When I did the Work Day earlier this month, I heard a lot of nice people whining about not getting their boats out often enough. What a tragedy. You surely recall “Ratty” from “Wind In The Willows,” "There is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” Despite Ratty actually being a water vole I still take his words as gospel.

Maybe there is a way to make it more enticing for you to get up off your . . . hmmm . . . plush sofa . . . and come out and launch. Maybe we, the Cruising Keelboat Fleet of WSC, need to band together to help each other enjoy something that we certainly thought at one point was as good as it gets. I can do a little. If a few people could each do a little a lot might happen. “No one makes a greater mistake than he who does nothing because he could only do a little.” Edmund Burke

WSC has National Champion Sailboat Racers in the membership, and I’ve watched a couple of races and it can get pretty intimidating. No worries, mate, we can come out and have as much fun as the racers (maybe more fun!) and support them at the same time. Who knows?

What would YOU like to see regarding service to the Cruising Fleet (and the club in general, eh)? And like Ratty said, any time we spend out here on our boats will be making us the big beneficiaries of the effort. A few ideas I toss out to you to get your thinking going:

è How about a series of 1-hour seminars on some topics such as A) Deck and Hull Repair, B) Sail and Rigging Selection for Cruising, C) Ground Tackle Selection for Effective Anchoring, D) Celestial Navigation, E) Coastal Navigation Techniques for Inland Lakes, F) Permitting and Paperwork for International Cruising, G) Sailboat Rental in the U.S. Virgin Islands, H) Stocking The Cruisers Library - Book Reviews and Recommendations, I) Beach Cooking for Dummies, J) Fundamentals of Boat Battery Care and Feeding, K) Whatever sparks the groups interest? I think there is plenty of Local Talent to support the Expertise Requirements. The Seminar would be held at the club, followed by a group sail, and then a Cruiser Pot Luck.

è How about developing a Safe Cruising Check-List to help folks plan cruising expeditions around the local lakes and beyond?

è How about developing a Safe Boat Checklist and maybe a Group Inspection Day where numerous eyes go over each other’s boats looking for areas that need attention?

è How about a Cruiser Group Boat Repair/Upgrade day where some folks with knowledge show up, the group takes up a collection for common consumables and everyone pitches in to get every bodies boat up to snuff?

è How about organizing some sailing expeditions to some of the marinas around Lake Keystone for lunch or dinner?

è How about some Scavenger Hunts on the lake that would require each sailor to navigate to a specific place on the lake and pick up a tag, or flag or whatever? Whoever gets back first wins the undying praise and

adoration of the rest of the group. AND! Gets to help design the next course!

è How about organizing some 1-week sailing expeditions to the Gulf Coast, a mere 700 miles as the Seagull flies? Trailer your own boat or arrange your own rental, sail around for a few days or longer, come home and tell lies!

è How about a Sailing Adventure Section on the website where people can post their Cruising Stories and pics for others to enjoy?

è How about promoting a Mass Cruising Adventure in some logistically achievable salt-water such as Bermuda, Florida Keys, East Coast of Mexico, Tonga, wherever? Rumor has it that boat rentals in the USVI for a vessel big enough to handle 4- to 6-people (4=friends, 6=cozy) run around $1000 per week, but I haven't checked that myself. Or take your own boat if it's seaworthy and mobile.

è How about some Semi-Regular "Programs" by fleet members who have some exotic sailing vacation pictures or adventures on area lakes or wherever to share with the group? These could be held almost anywhere, even at a library in Tulsa, or Turley, or wherever.

è How about a Buddy System where you pair up with a one or two other folks/couples who have similar interests and time constraints to keep your enthusiasm up. Non-Sailors Anonymous? "Hey Ernest! Don't ya' think it's time you got your boat out this year? Let's go Saturday!"

è How about a push to get as many people as possible signed up on the Windycrest Group Listserv so we could all stay in closer touch? Check it out; it’s a cornucopia of sailing wisdom.

This was just brainstorming while I was waiting for the school kids to vacate the corner so I could finish sanding the bottom of the s/v Martha Daggett in prep for the Interprotect 2000E barrier coat. Let me know what YOU think we should do to encourage YOU to get out on a boat!

And right now you are probably thinking, “Oh! What a nice person that Railmeat is to do all of this stuff for us!” Ha! Belay that, sailor! This cowboy has a more-than-humanly-possible schedule going already, getting old floating things to keep the people inside and the water outside. I will help, I will organize, I will make a few phone calls, and I will attend the functions I am interested in. This whole deal is totally up to the members who want to get their boats out more often.

We have some folks who have already volunteered to help, we need more. If you can dream it we can do it as a group. Nothing is impossible for the WSC Cruising Keelboat Fleet! Well . . . if it’s within reason, anyway. How about sailing from Port Aransas, TX to Belize? Is that reasonable?

Ha! Stay in touch, give me your thoughts. If you want to do something, great, I’ll help. If not, great, I’ll put my grinding suit back on and go back to work.

Richard Bunn, 918-252-1305, rbunn@rlbunn.com
May 2007