"Watch Out For The Wall!"...Friday, October 27, 1990: The day before the MSA Halloween Party, the Sailing Team had try outs for its spring roster. The MSA fleet set sail in light to medium wind conditions that suddenly turned violent.
With wind gusts up to 30 knots and white caps everywhere, one boat failed to return to the launch and disappeared--crew and all. Having ventured too close to the Naval Academy sea wall, it was hammered against the wall rapping its mast and rigging around the hull of the tiny boat. A water bound crew managed to secure the boat to the wall and scale the wall to safety. Meanwhile, a frantic search continued for the missing boat in the severe weather conditions as darkness set in. Though no other mishaps occurred the lost boat and its crew were found sometime later. Amazingly, only the mast needed to be replaced for about $800. Many grieved for the $800 hit to the beer fund. Remember, watch out for the wall and if you encounter it, drop them sails. Go to MSA Halloween Party.
The Mellow Cruise...November 3-4, 1990 "Nothing but Jimmy Buffet toons, and Captain's Morgan's & Coke" so the saying goes. Three boats a 40' C&C Racer, a 38' O'Neil, and a boat called the "Insignis" made the two hour journey across the bay (6 to 7 knot cruising speeds), destination Rock Hall, Eastern Shore, Maryland. The day was filled with water balloon attacks (each boat had a launcher), tacking duels, and surveying the playing field for later (the result of an even girl-guy ratio). Only one mishap happened heading into slip--Stephanie's O'Neil hit a pylon. Thank goodness the boats were rentals. With the three vessals tied together, that evening found our 20+ adventurers hanging out in the harbor listening to Jimmy Buffet toons and the Tide Is High by Blondie, drinking spiced rum and cheap beer. A truly sorry sight. Chris "Tac" O'bell (far right of photo) was pushed to the brink of desparation, heading into town in search of local high school chicks. Others abandoned ship too in search of better music and beer only to find Rock Hall's downtown comprised of a grocery store, feed store, bait shop, and gas station. Fortunately those who'd jumped ship, while on a beer run, found Tac at the IGA grocery store and rescued him from a local high school age checkout girl. With the evening now on autopilot (the result of too much Buffet and rum), that was pretty much it for highlights. The cruise back the next day was quite mellow.
University City Invite...May 4-5, 1991: The third regatta the Sailing Team attended during the spring semester was hosted by the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University on the Delaware River. Six MAISA colleges participated in the regatta, each fielding two teams. Tom and RJ sailed first team, and Nick and Dena sailed second team. Kevin and Tim came as alternates. We sailed JY15s (new at the time) on modified triangle and modified Olympic courses. Roll tacks were harder to do in them than in 420s and FJs. Sailing was hard and fast the first day, and we finished in third place for the day.
As guests of the Drexel University Sailing Team, our two teams partied together Saturday night. Greg, Drexel's team captain, knew of a house party near campus, so we crashed it. We were all hit with a buck cover charge which went towards a liter bottle of Absolute that was being raffled off. We all agreed to do a shot should one of us win the bottle. Later that evening, Greg won the bottle and the shot glass was passed. To everyone's horror, Kevin spit up his shot. In an attempt not to lose face, Tom poured Kevin another shot and flavored it with teriyaki sauce. Kevin refused the shot though, remarking that no one would ever drink it. At that exact moment, a coed asked to get by us so she could get to the keg. Tom told her she had to do the shot to get to the keg, so she did. This led to the unearthing of a fifth of cognac and a bottle of creme de menthe by RJ. Kevin still had to do his shot. One part Absolute, one part cognac, and one part creme de menthe...and the "Irish Hammer" was born. Though Kevin never did the shot, everyone else at the party did. Give a shot a name and down a few yourself and soon everyone is doing it. Before long there was no Absolute, cognac, or creme de menthe left.
The next morning found only current. Current sailing can be mighty boring and rough, especially when hungover on "Irish Hammers." Drexel slipped from first to third in the ranking that day, and we fell to fourth.
Finger Lakes Invite...May 11-12, 1991: Hobart and William Smith College in Geneva, New York hosted the last MAISA qualifier for the spring. With finals that Monday, the Sailing Team had to look to the freshmen class. Five MAISA colleges participated in the regatta. Tom (senior captain) and Carissa (freshman crew) sailed first team, and Mike (freshman captain) and Kevin (senior crew) sailed second team. Tom and Carissa found victory and controversy. A jibe mark collision between Tom and Carissa's boat and the host's first team's boat led to protests being lodged by both sides. Meanwhile, Maryland's second team found themselves continually in fourth or last place. This in turn lead to Mike's ego being bruised when Kevin called him a paper sailor. Despite these set backs, Maryland was in second place at the close of the first day. That evening, the host team failed to provide entertainment, forcing the University of Pennsylvania, Webb Institute, and Maryland teams to frequent townee bars. By the second day, the regatta was in turmoil. Several teams had filed protests against each other in numerous races, and Hobart and William Smith College canceled the regatta by mid-day, hence disqualifying it as a MAISA event.
Kill Devil Hills Beach Excursion...May 26-June 2, 1991 Like every sailing episode, this one too has a tale or two. In this case, it's a tale of love and betrayal, one-on-one anchorman, ocean sailing, and the attack of the stingray. Our merry crew included Stephanie, Jerry, Neal, Kevin, Brendan, Ann Marie, Ed, and Tom.
Love & Betrayal... "Post-Tracy" Ed seemed to be back on course, having recently started dating Ann Marie. His week at the beach with her looked promising til that fateful night, which began innocently enough with a game of 3-man. Meanwhile, Neal, Kevin, and Tom were across town scoping out the Eastern Carolina babes at the Mex-Econo, a hot little latin-alternative rock club, which soon after was bulldozed to the ground, . The evening of frolic soon digressed into a game of one-on-one anchorman--100 lb. Neal against 150 lb. Tom. A couple pitchers later found our crew quite merry, and stumbling back to the beach house where they found Ed in a state of panic. Jerry and Ann Marie were gone! After a few minutes of reflection, Neal, Kevin, and Tom started coming up with theories on where our missing pair could be. However, discussion soon became an argument between Kevin, Neal and Tom about whether our lost pair were in fact just skinny dipping, taking a moonlit stroll along the beach, or gone for more beer. Poor Ed, deranged at this point, ran off in search of our missing pair. Neal then began lecturing Kevin on life while Tom passed out.
The next morning found Ed in a somber mood. His ex-girlfriend and the "The Operator" had returned early in the morning after watching the sunrise on some deserted dune.
Ocean Sailing & The Attack of the Stingray... And on a brighter note, the weather was perfect for sailing that day, so Tom and Neal ventured out on to the Atlantic in search of the three mile limit. Many dolphin sightings were made. Others from our merry crew watched from the beach. Launching the boat proved easier than coasting back in on the surf, so when it came time to change crew one would swim out from the beach to the boat to take one of the two persons on the boat's place. Kevin was the first to make the 50 yard lap. However, his proved to be the most harrowing. Having swam half the distance Kevin decided to rest on the sand bar only to step on something that moved. Poor Kevin swam for dear life to the boat screaming "ray...killer ray!"
The Old Dominion Trip...September 14-15, 1991: The fall 1991 sailing season opened with a regatta hosted by Old Dominion University on the Elizabeth River. Seven MAISA schools fielded teams. Tom and Dave sailed first team, and Nick and Kevin sailed second team, with Kate, Jen, Kevin, and Dave coming as alternates.
Regatta in the Bronx (i.e., SUNY Maritime)...October 12-13, 1991: Better known as the freshmen regatta, Tom and Kevin took the two freshmen team members, Alex (a junior transfer) and Chris (a second year freshman), up to SUNY Maritime for coaching sessions and mock races in frigid waters. Quarters in the boathouse were sub-par, but New York proved to be a great party town. The trip's highlight was purshasing 20 round loaves of Italian bread at Moretti's Bakery on Ave. N in Brooklyn.
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