
Cruising and Racing at Treasure Island on New Year’s Day
San Francisco Bay east of Treasure Island was unusually busy for a Wednesday afternoon — but it was business as usual for New Year’s Day. About the time that a race was starting there, another group was cruising into Clipper Cove, an anchorage sheltered by Yerba Buena Island to the south and Treasure Island to the north.
The Race Out
The very casual race was courtesy of the Master Mariners Benevolent Association. The MMBA’s tradition is to race from TI to Point San Pablo Yacht Club, where the sailors celebrate the New Year with a chili cook-off and potluck.






The Cruise In
Following the brief pause to take pictures of the New Year’s Day Race start, we on Bob Johnston’s Richmond Yacht Club-based Alerion 38 Surprise! entered Clipper Cove and tied up to the Farallone Clipper Hana. The cruise-in was even more casual than the race, with no Organizing Authority. It’s basically just a group of friends rafting up, also for a potluck, including holiday leftovers. The big hits of this potluck were Stephen Buckingham’s Louisiana-style crab chowder and Rachel Porter’s homemade San Francisco sourdough bread. This was the ninth year of the gathering.

Richard vonEhrenkrook, the ringleader of the cruise-in, had planned to come on his Cal 20, Can O’Whoopass, out of San Francisco YC, but Atom Farrell, who owns Brigadoon, invited Richard and crew to join him. Richard told us that Brigadoon’s keel goes from 4 feet, 6 inches to 9 feet. “She’s bluewater-capable, but we’re not afraid of getting out of Clipper Cove.”

The weather forecast we heard on KCBS that morning called for “bright skies with some overcast.” Well, which is it? Turns out it was mostly overcast, with little to no breeze midday, but a decent (though cold) northeasterly later in the afternoon. These conditions made for mostly motoring to Clipper Cove, but allowed for a nice sail back to various Bay Area homeports.

Wow! Wish I was there for the spicy crab chowder!
What a great little event ! We had our annual Gin Fizz party at the Inverness Yacht Club .
Meanwhile, in the Treasure Island YC Clubhouse, there was Hot Clam Chowder and “fixins” for after the annual “Round TI” cruise that went by the rafted fleet. Enjoyment for all in Clipper Cove.