Feature photo and written by Joanne Aspinall; Other photos by Pam Neff unless otherwise noted.
If held one day later, the Lake Pleasant Cruising Raft Up organized by Joel Oglesbee and Rachel Kennett might have had to be cancelled due to weather. But luckily the weather gods were on our side – a fresh breeze Saturday afternoon made for a fast sail on March 28th, but any worries about middle of the night anchor alarms faded with the sun. A waxing gibbous moon set a peaceful glow on Honeymoon Cove as the partying motor boats initially surrounding us headed home, and left us sailors to our own devices.
So what do a bunch of sailors do when the sails come down and the rum starts flowing? We eat. A LOT! Joel and Rachel encouraged everyone to bring something to share, and boy, did we eat well! Burgers, hot dogs, rotisserie chicken, caprese bites, pita chips and hummus, charcuterie, prosciutto e melone, shrimp cocktail, and home-grown veggies were just a few of the delicacies passed from cockpit to cockpit.
Rum, wine, and stories were shared well into the night. There was much boat hopping to meet people we didn’t know, catch up with friends, check out boat interior and rigging setups, and scrounge for seconds of our favorite dishes. Eventually, the music and conversation died out as people headed to bed, some choosing to sleep under the stars, serenaded by nearby burros.
Sunday morning a yummy breakfast of Costco pastries was provisioned by Joel and Rachel, and those with gourmet coffee makers aboard shared their bounty. A few folks (and a dog!) braved the 69-degree lake water for an invigorating swim, while others took a look around the cove on a SUP or inflatable. At around 9 a.m., we reluctantly decided we had to get back to real life; our engines roared to life, and the crew let loose the lines that held us close. We waved goodbye and promised ourselves that we would be back next year.
A big thank you to Jeff E. and Matt B. who helped put out anchors, and a HUGE THANK YOU to Joel and Rachel, who not only planned the event, organized the anchorage, put out 50 feet of chain (!), and provided much of the food, but also rescued and fixed boats, and carried the burden of worrying about the weather and logistics so that we could all enjoy a wonderful weekend together!
At this point, you’re probably wondering – so was a boat actually in danger of sinking, or was that just clickbait? Well, it was decided that “What goes wrong at the LP Raft Up, stays at the LP Raft Up!” Well, at least until it’s time for Blunder Bucket nominations. Maybe.
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