Home	New Year's Eve 2009 Alameda Yacht Club & New Year's Day 'Round Alameda Cruise

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

A week-long forecast of 60 degree weather mesmerized our Islanders into planning for an extra-glorious New Year's Eve party. As it turned out nine Islanders helped usher in January 1st in style. Four boats were on the water, with three others represented in the crew, plus two were on land yachts. So here's the story.

Well, the number was right, but it didn't apply to the waters of San Francisco Bay on Wednesday, December 31st. Though it burned off later over land, that morning dawned with thick fog everywhere. Even starting at the southern end of Silicon Valley, the fog was thick that morning. But, going north on highway 101, past San Francisco airport, bright sun broke through the liquid mist and cast strong shadows far and wide.

Yet two miles later, at Brisbane Marina harbor, the sun was barely visible through a thick veil. Thinking it would probably continue to burn off, Rick & Sandy departed at 1315, into the fog. Not even the channel markers were visible from one to the next. GPS linked to FUGAWI on the laptop told us where we were. Securitee calls on channel 16, and monitoring vessel traffic on channel 14 gave us a good idea of other big boats. There was almost continuous radio traffic on channel 14, with regular reports of visibility less than a quarter mile. We did find two big objects looming out of the fog close aboard. Both were anchored ships and caused Sandy considerable anxiety at the helm while Rick was navigating and keeping watch.

A hundred yards into the Oakland Estuary the Oakland hills stood out clear against a bright blue sky. Smokey & Laurie Stover were the impromptu Coordinators for this weekend, and they had a slip waitng for Vanishing Animal at Fortman Marina, adjacent to Alameda Yacht club, where they are members. An additional slip was available for Luna Sea, but Dan chose to walk over to Fortman from Marnia Village.

So our New Year's eve group was assembled. It was a warm, almost 60 degree, perfectly still late afternoon. It was just right for those "million dollar sun" pictures around the marina. Rick & Sandy hosted a potluck dinner aboard Vanishing Animal with spaghetti and Sandy's famous sauce well simmered in the galley. Even Teak wanted some! Aboard came Smokey, Laurie & Dan with green beans and some wine. By the time cheese and crackers were finished the meal was ready, and all enjoyed.

Smokey drove Dan to a BART stop so he could meet up with Myphi for a company New Year's celeebration, and Laurie took a short nap. Rick & Sandy popped Mama Mia into the laptop, plugged the headphone jack into the ship's stereo, and settled back for some great entertainment waiting for the ball to drop.

Alameda YC put on a fun, casual party to welcome the new year. A few nibbles, a fine bartender with $3 drinks, and a DJ playing songs off a laptop - what more could you want. Chat and dancing carried on right into 2009. A good time was ahd by all -- but it was early to bed for the big party on January 1st.

It's called various names: " 'Round The Island Parade"; " 'Round Alameda Parade"; or just the New Year's Day Around Alameda parade. There's talk of visiting "all six yacht clubs", and "getting your circumnavigation" certificate. But, whatever the name, it can be great fun when conditions are right. Despite being able to find just about anything on the Internet these days, your author was unable to find any cogent description of the event, a starting time, specific stops to make, or any mention of the history of the event. Even going to individual yacht club web sites didn't fill in the picture very much.

For those that have not been there before, let's start with some basics. Alameda, CA is actually an island, just west of Oakland, separated by the Oakland Estuary. While the Estuary, particularly at it's entrance, is wide and deep enough for 1000' container ships, when it narrows at it's eastern end where three bridges connect it to Oakland, it's quite narrow and getting shallow fast. At the southeastern end, at San Leandro Bay, it's connected to Bay Farm Island - where Oakland Airport is located - by a 4th bridge. Going west from there into San Francisco Bay, there is an unmarked tidal slough that has 6-8 feet of water in a very narrow band. It's about 15.5 miles around the Island. Here's what it looks like on the chart:

Alameda - Overview

Alameda - Bay Farm

Alameda -Little channel

As you can see, there's not enough water to take 6' of draft out into San Francisco Bay at low tide. At least 5' is necessary, so that's the first requirement for a successful New Year's Day 'Round Alameda parade! It helps, of course, that high tide be at a convenient time -- this year's 1430 was pretty close to perfect.

Then there's the claim for "6 yacht clubs". Island Yacht Club offers a "Certificate of Circumnavigation", but there are no rules listed. Their web site has a great Flyer that talks about coming by between 5-7 pm! The most established yacht clubs on the Estuary are Oakland Yacht Club, which mentions "New Years Day cruise around Alameda", and even a "Poker Run", but the club isn't open on New Year's Day, and Encinal Yacht Club, which doesn't mention it at all on their web site, but Past Commodore, Charles Hodgkins of I-36 Mischief, sent us all an email that "Encinal will be serving clam chowder, Chili and hot dogs. The bar will be open." No times given. Then there's Alameda Yacht Club, where we enjoyed a great new Year's Eve party, but it wasn't open on New Year's Day. At the eastern end is Aeolian Yacht Club which is best set up for the whole deal, but lists practically nothing on its web site. Here's really the place to get great chili, gin fizzes, and bloody marys. It always draws a crowd, and since it's before the shallowest water, you can reach it with as little as 2-3 feet of tide. On the San Francisco Bay side, there's Ballena Bay Yacht Club, which also doesn't mention the run, but serves great little burgers and beverages. So, of six clubs, two were closed for New Year's Day, and Island YC "invites you and your Crew to “black top” over to our clubhouse after the cruise and receive a FREE signed CERTIFICATE OF CIRCUMNAVIGATION." Whatever it is, it's fun!

So, on New Year's Day, with Smokey & Laurie leading festivities on Evanescence, Vanishing Animal (Rick & Sandy) and Luna Sea (Dan & Myphi Knox & Myphi's daughter) were joined by Dennis & Judy Bush's Natural High to form a 4-boat floatilla. As crew, Commodore Corky & Anna Stewart (Brigid) joined Smokey & Laurie, and John & Nanci Melton (Freedom Won), and Fred & Barb Cucksey (ex-Misfit) crewed with Dennis & Judy. Charles Hodgkins & Kathryn Munn (Mischief) joined up by land yacht at Aeolian YC - picture included below. Finally, Rob Blendermann and Ruby Wallis (White Horses) rolled into Ballena Bay, and even managed a boat ride back to Alameda YC. So that's a total of 9 boats represented!

The bridges went up easily on the way to Aeolian, and even rafting up wasn't too bad. Warm sun and light wind made for a fine stop as you can see below. Rick lost the coin toss as lead boat going out into San Francisco Bay, so with a couple of catamarans (drawing nothing) ahead, and the GPS tied to the laptop, the parade slowly worked the 1.5 miles west into "deeper" (read 4') water. While Vanishing Animal continued on west and back to their home port of Brisbane, the rest of the fleet turned north into Ballena Bay Yacht Club.

Smokey continues: We all got to Ballena Bay YC just fine and tied up where we could, as the marina was packed. Burgers, potato salad and spiked egg nog were in fashion there. You would not have been disappointed in this friendly crowd.

Laurie and I had made friends with a car-driving couple and took them aboard for a sailboat ride back to Alameda. Ruby the Welder and Rob had a late start and they drove to BBYC to hook up with us. They joined Dan Knox and his crew for the return to Alameda.

The crowd regathered at Encinal YC where they had an ample source of chili dogs, clam chowder and build-your-own Bloody Mary's. We entered our slip at about 1700 and drove our new crew back to BBYC and ended this long eventful New Years Day after our trip to home in Fremont.

Once again, your Islander Asociation demonstrated seamanship and friendship to start 2009. May it continue all year. .

Pictures, by Smokey & Laurie Stover, and Rick Van Mell.
Here's also a link to: Dan Knox's Pictures. (Use Internet Explorer.)

Click on images below to enlarge, click "Back" to return.

0-0 Fog Astern	Thank god for light!	A San Francisco icon ...	gets a new bottom.
That's her!	"I prefer sun."	Matson to Hawaii ...	nose to nose.
Jack London Square	The Animal is ...	tucked into Fortman ...	where it's cosy!
Alameda Yacht Club	Back aboard ...	is a jump.	A shed Christmas!
Neil Lefmann's Freeport 36	Smokey's pride ...	glistens!	Ready for sea!
I think ...	my nose ...	detects FOOD!	Ready for guests
Satisfied Smokey & Laurie	Dan thanks the cook!	Big deal.	Minutes to New Year!
Great Party!	From the porch ...	to the dance floor ...	a great time.
"If you tell me ..."	Smokey & Laurie's corner	No!	Hush .....
Pour me another ...	Tell me another ...	You bet!	Doug is a ...
fine Drinkmaster!	Who shot whom?!	Slightly blurred, but going strong	Miss 2009!
Grand solutions	Great talk	Wonderful relaxation	Don't miss a beat
Laurie's happy, ...	got Rick too ...	and got her Man!	Crowd scene
Refill time	Now shape a leg ...	don't miss a beat ...	lots of laughs.
Whew! No Fog!	Little boats lead to ...	big boats ...	Lazy Smokey
What's more ...	natural than ...	Natural High?	All Smiles
John & Nanci too.	Go Dennis!	It's Vanishing Animal!	Rick clicks
Now gather round ...	and you shall hear ...	the tale of crowns ...	oh Anna ....
Happy New Year!	And Lauire too ...	WE WANT OURS!	here's a toss ...
that just falls short ...	so Rick passed a line ...	and they hauled over ...	to get the crowns!
Glorious crowns!	Big Deal!	Side shot ...	but FRED, where's yours?!
Dangerous Dan ...	arrives on scene ...	but Myphi's in Command ...	as signals are made.
Well done all!	So now it's time ...	to make some waves ...	Around the Island!
You guys again?	Just stretch it out.	What?!	Park Street Bridge ..
going up ...	then Fruitvale too.	Go Dennis!	There's just one more ...
now it's astern.	Islander parade ...	to Aeolian docks ...	Anna's made fast ...
and looking good.	The Club is humming!	Commodore Corky gets a Bloody	The chilli's geat ..
with lots of stuff.	Sweet harmony!	Judy, Dennis & Barb ...	Myphi & daughter ...
Dan, Judy & Dennis ...	Laurie, Nanci & John.	Fred enjoys a sip	Just great!
A Picture of Rick ?!!!	And Smokey too!	It's Charles & Kathryn	Waiting for the ...
Last bridge to scarry waters	STAY IN LINE!	That's why!!!!!

Return to Main Menu