Cruisians

*A small, exclusive group of people who are mentally ill and feel, for some reason unbeknownst to anyone, that by getting on a small boat about the size of a jail cell and heading out into the most unhospitable place on Earth (the ocean), they will somehow enjoy themselves.

Don Hood and Jackie may look like pirates, but actually they are kewl. Here they are at the Dock E6 party at Reefpoint Marina in Racine, Wisconsin, where they sail from. Don is the “spiritual” leader of the yacht club and goes out of his way to help folks who need it. He also plays a pretty convincing Santa Clause!

Kelly McQuire has five CDs on the market, and we were lucky enough to run into him at a Texas store opening where he and Bitchin co-hosted a couple of auctions. They had a ball! Chuck Larson was in need of a little change, so he headed out from Santa Barbara and over to Florida, where he boarded a sailboat and decided to head “out there.” His motto is, “A goal is a dream with a deadline.” He said he’d write from Nassau. Okay Chuck, we are waiting!

Meet Captain Black Bra. Her real name is Lisa and besides being a licensed captain (where she earned her nickname at the recent sail in the Grenadines!), she also runs the San Francisco Sailtime base. Lisa is an avid sailor who loves the sea and knows how to have a good time wherever she is.

We met Brendan Ormandy at the Chicago Strictly Sail Show. Brendan sails on a 46’ pilothouse cutter on the Great Lakes with his dad. The boat doesn’t have a name. They say it really doesn’t need one, as it’s so much fun they just call it “The Boat.” They like The Boat just the way it is. This lady is a real clown! No, seriously, she is an actual clown. Her name is Linda and she is also known as Mama Shed because her children, Brooke and Brad, own the Shed Barbecue (a Harbor Hangout!). She has performed at the local school as a clown for more years than she will admit!

Allan Onik is the first mate of the sailing vessel Ice Wars II. He enjoys reading and watching NFL football while rooting for his hometown team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. If you see him on the water, Allan is very friendly and would love to give a tour of the vessel to curious ocean-goers.