February 23

The Dolphin Cruising Club of Tampa Bay is an organization of sailing folks on the west coast of Florida who... wait a minute, don't tell me... like to cruise, often together, in sailboats. The term organization is a tad solemn for a group whose motto is, "We ain't got no noble purpose", but they do lots of stuff, planned, unplanned and occasionally haphazard. Anyway, since members Michael & Barbara from Astarte are here and have agreed to help Anthem through the Canal, and ignoring input from the other 84 boats, we have declared ourselves a quorum and will have a long weekend cruise-between-the-oceans plus a rules-making congress. As there are currently no regulations of any kind, every member should plan to attend. Burgees will be awarded for silliest costume and naughtiest limerick. Bocce ball winner gets a free trip to the Galapagos.

Still need two line handlers as second couple in a row has scrubbed for scheduling reasons. Have left message with a cork board notee and have also advertised, but will feel better when all four positions are locked in. Even if your vessel is in the middle of a raft, crew is required at each corner for tying to adjacent boats. But what am I thinking? See first paragraph.

At least the boat is ready for the Pacific. Now if only someone could arrange all the mess aboard into some coherent order. Then, of course, someone would be required to remember what items there actually are and where to find them. And then if this person could teach me how to speak fluent Spanish, French, English and to understand everything they know about all above, I wouldn't need them.

Jack