{"id":2198,"date":"2013-06-27T11:33:39","date_gmt":"2013-06-27T11:33:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/?p=2198"},"modified":"2013-06-27T11:33:39","modified_gmt":"2013-06-27T11:33:39","slug":"the-essex-ssca-gam-is-a-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/?p=2198","title":{"rendered":"The Essex SSCA gam is a success!"},"content":{"rendered":"

I feel like it’s been ages since my last post. \u00a0After putting something up a few times a week when we were away, I have to admit that I find it hard to find stuff to write about when I am home doing chores, like cutting the lawn. \u00a0Having said that, I do like the mix of shore and afloat. \u00a0However, a major time sink over the last few weeks was getting ready for our first Seven Seas Cruising Association<\/a> (SSCA) Gam here in Essex which we had for three days over the weekend.<\/p>\n

When Brenda and I traveled down the Intra Coastal Waterway (ICW) last fall we took advantage of a terrific benefit of the SSCA, their “Cruising Stations”. \u00a0These “stations” are provided by members of the group that live in areas where cruisers pass by. \u00a0These folks agree to take members out to get groceries, marine supplies and other necessities when they stop by their area. \u00a0Last fall, prior to heading south, Brenda and I signed up to be the Essex Cruising Station with the goal of helping out fellow cruisers who visit Essex.<\/p>\n

SSCA also has a number of Gams or meetings on the east Coast including one in Annapolis in September, November in Melborne Florida and an informal one day gam in Isleboro Maine in August. \u00a0It seemed to me that hosting a Gam here in Essex to connect with cruisers who are headed to Maine for the summer would be a good idea, and fun. \u00a0After much discussion about dates, we settled on late June.<\/p>\n

So, how did the first Essex Gam go? \u00a0Thanks for asking. \u00a0It went very well, thank you. \u00a0The “event”, with a total of 35 participants was held over a three day period, with something happening each day. \u00a0While all attending spend time cruising, on small boats and a number of them live aboard, one couple, Harry and Jane of Cormorant<\/em>, just returned from a 15 year circumnavigation aboard their 39′ Corbin. \u00a0What a nice couple and how interesting to hear about their journey. \u00a0I hope to have them speak to our group next June. \u00a0However, given their vagabond life, who knows where they will be in a year. \u00a0Actually, you can read about their travels on their blog<\/a>. \u00a0I have not read much yet, but it’s got to be great reading.<\/p>\n

Don’t they look like nice folks? \u00a0Photos don’t lie, at least this time.
\n\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We kicked off our Gam with a cocktail party at the Essex Yacht Club<\/a>, where Brenda and I are members, on Saturday June 22nd. \u00a0I thought that having an informal cocktail party to kick things off would be fun, and it really was. \u00a0Here’s me calling the group to order to announce the weekends itinerary. \u00a0After years of getting folks attention by banging a spoon against a wine glass, in my previous life, it was so great to blow my conch horn. \u00a0So much more “cruiserly”. \u00a0I am happy to report that I blew it pretty well even with the pressure of an audience. \u00a0I am just so “mature” these days.\u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

On the next afternoon, Sunday, we had a potluck supper at the Essex Corinthians Yacht Club<\/a>, next door. \u00a0That club is a little less formal than EYC where a pot luck, because EYC has a full service kitchen, wouldn’t work. \u00a0 An SSCA member Ted, who lives aboard, brought along his guitar. \u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

On top of the group that came to the cocktail party on Saturday, a few late comers joined the group. \u00a0The weather was perfect and we had a terrific time. \u00a0We also had a speaker, Judy Silva who has just published a book “The Voyage of the Yankee Lady” an account of her voyage with her husband Jim up the Hudson River, into Lake Champlain, into the St Laurence River, past the Canadian Maritime provinces, including Newfoundland and back down the coast and back to the CT River where they began their trip. \u00a0 \u00a0This is Judy, Jim and me. \u00a0 It was nice having them with us.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

On Monday evening, the final night of the event, about a dozen of us attended the Sea Shanties at the nearby Griswold Inn<\/a> just up the street. \u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The “Gris” as she is known locally, is a very pretty colonial period inn and restaurant that is very popular with locals and visitors alike. \u00a0 All decorated with her bunting she surely looks the part of a country inn. \u00a0The Gris hosts sea shanties every Monday night, year round. \u00a0It’s worth a visit but be prepared for standing room only, and on a Monday night of all nights. \u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

During the weekend some visitors took in the local Essex Steam Train, a great thing to do when you are in town. \u00a0The cars are very well maintained and this one in particular, well appointed. \u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

All and all, the weekend was a terrific time. \u00a0 I couldn’t be more pleased with how it all worked out. \u00a0So happy, in fact, that we will be doing it again next year, probably over the weekend of June 21st. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, now back to work on Pandora who is supposed to come out of the water today. \u00a0 On top of that, I have a patio to build for Brenda and there are a few more cruisers in town to take to the market. \u00a0 Whew! \u00a0So much for a retired life of leisure.<\/p>\n

Where’s my book? \u00a0I need to sit and read for a while…. \u00a0Ha!!!<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I feel like it’s been ages since my last post. \u00a0After putting something up a few times a week when we were away, I have to admit that I find it hard to find stuff to write about when I am home doing chores, like cutting the lawn. \u00a0Having said that, I do like the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","_s2mail":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2198","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2198"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2198\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2207,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2198\/revisions\/2207"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2198"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2198"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2198"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}