I Miss My Friends

[Bad Obsession]

This picture is from a raft-up that I was a part of (Probably 2008). I just came across it again today.

Here is the tough part of this picture. The first boat on the right with blue decks was Utopia. Its owner, Jim Ziegler, passed away a few years ago in Flordia on his newer to him boat (Out Island 42).

The second from the right boat is Java. Many of us on here knew and treasured its owner, Jim Seamans. He was a well known person in the area and he was a lot of fun to be around. He too has passed a few years ago.

The third boat is my old Catalina 30.

The fourth boat belonged to my Uncle who was one of the people who got me into sailing. He swallowed the anchor two years ago.

This raft up was incredible. In total we had 13 boats tied up together and enjoyed a beautiful September evening on Canoe Neck Creek. I will never get to sail with some of these people again and it is really sad.

 

[Will Gilmore]

This is what Shakespeare meant by the "sweet sorrow".

I know how you feel.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Hunter216]

I would applaud you for communicating how you are feeling as I believe that is a healthy thing to do.

For me recalling vivid memories can be painful but they also provide the opportunity to enjoy the fun parts and even pass them along. I can imagine the raft up was filled with shenanigans Thanks for sharing!

 

[capta]

Way back before the Virgin Islands charter boat industry became so cutthroat and competitive, it was just a few dozen crews trying hard to develop and industry that promoted fun and sharing a sailing lifestyle with our customers. Most of us were in our late 20s or early 30s (as were the bar owners Foxy, Tony and Jackie Snell, etc.) unlike the professional crews operating the slick and pricey yachts of today.

We were all pretty much on the same schedule, taking our guests aboard Sunday and disembark them on Saturday. So, after the charter, there ensued a mad scramble to do laundry, clean the boat, pointy end to blunt, and provision according to the preference sheet.

Normally by 7PM we were done and a caravan of charter boats leisurely moved around to Honeymoon on Water Island, rafting up around the boats with gensets. Then, as we couldn't begin a charter with open liquor bottles (we did have standards, really), out came the blenders and any bottle became fair game for "blender sports".

We invented some great drinks and some ghastly ones, but fun was had by all. When every soldiers was dead, we meandered back to Yacht Haven (nothing grand about it in those days), parked our boats (a hilarious sight for those sitting up in the "Bilge" Bar, I'm sure) and piled up into a couple of vans to scarf ribs at Sibs.

Sadly, in those pre-internet days, we vagabonds lost touch with one another as we moved on to larger yachts farther and farther from the VI. I too am missing friends from the past.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Over the years, I've taken "a few" photographs. My wife has subtly dropped some hints along the line of "How many pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge do you really need?" Turns out, not enough!
I, too, enjoy all the photos we have taken of sailing, friends, vacation trips to Europe, New Zealand, and even New Yawk. They come up on our desktop computer on the screen saver - a magnificent tool. I only wish we hadn't stored our old non-digital photos back in California when we moved here in 2016 on short notice to support my aging father-in-law. We hope we can eventually get them back.
We keep in touch by email with friends, and by phone. I am glad we never got a camera for any of our computers now.

 

[Bad Obsession]

What a cool idea Stu. We could post some of our favorite pictures on this thread as a tribute to those that have ventured past where we are now but who have shared experience, meals, and fun with.

Here is a picture of Point Lookout MD. I crossed it early in the morning on Saga, my Compac 23:

 

[Bad Obsession]

Here is the last raft-up I shared with Jim Seamans on Java. Finally II (my uncle's Catalina 34) is pictured in here and you can see Scallywag, Jorge Bermudez's Crealock 37 Yawl:

 

[Bad Obsession]

One of the millions of sunsets I captured when I was out cruising:

 

[capta]

What a cool idea Stu. We could post some of our favorite pictures on this thread as a tribute to those that have ventured past where we are now but who have shared experience, meals, and fun with.

Here is a picture of Point Lookout MD. I crossed it early in the morning on Saga, my Compac 23: View attachment 178786

What'a a sunrise? I've seen many a sunset, but didn't know it also rose. lol

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

@Bad Obsession

I remember delivering JAVA. Going north up the intercostal waterway late in the year while everyone was going south to warmer weather. We had a lot of laughs. Jim had stayed at my home at times and he helped so many. I. met Jim in the late 80’s and there was never dull moment. I am glad you knew him. Seeing Java leaves a lot of memories. Thanks for the picture. How is Joan... Do not be a stranger. See ya
Dave Condon

 

[Bad Obsession]

Jim was an absolute trip. In the first raft up picture we were heckling him because he was going to be pretty early. We were all still partying and there was a lot of teasing going on when him and Joan retreated into the cabin. Next thing we knew Jim comes out butt naked and runs a loop around Java. He then went back into the cabin and asked us if we still wanted him to come back out. No one heckled him after that. LOL


I have some great memories of those trips.

@ Crazy Dave Condon Joan is doing well.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Next thing we knew Jim comes out butt naked and runs a loop around Java. He then went back into the cabin and asked us if we still wanted him to come back out. No one heckled him after that. LOL

That takes some balls!