Feb 12, 2010 We tracked down Rick a few days ago as part of our effort to find out about the history of Fred Croft's Flipper, currently in Little Creek/Norfolk, Virginia making her way down the Atlantic Coast. Rick sold #41 to Fred in 2005 after 28 years. He bought her in 1977 from 2 couples who summered in Sorrento, Maine. At that time she was named Quartet.

We are waiting for some pictures of High Times but, pending their arrival we will use one of Flipper - here at Menemsha Pond on Martha Vineyard last summer. Following are Rick's emails edited/consolidated.

Hi Ron Flipper's first home was Sorrento, Maine. The first owners*** were Michael Huber from Philadelphia, his wife, and 2 others - and with 4 owners - naturally they named her Quartet! They sailed the Maine Coast for 2-3 weeks each year. "Quartet" was stored indoors. When Susie and I bought her for $3000 in 1977, she looked brand new. We named her High Times. I had never sailed before. In fact, I had given my wife "Chapmans Piloting and Seamanship" as her Valentines' Day present. Quartet came complete with everything...life preservers still in plastic wrap. The Arona engine started everytime! wop wop wop! ***Webmaster Note: we have since found out from Caroline Huber that the Hubers bought the boat from a neighbor in New Jersey, George Scott. George was the original owner.

We sailed in Frenchmans Bay. My wife Susie was pregnant so sometimes it was a short sail! After we had Matthew, (who, incidentally, is the current co-exec producer of 'The Deadliest Catch') we stuck him in the car seat and would keep him in the cockpit.

We moved to New Hampshire in 1981 and took the boat to Fay's Boat Yard in Guilford, NH. She was on Lake Winnipausaki for 20+ years moored off Welch Island (see arial view of the lake and the island) We sold her to Fred Croft in 2005 and the rest is history. The bronze centerboard was great. The sails were original. We had a #1, #2 and #3 genny and a working jib. The main sail would furl around the boom!  I am surprised and excited that someone would have the termerity to sail her down the Coast.

While I had the boat I painted the hull several times, and painted over the name on the transom. Fred named the boat Flipper.

In response to a question about what sailing on Lake Winnipausaki was like, Rick responded

Sailing on the Lake was ridiculous. The wind was always unpredictable and the waves on a bad day were super choppy. The fun part was jumping off the boat to swim and fishing as well. My 2 sons grew up sailing and are better men for it. One day, my neighbor on Welch Island called to see if I was sailing. It was almost hurricane winds. No, I was home in Durham. The boat had left the mooring and sailed itself into the rocks on the opposite side of the Lake (6 miles). Merrill Fay (Fay BoatYard) rescued her by getting several dinks and tieing lines and pulling her off. He commented that any other boat would have sunk, but "High Times", had nothing more than a good bottom sanding. Very Lucky.

Let me know if I can help with other questions.

Rick

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