Newport Beach Tadpoles -- Marlow@Sea

Marlow@Sea

Newport Beach Tadpoles

LocationNewport Beach → Catalina → Cabrillo Way
CrewChance, Max, Arden & Christian
DateNovember 2024

Aerial footage of Marlow from multi-talented crew member Cabin Boy, captured here in Newport Beach with the next-gen crew of Chance, Max, Arden, and Christian after a 24-hour run to Catalina and boozy night at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club (the house Mai Tai's were on point, thank you Steve and Larry for the hospitality!) and just before gale conditions off Catalina blew further to the coast than anticipated making for a sporty and sobering upwind sail tacking into 20-25 kts back home to Cabrillo Way. We listened on the radio as the Coast Guard rescued a Duffy boat between Huntington and Newport that was caught in the poorly forecasted winds and learned the next day of a boat being overturned in Redondo Beach, killing one.

And honorable mention for the Party Captain and his wife for joining the festivities at the club. We'd like to see him off the dock at some point and indeed broke with Marlow precedent in hosting a man who isn't coming to sea with you. They always push for that third martini and then head home leaving you to endure whatever pleasure the sea affords the next day.

The greenhorn crew showed much promise in the Marlow tradition. Here is their report card:

Crew Report Card

Baking B− Solid effort with a quirky stove but you don't have to be Paul Hollywood to know banana bread can't be burnt on top. The baked potatoes were cooked at 550 degrees and tasted like white ash no amount of butter could cure. They were, however, warming.
Grilling B Solid teamwork but my steak was a tad overcooked and later we spilled cold ashes all over the deck.
Smoking A+ Great attendance and camaraderie on the smoking deck all weekend. Well supplied.
Knots C We lost a gas tank overboard due to an innovative lashing configuration and struggled with the clove hitch.
Athleticism A Fresh legs, good shape, sporty crew threw in a six-mile hike on Catalina which seemed a bit excessive.
Waterworks A This generation didn't shower much or clog the toilets, did the dishes immediately after dinner, and learned how to manage the water tanks. What more could a Captain ask for?
Tech A As expected, excellence with navigation software, drones, cameras, use of Starlink, etc.
Fellowship A− Good company, no attempted mutinies, very little whispering, just some minor brother-sister tension over the domain of the forward cabin which was very out in the open. Even dock trolls couldn't upset their sweet and social nature. Socially certified for up to 15 days at sea.
Cabin Mgmt C+ Sudden heavy winds exposed some weakness here, personal items strewn about the cabin when least needed.
Sailing Overall B+ Certified for a coastal adventure as far north as San Francisco with aspirations for the Transpac to Hawaii in 2027!!
Newport Harbor Yacht Club Rainy landing at Newport Harbor Yacht Club
Departing Newport Beach Departing Newport Beach for Cabrillo Way