Eight Bells – Mik Beatie
We are sorry to report that Mik Beatie died suddenly, yet peacefully, at his Corte Madera home on Thursday, December 11, with wife Suzi at his side. He was 67.
Michael Lauren Beatie was born in Hood River, Oregon, on April Fool’s Day, 1941. The son of a Navy officer, he was raised in San Diego, Hawaii and Marin County. Mik learned to sail early on with his father, a big boat racer back in the day. In 1964, the 23-year-old Mik was invited to sail the Tahiti Race aboard the ketch Orion, and thus began a long career on the water. He went on to sail on some of the premier American racing yachts of the time including Bohemia, Kirawan, Vixen, Stormvogel, Ticonderoga and Windward Passage.
Mik worked variously as a tugboat captain for Crowley Maritime, and ferry boat captain with Golden Gate Ferry. His excellent boat handling skills and good sense were relied upon though winter storms, the 1989 earthquake, and other crises large and small. Mik retired from GG Ferry in 2006 after 31 years.
Mik’s love of racing never faded. In between stints on big boats, he started racing Lasers in the ‘70s, later graduating to Express 27s (Beth! was one of the early hulls out of Alsberg Brothers) and still later, 11:Metres (Pier 23). Small keelboat sailing in San Francisco Bay allowed him to share his love of the sport with his only son, Hogan, who had joined the family in 1970. In 1986, Mik and Hogan took leave of work and school to travel to Australia as part of Tom Blackaller’s St. Francis YC-based Golden Gate Challenge America’s Cup team. They shared a room in the compound for six months. It was a situation some offspring might cringe to contemplate, but Hogan remembers it as a highlight of his life. “He’s always been my best friend,” Hogan said of Dad.
Mik is survived by wife Suzi, son Hogan, daughter-in-law Mariah Beatie, an aunt, two sisters, several nieces and nephews and three great nieces. And of course his unofficial sailing family, which may comprise much if not most of the Bay Area sailing community. All loved Mik’s keen perception of the qualities of people, tides and boats. His boundless sense of humor and entertaining ability to “talk story” will be fondly remembered and passed on by all who knew him.
Plans for a memorial had not been finalized at this writing. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to your favorite charity.