Cedar Key Small Boat Meet 2K26 Pt 1 of 3 . . . . .

[Charles Brennan]

"Those whom the gods would destroy, they first raise up."
       ---Euripides

Three years ago, I realized I had aged out of my beloved Windrose 18 sloop, Urchin, and was no longer able to safely handle or operate her as I had, for nearly 5 decades. 
I embarked on a (desperate) race against Time, to build/acquire a boat I could handle in those remaining years allotted to me. 
For I loved nothing so much as feeling a hull moving beneath me, powered solely by the elements around me and seeing all the wonders of Nature, hidden from most land-dwellers. 
Like Cap'n Kidd, one of my favorite Bible verses is:
"They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep." Psalm 107:23-24
It has always been my go-to rationalization, for skipping out on Mass and going fishing, or sailing!! 
28 months in a row, I worked diligently towards that goal, all while dreaming of a small boat resting on a white sandy beach, while I contemplated in which general direction I would choose, to get out of sight of land for a while.

The hard work finally paid off (as it usually does) and I was able to make it to the 41st annual Cedar Key Small Boat Meet.
I was so Happy to see everyone again and so Proud, to be able to show off my Shiny New Boat to everybody! 
A proper sailboat this year, not an RIB or kayak, like in the past several years, previously.
In all my new-found joy I had forgotten, that Brennan is eternally damn'ed by the gods. 
Who decided of all days, that today was the day to Rain On My Parade, and visit rains and general wetness, down upon me. 
Rain, you say?    Nay, a DELUGE of a gully-washing, possum-pounding, frog-strangler of a rain storm. 

I mean, I KNEW it was coming; wasn't like the satellites hadn't already warned us. 
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But (even after 10 years) I was still coming to terms with north central Florida rain, versus south Florida rain.
Down in south Florida the rain is much gentler, and while it might rain for 48 hours straight, you might only get a total of 2 inches dribbed and drabbed out, a little at a time
Up here in north central Florida, it comes down ALL AT ONCE, IN BUCKETS and you might get 6 inches in 6 hours!! 

But early Saturday morning, when I arrived, the weather had not quite gotten there, yet.
There were signs:
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Absolutely NOBODY    over at Atseno Otie key on that white strip of beach in the center of the pic.

Another sign:
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While I don't mind 1 to 2 foot seas in the bay, I draw the line at 1 to 2 foot seas, at the RAMP!! 

This guy in a Flying Scott (turns out, he's from Gainesville!) was lashing down the ratchet straps on his hull.
Think about that for a minute: The boat is already on the hard, already on a trailer and he STILL wants it lashed down, more securely!   
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And the final clincher:
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Dan Roeder, (seated) administrator of the WCTSS (West Coast Trailer Sailor Squadron), bringing his Wayfarer back in, after having over nighted at Atseno Otie Key and STRONGLY recommending that nobody try going out, today.
He asked if I was coming to the WCTSS dinner that evening at 6 pm and I assured him, that I was.  He said the new plan was for everybody to meet up and sail, on Sunday.
Driving clear back to Gainesville and coming back to Cedar Key for the dinner, then driving home again for the night, only to return the next morning, was a lot of (currently) expensive fuel and time, on the road.
I just needed to figure out what to do with myself for the 8 or 10 hours I had PLANNED to be showing off my new boat, to everybody.

Thanks to Ed Combs, I had recently learned about Shell Mound County park, 6 miles to the north, which also has a boat ramp.
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Fair Warning for Tourists:
Any time the state of Florida has to TELL you that it is a boat ramp by using a sign, it's because you might not be able to tell it was a boat ramp, otherwise. 

But, it did have a dock:
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They had even splurged for a CLEAT!! 
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I tried poking around the waters with a stick and determined that anyone in kayaks, canoes, and air-boats, would have no problems whatever, launching and using the surrounding waters.
Guy with a brand new boat and some residual PTSD, from trashing a trolling motor prop on some oyster bars, 2 weeks ago; uhhh  . . . . .  not so much. 
Hard pass. 

Besides a ramp, they also have a camp ground and I rented a tent space (no power or water for tent spaces, although other campsites there have them) to house myself and my boat, for the night.
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Nice area.
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Check the decked canoe on a roof top; more about that guy, later.

A decent camp site and right across the way from the rest rooms (precious, to elderly males!)    and which even had a clean shower.
I would rate the amenities as being right on a par with the Pensacola Shipyard Marine Complex we used to use, on the BEER cruises.
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I went back into town at Cedar Key and did a little exploring that I usually don't have the time to do, on CKSBM weekends and got something for lunch.
I had brought a sandwich and snacks with me, but figured I would need them on Sunday and nothing local opens up on Sundays, before I would already be leaving the ramp.
Swung by the ramp and verified that wind speeds had increased from 10 knots when I first saw Dan, to over 16 knots in only an hour or so, and with the brunt of the front still a few hours away.
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No sailing today, people. 

All snugged in, to wait out the weather.
After some thought, I backed away a little, out from under the trees! 
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Took a nap, awoke and read a book on my phone and then took another nap, pacing myself, so that my naps didn't overlap! 
I needn't have worried; Nature's Alarm Clock, roused me in full force.
Whoa!! 
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Yeah, it was rough where I was and even more violent, at Cedar Key and Atsena Otie.
Good call, Dan. 

Reminded me of a favorite cartoon, taken from Rudder magazine and taped to a wall, that  I had first seen as a boy, during a trip to a Marine Chandlery with my Dad.
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But as with all Florida weather: Don't like it?    Wait a few hours.

I dumped all the water that had accumulated in my boat cover (before the cover split!)    and drove back to Cedar Key.
This guy was prepping his Catalina Capri 14.2 ahead of time, for sailing on Sunday.
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He was concerned about his rudder blade not staying up during launch, so I gave him a spare bungee cord to hold it in place.

Dinner time!! 
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Dan Roeder at bottom right, and WCTSS Chairman Emeritus Ron Hoddinot at left, in the khaki baseball cap and black polo shirt.
I was introduced to  a whole lot of other people there and promptly forgot all their names! 

I even showed up in one of the pics! 
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Dark blue tee-shirt, top center of pic, wondering if anyone would notice if I sneaked over and got some seconds, on dessert.
(Don't let that hands-folded politely, innocent expression, fool you!) 
Guy at far right is Rob Hazzard, (and a former SCAMP owner) in the blue Wooden Boat ball cap and olive tee-shirt.
See? I remembered SOME names!! 
In years past they had guest speakers, such as a Smithsonian Institute scholar who gave a presentation on Chapelle's "Small Boats and Sailing Craft" one year, when I was there.
I wasn't there the year they had a guest speaker, introduced as: "An Adventurer from Texas" Charlie Jones, who spoke about sailing from Texas to Florida and on to the Bahamas, in his refurbished sailboat, Tehani.
Since the last hurricane, they hadn't had guest speakers, because they were never sure which venue they might be able to use and worried they might not be able to accommodate guest speakers, properly.
Nobody noticed me glomming onto dessert seconds. 
Or thirds. 

Charles Brennan

[Captain Kidd]

I scanned those pics of the dinner for you but obviously missed. "Now I see" said the blind man.

[Timm R Oday25]

At least your boat stayed on the trailer !