Wondering what to do on Memorial Day weekend? In addition to remembering our fallen American heroes — and reading the hot-off-the-press June edition of Latitude 38 — we’d also highly recommend turning your attention to another end-of-May tradition: The annual Master Mariners Regatta, slated for noon on Saturday.

If you’re unfamiliar with this long-established event, it’s the one time of year that hundreds of sailors who have old souls and special places in their hearts for hand-crafted woodwork, gleaming varnish and shiny bronze pull the covers off their vintage sailing craft and head out onto the Central Bay to do battle — in the friendliest sense of the word, of course.

NOAA is predicting 15 to 25 knots of wind on the Bay that afternoon, ideal conditions for this heavy-displacement fleet. At last count 78 classic beauties are registered to compete, including both gaff-rigged and marconi-rigged schooners, sloops and ketches, and one design boats like Birds, Bears, and Lapworth 36s. If you’re not lucky enough to have a ride aboard one, we would highly recommend that you dust off your telephoto lens, pack a picnic lunch, and head out on the Bay tomorrow to observe this spectacular procession of nautical history. Starts begin at noon off the Cityfront, with four Central Bay courses all finishing just off Treasure Island, and a high-spirited party afterward at the Encinal YC. We’ll see you out there!

By the way, please note that we will not be posting a ‘Lectronic Latitude Monday, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday.

In the March 7 ‘Lectronic Latitude, we reported that a couple of moorings at Angel Island’s Ayala Cove had gone walkabout — thankfully with no boats attached to them — and that boaters should be cautious when planning an overnight stay.

But last week, Rick Hastie, who heads up the maintenance on the moorings, docks and boats at the park, called to report that not only was every mooring completely rebuilt, but they’d been finished since the beginning of the month! 

“Attached to each helix-style auger corkscrewed into the seabed is a length of new 1” chain, with a 3/4” shackle connecting it to a length of 5/8” chain that goes straight to the mooring,” explained Hastie. When asked about the super-high-tech Seaflex ‘snubbers’ that cost $1,700 each, but wound up fouling the props of several boats, Hastie replied, “They’re in the garbage — I cut them up myself!”

Another welcome change is that each row of moorings is now brightly color-coded. “Boaters just need to tie their bow and stern to the same color moorings.” Overnight moorage is $30, but you can tie to the day dock until sundown for no extra charge — just let a park ranger know. Only one boat is allowed to raft to a moored boat, and that boat also must pay moorage fees. See you there!