The club organizes cruises during the year. There is one scheduled for Milford Yacht club. Some skippers are like Bernie Weiss, below. They want to do it all!

Where we went in 2007

"The Surprise!" usually races and cruises with the Halloween Yacht Club. Normally "The Surprise!" races with a crew of five. She won her first race within 5 days of delivery and has been winning her share of competitions and trophies ever since.

The skipper will readily admit that "The Surprise!" is not a hot boat, but she does perform respectably against others of her type and size. Her PHRF rating is 159. She performs best going upwind by cracking off to a tight reach; she will usually make up the extra distance with extra speed. Downwind, the best sailing angle in light air is about 150-160 degrees apparent in Long Island Sound's typically light air. Given the right conditions-- 10-12 knots true and a 2' chop--"The Surprise!" is almost unbeatable against other 30-35 footers.

For cruising, four adults have lived comfortably together on board with the usual amenities--e.g., cold drinks, hot meals, hot water for showers-- for two and three weeks at a time. Cruises end when all the ice melts. Tobacco use is not permitted on board and the consumption of alcoholic beverages is usually restrained until sails are stowed. Glassware is prohibited on board.

For many years, Ann and Bernie Weiss cruised "The Surprise!" from New York Harbor through the waters of Connecticut, Long island, Rhode Island and Block Island, to Cape Cod and Massachusetts Bay, poking her bow into literally hundreds of lovely coves, beautiful harbors, and quaint anchorages. In the Spring and Summer of 1996, "The Surprise!" embarked on her most ambitious and exciting voyage, 1100 nautical miles to, through and from the Chesapeake Bay. Ask the skipper for his write-up and recollections of this cruise, a "cruise-of-a-lifetime".

Where we went in 2007