Saturday, May 18^th dawned cold, gray and blustery. A thirty-knot, north-easterly wind hurled the remnants of a chilly rain across the Long Island Sound but the report was for the precipitation to end by noon and the wind subsiding later in the day.

The small fleet of Allied Seawind Mk II yachts was assembling in scenic, Milton Harbor at the American Yacht Club in Rye, New York. Bert De Frondeville�s "Pianissimo" rode at her homeport mooring and nearby the beautiful and rare cutter, "Chautauqua", owned by John & Fran Morrison, a week�s voyage out of Choptank River, MD, rose and fell gracefully in the short-fetched, chop.

Only a few hundred yards southwest was "Flicka", owned by Ted Vander Wiede. Ted had purchased her five months before in San Francisco and had sailed her over 7,000 miles with a predicted log for this event. He was a day early despite an ailing starter motor that could have easily prevented his arrival.

Holed up in the protective lee of City Island, only about twelve miles to the west, was Jack Ganssle aboard his beloved "Voyager", he had sailed up from Baltimore. His plan was to meet his lovely lady-friend who was driving in from Newport and then drive east the remaining few miles to attend the dinner celebration for that evening. Weather permitting, they would sail her in to Rye, early on Sunday morning, and so they did.

"Sea Quill" and I were just then confronting only the latest in a list of dilemmas encountered during, our very elongated, day and a half trip around from Long Island�s South Shore. Some of them included the failure of the new auto-pilot due to an

initial, data set-up problem, a now departed, seasick crew and the vicious, wind-driven, pelting rain. However the latest conundrum was just how to single-handedly ship myself off the leeward side of the heaving, floating pier that I had elected for a brief layover earlier that stormy morning in Port Washington. "Sea Quill" lay portside-to the pier, facing bow-to the beach and down-wind only forty feet away lay another pier with two other yachts moored close abeam.

I decided to stream her down-wind held only by her bow on a sacrificial bow line and power her off the dock bringing the wind to my starboard beam. Failing that maneuver I fully expected to find us hard against the yachts that lay downwind with no other alternatives then prayers, tears and apologies.

Just as I began powering against the sacrificial line and slowly turning her bow outward, almost magically, a small, gnarled old salt skipped down the ramp and indicated that he would release the line and toss it aboard. Sea Quill was freed and motoring out of Manhasset Harbor. Rye was only about ten miles northeast and the wind was 30-knots from the northeast.

Entering Long Island Sound, "Thumper", her aging, original, but reconditioned and generally reliable Westerbeke-30, quit from fuel starvation. The conditions would not allow a filter change in the tight confines just outside of Manhasset Bay but she could certainly sail. With her teeth aimed firmly upwind she handled the gusty winds with casual aplomb under the 120% jib and her full mizzen. She seemed so determined to show the likely gallery of distant shipboard and shoreside spectators that a Seawind II, "Can-Do!"

Our arrival into the GAM was, however, inauspicious; at the end of a tow-line, but safety and security were certainly welcomed by her exhausted and by then, tardy skipper.

Bert had arranged a marvelous dinner at the clubhouse and this amazing group of owners assembled for the first time.

Although due to the necessary departure of a few of the attendees, a few hours on Saturday afternoon were dedicated to some ship-to-ship visiting by those only able to stay for the day. Sunday, after church services were attended by a few of our group, we retired to Bert de Frondeville�s home and were entertained regally by him and his lovely wife Barbara. Only after a wonderful, repast, more than a few champagne toasts and a much more intimate get-together on their sunny lawn did we return to the club.

"Pianissimo", "Chautauqua", "Voyager", "Flicka" and "Sea Quill" seemed quite happy to accommodate the frequent and intrigued visiting owners and crews. The club launch operators happily transported small groups from boat to boat and could be asked just where any other group happened to be at almost any time. They ferried groups during much of Saturday and Sunday afternoon among the five moored boats.

Each of them is a sea-going yacht, each faithfully used as a cruising boat. Most had extensive voyages firmly imbedded under their keels and noteworthy entries in their logbooks. As they gently nodded in the quelling chop they all anticipated many more.

Each of the jaunty little ships proudly showed-off the obvious and familiar profile that we owners have become so enamored of but the individuality added by each owner was the true signature of each of the sister-yachts.

Questions abounded and answers rebounded. The individual touches, carefully selected styles and unique solutions to so many of the items we so freely communicate about became so obvious to all of us. Oddly, although so familiar, no interior arrangement was totally similar. Stowage arrangements unique and just how each of us had addressed the particular ergo dynamics to suit our own needs immediately became incredible learning experiences for all.

This gathering served us all well and the common agreement was that we will certainly plan another East Coast GAM to be held within a year or two. The understanding was that the boats have always spoken for themselves. The owners however had found that, as a group, they shared more than just ownership, they shared themselves. In this came a strength and unity that must be spread to other owners in the more distant regions. The GAM�s of the future will perpetuate not only the yachts, their increasing value but a spirit that elevates us all as SW II owners, sailors and people.

Perhaps we shall all meet again, perhaps somewhere in the Chesapeake next time or in Florida�s well sailed Tampa Bay area but without saying, none of us will ever forget this treasured experience.