San Francisco's signature "fog", meteorologically a layer of stratus clouds, blasted in a bit before sunrise on Saturday morning with gusts moaning in the rigging. But by the time folks were up and about the wind had died away and a few sun breaks pierced the clouds. But the forecast was for increasing southerly winds through the day in advance of windy and rainy Sunday.

Well, after 35 - 50 knot gusts chastened the fleet for the Spring Meeting last month, you can understand that folks were paying particularly close attention to the weekend forecast. By Saturday morning, a high wind advisory had been posted for Saturday afternoon, with winds in the hills above 1500' gusting up toward 50 mph. 747's aiming to land at SFO were directly overhead headed south - 90 degrees from their usualy pattern.

This was almost 24 hours earilier than we had expected. So, about 0900, Woodbine, Pacific High and Zenith cast off and headed for their home slips. Twenty minutes later, Woodbine, and the Pacific High were back. Woodbine's engine pulley was again acting up, and Pacific High came back to stand by.

Of course if an Islander has a problem, everyone has solution. While Harry Farrell brought his briefcase full of tools, and, it seemd, everyone else on the dock climbed aboard to offer advice, Woodbine stayed put. The mass consensus was that: a) the alternator mounting had been loose and vibrated; b) causing the shaft-mounted pulley to vibrate which: c) caused it to come loose, and d) the water pump is probably shot too. (Or six other explanations, depending on who you talked to!)

What with Chicken Lickin' screaming up and down the dock, Coordinators Dennis & Judy Bush prudently scratched the outdoor BBQ and simply told the remaining stalwarts - lunch is in the dining room! (Good Call!) So good in fact 18 of us enjoyed such fine menu choices as French Dip and Tuna Melt, but also the specials of Crab Salad and a delicious, rare, Hanger Steak on a French Roll, with Fires!!!

While we were gathering for lunch, Pacific High, having stood by valiantly for Woodbine, cast off and headed (downwind) for Richmond. That set the tone for Luna Sea and Ophira who also headed home.

Now one of the big attractions of this cruise-in is the very special and much appreciated treatment that the I-36 fleet has been given by Svendsen's Boatworks. Even the storm-threatened folks who headed for their slips came back by car to participate.

Barrett Linn, Svendsen's Rig Shop Manager, started the afternoon off with a great review of rigging issues as we gathered in the Rig Shop. It was informative just walking up and down the long layout benches and looking at the various parts, lines and wire types available. Barrett passed out an outline of talking points and asked for questions from the crowd. For example, he pointed out that 1x19 wire, which is relatively stiff, is typically used for standing rigging, and 7x19 wire is used for running rigging. Most wire is stainless steel, either type 304 or 316. Type 304 is a bit harder and stronger than 316, and might be used for racing on San Francisco Bay. Type 316 is shinier and resists corrosion better than 304, and is also about 10% more expensive, but would be a better choice for offshore cruising, particularly in warm and humid areas. Almost all marine rigging used today is made in Korea!

Answering specific questions, Barrett said the nominal life of standing rigging is about ten years. This is consistent with what the manufacturer says, and what many insurance companies use. A lot depends on the use and climate too. Fresh water is the primary friend of stainless rigging -- so if you sail in salt water, rinse the rigging on a regular basis, particularly where the wire enters the terminal fitting. Lifelines don't really have a "normal" life, it depends on care and odd strains that are applied. Under the racing rules, offshore racers now have to have uncoated lifeline wire, typically 1x19 and 3/16" diameter. For Bay racing and casual cruising the traditional vinyl coated lifeline wire if OK. It is typically 7x7 3/16" wire which measures 5/16" with the vinyl coating. You can also use Spectra line for lifelines, again about 3/16" in size. Spectra is softer to lean on, but it won't last as long as wire due to ultraviolet degradation.

By 1730 we moved over to the main chandlery to run up "boat bills". There was the usual great 40% discount on many things. Great bargains for lines too. Svendsen's crew is always helpful finding just the right thing you need. Ron Damsen even got a replacement water pump for his Pathfinder engine. It was another great shopping day.

Though many had come by car to Svendsen's, back at Encinal, only Snowflower, Paradesia and Vanishing Animal remained at the dock with people aboard. Dennis & Judy Bush had organized the traditional dessert table - but inside. Nicely laid out were all the topping for a great ice cream Sunday. Encinal members and friends of Charles & Kathyn Hodgkins, Fred & Margo Faygo completed the picture when they arrived with two half gallons of Tuckers Ice Cream. I think Skipper & Nancy's 6 year old granddaughter Kimberly enjoy her two helping the most!

With winds down for the moment a bit below 20 knots, Rick Vulliet shoved off with Paradesia and headed home to Berkeley. That left a most unusual Saturday night of a cruise - just two boats! Rick used the last of the twilight, plus the foredeck light, to install new running lights, then finished off replacing some corroded door latches and replacing standard 12 volt cabin light bulbs with new LEDs from Svendsen's. Before the switch, two cabin lights drew 2.5 amps, with the LEDs it was almost not measurable!

Sunday morning the wind whipped in as advertised. Around 0800 a gust at the dock hit 41 knots. Skipper, Nancy, son Scott & granddaughter Kimberly headed for breakfast at Oakland Yacht Club. Rick joined them too, bringing his foul weather gear along. Weather radar showed rain moving onto San Francisco as we sat down, and it arrived in Alameda a little after 0900. It was a delicious breakfast. Skipper was talking about slipping across the Bay to Pier 39, but at 1100, with steady rain and plenty of gusts, Snowflower was still secure at the Encinal dock. The San Francisco offshore buoy was showing 31 knots gusting to 37, and Half Moon Bay showing 35 gusting 43. Inside the Bay, Angel Island was recording a slightly lower 35 mph with gusts to 42 mph.

After Scott headed for the airport, Skipper and Nancy dressed in full suit foulies and advised they were going to make the run across to Pier 39 at 12:15. Not 15 minutes after they departed, a heavy squall blew across the Encinal dock, clocking 43 knots and torrential rain. Rick called Snowflower on Channel 72 to pass the word. I caught up with them a bit later, but they continued on, and in a little over an hour they reported they were across to the Ferry Building in the San Francisco's lee with winds down below 10 knots.

Rick waited for the frontal boundary to pass - which it did about 1530. NOAA radar showed the rain line now east of Oakland and draped mostly to the east side of the South Bay. Checking iWindsurf, all of the dozen sites in the South Bay were now reporting under 20 knots. Rick suited up for the ride home to Brisbane in the South Bay. It was easy going out the Estuary. A good omen appeared to be a shaft of sunshine on the Golden Gate Bridge with the green Marin Headland hills behind it. Sunshine painted a pure white San Mateo bridge, 16 miles south, against the black wall of (he thought) the departing back side of the front.

What at first appeared to be left over sloppy waves from the south were tough to punch into, but with wind still in the southeast, a small wedge of jib rolled out added power to drive through the waves. The wind instrument was taking a coffee break, but it seemed to be in the 15 - 20 knot range. Farther into the bay the seas got steeper and the wind shifted farther south and increased. No longer able to stay on the rhumb line, and unable to punch directly into the seas, Vanishing Animal bore away on a course north of Hunter's Point. About a mile from shore the wind instrument came back on -- but had something gone wrong? Steady readings in the 30's with frequent reading into the 40's. With waves now breaking across the boat and a lee shore ahead, it was time to roll in the scrap of jib. Done!

Now, could we continue south with motor alone? "Tacking" back due east was the only way to break through the standing waves that had developed as the new flood pushed against the wind, right at the corner of Hunter's Point. On two occasions the bow poked right into green water and we came to a stop, even with the engine at max throttle. Green water raced aft, some flushing under the companionway hatch and soaking the carpet and bunk. Turning south again it was rough going through the bounce-back seas off the concrete seawall until we crept another mile south making about 3 knots against it all. Once past the concrete, the seas were a little better and it was most joyous to to reach 4.5 knots between big rollers.

That black wall? It advanced steadily up the bay like a giant "U". To the east two brilliant short rainbows glowed neon against pure black. Though the San Mateo Bridge was long gone from sight, the giant hanger at SFO glowed against the background, and sun highlighted the showers in the hills to the west. Just under a mile from the Sierra Point channel the rain swept through - but thankfully only lasted five minutes and it was a great relief to turn west and run in toward the harbor. The wind was "only" about 30. Inside the harbor the masthead still read winds in the mid 20's, but on the surface it was below 10. With fenders out, the swing into the slip, fortunately dead into the wind, went smoothly and she came to a stop and hung just long enough for Rick to jump off and get both bow lines on their cleats. The ride, and the weekend, was over.

Epilog: Once home, a check of iWindsurf showed wind speeds had increased in the South Bay during the period, but none showed regular 30s and no 40s. But they were all close to shore. A NOAA discussion noted 75 knot winds in the hills, with a 120 knot mid-level jet streak over the Bay. Plus, the white scud in front of the black wall may have been a gust front. So perhaps the lower edge of all that was 50' off the water - at the top of the mast. The wind instrument has a "Max" feature, and back in the slip it read (if you believe it) 56!

Pictures, so far, by Captn Zen & Rick Van Mell. Click on images to enlarge, click "Back" to return.

Here we go ...	flags fly ...	waitng for fun ...	Ophira is here ...	Snowflower too.
Tucked in a corner ...	Chat time ...	Vanishing Animal	Spread out.	Alcohol tank pump ...
switch to right ...	feeds stove ...	gauge behind microwave ...	with valve & button.	Woodbine arrives ...
making the turn ...	figurehead Karen ...	lines ashore ...	moving back ...	nicely done!
Kit Wiegman	Pacific High arrives ...	in she comes ...	lines ashore ...	making fast.
Loran antenna ...	& loran set ...	end of life!	Party time ...	Bode agrees
So does Dan	Harry & son David	Luna Sea ...	brings libations.	Pat puts out treats ...
more arrive ...	Yvonne wants some!	Delicious!	Nancy brings mellon ...	all enjoy.
Hi Dennis & Judy.	ZAenith arrives ...	easy does it ...	bow line across ...	stern coming in.
Happy campers.	Back to nibbles.	If you'd done it this way ...	or this way.	Yvonne has found ...
a great place!	all lined up.	great Friday crowd.	Nice breeze.	End of day ...
Paradesia arrives.	Saturday morning ...	before the wind ...	all tucked in ...	friendly ...
Woodbine	Road to the ...	Flea Market!	PH ready to depart ...	Ron gets dressed ...

Islanders Depart

Islanders Returned

Art's leaving too.	Woodbine's back!	Harry too ...	Dr. Tools ...	Woodbine's enigne ...
pulley is askew	Bode is on watch	Scott, Kimberly & Skipper	Svendsen's is this way ...	Steve & Lou want to go
Blowing in the wind ...	step inside ...	all ears for ...	great stuff ...	rest of the crowd ...
paying attention.	Lots of samples.	Let's go shopping ...	great enticements ...	HOW MUCH?!!!
That's great!	Dessert table waits ...	for ice cream!	All hands dig in.	Rick & Magnum.