You
could ask for a better messabout, but it would be hard to top Bud’s
Lake Nickajack Messabout of 2005. He put a lot of planning into this event
all the while working on Magnolia to have her ready to launch. Bud and
his fine group of family and friends worked hard to make this get together
exceptional. Benny, one of Buds friends, did most of the cooking and served
up dinners for all who attended.
I arrived a day early on Thursday and was treated to the best catfish I have ever eaten. Ralph, another of Bud’s friends, lives to fish. He could tell you fish stories all day if you let him, and he’d still have more to tell you tomorrow. Anyhow, he supplied us with fresh caught catfish. He and Benny fried them up on an outdoor cooker with a cornmeal batter, a side of fries, hushpuppies and a wide choice of beverages. I was glad to be early.
Shellmond Campground was very nice. It’s located on the shores of Lake Nickajack in Jasper TN. The facilities were very clean and there was a launch area with docks open to the public which was free to use. It was run by friendly people who welcomed our group.
When
you arrived at the campground, you were also welcomed by an eight-foot
statue of Captain Morgan. I’m told by Bud that the Captain has been
standing guard over the Magnolia for some time now. I suppose it was only
right for him to be there at the launch.
Soon after I arrived, I, with the help of Benny and Ralph, launched my Vacationer, Whippoorwill, and enjoyed a nice solo sail on a lake void of other boats. After setting the sails and tidying things up I looked behind me and there was an enormous double barge heading my way. Where did that come from? It was totally unexpected for me to see such a large vessel on this small lake, but the lake is part of the Tennessee River and it has a lot of barge traffic on it. There was never any danger, just a surprise for me. The rest of the afternoon sail was great. Clear skies and a gentle breeze was just what I needed to start a great weekend. I tied up at the dock and walked up to the campground where the fish was already cooking.
Tony Day and his wife, Gayle, arrived with their Pocket Cruiser on Thursday as well. They had a long drive behind them and enjoyed a nice evening among friends.
Friday morning I found myself in somewhat of a strange predicament. During the night, as I tried to sleep on a closed cell foam pad that I will never try to sleep on again, a heavy dew settled on the decks, and cabin roof of my little boat. Ya know, water has a funny way of swelling things up. Take my cabin hatch for example. I had planned all along to put a handle inside the boat to open and close the hatch, but planning on and doing are two different things. What was the hurry, I never had a problem opening the hatch.....from the outside! It only took a moment for me to realize how much I would have appreciated a handle when I tried to slide it open and my hands just slid on the glossy white underside of the hatch. I was stuck! The dew had swelled up the tracks that my hatch slides on and it needed a good shove to open it which was something I couldn’t give it from inside. I tried prying it open with a large chisel I had onboard but it was no use. I finally gave up and moved things around so I could snake my way into the forward compartment and out the bow hatch. Ahhh fresh air!
Bud brought Magnolia out to the campground where he and Angie worked on all the little things that needed to be done before the launch. Meanwhile Tony and I enjoy sailing our boats together out on the lake in almost non existent winds. It was a beautiful day though, and Tony managed to get some super pictures of my boat underway. The lake was gorgeous. The eastern shore was lined with a railroad track where trains chugged along now and again. The western shore had our camping area and a rock cliff which was at one time a quarry. To the south were Nickajack Dam and a lock to allow boat traffic to continue on down stream and to our north stood the I-24 bridge. Just beyond the shore in all directions were the foothills of Lookout Mountain. I can see why Bud picked this spot.
Later that day I helped Angie get the sails on Magnolia. What a nice set of sails she wears, tanbark Dacron with matching stitching and double reef points. There were several envious sailors admiring those sails. The Magnolia was looking good and Bud was looking proud. Tomorrow Magnolia will make her first waves.
Scott Wiedmir and his son Sean arrived Friday evening towing a 12 foot
sailing dinghy that he had built. It was a small boat but it was filled
with innovative ideas such as plastic bins that slid on rails mounted
under the seats. Sean looked like a true seaman sailing that little boat.
It was evident that he and his Dad spent a lot of time out there together.
Ken Castille and his wife Marilyn arrived Friday night as well. Ken has plans to build a Vacationer. I was able to take them both out for a sail on Saturday which we all enjoyed. I’m hoping a nice sail will be just what he needs to get the skillsaw screaming and dust to flying.
It
was time for another dinner and Benny had cooked up burgers and dogs.
Before eating Bud asked everyone to observe a moment of silence in memory
of Dave Rudell. Sadly, he was all our messabout was missing.
That night we stayed up by the fire getting to know one another, telling stories, and hoping for sailors weather the next day. There were a few of us lingering into the night when someone spotted a person across the camp from us. They had lanterns hung up and their area was lit up pretty well. I don’t know what this person across the way was thinking but they decided to do a striptease act outside of their tent. I’m not talking about changing clothes where you had room to stretch, I mean taking it off with style and purpose. I’m not sure, but something tells me they didn’t know we were out there and could see them because when Angie let out a whistle this persons eyes opened up so wide it looked like someone lit two more lanterns and they took a flying leap into the tent. We all got a good laugh.
Saturday morning I watched the morning sun as it climbed over a hill and onto the lake. The water was like a mirror and covered in a wispy fog. There was still not a sound in the air as the sun began to melt away the fog. Today was going to be another great day.
I went to the camping area where the final details were being worked on before the big launch of Magnolia. Bud had a smile on his face that you couldn’t have knocked off with a 2X4. He was ready for Magnolia to see some water.
Ed Jones drove up around 9:30. He’s working on a scaled up version of the PC and should be in the water soon. He collected the SE fleet dues from everyone and I received my burgee which I sent up my mast upside down.
Bud’s wife, Phyllis, came by with a box full of pork roasts that were wrapped up in foil and carefully place on Benny’s smoker. He was going to keep the hickory fire burning all day and slow cook the roasts. This was a treat I had enjoyed once before at the spring messabout. Dinner time could not come fast enough tonight.
After the meat was cooking it was time to launch the Magnolia. Bud drove her down to the ramp from the campsite with mast and sails up while we all stood lookout to make sure he didn’t hit anything with the mast. Bud’s wife christened the boat with a bottle of champagne poured onto her decks. Bud backed her into the water and Magnolia floated for the first time. Cheers went up and we toasted the launch with champagne for everyone.
Angie and Bud boarded Magnolia and without any hesitation she was on her way. Her sails full and her captain proud. Tony, Scott, and I joined Magnolia in our own boats and we all enjoyed a leisurely sail. Three fine looking gaff rigged sailboats cruising across a lake in Tennessee is not something I can imagine happens very often. I felt great being a part of something so special.
Later that afternoon the winds picked up and once again we all sailed
together. I took Ken and Marilyn out and we made about 5 knots on the
GPS. It was the best wind we had so far and we 
all
had a great time. Scott and his son were all over the lake scooting along
in their dinghy. She’s a fast little boat. Bud and Paul, a friend
of Angie’s, sailed aboard Magnolia learning how she handled with
a little more wind. She looked really nice out there. She was sailing
west of me in the reflection of the lowering sun on the water. All I could
see was a silhouette of her cruising along. It made a nice picture.
Tony was also getting around the lake in his P.C. He seems to know his boat well and has had time to work out most of the kinks and make it uniquely his. She sure is a pretty thing. The cabin house is all varnished bright and really makes her stand out from other boats. He did a great job building her and now has another boat in the works. I’m sure it too will be a finely crafted vessel.
We all tied out boats up for the evening, and Tony pulled his out in preparation for an early exit Sunday morning. Then it was time for a feast of Benny’s smoked pork BBQ. It was wonderful. Melt in your mouth tender and delicious. I nominate Benny as an honorary member of the BYYB. We could elect him galley commodore and he could attend all the BYYB functions bringing joy to hungry sailors and boatbuilders across the nation.
Everyone pigged out on pig and all the fixin’s Saturday night.
Bud made an announcement about a prize he had planned for the messabout.
He decide a prize would be given to a Stevenson’s Yacht owner who
brought his boat. The only boats that qualified other than his were my
Vacationer and 
Tony’s
PC. Bud flipped a coin and I chose tails. I was the lucky winner that
evening and Bud presented me with a porcelain ships decanter of Pusser’s
Rum. It is a beautiful bottle with many markings on it and a pamphlet
explaining what each of them mean. It was very interesting to read about
Admiral Nelson and his battles. It will be a proud addition to my yacht
as soon as I make a mounting to keep it safe.
It had been a long exciting day and most of us retired early knowing that tomorrow we would have to pack up and head for home. It had been a spectacular weekend of sailing, meeting new, and seeing old friends, filling bodies with great food and drink, and filling our minds with memories to last a lifetime. Again it will be hard to top Bud’s Lake Nickajack Messabout, but we sure can have fun trying to.
Thank you Bud, to you and all the others who made this gathering so special.
Back Yard Yacht Builders
A non-commercial association of amateur boat-builder enthusiasts.
All our wooden boats are Stevenson designs.