This is your Commodore Speaking,

We dipped our toe back into Club activities last month with our first Monthly Meeting since the coronavirus lockdown began. We were able to space the tables and chairs to accommodate the expected social distancing both during the social hour and during our program which we also streamed live on Facebook for those members unable or uncomfortable with attending in person. Our program guest speaker was Greg Kutsen, M.D. (Mantus Marine)  who gave a great presentation about emergency medicine while boating. As long as there are social gathering restrictions, we will continue to stream the meetings live over our TMCA Facebook page or on our YouTube channel, “Texas Mariners Cruising Association”. 

Closer to home and our boat, the system diagnosis and repairs continue following the May lightning strike on s/v Austintatious. We are working through the process with our insurance company. We expect to replace most all of the electrical components on the boat. Those of you that have experience with this act of nature know the event will immediately render many electronics failed while other systems can initially look and act normal but will soon fail. As an example, our two shower drain pumps use a 15 second timer relay. They each failed several days after the event. The repair/replace equipment list is long. Our boat is still on the market, as we look to move on to a catamaran, so this event was quite untimely. However, once the work has completed, the boat may almost be new again with renewed warranty on replaced (and upgraded) equipment. 

Continue to monitor your email, our TMCA website and Facebook page for updated information on cruises and social events.

In the meantime, be smart and stay safe. 

Bryan Austin

TMCA Commodore, 2020