Make Every Minute Count

It’s a good thing this is the longest weekend of the year as there are so many things going on that you’ll be busy for every minute of it. Summer Sailstice is, of course, the premier event for the weekend, which we detailed in Wednesday’s ‘Lectronic. Bay Area sailors are encouraged to cruise in to Treasure Island’s Clipper Cove for the festivities, but what about all those derelicts taking up so much of the anchorage?

Mirian Saez, Director of Operations for the island, reports that one sunken boat and a couple barely floating derelicts were removed from the cove yesterday to make room for this weekend. "After we removed the boats," Saez said, "a couple others moved out on their own." Saez was also delighted to let us know that the Treasure Island Bar & Grill received their liquor license this week and that boaters are welcome to dock for free at the marina while patronizing the Grill — just call (415) 627-9060 to have someone from the Grill open the gate.

Up in Novato, the Marin Power Squadron will be celebrating 50 years of providing quality education to the boating public. Saturday’s party will run from 2-5:30 p.m. at their headquarters at 789 Hamilton Parkway, and will feature the special presentation ‘The Bay and Beyond: What’s Wet in ’09’ by San Francisco Chronicle Yachting Editor Kimball Livingston. Dr. Rocker and the Backtones will provide the live music, and a cool ‘fin’ ($5) will get you BBQ and soft drinks (beer and wine will be available for purchase).

The National Park Service will offer three fee-free weekends this summer at parks nationwide, including 12 in California. The first is this weekend (July 18-19 and August 15-16 are the others) so plan on hitting some of the Northern California parks on the list, such as Muir Woods National Monument, John Muir National Historic Site, Whiskeytown Unit National Recreation Area or San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.

Father’s Day is Sunday, so don’t forget to take Dad for a nice daysail. Round up the kids for an exploration of China Camp, Tomales Bay or Angel Island before the state makes good on their threat to close these well-loved parks. Pop into one of the Bay’s many boat-in restaurants for a quick bite and a little atmosphere. Get your anchor muddy. Whatever else you do this weekend, make it a priority to get your boat out of the slip. You won’t regret it.