Sailing Point to Point with Mary Gidley

Last May, Latitude 38’s Racing Editor Christine Weaver caught up for a chat with Sausalito sailing legend Mary Gidley and her son Memo aboard their Elliott 1050, Basic Instinct. Chris came away with so much interesting material that she ran a three-part story starting in the June edition of Latitude. But that was only the tip of the literary iceberg that documents the history and biography of one of the Bay Area’s most colorful sailing families.

You may recall that Mary Gidley took part in the oceangoing social experiment documented in the film The Raft. Anyone who has the courage and enthusiasm to be part of such an ‘out-there’ experience — even for the 60s — must have a lifetime’s worth of stories and anecdotes. Mary has just that and has taken the time to document her life in a recently released book, Point to Point: The meanderings and musings of my life.

We were given a sneak preview when Mary popped into the Latitude office last week to show us her book. Unfortunately it was Mary’s only copy so we can’t give you a review, but we can tell you that Point to Point is now available on Amazon.

Though after the short few minutes we had with Mary, we’re determined to get hold of a copy and learn more about this inspiring woman.

Yesterday morning in Point Reyes, Mary and Memo Gidley raced their Elliott 1050 Basic Instinct in the Drake’s Bay Race amid light air and low fog.