Sailors Go on the Lamb at Angel Island
A bunch of sailors escaped the ordinary hustle and bustle of a Bay Area Saturday to gather at Angel Island for the annual “Lambstravaganza.” Paul Kamen reports.
“Lambstravaganza” is a lamb-themed potluck and cooking contest that began as a family picnic. Event Energy Center Michael Moradzadeh explains, “We started 20+ years ago with a leg of lamb on a drizzly day on the grill. A few more the next year. Eventually electronic invitations allowed us to expand easily.” Michael is also two-time past commodore of Pacific Cup Yacht Club, so the Lambstravaganza has become a kind of unofficial event on the Pac Cup social calendar.
Sadie McAlina was the winner in the lamb dish category this year, with a classic lamb-ball entry. Honorable mention to Bob and Betty Gray for a spectacular lamb roast, Lorianna Kastrop for a delightful Earl Grey and lavender cookie, and Tom Lovering for his perennial blueberry surprise cocktail.
Participation was lambentably light this year, not approaching the 300+ at previous ‘ganzas, but more than made up for it in quality. Remember for next year: Angel Island, day before Mother’s Day, Platform picnic site. If you find out about it, you’re invited!
Velella Velella Everywhere, Including in the Bay
Rod Witel was sailing on the Bay recently when he was witness to an extraordinary display of nature.
“Sailing the central Bay last week, I literally ran into thousands of Velella velella floating in a swath approximately 1000 yards long. These three- to four-inch jellyfish-like creatures are also called ‘by-the-wind sailors.’ They rely on ocean currents and the wind to ‘sail’ themselves around.”
“Velella are not true jellyfish but are related to jellyfish, sea anemones, corals, and hydroids. I’ve seen them along the California coast but never such numbers in the Bay.”
Rod is a Club Nautique sailing instructor and charter captain. He recently sent us photos and stories of a flotilla charter in Croatia, and a second charter with friends in Sweden. Read here.
Join Club Nautique for an Open House on May 17 in Alameda
Come check out the latest new Jeanneau sailboats and pre-owned sail and powerboats for sale and register for our Charter Ownership Seminar.
Wind in Their Sails — Death and Resurrection
Wind in Their Sails: Death and Resurrection is my documentary about classic wooden sailboats and the people who care for them. It’s a story grounded deep in my past. In 1954, when I was 8 years old, my family came to San Francisco when my dad attended the American Medical Association’s annual meeting. My mom, being a resourceful woman, thought that taking me to see the tall ship Balclutha would be something I might enjoy. She was right!
Walking up to Balclutha, I was mesmerized by the tall masts and yardarms, and I visualized going up the ratlines to break out the sails. That day still stands out in my mind when I think about how that chance encounter changed my perspective about sailing ships. Little did I know at the time that Balclutha was brand-new to San Francisco Bay, having just been bought by the San Francisco Maritime Museum, headed by Karl Kortum and Alma Spreckels.
Forty years ago, I produced a documentary about racing on San Francisco Bay entitled A Sailor’s Dream. That was the time when IOR was the racing rule for big boats, 12 Meter boats were practicing on the Bay before heading off to Perth; one-design racers like the J/24s and Express 27s had huge and growing fleets. I knew there was a fleet of classic wooden boats competing on the Bay and I knew there’s nothing quite so awe-inspiring as watching those boats slice through the windswept waters of San Francisco Bay.
I featured two classic boats in that documentary. At the time, Terry Klaus had owned Brigadoon for 10 years (she was built in 1925) and had the boat race-ready and crewed with big guys who could muscle the sails up and down. I got onto the boat for the 1985 Master Mariners Race, carrying my big, heavy video camera and its separate recorder attached with a 12-foot umbilical cord. I managed to stay out of the way while getting some really good action shots. Terry and I have been friends ever since.
The second boat was Freda. She was built in Tiburon in 1885. She’d ended up abandoned in the Alameda Estuary’s mud. Harold Sommer found her there and brought her back to life. His son, Ross, lived on the boat for a while. As Wander Bird took more of Harold’s time and energy, he sold Freda to Jerry and Diane Brenden. They adored Freda. They took great pride in the fact that she was 100 years old and she looked like it.
Visit USCG Auxiliary’s Annual Water Safety Fair on May 17
The USCG Auxiliary is hosting its annual Water Safety Fair on Saturday, May 17, at US Coast Guard Station Golden Gate, Sausalito. The event is free to all, as is the parking, and kicks off National Safe Boating Week, which runs from May 17–23.
The Water Safety Fair will include interactive cliff rescue demonstrations; helicopter rescue swimmer demonstrations (unless called away on duty); a meet and greet with the friendly search and rescue dogs; lessons on knot tying and throwing heaving lines; tips on marine radio communications; opportunities to play with “Coastie,” the ROV (remotely operated vehicle); displays and information on Coast Guard fire and police boats and trucks; paddle craft safety and free ID stickers; Clean Boating Kit giveaways; and FREE life jackets (while supplies last). That’s a lot!
The fair is hosted by US Coast Guard Station Golden Gate and US Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 12 (Sausalito-Tiburon), with support from Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 14 (Central Marin) and Eleventh District Northern Region members. 
This is a fun way to learn more about water safety and the work of the Coast Guard. To visit the Water Safety Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., head over to 435 Murray Circle in Fort Baker, Sausalito. It’s right below the North Tower of the Golden Gate Bridge, so you can’t miss it. Here’s a peek at the 2018 Water Safety Fair.
Join the 45th Annual Memorial Cruise
