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Foul Weather Sailors

By Andy Turpin | December 6, 2010 | San Francisco Bay |
A wayward duckling gets some special instruction Sunday on inducing heel and trimming for light air.

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© Latitude 38 Media, LLC

We’ve never thought of ourselves as fair-weather sailors, but we have to admit, it never even occurred to us to go sailing yesterday on San Francisco Bay. It was one of those cold, gray, rainy days when watching football in a cozy den sounded like the obvious ‘recreational’ choice.

It’s often said that learning to sail in dinghies is the best way to learn the fundamentals. Taking responsibility as a solo helmsman requires concentration while building character.

latitude/Andy
©2010 Latitude 38 Media, LLC

But we’re happy to report that not all local sailors wimped out yesterday. And among those who braved the elements — which at times included torrents of rain — were several dozen newcomers to the sport. As seen here, young trainees from Richmond YC spent hours coaxing their El Toros around buoy courses in sheltered waters near the club. Who knows, with dedication like that some of their names may be making headlines here, and in Latitude 38, in the years to come.

While the kids were running buoys in the Richmond Channel — with the historic coastal freighter Wapama in the background — we think we may have captured just about every possible sailing angle in one shot: (l to r) beam reaching, running, beating, broad reaching and close reaching. Look out, Bay racers, here comes a whole new batch of competitors.

latitude/Andy
© Latitude 38 Media, LLC
Sailing

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