October 6, 2025
by Earl Thomas #5121
Commodore & Fleet 62 Captain
Commodore & Fleet 62 Captain
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We had a great time on Sunday. And this year we had wind. Just enough to go where we wanted and NO paddling. We assembled at the Grand Street public launch ramp (on Alameda Island) at 9:30 am and got to rigging our boats. We had 4 Lidos and one Sunfish. We were in the water quickly and headed out around 10:30 am with a nice little breeze that got stronger as we headed up the channel toward Jack London Square. We enjoyed clear blue skies and warm temps which was typical for our extended Bay Area summer season, in October.
Stephen and Suli, Harold and Maria and family, Simon and Don, and me and Ralf were in our Lidos and Roy was there with his Sunfish. Adrian tried to join us in his Hobie Islander but arrived late and was unable. We launched right across from the Coast Guard Island and all three of their cruisers were docked there. So we had the the largest and smallest boats in the estuary that morning. We passed by the Encinal Yacht club heading north and saw they were doing some FJ racing and sailing instructions. It looked like fun, we should check out their schedule as a possibility for some more sailing options. We saw Suli skippering Stephen’s Lido most of the time on the way up the channel. And Don was our official photographer for the event so stay tuned for more photos from him. Ralf was also shooting a lot of video of the action so watch for that as well.
The wind direction was ideal as it came straight down the channel so we tacked leisurely all the way up toward the SF bay. We saw along the way, the permanent house boat collection on the island's east side. I spotted a sea lion bobbing about as we neared the SF ferry terminal but he disappeared as we approached. We finally made it to a large US Navy supply ship (the John Glenn) docked near Jack London Square when we decided that it was time to turn around and head back to Quinn’s Lighthouse restaurant for lunch. In previous years we had made it a little farther, all the way to the large cranes at the Oakland container facility. But that had been with a little more wind.
The run back down the channel, wing on wing, was uneventful because we had some wind this year. So everyone was able to keep there paddles dry. Stephen even brought two paddles this year as insurance. By the way, last year was a paddling exercise all the way back to Quinn's. The restaurant, built in 1903, is located on channel, on the mainland, behind the Coast Guard Island almost to the causeway that connects the island. We benefitted from a high tide near mid day which allowed more space to venture without fear. We past by another dining option, Brotzeit restaurant (a German beer garden with a dock), on our way to Quinn’s that might work for next year’s cruise. Ralf war von dieser Moglichkeit ganz begeistert.
We arrived right on time at 1:00 pm for lunch and had a table upstairs on the outside deck for 13 people. The sailors were joined by Adrian, and Brian a friend of Ralf’s. Lunch was a mixture of burgers, salads, pastas and Vietnamese cuisine. As we enjoyed lunch and conversation we all commented that the wind was getting stronger and the return trip would be easier and quicker. The only change this year at the restaurant was access from Quinn’s dock to the restaurant. The normal gate was not working and they had removed some of the dock boards to prevent boat vandalism. So they provided an alternative route and gate just a little ways north of the restaurant. But it all worked out well.
The return to our boats and the sail back was fun and quick. We passed by the Encinal YC again and their races that were still in progress. Other then that there was not much other boat traffic on the water all day. We did find out that we still need to practice our backing up a trailer skills as we have gotten lazy with the hand dolly launching at Shoreline. It looked like group of drunken sailors trying to walk backwards today. Remember “Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear and always move in reverse”. I recommended the Blue Pelican Marine Consignment store to everyone, which is less the a 1/8 of a mile from the launch ramp. So I stopped by and picked up a few parts for some of my boat projects. It’s quite a good deal compared to other retail outlets.
Overall it was a great day of leisurely sailing, good food and a fun way to end the year’s sailing. Our next event is the Bailer’s Ball dinner on November 15th at Shoreline.
Stephen and Suli, Harold and Maria and family, Simon and Don, and me and Ralf were in our Lidos and Roy was there with his Sunfish. Adrian tried to join us in his Hobie Islander but arrived late and was unable. We launched right across from the Coast Guard Island and all three of their cruisers were docked there. So we had the the largest and smallest boats in the estuary that morning. We passed by the Encinal Yacht club heading north and saw they were doing some FJ racing and sailing instructions. It looked like fun, we should check out their schedule as a possibility for some more sailing options. We saw Suli skippering Stephen’s Lido most of the time on the way up the channel. And Don was our official photographer for the event so stay tuned for more photos from him. Ralf was also shooting a lot of video of the action so watch for that as well.
The wind direction was ideal as it came straight down the channel so we tacked leisurely all the way up toward the SF bay. We saw along the way, the permanent house boat collection on the island's east side. I spotted a sea lion bobbing about as we neared the SF ferry terminal but he disappeared as we approached. We finally made it to a large US Navy supply ship (the John Glenn) docked near Jack London Square when we decided that it was time to turn around and head back to Quinn’s Lighthouse restaurant for lunch. In previous years we had made it a little farther, all the way to the large cranes at the Oakland container facility. But that had been with a little more wind.
The run back down the channel, wing on wing, was uneventful because we had some wind this year. So everyone was able to keep there paddles dry. Stephen even brought two paddles this year as insurance. By the way, last year was a paddling exercise all the way back to Quinn's. The restaurant, built in 1903, is located on channel, on the mainland, behind the Coast Guard Island almost to the causeway that connects the island. We benefitted from a high tide near mid day which allowed more space to venture without fear. We past by another dining option, Brotzeit restaurant (a German beer garden with a dock), on our way to Quinn’s that might work for next year’s cruise. Ralf war von dieser Moglichkeit ganz begeistert.
We arrived right on time at 1:00 pm for lunch and had a table upstairs on the outside deck for 13 people. The sailors were joined by Adrian, and Brian a friend of Ralf’s. Lunch was a mixture of burgers, salads, pastas and Vietnamese cuisine. As we enjoyed lunch and conversation we all commented that the wind was getting stronger and the return trip would be easier and quicker. The only change this year at the restaurant was access from Quinn’s dock to the restaurant. The normal gate was not working and they had removed some of the dock boards to prevent boat vandalism. So they provided an alternative route and gate just a little ways north of the restaurant. But it all worked out well.
The return to our boats and the sail back was fun and quick. We passed by the Encinal YC again and their races that were still in progress. Other then that there was not much other boat traffic on the water all day. We did find out that we still need to practice our backing up a trailer skills as we have gotten lazy with the hand dolly launching at Shoreline. It looked like group of drunken sailors trying to walk backwards today. Remember “Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear and always move in reverse”. I recommended the Blue Pelican Marine Consignment store to everyone, which is less the a 1/8 of a mile from the launch ramp. So I stopped by and picked up a few parts for some of my boat projects. It’s quite a good deal compared to other retail outlets.
Overall it was a great day of leisurely sailing, good food and a fun way to end the year’s sailing. Our next event is the Bailer’s Ball dinner on November 15th at Shoreline.