Home	Half Moon Bay Cruise 8/31-9/3, 2018

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

Summer stratus prevailed as the first wave of boats headed out the Golden Gate on Friday morning, turned left and headed the 25 miles down the coast to Pillar Point Harbor in Haf Moon Bay. This included a large contingent of Encinal Yacht Club boats, organized by Bill & Susan Nork (Zenith). Light winds most of the way resulted in motor-sailing, with some nice breeze as the group got down to Half Moon Bay and made the long down-and-back loop to clear the shoal that is home of the mighty Mavericks Surf contest in winter.

On Saturday, Green Flash, Freedom Won,Zingara and Luna Sea followed the same route to join the fun. Again, it was light wind and overcast most of the way.

Half Moon Bay Yacht Club always puts on a great Labor Day weekend, with special meals three days running, and this year their Theme was Bond, James Bond. From the great graphic at the entrance to the cutout figures scattered around and even the Bond-vs-Villain tug of war they carried out the theme in grand style. The gas firepit ovelooking the harbor was a much-appreciated warm blaze in the chilly 60 degree weather.

Saturday afternoon, Rick & Sandy Van Mell (Vanishing Animal) drove down to join the fun. Susan Nork presented the HMB YC Officers with an I-36 Burgee and it was added to the grand display flying from their flagpole. Bill & Susan also arranged a big dinner for 50 people at the classy Italian restaurant Mezzaluna, a short walk from the Club.

The first row of pictures shows the route from the Golden Gate Bridge down to Pillar Point Harbor at Half Moon Bay. You will note the extensive rocky reef that requires about a mile detour to get safely into the harbor. The last picture includes Sail Rock, the center of the Mavericks Surf contest that (sometimes) happens between November and March if the conditions are right. If you want to see what it can look like what the surf's up, check out Maverick Surfing Championship 2005.

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

Golden Gate Bridge to Half Moon Bay	Avoiding ship channel	Harbor approach	Sail Rock -Mavericks	Big waves
Welcome too ...	Pillar Point Harbor ...	in Half Moon Bay.	Harbormaster's office ...	posts day's catch.
Walk the docks ...	take your pick ...	sea urchins too ...	BIG fish.	Blue sky never got here.
Local crafts ...	Seafood restaurants ...	fresh caught ...	grilled and fried!	Mavericks surf shop.
Happy Nara!	Looking west over anchorage ...	Looking east.	HMB Yacht Club ...	Hosts 007 ...
step right in ...	get registered.	Bonds vs. Villains Tug-O-War	But Nara's happy ...	"Yes mom?"
Zenith flies burgee	Green Flash too	Zingara arrives.	Luna Sea too ...	with Freedom Won.
Cable ferry brings ...	John ashore ...	with Bill & Susan Nork and Encinal friends.	Sea lion dock ...	No feeding!

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