Marina Talk

I have recently discovered that the men in the marina speak another language. Interestingly, there are a number of English based words in this language. I sometimes suspect that it is in reality a secret code. It goes something like this: "It has a 4 way injector and an overflow tank."

"This is a fluid dilema. If it's on the uphill side...... You are sucking air through a fitting." (OH MY. THERE HAS TO BE AN EASIER WAY TO GET AIR!) "The accumulator is doing what it is supposed to be doing." (AND WHAT DOES AN ACCUMULATOR ACCUMULATE?)

"I need to install a galvonic isolator." "Oh yeah, I put mine in as soon as I bought the boat." (SO NOW I WONDER WHAT ARE GALVONS AND WHY DO THEY NEED TO BE ISOLATED. ARE THEY ANTISOCIAL?)

"Ned is having his fuel polished today." (DEAR GOD, HAS IT COME TO THIS? I MEAN, THEY ARE ALL FANATIC ABOUT THEIR ENGINES, BUT THIS IS TOO MUCH. DO YOU SUPPOSE HE USES "PLEDGE?")

"The joker valve isn't working." (NOW I KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT JOKER VALVES. IF IT ISN'T WORKING, THE TOILET BACKS UP AND THE JOKE'S ON YOU.)

I need to replace the Y valve in the sewage line." "Isn't it a gate valve with a center screw? Maybe the screw just needs tightening." "That would be the easy answer. I suspect the screw is stripped." (DOES THIS MEAN WE HAVE A NAKED SCREW? WHAT DOES A SCREW NORMALLY WEAR?)

"There is a capped off valve down there. It's a pickup valve." (NOT SURE I LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT.)

"I have the male end. (WELL, I KNEW THAT.)"I need the female end." (RIGHT NOW?)

"I plan to strip the varnish and either leave it naked or apply teak guard." (HONESTLY,MEN, THEY ARE ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT SEX.)

Actually, I have no interest in breaking this code because the one thing I have noticed is that if you are the one who speaks the language, you are also the one who is lying on the floor of the bathroom, sweating and cursing and up to your wrists in sewage....AND I'M not going there.!

The Gunns in Key West

Kit and Tom Gunn, who visited two years ago, returned to spend more time with us. We did a lot of eating and, like others who spend time in Key West, they suddenly found themselves perfectly willing to become a part of the funky lifestyle, pausing at a Mallory Square shop to become temporary pirates and attending the conch blowing cocktail hour on the dock. We introduced them to our new personal favorite singer, Howard Livingston, who has a Key West band and songs with wonderful lyrics that catch the true laid back flavor of living in the keys.

And of course, we ate the requisite meal at Geiger Key, our secret Locals Only spot.

First Sail of the Year.......out to watch Key West Race Week

Some actual boating. We headed out the channel to the race course only to encounter a fog patch so dense that we couldn't spot any channel markers at all, and in the narrow channel, surrounded by mangroves growing on reef, with fishing skiffs and skidoos appearing suddenly in side channels, the radar readings were not sufficient to guide us. It took three tries before the fog thinned, at which time we realized that we had been only a hundred yards from deep water each time we turned back.


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We caught the start of the Melgas 24 and J105 classes, then moved on to the course with the big boats, where we watched the US Americas Cup entry, the Oracle, compete with boats from Great Britain, Russia, Italy, Canada, and the UAR. Also watched the Titan blow away the others in the Maxi class. Next weekend, we do the racing in the first Wrecker's Race of the season.

First Visitors for the New Year

Our first Key West Visitors, Don and Susan Hutchins. Don had sailed with us from Key West to Fort LAuderdale several years ago and all three of us had a vested interest in convincing Susan of the joys of Key West living since she was considering wintering over next year with their RV. So, we tried to show her why we are so enamored of the keys with a sampling of everything....the museums, the conch blowing on the pier, the restaurants, Mallory Square, the charm of the Victorian houses set in lush, tropical vegetation, and the rustic quiet of Geiger Key. We think we succeeded!

Don and Susan have other friends here and the ladies dined at The Banana Cafe's rooftop venue on day for lunch and all enjoyed a fabulous 5 course dinner at the home of Steve and Jane the following night.