VOL XVI, NO.1 (WINTER – 2006) 5 January, 2006

Winter RendezvousSince Kaye and I are spending some time in the Bahamas this winter with PIKA, SEA CYCLE and several other boats, we are not planning to host the Annual Winter Rendezvous at Harrison’s on Tilghman Island, MD in March.

New MembersNo New Members joined the Alberg 37 IOA during the previous quarter – could it be that we’ve found them all???

The Adventures of JOINT VENTURE – Chapters II & III(1975 Alberg 37 Yawl, Hull # 147)

Ken and Anita Tillotson (Port Whitby Marina)In the interest of keeping this Newsletter to a manageable size, Chapters II and III of The Adventures of JOINT VENTURE may be viewed on the Alberg 37 web site home page (www.alberg37.org). We expect that Ken and Anita will continue their adventure across the Atlantic in the Spring. Check the A-37 website for updates to Ken and Anita’s Adventure.

NEWS FROM MEMBERSBrian and Kathy Marsh (TUNDRA) sent the following Holiday Greetings: “We arrived back to Venezuela late in November. With boatyard work complete, Tundra is now lying in the Bahia Redonda Marina in Puerto La Cruz. Our good friends, Tom and Yvonne Clemons, on Scrammin’ are in the next slip and we are decorated for our southern Christmas together. The weather is generally hot and balmy with lots of afternoon wind and the occasional rain. Early in the New Year we will sail for Isla Margarita where we will have the pleasure of receiving my brother, Johnny and his friend Marci, for a couple of weeks. Intentions are to haul Tundra for the next hurricane season in Curacao-the most western of the ABC island chain. We look forward to hearing from you this Christmas and wish you and yours a peaceful and happy Christmas and New Year. Brian and Kathy aboard Tundra.

Ron and Kaye Surley, of Dallas, TX attended the Annapolis Boat Show in October and bought lots of toys for MY GIRL. “We had a great time at the Annapolis Boat Show – we’re glad we have an Alberg! We were able to get some “good deals” on some parts for the boat. We’re putting the new toe rail on over the next few weeks and are using amidships chocks for our spring lines.”

Lynne and Gerry Purvis recently sold their 1975 MK-II Sloop TRONDELAG.

Lou and Jean Wayne (PIKA), and Mark and Debbie Crowe (SEA CYCLE) celebrated New Year’s Day in Green Turtle Cay in the Abacos/Bahama, after making the Gulf Stream Crossing from Lake Worth, FL to Great Sale Key in the Abacos. Both boats de-parted in late October from the Assenmacher dock in Kinsale, VA. This is PIKA’s third trip to the Bahamas, and SEA CYCLE’s first trip.

Our congratulations to Bill and Debbie Horne, the previous owners of SERENADE, who were married in Luperon last February. “That was fun, a lot of boaters we knew were still there, and a friend owned an open air bar so we had a little get together after the civil ceremony. Have a happy holiday!Bill and Debbie Horne”

The following note was received from Todd and Natalie Stebleton, of Daytona Beach, FL, the owners of the 1967 MK-I sloop COPPERHEAD: “Members of the Alberg 37 Owners Association are invited to call us when you are near the Daytona Beach area. We now own the Towboat US operation from St. Augustine to Titusville, so we may be reached most times on VHF Ch. 16. I spoke with the crew of PIKA as they passed through our area in November.”

Ted Richmon, owner of the 1984 sloop OFFLINE, recently moved south to Wilmington, North Carolina from Fairport, NY. “We ran out of time and didn’t bring the boat here on her bottom. As my friends say “nothing goes to windward like a boat on Interstate 95”. She is now in her new slip about 100 feet from the ICW nears Snows Cut and the Cape Fear River.”

Tom McMaster and Rose Hansmeyer, the owners of the 1985 MK-II Sloop SOJOURN, report: “Our marina took some moisture readings of our rudder and noticed high readings.  So we drilled several holes and found some water dripping out.  We called Alex at Whitby and he stated that unless the rudder was splitting/delaminating that he didn't see a problem since the internal framework is bronze.   Alex said to dry it out over this winter and then attempt to seal where the water is getting in.  So to look things over and add

ALBERG 37 INTERNATIONAL OWNERSASSOCIATION

C/O Tom and Kaye Assenmacher Box 32, Kinsale, VA 22488 (804) 472-3853 http://www.alberg37.org

a37ioa@sylvaninfo.neta37ioanospamr@sylvaninfo.net

(remove “nospamr”)

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barrier coat, we sanded the rudder in hope of getting a better idea of what it looks like. At first glance it appears okay with the only real trouble spot (that I could find) being where the rudder shaft enters the rudder itself. There are a few small voids here and there but no obvious splitting.  Actually now that I think about it there are a couple of holes in the prop cut-out that we filled with epoxy a few years ago. Not sure if they're a problem or not. The places where I drilled were hit or miss with signs of moisture so no real pattern of where the water was penetrating. While we were sanding we noticed that the rudder has a small amount of "play" in that if you grab it and wiggle or shake it, the shaft seems a bit loose where it fits into the gudgeon just below the prop  cut-out.  Is this common to wear over time? This concerns me some because I don't think there should be any of that type of movement. What is your opinion on this particular problem, if it is indeed a problem? I wouldn't be as concerned if it were not for the fact that the past two seasons we unfortu -nately have had the boat hard aground, (albeit in sand and/or mud) but both times the rudder was hard over and stuck that way as we heeled the boat to free it from the bottom.   Does anyone see any play in your rudder?If it was just something like the water heater going bad I may not go to the expense of replacing it, but the rudder is a rather important component of the boat. I don't want to fix it if it doesn't need it, however we will do what's necessary to maintain the integrity of the boat.  The marina has quoted us around $3K.  Any suggestions?P.S.  We will leave Lake Superior next spring to come out East and cruise for a few years.” Jerry Senecal has announced that he is selling DRY BEAN, his 1969 Alberg 37 MK-I Sloop (hull #55). Check the “For Sale” page for further details.

SOUTHBOUND PREPARATIONS IN KINSALEBy Tom and Kaye Assenmacher

SEA CYCLE, SHEARWATER, PIKA and PARTY OF TWO at the Dock in Kinsale, VAMid October found several visiting Alberg 37s at our dock in Kinsale, VA, making preparations for their cruise to the Bahamas. Lou and Jean Wayne of Rochester, NY, the owners of the 1967 MK-I Sloop PIKA are making their third Bahamas Cruise this year. Mark and Debbie Crowe of Toronto, ON the owners of the 1973 MK-II Yawl SEA CYCLE, are making their first Bahamas Cruise. Geoff and Bunkey Cunliffe of Mississauga, ON (previous owners of the 1979 MK-II Sloop THE EVERDEN) now own PARTY OF TWO, a Lagoon 410 Catamaran. Geoff and Bunkey previously cruised extensively in the Caribbean and the Bahamas for several years, and recently bought the Lagoon Catamaran in preparation for extended cruising, perhaps venturing into the Pacific Ocean.

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PARTY OF TWO at Dock in Kinsale PARTY OF TWO Southbound at Last!

Jean Wayne Loading Provisions on PIKA

Several days were spent by each boat performing maintenance, stocking up on provisions and storing them aboard the boats, and mak -ing runs to the local ACE Hardware and to the Buy Rite for those “special” items. Mark and Debbie announced that they intended to “Head South” in SEA CYCLE at the A-37 Rendezvous in Whitby this spring, and would plan a stop-over in Kinsale if time permitted. After “experiencing” the Annapolis Boat Show, and being delayed by stormy weather for several days, they arrived in Kinsale late in the evening of October 16 and anchored off the dock.

SEA CYCLE Rafted Alongside SHEARWATER SEA CYCLE Departs for “Points South” on 20 October

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Of course, not all the “preparations” included work! Ample time was allowed for that certain “camaraderie” and other enjoyable en -terprises!

Doing What Cruisers Do Best – EAT! Saying Goodbye to Geoff, Bunkey, and Jean (Lou is Taking Photo)SEA CYCLE departed Kinsale on 20 October, PARTY OF TWO and PIKA departed on 26 October. As of this writing, SEA CY-CLE and PIKA are in Green Turtle Key, and PARTY OF TWO is in Georgetown. More photos may soon be viewed on the A-37 Web site.

SSB Installation On ShearwaterBy Tom Assenmacher

We recently completed a Single Sideband Radio installation on our 1975 MK-II yawl SHEARWATER. We’ve been monitoring and communicating with cruisers on the CRUISEHEIMER’s Net on 8152 kHz Marine SSB (we’re not a Ham Operators yet) as far north as the North Channel in Canada, and as far south as Venezuela – most reception is as clear as VHF especially the longer range con -tacts due to the skip zones. We purchased an ICOM 710 and an ICOM AT-130 Tuner from Ebay (for about ½ the cost of a new unit) and have had no problems with the radio equipment. We had hoped to find an ICOM 710 RT model (the 710 with a remote control head) on Ebay but couldn’t find one listed at the time. The RT model allows installation of the bulk of the radio transceiver separate from the control head, leaving much more room at the nav station. Currently we are running the ICOM equipment directly through fused leads from the house batteries. We have mounted the transceiver at the Nav station and the tuner on the lazarette bulkhead just to the port of the mizzen mast knee. We seem to be having good transmission and reception with the “home made” antenna that we installed.Two great and invaluable sources of information regarding the “care and feeding” of ICOM SSB radio equipment are: - The Cruising Club of America - Cruising Club of America’s Offshore Communications and Electronics.http://www.cruisingclub.org/communications- ICOM America – http://www.icomamerica.com/marine/ssb.aspBoth these websites have a lot of SSB downloadable docu-ments and information. There are also numerous other sources for SSB/HAM information.Since the A-37 yawl uses a “Y” shaped backstay, and since we use the split portion of the backstay as a tensioner, the backstay itself did not lend itself readily as an insulated (and structural) backstay. After considering various antenna options, we decided on using a “triadic” type of antenna running from the mainmast truck to the mizzen truck, using a piece of ¼” 1x19 SS wire that we had on hand with an “egg” type insulator on each end of the antenna. Since the antenna tuner is located in close proximity to the mizzen mast, we led the antenna lead (Ancor GTO-15 shielded cable) in -ternally up through the mizzen mast and culminating in a short lead to the insulated antenna. Since this “triadic” antenna is not struc-tural, it does not require special insulators – simply off-the-shelf inexpensive components (i.e., several nicropress fittings, SS thimbles, “egg” insulators etc.). The insulators were purchased on-line from Universal Radio (http://www.universal-radio.com/) for less than $3.00 each (estimated cost of the antenna including antenna lead wire was less than $50)! The installation of the antenna was rela-tively simple, since we had the mainmast out of the boat when we began the SSB installation. We were able to drill the antenna attach -ing points on the mainmast and mizzen mast trucks while the masts were out of the boat. However, it wouldn’t be too much of a prob-lem to do this work from a bos’n chair.

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MAIN MAST MIZZEN MAST

Once the antenna design was firm, we made one trip up the mainmast and one up the mizzen mast to finalize the antenna installation.For the ground plane, we ran heavy 3” copper foil from the ICOM transceiver along the port side of the boat (behind the quarter berth teak plywood outboard panel) to the antenna tuner. We also ran the copper foil from the tuner through the “tunnel” (the area under -neath the cockpit sole), through the engine compartment and into the area above the bilge sump. While we had the boat out of the wa -ter early this summer (the boat had just been returned from a major exterior refurbishing by “Alex” of Whitby Boat), we installed 2 grounding plates, one on either side of the hull (outside) about 18” below the waterline adjacent to the bilge sump area to which the copper foil from the antenna tuner was attached. The grounding plates were constructed out of ¼” x 4” x 2’ copper bar purchased from Online Metals (http://www.onlinemetals.com/). In our opinion, the copper bar is nearly as effective as a grounding plate as the commercially available “dynaplate”, and at a much lower price. These plates were bedded and through bolted using silicone bronze fasteners. We have not bonded the ground plane system to any of the water tanks or thru-hulls, as there are several elec-trolysis issues to consider, and the performance thus far seems to indicate that further extension of the ground plane may be unnecessary. We added ferrite chokes to all trans-ceiver and tuner cables to suppress RF interference. The fer-rites are available through Carillon Electronics (http://www.-farallon.us/).We are currently working on the HAM operator require-ments, namely Morse code and the exam questions. We also have the equipment for working email aboard through the use of the SCS PACTOR modem, and also have begun working the receipt of NAVTEX, WEATHER FAX, etc. etc. – but that’s another story!We think this is a good installation since it appears to work well!! One can spend many hours conversing with long dis-tance cruisers and dreaming of far distance ports!!

A-37s For Sale(Please check the Alberg 37 web site (A37's For Sale/Wanted) for the latest postings.)

Recent offerings include:DRY BEAN 1969 Alberg 37 MK-I Sloop (hull #55)Bottom just stripped and barrier coated, no blisters. Topside filled, faired and new Imron applied professionally. Decks and cabin are bone dry, no port or hatch leaks, no hardware leaks. Sloop rigged with 1993 sails. New dodger, bimini, cockpit cushions, interior cush-ions. Located on eastern Lake Ontario at Chaumont Bay. $44000.00 For info, photos, etc. please call Jerry Senecal at 315 562 4387 or email at gdsenecal@tds.net

TIME PASSAGE 1980 Alberg 37 Sloop (hull #210) Fully equipped fresh water cruising boat located in Toronto, ON. Includes #1 and #2 furling head sails, #2 and #3 with hanks, spinnaker pole,and mainsail. Very clean boat with many extras.Upgrades/updates: 1999/2000 - Awlgrip hull and deck, electric windlass, SS 3 blade prop2002 - engine rebuild, new head, new cradle2004 - screens added to full enclosure, new starting and house batteries, all lines, exterior teak painted2005 - new sheaves and halyards, rebuilt alternator, new exhaust

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Current owner regrets leaving sailing and plans to switch to power.Asking $79,000 CDNContact Dave Ord by email at alberg@ord.ca Boat in water until October 29, 2005

GONZO - Hull #110. Immaculate 1973 Alberg 37 sloop lying in Port Colburn, Ontario, Canada (Lake Erie).  Spent the last 18 months in the Caribbean Sea and the previous 30 years in the Great Lakes.  Lovingly upgraded for a planned circumnavigation - our plans changed, so we returned to Canada, but you can take advantage of all the improvements for your own sailing dreams.    Email Mitch at Gonzo_Sailing@yahoo.com (or call: 519.859.6129) for a detailed inventory list or answers to any questions. (Click here for Inventory) (Click here for Photos) Yours for only CDN$72,000

FIGMENT 1973 MK-II Yawl, Hull # 111. Excellent condition, fully cruise equipped. Lying in Boothbay Harbor, ME.  $51,900 USD(Click Here for Photos and Inventory)Contact: Jack St. John - Tel: (207) 633-5529

KANDACE ROSE 1976 MK-II Custom Cutter, Hull No. 168, Volvo Penta 28hp, Very well maintained. Recently Surveyed, Toronto Registry. Lots of upgrades. SS fuel & water tanks, winter cover, new Harken Furling, new main, new dodger and bimini, new refrigeration and much more. Nova Scotia CDN $74,000(Click Here for Photo)(902)747-2928Email; kandacerose@ns.sympatico.ca

ELUSIVE 1968 Alberg 37 MK-I Sloop (Hull #40)Sleeps 6+, 3 jibs, mainsail, pole, new rigging 2002, new bottom paint 2002, Ampair wind generator, Raymarine Autohelm, VHF ra-dio, digital depth sounder, refrigeration, marine 12000 BTU air conditioning, CD/am/fm Aiwa stereo with Bose speakers, 2 anchors w/chain, pressurized electrical freshwater system w/60gals water, electrical marine head, inboard Westerbeke 4-107 37hp, new dinghy may 2004, 2.5 w/outboard, bimini, dodger, BBQ. ELUSIVE is a documented vessel 527394, located in Puerto Rico. Asking $33K U.S. Contact Captain Papo at (939)645-0282, (939)940-9756 or negronrafa@hotmail.com See photos at www.sanjuansailing.tk

MAROONED1981 Alberg 37 Sloop. Hull # 217Lightly used Great Lakes only, single owner. Lying at Whitby. US$52,500.00.  (Click here for photo)Contact Frank @ 647-223-3536Or franklavalley@hotmail.com

ENVY 1970 Alberg 37 Yawl, equipped for cruising.  On the hard at the Indiantown Marina, Indiantown, FL.Owner Narrative: "This is a good yawl, w/ roller furling new headsail and good main & mizzen and 2 extra sails, cabin air condition -ing, 3 burner gimbaled propane stove/oven, 12V refrig/ice box, twin stainless steel sink,  Autohelm 4000, Volvo Penta diesel, updated helm wheel, pedestal w/ nice chrome 6" Ritchie compass, new fuel tank, 2 anchors, chain rodes, and lots of rope rodes., mast steps, 8' hardshell dinghy, etc., etc." US $34K Contact:Ron and Cindy Strahm2820 S. Crenshaw RoadIndependence, MO 64057Email: rstrahm228@aol.comTEL: 816.228.6325FAX: 816.229.6100

MYA1974 Alberg yawl. Hull #129. Lying in Squamish, British Columbia. USA documented vessel. Well equipped for cruising w/wind generator, solar panels, watermaker, windvane (Cape Horn), wheel pilot (Simrad), radar, anchor windlass. Engine and standing rig -ging replaced ca. 1998. Additional upgrades and many spares. Includes inflatable dingy (West Marine) and outboard (2000 Mercury 5 hp 4-stroke).[See photos]US $42KContact:  Ralph Turner at rrtgeo@direct.ca or (604) 815-8219

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Web SiteWe are always looking for articles (cruising, racing, maintenance, etc.) and photos of your boat for inclusion on the website and news-letter. Send the articles via email attachment in MS WORD and the photos in .JPG format if possible.

Racing CornerJay Zittrer sent the following in late October regarding the Harvest Moon Regatta (October 13-14 – Galveston, TX to Port Aransas, TX). “Most of y'all on this list have sailed on Shared Watch either in a regatta or just booze cruising.   I thought y'all might take an in-terest in knowing that this year we won the Harvest Moon Regatta Cruising Spinnaker fleet.  I only found out yesterday.  It appears there was a problem with the scoring program when they entered the results in Port A.   They have re-calculated the results using the correct variables and formulas and Shared Watch came out on top! At any rate, great race sailed 150 NM in 23 hrs 23 minutes with the chute up in relatively light air the whole way.  I knew we sailed a fast race when we showed up in Port Aransas. and there were only race boats in the harbour ...SHARED WATCH (1986 Yawl, Hull # 246) may have been a purpose built race boat on paper when Carl Alberg drew the Alberg 37 in 1966 but she cer -tainly can't be considered a race horse today. Pretty cool stuff!  Myself and the guys that sailed with me this year are feeling pretty proud! Cheers, JZ” (Ed. Note – to view this story along with a photo of SHARED WATCH, check out the A-37 Web site.)

Web Sites Of Interest(Disclaimer – A-37IOA has no financial interest in any products listed.)

Do It Yourself (DYI) Boat Owner - The MARINE MAINTENANCE MAGAZINE http://www.diy-boat.com/All you ever wanted to know about Balmar Alternators http://www.balmar.net/All you ever wanted to know about Cruising in the Bahamas http://www.bahamas.comGreat tips on working around boats http://www.boatbuilding.net/A great source for non-boat stuff along with a lot of stuff that can be used on boats – great on-line catalog http://www.mcmaster.com/

Alberg 37 Sail Plans Available On CDThanks to the COMBINED efforts of Roy Carter, Bruce McFarland and Wayne Bower, both the Alberg 37 Sloop and Yawl Sailplans are now available on CD-ROM for the nominal cost of $5 USD (Canadian Postal Money Order works best for Canadian re -quests) to cover postage the cost of the CD. The sailplans graphics are very high quality, and if printed on high quality photo paper, are suitable for framing. The CD contains both the sloop and yawl configurations. Check the Home Page of the Alberg 37 Website for details and ordering information, or send your request to: A-37 IOAC/O Tom and Kaye AssenmacherP.O. Box 32Kinsale, VA 22488

Tank Gauging Project on ELIXIRBy Joran Gendell

I was tired of guessing the volume in my tanks and although I have dipsticks for all four, they just aren't convenient to use.   There are commercially available systems to pneumatically read the level in your tanks, but a four tank unit lists for something ridiculous like $600. (Check out www.thetanktender.com).  So I decided to make one.  The method used is a dip tube descending to the bottom of the tank.  This is connected to a pressure gauge.  Between the two, an air pump is teed into the line.  To read the level in the tank, air is pumped into the tubing until it bubbles into the tank.  At this point, the air pressure is equal to the water height.  The gauge displays the liquid level in the tank. The following items were employed.-  A pressure gauge:  I found one on eBay for about $10.  Mine is 0-60 inches water column (WC).  A 40" span might have been a slightly better choice.-  A means to pump air:  From www.AllHeart.com , I ordered a blood pressure cuff replacement bulb and valve.  About $16 with ship-ping.-  A four valve manifold:  This allows the one gauge/bulb combo to read any of the four tanks.  I spent a long time searching for an af-fordable solution to this.  I hit pay dirt in the aquarium air accessories section of the local pet store.  $8.-  Tubing:  Quarter inch polyethylene tubing at any hardware store is incredibly inexpensive.-  Dip tubes:  I used 1/4" copper tubing, mounted via nylon 1/4" tube to 3/8" MPT adapter fittings.  Nylon for two reasons:  First, it avoids any electrolysis issue between the copper and the aluminum tank.  Second, it was easy to drill out the back side of the fitting so that the tube could pass right through the fitting and into the tank.  Last item at each tank was a 90 degree compression elbow to attach the poly tubing to the copper dip tubes.  As an alternate design, I think the dip tubes could have been 3/8" plastic. 

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I built a small wood frame to hold the gauge, bulb, and manifold.  This I fastened down inside the forward locker over the port set-tee.  This keeps the components high and dry. Four tubes pass through holes drilled in the locker bottom and are routed forward to the head, down under the cabin sole, and there they split to the four tanks.  See the three pictures attached.

 I made a conversion table (inches to gallons) for each tank.  Starting with empty tanks and a five gallon jug, I made a gauge reading for every five gallons added.  For the fuel tank, I just transcribed the dipstick readings and did the math for Imperial gallons to US gal-lons and allowed for the (low) specific gravity of diesel. Open the valve for the tank to be measured, squeeze the bulb once or twice until the gauge stops rising, and read the tank's liquid level on the gauge.  Look at the nearby laminated table to convert to gallons. Joran Gendell

Alberg 37 Annual Fall Rendezvous PlansTentative plans are to host the Annual Alberg 37 IOA Fall Rendezvous at the Assenmacher Dock in Kinsale, Virginia over the week-end of 14-15 October, 2006. This weekend immediately follows the Annapolis Sailboat Show (Oct. 5 - 9, 2006), and allows those planning to attend the Boat Show a chance to also attend the Annual Fall Rendezvous. This is (normally) a very nice time on the Chesapeake Bay, and we have room for several boats. Our branch of the Yeocomico river is also an excellent anchorage. For any Southbound Snowbirds, it’s a great staging point also (we may be going with you this fall). We’ll include more definite plans in subse-quent newsletters and also on the Web Site. For info on Past Rendezvous, check the Website. Mark your calendars!!

PIKA Southbound III(Third Trip South to the Bahamas)

By Lou and Jean WayneSunday, Oct. 16 - Weighed anchor from Rochester at 8am loaded to capacity after an emergency trip to the gas station for more air in the back tires (we drove our car from Rochester to Kinsale where PIKA has been docked). Wed., 10/26 - Ten days have passed and we are finally underway. We find it very difficult to part from our dear friends Tom and Kaye who have been so good to us. They were to have accompanied us this trip but some pesky medical issues are keeping them home. For most of the last ten days we found two items added to the to-do-list for each one crossed off. Another distraction has been new friends Geoff and Bunkey who are former Alberg 37 owners but now are sailing a 41 ft. catamaran. Their boat has shared the dock with Pika since spring but we have only gotten to know them since the southbound preparations began. They left today also but had an earlier start and make a couple more knots than we do so we may not see them until the Bahamas. Eventually the chores re-quired less use of the table saw, drill press, vise, sewing machine, etc. and could be finished up along the way so we have cast off the lines and are underway. Underway with gusto I might add, 25 kts from the north west, Pika doing 7+ kts under jib alone. By 3:30 we have had enough rocking and rolling and drop the hook in Dividing Creek. Cool clear weather is predicted for the next week so we should make good progress. The clear part makes for fine traveling and the cool reminds us each morning why we are going this di-rection! We share the waterway with many other snowbirds like ourselves, as well as our feathered friends. We had a yellow-rumped warbler join us today for a free boat ride while he rested his wings. We also saw our first brown pelicans of the trip catching their breakfast. Thursday we set off at first light for Norfolk. We actually spent the night anchored in Mill Creek, Hampton. It's a good se -cure spot but left us with crossing Hampton Roads with big seas rolling down from the bay. Navy war ships coming and going, tugs with and without barges plus drizzly rain made for several interesting hours. Eventually we made it into the Dismal Swamp canal and to the visitors center just inside North Carolina. This morning we awoke to frost on the deck so we were happy to be off toward the south. Tonight we are at a free dock in Elizabeth City NC and will attend the standard wine and cheese party. This is one town that knows how to treat visiting boaters! Lou and Jean aboard Pika, Eliz. City NC. (To Be Continued)

A-37 Web Site / Discussion Forum ParticipationWe highly encourage you to periodically check the DISCUSSION FORUM on the website and actively participate in the discus-sions. Unfortunately, participation has lagged during recent months. Active participation is vital to members who require information or have information to share with others. Remember, you are all “experts” in the Alberg 37, and collectively we’ve all “been there and done that”! Also, if you receive the newsletter by mail, you should check the ON-LINE version of the newsletter (provided you have Internet Access) since the on-line version may have links to photographs, etc., which by necessity (postage limita-tions), may not be in the hardcopy newsletter.

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SpindriftBy the Editor

The purpose of the newsletter is to provide a vehicle for the exchange of ideas relating to our Alberg 37 experiences (good and bad), maintenance tips, and cruising/racing information and to maintain a roster of Alberg 37 owners. We suggest a donation of $10.00 U.S. a year to cover costs of publishing the quarterly newsletter, postage, Xerox services, and of course, maintaining the web site. We suggest to our Non-U.S. members that they send an International Money Order payable in U.S. dollars. A Canadian Postal Money Order works best for Canadian members. You will notice a date on the label of the newsletter mailing, reminding you to help maintain the newsletter / association. For those receiving the newsletter notice via Email, we ask that you honor your commitment to the Association. The Association appreciates your help! The A-37 IOA participates as a cooperating group with BOAT U.S., and members receive BOAT U.S. membership for half price ($9.50 vice $19.00). Just mention you are a member of the Alberg 37 Owners Group and include the Cooperating Group number GA 83253 S when you join Boat U.S. or send in your annual renewal of membershipIf you are transiting the Chesapeake Bay, please plan to stop by Kinsale for a few days (or longer). It's only about 12 miles off the Bay (up the Potomac to the Yeocomico River), and our area is very secluded, protected (good hurricane hole) and quiet, and a very good cruising area, especially in the fall. We “normally” have a couple of open slips. Each fall/spring we have several ‘snowbirds’ stop on their way south/north. Please note our Kinsale VA phone number: (804) 472-3853 - leave a message if we aren’t at home.(Ed. Note: This summer and early fall we’ve had a lot of sailing visitors, and several other non-A-37s who know A-37 mem -bers. Guess the word is getting out! Part of the fun of the A-37 IOA is meeting the people who traverse the waterways!)If we inadvertently missed any of your correspondence, just hit us again – we like to receive correspondence, especially email, as it’s the grist that makes the Newsletter interesting. REMEMBER, THIS IS YOUR NEWSLETTER!THINK SPRING!!!!!!

Tom and Kaye Assenmacher

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