Jim Clark has taken me and many of his
friends for countless sails on his beloved Catalina 25, Magi's
Mate, located on Lake Arthur, Moraine State Park, Butler, PA.
Now he has embarked on a new adventure, living aboard his new-to-him
GulfStar 36 motorsailer, Genie,
based in Venice, FL. And Jim begins this adventure on his
80th Birthday!
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| Jim's 80th Birthday Celebration at the February Sailing & Suds in Pittsburgh |
A large group of sailors and friends
celebrated Jim's 80th in March at the annual Sailing and
Suds dinner in Pittsburgh, but since his real birthday is in May, a
couple of us decided to join Jim aboard his new yacht to celebrate by
actually sailing, just like old times.Kelly IV is
currently located.
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| Jim aboard Genie in Venice, FL |
I used Jim's birthday as an
excuse for a train ride from Annapolis, MD where
Troy Cain, Captain of Relentless, is
currently based (after his cruise of over 2000nm from the Chesapeake
Bay) in St. Petersburg, FL and picked me up at the train station in
Tampa for the drive to Venice, FL.
We spent the first evening and next
morning helping Jim move aboard his new yacht, then on the afternoon
of his 80th Birthday, we slipped the dock lines and
departed the slip for the first time since Jim had acquired his new
home on the water.
After a close encounter meeting some
new
neighbors in the marina, we topped off the
fuel tanks and Jim took us into the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway where
his marina is located. The encounter was a bit dramatic involving an
heroic effort by Captain Cain, but we were soon on our way with
nothing but a blemish on our pride aboard Genie.
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| Sea creature alongside Genie |
The trip down the Intracoastal was brief and took us beneath two
bridges then into Venice Harbor. It is a picturesque motoring venue
with lots of green palm trees, massive mangroves and all manner of
interesting boats, sail and power, large and small. Then Jim took us
out into the open Gulf of Mexico.
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| Captain James Clark |
It was a beautiful,
bright afternoon with the sun glistening across the waves, sparkling
and reflecting onto Jim, Genie
and crew. Even with a light breeze Genie moved gently across the
water, first north on a port beam reach then south on the opposite
reach. Jim handled Genie as if he'd owned her all his life and we
all enjoyed several hours of relaxing sailing off the Gulf coast of
Florida.
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| Captain Troy Cain takes the helm |
As the sun threatened to
sink into the western waters of the Gulf, Jim took us back through
the Venice harbor, under the two bridges, then safely and snugly into
her berth and Jim's new home.
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| Genie snug in her slip |
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| CaptMurph enjoying Captain Clark's Genie sail |
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