Home	South Beach Cruise & 1st Season's Championship Race & Giants / Athletics Game June 12 - 14, 2009

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

Plenty of wind and partly cloudy skies greeted the Islanders sailing to South Beach Harbor for the 2nd annual cruise and Giants / Athletics game at AT&T Park. Harry Farrell reported gusts in the 30 knot range aboard Pacific High. Both Harry and Tim & Rhonda Shea had to battle strong gusts to stay off the wall while approaching the slips on A Dock. But all arrived safe and sound for a great Friday evening.

12 boats made for a great group, with Ophira and Woodbine among the early arrivals. Then Natural High, Vanishing Animal, and Orion arriving together about 1630. Close behind were Freedom Won, Pacific High, Luna Sea, Brigid and the (overgrown) Because. Rounding up the evening were Tacoma Blue and 4 R Sanity. By the end of the race on Saturday, Zenith and Dream Catcher had showed up, and Windwalker picked up a slip too. That brought our Islander fleet to a total of 15.

Once all were tied up and registered, we gathered aboard Because -- all 22 of us. The cockpit table was piled high, and, later, some main course dishes were available below. Great conversations despite the cool breeze. Thanks to Dan Knox for organizing it and arranging for the bulk of the fleet to be all together at the end of A Dock.

With the Giants winning the Friday night opener of the Bay Bridge series 3 - 0, Dan was very happy. All hands turned in early, ready for a full Saturday.

Saturday dawned with broken rather than solid clouds, and it was relatively warm - nearly 60. What better place to have breakfast than the world renowned Java House at Pier 40 - which is where we were. It's the oldest continuous eatery in San Francisco (so it claims), have been in business since 1912, serving waterfront denizens good, simple breakfasts and lunches all that time. The crews of Vanishing Animal, Luna Sea, Brigid, Natural High, Ophira and Dream Catcher all can attest it's still doing a fine job.

Some headed off for hikes and San Francisco sights, like the Farmers Market at the Ferry Building or Japan Town. Others did chores and got ready for the first race of the Season's Championship starting right from McCovey Cove thanks to Emmanuel and the great gang at South Beach Yacht Club. Dan Knox, organizer for the whole event, even managed to arrange for reduced day parking for crew members wanting to get aboard right here at Pier 40.

Seven boats lined up for the race, testing the light airs of McCovey Cove a half hour before the start. Even with that, the fleet was scattered when the gun finally went off. Zingara, Tenacious and Orion were the first group across, followed by Pacific High and Luna Sea, with Windwalker and Captain Hooke in an unusual late last place start. The course was basically a easterly leeward, 1/2 windward, 1/2 leeward, and windward back to McCovey Cove for the finish - a total of 6.7 miles. All with a 1-2 knot flood tide crossing the course from north to south. With the fleet beating back west toward the mid-bay turning buoy, an very big, nervous tanker blew 5 blasts, but all turned easily to the east of it.

Tenacious looked to have a good lead, but on the last beat, Pacific High and Luna Sea held north on the east side of the Bay in less current, then got both a big shove south and a lift coming west to finish first & second, with Tenacious in third, followed by Windwalker and Captain Hooke, and Zingara and Orion. Dan was ecstatic to be in second place for the Season Championship - with much merriment when the boats returned to A Dock. Harry & Dan even found bottles of champagne to share!

Here's the famous Hooke's Log version of the race: "Race 1. South Bay. Off-the-wind start in McCovey Cove, motors allowed until one minute before the start. Wind WSW at 13 kt. in a building flood.

In McCovey Cove we circle around an anchored powerboat and dodge kayaks. There are seven Islanders maneuvering in these close quarters: Orion, Zingara, Windwalker, Luna Sea, Pacific High and Tenacious. Four minutes before the start the Hooke crew panics after finding a sheared cotter pin, a missing clevis pin and a flopping upper shroud. Yipes!

Somehow we all start without incident. Tenacious has the lead. Hooke is last behind Windwalker. As we struggle to get out of the cove, Windwalker sails into the big-hole-by-the-big-ship. We slowly smirk by them. We manage to round the low mark fourth, behind Tenacious, Windwalker and Pacific High.

We do well going to weather and the three leaders tack to the south side of the course; we continue on port tack, heading north like the well known lore of the south bay says to do in a flood, but when we meet at the high mark we have lost ground. Going north did not pay off! Back down to the Alameda side and we just squeak ahead of Pacific High at the last mark and round in third place.

Just two boats left to catch and a long leg back to McCovey cove for the finish. We are about ten boat lengths behind Tenacious and Windwalker. They go onto starboard tack again to play the south side and this time we have to follow, our hopes high that we can catch them and win. The other boats are too far behind to worry about.

We just have to catch the leaders and we're gaining. At the end of the leg, we finally overtake Windwalker. Only Tenacious stands in our way from receiving the magnificent glory of a triumphant come-from-behind victory. And, we have good position. The others are basically out of the picture as we focus on getting on top of Tenacious. We are nearing the finish line. The sky clears and rays of warm sunshine flood down on Hooke.

Do you believe in destiny? Do you believe in karma?

By the time we realized the warm temperature was simply because the wind had stopped, it was too late. We had sailed into the big-hole-by-the-big-ship. Tenacious and Windwalker skirt the edge of the wind line and we watch them sail off toward the finish line. We are trapped. We are moving at the same speed forward as the current is moving against us. We are held perfectly still in the water, as if a giant invisible hand had reached down through the clouds and was holding us perfectly still, forcing us to watch as our competitors sail away to the finish line. Excruciating.

Torture turns to irony as we notice, far in the distance, several other Islanders motoring out from the finish area. "I think that's Pacific High. And there's Luna Sea too." What's going on here? They finish first and second! Impossible! I hear a faint high pitched cackling in the distance. (expletives deleted go here)

And so it was on this fine June day, Pacific High and Luna Sea kept on port tack after the last low mark, heading north in the flood, and popped the finish line on a single tack. Pacific High gets the first, Luna Sea second, Tenacious third, Windwalker fourth, Hooke fifth with our two new racers Zangara and Orion close behind.

It was a great race, a classic; some might say a comeuppance. But remember, revenge is a dish best served with salt. Congratulations to all the competitors and special thanks to the South Beach Yacht Club for hoisting this race on short notice."

A lost sea lion pup had been trying to get up on the docks for a while and finally landed on the swim deck of a power boat at the end tie -- right where we were enjoying cocktails & dinner. A gal from the Marine Mammal Rescue Center arrived with a net and crate, and after a bit of vocal discussion and avoidance, said sea lion was carted and ready for travel to the safety of the their Marin Headlands center.

The Association continued it's tradition of donating to yacht clubs that make an effort to host us. South Beach Yacht Club is a great supporter of the I-36 Association, and Vice Commodore MIchele Williams presented a check to their Vice Commodore to support their Junior Program.

Then it was game time. About forty of us trooped over to AT&T Park and made our way to Section 103 down the right field line. Though it was almost to the wall, the view of the pitcher's mound and home plate were great. Thanks Dan Knox for getting us this great block of seats. Foul balls landed near by, but none close enough for us to catch, though the fans in front of us had their gloves with them! Giant's fan Dan was delighted as they jumped off to a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a homer with one man on. Corky was happy when the Athletics tied it with runs in the 3rd and 4th. The Big Unit, pitcher Randy Johnson, was going for his 301 career win, and in the bottom of the 7th, the Giants picked up three runs to make it 5-2. There it stayed for the rest of the game, though both teams had runners on in the 8th and 9th. A win for the Giants really completed Dan's day!!!

Lights sparkled and masts reflected stadium lights as we made our way back to the boats. Teak & Tucker got there late evening walks. It was time for a good night's sleep, then head for home on Sunday morning. A truly special, cruise, race and ball game. It doesn't get much better than that.

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

Freedom Won is ...	hoisting burgee ...	looks great ...	go John!	Natural High
Because looking forward ...	and aft.	Friday afternoon	Woodbine arrives	Let's go cruising!
I agree says ...	Tucker.	Islanders gather ...	at the end of A Dock ...	all lined up.
Tim's still with us.	We're ready ...	getting started ...	Pat's got goodies ...	so does Judy ...
Corky too.	Vanishing Animal crew ...	look happy ...	both sides.	Party Because ...
crowd aboard ...	usual goodies ...	bring smiles ...	Brandt sisters	Corky & Judy
Carol, Harry & Dennis	Pat & Gary	Nanci & Rhonda	Nice glass	tasty veg ...
gobbled up.	Down below ...	toatal is 22!	Main course	Thanks Tim & Rhonda!
Giants win Friday!	South Beach Marina ...	Saturday morning	Time to watch ...	Pacific High head ...
for racing.	Windwalker waits for crew	Ditto Zingara	Harry's under sail	Zingara in McCovey Cove
Harry's practicing	BAADS little boat	BAADS big boat Orion	Happy crew	Windwalker
Luna Sea	Captain Hooke ...	slowed down	Getting in position	Tenacious just makes it
Light air	This was the start??!!!!	Z & T head north	L & PH go east	Mid-course block

Race Start

RocketBoat ...	peels away.	PH approaches finish ...	Harry's happy ...	One tack and ...
1st Place!	Squeezing in is ...	Luna Sea 2nd	Tenacious 3rd	Windwalker 4th
Captain Hooke 5th	Zingara 6th	and looking good ...	Orion 7th.	AT&T Park, home of the ...
San Francisco Giants	with glove ...	and Coke!	Flags guard ...	McCovey Cove
Marina Gate	Bonds 756th!	Little sea lion ...	lost it's way, now ...	it's headed for the ...
Marine Mammal Center ..	nap time.	Cheryl & Vern	Art & Roger	Corky & Ron
Dockside dining ...	well along.	Good eats.	#1 & #2 Celebrate!	I'll have some
I-36 Gift to SBYC	zingara crew	Ferry to the game ...	Announcements time ...	Right field line
Things go better ...	with Diamonds?	Lots of fans	Introducing 1989 team ...	lining up.
Last 1989 walk-on	Team assembled	Dan the Man!	Pacific High crew	Rich & Takae
John & Nanci & friend	Rick!!!	It's the Bay Bridge Series!	Happy camper	Pat & Gary
Linda & Roger	Ron & Karen	Art, Betsy, Pat & Gary	Our gang ...	gets seated and ...
comfortable.	Broadcast time	Announcer for ...	National anthem	Picture time
The real thing.	The Big Unit ...	takes aim at ...	the opposition A's.	Judy & Dennis approve
Lights come on ...	as sun sets.	Brighter now.	Going, going, gone!	they like the score ...
here too.	Says it all!	Dusky bottle ...	entrances Ian & Tim.	Wow!
Not impressed.	Closing innings.	We win!	Impressionist bridge ...	McCovey Cove ...
rafters!!!	Good night all!

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