Once upon a time during the early days of my sailing career I decided it would be real cool to sail under the golden gate bridge. This was in the days prior to any formal study of sailing. My entire knowledge base was acquired from a beginner, how to sail book, from Hobbie. The boat was a Hobbie TJ 14 catamaran. The launch site was the Berkley Marina launch ramp. I had a plan. Dear reader all I can say is I had a guardian angel looking out for me because by all rights I should have won the Darwin award for this stunt. First I didn’t wear a wet suit didn’t even own one. No VHF radio aboard, no flares, just one pfd. Tides, what tides, why should I be concerned about tides? Weather, why should I be concerned about weather? Bay summer wind patterns on the bay. Why should I care? This is California isn’t it? I launched about 10:30 am. San Francisco bay was like a milk pond. The water was flat with only a ghost of a wind. I made good progress toward the gate. The day was beautiful as I passed Angel Island to starboard tacking up the slot. Any bay sailor knows about the notorious afternoon winds of the bay. One minute you have a gentle 8-10 knots of wind the next 20-25 knots. People familiar with Hobbies know there are no reef points in the sail (a way to reduce sail area). As I neared the gate these notorious winds hit with a vengeance. I’m a little stubborn and decided to continue even though I was greatly over powered and in danger of capsizing. The tricky part was the gybe under the gate without broaching but with that accomplished I ran before this heavy wind on a bee line for Berkley. I soon realized the danger I was in as the leeward bow kept trying to stuff under the waves and pitch poling was a real possibility. Just like the AC 45’s in the Americas cup. I worked my way to the very end of the windward stern to try and keep the boat upright as I passed racing monohulls like they were standing still their crew all decked out in their foul weather gear. Boy a wet suit would have been a good idea! I made it back to Berkley with all hands and the boat still right side up. Lessons learned!

Wow the Hobbie quickly taught me the limits of sailing. We were upside down more often than not. I have always maintained that you can learn to sail in an afternoon and then spend a lifetime improving your skill. If you listen carefully to your beloved boat she will tell you what you need to know. At least how to stay upright. Time passed quickly and so the progression of boats. Hobbie tj14, Rhodes 19, and then Elskan a 28′ Carl Alberg design. I took ASA classes through advanced coastal cruising with Tradewinds. IT was on the third day of the advanced coastal trip when I discovered a new reality. We had rounded the Farallons and were hove to off Pt. Reyes for dinner. The rest of the crew were below deck eating while I stood watch and ate in the cockpit. The sunset, the sea, i can’t explain except that I felt whole and one with my surroundings. This is what I was born for. I have always loved the outdoors but this was different. This was no longer a hobby it was a way of life.