Spring Meeting San Francisco Yacht Club March 13, 2010

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

Seventy-eight (yes, 78) Islander folks came to kick off a new season, and they represent 41 different boats. It was one great Spring Meeting weekend.

But, for a second year in a row Mother Nature showed who was in charge. Snowflower and Ophira left Golden Gate Yacht Club (yes, the home of the America's Cup) at 0900 for the short 4 mile run across the bay to San Francisco Yacht Club in Belvedere. They had hoped to beat the rain, but still got wet. Vanishing Animal, 14 miles to the south, departed her Brisbane Marina slip at 0910, just as the rain started there. Snowflower & Ophira had an uneventful crossing and were all snugly tied up before 1000.

With south southwest wind in the 10 - 15 knot range, light rain, and a 135% jib rolled out, Vanishing Animal had a fast trip of two hours to the western tip of Angel Island - three quarters of a mile from SFYC. Then the wind piped up: first 20, then 25, then 30 then 33. A tack and run close under the lee of Angel Island, plus a momentary lull, were the answer for Rick to get the jib furled while single handed. After setting the fender and dock lines in place, the last half mile run into the harbor wasn't too bad. But, having tried to raise Snowflower on VHF with no luck, it was going to be a single handed landing. Mother Nature delivered a howling 35 knot gust just at the moment, but the Perkins roared with reverse, the boat stopped and rick jumped ashore with the stern line and the rest was easy.

Pacific High was next about 1230. Wind still howling. Harry went to make a circle to raft on the far side of the dock and got blown off - did fine on the second try. Next was Mai Pen Rai. She wound up as a "T" on the end of the dock, then we walked her aft and the wind blew her stern down alongside Ophira. Noble reported that he had steady 40 knot winds and a gust to 51 knots. The heavy winds caught up with them as they passed The Brothers, and the confused seas took their toll on dog Annabelle who scummed to mal de mare. It felt that way at the dock too.

The wind had switched to the north by the time Woodbine made the same circle as Harry and was walked back outside Vanishing Animal. Finally Dan Knox single handed Luna Sea over and after also doing a one-and-a-half circle, got pulled in backwards outside Pacific High.

All this in rain and winds over 30 knots at times and without a raised voice and not a scratch on any boat. It was certainly a Great 8 that settled in to enjoy Friday evening as the rain and wind taped off to almost nothing.

Woodbine invited all aboard for cocktails and dinner. Cheese, dip and wine were plentiful. Karen's lentil soup with home made giant cheese and sea salt pretzels started dinner, and Harry's chicken, Nancy's bean salad, Karen's wild rice salad, and Rick's rice and sausage somehow stretched to the 13 people squeezed into the cabin. And, there was still room for Karen's Woodbine made carrot cake for dessert. We started at 1700, and happily headed back to our own boats and bunks by 2030, with clear skies and bright stars now overhead.

Here's the full list of attendees. If you see names on pictures, check back here to put names and boats with faces.

Boat	Owner	Crew/Guests
Because	Tim Shea
Blaze	Chris Rossiter
Blockbuster	Jim Higdon	Jack Thompson, Russ & Jane Monroe
Blue Streak	Don Schumacher
Brigid	Corky Stewart
Captain Hooke	Tom & David Newton	Beau Woodward
Cassiopeia	Kit Wiegman
Diana	Lou Zevanov
Everyday	Gail Giacomini
Fast Forward	Jay Hooker	Bob Schuchardt
Flyer	Jim & Martha Robinson
Geja	Andrew Vic
Groovy	Alan Warren
Gypsy	Jim Calahan	Bob Briggs
Island Girl	Dana & Ann Smith
Kapai	Rick & Kathy Egan
Kindred Spirits	Don & Barbara Henderson
Laughing Matter	Michael Daley
Luna Sea	Dan Knox & Myphi Alloy
Mai Pen Rai	Noble & Barbara Brown
Mischief	Kathryn Hodgkins
Mistral	Fred & Barbara Cucksey
Nantucket	Richard Doyle
Natural High	Dennis & Judy Bush
Ophira	Gary & Pat Salvo
Orion	Ray Duran	Ed Gallagher, Daniel Margulies, Pam Prentice, Tom Allegretti
Pacific High	Harry Farrell & Carol Williams	Michele Williams & Jimme Moller
Pegasus	Robert Aston & Mary Gleim
Serenity	Eric Meuller	Liz Schafer, Roger & Susan Anderson
Slow Dance	Tom Embertson	& son
Snowflower	Skipper & Nancy Wall
Tenacious	Kris, Christine & Ryan Youngberg
The Irish Rogue	Gary Connors
Vanishing Animal	Rick Van Mell
Vitesse	Tom Furlong
White Horses	Rob Blenderman & Ruby Wallis	Lisa Lindsey
Windwalker	Rich Shoenhair
Woden	Bob Knickerbocker & Maureen Drotleff
Woodbine	Ron & Karen Damsen
Zenith	Art & Betsy Fowler
Zingara	Steve & Jocelyn Swanson

Saturday dawned crystal clear with light wind in the sheltered cove at SFYC. It was a morning for a leisurely breakfast, a few chores and assisting the arrival of additional boats. Natural High, Fast Forward, White Horses and Orion all arrived in time for Attitude Adjustment at 1130 hours. Adding SFYC Islanders in their slips, Blue Streak, Vitesse, and Jim Robinson morphed Islander, the catamaran Flyer - with I-36 burgee flying, we had a total of 15 boats present on the water. Land yacht arrivals came too, as you can see in the list above.

Coordinators Carol Williams and Mary Gleim got everyone checked in, and even managed to squeeze in an additional table just outside the doors to accommodate some last minute additions. It certainly was a record crowd! It took a few extra minutes to get everyone headed in and seated, but a wonderful lunch was served to all hands. Many thanks to the great crew at San Francisco YC for delicious salad, entrees, and apple torte dessert.

Commodore Michele Williams welcomed several new members and long time members we'd not seen in a while. New members included Chris Rossiter (Blaze), Gail (and Merv) Giacomini (Everyday), Alan Warren (Groovy), Eric Meuller (Serenity), and Gary Connors (The Irish Rogue). Also recognized were long time members Dana & Ann Smith (Island Girl) and Tom Embertson & his son from Minnetonka, Minnesota (Andiamo).

The business part of the meeting flowed along with frequent bits of humor. Minutes were read by Dennis Bush. Treasurer Pat Salvo said we were comfortably solvent. Bob Knickerbocker repoted Membership for 2009 was 229, with 162 already paid for 2010 (pay up, the rest of you!) and we had 24 new members in the last year. He went to to award Perkins engines the top rank with 64 in the fleet, Yanmars with 41, Westerbeke with 19 and Atomic 4s at 17. Kathryn Munn provided card-size, magnetized Cruise Schedules, and being the great gal she is, did the same for the Racing Schedule. No excuses for missing any! Then Kathryn & Dennis Bush promoted the Encinal Cruise with the great Svendsen's Discount Night on April 10th, and this year the I-36 fleet will have a booth at the early mroning Fle Market in the Encinal parking lot. (Get signed up for that weekend now!) David Netwon topped off regular business with a quick review of the racing schedule and encouraged all - racers and cruisers - to come to the Sail Trim Clinic at Golden Gate YC on April 17th.

Fred & Bark Cucksey then took the floor and with a great chart of the entire east coast and Caribbean, outlined their ten years of cruising from the Panama Canal and Honduras, east through Columbia, Venezuela, Trinidad, Aruba, Bonaire, Curasau, then the Leeward and Windward Antilies, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Bahamas, and then all of the east coast of the US, clear on up into Canada to St. John, New Brunswick, home of the famous Reversing Falls. We would have enjoyed staying all afternoon to gawk at one more jaw dropping picture after another, and we did until time ran out at 1500.

The day wrapped up with the Higdon Scattering Cruise and Martini Toast. About a dozen of Bill and Marge's family came to town, from as far as Kansas City, to join the celebration. Jim Robinson offered his catamaran Flyer to take those that didn't fit aboard Blockbuster. About 30 people in total climbed aboard Natural High, Ophira, Pacific High, Luna Sea and Vanishing Animal. The weather was as perfect as it could be. Bright sun with a touch of 1600 glow, a strong 3 knot ebb, and gentle 10 knot northwest wind cradled our seven boat flotilla as we gathered near Little Harding Rock buoy.

Jim Higdon and grandniece Jane Jones did the honors of scattering Bill & Marge, respectively, on the ebb, accompanied by flowers forming a great trail headed for the Golden Gate. In keeping with the great humor of the Higdon clan, an offering of Jim Beam for Marge, and Tanqueray for Bill followed in short order. Then the fleet headed back for the docks, some with jibs unfurled in the dying breeze.

Back ashore, all hands gathered on the dock between the Islanders and a Higdon Martini Bar was set up in Vanishing Animal's cockpit. Jim Higdon shoed Rick the official way to make a Higdon Martini. Ice in the cup sprinkled with a bit of scotch. A quick swirl, then, holding the cup over the side, pouring out the scotch through ones fingers. Fill with gin, add olives, onions or both as desired and hand it off to be enjoyed. Jim & Rick poured them as fast as they could for the crowd on the dock. Trays and plates of goodies were laid along the side deck so there were munchies to go with the Martinis. When Jim stepped ashore to join the crowd, Jane Jones came aboard to help with the making and delivering. Jane, it turned out, runs her own retail liquor store back in Kansas City - perfect choice. If anyone had been counting, around 60 martinis were enjoyed, along with a few pure scotches. Bill & Marge were celebrated in style. As night fell, the Higdon clan headed off to Sams for dinner, Land yacht Islanders headed home, and the rest settled aboard Ophira and other boats to finish off the last of the food. Fine, faint blue lingered in the sky to the northwest, Islander burgees made a last lazy wave, and a seagull glided away into the night. All was at rest.

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To: San Francisco Bay Area Members of the Islander 36 Association:

On behalf of the Higdon and Fox families and our friends, I want to thank you all for reserving a special place in the association’s 2010 Spring Meeting for the spectacular honor and moving tribute paid to Bill and Marge Higdon on Saturday, March 13, 2010. I have experienced few, if any, such grand conveyances of love and personal regard.

What all of you need to know and remember is that my father loved you all in return. His warmest friendships were acquired with you people, and Marge appreciated you all the more for the happiness you provided. And the association now fills a special place in each of our hearts. We will always remember Saturday for the remainder of each of our lives.

I especially want to thank Rick for his expert organization, and Jim Robinson for providing his cat, Flyer, to shuttle additional family members and friends who could not all fit on Blockbuster (and, of course, for providing the martini ice). Thank you, Jack, for your help piloting Blockbuster to Tiburon during a raging storm (simply because that’s the way Dad would have done it).

For my part, personally, I find myself unusually speechless. Let me simply say that I love all of you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you…

Jim Higdon
Blockbuster (for one day, the most important boat in the fleet)

Higdon family's pictures: http://homepage.mac.com/johnhigdon/dadsparty/

Pictures by Barbara Henderson, Lou Zevanov, & Rick Van Mell. Click on images to enlarge, click "Back" to return.

Says it all!	A lull at the dock	Tough going ...	getting Blockbuster in ...	almost there ...
Gary's got her lined up ...	Jack Thompson says thanks ...	Jim Higdon does too.	Skipper heads below ...	followed by Nancy.
Karen & Ron close the top.	Wind switched north.	Sun break ...	on Tiburon hill but ...	still black above.

After the Wind Shift

Pat peaks out ...	waiting for Luna Sea	here she comes ...	Dan's all wrapped up ...	making a swing ...
getting pulled back ...	loooong stretch ...	bow's under control ...	Carol's got the stern.	Now it's time to ...
smile!	Friday's 8 ...	left raft ...	right raft.	Flags a' flyin'
Still dripping.	Dinner time ...	port side hello ...	starboard side too ...	simple but good ...
visiting friends ...	Jack & Jim arrive.	Soup & pretzels ...	mighty good.	Almost birthday girl ...
I did it!	Micheal Daley & Alan Warren	Fast Forward	Great dockside ...	both sides ...
morning Jimme ...	ditto Corky ...	Skiper too.	Vice Commodore Robert	Very appealing
Rich watters arrives ...	Ready for arrival of ...	Orion ...	easy does it.	Genoa check lines
Our fleet.	Cove house is ready ...	Eric checks in ...	Mary shows off ...	Cucksey's 10 year travels
Tom's the man ...	Harry & Chris Rossiter	Serious talk ...	can we do this? ...	Kathy & Rick Egan
Cool shades ...	BIG shades ...	No shame - er - shades	Try it this way	That measures in
Serious business	Don Schumacher	Tim says it all.	F-36 Model pics	Ready to eat!
Here comes Genoa.	Chow down	Happy campers	Corky & Tom Tom Embertson behind	Barb, Fred & Pat
Jack, Jim, Jim & Bob	Jay, Bob, Jack & Jim Tom embertson behind	Tom, Beau, Michael Chris, Richard, Dennis	All smiles	Serenity crew
Hi Myphi ...	and Gary Connors	Dana & Ann Smith & Alan Warren	Should have tacked!	Lou got Rick's pic
and Barb too!	This family measures up!!! (the Youngbergs)	Commodore Michele ...	hard at work.	Dennis does minutes
Pat does numbers	Bob does members	David does ???? (racing)	Encinal Coordinators	BAADS raffel
Annabelle's feeling better	Higdon cruise ...	headed out ...	Blockbuster	Luna Sea & Vanishing Animal
In position	setting up ...	ready to go ...	rest of family on Flyer	Mission accomplished
Cast on the waters	Good vibes ...	past Natural High	and Luna Sea ...	and Pacific High ...
Ophira too	Offering for Marge ...	And Bill ...	well poured!	Cheers to Bill & Marge!

Bill & Marge

Headed in ...	set some sail ...	Natural High	A beautiful sight	the golden Gate.
Passing Angel Island	thanks Jim robinson Flyer	Here's to Bill & Marge!!!	Higdon Martini Bar	Jane serves
All enjoy ...	full dock at twilight	Spirits take flight.

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