Weekend Report: Farewell, Summer
Deadlines: over. Weekend: three-day. Weather: Typical; foggy, overcast, and windy. Welcome to the last hurrah of summer. How did you spend your weekend?
The West Coast apparently saw decent wind and sunny(ish) days from border to border. In the Pacific Northwest, there were reports of unusually "decent" breeze, with 10 to 20 knots in the Gulf Islands. Robert Hickey said he had a "magnificent sail across the Strait of Juan de Fuca, then three days at the Classic Boat Festival" at the Maritime Museum of British Columbia.
Saturday saw the 31st annual Jazz Cup, which had ideal conditions: flooding current, warm sunshine and just-right breeze. An on-time start, clean race committee work, convivial socializing on boats, docks, lawn and deck — as well as inside the Benicia Yacht Club — contributed to an all-around great day. (We’ll have a race report in the October issue of Latitude 38.) "It was a fast, relaxed Jazz Cup on the Cal 40 Highlander," confirmed Greg Clausen.
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Saturday also had ideal conditions for a little put-putting around San Rafael Bay. We caught the last of the flood to the Sisters and China Camp, where the San Rafael Rock Quarry was in full swing, with tugs and barges in constant motion loading up with pulverized rock. We’d never seen so much action there, and it was fun to sail by the hustle and bustle before a fun upwind leg back to the Marin Islands with the ebb.
©2018 Latitude 38 Media, LLC
Sunday and Monday showed what we’ll call identical breezes in the East Bay, where it floated in the 18- to 20-knot range at Point Isabel, before filling in and making for two days of outstanding windsurfing. There was also plenty of cruising to be had around the Bay:
But we don’t want to gloat. Indeed we tip our hat to those of you who were laboring during Labor Day weekend, and weren’t able to get out on the water. "Stuck at work ," wrote Bobby Beyer when we asked how everybody’s weekend was on our Facebook page. "Working on my boat," said Michael Bender. "Ditto," posted Greg VanDalen. "Boat and real work."
Regardless of how you spent your weekend, you probably noticed it: Summer is petering out. The days are getting shorter, the kids are back in school, football is back on TV, and the memories of another West Coast summer are slowly getting filed in the memory banks.
Little Sumpin’ at Crew Party Tonight
Latitude 38’s totally live sailing app is hacking the digital world tonight only with our Fall Crew List Party to bring together people who want to sail with people who have sailboats. Intimate setting? Nah, it’s a boatyard. Between bandsaws and boat ramp lies the historic Spaulding Marine Center in Sausalito, which hosted our terribly fun 2017 event.
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Many in attendance are on their way south, to the Baja Ha-Ha and Mexico, while others are looking to daysail or race on San Francisco Bay. For cruisers headed south there is a Mexico Cruising Seminar from 4 to 5:45 p.m. put on by experts Dick Markie of Paradise Village Marina and Geronimo Cevallos of Marina El Cid. At 5:45 we’ll clear the hall and re-open at 6 p.m. to let the sailing networking begin. Every sailor gets a nametag letting people know "I am looking TO crew," or "I am looking FOR crew." No sailing experience is required, but be clear about your interests, skills and desires.
©2018 Latitude 38 Media, LLC
The seminar’s free but the Crew Party is $10 (cash only) — or just $5 if you happen to 25 or under (with photo ID). A buffet of appetizers and a door prize drawing are included in the price of admission.
©2018 Latitude 38 Media, LLC
©2018 Latitude 38 Media, LLC
Invite some friends by sharing our Facebook link so they can join you sailing this fall. Over the years thousands of sailors have sailed hundreds of thousands of miles after meeting up at a Latitude 38 Crew Party.
©2018 Latitude 38 Media, LLC
If you’re coming for the seminar or party, we ask you to help the neighbors and not park in Clipper Yacht Harbor or Fish Restaurant parking areas. You can see a local parking map here.
© Latitude 38 Media, LLC
We look forward to seeing whoever’s passing through and whoever wants to meet up and go sailing at the Crew Party tonight.
Applications Open for Boat Grant
The C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta is accepting applications for the 2018 Clagett Boat Grant Program through the end of September. Two 2.4mR boats will be available as part of the Clagett Boat Grant Program. Applications can be made by individual sailors or community sailing programs in North America.
The Boat Grant Program debuted in 2016 with a Sonar donated to the Y-Knot Sailing program in Lake George, NY. In 2017, two 2.4mR singlehanded boats were granted to two sailors in Canada, one from Ontario and one from British Columbia. "These two sailors come from well-supported community sailing programs able to provide support to these sailors as they work toward their individual sailing goals," commented Clagett president and co-founder, Judy Clagett McLennan. Both sailors participated in the 2018 Clagett Clinic and Regatta and raced in the Clagett and US Para Sailing Championships held in Newport, RI, at the end of June.
To apply for the 2018 Clagett Boat Grant Program go to www.clagettregatta.org/Boat%20Grant%20Application,%202018.pdf. Applications can be submitted by mail to: Clagett Regatta, 231 Indian Ave., Portsmouth RI 02871 USA or via email.