Home	I36 Napa Cruise to Tim & Rhonda Shea's July 4th Weekend 2009

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

Maybe the last time's the best. Tim & Rhonda Shea once again invited the Islander fleet to their beautiful home in Napa, and welcomed them to tie up to their own 80' dock. The result was a perfect line up of 8 standard-rigged Islander 36's which were beautiful to photograph from every angle. While we may have had more boats, this was the first time we had identically rigged boats all tied to the dock - and the pictures show how great that was.

The weekend started out with the "Early Birds" flight to Vallejo Yacht Club on Thursday, July 2nd. Nine boats were represented, 5 floating there and four by car. Sure, we advertised a simple "potluck", but the real fun was the magic of Tom Newton on guitar & crew Mike's 6 string banjo guitar, and they even let old timer Rick strum a few 1960's songs on an old Martin guitar.

That was a really special and fun evening, then it grew as these boats headed up the Napa River to Tim & Rhonda's, and Brigid, Luna Sea & Kapai filled the ranks on Friday sailing up from San Francisco Bay. By mid afternoon all were tied safely to Tim's docks. In total we had 14 boats with 31 people participating.

While it might sound like "sailing up the river" is "no big deal", the rivers that flow into San Francisco Bay's waters are rife with shallow water, particularly given that the tide range at the Golden Gate is in the range of 6 - 8 feet. There's a rumor, fluffed by radio, that either Luna Sea or Kapai ran aground just short of the entrance to the residence channels - no one will ever know who was telling the truth!!! (But someone really did!)

There are lots of stories the pictures don't tell. Tim's "chauffeur service" into downtown Napa via their motor home in time for the Napa July 4th Parade at noon ranks right up there with God, Motherhood & Apple pie.

But the strings that wove into bonds started early and grew throughout the weekend. Food, yes, but things like Rhonda's BINGO game Friday night, and Tim's masterful presentation on the outdoor movie set of "Captain Ron" filled Friday evening --- well, we have to also give credit to Commodore Corky Stewart for mastering a new popcorn machine and filling paper cornucopia's as quickly as needed.

Once again Islanders had a great time. While the pictures may look like just party pictures, anyone who has sailed San Francisco Bay knows that, as much as careful navigation is needed on the way up these rivers, the ultimate challenge is the ride home. The river parts are mostly following the channel markers to the "T", but the enjoyment, or stress, of the return trip is trumped by the conditions of San Pablo Bay.

The typical wind is on the nose. The tidal current can be with you - an ebb - (and you think that it is good), or against you - a flood -(and you think that is bad.) However, with the wind building from the west, the thing you really don't want is an ebb because the wind against the water flow creates short, sharp standing waves that are not friendly to an Islander 36.

But, we digress on the technicalities, and the real fun is the way Islanders can get to a destination, raft up, chillout and buddy up for town explorations and evening meals.

If you've red this far you know the fun, so be sure to sign up for the Islander cruises to keep the spirit alive.

See you at the next one .....

Rick

Pictures by Rich Watters, Dan Knox & Rick Van Mell. Click on images to enlarge, click "Back" to return.

Vallejo YC entrance ...	Ophira's in.	Snowflower too	Ditto Tacoma Blue	Freedom Won dousing sail
Need a jacket?	No, I'm fine	Me too!	Checking in.	It's a straight ...
shot in ...	Hi John ...	Nanci's ready ...	toss!	Mission accomplished.
The Raft	Sitting pretty	Bell roped!	I'll double ...	That's what he said ...
Jack London's boat.	Old model boat ...	newer version ...	Opening Day	John & Sandy - happy,
Gary's missing ...	Pat.	Miss slice & dice	Happy crew ...	her too.
Ditto Takae, John & Nanci	Bill Pendola Lean Times	Noble & Barbara	Wise guys	Moon at 2nd spreader
Sandy plays what ...	now wait a minute ...	jam session ...	No Way!	Not watching
Ok, let try again ...	More like it ...	better still ...	(No solos!)	Yeah, right ...
back in gear ...	jammin' ...	they are with it!	Last song.	Dock walk ...
"Threesome"?	Lights out.	Friday morning ...	San Rafael Bridge ...	Brigid ahead ...
abeam ...	astern.	First Mate Myphi	Napa River	Kapai ...
looks great.	Nice straight wake	Brigid sails	Myphi hunts ...	Dan's turn.
Closing in.	Dockside.	Good line	Yea Tim!	Raft fills
John's ashore	Lunch time ...	here too.	Hi back!	It's here somewhere ...
find it?	MY lunch.	Corn Huskers	Great pool.	Famous burgees ...
famous swimmer? ...	no way ...	MY pool ...	I win!	Our Old Glory.
Dock chat	Tacked on.	It went like this ...	what you say? ...	Good eats ...
Yummo!	Dig in ...	deck side too.	Water babies	Bigger water babies.
Beautiful water babies!!!	Fine lines ...	beautiful bows.	Trim those suckers!	We'll discuss that.
Wind vanes	BINGO time ...	write 'em down ...	mark your cards ...	it looks like ...
we've got a winner!	Million dollar light ...	right down to ...	the water!	Say "Good Night" to ...
Tim & Rhonda's house.	Poof!	Saturday afternoon ...	life is easy.	Water games.
No worries	Good times	Tom & Katie	Neighborly chat	Back from shopping
Kids at play	Nibbles time ...	"you bet!"	I'll drink to that.	Serious talk
The Last Word.

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