Cruise Book

Cruise Slideshow

Cruise Log

Dedicated to Werner Valeur-Jensen
Report by Ernie Godshalk

Another spectacular Cruise success!

The 2014 NAS Denmark Cruise attracted 80 participants of whom 32 had been on prior NAS cruises and eight had been on three or more! Participants included Post Captain Brown, members of NAS, SYC and each of the Qive Home Clubs, including three past commodores of DKY and GKSS and many guests (and potential new NAS members). There were 17 vessels – nine owner-operated yachts (three US, two Swedish, two Danish, two British); seven chartered; and the ‘mother ship’, Loyal. 2014 was one of the warmest and driest summers in recent Danish history. We had two days of strong winds but otherwise the weather was almost perfect. The Cruise itinerary and chart can be found on the NAS website. We visited about a dozen different ports of call in 13 easy days of 9-39 nm with lay days in Ballen and Ærøskøbing (generally agreed to be the most picturesque port), a total of just over 200nm. The easy-on-the-cook/get-to-know-everyone schedule included elegant formal opening and closing dinners (with ample singing) and four barbeques (at least three of which included singing and poetry recital; one was at the location of a small business that makes ice cream – yum!) and cocktails aboard Loyal and Night Watch. A star raft (successful!) and traditional Hat Party (ever seen a jellyQish hat?) were highlights. We even had a guided tour of a still-lived-in castle. Except in harbors at which most of the Qleet anchored out, Loyal was in each harbor with the Qleet except in Mårup, which we selected only the day before due to adverse wind. Strong winds prevented us from getting to Ebeltoft and a tour of the frigate Jylland, but Cruise Chairman Tunick arranged a fascinating tour of the Energy Academy on Samsø, an island that is energy neutral due to its many windmills and other energy generating or conserving facilities. The Academy has become world-famous and shares its knowledge via education both on Samsø and during visits to other countries; hence “Academy”. Here is what a few participants have to say: “We love Ærøskøbing wet or dry. Great sailing - the Star rafting was very impressive seamanship. We found (good pinch hitting by David!) the energy program on Samso very interesting. All the dining was excellent.” Steve and Gale Sherman “…we should like to thank you all for a very nice and well organized event, which we very much enjoyed. Sadly we had to leave early, as the “VIKINGETRÆF” in Gothenburg was on, but hopefully the rest of your event was as good as the Uirst part.” Mogens and Lena Brinks Unfortunately there was one injury: Dale Bruce thought she had sprained her ankle walking ashore and, after gamely limping around for several days, left the Cruise to seek medical help….and found she had a broken leg! She recently reported that she is well on the mend but, with her plastic boot, is relieved of anchor detail for this season. Participants received an absolutely outstanding cruise book of 130 pages that raises the standard for cruise books. It includes charts, schedules, history, rosters with photos of all participants and vessels, tips and answers to almost any question that could be asked, so much so that “It’s in the cruise book!” became a standing joke. The Cruise reQlects a tremendous and successful three-year effort by Cruise Chairman David Tunick (who seemed to be helping someone on the Cruise from 6 AM to midnight every day), his Committee of 12 and Post Captain Brown and many other friends to NAS and SYC.

Photos of the Cruise are on the NAS website under the “Photos” tab, ”Denmark Cruise 2014” folder. Thanks to all who submitted them, to Gale Sherman who carefully viewed many hundreds of photos to select the best of the best and put them in chronological order and to our ever-helpful webmaster, Michael Geagan – take a look, you’ll Uind yourself or wish you were on the Cruise! Wait, there’s more!…

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! 18 June – 2 July 2017 NAS Swedish Cruise – a committee chaired by Stefan and Maria Holmgren, on site in Gothenburg, and co-vice chaired by Nick Orem and Michael Geagan, veterans of many cruises in Sweden, is already hard at work on your behalf planning another outstanding NAS cruise on the stunningly picturesque west coast of Sweden – including Midsummer! Plenty of charter boats will be available. Start lining up your crew and WATCH THIS SPACE for further news!