SIGHTINGS shine. The Marconi division went to Peter Haywood’s Elizabeth Muir, with previous winner Bob Vespa’s Scorpio in second and Jim Cullen’s Gold Star in third. Ed Witt’s Regulus carried the Gaff division, with John McNeill’s Yankee and Paul Dines’ Freda B rounding out the podium. Next up for classics is the St. Francis YC’s Jessica Cup on October 15. — rob

‘Marjorie’, a ketch, was an unofficial entry.

The Great San Francisco Schooner Race takes you back to the days of yore.

inspiration — cont’d regular sailing duffle which holds his cane, so his 4-year-old daughter said, “Here Daddy, take mine.” Next time you’re out sailing, stand on the bow with your eyes closed and feel the wind and waves as Hiro does every day, and raise a toast — or volunteer or donate — to Challenge America and these intrepid sailors who are always looking for the next challenge. — lynn ringseis

a slow waltz with the bay “Two to three weeks, tops,” we said of the time we’d spend in San Francisco Bay aboard our Port Townsend-based Pacific Seacraft Dana 24 Sockdolager. We spent six. It’s one of those places where my husband Jim Heumann and I, just like a couple of kids, were unable to tear ourselves loose because we had to see what was around the next corner. And there are a lot of corners in the Bay Area. Sadly, too many southbound cruisers make the Bay a pit stop, or worse, bypass it altogether to get a jump start on their cruising life. Part of the joy of sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge was the sailor’s certainty: We’ve earned this! But sailing under the Bridge turns out to be a very small part of the allure of San Francisco Bay. We'd like to encourage our fellow cruisers to take time to explore the Bay before continuing south, so we came up with this mini-guide to the Bay Area. The Bay: We were amazed by the numbers of boats out sailing every day. Also amazing were the number who don’t reef, and the amount of ship traffic. Where else can you have the 100 year-old scow schooner Alma flying down one side and a giant container ship lumbering past on the other? San Francisco: A week at the San Francisco Marina (conveniently across the street from a Safeway) gave us a good feel for this lovely city. We wandered through the Maritime Museum and its Read more about Jim and ships, rode the cable car up Hyde Street, and to the Karen later in this issue in ‘Passing Through’. cable car “museum” at the top of the hill. We visited Chinatown, the Presidio, City Lights Bookstore, the Embarcadero, and Ghirardelli Square, and found this city to be a treat for the senses. Sausalito: How do you describe a place that feels like a sailor’s second home? Within a couple hours of tying up, we’d met several other cruisers and were warmly welcomed by several locals. This colorful town ‘speaks sail’ fluently, and is a cruising crossroads, with just about anything you might need for repairs or supplies. Angel Island: This little piece of wilderness in the middle of the Bay has a compelling history and stunning 360-degree views. Despite the $30 mooring fee, a tie-up in Ayala Cove while you take the tram tour or hike around the island will be a highlight of your visit. Berkeley: The hospitality and friendliness of Bay Area sailors has been one of the biggest pleasures of our stay. We were treated to a tour of this ethnically diverse, Arts and Crafts-era college town, and found its shopping and restaurant districts superb. If you like to fly kites, Berkeley’s got them in unbelievable variety. Alameda: It’s different for a cruising boat to sail past a mile of container ship facilities with their giant sliding cranes loading and unloading ships. So it was a nice surprise to find Victorian-era homes and quiet streets beyond Alameda Estuary’s busy waterfront. Alameda’s your place if you need an inflatable dinghy or liferaft, supplies, or repairs to any marine gear, but also if you want a good meal out. Treasure Island: For a respite from marinas, Treasure Island’s beautiful Clipper Cove reminds you that you’re cruising. A sign on the beach says you need to call for a permit if you’re planning to stay continued on outside column of next sightings page October, 2011 •

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grace the bay