messsabout thread.

[Oyster]

I thank Graham and the B&B family for allowing me to crash the party for a few hours today. There were many boats but hopefully some of the B&B family will add some waterborne shots to the thread. I think most will not be home for a while. But I know that some are awaiting for this one in particular even though all the collection there showed that anyone can have their own rigged and finished boat which created the same smile for all. Numerous paddling boats were there too, but I left before most hit the water when the wind fell out. Maybe the next poster that ends up home will garnish the thread with a few more for you guys. The fellowship and scenic location , Bay River, is surely worth the trip.

Lapwing under sail with its capable captain.

[Richard Whitney CS#70]

Thanks Oyster  - nice to see a shot of Lapwing wet.  Looks like you had clear blue skies (at least at the moment you took this shot).

[Oyster]

Actually today was one of those days that you live for, no humidity and enough nip in the air early on and moderating a bit to shirt sleeves with all blueskies after half a day yesterday that allowed some, some of the seasoned guys in a moderating gale wind to take to the water late afternoon. It was an unexpected treat to also have some runabout designs there thats not on the site. So I will not post them as also I do not have permission from the owners either but felt that the lapwing was public knowledge. But while we are killing time here, maybe there will be others to pop in and add some tidbits from their experiences.

I think also that the detached folks from cyberspace should join together to also wish Carla a happy birthday too, her 21st, the best I can gather today. We had a nice cake and Graham provided flowers to boot. Whodathunkit, what a sight too, seeing Graham with an armfull of  roses wading through the marsh grass in flipflops to greet and kiss his lovely bride..,,,,, ;D

[Tom Lathrop]

It might be hard to choose between Friday's weather and today.  Friday had good hard wind and grey skies and today was blue sky and little wind.  Both great for their own reasons.

The sails on Lapwing don't look too great because the battens are still too stiff causing the terrible shape on the photo.  The originals were discarded and replaced with thin ones, which will be further worked on.  this was not evident on Friday because of the stronger wind. 

The boat sails just great and we will get a one on one comparison with the Core Sound 15 sometime soon.  I expect it to be a toss-up.

We are sorry for all who were not able to get to the messabout.  Just meeting all the people who were just names on the forum earlier was a treat.  Looking at all the boats and sailing some of them with their builders was a treat also.  Oyster brought his Sprits'l skiff Popsicle today and he and Linda sailed around the river with the rest of us.  I also got a ride in Chick's lobsterboat and Eric's Carolina fisherman.  Both are great looking and run really well although of quite different types for different uses.  Photos of both have already been posted on the forum and I can't imagine either owner objecting to posting more of them.  As usual, I did a lot of looking and forgot to snap any photos.

[wkisting]

Terribly sorry we missed the messabout. Our Jeep repairs were finished at 4pm Friday (too late to start the 6-hour drive to NC) and on Saturday the weather said 80% chance of rain in the Vandemere area so we thought it wouldn't be worth the 12-hour round trip to spend half a day in the rain. Looks from the pics like the weather was wrong and we missed some good sailing. Arrrgh. Instead we spent the weekend fixing a broken toilet and other little odds and ends around the house.

Glad to hear the messabout went well for y'all. Please do post more pics as they become available.

[PeterP]

I would like to add my thanks to Graham and Carla for the nice time I had at the get together. I know for a fact both of them nearly busted their boilers getting all the food and stuff lined up and going. If man's (and woman's) worth be measured by the amount of good will he spreads around then then Graham (and Carla) are tops -without doubt. Graham's company and boats have always provided tons of good time/memories for me and my family. Thanks again. PS I would appreciate any links to photos of PeterP and Redbeard at the meet. PeterP

[Ken_Potts]

What a wonderful bunch of people!  I had a great time and I'm very grateful to Graham and Carla and Randy and Bobbie for letting us invade their neighborhood for the gathering.

I set out with the intention of getting pictures of every boat but it looks like I missed about half of them.  Here's a link to some photos.  I've got a couple of videos to get onto youtube if I can figure out how...

http://picasaweb.google.com/ken.potts1/BAndBMessabout#

[Jim_Ral]

I also want to thank B & B Yacht Designs for the messabout. I came on Friday and it was good to meet everyone and view the various boats.  I especially enjoyed going out on Lapwing.  Thank you very much.

Now I have to make a decision on which one to make! In the meantime, if anyone in the Raleigh area needs crew to go sailing, let me know! - Jim

[Oyster]

Say whats up with this thread? Does it smell? I know that there was more than four folks there.

[Ken_Potts]

Here's my first ever (short) youtube post and it's from the recent gathering.  You saw it here first...

While I'm at it I think I'll include a video I ran across while trying to figure out if my upload worked.  It was posted by one of our Southern brethren.  It' shows still photos with a soundtrack.  I guess we're passing the summer-fun baton to the wetter hemisphere at this point in the year.  I'm looking forward to seeing the tropical fun while I try to survive our terrible NC winter. ;D  The first song is one of my all time favorites and the second is a good one too.  Sorry - I couldn't resist getting OT...

[Tom Lathrop]

Beautiful Ken,

Years ago Liz and me used to end the annual awards dinner at our sailing club with a slide show of happenings with club members during the year.  Liz would narrate the first part while I operated the projector and then for the last part, we shifted to music and slides with a theme.  Your slide show is beautifully done and reminded me of that.

What is the music?

[Ken_Potts]

  Tom,

  That slide show isn't mine - It's Richard's.  I ran across it while trying to figure out if my video posted and I liked it so much I had to post the link.

  The first song is "Boats to Build" from the album of the same name by Guy Clark.  I recommend every single song on that album.  I'm not familiar with the second song.

  It was great to finally meet you last weekend and I hope to see a slide show someday.

[Richard Whitney CS#70]

Hi Ken and Tom

Posted the video to be the closest I could get to being at the Messabout - sent a link to Graham but didn't know how to post it here.  The second song is by Jesse Winchester off his album 'Gentlemen of Leisure'.

I am also sending a high quality version of the slide show to potential buyers as a marketing tool to sell my CS17 - so I can build a Lapwing.  I have a couple of firm bites - so it may even be gone by the weekend.

Thanks Ken for the photos - I have been looking at the Lapwing photos in detail.  Also like the look of your tent.  When I do my next build I will think ahead about boom tent to end up with something more sophisticated then I have now.

[Docpal]

Oyster,

You're right, there WERE more than 4 people at the Messabout. Here are a group of them(30 +) having an Italian dinner on Friday evening...

I just got home last night after some "issues" involving a plane with a flat tire, etc., and I've posted some pix that haven't been covered yet on Flickr;

I too would like to add my thanks to Graham and Carla ( and everyone else who helped organize the weekend). It was a GREAT time, and I learned a lot as well...

[lbrewer]

Great pictures Ken, Jim & Docpal.  Many thanks from those of us who would have liked to have been able to attend but couldn't quite make it happen. 

Larry

[dale]

Thanks for the reports and pics!  I would love to have been there.  I did make it to the Glen-L "Gathering" in Guntersville, AL (oh, hope that's not blasphemy here on the B&B board but it was only 125 miles away compared to 567 miles to the coast).  Most of the Glen-L builders there have built power boats - some great craftsmanship though.  But my heart was in NC.  I've ordered supplies from B&B and one day may build one of their boats - maybe even the Lapwing.

[Hirilonde]

Say whats up with this thread? Does it smell? I know that there was more than four folks there.

Hey!!  Give my wife and I some time to get home to RI! Sheeesh.

We got in last night, and I worked today, so here is my first real chance to respond to this thread and the Mess-About in general.

I had a great time, and in spite of no real interest in boat building my wife did too.  I would like to thank Graham and Carla for hosting.  And I would like to thank Ken Potts for my first ever chance to sail a cat catch.  15kts. and gusting 25kts. makes for a really fun first time at the helm of a Core Sound.

Here are some pictures I took: (edit: Hmmm, I'm in one of 'em, my wife probably helped)

Setting sail with Ken and his friend Mike.  Graham's dock is in the lee of Friday's wind to it seems calm as we depart.

Lapwing near the dock.

Our host, with some of his designs in the background.

Ken, his friend Mike back to, and sunset on our cook-out.

Another sunset o'er the cook-out.

We were there for most of Friday and Saturday so I probably overlapped just about everyone who attended.  Got to spend a lot of time with some, and too little with many others, but enough with all to make for a memorable time.

[Joe Anderson]

What a wonderful and inspirational weekend. Grahams talent and range of designs is truly amazing. We enjoyed meeting the owner builders and sailing in several B&B boats. I found jibing a Core Sound 20 to be the most amazing experience the sails swing over with more grace than my sailing ability deserves. Thanks to Graham and Carla and all the builders who made such a special event happen.

Joe and Sally

[Oyster]

LOL! just razzing a bit there! Thanks for providing the shots of many boats under sail in several of the albums and the group shots. Since I was limited to light winds and part of one day, I was limited in seeing most of the boats in a decent wind. I did do okay actually, now that I think about it. I was able to pass the EC22 twice sunday!! ;D

Joe this was a nice shot of you cruising along. edited to add, I stand corrected, as I have just learned that the fellow in question is identified incorrectly by my source here, Brent. He was blown ashore today and helped me do some  whittling on some mahogany. Everyone needs a superintent you know for every job.

[paul_stewart]

Dawn and I would like to add our thanks for a wonderful weekend with you all on Chapel Creek.  Thank you Graham, Carla and Beth for hosting the 1st Annual B&B Messabout!  Thank you Randy and Bobbie for co-hosting and sharing your gazzebo!  Thanks to everyone for sharing and making it happen.   It was a such a treat to meet new sailing friends and shake hands with so many legendary boat builders and sailors.   

What does mess-about sailing look like?  Well we had a SPOT gps running some of the time (Tues to Sun) so here is a different point of view on the event.... 

... now that's messing about.