LIM2  -  Long Island Maritime Ministries

LONG ISLAND MARITIME MINISTRIES (LIM2) SPLASHES FLAGSHIP IN NORTHPORT, CONDUCTS FIRST SAILING RETREAT

June 15 – 17, 2007, Northport, LI, NY

The adventure of NorthShoreCommunityChurch’s  Graduating and Rising Seniors’ life might just be a weekend shared in close quarters aboard “Genesis”, a Hunter 240, Flagship of Long Island Maritime Ministries (LIM2).  After weeks of material, physical and classroom preparation, the dedicated crew of two, Graduating Josiah Melcher and Rising Senior Harry Gagnon met with 1^st Mate Shawn Reven and Skipper David Chin, Commodore of LIM2, at Chin’s home to conduct final preps, provisioning and transporting of “Genesis” to the launch site at Scudder Beach in Northport Village.  These were the first two young students forging perhaps a new tradition for our upper-class Youth Group members to share a final “turn-over” of the “watch”, and so we themed the Sailing Retreat, “Pioneers”.  This inaugural launch was significant in that it was through the efforts of many volunteers, and the grace of merchants like Home Depot, Oyster Bay Marine Supply, West Marine in Huntington, and countless others who helped repair and prepare the boat for service.  This is the “Report to the Congregation”:

After careful mast-stepping and rig tuning - a true teamwork effort, “Genesis” was cast into Northport Harbor touching Long Island waters for the first time.  We “swung” her around the pier with expert line handling and set her spring lines to find ourselves settling on the bottom after venting the onboard water-ballast and losing what little water we had under us!  A true Baptism!!  Never fear, the tide will reappear, but meanwhile we conducted our safety familiarization and prepared our first meal onboard, (dock side), as well as determining we were having trouble with the engine’s cooling system . . . hmmm, that’s why we have sails and God gives us wind!

Soon the water depth increased, just as the wind discouragingly decreased, but we were determined to get underway and make our way out of Northport Harbour with just puffs of light air as the sun set about us with pastel skies. The young men have been so patient and were ready for action!  Navigation lights on, we passed by Seymours’ Boat Yard, our “Genesis’s” soon to be Home Port thankfully through the generosity of owners’ Margaret and Dave Weber.  The tide was against us, but the starlit sky and tempting wisps of wind encouraged us on, so we headed out to Duck Island for our first night on the hook, a good anchorage in any weather, and certainly conducive to contemplative time with God and all his majesty inherent in these beautiful back bays.

We woke to the wonders of how we located ourselves so perfectly in the darkness, and waved at the Asharoken Police Boat as he made his morning rounds of the bay, as well as the ski-boaters taking advantage of the glass-flat sheltered waters.  To balance the roars of the ski-boats, we offered our screams of delight plunging into the cool Spring waters.  Refreshed, our breakfast of cheese omelets, seasoned grits and sausages undoubtedly woke the appetites of the waterfowl and neighbors, I’m sure, but unfortunately not the local fish beneath our keel ignoring our baited hooks.  Galley gear stowed, we made our way out under sail, and then, just clear of the sandbar, Captain Dave decides to conduct a “man overboard” drill and demonstrate the standard routine of recovery, be it a crewmember, or a hat overboard!  How crew confidence building, he’s a maniac for safety!

The winds continued to be soft with intermittent puffs, so rather than stretch our inaugural “sea legs” too far, we made for Huntington Light House, saluted the Coast Guard, and for “fun” dipped the starboard rail with a 35 degree heel catching all the fun a rare passing gust could give us.  We ventured into Lloyd Neck Harbor, just when the noon wind died in time to fight the tidal currents out from its Western marshlands carrying nutrients, and still NO fish!  (Ahhh, but a fine meal prepared by the crew and another swim call was enjoyed in the idyllic finger of water).  Lunch done, we took advantage of the still ebbing tide to help carry us through the mooring fields waiving our Christian Boater Association’s Burgee amongst the party boat raft-ups in the harbor.  The forecast indicated winds building from the South so we considered Huntington Harbor, but with the tide almost low, and the channel extra narrow with wind barreling down it’s throat and lots of weekend traffic, we decided to make for Centerport instead for a shadowed Saturday evening anchorage. (remember, we had no motor).

En transit, we conducted tacking and gybing drills, and all hands got to rotate stations through the boat and engage in taking and giving orders to the crew, really emphasizing teamwork and clear communication.  Q&A’s of “Who has Right of Way” and “Why”, and “What light will you see?”, and never ending quizzes eventually gave way to the lessons that God had in store for us that weekend.  Weather was upon us that evening, and luckily we did make a protected anchorage in Centerport and carried extra tarpaulins for shelter in the open cockpit to stave off the rain (but unfortunately not the no-see-ums) while the skipper prepared hot shrimp/garlic Pruchetta sandwiches and New England Chowder for the crew.  And STILL, no fish biting  . . . not even on the incredibly tasty looking bass-worms the 1^st Mate brought aboard.

Sunday morning we found ourselves blessed with a “freshwater wash-downed” deck, free of “no-see-ums”, and again, “swim call” was the first order.  Skipper made up Rocky Mountain Toast, (perfect for a rocking fantail) French Bread “Holes” and Bacon.  Once the crew cleaned and cleared the galley, we brought out our Bibles and a Daily Journal containing open pages with passages and verses that each crewmember, in turn, took and related to what we were experiencing that weekend, and even perhaps to our sailing lessons, reinforcing how God uses these blessings to help us see his message in everyday life.  Our entries will be a part of the Ship’s Log, and I pray every day “Genesis” is used, a passage will be contemplated, and entry made reflecting His work in this Maritime Ministry.  We finished our on-board Services with some Praise and Worship singing concluding with thanks!

Wind freshening, we set reefed main and jib and started our sail across the harbor to Sand City, but not before Skipper Dave threw in another MOB Drill, and “Oscar” got wet (again) . . . it must be that “U.S. Sailing Instructor” in him that makes him so crazy about “entertaining” recoveries, yet 1^st Mate Shawn nailed it on the first try!  Still trolling lines along the way, we had yet to catch anything but weeds!  We made it to Hobart Beach and dropped the hook to swim ashore!  Wow!  Flushing toilettes were never so welcomed!  And after lunch we waited for the wind to return . . .  It never did, however we had promised the boys back in time for Father’s Day Dinner, and I could almost smell those barbecues going!  We waited patiently, still waiting on the wind, AND fishing rods to bend . . . . Neither did reward is.  Yet we faithfully set sail, poled out the jib, and we drifted back to find ourselves being mocked by every motor (and motoring sail boat) passing us by, rocking us with their wakes, wondering why be such a stubborn die-hard sailor with our outboard hanging un-used over the transom!  We just smiled and enjoyed the journey. . .  though I admit, I did look longingly for a friendly familiar boat to lend a line at times . . . (ahem, all in respect of the boy’s dinner, now!)

It’s very tricky entering the Northport channel with all the late afternoon traffic, no wind and contrary tide against us, (this challenge was becoming the norm!).  Yet, we experienced the evident design of God to give us just enough breath from passing boats and wind when we needed it most to safely cross the channel and make our mooring on first attempt.  We stowed and secured the boat, let the remaining bass-worms go . . . and contemplated what to do next with the motor.  “Seymours Launch, this is “Genesis”, ready for pick-up, crew of four, gear and provisions on Guest Mooring 5; We’re home!”  We, serving through Long Island Maritime Ministries, trust that this is just the “beginning” of our journey . . .   Amen!!” 

Please contact Commodore David Chin, LIM2 for more information on, or to support this boat-based ministry.  (david.r.chin@smithbarney.com , 800 477-7522, x-8839)