Wooden Boats for Veterans Celebrates ‘Clover’ and Welcomes ‘Sunda’
Over the years we’ve brought you updates from the nonprofit group Wooden Boats for Veterans (WBFV). In 2017, Latitude 38‘s Tim Henry wrote about his experience aboard WBFV’s 45-ft Sparkman & Stephens sloop Valiant. At the time, WBFV was also restoring a 68-ft gaff-rigged English pilothouse cutter named Clover. Valiant has since been sold, and Clover’s restoration has become the organization’s full-time project. Of course COVID caused major disruptions to the schedule, but work resumed in June 2020, and by the following Veteran’s Day the old ship was looking pretty for her re-christening and dedication to her new mission of serving veterans.
“It wasn’t until June, when we resumed work on Clover, that we began in earnest setting as a goal a re-christening event on Veteran’s Day,” WBFV founder Terry Moran said. “Each weekend, veterans and their families gathered to strip, scrape, sand, paint and varnish everything on deck, and install hatches, lifelines, cockpit seats, and new upholstery down below. Boy Scout Troop 10 from Vallejo deserves special mention for all the hard work reefing out and recaulking the main cabin top, resulting in a beautiful, watertight cabin!” Other projects on Clover included working on the mast and spars, which involved “cutting down the mast back to her original gaff-rigged configuration” and installing a new deck.
A year later, and the new deck is now complete. On June 6, Clover provided another occasion for celebration — the unveiling.
In the meantime, WBFV has accepted the donation of Sunda, a 1941 Ben Seaborn-designed 35-ft sloop. “She’s a lovely boat, well cared for by her owners Bob and Colleen Rogers over the last 30 years, and winner in her class in the Master Mariners,” Moran said. “We’re delighted and honored that WBFV will be her next caretakers.”
WBFV is a 501(c)(3) public foundation, which its founder says has a “very robust vessel donation program and is always welcoming inquiries.”
Moran’s passion and commitment to the organization and the veterans it serves is best described by his very simple approach to life. “The best thing that I’ve found for vets — for myself first, and for others — is that when you have problems in life, just add water.
“Add salt water, if you can, and add salt water on a wooden boat. Those problems diminish; they take the right proportions. And if you can do that in a community with other vets, then you’re very fortunate.”
If you’re thinking about donating a vessel, you can find more information at https://www.vetsboats.org/vessel-donation-program.html. And if you’re interested in learning more or getting involved with WBFV, go to www.vetsboats.org.
Daniela Moroz — Going, Going, Going Fast!
In June’s Latitude 38 magazine, Mark Reid chats with Daniela Moroz, world champion kite foiler and SailGP TeamUSA crewmember.
Radiant and confident with more than an occasional penchant to go fast describes Daniela Moroz from Lafayette, California. She just happens to be one of the fastest on foils in the world; be it against men or women, it really makes no difference.
As she prepares for kite foiling’s entry into the Summer Olympic Games in Paris in 2024, and for her new challenge as “one of the boys” for Team USA on the SailGP Formula 50 catamaran grand prix circuit, Moroz is quite candid, emphatically stating, “I think I am faster than my competition because I have always trained with and against men, and I’ve always held myself to the men’s standard.
“Even from the very beginning, I was rarely training with any other women. And although it was difficult sometimes, I loved the sport and was motivated and determined to get better and beat the boys,” said Moroz.
For starters, Moroz is a four-time Formula Kite World Champion and three-time Open European Champion with two US Sailing Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year watches on her wrist. Add to that Rolex World Sailor of the Year finalist in 2018. This ultra-competitive 20-year-old likes to go fast and have fun.
When she was growing up, Daniela’s parents were both longtime windsurfers who raced in everything from the local Friday night races at the St. Francis Yacht Club to the US Nationals, and could easily be found out on the Berkeley Circle off the marina there.
“When I first started kiting, both Erica and Johnny Heineken from San Francisco were the best in the world, and I am super-competitive. I am fortunate that I have very supportive parents and friends,” said Moroz. “Foiling is exciting because it is super-fun to go that fast over water. I got super-stoked on kiting and stuck with it.
“I love it when it is really gusty and the waves are really gnarly. There is nothing like kiting off Crissy Field and flying under the Golden Gate Bridge — though flat waters are great so that I can work on building speed.”
Her favorites and fetishes are well known: She loves to flush out her system with kombucha when she gets home, and she craves chai tea and avocado toast. She is currently a business and marketing major at the University of Hawaii. Given her globe-trotting and the challenges of the pandemic, online classes fit in perfectly with her travel schedule.
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Singlehanded Transpacific Yacht Race Encounters Wind Holes
The racers in the Singlehanded Sailing Society’s Singlehanded Transpacific Yacht Race are moving slowly along toward the finish in Hanalei, Kauai. Close to the halfway point after six days and change, Kyle Vanderspek on his Hobie 33 Aloha is leading the fleet of 11 boats so far. But this year’s race is turning into a slow one. The East Pacific High is heading south and splitting up, causing light winds and a minefield of holes on the way to the trade winds.
Aloha is the only light surfing-style boat in this year’s race and can scoot along in the light breeze compared to the heavyweights like the Cal 40s and J/109. As of this report on Friday morning, Aloha is 61 miles ahead of Jim Quanci on the Cal 40 Green Buffalo, 74 miles ahead of Robb Walker on Nozomi, the other Cal 40, and only 49 miles from Reed Bernhardt on the J/109 Mountain.
With a light-wind parking lot forming, the others in the back may still have a chance to catch up. While they try, let’s catch up with the messages from the boats.
From Reed: “Greetings from Mountain, where the ship smells of feet and the Captain wishes he smelled half that good. All is well here. Mountain and I are working hard. According to the latest fleet position reports though, so is everyone else! Really fun race so far — just hitting my stride. Taking naps, tweaking the sails, making repairs, enjoying the view.”
From Jim on Green Buffalo: “The sun peeked out today and then went away — four days overcast — getting old. Sardine sandwich for lunch. Thinking tortellini with red sauce for dinner.” Almost a week into the race, it sounds as if Jim’s got his sea legs — and stomach.
From Will Lee on the Hinckley 42 Sea Wisdom after some email communication problems, “Greetings SHTP Race Committee! It seems like my email system likes to function in a light wind area. But I need wind; please send me some.” And the RC’s response? “Dear Sir, We have escalated your complaint to those with higher pay grades.”
That same RC will be flying out to the finish line in Kauai next week. They may have to wait a while for the first boat.
Pamela Healy Discusses Passing the Torch to Future Olympic Sailors
The Tokyo Summer Olympics are due to start on July 23, one month from now, and the USA’s Olympic sailors are nearing their goal of representing their country. In a recent newsletter published by the International Council of Yacht Clubs (ICOYC), Pamela Healy, 1992 Olympic bronze medalist, shared her thoughts on why yacht clubs should support Olympians.
“This generation of Olympic athletes have had an unbelievably challenging journey. When I trained and competed as an Olympian, in the Barcelona Games in the 470 in 1992, I focused my training on things within my control and then mentally prepared for those outside of my control. Sailors are particularly talented at doing this.
“These athletes, on the other hand, have had to face a barrage of elements outside of their control — namely, a global pandemic that delayed the Games.
“As a proud member of the San Francisco Yacht Club and St. Francis Yacht Club and as President of the St. Francis Sailing Foundation I have had the good fortune of supporting several Olympic sailors on this journey, as we provide financial support and mentorship. We constantly update our donors and members regarding the dedication, ups-and-downs and regatta results of our member-athletes, so they feel like they are sailing alongside them. Collectively, we take pride in supporting our fellow members.
“Why should your club engage your membership with your Olympians or members reaching for the Olympic dream? Because Olympians are wired a little differently. They are relentless, passionate and committed to giving back. They inspire us all to be better. They share a sense of responsibility to bring up the next generation of youth sailors to be the best they can be and to dream big. They are role models, ambassadors and a public relations team all in one.
“Their sense of duty to their clubs is as sincere as their dedication to their country, and they take representing their burgee seriously.”
The ICOYC also published several interviews with US sailors who will be competing in Tokyo next month. In next week’s ‘Lectronic Latitude, we’ll bring you interviews with sailors Luke Muller, Nikole Barnes and Lara Dallman-Weiss, whose Olympic journeys are supported by ICOYC member St. Francis Yacht Club.
