Eight RPYC boats left Fisherman’s Village Sunday, April 11^th for Venice.  Some went on the outside thru the swash channel at Boca Grande Pass while others took the scenic route up the ICW.   Staying at the Venice Yacht Club were Yacht Z (Len and Liz Zych), Utopia (Rich and Kris Weiner), Knot-A-Clue (Fred and Debbie Mann), Christina (Len and Kris Burger), Boomer (Rick and Lindsey Scheinert), and co-leaders Serenity Found (Jim and Bonnie Barnhart) and Mad Hatter (Ed and Shirley Hatter).  Because the Venice Yacht Club could only take 7 boats, Fender Bender (Bob and Sue Fischer) stayed at the Crow’s Nest.  After docktails and appetizers we found our wooden boats at our tables in the dining room.

 

The next morning we headed for Marina Jacks in Sarasota.  Some went out the Venice Inlet to Big Sarasota Pass and others went on the inside.  There we were joined by Little Sarah (Jerry and Donna Reilly).  After all were docked, Screw Drivers were provided in honor of the IRS.  The afternoon was free to walk or bicycle or just relax.  After docktails and appetizers we enjoyed a Pot Luck dinner of Pulled Chicken Barbeque and all the great sides provided by our good cooks.  We had a bit of an upset when a gust of wind dumped our buns into the water.

 

Tuesday morning we were joined by Bob and Doris Ferry for Ed’s famous pancakes.  The Barnharts helped cook the breakfast that included eggs, bacon, sausage, juice and coffee.

Not wanting to be left out and not able to come by boat, Ray and Kathy Rainey, Jim and Barb Pancoast and friends from Venice drove up for docktails and appetizers.  We then all went to the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre to see “The Andrews Brothers”.  This was a great musical comedy and was even more hilarious when our own Rick Scheinert and Jim Barnhart became part of the show.

 

On Wednesday we went the short distance to the brand new Sarasota Yacht Club.  Unfortunately we were not able to use the club as they were hosting a Film Festival event.  Since RPYC boaters can adjust to any situation, the Zychs went into St. Armand’s Circle and made dinner reservations at the Columbia.  After docktails and appetizers (we couldn’t miss that) we walked, biked, or took the SCAT to dinner.

 

Thursday was the last official day of the IRS reFUNd Cruise and some went home but many stayed another day.  Some of us then joined up with the newcomers cruise at the St. Charles Yacht Club.