VicFest

Updated 09/24/2004

Mail Comments/ Data/ Pictures/Suggestions to: The Victoria 18 Forum

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8:00am Breakfast

Sunday Morning brought much welcomed weather.
7:00am and not a cloud in the sky. Winds at 2-4 knots, and waves at less than a foot.
We might just be able to run the RumCup after all!

The folks at the Condo set up lunch for the sail, made breakfast, and spent some time reviewing the contents of the VicChest!

The VicChest is opened for the duration of the VicFest, allowing folks to drop in a trinket or just review its contents at their leisure. Items left in it are from from the current VicFest, and years gone by. The VicChest is a great source of both history and camaraderie. Items left in it may have meaning only to those who left them, or like photos (historic and present day) have obvious meanings. The VicChest is small, (13 inches wide, 9 inches deep, and 9 inches high), so items left for inclusion in the chest need to be of appropriate size.

It is truly enjoyable to spend a few minutes digging through its contents. It helps bring the past to present, and present to past. If you get the chance, you will find it pleasurable.

The VicChest is locked at the conclusion of the VicFest and is not opened until the Fest returns. (Pictures of the contents of the VicChest are discouraged.)

If you want to hold a local VicFest, ask to have the Chest shipped to your gathering to become a part of the history and camaraderie of McVay Built Sailboats, you will be glad you did.

It's a RumCup!

The weather was perfect, the folks decided to take care of the checkouts from the Condo and the Mariner so that the afternoon RumCup could be completed.

The group headed down to the Dock for the Annual christening of the Boats, and Toasts to this years Fest and its attendees.

10:30am The Annual RumToast and Christening of the Boats

The Rum, the Forum Folks, and the four attending Vic's were ready so let the toasts begin!

The essential first step of the toast is to Mix the Rum from the last years fest with whatever might be left from the Saturday night Condo gathering.
As you can see, the folks at the condo party pretty much polished off most of it.
The rum from last year was mixed with rum from the previous year and so on ... In short, Rum from all of the VicFests resides in each new VicFest toast and christening.

The VicShots are poured being careful not to spill anything on the dock ... the rum is reserved for the boats and VicFest attendees, not to merinade the frequent dinners that the egrets catch in the bay and eat off the dock!

(It has been said that in the last 4 years that the VicFest has been held at that particular dock, not only have the numbers of egrets steadily climbed, but the number using that particular dock to feed on has quadrupeled! The local birding club has all the statistics, and Jim and MaryAnne at Rock Hall Landing Marina are asking us to use Rum that does not taste as good to thelarger birds of the western shore of the Cheasapeake! See image below, bottom right for a more detailed view of their concern)

Ready to Toast!

Tracy finally gives in and says, "OK, but it will have to be just water, and make it just one!"

Tracy and William Toast to their Vic and the VicFest

Tracy whispers into Williams ear " Hey, thats pretty good ... can I have another?"

Tracy smiles at the Camera ... we found out that she always knows where the lens is pointing!

Bill is checking out his new flip phone with keyboard. He pretends he has a message from President Bush that he just has to take!

Claudia is so excited that the Rum is almost poured that she clinches her fists, says "goodie-goodie",and jumps up and down in anticipation!

Mark christens "Patience",

... And then himself!

... then asks for more

Turned down by the group for an additional shot of Rum, Mark lowers his head in shame and steps to the dock.
His nephew Bill laughs, "sometimes it's interesting to see your uncle in such a pitiful state!"

Don christens "A Wind Song", ...

then does the Michael Jackson "moonwalk" on the bow of his Vic while the folks at the dock sing along to Michael's song "Billy Jean".
"I have always wanted to do that" he exclaims as he turns to Mark Hanna to make sure he got a few shots of it on his digital!

Cas offers a toast to all of you who could not be here on the beautiful Cheasapeake for VicFest 2004!