Opening Day SF Bay - any Forumites on the watah?

[Thorne]

Just wondering if anyone here will be heading out on Sunday for the festivities? I'll probably launch again from Richmond Marina and see what things look like in Brickyard cove...

http://www.picya.org/News/Opening_Day/OD2005_logo.gif
"Opening Day on the Bay Sail
Dating back to 1917, Opening Day on the Bay celebrates the official opening day of the Northern Californian sailing season and involves over 150 boats heading across San Francisco Bay in parade formation."

[Les Schuldt]

Thorne,

I don't go to bars on St. Paddy's Day, and I don't go out on the Bay on Opening Day. Too many amateurs, drunks and fools pick Opening Day as the one time each year they leave the slip.

For some amusement, sit on the shore and listen to the mayday calls. Clogged fuel filters, dead engines, groundings, collisions. Yeah, lots of fun.

If you go out, stick to the shallow water where they can't get ya.

Les

[Thorne]

Far too much work to get to the Bay anyway (can't row that far yet), so maybe I'll just faff about in the Richmond Marina / Turning Basin / Brickyard Cove area and watch the frolics.

Anybody else risking life, limb and/or paint?

[Thorne]

Despite tupperware gin palaces roaring around the Richmond harbor, I had a lovely time on the water today.

Chatted with guys in two fiberglass rowboats -- one a Chamberlain Dory Skiff like mine but in 'glass by Geordie Nash, the other a whitehall. Started with a light wind and strong tide on the nose, so had to row out past the turning basin to the sandspit that runs from Brooks Island to the breakwater.

http://www.luckhardt.com/brooksisle1.jpg

http://www.luckhardt.com/brooks-tam.jpg

http://www.luckhardt.com/brooksisle4.jpg

The seagulls were nesting and quite excited by my visit, but I found a great seat with the usual zillion-dollar-view of SF == foggy and windy but still nice.

I've rigged a removable bowsprit for the very used jib ordered from Bacon Sails in Annapolis. With any luck it will help solve the weather helm issues...


http://www.luckhardt.com/brooksisle2.jpg

Since it was Opening Day after all, I flew my Union Jack just for the heck of it, but only while on the beach since this wasn't a reenactment.


http://www.luckhardt.com/CDSw-flag1.jpg

http://www.luckhardt.com/CDS-flag3.jpg

I had a cracking downwind sail back to the Marina docks and ramp -- cracked one of my belaying pins trying to furl the sail. Will rig one of those handy 'scandalizing lines' from the end of the spritboom to the top of the mast, allowing you to release the snotter and then roll the sail up around the spritboom and mast. Also managed to wind the mainsheet three times around the bowsprit, much to the amusement of the bystanders...
:D

[S/V Laura Ellen]

Nice photos, looked like a great day.

It's nice to see you are taking the right side on the reenactments.:)

[Thorne]

Down here that's usually the wrong side -- particularly at the Celtic Festivals -- but if ya don't have bad guys, who do all those Bravehearts have to wave swords at? To keep the "black hat" theme, we also do the Army of Parliament for English Civil War events...

;0 )

The most fun we have with the Union Jack is at Pyrate Faires -- where we show up ready to hang a few from the yardarm. Problem is, which of the 25 Cap'nJackSparrow clones to string up first???

[carlg]

Is Gordie Nash still building boats? My first shell was one of his Lightnings back in 1986. In spite of its short length it was pretty fast. I managed to finish among the leaders in the '91 or so Bridge to Bridge regatta.

[Thorne]

Don't think so -- this guy had picked up the boat used, probably built in the early 90's he said. A pity, as it is always nice to have local builders do so well with trad-style boats, even when they build in 'glass.

The guy said that he had heard that Gordie had taken a mold (or perhaps the lines?) from the Chamberlain dory skiff that was built by Thomas Plant as shown in Gardner's _The Dory Book_ -- but that might be just a 'nautical myth'.

[dmede]

Boat looks great Thorne. Wish I had been able to get out on the bay this weeekend, such great weather. Too many chores!

Is brooks island open for landing and walking around? Looks like a good spot for bayside picnic.

dave

[Thorne]

http://www.luckhardt.com/brooksisle4.jpg

The island has been closed for years -- don't know much about it or how it is patrolled. Owned by the Park Service, no plans to develop or open it as far as I know.

But the sandspit is nearly as nice, lots of room for picnics, hanging out, burying pets (!), and checking out the magnificent view.

;0 )

[Dick Wynne]

http://www.luckhardt.com/CDS-flag3.jpg

Now Thorne please don't take offence when I say you have the Union Flag upside down - the diagonal white cross of St Andrew should have its widest band uppermost at the side nearest the spar...like this:

http://www.royal.gov.uk/files/images/Monarchy5_D1_7_3_07.jpg

from the Queen's own website:

http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page398.asp

[Thorne]

How can I take offense when I've just been fully roasted for the same offense on the Sealed Knot website??

;0 )

Several excuses have been offered, amongst them being a clueless Colonial, being aground and signaling distress, and general gormlessness. It also means an Admiral aboard when flown from the mainmast.

Luckily we mostly do early period stuff and the St. George's cross doesn't suffer the same issues...

[adampet]

Just a quick wonder if you've seen the Beetle Cat that lives inside the breakwater by the RYC. It belongs to my sister-in-law. We delivered it from Cape Cod a few years back, but never had the chance to sail it.
If you do get close enough for a hail, send a hello from me.
Adam

[Thorne]

Nope, but I'll look for it next week.

Does she sail it out of there often? It is a wonderful port, as you can either sail or motor over to Angel Island, the City, or Sausalito in the am, and have a howler of a ride back in the afternoon.

I also met a gentleman in a nice 18' (or so) wood (looked like ply) Banks dory with an outboard in a well -- he stopped to see if I needed any help. Just because I was aground, ankle-deep in muck, and waving my rigging knife around a bit is no cause for concern, I explained.

;0 )

[donald branscom]

Despite tupperware gin palaces roaring around the Richmond harbor, I had a lovely time on the water today.

Chatted with guys in two fiberglass rowboats -- one a Chamberlain Dory.........
of the bystanders...
:D

How is gordie Nash these days Mr. Thorne?

[Thorne]

Well, dunno personally, but a few months ago there was an article in www.latitude38.com about how he's been modifying a stock FG sailboat into a more cutting-edge boat -- cutting off parts here and there, adding other parts, etc.

I'll guess he's long stopped building small trad-design FG boats, as the folks in the North Coast TSCA have been driving down here and buying all they can find, according to their great newsletter.