The Last Week of the SCYC Sailing Program!

Wow! We can't believe that the sailing program is winding down! It's the last week for sailing classes for Geoffrey, Claire and Madi and the last week of the Bay Kids program for Rose. After this week, we'll still have a couple of weeks for fun sails and other activities before school starts.

Here's what went on this week:

Fodder and Granny Go To A Concert!

We're in Cape May for a Concert by The Association

The summer concert series, Stockton Goes to the Beach, takes place in Convention Hall in Cape May. On Monday night, Fodder and Granny drove down the Garden State Parkway to attend a concert by The Association. We arrived in the early evening, found a parking spot and walked along the promenade adjacent to the beach. 

Cape May Convention Hall

A view from the Promenade

The sun is setting behind the Marquis de Lafayette Hotel

The concert was great fun. It was great to hear the old hits and the guys can still belt out a tune. The harmonies were wonderful. The four guys in the front (Jules Alexander, Larry Ramos, Russ Giguere and Jim Yester) are longtime members. In the late 60s, Jules left the group to study meditation in India. Larry Ramos replaced him. When Jules returned to the group, they kept Larry and the six man band became a seven man band.

They entered the national scene with "Along Comes Mary," a song that was banned on half the radio stations in the country because it was "too controversial." "Cherrish" was their first #1 hit, and "Never My Love" is the second most played song on US radio stations as certified by BMI. 

I saw The Association in the late 60s at the height of their popularity. Although they were not cutting edge, they were one of my favorite groups. I really like their harmonies. 

The Association

The Association members have gotten older. About 98% of the audience had gray hair. I never knew The Association was popular with the senior crowd!  

Sailing and Bay Kids

Claire and Madi sailed on Monday. Geoffrey's class boarded motorboats for a trip to Tice's Shoal, some 10 miles north of the yacht club. When they got there, some of the kids played bayside and while others walked across Island Beach State Park to the ocean.

Geoffrey reported that he had a great time. He wants to take us there by boat so all the kids can have a similar experience.

The weather held on Tuesday morning so Claire and her class made it out on the water. By the afternoon, thunderstorms rolled in causing the Sunfish class to spend the afternoon indoors where they watched sailing related DVDs and engaged in other indoor class activities.

On Friday, the last day of the Waterfront Programs, Madi, Claire and other sailors and swimmers joined in the traditional SCYC Olympics. Claire and Madi won ribbons and had a great time with their classmates.

Claire participates in the "Crab Crawl" in the SCYC Olympics

Madi and her instructor enter the SCYC Olympic venue.

Rose and her buds during the last day of Bay Kids.

On Friday morning (the last day of the program), I took the boys out on the Hobie. We sailed to the shallow water off Cedar Bonnet Island where I demonstrated how to tread for clams while holding the boat into the wind. The kids got the hang of treading rather quickly but there were no clams to be found on the hard, sandy bottom. We didn't have time to sail to a more appropriate location. Geoffrey had to get back to SCYC for his last class. The boys are anxious to find a better location and give it another try next week.

We made it back in time for a quick lunch before Geoffrey's class. He offered the use of our Hobie to the class. They had a great time and enjoyed their last sail of 2012 together.

Geoffrey offered the use of our Hobie Wave to his Sunfish class.

Geoffrey and company heading into the dock

Swimming

We finally made it to the ocean beach at 9th Street. The air temp was 90 degrees and the water temp was in the low 70s. It was really refreshing. We were having a great time but our time on the beach was cut short. We saw thunderheads approaching so we packed up our beach gear and headed for the truck. The rain and thunder came about 20 minutes later as we were driving home. 

Celebrating Summer

Our summer celebration included an all nighter... for the kids, not us! Not for Claire either as she's going sailing the next morning! The sleepless night was scheduled for Wednesday evening and the kids were eager with anticipation. Activities included Wii Resorts games, Mountain Dew light up jars (didn't work) and carmel apples. After Anna Marie and I went to bed (0100 hours) the kids shifted to Minecraft on the xBox. With Claire sound asleep, the other four were going strong when we hit the sack. When we checked on them at 0500 hours, only Geoffrey was still playing games. The others were strewn about the sofa dreaming of sugar plums! At 0700 hours, when we greeted the morning, Geoffrey was still at the game controls. He went to be shortly before 0900, proud that only he made it through the night.

Waterfront Breakfast

As previously mentioned, Friday was the last day of the Waterfront programs at SCYC. All the  kids celebrated with the traditional SCYC Breakfast of Champions. Our gang enjoyed the food and the camaraderie of fellow sailors. Madi and Claire participated in the SCYC Olympics that followed. They brought home ribbons and awards for their efforts.

Rainbow from our salt marsh in West Creek