‘Golden Rule’ Peace Boat To Lead Flotilla Around Alcatraz
On Wednesday, August 20, the historic Golden Rule peace boat, a national project of Veterans For Peace, will lead a flotilla of Bay Area boats around Alcatraz and on to the Chevron oil refinery in Richmond, displaying signs for peace and justice. “We will sail for peace and humanity. We will sail for an end to nuclear weapons and support for the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons,” Veterans For Peace (VFP) wrote in a recent news release.
The flotilla will rendezvous on the east side of Alcatraz at 4:30 p.m. and circle the island from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m before sailing to the Chevron refinery for a “sail-by” protest from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Veterans For Peace is protesting Chevron’s business interests that are allegedly fueling environmental destruction and fueling the conflicts in Israel and Palestine. “We are Sailing for a Nuclear-Free World and a Peaceful, Sustainable World!” VFP writes.
Golden Rule is a 34-ft wooden ketch. She sailed her first protest mission in 1958 when, under the operation of “A Legacy of Sailing for Peace,” the crew set out to disrupt US nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands — sparking an international movement to end nuclear weapons testing. After sinking in a gale in Humboldt Bay in 2010, the boat was raised and restored by a coalition of veterans, Quakers, and boat lovers, and relaunched in 2015 as a national project of Veterans For Peace. Golden Rule has since sailed more than 22,000 miles across the US, Hawai’i, Canada, Mexico and Cuba, in opposition to militarism, nuclear destruction, and environmental collapse.
Today, Golden Rule and her crew carry messages of peace that encompass the multitude of issues facing humanity across the globe. “We are Sailing for a Nuclear-Free World and a Peaceful, Sustainable World! We will sail for an end to US complicity in the starvation and genocide of Palestinians. We will sail for an end to illegal ICE raids in our communities. We will sail for environmental justice. We will sail in solidarity with one another. And we will have fun while we are at it!” the press release continues.
Golden Rule arrived in San Francisco Bay on Tuesday for a monthlong mission to share the message “No more nukes. No more war. The future is ours to reclaim.” The message will be shared throughout the ship’s tour of several Bay Area ports. Each port visit will include public sails, film screenings, community dialogues, and peace actions.
The schedule for the August 20 flotilla is as follows:
2 p.m. – Gather at Richmond Marina, prep boats, orientation, and banner-up
3–4:30 p.m. – Sail to Alcatraz
4:30–5:30 p.m. – Circle Alcatraz in protest flotilla
5:30–6:30 p.m. – Head to Chevron for protest sail-by
6:30-7 p.m. – Sail by Chevron Refinery in Richmond
7:30 p.m. – Return and cleanup
“Several boats are already signed up, but we need more. Please join us on August 20, and bring your boat if you can!”
Bay Area boats are invited to join the flotilla. For more information visit vfpgoldenruleproject.org or contact Michelle Marsonette at [email protected] or (541) 971-9077
The Golden Rule’s August Bay Area schedule will include stops at:
- San Francisco (Aug. 5–7)
- Alameda/Oakland (Aug. 9–13)
- Berkeley (Aug. 14–18)
- Richmond (Aug. 19–22)
- San Mateo (Aug. 23–26)
- San Francisco (Aug. 27–29)
“Golden Rule carries a message for all generations: that peace, disarmament, and justice must be charted together,” Golden Rule project manager Michelle KanoeLehua Marsonette said. “We are sailing for peace at home and peace abroad.”
How’s Your Baja Ha-Ha Preparation Coming Along?
One hundred three boats are signed up for the 31st Baja Ha-Ha. This 750-mile (give or take) rally casts off from San Diego on November 3. Are you ready to sail? More importantly, did you register your boat and your crew? There’s still time, but it’s passing quickly and you don’t want to leave your run to the last minute.
Signing up early does come with benefits — like maybe getting a berth at Cabo, though we’re pretty sure that boat has sailed. Besides, it’s not really “early” anymore; with 103 registrations ahead of you, we’d say you’re sailing pretty close to the line. Speaking of lines, Christian Holm and Lynn Ringseis (pictured below) of the Westsail 42 Malama Kai went straight to the top of the line when they become this year’s entry #1.
Also signed up for this year’s Ha-Ha are Mike and Norma Bongiovanni (entry #47) from Spearfish, SD. Mike, 63, is a business owner, while Norma is retired from the technology industry. The couple will sail aboard the Island Packet Segue with their son Christopher Betsill, 29, a software engineer. All three are vets of the 2023 Ha-Ha.
“I’ve been sailing since I was a child and have owned multiple boats,” Mike reports. “We’ve owned [and lived aboard] our current boat for two-and-a half years. Our longest passage has been from Puerto Vallarta to Marina del Rey, approximately 1,300 miles. After the Ha-Ha we will be traveling down to the Galápagos Islands, then back through the Panama Canal. We will spend the winter cruising the Caribbean.” This will fulfill another dream: crossing the equator, sailing through the Panama Canal, and exploring the islands in the Caribbean.
There’s still room for more boats to join the 31st Baja Ha-Ha fleet. If you’re still thinking about it, stop thinking, and just do it. This is likely your last chance.
See more details and sign-up information here.
Sign Up for the 33rd Women’s Sailing Seminar
Is Sailing Missing in Marina del Rey Harbor’s Future?
A Marina del Rey reader brought to our attention that this year is the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Marina del Rey Harbor. In 1954 President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed Public Law 780, making the Marina del Rey Harbor an authorized federal project. From there, the federal government committed to the “main navigational features” and then was involved in a 50-50 sharing of the costs with the City of Los Angeles.
Marina del Rey is the largest man-made harbor in the US, and over the last 60 years, has provided access to millions of boat rides. The harbor is home to numerous marine businesses, yacht clubs, community boating programs and active sailors.
With 22 Marina del Rey leases ending in the next seven years, the Los Angeles Department of Beaches and Harbors sees a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine the future of Marina del Rey. And although a sailboat is in the department’s logo, it’s harder to find sailing on the website. Now would be an important time for those involved in the Marina del Rey boating community to connect to the unfolding public process of “reimagining” the Marina del Rey waterfront.
The harbor is a highlight of Marina del Rey, and the commission wants to do its best to make it accessible to the whole community. They want to hear from all “stakeholders” about what the future of Marina del Rey might look like. This is where it’s important for sailors to get involved and speak up so sailing remains an affordable, accessible opportunity for people from all walks of life.
Without the boating community’s involvement, the plans often start to focus on bike trails, waterfront restaurants, housing and other non-boating facilities. Bike trails, housing and all the rest are valuable parts of any good plan, but if they come at the expense of access to boating, they can defeat the purpose of a harbor. Harbors give the community access to nature, the ocean and the beauty of sailing. Reducing access to the water increases the price, so preserving access becomes a high priority if you want to keep it accessible to the largest number of people possible.
President Eisenhower signed Public Law 780 to provide federal support to help build a recreational yacht harbor and create an active boating community available to the entire population of the region. It’s been a tremendous success. Growing populations and development pressures make maintaining an active, working waterfront a challenge along every coastline. It’s no surprise that there are many people who want to take full advantage of the Marina del Rey Harbor. It’s hard for many to appreciate the value sailing brings to so many lives, and it’s important to help non-sailors understand it.
If you’re involved, let us know more about what you see in store for sailing in Marina del Rey. If you’re not involved, visit the MDR for All website to learn more. There are many good, well-intentioned people who work on these projects. It helps them if they hear from every interested party.
Sailagram: A Snapshot of July Sailing
Welcome back to Sailagram. This month’s gallery includes photos from OYC’s Sweet Sixteen Regatta and the Bay Area Youth Sailing races hosted by Encinal Yacht Club, submitted by Slackwater_SF, and a variety of sailors doing what sailors do — enjoying the wind in their sails. Enjoy!
Join the Jazz Cup for Downwind Sailing at Its Best
