Golden Rule Sails Mission for Peace Around the Bay
“’Peacemaking is hard!’ said Stephen, at the helm of the Notorious C.O.W. (Cal 20 #624, Can o’Whoopass, as we beat up the east side of Angel Island. The rest of the Peace Flotilla, a worthy group of sailors determined not to be cowed by current federal government activities, had gone ahead of us to be at our first destination, Alcatraz (the island ex-prison, not the Florida concentration camp), when the boats departing from points other than Richmond arrived.”
“The summer breeze, which was a predicted 8–10 knots, had broken through the high-pressure bubble, and while quite warm, was winding up into the high teens as we neared Point Blunt. My usual racing crew Rachel and I, dear friend and great sailor Stephen, and a very fit 70-year-old Berkeley kayaker Julie, who had agreed to sail with us, were likely to be very wet by the time we got to Alcatraz. The VHF chatter from the two lead boats, the gaff ketch Golden Rule and the catamaran Hokahey, spoke of gusts in the higher ranges at Alcatraz, and boats from Alameda and Emery Cove were having trouble making way. We chose prudence, and made for the north corner of Angel Island.”
“We were not there to be perfect, just to show that certain sailors and their guests believe that ‘Never Again’ applies to the state of Israel, as well as the history of Germany. That democracy is fragile, and needs to be given a shot of nutrients every now and then. That people who migrate don’t do it for fun (would you leave your birthplace for a dangerous, uncertain future for fun?), and are as human and worthy of respect as any other being. That energy from heaven (the sun, and its effects on atmospheric fluid motion) is better than energy from down below, and that it’s hard to envision wars being fought over sunlight. And that a single nuclear detonation in furtherance of a national policy choice is certainly a step toward a preventable Armageddon.
“So we rendezvoused off Southampton Shoal platform — SVs VFP Golden Rule, Hokahey, Amatheia, and the Notorious C.O.W. — and oozed north with the new flood to wave our freak flags at the largest West Coast refinery of energy from below, then, faced with said flood, motored back to our berths.” – Richard vonEhrenkrook, captain, Cal 20 #624, Can o’Whoopass.
Golden Rule is a 34-ft wooden ketch; a national project of Veterans For Peace. It sailed into San Francisco Bay on August 20 with a mission to 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 U.N. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons,” Veterans For Peace (VFP) had written in a preceding news release.
The ship has spent the month of August visiting Bay Area ports and sharing the message “No more nukes. No more war. The future is ours to reclaim” through public sails, peace actions, community dialogues, and film screenings. On August 22, the historical anti-nuclear peace boat arrived at Pier 40, South Beach Harbor, where a large crowd welcomed the crew alongside champion lion dancers and the powerful voices of the Comfort Women Justice Coalition. Guests joined two sailing sessions on the Bay, followed by a standing-room-only program at ANSWER Coalition’s Mission Street office. The day included a screening of the new documentary Golden Rule: The Journey for Peace (directed by Nolan Anderson), followed by an impromptu gathering for a meal across the street at Los Panchos. Here they were joined by journalist and political analyst KJ Noh. The following day the ship and her crew sailed to San Mateo, where they were welcomed by the Raging Grannies and joined an afternoon “Vigil for Gaza” at Coyote Point Marina.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, August 26, the Golden Rule crew will take part in a community gathering and film screening of Golden Rule: The Journey for Peace. The evening includes presentations by speakers including Gerry Condon, Veterans For Peace, Golden Rule committee chair, raised in San Mateo, and Dr. Dylan Spaulding, senior scientist, Global Security Program and Union of Concerned Scientists, who will help crew Golden Rule back to Humboldt Bay at the end of the month.
Golden Rule has been sailing across the US to raise awareness about nuclear disarmament, militarism and justice. Its Bay Area voyage comes at a time of global crisis, from the 80th anniversaries of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, to ongoing genocide in Gaza, the National Guard on the streets of cities in the United States, and the ever-growing risks of nuclear war.
“Golden Rule carries a message for all generations: that peace, disarmament, and justice must be charted together,” said project manager Michelle KanoeLehua Marsonette.
You can learn more about Veterans For Peace and the Golden Rule Project here and on
Facebook: @VFP Golden Rule Project
Come Meet Cheryl at the Latitude 38 Fall Crew Party Next Week
“Hi there, My name is Cheryl Yutzy (28), and I’m currently finishing up my paramedic program. It’s been a dream of mine for over a decade to crew in the Baja Ha-Ha Rally.” This is the opening to a letter we received on Friday.
“Back in 2017, my sister and I attempted to join the rally, but due to some poor planning on my part, we only made it as far as the Sausalito Crew Party. (I mistakenly thought the crew-finding party was in San Diego and booked our flights accordingly — lesson learned!) Richard was kind enough to write an article about our story at the time, which I’ve attached here. I’ve come a long way since then in both my preparation skills and sailing experience.”
It’s true. In 2017, despite mistakenly heading to San Diego, Cheryl and her sister Machelle attended the Latitude 38 Fall Crew List Party complete with business cards to hand out. One of them read “Cheryl Yutzy, The Jane of All Trades, Young & Ambitious.”
“I understand the rally committee typically doesn’t write crew articles and encourages crew and skippers to use the listings — which I’ve done,” Cheryl’s letter continues. “That said, I also believe that if you don’t ask, the answer is always no. I recently read that this could be the final Baja Ha-Ha Rally, and that really lit a fire in me. I’m determined to finally check this dream off my list, and I’m hoping this message might reach someone who’s inspired to help make that happen.
“Unlike last time, I now have hands-on sailing experience. I learned to sail in the Chesapeake Bay aboard the 80-ft schooner Woodwind, where I worked as a deckhand for a summer season. I later joined the yachting industry in South Florida. While my time there was cut short due to the 2020 lockdowns, I gained valuable experience and sea time! Attached below is my résumé w/more detail.
“I’ll be attending the Sausalito Crew Party on September 4 and would love the chance to connect in person. In the meantime, feel free to reach out by phone or text at …” (We’re not going to put Cheryl’s phone number on the wall for just anyone to call. Let us know if you’re serious and we can put you in touch.)
By the way, we love getting letters from sailors, particularly those who are determined to get aboard a boat.
In the meantime, we’ll see you at the party next week!
The Party – Thursday, September 4
From 6 to 9 p.m., hang out with skippers, sailors, and sponsors in the Spaulding Marine Center boatyard. Throughout the evening, Baja Ha-Ha sponsors will be available to answer questions about heading south. You’ll also meet with folks from local marine businesses, San Francisco Science Sailing Center, Island Yacht Club, and more.
And while the Spaulding crew runs the bar in support of their educational programs, the great folks from the Casablanca Mediterranean food truck will be parked outside preparing their delicious array of scrumptious foods for everyone to enjoy.
There’ll also be raffles, resources, and the incredible Bay Area sailing energy.
Admission –
Seminar Only: $10
Party Only: $10
Both: $20
Free admission for 2025 Baja Ha-Ha skippers and first mates.
Bonus
Admission includes a free First Timer’s Guide to Mexico ($15 value), door prize entry, and access to the most vibrant sailing network in Northern California.
Parking
Please do not park at Clipper Yacht Harbor. View the Parking Map for available locations near Spaulding Marine Center.
Note: This is a mostly outdoor event, so please dress in layers!
Stop at The Marina at Ensenada Cruiseport on Your Trip South
Walking distance to downtown Ensenada. A modern, safe marina protected by two break waters for a quiet stay. Reserve Now! Toll Free (877) 219-5822 marina.hutchisonportsecv.com.
San Diego YC Announces 38th Puerto Vallarta Race
Heads up, sailors! We’ve received news of the 38th Biennial Puerto Vallarta Race. Below is the outline shared in a press release.
“San Diego Yacht Club is hosting the 2026 Puerto Vallarta Race, featuring the iconic 1,050 nm offshore course from San Diego, California, to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The race will take place February 26–March 6, 2026.”
“The San Diego to Puerto Vallarta Race is a thousand-mile test of skill, teamwork, and endurance against the Pacific’s unpredictable rhythms. A journey that challenges crews to push their limits. More than just a race, it’s a testament to the camaraderie of the sailing community and the allure of reaching the shores of Puerto Vallarta. Sailors will be sent off from San Diego with a fiesta to celebrate the start, and welcomed in Puerto Vallarta with a greeting crew at the dock. The week will finish with a beachfront awards party honoring all the participants,” said 2026 Puerto Vallarta race chair Joanne O’Dea. “We are incredibly proud to once again host this biennial tradition, bringing together sailors from across the West Coast and beyond for an unforgettable adventure.”
San Diego Yacht Club vice commodore Alli Bell (the first female skipper to claim the King Kalakaua Trophy for winning the Transpac Race overall in July 2025) has competed in several San Diego to Puerto Vallarta races, and will be commodore in 2026. “As a past participant and incoming commodore, I am so excited for SDYC to be hosting another edition of the race to PV. We value the relationships that flourish because of this race and are proud to support offshore racing on the West Coast.”
Stick the Puerto Vallarta Race on your sailing calendar, and read about Pyewacket’s win in the 2024 race.
Moore 24 Nationals at Long Beach Race Week
Among the championships contested at Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week on June 19–22 was the Moore 24 Nationals.
“It is really freaking cool to travel to a new venue,” commented Kurt Lahr of the Richmond-based Safety Third in a note to the fleet. “Our board deserves a thanks for going outside the box and organizing this event.
“Forty years ago this last Memorial Day Weekend, Joel Verutti asked a young, impressionable me if I wanted to go for a sail on #55 Mercedes across Whiskeytown Lake. It makes me smile to think that’s the spark that started my love for this fleet. The best families, the best friends, the best boat — I just don’t believe it gets better than what we have.
“I can only speak for myself, but that was a very difficult weekend of mental sailing. I think of substantially better breeze and some swell when you say ABYC. Instead we got light and lumpy for two days, not at all what I was thinking when I said a couple weeks prior that we should be on the outside course. I’m not a fan of the overplayed chutes-and-ladders metaphor, but that is what it seemed to be out there. I had heard this summer has been ‘weird’ down there, and the ‘It’s Long Beach, you go right’ may not play. Turns out it was basically a dogfight to just stay in phase with both sides of the course paying. The passing lanes were there if you could find them. Not taking any big hits was key. The last day was more reminiscent of light-air Huntington: Sniff the shifts and stay in the pressure. The distance race would have been more fun were it square, but it was a nice bookend to the weekend thanks to the best pressure of the weekend.”
In their 17-boat division, five different boats won in the nine races: Safety Third, Paramour, Firefly, Mooretician and Orca.
“My boat partner Alex keeps me calm when I think the sky is falling,” added Kurt. “Elishia sages all the bad spirits from our team and crushes her job on the bow. My oldest daughter Hayden looked at the schedule and decided Long Beach was better than Oahu. It is truly an honor and a privilege to sail with (and against) the people you love.”
Read more on racing in Latitude 38’s August’s Racing Sheet. And keep an eye out for new race reports in the September issue, out on Friday.
Visit Antioch Marina, the Gateway to the Delta
