Sea Stories: East River Queen - Cap'n Jack and SUGAR 2

04 Feb 24:

A Sea Story, or River Revelation: Cap'n Jack had a Catalina Capri 18 in Corpus Christi, it was a well built tank of a boat with a small cabin. With a 2 1/2 foot draft, heavy shoal keel and moderate size rig, the Capri offered a nice living room couch feel for a daysail. Good stable boat for Corpus Christi Bay wind and chop.

He sold it.

Fast forward to Navarre, Florida and the shoals of East Bay. Jack and the Commodore had moved into our waterfront townhouse, which also had a boat dock and slip. We, I say we, because Skipper was outnumbered and the Commodore had the checkbook, found Jack another Capri 18, with a wing keel this time. Overall we thought we'd have fun tinkering at the dock drinking coffee but knew the tide would need to be just right to take the couch out for a sail.

We bought the boat and in a stroke of brilliance decided to rig it and launch it at the East River Boat Ramp, to wind our way 1 mile down the narrow tidal river into the wider mud flats that dribble into East Bay. 

The river for the first mile is just over 100 feet wide and bordered by 80 foot pine trees, the channel maybe 15 feet max, just over 2 foot deep at times. We knew we couldn't sail the first mile so we set the iron sail and motored off down the river to the quiet purr of the 4 stroke Suzuki. Audrey was at the helm and she talked to the boat and the bottom, at times telling us to be quiet so she could hear. She steered us out with style and grace, and once the river opened up a bit, we hoisted the main and the jib, doused the motor and found our way to the new slip for "SUGAR 2."

Video: River Run

Debrief: Audrey says "It was a tight squeeze..."

We had 2 beautiful sails on SUGAR 2 with Jack, then it was time to sell as with his cognitive decline it was not smart for him to go dock to deck. We shifted gears to beach launch sailboats, lapstrake runabout and canoe. 

Fast forward again to the failed attempt of me and our friend Tim trying to motor SUGAR 2 back up the river/channel/trough/trickle to the East River ramp to take her out. Picture in your mind the scenes from African Queen, with me as Bogart, minus the leaches but add the vibrio. We found the mud flats with the wing keel/plough anchor and never got anywhere near the tight river channel. Discretion being the better part of valor and more importantly we had not brought snacks, we returned to the townhouse slip, and later took the boat out at the very steep Holley ramp, an 87 degree incline in my mind. I'd been hesitant to use that ramp with 2000 pounds of boat/trailer and only 3000 pounds of car, but our friend Tim offered the services of his 4WD pickup and up the ramp she went. 

SUGAR 2 found a new home in Ft Walton Beach and last we saw of her she was rigged with Christmas lights in the new owner's driveway.

Jack sails the stars now, Audrey misses the part of her soul that she left in the narrow channel of East River, and I remain ever hopeful that the nautical side of Marining About will soon overtake my amphibious side.

Clark

Capt US Marines

Capt Delta Air Lines

Moveable Ballast