06/18 - 06/19 - Port Townsend Safety Launch

Those tides don't match with my PT tides from saltwatertides.com, I show low tomorrow of 0.9 ft at 3:02 PM.
Saturday morning low at 5:16 AM of 2.4 feet.
I'm not sure why the difference.
 
ok its 617 and susan is now where close to getting home. if we are in the water at 8 tonight that puts us at the dock around 10 at best. we will see you all tonight OR first thing in the morning. first race is at 10 so we may have to leave really to get there on time but we will. i would rather do that then try to get in to a small narrow and shallow inlet for the first time. never been there would rather do it in the day light.

I do not have anyone number that will be there so could some one call on of them and let them know thank you.
 
We have seven boats over in Mystery Bay, ready for the race today.

Tom, if you're getting Internet, meet us off the Marine Science dock at 9:30. To get there, leave Port Hudson, go left along the shore towards Pt Wilson. There is only one dock along the way - you'll see us gathered off in the water off that dock.

Dave
 
Got back from the event a couple of hours ago. Great fun, good company, thanks Dave. We were actually quite busy today, 40 boats, Pt. Wilson chop, fog, stupid boaters not monitoring the radio, but all got in safely.
Thanks Dave for inviting us.
 
What a great time. Thanks so much Dave. I'm looking forward to the next one already. Finally, home after washing the boat, parking it in the, storage, parking the pick-up in another garage, and getting everything in place, the laundry in the washer and the pizza in the oven.

I wish I could have stayed for the awards meeting just to see what went on, but from our end it was an absolute blast. Busy, yes, educational, yes, and inspiring definitely. These folks were sitting on something not much bigger than a 2xl0, and going through tidal rip waves 2-3 feet. Grit, determination and perseverance were evident in the rowers over and over again.

Had a great crew, Thanks Dan for spending two days, riding along. Great to have you, and thanks for driving too, made for some good photos. Enjoyed the company of PT rowing club member, Kate, and her insight into the techniques and training, the process of rowing races. Really a priviledge to get to work with the C-Brats on this project. Thanks to each one.

This is what I want to do with my boat. Sharing and community type service, and it was great. Thanks again Dave, for all your work setting it up. Great time, good friends and everybody got back to shore safe.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
We spent the weekend with this fantastic crew of C-Brats. Our sincere thanks to all of you for everything you did this weekend to insure the safety of those folks out there in their rowboats.

To Dave (PLAN C), Thank you so much for having us in the group as standby. Not to forget the great crab cakes, too.

Other special C-Brats who gave so generously of their time to this safety event were Roger and Janet (DREAMER), Barry (C-CAKES), Dave (SEA SHIFT), Tom & Susan (SUSAN E), Harvey (SLEEPY C), Dan (C-RENITY) and Chris & Randy (1983 Classic Name TBD).

To our dear friend Rev. Dave, Thank you for bringing your christening materials and performing a ceremony for another R-MATEY at Mystery Bay. This time no one also fell into the drink 'after the drink" (an old joke pertaining to the christening of the first 19CD).

Tom, that was one wild windy ride on your new 27. Joe said my hair reminded him of Don King, the fight promoter. Nice guy, that husband of mine :lol:

It was just wonderful seeing Rick and Donna McKenzie again (of FOGGY DEW). I couldn't believe that it'd been four years since we'd last seen you! Happy to have you back here in the PNW. Thanks for the Coast Guard coaster. That's pretty neat!

Nice to have been able to visit with Tanya (C-RENITY) and Pam (PLAN C).

We had a great time!

Sincerely,
Ruth and Joe
R-MATEY
 
Dave, thank you so much for setting up this fine "Community Service" C-Brat Get Together. It was a pleasure to see the C-Dorys out there bobbing around accompanying the rowers and trying to keep fast boats from plowing through them. I'm guessing that all of the participants in the race will now recognize a C-Dory when they see one! Please be sure to thank the rowing club for their hospitality in providing the Salmon BBQ on Saturday, and for providing the complimentary moorage at Point Hudson Marina. The whole weekend was very enjoyable!

The first night at Mystery Bay was delightful. The night was calm and serene with the moon shining down upon us. I'm glad that I had my Christening "paraphernalia" with me so when Ruth asked if I would Christen the new R' Matey, I was ready to officiate.

It was great to be joined by C-Brats I'd not met before...Pam, Randy and Chris and to finally meet Rick and Donna who now reside in the Great Northwest.

During breakfast on Sunday morning, Dave (Plan C) shared with me the story of his adventurous 11 month trip across a large portion of America in a wagon driving a team of horses. (The adventures that many C-Brats have been a part of never ceases to amaze me. We have folks that have sailed many parts of the world, climbed to the top of Mount Everest....and the list goes on......).

After a fun filled weekend, I filled my thermos with hot coffee, cranked up the Wallas and departed Point Hudson for a warm 2 hour cruise back to Everett. After bathing "Sea Shift", Carol, Jessica and I went out for Father's Day dinner.
 
I didn't stay for the awards, either. When the race was over and we were back at the docks, I took a deep breath and felt a great relief that none of the competitors had died or even needed rescue. I feel it was tremendously important that we were there, and that we had our act together. Over the years people have died regularly in the Point Wilson rips, kayakers especially. Yesterday the competitors , all except three who withdrew, made it to the end without visible mishap. I spent much of the race at Point Wilson, and at one point saw a genuine five footer wave (wave plus ship wake). I am in awe to see people row through that rough water. We had a serious possible disaster as my crew Robert watched his friend Shane Baker in a kayak become disoriented and turn in the fog to head north. If Robert had not seen that, Shane would still be paddling, or might have gone under a tug and barge in the ship channel. Turned around, Shane finished the race.

It was a great weekend with delightful fellowship and a chance to work with Brats who brought the necessary skills with them. Essentially we all worked pretty independently, but coordinated magnificently. It was a great pleasure to be associated with such a competent team.

And thanks, Tom, for helping me with my failed Wallas. Thanks Joe and Ruth for bringing the new R-Matey down to give us a chance to admire her, and to be our backup boat, in case we had a no-show (all showed!).

It was a great experience.

Dave
 
Susan Thanked me the whole way back for a great weekend. She did not think it was going to be fun watching other people boat and was a little down that we were going, but after the first day she had changed her mind and really enjoyed both the race and the dock time. It was a good time for her to practice her radio skills in a non-stress environment. We both really enjoyed the water and the challange of working in a team to help insure the safety of the rowers. I have never rowed open water and this was a chance to see both how it is done and why I love my motor boat. many rowers were having a hard time in the rips and with navagation in general. The fog did no help at all. Some of the scull boats where having a hard time crossing the ripps and kept turning in to the waves and not into the course they needed. Much can be learned watching others fail, and it dont hurt as much doing it your self.

On the way back Sunday we got all the way pass the mukilteo light when coast guard called out that a sailboat had gone aground off scathlet head . So off we go to take a look. I would not have turned around except that the coast guard report the sail boat was taking on water. took 20 mins to get there and just before we did a 29 ranger tug named " shared something?" showed up. it was determined that the sail boat was in no danger and NOT taking on water. I don't know if the sail boat call in or if some one on shore called it in. Just wish they had gotten their story straight or call 20 minute's earlier when i was going by the first time.

Plan-c, thank you for a great weekend and wonderfully idea. I hope we can do it again next year. we love how little port Townsend is but has good food and such a nice marina.

Finally got to meet Rick and Donna and welcome them to the north west. hope to see you both on the water this summer. And as always a great time with everyone else.

Oh the crab cakes. I don't order sea food much in restaurant's because they always screw it up. Over cooked or just cooked wrong. crab cakes are a big no no because you get very little crab and lot of fillers. So at breakfast sunday I forgo the crab cakes as I never like them unless I make them. I finally had a bite of Susan's to get her to stop bragging about them. Man I should have gotten a double order of those babies. That is the only time since the Chesapeake I have had a good crab cake. Will be going back for those.
 
Mike, I think that is a good idea to show our community service project, I have some photos, and I know there were others out there, especially Cindy on Otter, and probably Dreamer. You know how I am about pictures though :roll: . Will try and see if we can work it out some how.

There was an official photographer :photo on Plan C, but I don't know what his agenda was. Dave may know better, but I am guessing :oops: it was to photo each participant for them to get a picture. (Just my guessing though.)

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Ok then. The album is there. It is the first one in the Cruises and Events gallery section. I did it from my phone so good luck making it work! Any troubles and I'll fix it up when I get home.

Some pictures of the row boats going through the waves would be cool along with the C-Dorys.
 
I didn't take a single picture :( Saturday would have been fine, Sunday when they would have been better and more dramatic I was too busy shepherding boats. Whew that was a workout...but great fun and good kharma for the C-Brats.
 
Man, I wish we could have brought the boat over but it wasn't to be. It was, however, great to shake hands with folks and to hang out on the dock and chat. We're certain we'll see you folks out on the water.

Tom and Susan, that's a very cool fishin' machine you have guys have.

A special hug to Ruth and Joe...what a nice surprise to see you guys there...you're right, it has been a long time. Too long!

Rick & Donna
 
Thanks Harvey for letting me join you on the water. It was great seeing everybody and spending some time, albeit far too short, on the docks at Hudson Marina w/ those that attended.

Even Tanya whom I had to cajole into joining us on Sunday (she wanted to see everybody but after the rough return from Langley - did not want to get on a boat again so soon) really enjoyed watching things from the shore. She drove back and forth between the area where the race started out over to Fort Warden State Park and Point Wilson to observe the C-Dory's in action.

It sure is impressive seeing up close how professional all of the C-Brats helping out in the event were. Often, seemingly much more so then the police/sheriff boats involved - at least as gauged by their respective communications.

I greatly enjoyed being on the water w/ Harvey and had my eyes opened seeing and listening to the C-Dory's in action. I have so much to learn and appreciate the patience of all of you in answering my frequent questions and tolerating my many shortcomings. Glad I crewed instead of participated due to my lack of the skills exhibited by all of you.

Damn I am glad to have acquired a C-Dory and have met so many great people (Ranger folks too Joe & Ruth)!

Hope to see most of you in Bellingham next month.

Take care,
Dan & Tanya
 
I got word that the Port took care of the mooring fees, so it didn't come out of the Race's limited budget.

We've had a lot of nice comment, and this from the national director of the Open Water Racing:

We have so much to be thankful for. High in that list is the presence of the C-Dory fleet. Clearly, the tide rip potato patch and the fog on Sunday provided a significant challenge for most everyone in the race, and having so many support boats on hand, having such good coordination/communication among them and with those onshore, and having their competence and familiarity with the waters made all the difference. In the end, folks were safe and had a terrific time. So many very good memories were created that day. In addition, we had several days of practice runs, and I think in every case, and with little advance notice, it seems to me that there was a safety/support boat on hand. Dave and the C-Dory fleet made a fantastically important and meaningful contribution to what turned out to be the best NAOWRC ever!
--Steve
 
Dave, we couldn't have done it without you. You did a fine job of coordinating and preparing.

As to the photographer, was he there to get a photo of each rower, or was it for a rowing magazine, or do you know what he was shooting for?

Any chance we will get to see any of his pictures anyplace, Web site for the races or something? Maybe the PT rowing club if they have a site? Curious -- would like to see what he did.

Thanks again

SleepyC
Harvey
 
Thanks Harvey

It was a great time all around. I'd sign up again in an instant.

I have some nice comments from Steve Chapin that I'll post - I'm away from home a couple of days.

Maybe we need some more wayward boats somewhere that we can herd!

Dave
 
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