South Beach - Giants / A's Game June 14, 2008

Home	South BeachRendezvous Giants vs. A's Game June 14, 2008

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

A windy Friday afternoon blew 15 Islanders to South Beach Harbor, at Pier 40, just south of the Bay Bridge for a great rendezvous and baseball game. The San Francisco Giants' AT&T Park backs up to the marina, so it's a short walk from the boats to the ballpark. Treasurer Dan Knox, Luna Sea, organized the whole thing, complete with getting a big bunch of slips together, and then 37 tickets together in a big block down the third base line.

When Harry Farrell and Pacific High arrived on Saturday, plus others that drove in, our 16 boat total was complete, with 42 folks enjoying the fun. Here's the list:

Boat	Owner
4 R Sanity	Roger & Linda McClellan
Brigid	Corky, Anna & Katie Stewart
Dream Catcher	Vern Verling & Cheryl Lawson
Evanescence	Smokey & Laurie Stover + Sarah
Freedom Won	John & Nanci Melton
Kindred Spirits	Don & Barbara Hendrson
Lean Times	Tim, Rhonda & Ian shea
Luna Sea	Dan Knox & Myphi Alloy + Mom, Daughter & Sister
Natural High	Dennis & Judy bush
Ophira	Gary & Pat Salvo
Pacific High	Harry Farrell & Carol Williams
Paradisia	Rick Vulliet &
Snowflower	Skpper & Nancy Wall, Kevin & Julie Wall
Vanishing Animal	Rick & Sandy Van Mell
Woodbine	Ron & Karen Damsen
Zenith	Art & Betsy Fowler + Brad & Jen

But the fun began Friday as Islanders assembled from morning until late afternoon. With minimum rafting there was dock access for almost all. Smokey & Laurie made Evanescence's deck available as the buffet table, and a great spread of dishes soon appeared. Among the goodies were shrimp, pork roast, two cole slaws, a green salad with olives, strawberries and cheese, garlic bread, crackers, bread & salsa, watermellon and a fun pineapple/sausage kabob. since there obviously wasn't enough food, Woodbine rolled out two great cakes and Paradisia a beautiful marzipan fruit torte with a raspberry sauce & whipped cream.

Fog had long since filled the slot - reaching the Berkeley shore in early afternoon - but by 1900 in had spread south overhead, hiding downtown San Francicso, and glowed in the lights of AT&T Park. It was game on, with the crowd noise easily heard aboard, often as an echo from the various radios that were tuned in. Alas for Dan the Giant's Man, it was Oakland the pevailed in the first game of the series. Maybe we Islanders could bring them luck on Saturday.

Saturday morning was typical San Francisco June Gloom. A chilly, damp, foggy west wind still starched flags as we awoke. But being strong in spirit, the Islanders emerged from their bunks with a smile and headed up the dock. A diner of serious San Francisco lore is Red's Java House, and it's located right at the head of the docks at Pier 40. This venerable dive has produced simple fare, and great coffee, from a nondescript little box of a building. Decor is a mix of a couple of J class America's Cup pictures, half covered by a string of beer and Go Giants flags draped in no special way around the walls. Menus were mostly marker on whiteboard, but the food was good and the coffee strong and hot. At least a dozen Islanders made it for breakfast, with omlets and hash browns the most popular choice.

By 1030 the fog had burned back to the west side of town, and the usual activities commenced. Pat Salvo organized gropup 1 to head for the Farmer's Market, Anna & Katie Stewart hiked off for an architechural tour, then the Damsens rounded up Farmers Market 2. Corky Stewart pulled out drill and tap to install new Harken ends on his traveler.

At noon, Corky and Dan Knox hiked up to South Beach Yacht Club to continue a new Association practice of making a donation to the Junior Programs of YCs that welcome the fleet to their clubhouses. A picture and (sideways!) sound clip captured the moment. (Now if your Webmaster can remember to hold the camera horizontal in the future, you won't get a stiff neck watching!)

All the hikers returned in time for an early start on dinner at 1530. By 1600 food lined Paradisia's deck and everyone piled their plates full. Then by 1730, the whole crowd was bundled up and headed for AT&T Park and the Giants vs. A's game. It was great fun having 37 Islanders in a group, but to Dan's chagrin, Oakland jumped out to a one to nothing lead in the first inning, and the Giants never scored a run.

It was early to bed, then many boats started leaving South Beach early on Sunday. But it was a great weekend, and everyone complimented Dan Knox on doing a fantastic job organizing the weekend.

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

Woodbine at the Gate	Heading for fun	A fine afternoon	Happy girls	Friday welcome
Paradisia arrives	Curious onlookers	Happy Sarah	John joins up ...	Dan does too
End Raft	Looking west	Dog gone good day	Smokey's happy with ...	new steering gear
Paradesia ...	an Islander 40	*Woodbine*	Pair 1	Pair 2
*4 R Sanity*	*Natural High*	Great row	Where'd they go?	Ron attends to ...
his flags	Laurie starts the ...	food buffet	Good eats!	Happy customers
Linda & Roger	Go Smokey!	Sarah & Sandy	Cozy	Big John, plus ...
Dan & Myphi, but ...	in distress???!!!	That's better!	Cockpit chilly ...	Pat agrees
Sandy & Skipper	Too cool ...	warm below ...	*on Ophira* too.**	Gary agrees
Big breeze	I-41 passing	Fog time ...	Game time ...	I want to PIDDLE!
Friday game on.	Blurry loss.	Morning sun at last	Hikers ready	Giving Junior Program Gift
Corky's practice tap ...	tapping on starboard ...	looks like it fits ...	nice and secure.	Port side ...
finished ends.	Happy campers	Trapped!!	Rick's relaxed ...	but kabobs are ...
really good!	I'll take some!	Big spread	What'll I take?	Myphi & Mom, plus ...
daughter, and ...	sister.	Dock crowd	Dock masters	It's game time!
warm ups	Big catch	To McCovey Cove	50 Years of infielders	Willy McCovey (canes)
National Anthem	Play Ball	Yur OUT!	Next batter	Shadows creeping out
Where's the Islander group?	Here ...	they ...	are!	Ian Shea
Masts in McCovey	Boats in McCovey	Not lookin good	The Fuz	Last innings
Dark fog	It's over!	Giants lost	Last light	Nightcap
Good night.

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