Oakland YC Report   by Bill Lewis

A very successful cruise-in. One of the best this year. We had six boats,19 people and 2 dogs on August 4th. A lovely weekend, to boot! The winds were adequate for beating over from Ballena Bay and heading down the estuary. We took our time as the weather was so nice. We had a nice crew complement. Chris, Aaron my son, Sarah, my son granddaughter, Phaedra-our Saluki and a friend all made the trip. We had hoped to rendezvous with Force Majeure or Bonnie Breeze at the mouth of the estuary. We did see an E-27 after we had started down the estuary, so we turned around to meet them, but it wasn't one of our fleet.

As we passed the Oakland YC marina, we furled our jib (ahhh) and started to look for our slip. We were hailed by host Wilkes Joy jumping up and down and waving his arms, so we headed in and , with his and Terry Owen's kind help, we glided into our slip very nicely, if you please! Phaedra made a bee-line for the gate and a patch of grass, while we put the boat away and then headed for an arrival drink.

There are lots of places to walk a dog around the OYC. We were advised about a public access behind Encinal YC which is very pretty and has a great view of the passing boats.We explored the area and then wandered over for cocktail hour. 

When we arrived at the YC, Ann Joy had prepared a lovely snack arrangement with roll-ups and veggies. The pre-dinner hour passed rapidly and soon it was time to eat. The dinner choices included; lamb chops, duck l'orange, prime rib and filet mignon complemented by a well-stocked salad bar and several dessert choices. Joining us at dinner were Steve Wilson, Dimitri & Radka Demushkin, Hugh & Joanne Linn, Terry & Shari Owen and long missing David & Roberta Johnson plus numerous guests.

After a great dinner, we joined the Linns and walked our dogs until about 9:00. The docks were quiet and a good night's sleep ensued.

Next morning, we lazily slept in (granddaughter's first night on the boat) until 8:45 and decided to forego the world-famous Sunday brunch at the club. The wind was building and there was only a slight flood. We emerged from the estuary and headed South, now on the current and had a smooth, swift broad reach back to Ballena Bay.

The Oakland venue is one of our favorites for the hospitality, food, dog-friendliness and picturesque surroundings. Much appreciation to Wilkes and Ann and to the Oakland Yacht Club for hosting us so admirably.

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Tides and Currents...

Alas, alas - it has come to pass that Pagan Baby was sold last month by B.J. and Amy Blackburn. At last telling, they were going to wait a season and then look for a larger vessel to bring on future cruises. They are lobbying for the new owner to join our Fleet.

Did you know?

There is a live camera pointed at Ayala Cove sending pictures on the web. See it at www.angelisland.org/angelcam/cove.htm. That way you can see how crowded it is at the cove.

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Doin' the Delta by Eric Quamen

Oh, boy, it's that time of year again! Time to lock up the house, pack the boat to the gills, and head up river. I'm talking about our annual pilgrimage to the brown waters of the Delta for a fortnight of fun and frolic. 

If you have never been, you are missing out on unbearable heat, famished mosquitoes, and a whole lot of nothing to do. If you have been, you know all about the long days aboard burning through novels, drinking beers, and playing in the water. I have been heading up to a backwater slough upstream of Walnut Grove for many years and always aboard my Ericson 27 Josephine II.

Ann and I usually start packing the boat a week before departure. Cases of beer go under the Vee, along with a 5-gallon spare water jug, sodas, air mattresses, and a spare anchor. The Avon Redcrest lands on the forward half of the port settee and screens are strapped to the folded leaf of the table. Boxes of bottled water and the overflow of food end up secured under the table. The quarterberth is stuffed with sailbags, Avon floorboards, oars, sail and boom for the El Toro, awning poles, boathook, swim platform, garbage can, and bags of stuff. Food, wine, paper towels, sunscreen, lee cloths, awnings, umbrella, solar panel, Magma barbecue, fins, walkman, and waxing rags end up getting stashed in every little available space until the bottom paint is well submerged. The outboard goes on the stern rail, a cooler and the o/b fuel tank fit in the cockpit, and the El Toro gets towed behind. I fit the Toro mast into one of the V-berth cubbies and lash the other end to an internal handrail, then I bash my head on it several times for luck.

Once the tanks are pressed up, we are good to go, and the first leg is usually only from the slip in Alameda to anchor in Clipper Cove to rest from all that packing. Day two is a long, mostly downwind journey (that gets progressively warmer) through San Pablo Bay, the Carquenez Straits, past the Mothball Fleet, around the Pittsburgh power plant, under the Antioch bridge (the "Gateway to the Delta"), and up the San Joaquin to finally anchor near an island called Mandeville. We usually arrive by cocktail hour if I ride the tides right. Good time for a swim.

There is something magical about swimming around the boat at anchor, and I have always enjoyed the vastness of the Mandeville anchorage. My goal, however, is to tie up to my favorite tree another half-day up the Mokelumne River, in Lost Slough, and day three is spent motoring past countless miles of levee, ski boats, and tules with one eye always on the depth sounder. Two digits and I have no worries! After an ice/garbage/water stop at Walnut Grove (and a reminder of exactly how hot it is on land!), we finally arrive at the Slough, waving greetings to the few "locals" who often leave their boats tied to trees for the duration of the summer. If my tree is unoccupied, we'll drop a hook in the middle of the slough, lead the anchor off amidships, and moor the bow to the tree (into the prevailing wind) and stern to a big bush (the Toro comes in really handy for this part!). Then comes...Cocktail hour!

 Once the boat is secured to the local flora, it transforms into our waterfront cabin. The swim platform goes on the stern; it has a ladder into the water. The Avon gets inflated, its board wrestled into place and its motor hung. The awning, solar panel, Toro rig, barbecue, and hammock all pop up on deck. I take the wheel off and mount a small table onto the top of the binnacle, then line the cockpit with the lee cloths for a bit of privacy from passers by. 

Let the vacation part truly commence.

Life aboard is easy, and even roomy for a couple. The Toro is great fun to row and sail, and the adjacent waterways are explorable with the Avon. A couple of afternoons are always set aside for a hull waxing, much to the amusement of the locals. We invite guests up every year, and they all seem to enjoy the experience, though we tend to start stepping on each other, especially when four people are in the cabin for dinner. The all-important screens keep the very determined and potent mosquitoes at bay; I have a companionway- shaped framed screen that simply lifts out to go below, and another for the fore-hatch. The installation of a fan has done wonders, as well. Oh, the TV reception is also good: if Channel 3's antenna fell over just right, it would land on us!

Alas, all good things must go back to work, and the long bash to windward awaits at vacation's end. We spend a couple of days motoring back, and last year I put the Toro on the foredeck for the ride home, which worked well. Pittsburgh, Benicia, San Pablo, and the slot can be very taxing on the freshly vacationed nerves. If conditions are agreeable we'll punch out'ta there as quickly as possible, which still takes a full day.

The trip back is not the part that gets me up to the Delta annually. It's the quiet days messing about with boats in a warm, watery environment chock full of wildlife (such as beaver, river otters, herons, jet skiers). It's the extended camping trip with all my favorite toys and no dirt. It's the typically wonderful sail up from the bay. It's also the sense of belonging and custodialship for a small backwater slough that I visit every year for a bit. I can't wait to visit my tree.

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Round the Rock by Hugh Linn

As there were only 2 boats up for the race this year it was decided to race with the Ballena Bay Yacht Club yachts on their annual "Round the Rock!" event. It is a straight forward run to Alcatraz from the club breakwater to the "Rock" rounding either way port or starboard, then a run to the finish line.

This year the weather was cloudy and the winds were not easy. Some elected to start with reefs in the main. Bonnie Breeze had a small storm jib with battens and a full main. There were 11 boats at the start, 2 Ericson’s with the rest from 32 feet up to 45 or so. The Ericson’s were the smallest. The race was under the PHRF system, Bonnie Breeze was listed at 228, considering the inboard and fixed 15 inch prop it seemed fair.

With an 1130 start we were off. Clinging to the breakwater and short tacking at a minimum we passed the old aircraft carrier Hornet, on the starboard side. For the first time on Bonnie Breeze the skipper, me turned the tiller over to Joanne. I would then adjust the sails to the winds and heading. This turned out to be a magic formula. We kept the boat moving between 5 and 5 1/2 knots all during the race. We rounded the Rock on a starboard side giving up time fighting the winds which pushed us into the side of the island. Didn’t have to tack, but pinching up slowed the boat.

Just as we finished rounding the island there was Ericka and Bill Lewis. Waved in passing took a heading to windward of a couple big anchored tankers in the So. Bay. Crossed the finish line at about 2 hours and 22 minutes. After tying up at the dock, Skol with Fred Klammt and his son Andrew arrived as did Wilkes and Ann Joy on II Enjoy and Sam Fogleman on Mystic.

At dinner time we all gathered at the Ballena Bay Yacht club for dinner and the race results. Wow! Bonnie Breeze was in 2nd place for the club race. The trophy is a Jim DeWitt painting with the appropriate brass inscription "Bonnie Breeze, 2nd place, Around the Rock, 2001" Sunday morning arrived cool and foggy, but with a brisk hike to Tillie’s for the big plate of breakfast all departed feeling like it was a super weekend. A big thanks to Bill Lewis and his sponsorship of the Ericson 27 group.

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South Beach Marina Sept 8 & 9

Get your resrevations in early. David & Roberta Johnson have arranged for our Fleet to spend the night at South Beach September 8 & 9, but space is limited. Plans include an early dinner for those who plan to sail back that night. The overnighters will have the opportunity to explore and sightsee. Please RSVP by August 30 to Dave & Roberta.

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