August Raft-Up Report

 The Cruise Committee – Wendy Walsh, B.J. Smith, and Terry Melloy

The Raft-Up at Sandy Point became the Raft-Up at Bass Creek, due to weather and wind conditions. It was the raft-up that almost never happened. Saturday morning we got a call from Terry Melloy, our cruise captain, who said he didn’t want to take his open boat out because he doesn’t like to get wet if it rains. After a short conversation, we decided he and Shirley should come with us in our cabin cruiser, and they should meet us at Dolphin Cove. On the way there, we got a call from B.J. Smith who was at County Park Landing. He said the ICW was too choppy to for his pontoon, Daisy Belle, and had put it back on the trailer. We were almost to County Park, so we decided to pick up B.J. and Gene Corbett and they could come with us on our boat. When we got there, the water had calmed down quite a bit. We saw Harl and Betsy Porter and Art and Merle Clark at River’s Edge getting ready to go out in Sunday Drive and after a long conversation in the parking lot we decided that, since the weather appeared to be improving, we could start out. If conditions worsened, we could always turn back. Sunday Drive would wait for Ken Beeber and meet us at Dolphin Cove and B.J and Gene would put Daisy Belle back in the water. We went on to Dolphin Cove to pick up our boat, Reely Fun, and the Melloy’s. We convoyed to the Harbor with Sunday Drive and Daisy Belle. Steve and Janice Kromer and their crew, John VanWay and Donna Fleming, were at the mega dock at Charleston City Marina in the newly refurbished No Sense 3. Steve said the Charleston Harbor had been too rough earlier and if he were to leave with us, at 6 knots, the raft-up would be over by the time he got there. The rest of us went ahead towards the rendezvous point by the Maybank Hwy Bridge. Going into the Wappoo cut, we recognized new members Bill and Renee Wright in their Regal Runabout, and they joined the flotilla. When we turned into the Stono River, the water got very rough again. We decided to wait to see if anyone else was coming. We hailed Distant Isle, Fred and Joyce Wichmann who were accompanied by Victor Schwartz, and others. They were on their way ahead of us. Sweetgrass, Jerry and Jenny Reves’ boat, hailed us, reporting that the seas and weather were much better near Sandy Point, and Bass Creek was quite calm. They had anchored their boat in Bass Creek. Bert Baxter from the Lake Hartwell Sail and Power Squadron who had planned on joining our cruise, also hailed us. He said he had almost gotten to Sandy Point, but had turned back and was headed for port. After another conversation, BJ decided to turn back and the rest of us decided to meet Sweetgrass in Bass Creek.

When we got to Bass Creek, Sweetgrass had anchored; Distant Isle had tied up to her, as well as two small runabouts (family and friends of Joyce and Fred). Sunday Drive, Reely Fun, and the Wright’s Regal made a total of 7 boats, 16 Squadron members and approximately 8 guests of the Wichmann’s.

The weather turned out to be very favorable. No rain and Bass Creek was calm. We were rewarded for our effort with a wonderful array of food provided by the participants, served in Fred’s air-conditioned cabin, swimming, and a trip to the Sandy Point beach. The trip back was easy. When I got home, I had an email from Dick Howells who said the Katie Ell wouldn’t make it because his crew bailed out when they saw the dark clouds in the morning. Too bad, Dick, you missed seeing the No Sense 3, which really does exist.

BJ, who had had to turn back, loaded up his boat on his trailer and he and Gene had lunch with the Kromer’s at the City Marina. He claims Janice served steak and lobster! 

Rule of Cruising:  The Captain is responsible for the safety and well-being of his boat, crew and passengers, and has to make his own decision whether to go or not.

Raft-up and on-the-water-picnic at Sandy Point on the Stono River.

Left to right, the Clark's cruiser "Sunday Drive," Reeves' trawler "Sweet Grass,"

Wichmann's Trawler "Distant Isle", Walsh's boat "Reely Fun"

and Bill and Renee Wright's yet-to-be-named boat.