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Winter Solstice Sailing

By John Arndt | December 21, 2009 | All Over the Bay |
Dozens of sailors headed out on the ‘shortest’ sailing weekend of the year. Suzanne, Ariane and Alma on board Liberty, Alma & Sean’s Tayana 37, on their way out of the Estuary bound for Ayala Cove.

© 2009 Marianne Armand

About 20 sailboats and 65 sailors took the occasion of the winter solstice to mark the six-month countdown to Summer Sailstice with a winter picnic sail to Angel Island. Unusually pleasant mid-winter weather caused the guest slips at Ayala Cove to fill up as quickly as a mid-summer Saturday. And those who dressed for a cool, winter day were forced to strip down as they considered the brighter side of warmer winters.

Stockton sailors got in on the solstice fun too. “Eight boats sailed the 12-mile course around Spud Island,” reports Stockton Sailing Club’s Commodore Tom Lueck. “Most boats putting up spinnakers in 8-10 knots of breeze. After sailing, everyone met upstairs in the clubhouse for fun and food. Another great day!”

© 2009 Tom Lueck

Among the celebrants were Aaron Kennedy aboard his Beneteau 36.7 Ay Caliente, John Cabrall showing up with a couple of boatloads from OCSC Sailing, Drew Harper and his crew from Spinnaker Sailing, and Mary Swift and her Afterguard Sailing group.

Ayala Cove on the 4th of July . . . wait! No, that was taken yesterday!

latitude/John A.
©2009 Latitude 38 Media, LLC

The day started out cool, foggy and grey but everyone who crossed the glassy Bay that morning were rewarded with a sunny day at Angel. After a loud blast of a fog horn to signify the passing of solar noon at 12:07:35, barbecues were stoked and animals sacrificed to the pagan gods with ritual prayers for a bountiful sailing season ahead.

Iolani got in a great sail before the rain started. The upside of this being the shortest day of the year is that the days just get longer from here on out.

latitude/John A.
©2009 Latitude 38 Media, LLC

The gods must have been paying attention as, a short time later, a mild winter front rolled in from the north to generate a little ripple on the flat waters. With impatient seagulls waiting to clean up the picnic grounds, we all hurried to hoist sail for an afternoon romp on the Bay before the clouds opened up.

Sailing

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