Odalisque - July 10, 2004 Log

Log 2004 – July 10th

Saturday July 10, 2004 – “Huntington back to Hempstead Harbor”
Crew: Caleb, Jessica, Rick G., Marge S.

The plan was to get Odalisque from Huntington Yacht Club to Hempstead Harbor Club on a day with no thunderstorms. The objective was accomplished with very little wind unfortunately.

I met Rick at his house by the boat yard around 1245 and we dropped his car off at Hempstead Harbor Club and left for Huntington around 1330 and arriving at 1415 or so. I got a one night refund from this club as I had overpaid the guest mooring fee by one day. We left the mooring around 1445.

Light winds and wake from passing motor boats forced us to motor out to well off Lloyd Neck in the Sound before we shut off the motor. Note to self: always loosen or release the main sheet before trying to raise the mainsail all the way.
Rick and I caught up on old times. We were friends in high school and had kept in touch when we could. Rick has a vast knowledge of the local waters as a kayaker, a crewmember, and motoring the harbors with his father. We could only get about 3 knots under sail with the current running with us as we watched Bayville slowly drift by us and bid good bye to Lloyd Neck. Our progress seemed to slow as we neared the obstruction buoy in the middle of the Sound. It must have been 1700 when we turned on the motor in order to make Mattinecock Point and home.

The Atomic 4 was still gulping water, judging by the water expelled periodically in the exhaust. With the engine at idle and in forward gear we were doing nearly 5 knots according to the water speed indicator gauge. We made Hempstead Harbor Club’s mooring field under power while examining the shoreline from the water. It has changed considerably over the years. The old estates that used to line and then dot the shores of Glen Cove and its environs have largely been turned into developments without the grandeur that the old estates evoked from the water. You now have to visit Lloyd Neck and Caumsett State Park to get the feeling of an undeveloped shoreline. Even there the effects of people are quite visible. We were all getting older too and this was a thing they called progress.

Rick and I enjoyed lowering the sails and the evening sun as we floated at the mooring waiting to be picked up by the launch. Near 1945 the launch arrived and we got to land with the intent on meeting up with our significant others (ok – wives) for an evening meal together. My wife Jessica, had taken a train to Huntington and picked up our car and driven back to Sea Cliff (saving our sorry asses one roundtrip drive, because both me and Rick could still sail but driving was quite another matter after enjoying some sun and beer aboard) to meet Rick and Marge and myself at Marra’s restaurant in downtown Glen Cove. Very nice dinner and I recommend the restaurant too.

Bilge pump: < 5 minutes.
Stuffing box drip: slowish.

Rick at the helm

A photo of Rick Giesmar, at the helm of Odalisque on LI Sound.

— Caleb Davison