On Saturday April 6, 2024, the regional stalwart Javelin crew consisting of Paul Wharton, Michael Luskin, Hank Jonas, and Jess Gregory joined skipper Steve Blecher in Westbrook, CT for a final sail aboard Javelin. Pilots Point had just commissioned Javelin that week, and this was the first, and last, sail of the 2024 season.

(A medical situation in Steve's family made future cruising on Javelin impractical, so she is being sold to another Dartmouth alumnus, Dr. Eric Grubman '84. Dr, Grubman and his wife Dr. Stephanie Green have four post college children, two of whom are Dartmouth class of 2018 and three of whom are going into the medical field. They are all accomplished sailors who currently own and race a J-46. They will moor Javelin in Milford, CT and she will retain her name.)

The air conditioning was turned on to heat up the cabin, and the assembled crew took off the sail cover and began to prepare Javelin to depart her slip. A discussion assessing the weather situation ensued. The temperature was 40 degrees, the wind was from the North blowing in the mid-teens with gusts into the mid-twenties. Initially, we set the boat up to use the first reef - then, upon second thought, the second reef.

We backed out of the slip at 0932 and headed out into Long Island Sound. The crew was well bundled up. Going South past Duck Island with the breeze astern and the waves building, there was some discussion as to whether we really ought to sail at all. After all, we needed to turn the boat over to her new owners on Monday in full working order. Then one member of the crew piped up with the bright idea of just setting the working jib and reaching along the coast.

At 0950, we pointed Javelin West and unrolled the jib. Javelin shot off like a scared rabbit! We shut the engine down and feathered the prop, but our boat speed kept climbing as we trimmed the jib for the apparent wind angle and tensioned the backstay. She finally settled down at 8.5 knots in about 18 knots of breeze.

Each crew member had a turn at the helm. Gusts of wind in the mid-twenties crossed the deck and Javelin's speed surged over nine knots. Things were fairly comfy if you were sitting in the lee of the dodger, but standing at the helm with an apparent wind of thirty knots in your face with an air temperature of 41 degrees was bracing. Water temperature was 45 degrees.

We sailed West until 1030 when the skipper decided it was time to turn back. It was agreed that a jibe would be a safer turn than a tack, which would risk getting hung up in irons under the jib alone. The skipper took the helm and declared that we would jibe as soon as the wind eased off to 15 knots. Five minutes later, we were still awaiting a lull, as the breeze fluctuated between 20 and 25 knots from the starboard beam. Impatient as always, the skipper declared that the next time he saw 20 knots on the windspeed gauge, we would jibe. And so it came to pass that the crew executed a flawless jibe of the jib and Javelin headed back East. The breeze stayed in the twenties and Javelin flew, hitting over 9.5 knots several times.

Once we were South of Westbrook, we bore away to get the wind aft and rolled up the jib at 1130, started the engine, and were back in our slip in Westbrook by 1150. We secured the boat, put the sail cover on, and prepared for the final sandwich lunch below in the heated salon.

At 1305, the crew stepped ashore for the last time with great memories of an exhilarating last sail and wonderful recollections of twenty-six years of cruising and of the many other mates who have sailed with us and the many friends with whom we have rendezvoused along the way.

Two weeks later, on Sunday, April 14th, Steve helped the Grubman family move Javelin to her new home in Milford, CT. Below are 3 pictures from that sail from Westbrook to Milford. Departed Westbrook at 0934 under power into 15 knot westerlies. We passed south of Faulkner Island. By 1300 we were west of New Haven and the breeze had eased to 10 knots and gone slightly south of west. So we made sail and tacked the rest of the way to Milford, and were in Javelin's new slip at 1400. The pictures show the entire Grubman crew before we departed Westbrook, then the old and the new skippers, (SDB and Eric), and Javelin in her new slip in Milford.

And the response from Eric Grubman;

Hi Steve,
I wanted to share some pics from today. It was such a great adventure moving the boat. We had a fantastic day and we were all so happy that you were able to join us. And again, we appreciate all the time you have taken to share your knowledge and experience with us which has been so helpful. We have a lot to learn about the boat but are so glad you were with us to help! We are so lucky to have you at our side and that we have joined the Javelin family. We look forward to many more adventures with you!

Steph and Eric

Heading west ...	Jib only ...	Jess on lookout ...	Hank keeping warm ...
Steve is driving ...	24 knot winds ...	Flag is starched ...	Paul doesn't mind!
Steve confirms ...	9.5 knots jib only!	The Mighty Crew!	Lunch celebration.
Sayonara.	Grubman Family	Steve and Eric	Javelin's new home.