The first meeting/sail at lake Pepin started on Friday evening with the first arrival (Tom and Kim) arrived and spent the evening with their two dogs on their Potter 19. Mary and I braved the torrential downpour to arrive at a dry although very windy lake Pepin on Saturday morning. The four of us decided not to wait any longer and went for a late morning sail.
The wind was pretty strong and allot of chop for us fair weather sailors. The wind was a steady 13 knots with about a 35 mile fetch up the length of lake Pepin. Gusts approaching 20 knots churned up some substantial waves for an inland lake. It was during this sail that Panacea had her first religious experience. She was baptized! The waves seemed to come in threes, she would ride the first two, but one particularly large third wave came up over the bow. "The water was reasonably warm" says my first-and-only mate who happened to be at the bow pulpit taking down the jib at the time. But once again the boat held up well. With reefed main and working jib I was able to head up in the gusts and keep in control with the gunwale only submerging two or three times. And that was usually on a broad reach with an inopportune wave. This kind of sailing gets tiring fast so we headed back to safe harbor after 1.5 hours or so.
Arriving back at harbor we found that Dave, Kris, and family had driven up from Rochester. Still potterless for lack of a piece of paper (BUREAUCRATES!). Their self control is admirable. Eric wasn't coming so we commenced our lunch and organizational meeting. I agreed to be temporary secretary and post the minutes which are:
First order of business was to elect a fleet commodore. Eric was nominated, seconded and elected unanimously. Following this we felt the need for a treasurer in case we ever actually had any money. The floor opened for nominations, and once again Eric was nominated, seconded, and unanimously elected. A lengthy discussion ensued about what Eric looked like and if he actually had a boat, we agreed to suspend the actual installment of the officers until such time as we actually saw Eric and Boat [tongue firmly in cheek]. We greatly appreciate you taking the bull by the horns and starting this up, thanks Eric!
Following this we planned a couple of events. We plan a day sail in Lake Waconia on June 13th. (Yo Loki, still have your P19 moored on Waconia?). And we have an overnighter planned on Lake Mille Lacs on July 10-11. More details to come on Mille Lacs later, but for starters we are thinking of launching from the Flagship Inn, sailing to the north shore, staying the night and returning the next day. Maybe if everyone can bring and stow a bundle of firewood we can have a fire on the beach. More details to follow.
Following this Tom, Kim and Mary and I left for another sail as the wind had died down substantially. This time we headed north sailing by the barge traffic on the way. The wind had died down to a steady 7 knots, perfect relaxing sailing weather. There was a nice beach well protected from the south or west and perfect for beaching about 40 minutes sail from Hansons harbor. Long about 7:30 the wind started picking up, and some ominous clouds appeared to the south. A quick scan of weather radio revealed Tornado watches in Rochester, and serious thunder storms on the way. So we turned and sailed home. The wind had definitely picked up (NOTE: next time remember to sail against the wind first). It took longer that expected to beat our way home, but nothing approaching the conditions earlier that day, I kept full main and working jib the whole way. In spite of all that we arrived at the harbor, loaded the potters and were ready for the road before the first raindrop was felt.
Mary and I had a little farther to go so we arrived home at about 11:30 that night. As we hit Minneapolis on the way home it was still (or maybe again) in a torrential rainfall. All in all a great day sailing, and meeting new friends.
With this letter I have completed my duty as temporary secretary (Does that mean I'm retired?).
Mike Calva
"Panacea" P19 #719