INPUT FROM BAHAMAS

I hope you got inputs from the group as requested. I know I should have sent earlier, but until we were on our boat this weekend I sort of put it off. There wasn't much I would change, and I think it was well thought out and planned. Must have been, since we hit out ports as planned and were home on the planned date.

 

Some thoughts;

    1. I personally would like to have a few planned events. I know this is hard to do from a distance, but with a lot of new members on board this might have moved the group closer together. Dock parties are always good mixers, A possible group outing one day might have been fun. We did get together a couple of times, but I think we may have left a few people out. The birthday party was a fun evening, and the pizza party the last night was fun...however again we missed a few couples.

 

        2. I would encourage boat owners to invite GHYC members to go with them. Many may want to only have one couple on their boat, but we should encourage larger crews. We do this on the rental trips, why not on our own boats. For one it cut our cost in half...not big deal but a $5000 check helps. We are all getting older and extra crew helps in marinas and emergencies. Dave and Marilyn are a great crew, but I know GHYC members would be just as much fun.

 

        3. I think we have an opportunity to manage our fuel costs. Gary putting together a fuel plan to be sure we get fuel was good, but I think we can negotiate pricing with our volume...trawlers not included. 3000 gallons at a stop has to worth something and would guarantee fuel availbility. This would also allow us to better plan our fuel stops so as stagger arrivals. Each captain will have to calculate his fuel plan ahead time and submit it. We stretched our use so as to buy at freshest and lowest priced locations. Running at few less knots can save a lot of money and be part of the trip planning.

 

I look forward to another extended cruise next year and will make it part of 2012 planning. The thought of an early May Keys cruise might be under discussion. Dennis Little has suggested a panhandle cruise, and we did visit a number of ports in that area when did the loop. The gulf crossing is the only tough part. An earlier season cruise through the ditch and up the east coast could also be a possibility.

 

There also is more to see and due in the Bahamas and that area.

 

Lets hope Cuba opens up in our lifetime.

 

Again great job and thank you for all your efforts.

 

Craig and Mary Lou