“Little LOOP” Trip November 23 thru 25, 2007

By: Rick McCrary

Well it’s official and in the books. The Titusville Sailing Club’s first Little Loop Trip was a great success. There were a total of six boats, fifteen crew, and three clubs that were involved in the planning of our club’s first Little Loop trip.

The plan was to leave Titusville Marina around ten o’clock on Friday the 23^rd and sail north to the Smyrna Yacht Club where we would anchor on the ICW across from the club. This would be the first leg of the journey that would end with a dingy ride over to the club, on the Adios, for an evening of drinks, dining and visiting with the other members of our group and our new friends at the club. Besides the wind on our nose and a quick detour to assist Reklusia as she performed some minor maintenance of her fuel system, the trip went as planned. We all enjoyed a beautiful ride over to the club courtesy of the Adios, and a wonderful evening hosted by the Smyrna Yacht Club. The food was great and the accommodations superb out by the Tiki Hut. Many SYC members stopped by to greet us and Hamilton exchanged burgees with, Vice- Commodore Phillip Cornett of the SYC. During our visit they allowed us to tour their facilities, which were very beautiful. At dinner the group picked up two additional crewmembers.  Jerry, who would join Terry on the Restless Wing and Mike, who would join Rick on Sea Crow. After dinner, Hamilton taxied us all back to our boats, and we all retired to a well-deserved night of sleep. The plan was to leave next morning at 6:00 AM.

Next morning we were all off by 6:30 AM, not bad for a group of six. Terry aboard the Restless Wind was already gone. Not sure when he left the anchorage but, he wanted to get out ahead of the rest so that he would not fall too far behind during the day. The rest of us made our way north towards the inlet. Grace took a detour to check the bottom outside the channel. She verified her depth gauge and Reklusia checked Grace’s aft cleats. All tests were good and the flotilla was on their way to the inlet. After a beautiful trip up the ICW it was time to leave the inlet. The calm of the morning soon gave way to the acceleration of an out going tide and a confused sea. The group found themselves leaving the inlet in 5 to 7 foot seas and 10 to 20 knot winds. It was a long bumpy journey out the inlet and once everyone had made the turn with set sails the major portion of the second leg was on its way. Morning winds were favorable and from the northeast around 10 to 15 knots. Everyone was moving quickly to the south. It would seem the winds would move the flotilla quickly down the coast. Unfortunately, the weather had different ideas. The morning winds made the morning ride a bit rough.  While the early wind kept us moving quickly down the coast, the wind kept turning. While we all started sailing free with the wind on our aft quarter, it was not long after the noon hour that the north wind gave way to an eastern blow, which quickly turned south and soon arrived directly on our noses. From that point the engines went on and the progress slowed to a crawl. I never realized how big and for how long you can see the VAB. It seemed it would never pass down our starboard side. The sea began to lay down and the wind, while on our nose, calm down to around 10 knots. Unfortunately, the wind made this leg a long one. It also gave all the boat engines a good test. Sea Crow was first to experience a problem. Seawater hose out of the engine and to the exhaust came loose. The hose was quickly found and re-secured. Next it was Grace who reported over the radio that she had lost her engine. Being the sound sailing vessel she is, crew announced that they were fine and needed no assistance. John, Sandy and crew would sail her into port. Slow going and a late arrival would be her only fate. As night fell and all witnessed a beautiful sunset and spectacular moonrise it soon was obvious that the long ride had its advantages. Being out on the ocean at night, after watching a breathtaking sunset, followed by a moonrise that defied description was a wonderful experience that I am so glad I had the opportunity to experience. But back to reality, where the hell is that shoal can. It seemed it would never come. Finally, With Restless Wind at the lead, the first of the flotilla, Adios, Sea Crow, and Restless Wind made the turn towards Port Canaveral. It would be another hour before we would reach the port and our dockage at PCYC. The first group hit the dock at around 8:30 PM, a mere 14 hours after leaving our anchorage at SYC. It was nice to reach the dock after a very long day at sea. Even better was to find Rear Commodore-Linda Mueller Brett wait with other club member to greet us at the dock and help us find slips and secure lines. It wasn’t long before Reklusia found her way to the dock followed by Sen Jer IV and Grace. They arrived around 11:30 PM. Sen Jer IV had towed Grace in from the channel and help her make dockage. Everyone joined in to bring her safely to rest at the T-head despite a downpour that arrived just as the final to boats in our flotilla arrived save and sound at PCYC. Despite a very long day, longer for some than other, we were all safe at dock and the second leg of the Little Loop trip was at its close.Next morning, 8:00 am, we were all invited to breakfast at the PCYC. The breakfast was buffet style and there was plenty to eat. Again we all had a chance to visit and discuss the events that had transpired so far. There were members of the PCYC on the dock and at breakfast. They treated us as if we were members in good standing. At breakfast Hamilton exchanged burgees with Rear-Commodore Linda Mueller-Brett. After breakfast members of our six-boat flotilla began departing for the final leg home. It was a beautiful Sunday morning. Several people stayed and helped Grace make repairs to her engine. Thankfully, it was only a clogged fuel filter. SenJer IV decided to entertain the local traffic and beached herself across from the PCYC docks along the shore next to the cruise terminals. Eventually, everyone made their way back to Titusville Marina. The morning sail back up the river to our home marina was beautiful. Finally, the wind stayed on our boats aft quarter, and the trip back was peaceful with time to reminisce the past few days. 

While the weather did what weather does best and threw the group a major league curve ball, and despite some minor trails and tribulations along the way, everyone survived and enjoyed the experience. With camaraderie and discoveries along the way, the Little Loop was a great success, which will generate good stories for future gatherings. At the end of the weekend we all had a wonderful adventure under our belts and many stories to tell. Everyone that made the journey up the Intracoastal Waterway to Smyrna Yacht Club, out the Ponce de Leon Inlet, down the coast to Port Canaveral into the Port Canaveral Yacht Club, and back through the Canaveral Locks and safely back to the Titusville Marina, had a fantastic journey that challenged, accelerated, and educated all that participated.

Contact:  Hamilton Sirls, TSC's Commodore at (321)544-9150 for more cruising information