nautical notes - mariners of pgi
TRANSCRIPT
Vol. XIII Number 5 A Publication of the Mariners of PGI May 2021
Richard Northrup, Commodore
Springtime in PGI and the Mariners are coming out cruising. We finished March with the DST cruise that was extremely successful with six boats attending leaving a little time in the cruising schedule to plan for the Regatta at Burnt Store.
With help from the Commodore Richard Northrup (Poker Run and Pre-Regatta lunch), Director of Social Bobbie Conte (overall planning), and a HUGE amount of credit to the cruise leader, Vice Commodore Michael Mankin, for the docking, setup and overnight accommodations among other things. Also, thank you to the many volunteers who assisted in this weekend including Barry & Sandy Franzino for taking over the cruise leader spot for the Pre–Regatta lunch and helping in the days following. Attendees for Thursday Lunch – Barry & Sandy Franzino, Mike & Crystal Mankin, Eric & Debby Dehmel, Peter Guille & Joyce McCandless, Jim Hebeisen & Dawn Hayworth, Keith & Patti Feather, Kate & Bill Albers, Mitch & Diana Miller, Jim & Cindy Grifo, Julie & Mike Scharpf, Ann & Don Gordon Attendees for Friday – Gary & MJ Burgess, Carlo San Giorgio Regatta Boats - Saturday & overnighters Barry & Sandy Franzino (Headhunter), Brad & Laurie Betting (Driftwood), Mike & Crystal Mankin, (Crystal Blue), Eric & Debby Dehmel (Psyche), Dennis Cesari (Aurora), Peter Guille & Joyce McCandless (War Horse), Richard & Peggy Northrup (Wild Oats), Jim Hebeisen & Dawn Hayworth (Winsome), Kip & Patti Conner (Going Coastal) Mike & Beth Guler (Lightning Rod), Murray & Carol Goldenberg (Single Malt). Non-Boating Leo & Betty Hilke. It took everyone that participated in this event to bring about a really enjoyable time for ALL. The Mariners are at their best when enjoying each other’s company. For a change of pace, we had a few local lunch cruises starting with Laishley Crab House. Three Mariners, Carlo San Giorgio, Gary Burgess and Mark Whitcher braved the weather and had a great time just hanging out. Next time a fishing cruise guys... Why NOT?
Gary Burgess, Cruise Director
Nautical Notes
(see page 5 Cruise Director) (see page 4 Commodore)
This past month has been like watching a butterfly emerge from its cocoon! I have seen more members that have been unseen for the past year and it is so good seeing them come out and enjoy the Mariners Activities again. In the past month we
have had two wonderful events. The 2021 Annual Mariner Regatta went off very well. This year was a much more “laid back” affair then in previous years. Though we did not have a Regatta last year and there was speculation that we might not have one this year a small group of people were able to get it organized. Mike Mankin handled the Marina coordination, Bobby Conte and his crew handled getting the picnic together, Laurie Betting got the Pickleball “tournament” taken care of and I was able to get the Poker Run off and running! This year’s affair was a much more “laid-back” affair than in previous years. No big fancy dinners but there was lots of socializing. One big hit was the Saturday Morning “bloodies” served by the master mixer Barry Franzino! Sitting on the dock and on the stern of Headhunter there were quite a few members that enjoyed each other’s company and visited the morning away! We all enjoyed it so much. The Poker Run was a new item and not a lot of Boats attended but it was a wonderful day on the water. The Gulers’ on “Lightning Rod” took the Poker honors and they won some money and a “winners’ trophy! They also won the Pickleball contest! The Saturday evening picnic was awesome! Barry and Bobby did the cooking and we were able to feed the whole crew under the pavilion! A special thanks to Bobby and Julie for getting the food together. The food, the camaraderie, the time at the pool all added to making this one of the best Regatta’s we could have asked for. Thanks All! We are already beginning to plan for next year with the possibility of a new venue. . This year’s Pre-Regatta Lunch was exceptionally well attended with 40 Mariners attending and 20 boats at the Cass Clay Restaurant in Burnt Store! Many came by car! It was a great time and just a pleasant beginning to the Regatta Activities. One note is that I believe we may have started a new Mariner Annual Event! We had our first “Fly the Coop Cruise (Parade) and Picnic” We had 20 Mariner boats in attendance with 60 Mariners and guests! We all gathered at Sunset Lake and paraded thru the Rim Canal to Ponce Inlet and the Harbor. Then reentered the
Mariners of PGI Board of Directors
RICHARD NORTHRUP, Commodore [email protected] MICHAEL MANKIN, Vice Commodore [email protected] BRAD BETTING, Treasurer [email protected] PATTI CONNER, Secretary [email protected] BOBBY CONTE, Director of Social Activities [email protected] RUTH SINES-DUTCHER, Director of Membership [email protected] GARY BURGESS, Director of Cruises [email protected] JIM GRIFO, Director of Education [email protected] MURR GOLDENBERG, Past Commodore [email protected] _____________________________________________ LYNNE MATTHEWS, Sunshine Committee [email protected]
DON LEITCH, Webmaster [email protected] RICHARD FRANCIOSE, Ship Stores [email protected]
FACEBOOK Page Mariners of PGI Meetings General Membership PGICA, 2001 Shreve St. 4th Monday at 7 p.m. (except December) Board PGICA, 2001 Shreve Street 4th Monday at 9 a.m. All members are welcome.
Newsletter
BETH GULER, Editor [email protected]
Editor’s Note: I will confirm, via e-mail, receipt of each NN submission. If you do not receive confirmation, PLEASE contact me.
MIKE GULER, Proofreader
Editor’s Note: direct contact information for all Mariners is located on the website : www.marinersofpgi.org ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Click here to view the Social Calendar and Sign-Up! ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Nautical Notes May 2021 Page 2
If you or anyone you know is ill
or in need of some Sunshine,
please contact Lynne Matthews
May Birthdays 5/2 James Grifo
5/3 Steve Nikkel
5/3 Roger Black
5/8 Diane Shuhart
5/8 Diana Brown
5/8 Amy Wymer
5/12 Judy Droitcour
5/14 Eileen Hughes
5/14 Suezee Yohe
5/14 Gail Busch
5/19 Gary Burgess
5/20 Bill Ackerman
5/20 Adrienne Hiatt, Sr.
5/21 Louis Beer
5/22 Michael Lyford
5/23 Bob Fitzpatrick
5/23 Beth Guler
5/24 Patty Sale
5/24 Joan Erickson
5/27 Gail Eggers
Nautical Notes May 2021
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Education Director Jim Grifo
Check out the Tropical Storm Risk website for information
Richard Northrup will be having a discussion on Navigation for our May meeting.
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Commodore (continued from page 1) Richard Northrup
canals through Buckley Pass. The colorful flags were a flying and many happy faces for a chance to spend some time out on the water with other Mariners! It was a perfect day to be on the water! Some of the boats were nicely decorated and most were flying their Mariner Burgee to “show the flag”. To cap it all off the Picnic at Ponce De Leon Park was awesome! Thanks so much to Laurie and Brad Betting and Ken and Deb Sulla for organizing these events! It was a great time! We had an absolutely wonderful “raft up” at Seahorse Bay hosted by Ruth and Jim Dutcher! There were 10 boats in at-tendance, and we tied off the boats to the dock and gathered at their pool for drinks, food and comradery! It was a won-derful time and it was a first and unique “raft-up” to say the least! We even had two grandchildren (the Conte’s) there in the pool to keep us entertained! Wonderful! I am beginning to see a change in the Mariner get togethers! It looks like the past year has brought an end to the big lavish events and spawned those that are much more scaled back and personable! I think it is a good change and much easier to budget for. Both for the Club and the membership! Our last meeting was another event that was well attended. With 70 members it was the best attended meeting we have had in over 18 months. This attendance was reminiscent of pre covid meetings. It was so good to see some of the mem-bers that we had not seen, in attendance, for quite some time. The meeting itself was “interesting” to say the least. With a number of Past Commodores and a few members speaking regarding a proposed change to Operating Procedure Section A, Paragraph ten. The change would give some discretion to the Cruise Leader, Cruise Director and Board to allow some members with large and deep draft boats to use their tenders to attend Mariner functions and get Cruise Credits. The final vote on this matter will be held at the May 24 General membership Meeting. The education program was by one of our Members John Welsch who happens to be the President of the Boaters Alliance. He spoke of what
the Boaters Alliance was all about, what they were doing, and, of special interest, what bills were going through the leg-islature that might affect us as Boaters. It was a good meeting in regards to attendance and interaction by the members! Our membership grew by four last month and we now stand at 194 Active members. Welcome to the new members and we are so glad to have you. One interesting point regarding this was that the Sullas were introduced at the April Meeting and they had already earned a Cruise Leader anchor for their brand-new Burgee. I do believe that is a first! They were Co Cruise Leaders for the “Fly the Coop Cruise Parade and Picnic. Congratulations to the Sullas and welcome to the Club! It has been an interesting and active April for the group, and it is obvious we are beginning to “bloom” again after the hibernation of 2020. There are several items on the May Calendar as well. A Boca Grande Beach Raft-Up, a lunch cruise to Tarpon Lodge among a number of other lunch Cruises. I urge you please to go to the Mariner Calendar and check out the happenings. Carry on!
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Next the Village Brewhouse which was a great time, and we had some nice background music while conversing and enjoying docktails with lunch. Attendees for lunch were Carlo San Giorgio (Sea Breeze), Douglas Jones & Wendy Marx (Happy Hours), Mark Whitcher (Witchcraft), and Gary Burgess (The Lucky “G”). Then we had the highly popular FLY THE COOP parade of boats through the canals which was the best way for you to earn cruise credits while never leaving the comfort of your own boat. Many are saying why didn’t I go to that cruise? Well watch the listings for more opportunities for similar safe cruising options. Attendees were Brad & Laurie Betting (Driftwood), Gary & MaryJane Burgess (The Lucky “G”), Jim Dutcher & Ruth Sines-Dutcher (Docktails), Gary DiLillo (Con Sea Quence), Barry & Sandy Franzino (Headhunter 4), Peter Guille & Joyce McCandless (War Horse), Mike & Beth Guler (Lightning Rod), Jim Hebeisen & Dawn Hayworth (Winsome), Russ & Sue Hills (Route 66), Don Leitch & Lynne Matthews (Channel Surfer), Mike & Crystal Mankin (Crystal Blue), Steve & Laura Nikkel (Southern Command), Richard & Peggy Northrup (Wild Oats), Chuck & Betsy Pohle (Sea For Two), Carlo San Giorgio (Sea Breeze), Don & Ann Orr (Y Knot), June Prosser-Toothaker (Seas The Day), Robert Toothaker (Bobbin Along), Don & Pam Sturm (Casa de Agua). Then the supermoon inspired a change in venue to the Wyvern’s rooftop Perch 360 which was very popular as well. This cruise was held in the early evening with really great water views and a wonderful group of Mariners having such a great time which ended at your own docks with a beautiful sunset to watch. Another evening cruise will be planned in the future. In attendance was Carlo San Giorgio (Sea Breeze), Michael & Crystal Mankin (Crystal Blue), Gary & Mar-yJane Burgess (The Lucky “G”), Mark Whitcher (Witchcraft), Mike & Sue Lyford (Insta-gator), Murr & Carol Goldenberg
(Single Malt), Richard & Peggy Northrup (Wild Oats), Thomas Whitney (Pathfinder), Gary DiLillo (Con Sea Quence). If you are not inspired yet then look at the May listings as there are 12 to choose from starting May 1 with a stay in your boat raft up behind Banyan point, literally in the backyards of four Mariners, and several other local and long-distance cruises to choose from. Don't you think that it’s time for everyone to get out on your boats and on the water because after all, we are a boat club? Aren’t we? To those that are not comfortable going to events in restaurants or venues you can still get cruise credits just by cruis-ing to the dock, staying on your own boat and getting pictures. You do NOT have to get off the boat and have lunch/dinner to be included in the cruise. Participation credits can be earned by being a cruise leader for a cruise. You can view your participation and other credits on the website.
Cruise Director (continued from page 1) Gary Burgess
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Mariners Cruising
Upcoming Cruises
Hurricane Charley's Lunch Cruise, May 8, 2021
Village Fish Market Lunch Cruise, May 12, 2021
Dry Tortugas, Friday, May 14-15, 2021
South Seas Overnight Cruise, Friday, May 14-16, 2021 ***
Key West Overnight Adventure Cruise, May 16-18, 2021
Laishley Crab House Lunch Cruise, May 19, 2021
Aquamarina Palm Harbor Overnight Cruise, Friday, May 21-23, 2021 ***
Tiki Hut Lunch Cruise, May 24, 2021
Cabbage Key Lunch Cruise, Thursday, May 27, 2027 ***
( More cruises to be determined)….
Does your “View the Crew” photo need updating?
Let us know, and at the next general meeting we will have a club photographer available before the meeting to take updated photos of our members. Just email [email protected]. If your photo needs to be updated, stop by and have a new one taken!
Nautical Notes May 2021
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Another month has flown by and the Mariners are coming back in full force! The General Member-ship meeting went well with 65 Members in attendance. We were introduced to new Members- William Wymer (his new wife, Amy, was not able to attend) and Ken & Deborah Sulla- who have ALREADY earned an anchor for their NEW burgee after C0-hosting the “Fly the coop Cruise” in April! We are also looking forward to meeting new members Tom and Suzanne Martin- who were not able to attend the meeting. We have a few more Membership spots available so keep it in mind when you meet new neigh-bors and friends. We also have a few volunteer credits available for this summer so if you would like to help with setting up chairs for the General Membership meetings or help with the sign in table or 50/50- please contact me. Please enjoy the short biographies below for the Wymers and the Martins- and say “Hi” to them when you see them around….
William & Amy Wymer My father spent five years on US Army transport ships, rising to Chief Mate. After the war, he sailed a 34- foot cutter from Panama to Tahiti using celestial navigation and a short-wave radio. He was also commodore of the Balboa Yacht Club in Panama. This may explain why, at age nine, I was enrolled in the Red Cross sailing school in Mission Bay (San Diego). I learned to sail a flat bottom, seven-foot catboat with a life jacket, tiller, and a main sheet. Not long after achieving my Red Cross basic sailing certificate, we moved to Maryland. School, college, marriage, two kids and a career interrupted my sailing activities beyond an infrequent Hobie cat opportunity. Fast forward to 2012 when as a snowbird, I purchased a home in PGI. In 2013 I added a Catalina 30 to my dock. In 2016 I became a fulltime resident. Perhaps it’s like riding a bike. You may be a little rusty, but you always remember the basics of sailing. Today, I am a coastal sailor in Charlotte Harbor specializing in boat maintenance and boat cleaning. And when the wind is just right, sailing around the Peace River and Charlotte Harbor. On another note, this past Saturday (April 24) my fiancé Amy Maneval and I married. I’m sure you will see more of the two of us as we get to know the Mariners members and go on one day and overnight trips with everyone. Tom and Suzanne Martin Tom is a native of northeast Ohio, where as a kid he managed to survive launching rockets, building radios, disas-sembling a variety of electrical devices, and braving Lake Erie chop in a Sunfish or molded plywood 13 foot, 30 hp “ski” boat. He graduated from Cornell with an electrical engineering degree, headed to Texas, then enjoyed a long career developing communication and consumer products for Rockwell International, General Instrument, and Motorola. Suzanne, being one of nine children and from New York, has never met a stranger. Her father’s career had the family moving about every 14 months. She graduated from high school in Ontario, Canada and attended college in Minnesota. Texas was the last stop and there she retired from the Chamber of Commerce as Director of Membership. Meeting in Texas as single parents of three great kids, they married in 2008, and enjoyed retired life and sailing on Lake Texoma until moving to Punta Gorda in 2017. Both enjoyed lots of travel in and out of the USA, and of course love the boating in this area, especially longer cruises and overnights anchored out under the stars or at nearby mari-nas. Our three “kids”-now in their thirties- are still in Texas, as are our four wonderful grandkids- so lots of visits there enjoying family and friends. Tom still enjoys electronics tinkering, HiFi, and music. Suzanne enjoys cooking, biking, reading, and art projects and both enjoy kayaking or nice road trips to a good winery or brewhouse!
Membership Director Ruth Sines-Dutcher
Upcoming and Reoccurring Social Events
Happy Hour every Wednesday at Village Fish Market, 5:30 p.m.
Pickleball every Tuesday & Thursday at 3-5 p.m. Contact person: Mike Guler
Outdoor Social Gathering at Gilchrist Park, Thursday at 5 p.m. Contact Dennis Barkow
Boys, Bullseyes, Breakfast, Tuesdays at 9 a.m. Contact Jim Lanza
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The winds of March blew all through the month of April. The weather was great, and the winds made for awesome sailing. The Mariners of PGI had great club attendance with the last two meet-ings seeing record numbers. Cruise attendance was up, and a slew of cruises are planned for May. The Regatta, although very laid-back, went off well with good attendance. The wine flowed, boating and fishing stories were told, and boats were explored. New friends were made, old friends toasted the past and shared plans for summer travels. The common thread of life on the water permeated every conversation. One could not be there and not feel the enthusiasm and friendship on display like the MPGI Burgee. As we start to return to normal there is talk of starting the Gals Breakfast up again and a new Murder Mystery Theater performance by the Mariners Theatrical Troupe. Maybe a dinner and show at Visani Italian Steakhouse and Comedy Theater. Stay tuned for lots more indoor activities as more of us are vaccinated and we return to our old selves. “They that go down to the sea in ships; and occupy their business in great waters; these
men see the works of the Lord; and His wonders in the deep.”
Social Director Bobby Conte
2021 Mariner Regatta
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Snowbirds Fly the Coop Cruise and Picnic Laurie Betting
Let’s do the math….20 boats + 45 attendees + wonderful weather + great food = A fun-filled day for Mariners. The Mini
Loop Before the Snowbirds Fly the Coop Cruise and Picnic was reminiscent of the Pre-COVID days. The Cruise portion
started from Sunset Lake at noon on April 23 headed north toward the Ponce Inlet. Every boat flew their burgee with
pride. Driftwood, the lead boat, even sported the Mariner banner. Per our Commodore, Richard Northrup, we covered
approximately nine nm in a little under two hours at an enjoyable relaxed pace. We were even greeted by a dolphin upon
entering Alligator Creek.
The Picnic had a family get together feeling. Old acquaintances were rekindled, and new friendships were ignited. Mas-
ter griller and hostess Ken and Deb Sulla (new members!) took care of the burgers and brats, salads, and set the tone
for a welcoming event. Caldwells brought cornhorn, and Brad Betting blew his conch shell with the setting of the sun.
Many of those involved requested that this becomes an annual event. Some members suggested that past Commo-
dores lead the parade of boats and that we consider simple decorations for our boats. All in all, this proved to be an ex-
cellent day and event.