sails were set, and off we glided. It was a short, cold Christmas; and as the short northern day merged into night, we found ourselves almost broad upon the wintry ocean, whose freezing spray cased us in ice, as in polished armor. The long rows of teeth on the bulwarks glistened in the moonlight; and like the white ivory tusks of some huge elephant, vast curving icicles depended from the bows.

Lank Bildad, as pilot, headed the first watch, and ever and anon, as the old craft deep dived into the green seas, and sent the shivering frost all over her, and the winds howled, and the cordage rang, his steady notes were heard, -

"Sweet fields beyond the swelling flood,
Stand dressed in living green.
So to the Jews old Canaan stood,
While Jordan rolled between."

Never did those sweet words sound more sweetly to me than then. They were full of hope and fruition. Spite of this frigid winter night in the boisterous Atlantic, spite of my wet feet and wetter jacket, there was yet, it then seemed to me, many a pleasant haven in store; and meads and glades so eternally vernal, that the grass shot up by the spring, untrodden, unwilted, remains at midsummer.

At last we gained such an offing, that the two pilots were needed no longer. The stout sail-boat that had accompanied us began ranging alongside.

It was curious and not unpleasing, how Peleg and Bildad were affected at this juncture, especially Captain Bildad. For loath to depart, yet; very loath to leave, for good, a ship bound on so long and perilous a voyage - beyond both stormy Capes; a ship in which some thousands of his hard earned dollars were invested; a ship, in which an old shipmate sailed as captain; a man almost as old as he, once more starting to encounter all the terrors of the pitiless jaw; loath to say good-bye to a thing so every way brimful of every interest to him, - poor old Bildad lingered long; paced the deck with anxious strides" ran down into the cabin to speak another farewell word there; again came on deck, and looked to windward; looked towards the wide and endless waters, only bounded by the far-off unseen Eastern Continents; looked towards the land, looked aloft; looked right and left; looked everywhere and nowhere; and at last, mechanically coiling a rope upon its pin, convulsively grasped stout Peleg by the hand, and holding up a lantern, for a moment stood gazing heroically in his face, as much as to say, "Nevertheless, friend Peleg, I can stand it; yes, I can."

As for Peleg himself, he took it more like a philosopher; but for all his philosophy, there was a tear twinkling in his eye, when the lantern came too near. And he, too, did not a little run from cabin to deck - now a word below, and now a word with Starbuck, the chief mate.

But, at last, he turned to his comrade, with a final sort of look about him, - "Captain Bildad - come, old shipmate, we must go. Back the main-yard there! Boat ahoy! Stand by to come close alongside, now! Careful, careful! - come, Bildad, boy - say your last. Luck to ye, Starbuck - luck to ye, Mr. Stubb - luck to ye, Mr. Flask - good-bye, and good luck to ye all - and this day three years I'll have a hot supper smoking for ye in old Nantucket. Hurrah and away!"

"God bless ye, and have ye in His holy keeping, men," murmured old Bildad, almost incoherently. "I hope ye'll have fine weather now, so that Captain Ahab may soon be moving among ye - a pleasant sun is all he needs, and ye'll have plenty of them in the tropic voyage ye go. Be careful in the hunt, ye mates. Don't stave the boats needlessly, ye harpooneers; good white cedar plank is raised full three per cent. within the year. Don't forget your prayers, either. Mr Starbuck, mind that cooper don't waste the spare staves. Oh! the sail-needles are in the green locker! Don't whale it too much a' Lord's days, men; but don't miss a fair chance either, that's rejecting Heaven's good gifts. Have an eye to the molasses tierce, Mr. Stubb; it was a little leaky, I thought. If ye touch at the islands, Mr. Flask, beware of fornication. Good-bye, good-bye! Don't keep that cheese too long down in the hold, Mr. Starbuck; it'll spoil. Be careful with the butter - twenty cents the pound it was, and mind ye, if - "

"Come, come, Captain Bildad; stop palavering, - away!" and with that, Peleg hurried him over the side, and both dropt into the boat.

Ship and boat diverged; the cold, damp night breeze blew between; a screaming gull flew overhead; the two hulls wildly rolled; we gave three heavy-hearted cheers, and blindly plunged like fate into the lone Atlantic.

[newt]

How about just Merry Christmas Guys! It has been a great year for my family, and I have everything to be grateful for.

[Bob23]

Pat:
   You've got my sense of humor! Genius is often misunderstood.
   This morning, as our son Chris and his new wife Jennine, and our daughter Joanna, my wife and my mother-in-law and I were opening gifts, I stopped to breathe it all in. I realized that, despite some real negatives and turns for the worse, I am a blessed man. I live in a house with running water, heat, and a/c. I have a fridge full of food, a job, and a Compac 23! Compared to the majority of the worlds people, I'm living like a king. I have nothing to legitimately complain about.
   I thank God each day for blessing an ignoramus like me. Merry Christmas to you all!
Bob23