June 2024

This month, seven boats from the DIYC Cruising Fleet headed to Venice Yacht Club for a weekend of dining, pool time, and socializing. (1279) Shazaam!, carrying our hosts Sean and Amanda Motta, as well as guests Clay Morris and Olivia Moskowitz, left Thursday evening after the races and sailed overnight arriving just before dawn. Avery and I left the same evening aboard Kropka and anchored out just off Egmont, along with Mike & Tiffany Reiring aboard Island Time II. We were joined by Cruising event regular John Lackey. An EARLY morning departure for Mark and Rachel Macke saw them headed south Friday morning aboard Slip Away along with cruising club newbies Stuart and Elisa Maxwell aboard ¡Salud!. Martin Zonnenberg, Chris Kubisiak, and John Bettini brought Muñequita down via the ICW. Antony Dalton and wife Maria departed their home port in Pinellas aboard Ambiance and rounded out the fleet. Friday was a wonderful dinner at the Crow’s Nest (where we exceeded the capacity of their private dining room!). Saturday saw most escape the heat at the pool, while others braved downtown for the markets and beer festival. Saturday evening the entire group enjoyed dinner on the patio at the Club. Sunday AM saw most of the fleet headed north and home. What started as a gorgeous broad reach in 12-14 kts became a nice broad reach in 18 before becoming a somewhat sportier broad reach in 20-25, as a large frontal system approached from the North. All weathered the front well as the winds shifted over 100 degrees to the North changing our leisurely reach into a full-fledged beat up to Egmont. All were rewarded for their efforts with another beautiful reach up the bay after making the corner. Not content with just a three-day weekend, Muñequita set sail South for a week in Key West.

If you haven't already, please check your calendars and plan to attend the trip to TYCC on the 21st and 23rd of June. As of now, I believe there are still open slips available. The event host and contact is Linda Lorick. lindalorick53@gmail.com.