Pirate Cruise 1998

On August 13, 1998, we boarded ZAYDA enroute to Block Island, a small island off the coast of Rhode Island.
Chris and I have had the opportunity to take an annual Pirate Cruise over the past 10 years or so with a variety of crew members joining us for trips to a variety of destinations. The Pirate Cruise is as much a state of mind as it is a trip away from the safe harbor of Noank with good friends. It's now an annual tradition.

This year Kevin Wright from Toronto, Canada and Mark Hozeny from New Jersey rounded out the crew. Fix yourself a Rum & Pepsi and join us as we visit the island.
View the Web Cam

We left early Friday and sailed past Watch Hill, Rhode Island toward Great Salt Pond on the Northwest end of Block Island.
We relaxed, went swimming, listened to tunes, drank cool cocktails, (including Mark's favorite, Malibu Rum & Pineapple) and got to know our neighbors. Mark fished while Chris polished while Kevin watched.
We ate dinner aboard - Roast Pork on the grill, beans, corn-on-the-cob, bread, salad. Nice bottle of Chardonnay. Great company. I tuned in Radio Havana Cuba on "Yacht Boy", my Shortwave Radio. It was a beautiful night on Block Island. We sat and laughed under the stars for a while, then Early to bed, Early to rise...
The next day, after coffee and breakfast aboard, courtesy of Aldo's, an Italian guy who cruises the harbor in a small boat selling fresh baked goods, we disembarked and rented Mopeds to tour the island for a few hours, stopping at Southeast Light, which had recently been moved back from the eroding shoreline.
That afternoon we left Great Salt Pond and sailed down the North coast of Block Island to North Light, where we anchored and swam ashore for a closer look, stopping to talk to an "old salt" sea captain-type who was a volunteer at the lighthouse. (He was enjoying a nap when we woke him)
We swam back to the boat and got underway.

Back aboard ZAYDA, we made for Old Harbor, the less-travelled harbor on the island. Some of the crew enjoyed a nap in the bright sunshine. 4 hours later, we took down some sails and anchored just North of the breakwater, which is in the top-center of this photo.

Folding Some Sails

Chris found numerous lobsters swimming under the boat and fashioned a net from a coat hanger and a fish net. Needless to say, we didn't have lobster for dinner! Instead we went ashore and had a fantastic dinner at the National Hotel, an island favorite. Tuna, Filet Mignon, Steamers, Fine Wine, and lots of laughs. We sang Happy Birthday to the next table. We drank many expensive cocktails in fancy glasses. *Last Call!* Back to our home on the water... After breakfast aboard the next morning, (What part of the steer does the hash come from?) ,prepared by Captain Chris, a tired crew departed Block Island bound for home. (About 8 hours) "Otto", our nickname for the auto-pilot, got a workout. Most of the crew napped on the deck in strange positions. I maintained watch over the coolers... and the instruments and the charts. We returned to Noank safely before dark. We had dinner that night at The Seahorse in Noank, near Mystic. We get together each winter in Vermont. The trip was flawless, and thanks to Chris, no animals were harmed. Thanks again, Skipper. Here are some photos from the trip.
Photos From This Year's Cruise
	Kevin, Mark, and Chris arrive at the mooring in Noank.
	Our spacious accommodations. Note our mascot, the skull.
	Kevin and Chris pause at Southeast Light for a photo opportunity.
	The Wild Ones get ready to tour Block Island.
	Kevin and Chris exchange laughs on the way out to the boat.
	Chris chowing down some breakfast. Faster, faster!
	We anchored off of North Light and swam ashore. That's Mark.
	Chris found out where the lobsters were... Under the boat! (The lobsters weren't cooperating)
	Back at the dock in Noank. Another Mission Accomplished!
	Doc and Mark - I'm Port, He's Starboard