Home	Emery Cove Cruise Memorial Day May 25-28, 2012

(If you like, you can skip down through the prose and go straight to the pictures below!)

A blustery week, even by San Francisco Bay standards, blasted into Friday with gale force winds. That didn't phase Snowflower (Skipper & Nancy Wall), Luna Sea (Dan Knox & Myphi Alloy), Freedom Won (Commodore John & Nanci Melton), and Natural High (Dennis & Judy Bush) from sailing into Emery Cove, due east of "The Slot", to join resident Ophira (Gary & Pat Salvo) to kick off the weekend.

We're still waiting for the rest of the details, but rumor has it that there was a great sampling of Trader Vic's signature rum concoctions to finish off the evening.

On Saturday, locals Rich & Takae Watters climbed aboard Tacoma Blue and by mid-afternoon White Horses (Rob Blenderman & Ruby Wallis & Mary Jane Rubio) and Vanishing Animal (Rick & Sandy Van Mell), rode 20 knot winds into the cove.

About an hour later 4 Choices (Robert & Robin Scholl, & crew Justin, Rosanne & Bob) arrived with their flapping torn jib hour-glassed around the headstay. They has sailed almost 20 miles from Redwood City when the jib let go about a mile from Emery Cove. After neatly tucking into their slip under power, the Islander team helped them free the jib sheets, pass them around the headstay several times and reverse-wind the sail until the clew came free. Then we rolled the jib out and lowered it to the deck. Many hands quickly passed the tack and clew down to the finger dock and neatly folded it, ready for a trip to the sailmaker.

Craig Huffsmith, (Arete'), and Corky & Anna Stewart (Brigid) drove in to make it 12 strong. Around 1630 the crowd of Islanders gathered on the sheltered patio next to the Emery Cove office to begin the evening with nibbles and two full tables spread with simple to exotic feasting. Rich Watters brought a portable gas grill and helped John Melton sear perfect skewers of shrimp and veg, followed by his own succulent chicken. Add in Corky's shrimp and rice, Myphi's fried rice, pasta, lasagna, beef & cheese sandwich rolls, and several good dips, there was plenty of food for everyone.

It was around 1900 when the half-frozen Califia crew (Tim, Franzisca, 2 kids and new puppy Nalla) showed up. There was plenty of food, and even some beverage to welcome them into the group.

Though the late-setting sun still shone on the Oakland hills and the wind still whistled while fog enwrapped the Golden Gate, your Islander crowd filtered back to their boats around 2100.

Saturday morning dawned with light wind and San Francisco Bay's signature "June Gloom." You could say the morning went to the dogs. Islanders walked the dock giving attention to three golden retrievers, Teak (Vanishing Animal), Tucker (Natural High), and Riley (Freedom Won). Add in little black & white Tacy (Freedom Won), and puppy Nalla (Califia) and the canine corps is complete.

The sun drove off the "fog" (really low stratus) by 1300 as the afternoon breeze filled in. Califia sailed off to enjoy the day, and maybe hang out until the 2130 fireworks celebrating the 75th anniversary of the golden Gate Bridge, then head into their home slip in Sausalito. Dan Knox and his Luna Sea crew headed out for a day of sailing too. Around 1530 we helped White Horses out of her slip for a short sail back to their home in Berkeley marina. After hikes, projects and just plain lazy, we geared up for car rides to and dinner at the Berkeley Yacht Club. As we departed, skywriters spelled out a curving, "GEICO, more than just car insurance," above the SF waterfront.

Four car-loads did the trick, and the last of us arrived at the Berkeley Yacht Club in time to watch White Horses ride the afternoon wind down the channel and into the harbor. We've even got a video of them too. Guitarist Marc Babin (marcbabinmusic.com ) kept a mellow jazz background going as we assembled the tables into one long row, patronized their beverage offerings, and enjoyed their simple $7.50 buffet dinner with choices of salad, potato salad, foot-long hot dogs with trimmings, chili, enchiladas, and au gratin potatoes.

Jim Higdon (ex-Blockbuster) & friend Cossette joined us, as did Rick Vulliet (Paradesia) to bring our grand total to 14 Islander participants, with, as best we could count, 38 people. As the sun set, the crowd at Berkeley YC settled in to wait for the Golden Gate fireworks celebration at 2130.

In a spectacular 20 minutes, the black sky, clear of the normal evening fog, exploded with color and laser light in celebration. Even from 8 miles away it was spectacular. The opening salvos radiated whites, greens, blues and brilliant reds. After about ten minutes there was a lull. Was that it? Nope. The second half opened with a wave of red balls rising, end to end - one mile long -, from the deck of the bridge. Cascades arched from both the north and south towers. White followed red, then red repeated in spades, almost racing the length of the bridge, then almost swaying with color. The grand finale produced so much smoke it drifted all the way to the Bay Bridge, and half-hid the view from Emery Cove. But clear it was as the booming cannons echoed over 8 miles to wrap it all up. We caught a brief minute's worth for you to view. The roar is the wind on the camera. The pictures were from Tim Bussiek aboard Califia, they and Paradesia, were out on the water. But what a fun way to top off an Islander weekend cruise.

Monday morning, Memorial Day, dawned bright and mostly clear with some ragged stratus still blowing in on the west wind. A lazy start to the day had Tucker, Riley and Teak walking ashore by 0830. Skipper & Nancy headed home with Snowflower shortly there after. Nanci Melton was serving up breakfast aboard Freedom Won for a few. Rick & Sandy headed Vanishing Animal homeward about 0940. It was a great way to wrap up the weekend.

An extra morning treat for those headed south were great views of the replacement east span of the Bay Bridge under construction, a bright San Francisco, and a special Memorial Day treat, the aircraft carrier Nimitz in all her glory.

A special thanks to Gary & Pat Salvo for being the Cruise Coordinators for the weekend, with lots of input and help from Rich & Takae Watters. it was one great weekend!

Pictures (so far) by Rick Van Mell. Click on images to enlarge, click "Back" to return.

John, Nanci & Gary	Nancy	At Trader Vics	Myphi & Pat	Skipper & Nancy
Gary too	It was all good ...	to the last drop!	Nav station ready ...	Still in slip.
Ok, we're in Emery Cove	Yea!	Corn's cooking	Plenty of breeze ...	stretched out.
Tucker ...	wants a scratch.	Ruby, Mary Jane & Rob	Myphi, ?? & Dan	Gary's in charge
Robert & Ruby	Takae's happy	Skipper, Nancy & Anna	Great platter from John ...	that for me?!
Master chef Rich	Table 1 ...	Table 2 is full too!	Cool in the breeze ...	flying hair
Rob & Corky	Corner confab	Good eats ...	lots of smiles.	We came this close!
Girls talk	Good vibes	ditto!	Walk a crooked mile!	Pic of Rick!!!
Saturday morning EC ...	is cool & cloudy ...	both docks.	A morning chat ...	goes quickly to ...
the dogs ...	John & Riley ...	and Tucker.	Getting attention ...	more attention ...
Easy going ...	chatting neighbors ...	and Tacy.	Above us was ...	GEICO skywriting!
Berkely Hbr entrance	White Horses enters	Toward the city	Old Berkeley Pier	4 Choices crew
rest of Islanders ...	spread around ...	places.	Marc Babin ...	joined by Rick & Sandy.

White Horses Enters Berkeley

Marc Babin's Jazz Guitar

Outbound tour boat	White Horses crew	Bright sunset.	Waiting til dusk.	Back at Emery Cove ...
Internet connection booster.	Bridge Cascade	Bright Lights	Lots of Red	New Bay Bridge
City by the Bay	CVN-68 ...	The Nimitz ...	Mighty Proud!

Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary Fireworks

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