The Arndt family head out on their Ranger 33...
For Summer Sailstice 2003 San Francisco Bay was as good as it gets and the crew of our Ranger 33 'Summer Sailstice' took full advantage. We left the docks at Corinthian Yacht Club in Tiburon, CA at 9:30am in bright sun, warm air and gentle breezes. We went out to make sure we caught the start of the IACC racing taking between five former and current America's Cup class boats on the Bay.
Friends and Seacology donors Andy Spiegel, Katie Smith with kids Drew and Mathew joined us for the morning and a great time as we stayed as close as we dared but out of the way of the five boat fleet of 75' IACC boats. They quickly left us behind after the start and we turned to head back to CYC for a crew swap. Engine problems forced us to be late and into a little more sailing than planned but for a sunny, Summer Sailstice, why worry.
After our engineless arrival back at the CYC docks we picked up friends Annie Ellicott, Jim and Jaye Winkler with the Spiegel family deciding it was just too nice to go home. After cleaning the fuel filter we headed out for a short sail over to Angel Island where we joined the Maher family on 'Blarney 4' and 15 other boats of their Encinal Yacht Club holding a Summer Sailstice Rendezvous. With gorgeous weather on the longest sailing day of the year Ayala Cove was packed with sailboats 'double parked' at every slip and mooring ball.
After a couple hours of lunching, kids running ashore and socializing we decided it was time for another sail back to CYC to join members who were celebrating Summer Sailstice with the 'Friendship Regatta' between CYC and Tiburon Yacht Club. This fun, easy going rivalry seems to typify the spirit present in most Summer Sailstice celebrations with everyone going away with at least a smile, if not a trophy. In addition to the silver winners were also treated to Summer Sailstice t-shirts as everyone seems to enjoy 100% cotton in addition to silver plate.
From there our weary sailors could only enjoy the balance of the day dockside with friends as the sun headed West stretching the day to the max. Since San Francisco is one of the Western most large population centers in the Northern Hemisphere we were probably part of the last boats still out celebrating the third annual sailing holiday which had started with the first celebrants in Japan almost 24 hours earlier.
Though the longest sailing day of the year we still agreed with the sentiments of one CYC member who replied to our 'Happy Summer Sailstice' calls that sunny morning by saying 'if only it could be longer'. Of course another crewmember, burned out by sun, sailing and fun, said 'that was a loooong day'!
For us, Summer Sailstice was the perfect midseason celebration of sailing and kick of our summer sailing. Besides the mid point of the CYC Friday night racing it also meant, with the kids out of school, it was time for us to take a short cruise up the California delta which transitions you from often cool, coastal fog to hot, fresh water sailing. Aaaah, summer is here and we're ready to make the most of it. Hope you have a great summer of sailing too!
The Crew of 'Summer Sailstice'
John, Les, Sarah and Hannah