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I learned about boating from that... By Greg Howell The romance of old boats. We've all heard the expression, but have we ever realized what it might just mean. In my family there have been several encounters with the 'romance' in boating. Case in point; While my mother and father were dating, he took her sailing on the Great South Bay, in Patchogue, Long Island. They are still happily married. Moving to the next generation, I was raised in a family that sailed various kinds of boats, I had a Penguin and sailed it competitively when I began dating Joan. We had many sails in that boat, both for fun and in races. Joan and I got married and we are still happily married. Let us move to the next generation. We were racing Lightning Class boats, a 19' sloop when on one Saturday there was a cocktail party at the sailing club in Eastport. Our daughter who was going to be a junior in high school thought it would be fun to come with us. We agreed and she brought one of her girlfriends along with her. Five minutes after arriving, our daughter stated that there were only old people at the party and there was nothing for her or her friend to do. We suggested that they walk over the bridge and go to Annapolis. They left and we did not see them for a few hours. When she returned she had the name and telephone number of a Midshipman who was starting his second year at the Naval Academy. They eventually began dating and after he graduated they got married, and like the couples I have already mentioned, they are extremely happily married. Now Joan and I became involved in the Antique and Classic Boat Society and restored a few boats. Our eldest son helped every once in a while and attended the boat show at St. Michaels for a few years. Now moving away from my family, there was a young lady, Jacqui Collins who was restoring a Garwood that was her grandfather's boat and had been in her family since the boat was new. She had rented some space at Jerry LeCompte's shop so she could work on the boat. Darrell Maples spent time at the shop helping Jacqui if she needed it. Joan was talking to Darrell, who asked, 'Don't you have a son around Jacqui's age'. Jerry was given our son's email address to give to Jacqui and we gave our son Jac~ui's address. As they say, the rest is history. Jacqui and Joe became engaged on July 3f while at Lake George. They plan on a wedding this coming February. So there you have my story for the justification that there is romance in the old boats. More than the superficial shiny varnish and polished chrome, but rather maybe it's the smell of cut mahogany, or fresh varnish that stirs certain emotions and causes these romances. But whatever it is, just remember during all the worry about judging, and whether your boat should earn 100 points, there are people out there whose entire lives were changed because of these old boats. So to J acqui and Joe, we wish them the best of luck with their upcoming wedding, and we welcome her into our family.
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