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Not Long Ago People Found a Moment for Sunshine and Sailing

As sailors adjusted their habits, a few tucked in a sail in last week’s sunshine.

The Richmond Yacht Club wasn’t blowing starting guns for the first Wednesday evening beer can race of the year. Instead, the sailors were flattening the curve when they’d rather be flattening their sails, practicing social distancing instead of their starting technique. Just the same, it was a sublime day for crisp spring sailing and kayaking, while maintaining at least 6 feet of separation, of course!

Cruising in an El Toro
Author Tom Burden chills out in his El Toro, holding the towline for wife Susan’s kayak.
© 2020 Susan Burden
El Toro Tow Line
A 15-ft towline maintains distance as we head for Brooks Island.
© 2020 Susan Burden
Sunny Moth sailing
This athletic Moth sailor enjoys herself on a brilliant Richmond Riviera afternoon.
© 2020 Susan Burden
Evening cruise
Three boats sailed an evening tour. Here are the two leaders entering the channel.
© 2020 Susan Burden
Solo sailing
Out for a solo sail in Potrero Reach.
© 2020 Susan Burden

Good memories. Sunny sailing is on the horizon.

4 Comments

  1. Ann Krieg 4 years ago

    Thank you Tom and Susan for letting us see (and vicariously experience) one of our local sailing arenas from the comfort of our dwellings while Sheltering In Place.

  2. Mark V Blum 4 years ago

    F660 is Nautigal, A Myron Spaulding design built by Anderson & Christofani in San Francisco for my late father, Ben Blum and launched in 1939. It’s great to still see her out on the bay.

    • Robby Robinson 4 years ago

      Mark send me a contact email — I’d love to correspond with you. I’ve owned Nautigal for a couple years now, but sailed with the previous owner Jeff Stokes for many years. As you know Nautigal is a great boat (1938 on the document) and best of all it is two years older then me. Robby Robinson, [email protected]

  3. Jeremy borsos 4 years ago

    Mark V Blum, I’m a collector with a penchant for ephemera. I’m about to travel and can’t find it right now, but I have an empty champagne bottle signed by various people on the label for the launch of the “Nautigal” in 1939.

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