(This pick taken from another day, from Annie M.)
Sailing with Clarence and 'Nightcrawler'.
Sept. 19-05
(This pick taken from another day, from Annie M.)
Spent a Saturday with
John Dehaan on his 26 foot MacGregor Classic. (NOT and X) . The boat is named
Nightcrawler. As it happens, John is a member of
a very excellent R and B band called the Nightcrawlers.
I have done sound for these
guys, jammed with some of the individuals at times and record and write with
the frontman from the band.
We had a great time, Clarence is an inspired story teller. John and his wife Shelly arrived home from a holiday in New Orleans just days before Katrina struck. He took his sax with him and played every day and most nights with various bands around town. They had a wonderful time. And had a ton of stories to tell.
One of the local players in a Durge band he was jamming with ended up crowning him with a new nickname. He showed up at the club and one of the guys said, "hey, here's Clarence!" John figured they meant a joke on him referring to the fact that he is 6' 8" tall and thinking the sax player from Springsteins band. When he asked about this the guy said in a thick N'orlins' black accent, "Naw man, Clarence......like the sign where ya parks yer car.....Clearance 6' 8" ...you know.....Clarence!".
John's boat is huge
compared to Annie! Like a ferry. We could have parked Annie down below and still
had room to dance.
She slips along with so little fuss. We flew the light asymmetrical spinnaker
most of the day (gotta get me oneathose). Fantastic weather. Daph and John dressed
too warm expecting it to be cool...but it was hot enough to swim. Not much of
a breeze and at times no breeze. It would have been nice to sail Nightcrawler
harder, but we had a great time anyway. Clarence is a fun guy to visit with.
