October 2003 Messabout
The October 2003 California Delta Messabout was an event that many of
you will be sorry you missed. While not up to the the grandeur of the
Great Kingston Messabout of this past September, our attendance was
five times that of the August 2003 Delta Messabout! We had folks,
male and female, ages 12 to... well, lets say "near retirement age"
representing three countries including the wilds of the Canadian
prairie, the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus, and three states
of the USA. We also had twice the number of boats compared to the
August 2003 Messabout, all available for inspection, and we had some
nice rides on the California Delta from the meeting/launch site on
Bethel Island to the San Joaquin River and back. Water temp was 82F
and air temp slightly above that, low humidity, clear skies, warm
sunshine and a nice downslope breeze of 8-12 knots off the Sierra
Nevada Mountains.
Builder's experience ranged from "I'm still gluing her together" to
"I'll soon be starting my tenth, or is it my twelfth boat? Topics
discussed included; Where do you buy plywood? What primer, what
paint? What epoxy at what cost? Did you know you can get silicone
bronze boat nails at _____? Where have you sailed before? And then
the big one, what design are you thinking of building next? With lots
of agreement on the need for onboard sleeping space and
pilothouses.... Seems like there are Bolgerites thinking of distant
shores with somewhat more challenging weather conditions than the
California Delta....
Everyone I asked had a good time. To my knowledge, no one went
hungry, no one was cold, no one was hot, no one got sun burnt, no
mosquitos or other pests. Some stayed late and enjoyed a fine sunset
meal at a fun little dockside restaurant overlooking the Delta waters
beyond Piper Slough. By dark all but two had packed up and headed
home. Those that stayed anchored out near a tidal sandbar, enjoying
a warm peaceful night with the sound of distant cows mooing at the
star filled moonless night.
Today I found a very brief message on my answering machine from one
of the attendees. All it said was, "That was fun".
So I ask, how come you weren't there ?
And more to the point, anyone interested in a ... ....
NOVEMBER 2003 California Delta MESSABOUT ?
Rick
you will be sorry you missed. While not up to the the grandeur of the
Great Kingston Messabout of this past September, our attendance was
five times that of the August 2003 Delta Messabout! We had folks,
male and female, ages 12 to... well, lets say "near retirement age"
representing three countries including the wilds of the Canadian
prairie, the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus, and three states
of the USA. We also had twice the number of boats compared to the
August 2003 Messabout, all available for inspection, and we had some
nice rides on the California Delta from the meeting/launch site on
Bethel Island to the San Joaquin River and back. Water temp was 82F
and air temp slightly above that, low humidity, clear skies, warm
sunshine and a nice downslope breeze of 8-12 knots off the Sierra
Nevada Mountains.
Builder's experience ranged from "I'm still gluing her together" to
"I'll soon be starting my tenth, or is it my twelfth boat? Topics
discussed included; Where do you buy plywood? What primer, what
paint? What epoxy at what cost? Did you know you can get silicone
bronze boat nails at _____? Where have you sailed before? And then
the big one, what design are you thinking of building next? With lots
of agreement on the need for onboard sleeping space and
pilothouses.... Seems like there are Bolgerites thinking of distant
shores with somewhat more challenging weather conditions than the
California Delta....
Everyone I asked had a good time. To my knowledge, no one went
hungry, no one was cold, no one was hot, no one got sun burnt, no
mosquitos or other pests. Some stayed late and enjoyed a fine sunset
meal at a fun little dockside restaurant overlooking the Delta waters
beyond Piper Slough. By dark all but two had packed up and headed
home. Those that stayed anchored out near a tidal sandbar, enjoying
a warm peaceful night with the sound of distant cows mooing at the
star filled moonless night.
Today I found a very brief message on my answering machine from one
of the attendees. All it said was, "That was fun".
So I ask, how come you weren't there ?
And more to the point, anyone interested in a ... ....
NOVEMBER 2003 California Delta MESSABOUT ?
Rick