2014 East Coast Rendez-vous

L-R: Knock Off, Nellie D, Thistle, and Victory at the Howell's dock.

Just in from The Seymours -

CHURCH CREEK, MD

Four tugs, 27 owners, 2 past owners, 4 wannabes and friends gathered at Dave and Vicki Howell's on the shore of the Chesapeake Bay's Chop Tank for the annual East Coast Rendez-vous.

Sue Mackie, Mary Ann McChain, and Jeanne Niccolls

Everyone pitched in, bringing an amazing array of food, salty stories, and eclectic items for the silent auction.

As usual a very popular activity was tug inspections. Rabid enthusiast and wannabe Al Robichaud looks longingly into Thistle's pilot house.

Thistle Captain Ed McChain explains door hinges to Al and Dean McChesney of Fun, and another wannabe, Ken Maitland.

L-R: Roger Lee, Sally Seymour, Martha Burke, John Isaksen, Nils Isaksen, Tommy Chen, and Ed McChain aboard Ed's tug Thistle.

Ed McChain treated us to a run on Thistle along the Chop Tank.

 He turned the wheel over to Ken Maitland.

Honored guest Tommy Chen, builder of our tugs in the 1980's, demonstrated his precise method of measuring. Tommy lives in Vancouver, BC. This was his second year coming east.

Remember the ladies walking across the lawn in photo #2? Oops! Even though the Howells are great planners, they couldn't control the weather and the water creeping into their front yard, due to unusual wind and tides. This called for quick action.

 It gave new meaning to the Howell's exclusive waterfront campsites and forced campers to go to Plan B. 

 It called for a team-building exercise.

The Howells thought it was a howl.

Fortunately, the rest did too, including Keefer Irwin, Callisto.

The unrelenting deluge forced Tug Talk to move indoors.

Bill Irwin, Callisto, explained how he coveted Knock Off's mast seen at last year's rendez-vous and he spent the winter building his own. Other riveting topics included the perennial favorites of fuel tanks, treating wood, polishing brass, tea stains, water tight hatches, thru hulls and bulwark doors.

Victory #2 and Thistle #47 provided good examples showing the evolution in design and construction of the tugs. Take the "Tug Differences Survey" http://www.lnvt.org/tug-differences to help Dave Howell complete this chart: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AsW9FStifykJdGs2aDVua0ROa01iZjh1YTFLMDV1Q3c&usp=drive_web#gid=1





The rigorous daily activities always worked up good appetites. 

John Niccolls was ecstatic over his winning bid in the silent auction for this ancient flare holder. Lisa Taylor agreed.

 Wannabe Pam Maitland from Duxbury, MA.

 Nils and John Isaksen, Neptune, from Fairhaven, MA.

Bill Irwin, Allan Seymour, Dave Howell, John Taylor
Tug Talk continued into the wee hours.

Sunday morning dawned and captains were anxious to get underway. A front had passed through overnight and high pressure brought cooler temperatures and brisk winds. The waters on the Chesapeake would become choppy.

Larry and Marilyn Johnston, Loretta May, prepared to drive home to Kingston, Ontario, but first joined everyone at the dock for the send-offs. 

Ed and Mary Ann McChain departed on Thistle.

John and Jeanne Niccolls aboard Knock Off.

Captain Bob Alnutt, Victory, and his crew from Titan, Clara Mincy ...  

... and Key Stage, from Edenton, NC cast off next.

 And finally, John, Vicki and Dave Howell were happy to have Nellie D ship shape once again after 1-1/2 years of work. 

 Dave and John departed for a fast fall cruise down the ICW to Naples, FL where she'll spend the winter at John's yacht club.

Bon Voyage to all!