Master Mariner's Annual Regatta

[BrianM]

MMBA Annual Regatta (http://www.mastermariners.org/regatta.htm)
Saturday, May 23, 2009 (http://www.mastermariners.org/regatta.htm)
San Francisco Bay
Post Race Party @ Encinal YC

Dee Dee Lozier


http://www.mastermariners.org/

[rbgarr]

The cutter Freelance used to belong to a boatyard owner here in Boothbay Harbor and was very well cared for. She went up for sale about fifteen years ago. I was in a position to buy her at a good price, Margaret was willing to go off sailing with the kids for an extended period but I hesitated and dithered about it too long... and she sold to a couple who took her south.

One of the biggest regrets of my life not acting on that impulse. Now she's one of the Master Mariners fleet on the Far Coast. If anyone gets a photo of her there please send it along. She's a husky strong beauty.

IIRC, Gielow designed, New York Yacht, Launch and Engine Co. built in 1935, but in great shape for seventy plus years old.

http://i43.tinypic.com/24lkj83.jpg

[BrianM]

Just about ready to go:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9db35b3127ccec74985e85d7400000040O00FZsWrly3Yg9 vPhw/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9db35b3127ccec74847257d9400000040O00FZsWrly3Yg9 vPhw/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


Regatta is this weekend. Just picked up all the docs and pennant for this years race. Nice short scenic course. I'm in Gaff-3, and they are starting us with all the really big schooners. I'll take plenty of photos of everyone else, can other race participants do the same in kind? I have few pics of MY boat sailing. Will post what I've shot on shutterfly.com next week.

See you all.

[Thorne]

I think the local TSCA plans on bringing out some small wooden boats to this event. They usually cram 'em into the slips with permission from the larger boats...

[BrianM]

Can't beat that "boat show" after the race...

[Ted Hoppe]

I will be skIpper of the black "rabbit" (Nichols Buccanner 28) for the Marconi 4 class in the MM as we are the first to go. I have a 12:05 start. You'll see me flying a black flag my young son made , with #8 & a sabered "B" insigna on the sail. We should see each other on legs 2, 3 & 5.

You should be near from time to time. I'll try to get some pictures of you and yours. Hopefully you will do the same for us.

Most of all... let's have fun. I consider this my kick off of a great summer. Yes, your right this is the best boat show - as it is suppose to be - wet, worn and well used!

[BrianM]

Hi Ted,

I'm in the Gaff-Three, or "G3" class. We are starting at 12:30, along with all the Bear Boats, and the M4s. My sail number is "G9" in huge Red Lettering.

Looking forward to it. Hopefully some of my crew own better cameras than my little digital "snapshot" unit.

Weather should be great.

[JC 72]

Thorne, Are you planning to attend this weekend withTSCA?

[Ted Hoppe]

Hi Ted,

I'm in the Gaff-Three, or "G3" class. We are starting at 12:30, along with all the Bear Boats, and the M4s. My sail number is "G9" in huge Red Lettering.

Looking forward to it. Hopefully some of my crew own better cameras than my little digital "snapshot" unit.

Weather should be great.

You got it!

My boat is filled with a mix of professional motion photogragher (me) and good semi pros... I plan on rigging some video if I get time off on Friday... Otherwise I've got folks to shoot high quality stills.

[zin49]

Hi Brian and Ted, I'm looking forward to seeing you on the water. Hopefully, I,ll get a chance to take some nice photos to share with you. I'll be on a Farallone Clipper #11. We're in the 02 class starting at 12:50. Should be a great day.

[Thorne]

Well, as is my fashion, I haven't committed to it yet -- still negotiating with SWIMBO about this weekend.

But I suspect I may try it, depending on the weather and winds we may expect on the trip back to Saucy-Lito...


Thorne, Are you planning to attend this weekend withTSCA?

[JC 72]

Yes, I have work on Saturday, so I'll content myself with some boat work in the evening. I'm drawing the pattern for the swivel gun mounts tonight. Saturday night may be floors patterns.

[Thorne]

Let me correct that info -- the TSCA will be joining the Master Mariners Wooden Boat Show -- NOT the Regatta this weekend. And the boat show is June 21 -- we'll all be busy hangin' Pyrates in Vallejo.

Oh well...

[BrianM]

Whoops... forgot one big element... the weather. I moved the boat today to avoid a negative 1.2 low tide tomorrow morning before the race, where I'd literally be stuck up the creek if I didn't. Had to travel 3 miles south, into a 4' chop with guest up to 32knots. We got pretty darn wet, and Spray's bottom is clean as a whistle now... Tomorrow is supposed to be worse.

Check it out:

http://sfports.wr.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/wind/windbin.cgi

With a 25' waterline, I'm making the call not to race. Wind is supposed to pickup to 25knots plus pretty well at the start and only get worse. Old wooden boats don't need that kind of strain and I don't feel great about risking our safety.

Oh well, we'll have a relaxing sail tomorrow morning before the wind picks up and return the boat to her sheltered berth.

Good luck to the rest....

[zin49]

Food for thought

[Thorne]

Ain't summer weather on the Bay lovely? Cold, foggy and blowin' like snot off the water here in Richmond -- and still before 9am.

[BobW]

...and it isn't even summer yet...

http://windandtides.com/

[Roddy B]

I've posted photos from yesterday's Master Mariners Regatta at http://blog.spauldingcenter.org and via Twitter at @woodenboat.

I was on the race committee boat. Great day!

Rod

[rbgarr]

500+ photos here: http://www.pbase.com/meyesphoto/mmba_09&page=all

[Ted Hoppe]

500+ photos here: http://www.pbase.com/meyesphoto/mmba_09&page=all

She missed me for the second year in a row!

The good news... Even with food poisoning and a crew member that delayed my line start for 17 minutes - I managed a third in my class!
My wife says, "This is like your Christmas!" I can only agree with that.
As we walked around the beautiful baots after the regatta, I heard her say "I am proud of Ted and our boat!" Wow! - I thought "I just won a first."

[BrianM]

Wow,

Sounds like it was a perfect day. I'm sorry I didn't run my boat, had a last minute shake in confidence and took the "conservative" route. Next time I'm calling the race committee to get the skinny first hand. All the forecasts I read said gusts up to 33Knots. The water looked almost flat in the photos I saw.

Well, I'll see you all at the boat show in June, still won't be as much fun as the Regatta... sniff.....

[Bob Cleek]

http://i.pbase.com/g1/60/703660/2/112926100.Cvgow0f1.jpg

One man's "perfect day..." is another man's "some other day."

Discretion is the better part of valor... always. You made the right call, Brian.

[BrianM]

.......As we walked around the beautiful boats after the regatta, I heard her say "I am proud of Ted and our boat!" Wow! - I thought "I just won a first."

Ted.. you da man! That's what I call a meaningful lifetime accomplishment! Of course I'll be quizzing you on what methods you employed to bring the wife around....

[BrianM]

http://i.pbase.com/g1/60/703660/2/112926100.Cvgow0f1.jpg

One man's "perfect day..." is another man's "some other day."

Discretion is the better part of valor... always. You made the right call, Brian.


Armchair quarterbacking is always so satisfying, especially after the fact.

Anyhow, "Spray" did well in her "Stress Test" no??? Leaving the old frames in place and adding full length sisters certainly made her heavier, but I sure liked the way she busted her way through without a hiccup (fingers crossed).

[Ted Hoppe]

Brian,

I am sorry to hear you pulled out. I can completely understand your concerns. Only you know what is pushing your boat too far or too much would be. Safety first is a skippers first concern. I hope to see you at Sausalito in June. I would be glad to meet the man who keeps such a beautiful craft.

In regards to making choices...The bay is a very challanging place. What we saw out there on Saturday was solid winds, a few whitecaps and some decent chop. Seeing your beautiful girl, I can only imagine the pull back you may have felt. Can I ask what sails you have in inventory and how much recent sail time you have on her?

streching your sea legs, running the rails and hearing your boat talk - leads to a more personal and passionate relationship. a while back, a good freind and long time wooden boat owner told me... "Anything on a wooden boat that breaks can be repaired, fixed or improved. The rest is paint, varish or wax. It is in the fixing that both of you respect each other."

BTW on the way to Sausalito next month, perhaps I can take pictures of your boat underway... So you know what she looks like underway under sail!

[Bob Cleek]

I guess some 'bot "x'd" that picture, but if you look at them all, and consider the sizes of the boats in the pictures, it wasn't any mill pond out there, that's for sure. Just note that EVERYBODY is wearing every shred of foul weather gear they can put on... what's that tell you? Heh, heh, heh... They just SAID it was fun after the fact.