A beautiful Friday morning found Snowflower already at Encinal, but Vanishing Animal and Luna Sea arrived around mid-day, and arrivals continued through the afternoon and into the early evening. With Snowflower and Zenith keeping a radio watch on channel 72, boats found their way in and were greeted by friendly hands.

Dan Knox took some of our out of town guests for an afternoon sail on Luna Sea. That included Bert Vermeer from Sindey, BC, Canada, Pandora Nash-Karner, our logo designer from Morro Bay, CA, and Deb Tucker from San Diego, CA. Unfortunately Tom & Carol Embertson from Minnetonka, MN arrived about twenty minutes after Luna Sea shoved off.

Meanwhile, Carey Vermeer teamed up with Sandy Van Mell to sort 130 T Shirts and welcome packets into bags for the arriving boats. Rick was grabbing them as fast as boats arrived and passed them out. Mas Tiempo was having some engine problems, so Ophira gave them a tow into the Encinal basin, where they were gently tied to the dock - and got their engine running again.

Now what else do you think happens when Islanders get together? Walk & talk and offer nibbles and libations. Back and forth between the clubs and boats were friendly faces wearing their All Islander Rendezvous name tags. Rumors spread quickly on the Oakland docks that John Melton on I makes great margaritas - and everybody piled aboard until they spilled over onto Ophira tied along side. Over at Encinal, Woodbine became the magnet and an equally happy crowd gathered with nibbles and liquid cheer.

Dinner hour was designated as 1830, and from both docks all hands made their way to the Oakland YC. Glasses were filled at the bar as more people met each other, then continued to chat in the line to place a dinner order. Oakland did a terrific job of serving about 45 Islander folks, plus a good count of their own members with delicious dinners. Special thanks to club manager Craig Wong and food and beverage manager Elaine Mendes.

A friendly welcome from the Encinal Commodore was much appreciated by all hands, then our Islander Commodore, Art Fowler also welcomed all and particularly thanked our out of town members for coming. Bert & Carey Vermeer from Sidney, BC were the originators of the All Islander Rendezvous in Canada, at Thetis Island, in 2005, and their model is what worked well for us too. The special graphic logos which have graced three Canadian and this rendezvous were all created by Islander 28 owner Pandora Nash-Karner who was warmly applauded for her designs. Tom & Carol Embertson hail from Minnetonka, MN and keep their boat at Bayfield, WS, a stones throw from Lake Superior's beautiful Apostle Islands. Deb Tucker lives aboard her I-36 Simple Pleasure in San Diego. What a treat to have them all come join us.

An uninvited guest, however, was the patter of little rain drops late into Friday evening. Their tapping waxed and waned through the night, but fortunately tapered off around 0900 Saturday morning, leaving a damp, cloudy sky with little wind. It hardly dampened spirits as everyone made the rounds looking at boats they had not seen on Friday, and generally took life easy.

Our Fun Race was advertised for a 1430 Skipper's Meeting and 1500 start. the good news is that the sky was starting to clear, but there was a glassy surface on the water. Yet, we had 13 folks who wanted to crew on a racing boat, and six boats that wanted to race. Encinal Commodore Tony Shaffer served as Race Committee leader and welcomed the determined racers - though he was skeptical any win would materialize. After explaining the rules (which were minimal), We had the two I-28 skippers, Brian Forster of No Agenda & Bill White of Horizon take first pick of crew. Since Harry Farrell already had his whole racing crew on Pacific High, that left Art Fowler of Zenith, John Melton of Freedom Won, and Dan Knox of Luna Sea to choose from the rest. We declared a 30 minute postponement to wait for wind.

Commodore Tony was even more doubtful and headed to the bar for reinforcements. But our intrepid Islander sailors were not to be denied their time on the water. One by one they left the dock as sunshine parted the last of the clouds. Sails were hoisted - and drifting was commenced. The postponement was extended another 15 minutes. The flags, sails and water remained still. With Race Committee volunteers Pat & Gary Salvo and Dennis & Judy Bush joining Tony on the L Dock, plus a number of spectators, Plan B was initiated. Using channel 72, the fleet was challenged to an race under engine up to the No Wake mark off Jack London Square and back - with the I-28s getting a two minute head start on the I-36s. The challenge was accepted, and the I-28s took off, with Freedom Won starting two minutes later.

Zenith, with brain trust Lou Zevanov aboard, thought there was now the faintest of wind, and convinced Pacific High and Freedom Won to abandon the power ride and practice light air sailing together. So off they drifted slowly down the Estuary chasing little puffs of wind. They did return about two hours later, but a comment heard at dinner was, "we walked back on the sidewalk faster than the boats were going." Which prompted the retort, "yeah, but how fast was the current on the sidewalk?"

Meanwhile the I-28s came steaming back to the finish line where Tony fired of the gun for first to cross the line, Horizon. But a protest was promptly filed by No Agenda a minute back saying that Horizon had turned the wrong mark. Of course Horizon pleaded that the Coast Guard had instructed them to turn earlier because of national security - and indeed there was a fleet of 4 or 5 CG duck boats zipping past to Coast Guard Island. We resolved the issue by awarding both boats a bottle of All Islander Rendezvous label wine.

This time the hors de oeuvres moved inside at Encinal's bar where rendezvous T shirts were everywhere in evidence. Lots of goodies were consumed, along with many glasses of goodies. Our senior and Honorary member Bill Higdon was present, still going strong at 87 - I think we lost count after his second signature martini. With great joking from the balcony, our cooking team fired up the charcoal to grill dinner. Dennis Bush led a rousing band of Corky Stewart, Tim Shea, Gary Salvo and John Melton in piling charcoal high and flipping burgers and chicken for 70 people. Dennis was even called out for one last round for 5 burger and 5 chicken to feed the last hungry crews. A marvelous job was done by the cooking team, and special thanks to Encinal's food and beverage manager Kim Klopping who supplied the team and filled the buffet with salad and beans, and set the Regatta Room with great tables. Dan Knox gets credit for organizing the wine - both red and white bottles graced every table with an All Islander Rendezvous label. And dessert carried out the theme with the logo on both a chocolate and white cake. Thanks to Bert & Carey Vermeer for starting that tradition at the 2005 Thetis Island rendezvous.

About 45 happy, hungry souls converged on Oakland YC on a sunny Sunday morning for their bountiful buffet breakfast. T shirts again were abundant, and many lingered over a second cup of coffee sharing stories and ideas. One by one boats headed for their home ports, and by noon the docks were mostly empty.

But great memories lingered on. New friends, enthusiasm for the rendezvous, and looking forward to future gatherings glowed long into the afternoon. Some went sailing. Vanishing Animal and Brigid crossed paths between the San Francisco city front and Alcatraz as Brigid headed west to poke out under the Golden Gate Bridge, and Vanishing Animal, with Bert Vermeer aboard, headed into the South Bay and home. It was one great weekend. Thanks to all for making it so. See you at the next one.

Pictures are by Carol Williams, Dan Knox, Ron Damsen, Captn Zen (G. French) & Rick Van Mell. Click on images to enlarge, click "Back" to return.

Oakland ...	Yacht Club & ...	Encinal YC host	All Islander Rendezvous
Friday's sail has Bert ...	Pandora	Myphi ...	& Art ready.
Dolce Vita Dennis Gade	No Agenda Brian & Lisa Forster	Mas Tiempo David & Jamie Cowell	Brigid Corky & Anna Stewart
Woodbine Ron & Karen Damsen	Start of Encinal ...	rafting	Dog Days James Williams
Bert Vermeer relaxes	Lazy afternoon	Diana Lou & Diane Zevanov	Zenith Art & Betsy Fowler
Info signs all around	Freedom Won John & Nanci Melton ...	hosts party time	Smokey & Laurie Stover
Good libations ...	and goodies ...	are ...	everywhere.
Luna Sea Dan Knox & Myphi Alloy	Mist Bill & Rebecca Wright	Kit Wiegman & newest crew	Carey Vermeer Natasha
Deb Tucker Simple Pleasure	Lou Zevanov tells a tale ...	Sandy Van Mell likes it ...	So does Pat Salvo
Bert Vermeer Natasha	Diane Zevanov	Barb Henderson Kindred spirits	Tom Embertson Andiamo
Carol Embertson	Gary Salvo	Nanci Melton	Dan Knox
The Friday crowd ...	gathers at Oakland YC	Welcome shows ...	Pandora's rendezvous logos ...
& arrivals by car & Info	"I want it"	Bill & Diane White Horizon & Art Fowler	Pandora (Califia) Bill White (Mist) Bert & Carey Vermeer Lou Zevanov
Goodies and talk	Brian Forster, Ron Damsen& John Melton	Tom & Carol Embertson & Myphi Alloy	Dan & Myphi flank Anna Stewart & Jamie & David Cowell
Dennis Gade & Robert Scott	Corky Stewart	Robert Aston & Mary Gleim	Jamie & David with Rick & Sandy
Happy table	Rick Vulliet with Corky & Anna	Brian & Rick ponder	Dan & Myphi with Deb Tucker
Dennis Gade with Robert Scott & Mary Ward	Robert & Mary with David & Jamie	Carey & Bert Vermeer	Pandora & Sandy
Great dessert	Go for it Art!	Rainy Saturday morning	Ducky weather
Starting to dry	Freedom Won John & Nanci Melton	Ophira Gary & Pat Salvo	Evanescence Smokey & Laurie Stover
Pretty three	Rayelle (I-41) ...	Dan Dionne & Kimmy Mattos	Vanishing Animal Rick & Sandy Van Mell
Pacific High Harry Farrell & Carol Williams	Vang project	Pegasus Robert Aston & Mary Gleim	Sugartime Bob Scott & Mary Ward
Snowflower Skipper & Nancy Wall	Horizon Bill & Diane white	Paradesia Rick Vulliet	Natural High Dennis & Judy Bush
Deborah Stern & Jim Williams Dog Days	Tucker appears to be on the wrong boat"	Looking good	Ron, Karen & Pat
Dock time ...	for Teak	Dan, Gary, Kathryn & Rick	Good raft
Kathryn Munn Mischief	Kapai Rick & Kathy Egan	Brian, ...	Bill & Colleena wait for wind.
Mary Ward & Bob Scott	Dennis Gade	Robert Aston	Rick clicks
Gary, Harry & Carol	Skipper Wall	Carol clicks ...	future Islander owners
Friendly signs	"It says here ..."	Steve & Harry	Youngest Miglio!
Dock party	Race Committee - Dennis, Judy, Gary, Pat & EYC Commodore Tony Shaffer	Crowd gathers for ...	Fun Race Skippers' Meeting
Waiting for wind	Painted ships ...	painted sea	"Look, they're under power"
Right on!	Light air practice	Pre-party party!	Jim Williams & Bill Higdon
Brian, Cathy, Carey & Bert	Deb Tucker & Kathy Egan	Deborah, Sandy & Captain Zen	Dan, Maureen, Bob, Corky & John
Judy Bush, Skipper Wall	Nancy & Pat	Kit & Yvonne ...	(You don't say)
Kit Wiegman & Evonne Michele Williams	Lou Zevanov & Michele	A happy Harry	Food frenzy!!!
Linda & roger McClellan & Tom Embertson	Karen Damsen & Sandy Van Mell	Tim & Rhonda Shea Lean Times	Mary, Robert, Rhonda & Kathryn
Lucky Bill!!!	Lucky Laurie	Harry, Carol, Lou & Diane	Art, Harry, Roger & Linda
Robert & Mary	Kathryn & Rhonda	Carol & Harry	Dan & Myphi
DSC00703	Art & Roger	Pandora	Corky & Don Wilson
Myphi & Jamie	Jim's still going strong	Tom Jones & Michele	Bill & Rebecca Wright
Deb Tucker's happy	Jamie's empty	Dennis starts ...	the dinner grill
Getting good	Dennis, Corky, Gary & John master chefs ...	getting smokey ...	going strong ...
and wild!	They agree!	Ready to ...	gather for ...
Our Group Photo!	dinner means ...	chow time ...	for all hands ...
with libations & ...	no more martinis!	Sugartime crew	Mist & Woden crews
Pandora & Gary - Califia	Laughing Matter Michael & Karen	Dog Days Deborah & Jim	Blockbuster - Bill & Jim
Rick, Gary & Pat	4 R Sanity Roger & Linda	Nanci & John Freedom Won	Ernie & Brigitte Stock Picante
Nancy, Skipper & Judy	Jamie & Dave Mas Tiempo	Colleen & Brian No Agenda	Kathy & Rick Egan Kapai
Ron & Karen Damsen Woodbine	Last round ...	sizzles & ...	Dennis delivers!
Good enough to eat ...	Chocolate &	Yellow.	Delish!
Happy time	What ya thinkin'?	Prize time ...	Winner's bottle.
Thirsty ...	crazies.	Scary - mellow	Bev & Don Wilson Rachel Rose
"It's like this..."	Sunday breakfast ...	sees ...	Bill & Deb ...
Carol & Harry ...	round table talk ...	at many tables.	Dan & Myphi.