April 23/24, 2005 Encinal Yacht Club Cruise

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

Intrepid islanders braved wind, rain, lightning and cloud topull off yet another fine Islander rendezvous. Fifty-eight people represented 24 boats at Encinal Yacht Club for the triple delights of a Racing Rules Seminar, Discount Night at Svendsens, and a fine Italian Dinner and Dance.

A few even braver souls had ventured out on Friday evening, blown hither and yon by 30 knot southerlies, some driving rain and a few flashes of lightning. Ron & Karen Damsen's Woodbine and John, Nanci & Dennis Melton's Freedom Won anchored in the protection of Clipper Cove on Treasure Island for an evening potluck and planned quiet night. Rick & Sandy Van Mell, with Teak standing guard at the rail, sailed past on Vanishing Animal to say hello just before the rain hit, but then continued on to Encinal through the rain.

When the wind-hit-the-plan the "quiet night" was history. Freedom Won wound up anchoring separately, and maintained an anchor watch in the shifting winds all night.

Skipper & Nancy Wall had Snowflower already sung at Encinal and welcomed Rick & Sandy in time for a casual dinner at the club overlooking the harbor.

Saturday morning boats and cars began arriving at Encinal between light showers and a continuing cool southerly wind under cloudy skies. Since Sunday was Opening Day On The Bay, the docks were also lined with powerboats. there was a lot of good seamanship as the islanders backed in or turned around in close quarters to raft up bow out. Charles & Kathryn Hodgkins used the Encinal whaler as a tug boat to help pull bows around and get lines ashore. Not a scratch was made nor a voice raised. The full count looked like this:

Boat Name	Name	Dog
4R Sanity	McClellan, Roger & Linda
Blockbuster	Higdon, Jim & Bill
Diana	Zevanov, Lou & Diane, Steve, Gena & Taylor, Nick & Sam
Endeavor	Jacobs, Brian, Francine & David	Tillie
Evanescence	Stover, Smokey & Laurie
Freedom Won	Melton, John & Nanci & Dennis
Grumpy Dog	Newton, David & Tom
Kindred Spirits	Henderson, Don & Barbara
Lean Times	Shea, Tim & Rhonda & Ian
Midnight Sun	Szasz, Peter
Miss Kryptonite	Kent, Steve, Tammy, Paige & Rees
Mustang	Krensavage, Joseph, Mike Arraj, Bruce Vogen
Natural High	Bush, Dennis, Judy & Matt
Nimbus	Dickson, Mike & Daphne + Eleanor
Ophira	Salvo, Gary & Pat
Rachel Rose	Wilson, Don & Bev
Snowflower	Wall, Skipper & Nancy
Tenacious	Youngberg, Kris
True North	Lefmann, Neil, Cindy & Kelley
Vanishing Animal	Van Mell, Rick & Sandy	Teak
Wind Lock	Tryon, Mike & Janice
Windward	Koester, Tim & Meryl	Winnie
Woodbine	Damsen, Ron & Karen
Zenith	Fowler, Art & Betsy

US Sailing Chief Judge Tom Roberts started off the rules Seminar shortly after 1400 in meeting room on Encinal's lower deck. About 20 people had gathered and, under Tom's great leadership, joined in a lively discussion. Tom focused the session on the basics, skillfully summarizing on one page the rules when boats meet. Though the Rule Book is 151 pages, these basics are covered in just 6 pages - Part 2, When Boats Meet. You will find a picture of Tom's list below, and here is a link to a separate page with the list and a brief summary: Rule Summary. We all had so much fun, we spent the full two hours on starting line rules and the related obstruction rules which typically apply for starts at the Golden Gate and St. Francis Yacht Clubs. All agreed this was very worthwhile and should be continued in future years.

Our third annual Svendsen's Discount Night began right on time as over 40 people piled into cars at 1715. Sven himself was there to greet us, express his appreciation for the support of the Islander fleet, invite us to shop til we dropped, then lubricated the process with wine, cheese and assorted goodies. It sure seemed to work as beaming Islanders filled baskets and make piles on the counters. The line section faily hummed as cordage streamed off the reels - hey why not with a 40% discount! The pictures below atest to the piles and smiles. Of course, this being a boatyard, and with Art & Betsy Fowler's Zenith there for a little sprucing up, a few people just had to go over and check out the competition.

Somehow we stuffed both the people and goodies back into cars and returned safely to Encinal in time for a fine Italian Night buffet dinner. From the caesar salad and antiposto right through the choices of spicy chicken penne or vegetable sausage, and fruit, it was delicious. Add a trip or two back and forth to their very reasonably priced bar and the nectar of the gods helped finish off the meal.

Dinner was accompanied by mellow sounds of the crooners and big bands from the DJ set up with a dance floor in the middle of large dining room. When a few started dancing, he picked up the pace and many more joined the floor. Even the youngest Islanders, Ian Shea, and Paige and Rees Kent showed us they could make the moves. You should have seen their version of "YMCA"!

We lingered long on the balcony in the soft evening air catching up with old friends. Smokey invited a fiew die-hards back to Evanescence where a few more wine bottles were drained and then evening ended with a full moon poking through the clouds.

Sunday morning was a lazy start, with many having breakfast at Encinal, then getting under way between 1000 and 1200. Thanks Smokey & Laurie for organizing such a great weekend.

Pictures are compliments of Bill Higdon, Barb Henderson and Rick Van Mell & perhaps more to come. Click on images to enlarge, click "Back" to return.

Friday's southerly blow.	And getting black too!	Dredge & tug...	another waiting for containter ship.
Woodbine & Freedom Won...	at Clipper Cove.	Calm before the wind & rain.	All smiles - now.
Want an...	America's Cup boat?	Rough going into the Estuary.	Lots and lots of...
container ships.	Count em?!	This one is waiting...	for a berth.
Peter Szasz arrives Saturday	Karen, Linda & Rhonda...	that's better!	Traffic overhead!
Skipper Wall check out Tim Shea's...	new boat with Mike & Smokey	Laurie's got a present for Ian.	Ian hidden by present crowd.
Sheas and Don Henderson move to the grass	Nanci and John Melton on Freedom Won	Steve, Rees & Tammy Kent on Miss Kryptonite	Barb Henderson & Cindy Lefmann
Cool mid-day Saturday...	as the fleet gathered.	Burgees fill the air.	Nancy is ready for Svendsens.
Encinal was...	a terrific...	host club.	Tom Roberts kicks off Rules talk.
Lots of interest...	and participation...	even Eleanor!	The Rules
Here are the basics.	Good Tillie!	"Let's go to Svendsens!" says Ian	"OK," say Tim & Rhonda.
Tim & Meryl Koster arrive.	Don Henderson says, "Let's GO."	Laurie & Barb are dressed for shopping.	Come on!
Yes Rees, you can take your jacket off to shop.	Mike & Janice Tryon, Wind Lock .	"Whaddya mean, I can't go?"	Kris Youngberg measures Freedom Won
Sorry Winnie, Meryl & Tim are going without you.	Now we're...	packed in.	Going ashore.
All secure.	Power (boat) dog.	Sven Svendsen says, "Stop in & buy."	What a nice invitation.
Good advice.	Sven's welcome - "Shop til you drop!"	Svendsen's wine at last!!!	Fruit, veg & dip too.
Stuffed mushrooms.	Pat Salvo & Judy Bush munch.	Roger & Linda McClellan get fortified.	Let the shopping begin.
About thissssss long.	Got one that's ....	this long!	Paige shops for mom Tammy Kent.
85 years young - Bill Hodgon browses.	Neil and ...	Cindy Lefmann...	& daughter Kelley.
Rick Van Mell and Sven	Laurie Stover goes for clothes	Charles Hodgkins is into cans	Is Dennis getting blurry?
"Don't we need more?" says Lou to Diane.	John thinks he's now a Big Wheel.	"Is that the one you want Eleanor?" says Mike	One goodies basket.
"All mine," says Karen Damsen.	Daddy's turn to watch the kids!	Steve Zevanov's family.	The Old Guard - Peter, Dennis, Brian & Art.
Keep going Meryl.	Jim Higdon checks Art's prop on Zenith	Smoooooooooth.	6 am Monday splash for Zenith
Our shopping reward was sunshine.	Mighty pretty.	Oakland in the background.	Rees runs from Ian, Sandy, Teak & Paige.
Great chow says Tim Shea.	Gena & Steve Zevanov ...	Lou & Diane Zevanov flank new members Don & Bev Wilson (Rachel Rose)	David, Brian Jacobs & Dennis Bush.
Neil, Cindy & Kelley Lefmann.	Rees, Tammy, Paige & Steve Kent.	Kathryn & Charles Hodgkins.	Gary & Pat Salvo with Karen & Ron Damsen.
"I'll be your alarm," says Teak	Tim, Ian & Rhonda Shea with Smokey & Laurie Stover.	Commodore Mike Dickson, Eleanor & Daphne.	Barb Henderson, Nanci & John Melton & Sandy Van Mell
Betsy & Art Fowler	Nancy Wall, Mike & Janice Tryon (Wind Lock)	Skipper Wall, Linda & Roger McClellan.	Jim & Bill Higdon.
Smokey says thanks to Encinal.	Happy Birthday David!	Well done.	Our great DJ.
Great fun.	Everybody on the floor.	Swing 'an sway.	Rees & Paige swing
Art & Betsy Fowler	Rick & Sandy Van Mell	Rees likes the lights	Too much for some.
So the farmer said....	Oh, you're listening!	Best seats in the house.	A full moon; good night.

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