Woodward 1998
By Dory Taylor

How does the saying go? Been there, done that! Well, the Potter
Yachters Been There, Done That! for 1998. 

Our annual bash on the lake, the communal bonfire, potluck after
dark, the sailing, the Pod of Potters (there were 14, plus one odd
ball, and one without, and not all at the same time).  I will start
with the list of those that came, in the order of appearance (and
leaving!)

Late again Harry beat us all, Harry and Sandy and Happy (the dog)
Gordon, Gunter (Lateen), #234, Manatee, was first! On Friday night!

A red P-15, (Harry did not recognize, nor did he get the name), was
there on Friday also, but left, never to return! Who were you????

Bruce & Kathy Hood, P-15, #1246, Aillte.  Also on Friday.

Dory (myself), sans Potter.

Milt Lee, Dolphin 12 (has a brand new p-15 on order!)

Jerry Barrileaux, HMS-18, #48, Sunshine.

Gwen & Wendy & Pepper & Jigger Singh, P-15, #706, Ms Get Away.  (Two
were dogs.) (Careful!)

Don Bergst, Mark II, #797, Ms B.                                                           

Todd Barrileaux with Lisa & Ashley Patterson, Mark 1, #564, Breezy. 
Lost his water pump in the truck on the way up.  Repaired on ramp. 

John & Nancy Butte, HMS-18, #725, Spiffy.  They had to leave Saturday
evening before dark.  I guess Spiffy turns into a pumpkin?

Richard Kinzey & Leslie Oliver, P-15, #2021, Traveler.  They also had
to leave Saturday with some lame excuse. 

Lee & Megan Page, Mark II, #602, Archaeopteryx (the name is bigger
than the Potter!).  Lee showed us how he rigged a means to hoist his
burgee.  Correctly! Top of the mast!

Terry & Mary Gotcher, Mark II, #821, John B.  They stayed for the
potluck, stole their table and left.  (Another pumpkin?)

Mike & Maura Brownlee, former gunter, #230, Flipper. 

Greg & Steve Yu, HMS-18, #63, Sampan.  Arrived Saturday evening, slept
on the trailer, launched Sunday AM. 

Jim Doyle, P-15, #???, Oh No!.  Arrived Saturday evening with the
story that he was there all day sailing up and down the lake looking
for us.  (Jim, What is the hull number of Oh No!?)

Len Gomberg, my guest, arrived Sunday morning. 

Also present were Bob & Debbie Smith with Elvira & Kelly
(nice dogs!). They were camping in OUR spot when Harry arrived.  They
were there for the weekend, fishing! He claims that he sails a Hobie
Cat.  No evidence.  I invited him to come to our events (they do not
fit in with the younger Hobie crowd).  Like to see Jerry in a match
race with the Hobie.  We pick the course. 

Missing: Larry Costa, who was talking up this sail from last year!
They say he was sick.  Must really have died and we were not notified
yet.  Larry, you will have to go to Tahoe to make up for it!

Also missing were the ninety odd Potter Yachters that live in Northern
California that did not come. 

There were no races.  Winds were gentle and fluky.  I went out with
Harry on Saturday to see how the Lateen rig sailed.  Very impressive. 
He asked me if I was going to modify mine.  The fast tacks were nice,
but I do like the main & jib.  Sorry Harry: no. 

The potluck was great.  As usual! I ate too much and was not able to
sample all.  Someone said the beans were great.  I could not eat even
one.  Someone brought brownies.  Megan was the brownie girl.  They
were good. 

I bugged out at ten and went to bed.  A group across the cove was
partying until at least two (the last time I looked at my watch). 
Woke up at 5:30. 

After Len arrived, I stole Todd's Potter and Len and I went out.  This
was Lens first time in a sailboat.  I gave him the tiller and put him
to work.  A few more times and we might have another Potter owner. 
The wind died down, and we motorsailed to the end of the lake where I
dropped all sails and we motored back to the campsite. 

Larry, you missed a very pleasant weekend.  So did all of you that did
not come.  I am already looking forward to next year.  Maybe I will be
able to launch my Potter at the new launch ramp.  And then again, I
will probably just dump it off at the beach.  Love tilt-bed trailers!!