BARNEGAT BAY BASH 2013

[Eagleye]

snickerdoodles   !!!!
I can smell them from here!!

The forcasts up here aren't looking good today either so i decided to leave early tomorrow morning and should arrive at Forked River around 8:00.

-Allen

[Mike K]

...And Tim and my boats probably won't launch from Barnegat Pier (or Southwinds marina?) until 11AM or so on Saturday after the longish drive from Delaware. 
Hope to see you guys sometime after noon, if you're not passed out from all the Snickerdoodles!
Mike

[Bob23]

Question: What do work, lightening storms and Nissan outboards have in common?
Answer: All three have conspired to prevent me from attending the Bash. First, work ran long...big surprise- I have taken over a major renovation project and this is our first week.
Second, I don't sail in electrical storms, period. But I made an exception this afternoon thinking I could dodge the bullet until a nearby bolt reminded me maybe not a great idea. I turned around to find that I've got a major problem with Miss Nissan. Oh she runs and looks great but I've got a problem with forward gear. Like it's sorta missing. That's three!
   Too bad...there was a honkin' SSW wind today and it would've been a great run to Tice's. A shift to NNW is forecast for tomorrow which means it'll be on the nose. I plan to leave before daybreak and tack, tack, tack my way to Tice's engineless. I've done it before but it takes a while which means that instead of arriving first, I'll probably be last. Save a Snickerdoodle for me, mates!
Bob23
I will attend the Bash even if I have to row my guideboat! If you see and old fart rowing a beautiful Burgundy Guideboat, that's me!

[romei]

I had to put my best friend down yesterday.  I'm an emotional wreck.  I won't be coming tomorrow.  RIP Sky Blue.

[Bob23]

Ron...so sorry to hear this news. We will miss you but I understand 100%! Last December I thought we were facing the same decision and I found myself quite unprepared to make such a decision. Fortunatley, she has recovered but at 14 1/2, we're past the upper limit for this breed.

You won't believe this but our Scarlet and your Sky Blue could be cousins! Ours is a 14 1/2 year old Red Siberian Husky with blue eyes. We rescued her when she was about 1 1/2 years old and she has been the best dog anyone could hope for; full of personality and mind of her own.
Again, sorry to hear this sad news. They truely make  better people than most humans.
Bob23

[nies]

So sorry.......................remember your best friend is fine without pain or troubles and will waiting for you as always.....................nies

[Eagleye]

I so understand, Ron.   I was a blubbering mess when I had to put my lab (12 years) down. He grew up with my children.  Sky Blue will forever hear your call......
We will raise a toast to Sky Blue and your family.

Allen

[Mike K]

Saturday our 2 little boats launched from the Barnegat ramp, and we headed towards Tice's Shoal about 7 miles away.  We were sailing together until the wind died down, and my nephew in his CP16 tried going around an island towards the Barnegat light thinking there was more wind over there.  I was looking at my GPS that hinted staying more to the mainland up until Forked River was the more prudent thing to do, so our boats split up.  I couldn't get him to follow me.  Since, he was a "local" who lives in Barnegat and I was not, I thought he would be OK.

When the wind died to almost zero, I fired up the engine, and was about a half mile away from Tices-- so close I thought I could smell the Snickerdoodles.  Just then I got a call from my nephew on his CP16.  It seems that he got hung up on the massive shoals around Barnegat light, and even worse, his 25 year old motor would not start.  

So I was very disappointed to have to turn around, and motor back about 3 miles to where he was anchored near an extremely narrow and shallow channel north of the Barnegat inlet.  At first I thought it was the Garden State Parkway with all the fast boat traffic!    It was a very crazy ride having a 16 foot legacy with a 4HP motor towing a 16 foot CP16 through a narrow channel with about a hundred huge motor boats steaming by at 15 knots.  I thought we were going to roll a few times.  

One huge cabin cruiser created such a wave that my boat fell down the back side of a wave, turned 90 degrees, and we wound up having to do a 360 degree turn across a busy channel, creating a lot of angry powerboaters in the process   .  During the channel towing, we saw another CP16 checking up on us.  I'm sorry, I can't remember the boat name, but it may have been Bob's "Nauti"?  Anyway, thanks for looking after us as guardian angels.

I towed him most of the way back to the Barnegat ramp, until the wind shifted and picked up again, and we both had a nice sail back to the ramp.   I'm sorry we never quite made it to the Bash--I really did want to meet all you, and check out your boats, especially Allan and Suzie's Eclipse, as it seems like an interesting design and size for a trailer sailer.  Oh well, the whole ordeal makes for a good story, and at least I know what to get my nephew for Christmas this year-- a set of Nautical charts of the Bay!  And maybe his dad can spring for a new engine for next years Bash???

For those of you that did make it, I hope you had a great time.  I definitely want to try again next year!!
Mike and Cathay and our sailing dog Sophie.

[Beckeresq]

Mike and Cathay and Sophie-  This is Bob (Nauti), and it wasn't me, but I was in the area. I think you may have seen John Roberts' boat.

I "tried" making it from Forked River with a 2 hp kicker and two gallons of gas.  The Forked River "Highway" is almost charming, and once I got out into the Bay, the "Big Boys" really open up.  With no wind and conserving gas for the planned trip back, I felt like a cork, particulary when facing wakes on both sides at the same time.

I got within a mile of Tices (looked like wall to wall boats), and it started to rain.  I headed back to Southwinds Marina (more wakes) and started thinking about adjustments for next year.

[Bob23]

   We really missed all who couldn't make it. But, take heart: there are already some plans being made for a BBB 2013 version 2.0 in September. I'll post more later about the Bash but I just came from dinner and with 3 Margaritas, I'm more fit to hit the sack than post a lengthy account of the Bash.
   Mike: Tell your nephew to get a chart. The north side of the Oyster Creek Channel is really shallow...I've seen some big sailboats hard aground there! Coming from Barnegat, one has to swing kind of an arc around that shallow area and then head ENE toward Tice's. But as the man sings: "If you ain't been aground, you ain't been around."
Best to all!
Bob23

[jthatcher]

Alls well that ends well..    I have not heard from Marty or Allen yet, but  I am assuming that they made it home safely as we did.    It was quite a gathering with friends, old and new..   we were blessed with wonderful weather, good food to share,  fun conversation ...  another very successful gathering at Tice's Shoals  thanks to Bob's  planning and organizational skills!     I have the complete write up on my blog..  at least from my perspective.  I am sure that others will add exciting tidbits of their own!

of course, this is just a devious way of getting more visitors to my blog     
   http://lifeat6mph.wordpress.com/2013/08/12/barnegat-bay-bash-2013/

as usual, I got pretty long winded, but there are some good pics .    i hope that you make it through the entire thing...   and I hope that more will join us again at the next gathering.. maybe in sept???   for sure next summer..   jt

[romei]

Thanks for the blog post.  I loved it  

I'm wondering, after reading some of these posts, is a CP16 really big enough for the bay?

[jthatcher]

hi romel,
   on the right day, the  16 is probably very happy on the bay..  I can imagine that  there are days out there when it might be a bit challenging - of course I know that the same is true with a 23!    For some, the question is more about the accommodations  on the 16.    I often compare staying on the 23 to sleeping in our 4 person tent.. the 23 is more comfortable..  i guess it depends on what size tent you are used to sleeping in  

I am sorry that you were unable to join us..  it is never easy to make that trip to the vet.    Last year we lost 3 of our 4 cats in a matter of 6 weeks.. we still miss some of them     

Bob is already floating the idea  of meeting again in September.   We  would love to do it if we can make time in the schedule..   My experience is rather limited, but  the time that we have been down there in September has been the nicest!     thanks for reading..  jt

[jthatcher]

Allen and Marty,  did you guys make it home yet?    we sure enjoyed your company this weekend.    I am sorry that the wind was not all that favorable  as we headed home  on sunday morning.   

It is time to start thinking about  a winter gathering..    jt

[MKBLK]

Wow! What a weekend. Sorry to hear that some that planned to partake of the joy of rondevouing (sp?) at Tice's didn't make it. A real adventure all around apparently. Sorry about the loss of your best friend, Ron. I know the pain. Losing a good buddy is good reason to tear up.

I haven't read Jason's story yet, but I'm sure it's a good one (after all, I was there!).

Trailering the CP16 (Pegasus) down from Levittown, PA to Bayville, NJ on Cedar Creek was an easy ride (about 55 miles). Launching from Up-The-Creek Marina was a somewhat different story. The marina's ramp ain't the best, at least not for boats with any kind of keel. It's really short... and then plop! So, I couldn't get deep enough to float off the trailer without losing the Volvo and required some extra muscle power, which, thankfully, was nearby. An important lesson was learned when the mains'l halyard decided to take a hike up to the mast head... really? All that shakin' took its toll. So, I had to drop the mast and retrieve the halyard. Then all the rigging started to catch on anything in sight! Finally, got it up and the forestay secured and wouldn't you know it... the halyard was hanging just out of reach! Really?! After some creative manipulating and near death, I was finally ready to sail.

The trip to Tice's went really well with no problems other than almost being swamped by a zillion power boats. Most of who don't give a darn about little sailboats. Finally found our Com-Pac flotilla and met up with Bob, Jason and Janet, and Allen. My friend Alex showed up in his Bristol 24. He originally was going to sail his Potter 15 but wisely left in home. Why wisely? Because Saturday night was an adventure (for me anyway). The larger boats did just fine, but the wind caused enough wave action that Pegasus tossed and bucked until almost dawn.

But, the camaraderie was worth the pain! Really enjoyed myself and our pleasant chats Saturday evening before turning in. Even got to dip in the beautiful Atlantic Saturday afternoon. Chilly, but it felt real good.

Too soon it was late Sunday morning and time to head back north to Bayville. Not much wind, but was able to make steady progress northward. Allen and I appropriately raced westward under about 4 mph of wind, neck and neck for about 20 minutes then he turned south and I turned north. The wind was out of the SW so I had a decent push, no complaint. Then I mistakenly turned into the wrong channel. Big mistake! When I realized my error, I had already dropped the sails figuring to motor in on the Minnkota. Now I had to get the sails back up and wouldn't you know it... the main twisted. But, I finally got back into the bay and rounded the point into Cedar Creek like I just had a sea battle... and lost! Got back to the marina with about 2 volts left in the battery, but safe. Getting out of the water presented the next challenge. Fortunately, my friend Alex, and our mutual friend Dario (and his friend Bill) were there to provide the needed muscle to drag poor Pegasus onto the hard. I was so exhausted that it took me nearly an hour to get Pegasus ready to roll. Something that usually takes about 20 minutes.

After a pleasant dinner with Alex, we parted ways and I (gratefully) had an uneventful trip home. The CP16 travels real well behind the old '90 Volvo 760T wagon. The air-conditioning felt real good too!

Don't fail to read Jason's report. I didn't want to steal any thunder!

Marty K.