LUNCH AT THE ST FRANCIS YC, March 2006

[xroyal]

Frank, I can only say Gigantic and heavy! Think the wooden mast was about 75'. Recall one of the crew at the top of the mast when anchored at the club yodeling at the top his lungs on July 4th. Among the 3 of us trying to manhandle that wet sail was a big 300 lb crewmember, and it was all we could do to get it to the loft for drying.

The seawall at and adjacent to the club was a favorite place for hundreds of folks to enjoy such as the annual Big Boat series, usually held in Sept. When racing againist an incoming tide these maxis ( sometimes 70'ers) would hug the shore, giving us spectators a really up close and personal feel for the action onboard, maybe 15 crewmembers hustling with trimming, shifting weight and praying againist collisions in the Extremely close quarters. Their prayers failed them on a number of occasions. These events also let us see the famous race boats at the St Francis docks too, along with such classics as Humphrey Bogart's Santana.

Yep, the Bay area is a treat for sailors. Whether it's the ever present racing in every imaginable class, the annual Blessing of the Fleet off Tiburon, woody classics in the Master Mariners, anchoring and exploring Angel Island or just coasting in a gentle Sunday breeze.

Darn, I miss it!

P.S. If anyone wants to follow some exciting racing the Volvo Ocean Race around the world has been great winter fun. They've recently finished leg 4, 6800nm thru the Southern Ocean: Wellington, NZ>Cape Horn>Rio. Sunday April 2 they set off for about 5000nm to Baltimore, thence a leg to New York, then to Britain, around Britain, finally to finish in Sweden in June. This new class of Volvo 70s are the hotest stuff afloat for monohulls. Their boatspeed has been often at and sometimes above windspeed! They have a new hydraulic keel that has proved troublesome for some entries. Some boats were exceeding 500nm in 24 hour periods. Paul Cayard, skipper of Pirates, and John Kostecki of Ericcson are both Bay area standouts from the days I sailed there.

http://www.volvooceanrace.org/index.aspx?bhcp=1