Coyote Point Yacht Club Rendezvous August 11, 2007

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

Coyote Point sits about 16 miles south of the Bay Bridge, downwind of the San Bruno Gap which is the wind funnel that blasts San Francisco Airport (SFO) with morning fog and afternoon gusts. It sure lived up to its description for this cruise.

Skipper & Nancy Wall's Snowflower and Vice Commodore Ron & Karen Damsen's Woodbine made the trip south on Friday. Snowflower got in by noon, when it was still flat, but Woodbine arrived like a crew of drowned rats after rolling through quartering seas in 25-30 knots of wind. When Rick & Sandy Van Mell drove in for dinner about 6:30, it was quite nice, with the sun shining. But the wet gear still hanging on Woodbine attested to the fickle waves of the afternoon. Coyote Point's bar and meal service were most welcoming for the vanguards of the Islander fleet, and a very tasty dinner was truly enjoyed.

The main event started Saturday at 1100 with Cruise Coordinators Corky & Anna Stewart's Birgid leading the way from the center block of the Bay Bridge. It was a cloudy sail under the "fog" (actually low stratus with a ceiling of about 1500 feet) as the fleet started south. A stiff westerly pushed them along, with speed-over-ground readings touching in the plus-nine-knot range thanks to the strong flood tide.

Rick & Sandy Van Mell had cheated a bit, edging Vanishing Animal from Brisbane harbor also at 1100, but they were already eight miles ahead of the main group. Still, they arrived at Coyote Point Yacht Club just about noon with some patches of sunshine, but also gusts building to 15 knots or more. By the time the rest of the fleet arrived an hour later, winds were pushing into 20+ knot territory. All were glad to be there, and lined up, one by one, in Med-Mooring style at the CPYC dock. Here's the list:

As an extra treat, here's a link to a video clip of Brigid pulling into the med-mooring line. The file is a Quick-Time movie, about 15 megabytes in size, so it might take you some time to load. Brigid Arrival.



By 1400 all were secure and happy. The usual Islander friendship spread along the dock. Dan Knox kidded John Melton about who was in front of who along the way. We talked about old pro Dennis Bush getting Natural High caught in a puff making his first pass at the raft and then tried an elegant backing-in approach. It was going just fine until he ran aground - but he simply put it in forward, powered off, turned around and came right in. And speaking of Natural High, their mascot Tucker literally jumped ashore to run down the dock and say hi to Teak from Vanishing Animal

The afternoon quickly slipped away and two crowds slowly gathered on Woodbine and neighbor Luna Sea. It's not like anyone planned this - it just happened. Well, maybe it had something to do with the great pitchers of Margaritas being assembled on Luna Sea - complete with the required dusting of Grand Marnier and a big plate of brie. But on Woodbine, delicious tidbits of artichoke dip on French bread, Judy Bush's piping hot, bacon wrapped, bites, plus (somehow) Corky's Birgid Special Rum Punch attracted an equal number of partakers. It was a tough call, but Corky finally declared that dinner preparations would begin ashore in the yacht club at 1700, and all hands should be present and accounted for by 1800 to enjoy the offering.

And a fun offering it was. Corky loves to cook Tri-tips and chicken and did them to a turn, while roasting water-soaked corn-on-the-cob on a third grill with the other hand. Meanwhile, the suous chefs were chopping up salad in the galley and serving up potato salad, cole slaw, and garlic bread. CPYC had a great racing afternoon, and their members also added to the long buffet. It all made for a nice full dining room, with a cheering section from the bar. Everyone enjoyed the bountiful buffet that was served up.

As the main course (and seconds) disappeared, our Vice Commodore Ron Damsen clinked for attention and rose to thank the Coyote Point Yacht Club for their hospitality and reception of the Islander fleet. He thanked John Melton for originally scheduling the cruise, and Corky & Anna Stewart for being the Ccruise Coordinators. Corky then presented CPYC with a donation of $110 from the attending boats as a "Thank You" for their hospitality toward the Islander fleet.

Ron then invited all present to join in a surprise birthday, with a cake baked by Karen Damsen (of Ron & Karen Damsen - aka Woodbine Bakery fame), for Sandy Van Mell. All rose and sang, and Sandy blew out the candles with a little help from Evanescence's granddaughter Sara. What a great way to wrap up the eating part!

You'd think that would be the end of the story. But, no. It seems Birgid's Windex got blown off a week ago, and, while Corky & Anna had bought a replacement, no one had yet gone aloft to install it. Now if you've been following these Islander cruises, you might have noticed that there is one stand-out pole (err) mast climber in the group. That being none other than retired Pac Bell line splicer Pat Salvo. So, while Anna Stewart worked to do dishes, Corky and a few others hoisted Pat to the top of Birgid's spar to install a new Windex. Pat wore a headband light to do the job, and it was nearly dark when she finally came down - mission accomplished.

There once was a thought of having movies after dinner. Drive-in participants Robert Aston and Mary Gliem even brought a popcorn popper. Dan Knox had a bunch, as did Corky, but, by 2100, the fun of the day had taken its toll and all retreated to their cabins. Movies over.

Typical summer stratus had already started filling in overhead as we turned in, and by Sunday morning the normal cool, grey blanket was in place. The tide was out too, but the breakfast call was scheduled for 0830 and that would (excuse the pun) tide us over until enough water returned to confidently depart. Rick, Corky & Anna brewed up the coffee, cut up the fresh fruit, and set out the O.J., muffins and bagels for all to enjoy. Eventually everyone ate their fill, and by 1000 the sun was bright and enough water had returned to get under way.

It was a great weekend, good friends, good food and very relaxing.

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

Welcome to ...	Coyote Point Yacht Club ...	well, so ....	Woodbine & Snowflower...
wait for more ...	Luna Sea arrives ...	Dan ties up ...	Natural High is next ...
backing in (show off) ...	Luna Sea waits for ...	Judy to toss a bow line ...	Skipper's got the stern ...
Here comes Evanescence ...	neatly in place.	Proud bows	Great fleet
Dan is one of many ...	Happy crews ...	greeting and swapping ...	stories.
Hey, what about me?	Rick starts the web page.	Corky starts Tri-tips ...	then chicken and ...
corn ...	Skipper supervises ...	Corky starts corn ...	Tri-tips share ...
grill space ...	WHERE is mine?	Chicken browning ...	garlic bread coming ...
Note the T Shirt ...	Sandy's helping.	Beautiful fleet.	Chow time for all ...
lots of good ...	platefulls ...	with lots of ...	options ...
Great clubhouse ...	"I'll take one..."	Hearty Islander ...	eaters ...
everywhere.	will I ever get MINE!	Birthday girl ...	blows 'em out ...
crowned with glory	aw shucks ...	hot lips!	Masthead Pat at it again.
Dark Sunday morning ...	little water ...	for us.	First sunshine ...
let's get breakfast.	T'was a great weekend at Coyote Point.	Bye!

Return to Main Menu