August 14-15, 2004 Oyster Point Yacht Club Cruise

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

Bill Higdon sponsored a cruise for I-36 members at his yacht club, Oyster Point YC. Ten boats, loaded with 29 people, sailed in Friday and Saturday, August 13-14; six more drove in, adding up to a great crowd of 35.

Ophira (Pat & Gary Salvo and pooch Cathy) and Kindred Spirits (Don and Barb Henderson) ventured down on Friday the 13th, and found sunshine once south of San Francisco. Ophira tried their main and jib for a good while but needed to add motor for lack of wind. We arrived two hours later in time for clean up, walk, a drink at the very accommodating Oyster Point Yacht Club, which welcomed us to use their lovely facilties. After a margarita (or 3) and wine, it was back to Kindred Spirits for a potluck. It was opening night of the Olympic games and the club had an Olympic sized screen in the bar, but weary boaters plopped and slept.

Saturday dawned overcast and never cleared, but was fine for walking and working on the boats. By noon, Snowflower arrived with Skipper Wall, Nancy, and her niece Elaine and husband Cory, having already shuttled cars to Oyster Pt. so Elaine and Cory could get their flight back to Kansas City. Walls' son Scott, wife Tracy and beautiful three-month old Kimberly arrived by car from Reno on cue for a good ole family get together on the boat.

Around 2:30, the rest of the contingent came floating in after an envigorating sail with no sun but lots of wind. The earlier arrivals helped them dock. Arriving: Dennis, Judy and Matt Bush on Natural High, Mike and Leslie Bennett with friends Julie and David Burns on Getaway, Smokey and Laurie Stover on Evanescence, Bill and Jim Higdon with Brian and his son Ian (11), and Ron and Karen Damsen (Woodbine), coming directly from a week-long off shore cruise to Monterey. They wound up with their cockpit facing into a stiff west wind. Undaunted, Smokey suggested they turn it around. With all the hands available, it was finally done--if only we'd had a shoehorn and gotten a picture of Woodbine blown crosswise up against and just outside the berth.

It was not long before everyone drifted up to the wind-protected Yacht Club deck for hors d'oeuvres and drinks, cards, chess and conversation. Escape, Bruce and Carol Hunter (arm in sling from recently broken shoulder), and Barbara and Fred Cucksey of Trinidad/Oakland drove in to join the cocktail hour. Robert Aston and Mary Gleim (Pegasus) arrived later by boat, then Glenn Zimmerman (Dayna Marie), who was doing a solo cruise around SF Bay for the day, dropped in.

Hungry sailors lobbied for an earlier dinner hour and the club stepped it up to 6:00 and soon we were cozily ensconced in the bar where attractively set tables greeted us. Caesar Salad and rolls were followed either by filet mignon or Salmon with scalloped potatoes and veggies.

Harry Farrell and Carol Willlams (Pacific High), who'd been racing, arrived. They missed dinner, but not the wine, and added to the jolly group.

Sunday dawned with a very low tide, but the promise of clearing on the horizen and brunch. Most of the group trouped up to the club and drank coffee and swapped stories while waiting for the food. Brilliant sunshine burned through the haze for a lovely morning. About 10:30 the incoming tide was showing some good water under the keel. Getaway left, quickly followed by Dayna Marie, then Kindred Spirits. Most got some sails up to pick up petulant, laggard winds. Kindred Spirits finally found some wicked winds (and tankers, barges, ferries) in SF Bay enroute to Sausalito. It was a very fun weekend, catching up with friends.

Big thanks to Cruise Host Bill Higdon (Blockbuster) for the invitation and making arrangements, and to Cruise Chairs Dennis and Judy Bush for coordination, email notifications and collecting dinner money.

Pictures are compliments of Bill Higdon, Barb Henderson & Ron Damsen. Click on images to enlarge, click "Back" to return.

Don finds Friday sun	Ophira on Saturday	Getaway	Ian loves lunch!
Getaway & Blockbuster	Ditto	Ditto	Pretty F-36
Closer	Overhauled	Closeup
Fuzzy traffic	Evanescense	Laurie makes fast	Great docking...
all secure.	Wall Family	Salvos potluck on KS	Rival shots
Cory & Elaine play	Damsens, Salvos on deck	Barb Henderson enjoys	Relaxation...
Judy & Dennis Bush	Laurie & Smokey	Pat & Gary Salvo	Ditto
Deck crowd	Skipper & Mike Bennett	Barb Henderson	Ditto
The Bush Family	Wall Family	Mike, Bruce & Don	All smiles (must be the wine)
Fred & Barb Cucksey	Carol Williams	Girl Talk
Great group	Very Civilized	Leslie (Bennett) & Julie & DAvid Burns	Carol Hunter talks to Mary Gleim
Kimberly's cave	Skipper, Mike, Fred & Don	Gary, Lauire & Smokey	Refresher course!
Commodore Farrell	Carol Hunter & Pegasus crew	Chat time	Barb Cucksey
Smokey, Karen Damsen & Bill Higdon	Cucksey, Damsen & Farrell	Don & Bruce	Tables of fun
Sartorial difference!?	Nightcap afloat	Lucky canine Cathy!	Lucky Bill Higdon!
Don and Hunters	Laurie Stover	Bennetts and friends	Brian, Ian
Bruce and Hendersons	Carol, Harry, Bill	Cuckseys and Aston / Gleim	The gang
Kimberly & parents	Matt, Judy, Glen, Higdon	Salvos, Laurie Stover, Ron Damsen	Brunch
Bushes, Higdons	Nancy & Kimberly	Sunday's major chess	Zimmerman & Stovers
Brilliant Sun.	Getaway 1st 2 get away.
Smokey smokin'	Smokey loafing	Sunshine!	Ophira & Getaway Going Home