Cruisers

Bill Davidson and Donna Getkin	We've been cruising for 3 years and each year it just gets better. One of the best things about traveling to different places is the history we learn. An example was in Chrisfield on the Northern cruise two years ago where we learned the history of the crab industry. One of the things we learned about crabs is that it means real trouble for you if you run over any crab traps.	Maturity Rules
Jim and Ann Freeman	ANNIE GIRL is the name, but she is better known in the Harbour as the little Green Boat. She is the latest of a series of vessels operated on the Chesapeake and on the Neuse providing much pleasure for Ann and Jim. Only one of her predecessors was propelled by sails (because wind was supposed to be “free”). But the wind was always blowing the wrong way. ANNIE GIRL is a diesel sipper if she isn’t in a hurry and she sips more up on a plane to get there sooner. She is usually the smaller of the fleet with few comforts, but she behaves well in most seas and when approaching fixed objects like docks. Behavior and Thrift are essential for her Senior Managers.	Annie Girl
Hardy and Annamarie Gersbach	I have been boating for 35 years. We went to the Bahamas for 7 months, the Keys the next year. In 2007 we did the Great Loop in 7 months. We enjoyed every trip and still do. Since 1997 we spend the summers in NY and the winter in Florida. We always traveled by boat back and fourth. In 2005 I came across a boat build in Mass and knew right away that this will be my next and last boat and in September the same year it did happen, Compton # 16 became mine. I always stop in Fairfield to visit friends and try to set my schedule so I can join the FHYC on their trips. We always enjoyed the trips and the camaraderie and looking forward to many more.	Karma
Harlan and Marcia Kebel	We bought our first boat, a used, wood, kit-built boat, 39 years ago. We began boating on the Mississippi River, moved to Canada and boated Lake Erie & Lake Ontario, then back to Chicago area where we boated the Illinois River & Lake Michigan. Then down to Lake Cumberland, KY, and on to the Tennessee River and Lake Tellico. We brought the first Marlyn around to Fairfield in 1996. After a tutorial by a smooth talking Alabama man on how to catch a fish without a hook, line, or sinker, Marcia perfected the art of caging fresh fish on the dock in Georgetown. She plans to escalate this art in honor of her mentor (who shall remain nameless).	Marlyn
Paul and Pat Martin	We enjoy anchoring in quiet, peaceful waters along the cruise route. One of our favorite anchorages is in Thoroughfare Creek off the Waccamaw River in South Carolina. Another anchorage we enjoy is the side waters at Marker Red 24 just before entering the Pongo Alligator River Canal. One of our favorite is the Tides Inn Marina, this cruise we will also be visiting Tangier Island for our first time. When cruising we like to leave early and arrive early. Benefits abound.	Cameo
Walt and Karen Meyer	Walt had a 35 year career with DuPont in the area of automotive coatings (car paint). His project for his last ten years was the development and commercialization of waterbased colorcoats to replace their solvent based counterparts. This early joint technology introduction was trademarked as "Aquabase". It introduced him (and Karen) to friends in Europe and other new places. We wanted to continue to have new experiences, see new places, and make new friends. And, since Walt's coating career was a key source of the funding, it was doubly appropriate to name the boat Aquabase..	Aqua Base
Ken and Janet Plantin	Ken started out in his early twenties with a 17' runabout. Once he met Janet, it became necessary to have a porta-potty so they got a 21' cuddy cabin. After two years of being woken up in the middle of the night to use the porta-potty, they got a 25' boat with a cabin and a separate bathroom. Once we retired and started doing longer cruisers, more comforts of home were needed (air conditioning, heat, galley, shower) so we bought our present boat, a 28' express cruiser. That's it... no more boats!	Snowdrift III
Bob and Fran Reitz	We began sailing about 22 years ago on Long Island. Bob sold his motorcycle and bought a 26' Seafarer sailboat. A nice boat with classic lines but quite small. One year later the usually very conservative Bob and Fran went to a boat show and had a mid-life crisis which resulted in us buying a 30' Catalina. We named her Mid-Life Crisis and sailed the Long Island Sound and New England waters for 5 years. At the end of 5 years the mid-life crisis was over. We attended another boat show and came home the proud owners of Jolie Blond, a 36' Catalina, she lasted 12 years. 3 years ago we bought our Nordic Tug Jolie Blond, sold our LI home, moved to Fairfield Harbour and are living happily ever after. The moral of this story is unless you want to live happily after after, don't go to boat shows.	Jolie Blond
Joe and Judy Ruggiero	We are originally from CT. We bought property in FH in 1987 and built our house in 1990. We've been commuting ever since. Our first sailboat bought in 1982 was named A Full House named after our 5 children. We cruised the LI Sound area and started commuting between FH and CT in the early 1990's. In all, we have made 12 trips back and forth to CT and NC. In 2004 we bought a Catalina 42 and name it Just B'Cause (Just because we wanted to spend our kid's inheritance). We enjoy Bareboat charter trips with friends and family. Our favorite location is the Virgin Islands. We have enjoyed several yacht club cruises and made our first trip to Florida and the Bahamas last year.	Just B'Cause
Glen and Ruth Terrill	We have been cruising for about 15 or so years. We began with an over-nighter to Swansboro on a 21' boat named "Up Tha Crick". The name comes from the fact of living along side small Bee Tree Creek. We have participated in most of the Spring Cruises and enjoy exploring new places, renewing old friendships and also meeting new folks.	Up tha Crick
Bernie and Nancy Teubert	Bernie and Nancy started leading cruises soon after joining the YC 15 years ago. At that time we had a 34 ft Ericson sailboat Bernan II. Earlier cruises were for only a few weeks and each year the cruisers wished to explore more distant ports of call. One southern cruise started with 21 boats and by the third day 7 boats had to drop out due to equipment problems. About 10 years ago we traded up to 39 ft trawler MS Bernan. Charleston, SC, during the Spoleto festival has became our favorite southern destination. and our favorite northern destination is the Tides Inn Resort on the Rappahannock River. We have continued to enjoy the experiences of being a Cruise Leader.	Bernan
Dick and Fran Zahn	We enjoy cruising the Chesapeake and its tributaries as well as the ICW to Albemarle Sound. The most enjoyable part about cruising is being on the water, journeying beyond the safe harbor, checking out the various bays, rivers, and waterways in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina, and meeting new people at the various marinas. We particularly enjoy cruising with the Fairfield Harbor Yacht Club and our cousin Nancy Teubert and Bernie. The captains' meetings are very helpful to us as somewhat novice cruisers and of course the splashes.	Following Z's
And our special cruiser George Washington	People wonder if I really stood up in my boat crossing the Delaware River? It was winter and the Delaware River was flowing with large pieces of ice. The boat was relatively small and crossing the river was pretty risky. There are several inaccuracies in the famous painting of me crossing the Delaware. The flag depicted was not in use until 6 months later, the boat shown is actually the wrong size and shape and I was standing in such a way that most likely would have resulted in my drowning.