Summer Cruise

Paul and Nan, Lynn and I did our summer cruise last week and I wanted to let you know what a great time we had. The J/32 was in perfect shape, every component worked exactly like it should and we had no problems or drama whatsoever. We covered a big hunk of the bay but due to the mercilessly hot and windless conditions, motored too much.

The boat moved along under power at 6+ knots with no fuss and burned less than a half gallon of diesel an hour. When the breeze finally came up it was doubly sweet. In case others should ask about an itinerary, here's what we did.

Day 1 - JPort to Oxford - Tied up at Oxford Boatyard - pretty town, working boat yard. Day 2 - Oxford to Solomons Island - Tied up at Spring Cove Marina. Lots of nice marinas to choose from. Day 3 - Solomons to Knapp's Narrows - Knapp's Narrows Marina is really, really nice. Day 4 - Knapp's Narrows to Cat Tail Creek up the Magathy River - Tied up at private dock, quiet but buggy. Day 5 - Magathy to JPort

A few observations on the trip: Thank you for the Bimini every 32 should have one Thank you for the Auto helm, it let me navigate Thank you for an accurate depth sounder, there's a lot of shallow spots. Thank you for the flag, we were proud to fly it. Prey for air-conditioning - we couldn't sleep at night. Watch out for fishermen - they come from nowhere. Slip prices vary widely but we ended up paying between $1.30 and $1.50 a foot. Many include a swimming pool. To quote General George Patton, "God help me, but I do love it so." Thank you, Bill Black

Summer Love At J Port

I joined the Jport Sailing Club last year because I wanted to have access to sailing on weekends. The boats were great and so were the people, and soon I found myself crewing in races and commuting to Annapolis from my home in Arlington every chance I could. I introduced my girlfriend to sailing on the Club's boats last summer and it became our favorite pastime. In fact, J Port and sailing have become so much a part of our lives that when I decided to propose marriage, it was on a sunset sail coming into port on one of the J80s. And she said yes.

A great time on a J/32.

Had to pack a few personal things, get some ice, buy a few groceries and take off on a 3 day adventure less than an hour after stepping foot aboard. That's what a sailing time share is all about: for busy folks who don't have the time to own their own boat but love to sail a good boat. Ellen Kaye, owner of Woodwind

Does the club really work ?

A letter to a current Level 2 Member. Bill, I was given your name and email address by Jason Pinter at JPort as person to ask a few questions of. I am considering a Level 2 membership but have a few questions. I am a novice sailor with an emphasis on novice. With that in mind I would like to ask you a few questions and express my appreciation in advance for your time.

1. How often do you reserve and take boats our within the club? A. During the April-November season I try to get out once or twice a week for a day sail. Winter is a little tougher but there are nice days and the J80s and J105s are ready all year around.

2. Is it difficult for you to obtain the days and times you want when making your reservation? A. Level 1 boats are almost always available. Level 2s take some planning. J105s are very popular. The J28 is less so. Week days are a snap and spur of the moment weekend sails can be had but busy spring and fall weekends are booked up in advance by members using their weekend or day allotments. You can learn how to ration your days and still get in a lot of level 2 sailing. Like I said, the J 80s are always available.

3. Which do you take more advantage of...Day sailing or taking a boat our overnight? A. I day-sail (and single hand) quite a bit. My wife comes with me on two longer trips (spring and fall) when we take a J32 for the week end. There is plenty of opportunity for overnight outings, especially during the week. The boats aren't air conditioned so hot summer nights are sometimes a bit sleepless. 4. How long do you have to travel to take advantage of your membership? A. I live in Fairfax, VA, about 60 miles away. The 1 hour in the car isn't really a problem.

5. How well are the boats maintained in your opinion? A. Given the amount of use they get, the JPort boats are in amazing shape. If you owned your own boat and maintained it yourself, I'll bet it would't be in as good condition as the JPort fleet. Full time professional staff are going over the boats every day to make sure that when you get there all the suff works like it should. Members help by reporting things that need to be done and by keeping the boats clean.

6. How helpful is the staff of JPort once you became a member? A. The staff are very friendly, knowledgable and available. If you have a question they will get you an answer. They aren't there to teach sailing, (that's for J-World) but they are there with spacific tips and ticks for the club boats. Jason will show you how to dock and how to correclty tie the boat up. He will make sure your are familiar with the engines, rigging and systems and know where all the gear is stowed and how to use it. He will famaliarize you with the Annapolis sailing area and suggest places to sail. There are racing clinics and Thursday night races to polish boat handling skills.

7. If you were a beginner when you became a member, did you find the staff to be accepting of your previous training or were you encouraged to take their School? A. I'd been sailing for most of my adult life, owned my own boats and raced quite a bit so training wasn't really an issue. I did not attend J-World but I know they could teach me some good things.

8. Before joining the club did you previously own a sail boat? If so, How many years? A. Yes, see above. Betweem 1966 and 1995 I had a series of high performace dingies and a couple of under 30 foot crusing boats. I've chartered in several areas.

9. How long have you been a member? A. I joined JPort in August 2000.

10. How long have you been sailing? A. Since 1966.

John, one thing you didn't ask about is the club's members. They are the really unique resource and one of the things that make the club so special. If you need a sailing partner to show you the ropes or just to keep you company while you are sailing someone will be there. The Thursday night races are a great place to meet the members and to learn the finer points of making a J 80 go fast. Plus there is free beer after every race. What's not to like? I'm sure you would enjoy your level 2 membership with JPort. You won't find a more economical, less stressed and more convenient way to go sailing. The club takes care of everything. All you do is make a reservation, show up and go sailing. There are no hassles or hidden costs. Bill Black Again I appreciate your time and look forward to your responses. If you wish to share any information or experiences regarding your membership please feel free to do so. Thanks, John

J/Fest 2002

Dear Paul: My admiring congratulations for having "staged" so successful a JFest; lots of people and boats involved, endless good cheer, the opportunity to learn, have fun, win one or more of the cornucopia of prizes, and break (delicious and elegant) bread together. Having organized large events (mostly fund raisers) in the past, I know how much work is involved. Your infinite willingness to find ways to make the club so much more than an offer of inexpensive sailing is deeply appreciated. Thank you, thank you, thank you. If my knees are willing, I hope to continue to benefit from your wonderful club for years to come. Cordially, Steve

Level 2 Member

Nan, Thanks for your help in planning my trip. Having someone who has actually sailed there and knows the best places to go is a real help. I don't normally write thank you letters because good service should be expected but my experience with J/Port Sailing Club has been so far above what I expected that I wanted to let you know how much I appreciated it.

This will be my third year with J/Port. Originally, I had planned to sail with you for a year and then look into getting my own boat. Now that I've experience all that you have to offer I am more than content to continue my membership. It's better than owning a boat. At the end of the day, I can hop off and not worry about dealing with the Marina or maintenance. Better yet because I have a selection of boats I can choose a specific boat for the type of sailing I want to do. The J105s with their speed can not be beat for day sailing on the bay. Eileen and I have enjoyed the J32s when we've wanted to spend a few nights on the boat and do a little cruising.

In the last two years, I've sailed more than 40 days and only used about a quarter of my reserve days. With that experience, we plan to bareboat in the British Virgin Islands [ BVI ] in late fall.

The classes Eileen took with the sailing school have helped to make our trips out on the bay more enjoyable and allowed us to plan on more adventures. I think if you total the cost of the BVI trip and J/Port it would still be less than if I owned my own boat. How can you beat that ---more sailing, more places and fewer hassles and we haven't even talked about the racing program. Sincerely, Kevin Finnegan

Havin' Fun!

Hey Paul! As so often happens after a great J/80 sail, I feel a swell of gratitude to you and the entire J/Port group for making it possible. The enthusiasm and integrity of everyone is a pleasure to be a part of..

Sunday, a dear friend who joined me for the morning sail came away not only having had a wonderful time on the well kept J/80 (JoyRide in this case), but said something that I think sums it up.... 'wow what a great find, fantastic club!!' My Sincere Regards Andy Perahia

New J/Port Members

Nan, Thank you and Michelle for being so attentive to Ellen and me on our first solo in the 80. While I have been doing this more many years with smaller boats, Ellen is by nature very cautious. Your concern over safety and the condition of the boat contributed to her enjoyment of the day. As I have mentioned, I think the sailing club is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Anything we can do to help or make your job easier, please let us know. Carl and Ellen Bartholomaus

A J/80 Fan!

Bill Black, a new member of Level 1, sent Nan a note and we thought it was worth sharing. "I just wanted to drop you a line to tell you that the J/80s are really cool little boats and I can't think of a boat that is more fun to sail. It's a great day sailer and you guys keep them in excellent shape. In over 20 outings nothing has been broken or unservicable. It takes a lot of work to maintain a boat that is used as hard as the club's are and you keep up a whole fleet. Well done"