Harlem Revives the Rendezvous

It has been too long since our club has had a rendezvous--a group sail to an “away” port where we stay for a night or two to share fun, refreshments, a chance to get to know each other better, and a good night’s sleep on our moored or anchored “waterbeds.”

On July 11-12 five Harlem boats connected in Oyster Bay for fellowship, food, and drink:

Black Squirrel, ILENE, Maya Ann, Monty’s Ark and Sirenka. Two boats--Folly and Aquila--suffered mechancial problems and had to scratch. Folly's crew joined Sirenka. Aquila had to be towed home after her engine quit off Matinecock Point, but her first mate came overland to join us nonetheless. ut their crews joined us--some sailing on other boats, some driving overland. And, alas, three additional boats had planned to join, but could not make the rendezvous.

Our plans hit a bump when the weather gurus forecast thunderstorms during the early part of the day, persuading us to postpone departure from the intended 10:00 am to 1:30 pm...and, of course, no storms (or even black clouds) appeared.

The wind stayed in our faces as we began tacking our way to Oyster Bay — until it died into a clock calm and we had to motor. So everone was late coming to anchor: the reception aboar ILENE started late, and even so, some crews missed it entirely. But all thirteen Harlemites gathered at Al Dente, a nine minute walk from the Sagamore YC dock, where we dined well into the night.

Dinner at Al Dente in Oyster Bay. From left to right (and jumping from foreground to background): Roger Karlebach, Susan McCormick, Lawrence Gomez, Ilene Whitman, Annmarie Chambers, Margery Schiff, Helen Golner-Maldonado, Lucille Wile, Luis Maldonado, Christine Foehnert, Gabor Antalics, Steve Marshall, and Becky Berman.

We then enjoyed a dry, calm, cool night. As one Rendezvouser later wrote, the cruise:

“… introduced my wife to an entirely new side of boating. Until this trip she had never spent that much time aboard, enjoyed the camaraderie of a yacht club rendezvous or slept overnight on a boat. One of my favorite moments came in the morning. We made coffee aboard, enjoyed the quiet start of the day and then cast off for home. It was a simple experience but one that perfectly captured the enjoyment of spending a weekend on the water.”

Hmm? Maybe we should start planning the next Rendezvous. Labor day Weekend?