Special People, Special Boat

How do you keep people sailing as they get older? Jim Key says you keep it simple. Here he shares the story of how his 19 foot full keel Cape Dory Typhoon – #1630 Key to Happiness – has him fired up about sailing…

It all started with a sail through the mooring area in Muskegon Lake in western Michigan. We were headed out to Lake Michigan for a day of Big Boat racing when I spotted a good looking Cape Dory Typhoon on a mooring. I told Mike, a fellow crew member, how that’s the kind of boat I should get when I stop racing the Big Boat – a small boat with a small budget that I can stick in my garage at home.

By coincidence, Mike said he had one sitting on a trailer that he hadn’t sailed much. I asked if he would sell it, and we spent the day hassling about the price. It was more passing the time on the rail then serious boat talk. I heard it was a bit run down, so one day while in town I took a look and found that to be a generous assessment. While the boat had no major problems, and I remained interested, Mike wasn’t ready to let it go.

Fast forward a few years later, Mike died of cancer and the fellow handling his estate calls and asked me if I was still interested in the boat. My bid was accepted and the Cape Dory Typhoon comes to a new home. After a good cleaning and the recovery of missing parts, the boat returns to sailable condition.

Fast forward another 12 years, I’ve retired, and the Typhoon has a slip at Torrensen Marine in Muskegon, MI. I race it on Wednesday nights and usually get my head handed to me. I still use the original sails, from 1979 that came with the boat. No surprise why I can’t win.

Through the internet, I find a fleet of Cape Dory Typhoons at the Rappahannock River Yacht Club in Irvington, VA. They were orgainizing their second National Championship so I call and talk to some of the friendly folks at the RRYC. It’s a jib and main event only, and I thought it would be fun to sail with all 19 foot boats rather than my Wednesday night races sailing against 40 foot boats.

I asked about places to stay, and the friendly folks said they’d put us up, so I sign up, paid the $35 entry fee, got new tires and sails, and corralled my friend Mark for the 800+ mile road trip to Irvington.

Rappahannock River Yacht Club proves to be a small lovely club, and we are assisted by John Friday, owner of Custom Yacht Service, who is helpful in launching the boat and provide dockage at a very reasonable rate. John is a Typhoon owner, and we soon notice that there are Typhoons ever where.

Come to find out, there are 30 Typhoons within a 5 mile radius of the yacht club, and another 20 within 10 miles. That’s a lot of Typhoons. The secret must not be a secret in Irvington. Cape Dory Typhoons are a great little yacht, with some people owning multiple boats, and then fixing them up to sell or loan out.

The stay with yacht club members is a great experience. We become such good friends, and were able to reciprocate for our host to get a ride on my Mark’s boat for the Chicago to Mac Race.

The logistics during the regatta were so simple. They had wonderful members and great local sponsors, with a seminar the night before the regatta to get everyone up to speed. Then there was breakfast at the yacht club, with snacks and water to take out on the race course. Then beer after the races, dinner at the club, awards ceremony afterwards…everything wonderfully done. While I did buy meals, I never paid for a beer – now that’s a friendly club.

The races were Saturday and Sunday, 36 boats in two fleets – experienced and not so experienced. Like most racing, smooth bottoms and newer sails make the difference. Good decisions and tactics matter. Friends on land are friends on the course, but only to a certain point; It was serious racing. We were quite happy to take a 5th in the regatta.

Fast forward another 4 years, the bi-annual 2016 Typhoon Nationals are upcoming on June 3-5. This will be my third trip down to Virginia. I’ve been working on the Typhoon’s to-do list. I have my arrangement made for staying with someone and for getting the boat in and out of the water. Entry fee is now $95 but includes two tee shirts and 2 Saturday breakfasts. I’m looking forward to spending some time with some very special people and boats.