- D.C. “merf” Moerschel “Salty Dog” Flag 740 Founding Table Captain; Mate Betsy
- Mattigan McMichael “Wookie” Flag 741 Founding Brother – Gunner
- Lee McMichael “Chessie” Flag 742 Founding Brother Past Table Captain; Mate Catherine
- Ramzi K. Bannura “Rambo” Flag 743 Founding Brother Present Table Captain
- Carlos Jauregui “Toad” Flag 744 Founding Brother Past table Captain; Mate Danielle
- Ken Jacks “Lazy Jacks” Flag 745 Founding Brother – Bos’n; Mate Phyllis
- Bob Howe “Old Salt” Flag 746 (Struck and Retired) Posthumous Founding Brother; Mate Wendy Kravit
The Induction – August 23, 2013
- Steve Reeves “Zusedog” Flag 747 Inducted 2015; Mate Ingrid Gonzales
- Peter Dula “Sea Dog” Flag 748 Inducted 2015; Mate Debra
- Chris Nalley “Wanderer” Flag 749 Inducted 2016
- Michael Lehmkuhl “Ron Rico” Flag 751 Shanty Master Inducted 2017; Mate Heidi Frist
- Dave Trawick “Chief” Flag 752 Present Scribe Inducted 2018; Mate Kristy Goode.
- Michael VanSickler “DaVinci” Flag 754 Inducted 2021; Mate Ava
ENGAGE’s
- Steve Godfrey CDR USCG (Ret), master mariner with extensive sailing and cruising experience.
- Dave Gelenter S/V Stanley Norman – Skipjack Captain, educator, with deep connections to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Sailing Capital – 10 year Anniversary
Celebration: Oct 13-15, 2023
We are grateful to our mentors Pete Chabot, John Craighill and Past National Table Captain, Charles Hankins in Investing the Sailing Capital Table and ushering us into establishment – 23 August 2013.
Since then, we have grown from six with Bob Howe Inducted posthumously to twelve and two Engages today.
Our Table has evolved into an active, yet informal, low-key Table with no distinct schedule outside of our monthly TAF get-togethers. We began and remained humble which humility comes directly from all the contacts the Sailing Capital Brothers have developed with other Tables, the true nexus of the Brotherhood. We strive to meet or exceed activities common with other Tables and intend to keep meeting and growing our size and bonds.
WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO
2013 – 2023
Since 2013, five have attended World ZAFs in both 2014 and 2022. We hold monthly TAFs and have parties, and raft ups when the spirit moves us. A number of our Brothers and mates have gathered with the Solomons Table for dinner, joined the Solomons and Chesapeake Tables in Kilmarnock, attended other Table even such as Sarasota ZAF, Trailer Trash and the TAF in Norfolk to attend tall ship events and to honor Marcus Seidl. The Table hosted Brothers Marcus and David Seidl in our homes and member of the S/V Statsraad Lehmkuhl at Eastport YC. Our first two new Brothers were inducted on the S/V Statsraad Lehmkuhl. We have welcomed and hosted Brothers from France, Germany, and Switzerland as they were passing through Annapolis or nearby.
All of us Sailing Capital Brothers have spent lots of time on the Bay, ICW and offshore. Various have experienced the Great Lakes, Med, Caribbean, BVIs, Gulf Coast, Great Lakes, and West Coast (San Fran and the San Juan’s). Three have done one or more ocean transits. Nine fly flags with a Green Star. Ten are racers with six serving as national captains and/or on Race Committees. Four taught at sailing schools. Three hold CG Licenses. Five have commercial experience including deliveries.
Individually, merf Moerschel “Salty Dog” did several R/T to Florida, taught sailing, wrote articles and did a “Winch & Kent” cartoon for a boating rag, went to the dark side, and rebuilt an Albin 25. He, Betsy, son Lem, and daughter Ava toured Norway in 2017 and were hosted by Brothers in Bergen and visited the Lehmkuhl’s base/bar. merf introduced the tradition of Sock Burning on the Spring Equinox to the Table. He swallowed the hook and moved ashore in 2020.
Lee McMichael “Chessie”, Catherine and their son Mattigan “Wookie” spent lots of time cruising in M/V Sister Mary Catherine hosted several inductions, one including the Maritime Republic of Eastport/Annapolis Tug of War. Lee and Catherine slipped their moorings to set up the Florida SC Table Embassy and entertain any Brother that happens by. Wookie continue his kayaking adventures here, hosts TAFs but heads for St Augustine as time allows.
Ramzi Banurra “Rambo” travels globally a lot and searches for brothers the world over, which permits practical diversions such as helping Wendy Kravits (Old Salt’s mate) double-hand her Island Packet 42 from Cartagena, Spain to Smir Morocco, visiting Gibraltar and the Spanish coast in the process. He races J/80s and served as North American Class President for 6 years and chaired the J/80 Worlds in Newport RI in 2022. He also helps on deliveries on occasion (recently to the Erie Canal from Annapolis), explores the Bay on his Jeanneau SO35 and hosts a bunch of TAFs in his home.
Ken Jacks “Lazy Jacks” in addition to arranging many of our TAFs and the January Surf n’ Turf night at Pussers. He decided to rip the diesel, tanks and all out of his Aloha 8.2 and go electric! Did it himself! He has since sold her and retired from the brokerage game and swallowed the hook and moved ashore.
Carlos Jauregui “Toad” continues to improve his ORZA chant and has served as Scribe and Table Captain over the years. He and Danielle have hosted lots of gatherings which usually had him playing his guitar and harp which we all enjoy tremendously. He also went to the Dark Side and has a 22 ft T Top.
Steve Reeves “Zusedog” owns Bacon Associates herein Annapolis and spends time in Galveston TX. He has competed in the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race from Baltimore to Portsmouth, VA dozens of times. He has a DeFever.
Pete Dula “Seadog” retired from teaching sailing and later sold his Nordic Tug. He has built a 14-foot runabout and continues to attend TAFs and gatherings from his home Frederick, MD.
Chris Nalley “Wanderer” is still teaching high school and teaches sailing in the summer. He hosts an annual pool party, Chris helped bring DaVinci’s S/V Kolohe’ from Ft Liquor-dale to Annapolis and continues to do deliveries regularly.
Michael Lehmkuhl “Ron Rico” has been involved with the Annapolis to Bermuda Race for over 10 years including organizing and doing several races. He and his mate Heidi did Around The Horn aboard S/V Statsraad Lehmkuhl in 2022 and then visited the ship in Bergen for her return from her circumnavigation. He is refurbishing his Banjer 37 and races with Heidi in her J/30.
Dave Trawick “Chief” has hosted a tour of the USCG Cutter Eagle for our Brothers. He and mate Kristy have hosted several gatherings including Sea Shanty practices, did several charters to the BVIs, and a trip to Scotland; then with Engage’ Dave Gelenter completed a humanitarian trip to Cuba. Chief helped “Chessie” and “Wookie” bring M/V Sister Mary Catherine from Crisfield to Annapolis this year.
Michael VanSickler “DaVinci” and mate Ava with watchstander sons Hayden (17) and David (15) have recently returned from a 3-year, 19,000 NM odyssey in S/V Kolohe’ a 43’ Leopard cat. They sold her in New Zealand and continued their travels through Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Japan. In the process, they met, were helped and feted by Brothers from Savannah, Chesapeake, New York, Dom Rep, PR, Panama, French Polynesia, Tahiti, Fiji, and New Zealand Tables. Robert Coles “Big Hopper” (New York Table) joined for the Panama Canal transit.
