Rum and Reading Cruise
March 22 - March 24
FreeCruise Leaders: Kim Brown & Judy Anderson
This cruise celebrates CMCS founding member Bob Macomber’s newest book “Honoring the Enemy”, the 14th tome featuring the inimitable Peter Wake.
On Friday, we’ll anchor at York or Sanibel Bight depending on which way the wind is blowing. We’ll have an official Rum tasting on Friday evening and on Saturday we’ll dinghy up to Woody’s Waterside for the big Book Bash featuring book signings and great live entertainment.
York Island & Sanibel Bight Anchorages (click on this image to view the chart)
Our Cruise Leader’s Detailed Rundown:
Bob Macomber is putting out a book this year. Big whoop- he does this every year (almost). After making us drink our rum off Panther Key last year because there was no book, this year it is back to York Island. Old hands know the drill but –
Friday, March 22: the fleet anchors off York Island/St. James City unless the wind tells us this is a bad idea. If the wind is wrong for York, it is right for Sanibel Bight. Once secured at anchor the multitude will gather for Happy Hour. While we have had 30 on Trust Me!!!, it is a stretch so hopefully a larger boat will raise their hand to host. Bring a little something to pass and something to sip about 5P.
At 6p the actual Rum tastings begin. You are welcome to bring your best sipping Rum. Even if you don’t want to enter a bottle there will be a good selection. Each year we have done this competition the quality has gone up. Little shot glasses are passed out. Bottles are passed around. Tastings happen. There are winners, there are losers. Last year, there were 7 contenders (or was it 8- things got fuzzy early in the process). The quality was extremely high- not a loser in the bunch. Best as I can remember it went down like this- Metusalem (Peter Wake’s favorite) was paired against Havana Club Maestro and lost. So the ‘new’ Dominican version (Metusalem was Cuban before the revolution) didn’t cut it against the real Cuban Havana Club Maestro. 2016’s winner Zacapa 23 went down to El Dorado. The Goslings Black Seal (prize from Halloween Cruise) was relegated back to the Dark and Stormy category. In the end, the best sipping rum for 2018 went to Roake’s bottle of Kirk and Sweeny 12 yr. It was very, very pleasant. The whole contest almost came crashing down with the passing of AirBoss XS Apertif. Airboss has taken to converting ‘regular’ rum to sipping rum by adding spices and then cask aging. Can’t wait to see what they have stuck in the barrel this year. My we have talented people in CMCS.
Saturday, March 23: dawns – neither bright nor early. The dinghies start to wander up the Monroe Canal in St. James City to Woody’s about 11a. The Book party runs from 12-5p. The formal title is: “15th Annual Pine Island Reader Rendezvous with Robert Macomber”. www.robertmacomber.com If you can’t come by boat come by car. It is always a great party. Eating, drinking, music and a chance to buy a copy or two of Bob’s new book Honoring the Enemy. Nancy will take your money/credit card and Bob will sign your book though you can probably give Bob the money and get Nancy to sign the book if you want. When you have had as much fun as you can stand, dinghy back to your boat. There is nothing ‘official’ planned for Saturday night but there is often some socializing after naps……
Sunday: you are on your own. Head home, catch breakfast at 8a at the Ragged Ass or hang around until 11a and dinghy into The Waterfront to complete your culinary tour of Pine Island. Since the Waterfront is the old school house, it ties nicely with the ‘reading’ theme.
We try to monitor 72 and we can be reached at 239-822-6934.
Kim & Judy Trust Me!!! KimTrustMe@gmail.com
