Who Made Connections at ‘Latitude 38’s Fall Crew List Party?
Summers can be relaxing, but fall hits like a freight train, starting with Latitude 38’s Baja Ha-Ha Fall Crew Party. Last night’s event at the Spaulding Marine Center in Sausalito was a smashing success, beginning with the Mexico Cruising Seminar given by Assistant Poobah Patsy Verhoeven at 4 p.m. The standing-room-only event was packed with people and useful information from Patsy’s dozen or so Baja Ha-Ha’s and 30 years of living aboard and singlehanding her Gulfstar 50 Talion. Besides the Poobah, she’s probably done more Ha-Ha’s than any other boat, and is noted for being the true “soul sailor” who has sailed the entire trip more than anyone.
Immediately following the seminar the venue switched to ‘Tinder for sailors.’ The Spaulding space was converted to party central after all seminar attendees quickly folded up their chairs to take them outside and open the floor for crew connections. The Latitude team was busy at the front entrance clicking QR codes, putting on wrist bands, filling out crew connection stickers, and entering attendees in a drawing for Latitude 38 hats. It was busy with over 250 sailors or soon-to-be sailors attending the event.
Our Fall Crew Party tilts toward cruising, though everyone is welcome. The crowd included people looking for midwinter racing crew and those who just want to do more local daysailing. We talked with Harrison and Katelyn, who moved here just three weeks ago after 10 years in Texas. They were both happy to have finally left the heat of Texas. And Harrison, a Texan sailor, had already found a way to get aboard boats as crew but was at the party looking for more Bay Area sailing opportunities. Katelyn, whose primary sailing role has been happy passenger, was glad to connect with Eileen Zedd from the Island Yacht Club’s Women’s Sailing Seminar so that she might move beyond the passenger role.
Beyond connecting with new crew and skippers there’s a lot of reconnecting with old friends and sailing buddies. Our dedicated Latitude 38 ambassador Gerry Gragg worked the front entrance, where he ran into lots of old sailing friends, including Afterguard Sailing Academy sailing instructor Angela, who teaches sailing and crews on boats around the Bay. Angela’s also working with Amy Bridge to help develop the first charity regatta on the Bay to raise funds for Parkinson’s disease. It will be held on April 11, 2026, at Corinthian Yacht Club. When you mingle in the sailing crowd, it turns out it’s full of good people.
We also saw our friend Ken Austin, who literally got home just this past weekend after sailing his J/40 Mimosa from San Francisco to New Caledonia. The boat is equipped and ready to continue on to Australia, or farther, with a new owner. Ken was there to see if that new owner might be at the Latitude 38 Crew Party. It’s an event built around making connections, so who knows?
The Sausalito fog lingered just on the Pacific side of the Marin headlands, making for a pretty perfect evening in the shelter of the Spaulding Marine Center. The Hot Clams played some quiet music outside by the Casablanca food truck, which has been a reliable hit for the crew parties for several years. It all makes for a spicy combination of sailors, food, drink and connections.
The Spaulding Marine Center operates the bar, and all proceeds from drink sales support scholarships for their maritime trades apprenticeships. In the rapidly shifting world of work, more people are looking for careers that won’t be eliminated by AI. Coincidentally, the skilled labor needed for the maritime trades is in short supply. Spaulding Marine Center has been helping fill the gap for several years with graduates of their program. We also thank this year’s apprentices for volunteering and cleaning up the yard to make way for the party.
Between 6:00 and 9:00 there were quite a few business cards exchanged, notes scribbled, QR codes clicked, and contacts synced so that more people can do more sailing. The crew parties have been core to Latitude 38’s mission for over 45 years. The Bay Area has this amazing Bay in the middle of it, yet so many people struggle to find a way to sail on it. The same is true up and down the California coast. If you didn’t make it to a Crew Party, you can still add your name to the Latitude Crew List to find rides for daysailing, cruising or racing.
How can we help more people have more fun sailing? We’re never quite sure, but we think about it every day. Judging from the attendees at the Crew Party most sailors do just fine. But if we can help connect you with your first Ha-Ha or your first sail, we think life will be better.
Thanks to all the attendees, Baja Ha-Ha participants, our hosts at Spaulding, Patsy for the seminar, and everyone who helps get the world sailing. If you made a connection or have a great photo or story from sailing the Bay or coast, send it to [email protected]. It’s always fun to hear where sailing has taken you.
