Once again, the cruise to Half Moon Bay was unforgettable. We are on a roll with these cruises! Kelly, Gary, Ryan and Tyler Troxel did a great job hosting the event. Cruisers had a great sail down until falling into the Montera hole. We had some new comers this time, Jonathan and Suzie Livingston came down on Punk Dolphin and John Freeman aboard Marishanna both Wylie 39’s. They and the Knowles aboard Lilith had their own private Wylie raft up. One more Wylie 39 and they could have had their own cruising division.

Saturday night we had appetizers on the beach. Kelly is the only one I know who can plan a party around her boats name, Tiki Blue.  She put together an awesome spread but the ambiance stole the show! Besides the table with appetizers she had Tiki torches that staked out our territory that provided a nice glow once the sun went down.  Lei’s, that is Hawaiian lei’s you wear around your neck, were provided for the winners of the egg toss, hula hoop contest,(which Tim Knowles won hands down!), and the famous nylon stocking and grapefruit game,(check out the website for pictures of that one.)

Sunday morning, coffee and pastry were served on our boat Tivoli. The sun eventually burned the fog away and the day was spent lounging around in town or tinkering on our boats, which was the case with Paul Von Wiedenfield. Saturday night we danced to a local rock and roll band at the Half Moon Bay Yacht Club and woke up to a bright and sunny morning. Everyone had a wonderful sail home. A perfect ending to a long Labor Day weekend. Don’t forget the Drakes Bay Cruise October 8, 9, and 10!

Cruisers included Paul & Lynn Von Weidenfield  Cabaret, Tim & Karen Knowles  Lilith, Ed & Earlinda Polkenhorn Neptune Daughter Dan Carol Seifers  Double Delight, Dave & Jackie Liggett  Bald Eagles, Jonathan & Suzie Livingston  Punk Dolphin, John Freeman Marishanna, Gary, Kelly, Ryan & Tyler Troxel  Tiki Blue and Torben & Judy Bentsen  Tivoli.  Steve and Connie Hill Mercedes Convertible(they drove in)

Mystery Cruise - August 2005
The weeks before the mystery cruise, the buzz around the club was “where is the mystery cruise going to be?” People who couldn’t make it on the cruise even had there antenna up for slips ups from the host. Our lips were sealed based on the “loose lips, sinks ships” theory! Their first clue was given via e-mail. It was coordinates to a mark anchored in the Pretero channel.  From that point the cruisers would receive additional instructions, and were warned to bring navigational instruments. Yes there was some grumbling because this meant work. For some it meant getting out that GPS that’s been collecting dust in the nav. station because it never quite worked right! Attached to that mark were plastic baggies with further information such as compass bearings and distances. Boats hovered around the mark while their navigators plotted their course. Some figured it out right a way, other’s thought they had it figured out then realized at the last minute we were not sending them to Encinal Yacht club. (I promised Gary I wouldn’t mention any names!)

Mike Farrell and Kathleen Dolan passed around their special mystery margaritas as a reward for a job well done. Following this, we had appetizers and cocktails at the yacht club. The all volunteer club was so kind to make all 45 of us dinner!  After dinner the CD’s were played and we rocked out to Bob Marley, the Beatles and Steve Ray Vaughn. I never thought I’d see the day when Torben was matched in his “air guitar abilities!”

Morning came all too early, but by 9 O’clock we were at it again with eye openers, plenty of coffee and breakfast treats. Shortly after, buckets and brushes materialized and everyone gave their boats a thorough cleaning and topped off their water tanks before heading back home.

The sail home was one of the best afternoons spent on the bay. The winds started out light and gradually increased as we approached the City. Sailing across the slot on a blast reach was just that, a blast. Rumor had it Eric Arens had to take cover from the fly bridge on the Pelican because he was getting wet! And someone's goose broke its neck when just approaching the slot. Everyone made it safely back to RYC!

Participates were Eric & Beth Arens and Don Farquharson  PELICAN, Sam Crabtree & Susie Wilson CATCH THE WIND, Tim & Karin Knowles  LILITH, Dave & Jackie Liggett  BALD EAGLES, Mike Farrell and Kathleen Dolan LASSIE, Roy Howard  SOUNDER, John Hall  COCONUT, Juan & Eva Spampinato  CIAO, Ed & Earlinda Polkenhorn  NEPTUNE’S DAUGHTER, John & Carol Sjoberg  TANGO,  Gary Troxel and brother –in-law TIKI BLUE, Dan & Carol Seifers DOUBLE DELIGHT, Paul & Lynn Von Weidenfield, Herb & Pauline Ancell on CABARET and Torben & Judy Bentsen TIVOLI acted as host. Drive –in cruisers included Les & Cathy Durfee, Sharon Hopkins, Gary & Barbara Gebhard, and Mary Farquharson.

Oh yea, I almost forgot to tell you where we cruised to…….San Leandro Yacht Club!

Torben Bentsen

In the Shadow of the Golden Gate -March 2005

We had to limit sign up for our March cruise as the Golden Gate Yacht Club has very limited space for visiting yachts. In fact the basin available can only accommodate about 6 boats in the 35 to 40 ft. range. We had 8 boats sign up.

But the weather was the real deciding factor as the forecast was for rain all weekend, along with strong southerly winds. As a result only 6 boats braved the bay and sailed across to the Golden Gate on Saturday March 19. They proved to be the fortunate 6 as the weather turned out to be pleasant with lots of sunny periods and no rain whatsoever. We did have 30 knot gusts however which made for some fun sailing going across the bay.

Our cruise coincided with the GGYC annual wine-makers dinner. This is a gourmet four course dinner served in their main dining room with it’s spectacular, and rightly famous view of the Golden Gate bridge.

After our usual happy hour in the club’s downstairs bar area fifteen RYC members headed upstairs to the champagne reception including a lavish spread of hors d’oeuvres

And wine of your choice. After an hour of socializing we then went to our adjoining tables one of which faced directly towards the world famous bridge that gives the club it’s name.

Dinner was a truly gourmet affair. Each course was served with a wine appropriate for the dish. And it was a very good thing that done of us had to drive back home that night. Those cruising in included Torben and Judy Bentsen fresh from their Lightship race that morning; Dave and Jackie Leggit who did not do the Lightship race; Ed and Earlinda Polkenhorn on their beautiful 34ft. Cutter, Neptune’s Daughter; John Hall soloing on his Islander 28; Paul and Lynne Von Wiedenfield with Herb and Pauline Ansell on their new Beneteau 42, Cabaret; and Don and Mary on Kooyah. We were delighted to be joined by Commodore Les Durfee and his wife Cathy, and their guests, club members Chris and Janet Nedeau who drove in. Also driving in were Warren and Vicki McGowen and Dan and Gerry Peterson.

During the course of the evening the Commodore of the GGYC welcomed us and had an exchange of burgees with Commodore Les Durfee. All in all a very special evening in very special surroundings.

Our April cruise is to Angel Island on the weekend of April 9. See you there.

Don Farquharson