Craighill Keeper’s bLog

Hmm… so remember this post from when we met Capt. McBride and he showed us his boat and generously lent us batteries and a spotlight? His generosity didn’t end there! Well, uh, who’da thunk at the time that three weeks later we would be the proud new owners?!?! Yes, sailboat Shibumi (soon to be The Keeper come spring) is hopefully the future Craighill tour boat. Life is certainly funny sometimes. Of course, docking a sailboat there will absolutely require a dock.

Can’t wait til my kids see it! Although, that probably won’t be until the spring as well.

I’ll have more on the new sailboat (1970 Columbia 36′ Crealock) and NPSA awards dinner (which was a blast!) later. Chris and Doug (new NPSA social chairs) were awesome helping me coordinate finding a marina in 3 days and moving the boat to it where they can pull it out for the winter. And hopefully Chris will start posting here too (hint hint!)… I’m waiting for Doug to email pics he took with his camera before doing a full write-up since my camera didn’t have any on the boat with me in them. Oh yeah, and I’m working on finishing the book over the next two days, so I’m really not supposed to be doing anything else!

What a way to spend a gorgeous October Saturday! Attending the power boat show in Annapolis with a friend was a blast and then I zipped up to Baltimore for a party at lifetime member Willie and Meg’s house in Edgemere with locals and sailors who are passionate about their waters and lighthouses. The recurring theme of the day was hearing about the guy from Minnesota who bought Smith Point light and apparently talked to most of the boat show folks before I did. The difference is he owns Smith Point privately (and seems to have plenty of money to pour into it) while Craighill is owned by a non-profit (us) and we rely on donations and help from other people. This Baltimore Sun article was mentioned to me several times. I find it fascinating he got stuck out there for three days. I would feel safe enough in any storm in the lighthouse, but I can’t imagine what my poor boat would go through. I’m fairly certain it wouldn’t survive. Wow, he has internet out there!! I checked out the ISP and they’re only in Northern Neck, VA, so I guess I need to find a wireless provider in Baltimore who wants to broadcast a clear signal in exchange for free access and a webcam at Craighill Front. Then I could watch baseball games on my laptop via the SlingBox I have wired up at home while I’m out there Although, I don’t mind listening on the radio now and then and thankfully, the signal does carry up to Baltimore (yes, I’m a Nationals fan - never really got into the American League). Funny that the article mentions the fishing line trick as my very helpful assistant keeper (my son) and I strung some up last weekend finally to deter those nasty birds.

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You too can drink fresh beer or bubbly from the shiny Craighill Cup. You’ll just have to wait until next year to get the opportunity! Craighill Channel Lower Range Front Lighthouse stood proudly as sailboats battled dying winds to take a turn around it last Saturday in the Chesapeake. If I do the links right, they should open up images with a “next” button in the upper right (or press ‘n’) and a “close” link at the lower right so you can return to this post.

Chris Overcash, a member of North Point Sailing Association and new board member of HPP, organized the first ever Craighill Cup Regatta to benefit the restoration efforts at the lighthouse and we are eternally grateful! What a cool event! Nine boats participated in the regatta on what was supposed to be a sunny warm day for the end of September, but started out raining and gray instead. No worries, the race went on. New lifetime member of HPP, Willie, and I boarded the lighthouse early to photograph, video, and wave as the boats rounded the light (in theory). I also got to show off the lighthouse toilet that I’m oh-so-proud-of (not many opportunities to do that!). Using binoculars, we watched them get ready at the start line around North Point.

We watched the leader, Flying Circus, approaching quickly and then stop suddenly just short of the light. They took down their sail and puzzled, we watched as they motored away. I’m still not sure what happened there. Not much later, other boats started cruising between the fishermen and the lighthouse before the sound of ratchets and gear clanked as they swung around to make the turn around the lighthouse. Seeing all these sailboats heading in our direction was probably one of the neatest experiences I’ve had.

Roaring Fortys was the big winner of the first annual Craighill Cup and relished their prize of the Craighill Cup and a plaque.

We hopped in my little inflatable dive and rescue boat to pull ahead of the sailboats and hopefully get a good shot of them with the lighthouse in the background, but they were too fast for us. Instead, we pulled up to Commodore Charlie Rouse’s boat and watched the last half of finishers cross the line. We rafted up together with several of the finishers with my boat serving as a buoy between the big guys. Made me think of Sesame Street’s “Which one of these is not like the other…” song from my childhood! Burgers and sausages and beer for all!

I had a wonderful time and look forward to even more entrants next year! Let’s fill the horizon with sails and really make a statement! Thanks to all who participated. Truly an awesome experience!

1st Place: Roaring Fortys
2nd Place: Phaedrus
3rd Place: Ringmaster

I even made it back down to DC in time to video tape my neighbor’s son sing the National Anthem, although my pants were still wet from falling in the water while pulling the boat up on the trailer AFTER I changed. Oops!

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Although, not quite as smoothly as I had hoped, but still, the roof is patched for winter and the outhouse roof is covered as well. At a meeting for local lighthouse owners/managers (my first attending one of these) Saturday, us newbies were introduced and asked what our biggest current challenges are. Naturally, I replied transportation! I’m seriously beginning to think I’m cursed when it comes to boats. The new boat died right around the exact same place the old boat died on one of its first attempts out. Try as we might, we couldn’t get it to start again. That’s what I get for being optimistic! (j/k - I don’t intend to change that aspect of my personality) Luckily, we still managed to accomplish our goals for the day despite it all. Now I’m on the hunt for a good reasonably priced outboard mechanic to check stuff out.

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Boy has that old adage proven true, however the actual phrasing goes. Just ask the marina owners where our boat has mostly sat waiting for the right person to come along and show it the love it needed. Our boat problems have become a thing of legend around those Miller Island parts! Murphy’s Law completely took over my relationship with that boat. And without a Howard, the wonderful gentleman who volunteers to ferry volunteers and supplies to Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse whenever necessary, we were left high and dry, relying on others to ferry us and potential contractors out.

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