Reports of Previous NorCal Nor'Sea Activities

Jill and I got up Saturday about 7 AM, and it still looked like it was dark out! We have a lot of early-morning and late-evening fog, so we were not to put off by it. The tide was such that we didn't expect to depart our marina until about 9:30 or after. At 11:00 AM, still in deep fog, we decided that because we were hosting this thing, and it might not be foggy in the upper bay, where most of the Nor'Seas are located, we would depart.

Visibility was just under 1/4 mile. As we pulled out of the channel and left the last marker astern, we were out of sight of land! Thank goodness for GPS!!! I had plugged in the waypoints a few days ago, so we ran on it all the way. When we were about 1.7 miles from the San Leandro channel, I did manage to pick out the markers.

To make a long story short, only 2 boats showed up: "Guenevere" and "Wings." I can't say I blame anyone for not coming; it was foggy all over the bay! Also, only one couple showed up by car -- that we know of. I posted a sign on the light pole at the park that told where we were, but didn't get anyone from that.

At any rate, we didn't get to do any videotaping on this cruise-in. I thought I would tape our boat this week sometime, give the camera back to Frank Hooper, and let him get some tape of the boats up in the Oakland Yacht Club, then send you the tape.

One thing was interesting. We had posted a notice about the cruise-in in the Latitude 38. When we were checking in at the marina office, a lady was there looking for the Nor'Sea get together! She and her husband have a Union 36, but were very interested in Nor'Seas. They joined us for our cocktail hour at the restaurant, our visit to Spinnaker Yacht Club, then again for brunch on Guenevere. We had six at the new cockpit table and had a good time (from 0900 to 1130 or so).

Wings and Guenevere departed about the same time, around 1400 or so. The ride home was sloppy with short steep slop! Going out the longgggg channel was a pain, as you had to head directly into it! Wings was ahead of us, and at times I could plainly see their bowsprit pointing at the sky! If I was not so busy taking care of Guenevere I would have loved to get a picture of that!! It makes you feel GOOD to know how well our boat can handle it!

I think Wings had a much harder time getting home, as they were head into it all the way home! Guenevere was a bit better off. Our course allowed us to set our reefed jib and fall off a bit to quarter the waves. We got back to our slip about 1700.

As we were putting things in place after the trip, I found we had bounced enough to pop open the chain locker door! Another thing to put on the to-do list: "find a better way to secure the inside doors."

On Labor Day weekend (1997), a last minute get together at the Oakland Yacht Club took place. Three boats gathered at the club marina on Saturday evening. Kalolina, with Carolyn and Frank Hooper; Wings, with Mari and Gary Campbell; and Guenevere, with Jill and Greg Delezynski. John and Beth Lewis arrived for dinner, without their Proper Motion, as it's in SoCal. We then proceeded to scarf down one large amount of -great- food, -great- stories and tips, and just a wee bit of spirits. We talked 'til almost midnight.

On Sunday morning we gathered again to enjoy a wonderful brunch. About 11:00, just after brunch, we started an event for the record books. Six of us boarded Guenevere, dropped the dock lines, motored out into the channel, set the full main and 150, and sailed for about 2 hours or so. We then returned to the dock, made the boat fast and transferred to Wings. Proceeded to the channel and sailed for about 2 hours more. Returned to the dock and made Wings fast. We had a quick lunch then boarded Kalolina! Once again out to the channel and -sailed-!! Three Nor'Seas sailed by the same people all in one day!! -It was -great!!-p> All the more so, as this was the maiden voyage for Frank and Carolyn aboard Kalolina. They have worked on her for almost a year now, and it was time to drop the tools and grab the lines!!

Now, I must point out that after the sail on Kalolina, we had to christen her. Being good Nor'Sea owners, we opened two bottles of champagne, but only two glasses seemed to make it to the bow. The rest was soon gone to a warm spot in our tummies, along with a bit of -great- wine Gari and Mari brought back from Spain! What a day!!

Monday, Guenever and Wings departed about noon for there home waters, complete with Carolyn waving from the end of the dock as we departed, saying it was sad to see us go. We answered, "That's cruising, baby."

John and I spent several weeks on the hook in Tomales Bay, north of San Francisco Bay in August, 1998.