Phil's Catalina Sail - 2014

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Entry made in the Guest Book aboard "Dutch Courage," owned by van den Bosch
(one week prior to Catalina’s Buccaneer Days at Two Harbors)

Where to spend all our pillage and plunder?-
On an island that's almost split sunder.
Every day we find more
Of its harbors galore-
But to pick just one spot would be blunder.

Both the rails of Dutch Courage got washed
(And the crew of said boat mostly sloshed!)-
Not a reef would stay pinned
In the 20-knot wind-
Marv'lous week was fair spent van den Bosch'd.

Grand adventure lived day after day-
Dinghy fun, moonstone sands, dolphins play,
Fragrant sizzling stove,
Awesome reefs that we dove-
It was sad to slip moorings away.
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Escapada a los Cayos de Florida

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(from 8 May 2013, anxiously awaiting the catamaran sailing trip)

We will soon be in Florida’s Keys

To relax, just kick back, take some ease.
Wearing nothing but shorts,
I don’t want to hear snorts;
Pass some more of those crackers and cheese.

See, the boat has been rented and crewed;

O so lavishly stocked – drink and food! –
What with eight salty gulls
Filling both sleekish hulls
Need the head? Just shout out, you’ll be queued

Safe on board, we will float isle to isle,

Taking in splendid sights all the while.
You suggest you are bored,
We toss you overboard;
Don’t that shark have a wide, toothy smile?

In a fearful attempt to go snorkel

There’s some things that you wear, and the cork’ll
Keep you buoyed up light.
You should not take a fright
If that fails, don’t freak out, ‘cause your pork’ll.

Large sand castles are sure to impress;

Their tall battlements built with finesse.
Perhaps shovel and pail
Keeps me far, far from jail… oh!
Will you please pardon me? – I digress.
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(from 18 May 2013)
 

The Keys Sailing Vacation & Crew

[Catamaran: Free Astray]

[free astray: a shipment that is miscarried or unloaded at a wrong destination and then forwarded correctly free of extra charge because of being astray.]

[The crew is all here – all via Virgin America airlines.]

It was cause for some great celebration,
Filled with laughter and hugs and libation.
For the Virginal race
To this hot sweaty place
Made tall tales for the next generation.

[Phil, Phil, learn to grill...]

Ah, our grillmaster fine is Sir Phil;
Cooks it all - octopus, even krill.
B.B.Q. fork in hand,
Singes all mighty grand,
Every bite - masterpiece! - fit to kill.

[Danie, skipper's mate]

See! There's Danie, who's short, never surly.
Loves to party - both late, again early.
Once she starts, how she sings
'Bout her new nipple rings!
But we doubt they exist (her hair's curly.)

[First day out]

From Key Largo we went to Molasses,
See and swim the sea floor and its grasses.
Every shade from deep blue
To an almost ecru
Makes a wonderful view as it passes.

First day out sun was bright, real intense.

Sure enough, some of us used no sense.
For not following regs,
Pretty red lobster legs;
And the pain of it all was immense.

[Second day out]

Another known reef -Alligator-
Close by here (prob'ly near the equator.)
An aquatic swim bliss
Captain Joe said, Don't miss.
Long Key called, so we said, See you later.

[Pamela, navigator]

Trav'lin' Pam, wine in hand, loves the gabbin';
Her Brit accent sure helps - our ears stabbin'.
Tech and camera close by
Should a view come to eye
When she's not try'n to sleep in her cabin.

[Luc, skipper]

Master Luc's an inscrutable soul,
With our safety his number one goal.
Eggs and pancakes so fine
And he'll throw you a line.
Free Astray has not yet gone a-shoal.

[Mr. Peterson, first mate]

Mr. Peterson's beard may be salty,
His sharp faculties clearly aren't faulty.
Believe what he might say--
He could sail, sail away.
Such a man loves his rum and his malty.

[Debbie, Phil's mate]

Cram three weeks into one! Multi-task!
A few hours thrown in just to bask.
Still, the sun soaks her through.
She knows just what to do
As day fades, Put a tap in that cask!

[Mrs. Peterson, Mr. Peterson's mate]

First day out, gentle wife stayed below.
Passing days saw her strength grow and grow.
Galley knife flashing bright
Nicks mosquitoes in flight--
Sea legs back, let the storm start to blow

[Richard, according to Mr. Peterson]

Richard, smartly dressed and muscular built
He wouldn’t tell us what was under his kilt
Hiking & biking & sailing he liked a lot
Good with words, hose & mop & very handy when tying a knot
So handy is he if you asked nicely, please, he could probably make a quilt.

[Richard, according to Danie]

Richard est un cyclist et maintenant un homme de la mer
Un mumoor a vous donnes des crampes a se tertre a terre
Toujours pret a vous aider
Il est tout un co-equipier
Tranquille & poli, il est un gentleman gentil

Richard, Ricardo, Butter Boy, go-to-men une fois qu’on
Ie connait avec ce souries coquina
Dure de s’en passer
Car il est unique avec son luffa et quilt
Et ses rings cacher
Il est decdemant on ami, un co-equipier
Qu’on veut sui son voilier!

(Pardon my French, s'il vous plait; misspellings are mine.)
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