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All Islander Rendezvous & Fun Race
September 17-19, 2010

(If you like, you can skip down through the prose and go straight to the pictures below!)

Lots of fog out on the Main Bay hampered St. Francis Yacht Club's historic Big Boat Series, but the sun shone in the South Bay and Alameda for the 4th All Islander Rendezvous. Broken stratus even provided some dramatic backgrounds for pictures.

17 boats were represented by Friday evening, 13 by boat and 4 more by car. David Chiodo with his Freeport 36 Finally arrived on Thursday, then early birds Mischief & Zenith slipped over from their Marina Village slips Friday morning. Then Snowflower and Mas Tiempo tucked in on the east dock before Vanishing Animal took the west corner at noon. Others filtered in during the afternoon, with Luna Sea coming in from a day of sailing later.

By the end of the weekend we had 18 boats show up, plus 13 by car, and our 7 Sharing Information for a total of 38 boats represented. Only 4 boats who said they were coming didn't make it.

We had 6 different kinds of Islanders represented: I-28, I-29, I-30, I-36, Freeport 36, and I-40, plus, from past Islander owner Tim & Rhonda Shea, a Jenneau 45, and, you could double count Captain Zen (GD French) who had just sold his I-29 and bought a catamaran.

Here's the full list of who was planning to attend - it's updated with those that actually made it. Brown cells are boats or people that intended to come but didn't make it, or came a different way.

Plan Actual
By Boat:   22 18
By Car:   15 13
Info Sharing:   7 7
Total:   42 38
BY Boat Type Owner/Crew/Guest
1 Boat !Andale! I-30 Chris Conner
2 Boat Aldebran I-36 Mark & Karen Brunelle
3 Boat Brigid I-36 Corky & Anna Stewart
4 Boat Califia I-36 Tim, Franziska & Carl Bussiek
Dirk Michels, Claas Heise
Joerg Rohde
5 Boat Finally I-36 David Chiodo + Drea, Sue & Vicki
6 Boat Freedom Won I-36 John & Nanci Melton
7 Boat Island Girl I-36 Frank Burkhart & Lynn Langford
+ Will & Luc
8 Boat Luna Sea I-36 Dan Knox & Myphi Alloy
9 Boat Mai Pen Rai I-36 Noble & Barbara Brown
10 Boat Mas Tiempo I-30 David & Jamie Cowell
11 Boat Mischief I-36 Charles Hodgkins &Kathryn Munn
12 Car Nantucket I-36 Richard & Gina Doyle
13 Boat Pacific High I-36 Harry Farrell & Carol Williams
Carol Williams & Matt George
14 Boat Paradesia I-40 Rick Vulliet
15 Boat Snowflower I-36 Skipper & Nancy Wall
16 Boat Tacoma Blue I-36 Rich & Takae Watters
17 Boat The Irish Rogue I-36 Gary Connors & Lori
18 Boat Vanishing Animal I-36 Rick & Sandy Van Mell
19 Car White Horses I-36 Rob Blenderman & Ruby Wallis
20 Boat Woodbine I-36 Ron & Karen Damsen
21 Boat Zen I-29 Captn Zen & Chie (French)
22 Boat Zenith I-36 Art & Betsy Fowler
         
         
1 Car Captain Hooke I-36 Tom & David Newton
2 Car Cheetah I-36 Brian Arthurs
3 Car Diana I-36 Lou & Diane Zevanov
4 Car Et Ux I-28 Tom & Janet Fenker
5 Car Laughing Matter I-36 Michael Daley & Karen Swezey
6 Car Ophira I-36 Gary & Pat Salvo
7 Car Pegasus I-36 Robert Aston & Mary Gleim
8 Car Serenity I-36 Eric Mueller
Roger Anderson
9 Car Some Day I-36 Roy Samuelson
10 Car Zingara I-36 Steve & Jocelyn Swanson
11 Car Surprise I-28 Fred Kamp
12 Car "Misfit" Cat Fred & Barbara Cucksey
13 Car Cassiopeia I-36 Cassiopeia
         
         
1 Info Because J-45 Tim & Rhonda Shea
2 Info Califia I-30 Pandora Nash-Karner
3 Info Exit Strategy I-36 Bill & Terry Ray
4 Info Island Fever I-36 Joseph Acquaviva
5 Info Kindred Spirits I-36 Don & Barbara Henderson
6 Info True North F-36 Neil & Cindy Lefmann
7 Info Woden I-36 Bob Knickerbocker
8        
9        
10        


Afternoon arrivals demonstrated the now almost standard Islander skill of rafting up Med Mooring style in parallel, with sterns to the dock. The technique is to bring your bow around to the bow of the boat you are going to raft alongside, pass the bow line across, then hand a long stern line across to pull the stern around. With willing hands, it all went off with not a raised voice or a scratch anywhere.

Friday afternoon saw the usual dockside visits, a few nibbles and beverages too. Captn Zen (GD French) arrived with a transformed Zen - from an Islander 29 into a catamaran - still flying his I-36 burgee, and rafted up with Tacoma Blue and Finally. All agreed they were the winning Friday party raft - complete with Dave's twin friends Drea & Sue Sweetman, a big cockpit and plates of shrimp. Nicely done. Of course, if Luna Sea and her crew of six had arrived in time to join that raft, the party might never have ended!

Good eats awaited at Oakland Yacht Club, and the crowd migrated down the waterfront to OYC around 1800. Elaine Mendes, Food & Beverage Manager for OYC had a great spread of cheese and crackers to go with ample libations from the bar. A full and friendly crowd of OYC members made it all one giant party. We were welcomed by OYC Commodore Len Cardoza -- a past Islander owner no less! Our Vice Commodore, Robert Aston, returned the favor and expressed our continuing appreciation for the support of the Oakland Yacht Club.

It was a warm and quiet Friday night as the fleet turned in.

Saturday morning dawned damp with periods of sun & drizzle.

But slowly, the day improved. More Islanders arrived and got tied up. Califia, Island Girl, & Paradesia all arrived safe and sound. there were projects to do, boats to visit and questions to ask and get answered.

It must have been the luck of The Irish Rogue, or something, but as Fun Race time approached, there were patches of blue. By the time the Skippers Meeting was held on the dock - and finding berths for everyone who wanted to sail - there was serious sunshine around!

We had four great boats competing. Past Commodore, and fleet 3rd/4th place competitor Harry Farrell with Pacific High stepped up to represent the racing fleet. New I-36s The Irish Rogue and Califia joined the party. And, all the way from Stockton, Dave Cowell brought Mas Tiempo, an I-30, to compete.

Everyone who wanted to crew got aboard a boat. That included Brian Arthurs (I-36 Cheetah) from the Canadian Rendezvous, and I-28 owners from Santa Cruz Tom & Janet Fenker (Et Ux) aboard Pacific High, David Chiodo (F-36 Finally) on Mas Tiempo, Michael Daley (I-36 Laughing Matter) aboard Califia, and John Melton (I-36 Freedom Won) and Fred Kamp (I-28 Surprise) aboard The Irish Rogue.

With the sun breaking out, dedicated Islanders on the end of the dock to start the race, and Robert Aston and Captain Zen taking pictures, it was time to get under way. Pat Salvo was our one-and-only Race Committee. Maybe that's why there were innuendos, snide remarks, accusations, and even down right charges that Pat stole one whole minute from the starting sequence. None-the-less, in the spirit of the Fun Race, protest flags were only flown at the bar and the race got under way at 1510 (or maybe 1509.).

Mas Tiempo was headed in the right direction and poured on the steam. She sailed off with a great puff of wind and lead the fleet down the course. Pacific High was about a minute behind, then Califia, and The Irish Rogue.

It turned in to two separate races - Pacific High was chasing down Mas Tiempo, and Califia and The Irish Rogue had their own match race. Pacific High finally caught Mas Tiempo just before the weather mark and sailed off down wind. The Irish Rogue rounded just behind Califia and slowly ground them down, sitting on their wind whenever they could.

We shortened the course to once around to keep the finish from being after 1700 (cutting into celebration time!), and Harry finished first, but Mas Tiempo saved her time and corrected into first place, 24 seconds ahead of Pacific High. In a wonderful duel, The Irish Rogue slowly passed Califia before the leeward mark, then covered and held on to take third place.

Many thanks to Pat Salvo for being Race Committee, and to Charles Hodgkins for being the Mark Boat and ferry for photographer Rick around the course. Everyone was happy to raft up again and tell stories of why they woulda -shoulda-coulda won! The crews were probably even more excited than the skippers!

But it was time to adjourn to the great new upper deck bar at Encinal - the stern of a fine power boat. Nibbles abounded, including Rick Vulliet's vodka marinated artichokes and a whole raft of cheeses, crackers and dips. The crowd also enjoyed watching I-36 Master Chefs Corky Stewart, John Melton and Brian Arthurs perfectly flip burgers and chicken on the big BBQ down below.

By 1830 it was time to serve and the gang trooped downstairs to the Regatta Room for dinner. Sandy had scattered fall leaves across the tables, replete with a bottle of red and white wine on each table, the poster board of all those arriving by car and sharing their information, and Pandora's great collection of all of the Canadian and Bay Area All Islander logos.


Commodore Michele Williams welcomed all to our event, then let Rick reveal the winners of the Fun Race. The traditional All Islander cake finished off the meal, and it was time to call it a night.

The forecasted Sunday rain held off, and two dozen Islanders enjoyed breakfast at Oakland YC before heading home. A few got lightly washed by showers, but many got home all dry.

To all those who came, thanks for coming - it was a blast. To all those who wished they had come - maybe next year.

Pictures, so far, by Robert Aston, Captain Zen, Betsy Fowler & Rick Van Mell. Click on images to enlarge, click "Back" to return.

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Come & Get It!
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Lots of tags ...
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Info sheets ...
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and packages.
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No big deal.
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Heading for Encinal
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Sierra Point astern.
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Hunters Point ahead ...
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Candlestick Park abeam
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Nice crane
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Lots of big stuff ...
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up close.
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Hawaii bound ...
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city fog ...
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Fully loaded
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Bow on
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Submarine?
no, tug & barge
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Another one ...
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here too & ...
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looong.
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This one ...
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is useful.
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Getting lighter ...
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block light ...
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AT&T Park
(S.F. Giants)
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New bridge
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Lots of containers ...
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packed tight.
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Low & listing?
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I like this!
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First in ...
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Mas Tiempo
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Snowflower
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Zenith
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Not vanished ...
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right here!
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Tacoma Blue & Finally
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Hi VC Robert ...
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and PC Art.
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Nice shirt!
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Barbara & Noble
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The new Zen
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Fun crew
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Takae & Chie
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Here comes ...
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Luna Sea ...
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lines across ...
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almost there ...
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how many people ...
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to tie up?!
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Made it.
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All secure.
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Here's Brigid ...
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backing in.
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Happy hour ...
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here too ...
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Karen's ready ...
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Signs galore ...
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match the transom
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next ...
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Pretty picture
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Party time ...
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Dave, Drea, Sue & Dave
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Party raft!
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Chie & Captn Zen
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Good reflections
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Headed for dinner
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time to go ...
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The fleet is ...
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tucked in.
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Friday evening at Encinal
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Relased ...
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happy ...
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all smiles ...
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you blinked!
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more smiles.
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Ready for us
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Robert, Art, Betsy,
Nancy & Skipper
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Kathryn too
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Rich, Takae, Chie, C. Zen
Noble, Barbara & Kathryn
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The Luna Sea crew
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Heading home.
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Eric & Fred
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Paradesia ...
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owner Rick
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Lined up
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Flags fly
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Nice bows
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Crutches Gary
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Brian clicks
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Quiet morning
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Renee & Ben Vanderheiden
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Race protection
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Pacific High
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Mas Tiempo
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The Irish Rogue
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Califia
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Overhead camera?
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Where's the race?
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Califia's hot
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Mas Tiempo
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Pacific High
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Where's the wind?
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Circling ...
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timing ...
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They're off!
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And flying
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Getting serious
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Harry too ...
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then Gary.
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Away they go.
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Concentration
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M.T. is chased by ...
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Harry
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Weather mark approach
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Heading downwind
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Ready about ...
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here we come ...
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rounding ...
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easing off.
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Next around is ...
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the Irish rogues ...
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so there!
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Wing & wing ...
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smile ...
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Michael's hard at work.
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Meanwhile ...
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the chase is on.
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Picture time ...
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smile.
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Dave & Dave
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Hapopy P.H. crew ...
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working hard.
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Harry leads
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The Battle
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P.H. beats to finish
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ditto Mas Tiempo
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Close astern
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Concentration.
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Pacific High finish
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Mas Tiempo finish
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Gary covers ...
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finishes 3rd
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Califia finish.
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Mark boat man ...
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Charles Hodgkins.
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John's happy
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Fred too
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Hi Mary
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Island Girl ...
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Hi Frank ...
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looks good ...
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backing in ...
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crowd awaits ...
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almost there.
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The fleet is in!
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Good eats
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Karen & Barbara
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Rick & Karen
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going fast
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Race Tales
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Relaxed
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Richard, Gina & Nanci
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Master Chefs
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Master eaters!
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Table 1
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Table 2
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Table 3
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Table 4
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Table 5
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Team Serenity
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The Cake!
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Land Yachts
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Pandora's Logos
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Kathryn's present to
Rick & Sandy
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Mostly gone Sunday



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