Posted by michel.capel (michel.capel@…>)
Hi Charlie,
I was in the Mobile area one year ago, beginning of Feb. 2006 to make
my newly purchased F44 ready for transport to Europe, where I come
from.
We were warmly welcomed bij the members and staff of the Mobile Yacht
Club, where our boat was kept. Six months after Katrina, there was
still a lot of damage and debris visible. We saw a 100 ton fishing
boat sitting in the middle of the woods, incredible to realize how it
got there, and unimaginable that it would ever leave that spot again.
The Mobile yachtclub house was also touched at the underfloor by the
flood, the lockers, shower and storage room under the floor, between
the pilings, were all clean gone. The small restaurant also on
pilings, next to the Mobile Yachtclub house, was completely gone. The
marinas on Dog River were already almost completely rebuilt.
We made a trip to Dauphin Island, a low sandy Island on the Gulf, and
it looked untouched by Katrina. A local policeman told us that that
was a wrong impression; almost verything was already rebuilt, six
months after the hurricane. I admire the energy and effort the
friendly Gulf coast people have put to work to repair everything so
quickly.
Charlie, I hope everything goes well for you and all the people on
Mobile Bay. We enjoyed our stay in the area very very much and we
keep good memories of the friendly people and the excellent Southern
food. Now back home in the Netherlands, every Sunday, we relive the
relaxedness of the traditional Sunday Lunch at the Mobile Yacht Club.
Best,
Michel
— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, “Charlie L.”
<clivaday@…> wrote:
Hello All. The Message below (Message board message #33) was sent
by
me on August 10, 2005. It refers to 3 previous messages/suggestions
I
made re: formation of the owner’s association (Message board
messages
#s 15, 19 and 21). When I sent Message #33, I had no idea that in a
few weeks the entire Mississippi Gulf Coast would be destroyed, and
the entire City of New Orleans, and outlying areas, would be
flodded
and virtually destroyed, and the Mobile Bay area flooded and many
homes, buildings, and all yacht clubs destroyed. The flooding ran
under our home on Mobile Bay, soaking the underfloor insulation but
not entering the home. My F25 was in a “hurricane hole” behind the
Fairhope Yacht Club, so the boat was spared while the Yacht Club,
and
most of the other boats in the marina were destroyed. 'Nuff of
that.
We are still racing our Thursday and Sunday afternoon Fun Races.
Also
many regattas along the Alabama/Mississippi Gulf Coast, and on Lake
Pontrachain in New Orleans and on the the North Shore of Lake
Pontrachain, are being sailed, although with much smaller turnout.
Happy Sailing. Charlie on Mobile Bay
— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, “Charlie L.”
<clivaday@> wrote:
Hello all. I’m back in the group, and don’t see any progress made
re:
the formation of an owner’s association. For anyone interested, I
stated my suggestions in previous messages #s 15, 19 and 21. I
now
conclude that the Freedom owners are a group of very independent
sailors, and probably not stimulated at the suggestion of making
a
formal group. Remember the flack we received when discussing it on
the
other board. I am now the proud owner of 2 Freedom 25s;
the “round
mast” one I bought last fall, and have actively raced all of this
year; plus a “fixer upper” “wingmast” F25. Both are sound and have
the
small diesel engine. The wingmast F 25 came with a trailer, which
is
very handy. Of course the family thinks I am crazy to have 2 F25s,
but
it’s my hobby, and I love it, especially the races. We’ve already
had
a very active hurricane/storm season on Mobile Bay, and hope and
pray
that we’ll be spared for the remainder of the season. Happy
sailing,
y’all!!! Charlie