Conch Cruisers
These are all the Conchs from past and present.

The conch indicates how many cruises this person or persons have made with the Conch Cruisers in the past.

Diane & Dave Bartlett, Miami, FL
S/V MacOdyssey , 2004 Mac 26M 
After 30 years of chartering and borrowing sailboats, David retired and Diane convinced him he now had time for a boat. We decided on a new Mac 26M (MacOdyssey). Trailerabilty, shallow draft, and superior powering speed were major factors in the decision. We have plans for many wanderings about the US and exploring numerous puddles. Conch Cruiser's Dry Tortugas trip fits our plan perfectly... It's a trip we've always wanted to make and we can do it with new friends.
Diane is still working at her own commercial real estate business. She recently hired an assistant, and now is able to take a lot more time off. We've been on the water over 300 hours since December. David, an x-airline captain for Eastern, Rich International, Conair of Demark, Zas of Egypt, and Miami Air International, is happily pursuing a new chapter in life after his automatic age 60 retirement. We've lived in Miami since 1970. Diane grew up near Nashville and I grew up in Canton, NY. Besides sailing, we bike, kayak, alpine ski, play tennis, RV camp, skate, and walk. Our life has been very busy, and we forgot to have kids

Tim Bastian - Hixon, TN
S/V Zephyr's Aura - 26X
Crew: Hi my name is Tim Bastian. Our home port is Hixson, TN. I run an aircraft maintenance shop and flight school in Dayton, TN ( http://www.hangar-a.com ). I learned to sail about three years ago at a local yacht club. I purchased my first boat ? , a MacGregor 26X in October of 2002.  MMy son Scott will also accompany us  on our adventure. He likes to go tubing and wake boarding behind the boat.

John & Anita Baumgartner - High Point, NC
S/V Baum's Rush - Hunter 260
My wife and I have been married 2 years now, I have sailed about 35 years on everything from American 16, San Juan 21 to Morgan 48, I am a retired Chief USN (mostly on subs) now working as an electrical engineer for Volvo Trucks. My wife is new to sailing and has about 6 trips under her belt. We sailed on Lake Erie last summer for 14 days, and the summer before that we sailed on a San Juan 21 the Coast of NC..
My present boat is a Hunter 260 that I have modified some.........  I now have all the charts and cruising guides that I think we'll need for the Boogie, Just received the flags and passports so I think we are ready, vacation time approved and ready to go.... are we almost there yet!!!!!!
Unless there is an attack on my house, you can count on us to go.

Juan Boncompte, Charlotte Harbor, FL
S/V Celeste , 1972 Mac 22

We brought CELESTE a few years ago, it’s a great boat and we love to make up to her, we are ASA certificated and "Safe Boaters" by US Coast Guard Auxiliary. We used to sail Biscayne Bay and now Charlotte Harbor. Boat is petty standard, has a 15hp and a 24 gal under deck fuel tank (smelling is gone). My father made a complete re-wired and he also installed a state of the art new compass which we love it. We also have a small sink, two batteries, VHF and GPS handheld units, a under-seat iced-cooler 6x6pack size (made by my father too), a direct discharge head and MP3 stereo cd player, no stove. Trailer is a transom. I work for a tool company covering from Naples to Sarasota on South Florida West Coast; I used to work on MIA Airport for a cargo carrier, discharged since air carriers got “Septembered“. Skipper Martin is a very good friend involved on this sail-adventure since day number one. Click here for our web page .
People on attached pictures are My skipper (who lives in Venezuela , where I born too) at “route brief meeting at Bimini headquarters“, our daughters Celeste & Jessica, and our spinnaker, pictures were taken in Bimini, Charlotte Harbor and Ragged Keys. Barbie is our official Photographer so she is never on pictures. We missed last cruise and we still crying for, we learned the lesson.
Sail’U

Frank & Sandy Boomgard, - Vero Beach, FL
S/V Baby Bumper ,  Mac 26X

Artury & Shari Bouffard- Rio Rancho, NM
S/V Marisol - 01 MacGregor 26X

Howdy!  We are Arturo and Shari Bouffard, and Dangerous Dana Morgan, the crew of the Sea Lodge (name to be changed as soon as we can agree) from Rio Rancho, New Mexico.  This photo was taken this New Year’s Eve in the Sea of Cortez where we enjoyed being pirates.  Arturo is our Captain, Shari is the Admiral, and Dana, our granddaughter, is the 1^st Mate.  Arturo was talking like a pirate in this photo.
In “real life”, Arturo cleans up quite well and is the President of the New Mexico Lodging  Association, Shari is a high school reading specialist  and librarian, and Dana is an active 7^th grader at our  parish school, St. Thomas Aquinas, a flautist,  and a killer volleyball player. As you can see, she already towers over us. We have 5 years to retirement and plan to sail and RV 6 months out of the year—when it is cold in NM!!   We also love adventure travel and have spent a lot of time in Mexico and Central America. 
We are very new to sailing.  We accidentally bought a Mac 22 last March, then joined the Rio Grande Sailing Club (yes this is a real group) and with very little practice, trailered our little Marisol to Cabrillo Beach and sailed to and around Catalina Island for a week.  We had 13 boats from NM!! 

Mike, Elain, and Connor Brown - Cary, North Carolina.

s/v Sunset Sailor - 2001 Macgregor 26X

We have a 2001 Macgregor 26X which my son and I have been working on in preparation for this trip. We have a slip at Kerr lake North Carolina and like to get out there whenever we can.  We have spent overnights on the boat but never an extended stay and we are looking forward to this trip. One of the reasons that I bought a Magregor is because of the Conch Cruisers forum.  Trailoring and sailing to places like the outer banks and Bimini really sounds exciting.

General information about us: We have only been sailing for a couple of years (one year was sunfish). I am a lead software engineer (java programmer) with the state. My wife is a native North Carolinian. My son, who is 15, goes to Raleigh Charter. 

David Cason - Stone Ridge, NY
S/V Pocket Change - 90 MacGregor 26S
David Cason (captain age 49 ,years boating 40. boat owner 6 months)
Graham Cason (crew age 17. years boating 10)

Wade & Donna Clodfelter, Chesapeake, VA
S/V Shooting Sun , 1993 Mac 26S  

Hunter 26 with following: Enclosed screened in cockpit/bimini, boom tent, 55w rigid solar panel, 20amp battery maintainer/charger, 2- 20w portable blanket solar panels, autotiller, stereo/cd, TV/DVD player, rigid boomvang, lazyjacks, Harken deck organizer, Dinghy motor mount (to be added), 8hp 4str h/thrust Yamaha o/b & 8hp Tohatsu 2str, 3.5 hp dinghy motor, furling jib, Led interior lighting, lifeline netting(to be added), 40gal water tank under v berth, on demand fresh water pump, cockpit shower, dual auto bilge pump, 14 & 6.5 gal installed fuel tanks in Lazarette, magma party grill, alcohol stove and Coleman camper stove/griddle, 11’ dinghy.

Captain Zachery- The Scourge and youngest Pirate on the East coast. Born in the crest of a wave, with seasalt running through his veins. Loves the water like a shark and always seen heading for the bow with a knife in his teeth. "A devil with a cutlass." Sailing since before he could walk, putting fear in the waters from New England to the Bahamas and now the Dry Tortugas. He most recently has been seen sailing the Chesapeake and Outer Banks of North Carolina seeking all sorts of treasures. Approach cautiously; he has been known to fall for the simple bait of chocolate chip cookies.

Navigator Kayla- Not known for her ruthlessness but likes how the blue water accents her outfits. Can sail and handle the boat under sail when not lounging on the foredeck. Successfully trained and accomplished several MOB drills under sail while sailing with the Norfolk Naval Sailing ASSN. GOOD JOB!

Breanna Feerless Skylarker & Sailmaster- Has been known to walk up the side of the boat on a heavy heel and has used the boom to swing out into the water. Has been successful at juggle her soccer ball on the bow. A selected Olympic Development Soccer player and terror at this years International Sand Soccer Tournament.

Chief of the Boat (COB) Wade- Sailing for many years, infected by the sailing bug and responsible for setting loose the Pirate Zachery on many seas. Keeping true to his Piratical and Naval roots, sailing up and down the east coast.

Sailing with Conch Cruisers - Bahamas '03

Ralph Crowder - Burkburnett, TX
First Mate - Dave Spitler
S/V Serendipity - MacGregor 26X

Bernard Dail – Knoxville, TN

S/V Some Beach 2005 26M

The Dail family will crew the Some Beach. Crew consist of Jean, Eric and myself (Bernard). Our sailboat is a 26M 2005. We as a crew have not crewed together, however, we are an adventurous group. This will be an adventure for us and we look forward to meeting everyone.

John DeFino, Oriental N.C. 
S/V Sloop John D , 2000 Mac 26X 

I have a Macgregor 26X that is kept in the water here on the coast of North Carolina in a little town called Oriental. Oriental is known for having a population of 875 people and 2700 sailboats. We've sailed with the Conch Cruisers to the Dry Tortugas, to Bimini, Bahamas and in the Outer Banks. We have also sailed with some of the Conch Cruisers in the New York Finger Lakes and the Chesapeake.
I served as the COnch Cruisers Commodore for the 2006 Outer Banks Adventures.
Other bio information. I am VP of Electronic Engineering for a firm in Texas and author of a number of Web based software programs for different companies. I work out of my home in Oriental and have been telecommuting for about 20 years. I am a private pilot and an Amateur Radio Operator. But what I enjoy most is cruising, by any method, and meeting others with the same interest.

http://sail.defino.com

.

Rick & Linda Eggers - Union Grove, WI
S/V Mental Floss - MacGregor 26s
We've sailed the west coast of Florida together and I sailed the entire length of the Keys 2 years ago.  We think the Bahamas trip would be a fun way to celebrate our 25th aniversary which is this June. 

Mike & Wendy Ford, Troy, NY
S/V ?,
Here is Picture of my recently acquired Mac waiting for summer weather and  the Conch Cruise. Currently 5 degrees F outside. That Bahamas weather is looking nice.

Tom & Julie Gates - Toronto, Ontario
S/V Outreach - MacGregor 26X The Crew will be my husband Tom Gates and myself Julie Gates.  We live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  Our boat is a MacGregor 26X and named Outreach.

Chip & Kelly Giles - LaGrange, GA
S/V Wild Hair, 1986 Mac 25
(Original Conch Cruisers Commodore serving 2003-2005)
Chip is an assistant principal at a middle school and Kelly is a high school math teacher.  Chip is also a Major in the Alabama Army National Guard.  He is a Combat Engineer Officer.  This explains a lot about their previous misadventures. Both sail on West Point Lake, which is on the Georgia/Alabama line.  They have made three trips to the Bahamas on their MacGregor 25, as well as several trips to Key West and two trips to Destin, Florida.  
Boat - Their Mac 25, the Wild Hair is well equipped for cruising.  It has a seventeen-gallon gas tank, solar panel, VHF (primary and secondary), AM/FM/CD w/MP3 player, GPS (primary and secondary), depth finder, propane stove, gas grill, dinghy motor mount, 9.5' Zodiac dinghy (named Dash Rip Rock), 8hp Evinrude for the sailboat, 8hp Yamaha for the dinghy, Raymarine autotiller, two sospender inflatible harness systems, bimini top, two anchors (a danforth and a hydrobubble), and all sorts of mods.  They have stripped out the interior of the boat and built a modified berth with custom made a custom mattress.  

Billy Glover - Dunn, NC
S/V XX (Double Cross) - MacGregor 26X

Kip & Beth Hamilton  - Carroll Valley, PA
S/V "Tigger Too", 1992 M26S

This will be our second trip with the Conchs.  The trip to the Tortugas was an incredible adventure, which we will always remember. Despite the litany of  “mishaps” (We had to buy a new tire for the van on the way down; we parked under a tree during a rain storm on Marathon Key and this biologic crap fell off the tree and stained the deck & cockpit I had just spent a couple of days polishing; I forgot to install the VHF antenna and windex on the masthead before we launched the boat; our bilge got flooded with about 50 gallons of sea water while filling the ballast tank because TT was sitting 2-3 inches lower in the water than she was designed for and we weren’t paying attention; our depth sounder broke on the way out of the Key West harbor; both our anchor rodes got wrapped around the keel (and each other) during the storm the first night at the Marquesas and I lost one of my swim fins when trying to clear them; the dinghy sprung a leak; we lost the new bottle of propane for the grill the second night out; I separated my shoulder in a little accident right before we left the fort anchorage; our dinghy motor got bounced off the stern rail leaving Ft. Jefferson in the heavy seas; our rudder broke off at the bracket about half way back on the return trip to the Marquesas; the battery in the van was dead when I went to the school to get it and the trailer) …we had a super time and can’t wait to see Bimini.  The best part of the trip, however, was making some wonderful new friends and we are looking forward to making some new ones on the Bahamas Boogie!

We live about 8 miles outside of Gettysburg, PA and have adopted Lake Marburg (outside of Hanover...about an hour away) as our home "port." Beth is (still) a Laboratory Manager (Blood Bank / Hematology) at the Gettysburg Hospital where she is in her 25th year and I work for NVR Homes (Northern Va / Ryan Homes), the 7th largest homebuilder in the country, as the estimator for the NV Homes Division. We will definitely be bringing our youngest boy, Campbell, who will be 5 yrs old in February 2005 and has been sailing since he was an infant. The remainder of the crew, if any, is still TBD.

Roy Highland - Templeton, CA
S/V Salty Dog - MacGregor 26X

Chip & Janice Hindes - West Sand Lake, NY
S/V Nextboat - MacGregor 26X
Janice is a Professor and Student Advisor at our local community college.  Chip is chief mechanical engineer with a small instrument company.  Our previous sailboat was a Hobie 14 which we owned while stationed in Hawaii with the Marines in '72-76.  We have had our Mac since Sep '00.  Cruising options:  50HP Tohatsu, RF 150 genny, VHF, stereo, dual batteries, shore power w/charger, alcohol stove, two anchors, dodger and bimini.  We just got our mapping GPS for Christmas.  Still to come for the cruise, an inflatable dingy;  no motor;  we'll row for now : )  We made our first cruise last summer through the locks of the Champlain Canal to Lake Champlain. Most of our sailing has been on a local lake, but we have been talking about cruising to the Bahamas since we got the boat.  This will be the first time our Mac has been in salt water, so obviously our first time offshore.  Pictures are of the boat pretty much the way it's looked since Christmas, and warmer times last June, Mallet's Bay, Champlain.

 Ron Lindensmith & Elaine Weissborn – Cape Coral, FL
S/V “The Leaky Cauldron”, 1995 Macgregor 26

We met on the 4^th of July 2001 and got married on the 4^th of July 2005. Elaine has lived in Florida for about 25 years after moving here from Ohio. Ron only arrived in 2000 after living 30 years in Michigan and then 20 years in Ohio.

We have only just started sailing together since we bought the Mac in October of 2005. And since we both have full time jobs and lots of other hobbies, we don’t get to sail as often as we would like. However, we both have previous sailing experience. Elaine sailed and did some live aboard on a 37’ Endeavor, making 2 trips to the Bahamas and 2 visits to the Dry Tortugas. Ron crewed on a 22’ Catalina that his brother raced on Lake St. Clair (NE of Detroit) as well as several other vacation sailing experiences on everything from a sunfish to a 65’ custom charter sailboat. We found the Conch Cruisers online about the same time as we got the boat and talked about how much fun it would have been to have made the ‘05 trip a few months earlier. And we weren’t quite ready for the Outer Banks trip in ‘06 as we didn’t have our boat outfitted the way we wanted and needed more experience together. So we did a week in the Middle Keys and had a great time sailing and snorkeling. Now we are looking forward to the trip to Bimini and making new friends.

Elaine works for the Lee County Library System and Ron is a handyman who specializes in ceramic tile. Our shared hobbies include gardening, butterflies, marine reef aquariums, snorkeling, kayaking, auto racing (especially Formula 1), hockey, computers and photography… to name a few. We are both curious and enjoy new learning experiences. We are both willing to take the adventurous tack, but we always keep common sense and good planning in the picture.

Steve & Betty Laufer - Coconut Grove, FL
S/V My-La-La-Mar - MacGregor 26M

Jack & Barbie O'Brien - Lake Worth, FL
S/V Gostosa III - MacGregor 26X

We bought our 2000 X in October, 2002. Suzuki DF50, (5) sails, (2) GPS, (2) VHF, SportPilot Plus, stove & bar-b-q, 40 gallons water with shower, dinghy with 2.5 HP, etc.

Jack single-handed with The Conchs to The Dry Tortugas last June. We both went with the Miami Macs on a 5-day trip to Islamorada on Upper Matecumbe Key last November. Jack has boated, on and off, for 45 years. Mostly we sail on The Lake Worth Lagoon / ICW or near shore off Palm Beach. Jack's son and his wife, Kevin & Jen, will come from Houston to crew with us for Bahamas Boogie '05. Barbie is Manager of Imaging Services for a hospital. Jack directed production for various international tire factories and owned a printing company prior to retirement.

David & Linda Passman - Pensacola, FL
S/V Knotty M - MacGregor 26X
Skipper: David Passman   Crew:  Linda (wife)
I retired from the Coast Guard (very little sailing experience) after 30 years.  Linda is a homemaker and has fallen in love with our Mac26x.  Knotty M is our first boat and we are trying to outfit for the June trip.  Knotty M is kept at a wet slip at the Naval Air Station Pensacola making it ready for use on short notice.

Paul Roberts - Boulder, Colorado
S/V John C - MacGregor 26X
Hometown is Boulder, CO, but have a place in Key Largo where we spend time in spring & fall.

Joanne & Don Robinson - Orlando, FL
S/V Gladys Marie - Hunter 30
CREW: self and spouse  -Joanne,  2 Jack Rusell Terriers -Topper and Cpt Morgan. Perhaps our son, Mathew and friend..will keep you posted on this
Hometown: We keep boat at Harbortown Marina in Cape Canaveral (Merritt Island)
The boat is a 1980 H30..we have had it for for about 7 months. It has a 2 cylinder 12HP Yanmar diesel ..hull speed 5-7knots under power. It has a jib on a Furlex roller furling and of course the mainsail..We sail as often as we can instead of motoring. We also have a 9' foot dinghy.
 Don & I have been married for coming up to 35 years and have 3 sons, one who is still at home with us. It is our dream to become live aboards and travel within the next 3-5 years..

Frank & Eva Roehm - Biloxi, MS
S/V Island Time - 2001 MacGregor 26X

Michael & Kim Schulte - Wilmington, DE
S/V Titleist
MacGregor 25
Grettle, the Scottie is also crew periodically.

Jerry Scully - Orange Park, FL
S/V LJ GUM - 95 MacGregor 26S

Larry & Ann Secheverell - Ft. Wayne, IN  
S/V  This End Up - 91 MacGregor 26S
Larry is an engineer for a large electric utility and Ann has a Pet Sitting Service and is a Secretary for a Veterinary Clinic. We usually sail out of New Buffalo on Southern Lake Michigan and occasionally some of the inland lakes around us. I started sailing when I was 8 yrs old when I talked my parents into getting me a Sunfish which we still have, 40 years later I wanted to get back into sailing and my wife said “go get a boat”, I wanted a bit larger boat and found a Mac 26s for a very reasonable price, the boat was in Utah,, I drove out in a snow storm and got it, soon after I started to make the many changes to suit our needs. “There is nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats”. We found the Conch Cruiser site in 2003 and thought the Bimini Trip sounded like a great time, but we were not experienced enough, and the boat was not ready for that first cruise. Our schedule did not allow us to make the second cruise, but when they went back to Bimini in 2005 we were more than ready and had a great time. We crossed the Gulf Stream to another country, met many new friends, and had the adventure of a lifetime. In 2006 we went with the Conch’s to the Outer Banks, NC. It was great to see everyone again, we learned a lot more about Tide Tables and depth gauges, and again had a great time with a wonderful group of people.

Curt & Marilyn Smith - Bismarck, ND
S/V Castaway - MacGregor 26S
My wife and First Mate, Marilyn Schroder, Sons Chris and Joe, and friend Jess Grinze will be making the trip with me.  We will be leaving Bismarck, North Dakota on the 16th of June pulling the boat, a Mac 26S, with an '85 motorhome.  Should be an adventure!  With a bit of luck and the Grace of God we should be there the evening of the 20th. 

Kevin & Francoise St. Onge - Leslie, MI
S/V Sail La Vie - MacGregor 26X
We love our MacGregor, and usually sail Lake Michigan/Traverse Bay area.  We are excited about our first sea crossing, and know it will be a great adventure!  We look forward to meeting many new friends during our voyage!  Think Spring!!

Richard & Lynne Starke - Easton, PA
S/V Lynn Marie - Precision 23

Luke Thompson - Youngstown, OH
S/V Dream Chaser - MacGregor 26X

Philip & Terry Toren - Jupiter, FL
S/V Manido - MacGregor 26X
Captain:  Philip Toren
Crew:  Terry Toren, spouse
Hometown:  Jupiter, Florida
Name of Boat:  "Manido"
Model of Boat:  2000 MacGregor 26X

Shawn and Melanie VanDemark, Deland, FL

S/V Wings of an Eagle, Mac 26S

Shawn recently signed up for his first trip with the Cruisers.  His brother and father will be joining him for his first trip to the Bahamas.  Shawn has been sailing with his family of and on since he was ten.  His wife Melanie and daughter Emily will be joining him in Bimini, but being slightly less adventurous having decided the half hour plane ride better suited them than the 10-12 hour sail.  They are all looking forward to sailing and snorkeling in the islands. I can't wait to set sail.

Jason Vogelsberg - Gainesville, FL
S/V Synchronicitiy   -  MacGregor 25
Cap'n Jay reporting for duty with Conch Cruiser Squadron. I got a brand new crew (now up to 3!), a new tow vehicle, and a new trailer. 4-stroke motor is forthcoming. I will be there, so sign me up. Lemme know what I need to do to get on the list. Below is my profile.

"Born the same year Elvis died, many have said that J. Carter Vogelsberg is a reincarnation of Presley; The King. While many would-be pirates claim to be hard-core, only Vogelsberg has had the dedication to have himself fitted with a peg leg. A paratrooper trained in the use of explosives, he is highly dangerous, though he has sworn to use his powers only for good. At the helm of his favored vessel, the Mac 25, Vogelsberg is fast and lethal, and infamous for dispatching sharks with tight 5-7 round bursts from his .45 caliber Thompson M1A1.
   "I don't care where I'm at, I SAIL," Vogelsberg proclaimed defiantly in July 2003, following a successful run to Bimini, Bahamas.
   "We know he is a radical liberatarian asshole, and that's about it," said Thomas Hudson, public relations director for the Southern Poverty Law
Center. Hudson also said that while Vogelsberg's current wereabouts are unknown, he is believed to be operating out of a fortified compound south of Gainesville, FL, known simply as "GatorCroft." Local authorities warn that he is armed and extremely dangerous, and advise contacting the local chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous, as Vogelsberg's proclivity for rum is legendary."

-Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2004

Jack & Kelly Vose - King of Prussia, PA  
S/V Olivia II - 1990 Mac 26S
Jack is an aircraft mechanic for Boeing, and has been with them for 20 years. Kelly is office administrator for our church. We only got into sailing a few years ago, and have taken the first two A.S.A. courses. Having traded a 1995 Springer Softail named Olivia for our boat, we dubbed her Olivia II. (Not to worry; now we've got a 2005 Electra Glide) since acquiring her, in addition to our local lake (Lake Nockamixon), we've trailered to Minnesota for launching on Lake Superior, New Hampshire (during Laconia Bike Week) for sailing on Lake Winnepesaukee, and The Keys. (With the "Conch Cruisers", and by ourselves)  When it's time to retire, the plan is to get a bigger boat, one that can go most anywhere. (Hopefully a catamaran) In the meantime, improving sailing skills, and checking out new destinations is paramount!

Bert & Kathy Ward - Gainesville, GA
S/V First Watch - Hunter 260

We live in Gainesville, Georgia, about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta, on Lake Lanier. We have three adult children and three grand children. We began sailing soon after we were married. As the kids were born, we just added another small sailboat or sailboard. Prior to moving to Atlanta, we lived in Boca Raton, FL, and our sailing included the Florida Keys, and several small lakes around south Florida. The kids (and the neighborhood kids) would hook up the the Hobie 16 to the conversion van(remember those?), load up a Sunfish and 3 sailboards and head for the water. The family still enjoys sailing. Two of the kids have Hobie 16s and my son has inherited our much beloved MacGregor 26D, "Mariah Skye". This spring we found a Hunter 260, "First Watch" in Dallas, TX, and will be getting used to how it sails as we join the group for the third Conch Cruiser Bimini cruise. We have enjoyed all the Conch Cruises since 2003. The friends we have met on these cruises have added immensely to our sailing fun, and we consider ourselves very lucky to be a part of this fine group.

Eric and Robin Westerheim - Cypress Springs, TX
S/V Island Venture - 74 Venture 25
Hi, my name is Eric and my wife is Robin. We live on lake Cypress Springs in east Texas.  We race every Wednesday on lake Ray Hubbard in Dallas on our 1974 Venture 25 which we bought in 2001. For two years we've tried to go on this trip. The first year, we decided to paint the boat so as not to be too embarrassed by all the other shiny new boats.  The weather intervened and although we did not make the trip our marriage did survive the overhaul.  Last year, we were again determined to go, but this time, our son had the gall to choose July to get married.  Soooo.here we go again. We chartered catamarans in the BVI's a few times but are really looking forward to sailing our own boat to the islands. I hope it still remembers the way it's been there before with its previous owner. As far as other interests or should I say obsessions go, we love all things associated with life on or near the water, we love traveling, camping, and playing golf and tennis.

Harold Zinmeister & Michael Shaner- Spencerville, OH
S/V  Knotmine - 93 MacGregor 26S
Harold Z. Zinsmeister, Spencerville, Ohio. Co-owner Michael C. Shaner, Lima, Ohio.  We have a Mac "93" 26s "knotmine".  Harold retired from public service three years ago with 31yrs, 25 as Chief of Police. Michael is a chemical operator for BP with 30 some years service. Mike and I have been sailing together for twenty years. We have sailed Bear Lake, Mich., Cave Run Lake, KY., Tenn. River, Land between the lakes, We have made three trips to the Gulf of Mexico sailing out of Pass Christian, Miss, Tarpon Springs, FL and Panama City, FL. Knotmine is kept on Grand Lake, St Mary's, Ohio. We have been looking forward to this trip for the past three years. Our wife's Ann & Debbie will not be accompanying us on this trip due to motion illness and job requirements.