From the Bridge Issue 61
Nellie D. is underway and I write this while passing through Daytona Beach, FL. We're three weeks out of the Chesapeake and a week from our destination in Naples, FL. Aboard are Ken and Pat Smith, Polar Mist 49#7. Tugs are very fertile soil and so there aren't many lulls in our conversation. Ken keeps calling 37' LNVTs sports cars as they start, stop and turn faster than his LNVT 49. But at one third of the 49's displacement, they'd better.
You can read about how much fun this year's three Rendezvous were in this newsletter. For all their work putting together the events I'd like to thank Kim and Ted Shann, Tug E. Bear #62, Stephanie and Trevor Croteau, Hjortie #33, and Jeanne and John Niccolls, Knock Off #66. On behalf of the fleet I say thank you and well done!
The Lord Nelson family consists of 85 tugs and 77 sailboats. The sailors don't have an Association. Believing there would be value to us if they did, we're helping them get one started. Take a look at LNOA.org to see the progress. Please help spread the word. If you know anyone with a Lord Nelson sailboat please tell them about LNOA.org and pass their contact information on to me.
Just when we were getting comfortable with the number of LNVTs in the fleet (85), Tommy Chen tells me that he built two or three 41's that were sold in Japan. Complicating matters, they weren't called LNVTs but were renamed for that market. We're back on the hunt; keep a good lookout.
After the grey matter between the crews' ears what's the most important piece of safety equipment on a tug? ActiveCaptain in one of their recent newsletters proposed it's an iPad; a standalone, self-powered, navigation, weather prediction and communication system. That's hard to argue with unless you've had your finger smashed in a slamming Dutch door. Then the most important piece of safety equipment is the door's latch. Avoid the drama--use your grey matter-- always latch the door. After all, you'll need those fingers to work your iPad.
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