• Ahoy and Welcome to the New SSS Forum!!

    As you can see, we have migrated our old forums to new software. All your old posts, threads, attachments, and messages should be here. If you see anything out of place or have any questions, please click Contact Us and leave a note with as much detail as possible.

    You should be able to login with your old credentials. If you have any issues, try resetting your password before clicking the Contact Us link.

    Cheers
    - SSS Technical Infrastructure

SSS Cruise-Down to Sequoia Yacht Club

Philpott

Philpott

Cal 2-27 Dura Mater
October 6, 2018
There's a lot going on right now, and our focus is on preparations for the 2018 Singlehanded Transpacific Yacht Race, but put this on your calendar for the fourth (!) annual Cruise-Down to Sequoia Yacht Club in Redwood City. We usually meet up at McCovey Cove around noon and have a nice, gentle spinnaker run down there where we barbeque burgers and dogs, sit on the yacht club's classy deck, and then spend the night on our boats.

Next morning we have breakfast and drink lots of coffee and tea before motor/sailing back to our home slips. It's very relaxed and a chance to sit around and chat for hours. Our hosts at Sequoia have always been very agreeable, and member Andrew Rist has made breakfast for us the past two years. Sequoia Yacht Club member and SSS member Dan Dowd, s/v/ Polecat is usually on hand. Last year he sailed up and then down with us.

So keep it in mind. There are prizes, too. The Friends and Family prize for the most people aboard, Oldest shirt, longest trip/highest odometer from your home port, youngest crew aboard and oldest SSS hat. That last prize is thanks to Tom Patterson who had the oldest hat but then didn't show up. He has threatened to move to Anacortes or somewhere up there, but he hasn't done it yet.
 
Last edited:
4th Annual SSS Cruise Down to Sequoia YC

As the sailors slowly return from Hanalei Bay, remember that the 4th annual Cruise Down to Sequoia Yacht Club will be October 6, 2018. We meet in McCovey Cove at High Noon, sail down (NOT RACING. THIS IS NOT A RACE) (hahaha), and spend the night.

Food is provided by the SSS, bring something edible to share, prizes all around. The Friends and Family prize for the most people aboard, oldest shirt, longest trip/highest odometer from your home port, youngest crew aboard and oldest SSS hat. Probably breakfast the next morning for a donation of $5 each. There may even be cupcakes.
 

Attachments

  • Sequoia YC 6am.JPG
    Sequoia YC 6am.JPG
    257.1 KB · Views: 519
Last edited:
I'm on the verge of retiring from the Highland Games and that weekend was going to be my retirement party, to be followed by my last Games in Ventura the following weekend. However, said party may not happen so I may be joining you all. Last year the Wildcat flew the Outleader Kite for part of the cruise....perhaps again?
 
Highland Games retirement party is a no-go on account of nobody wants to attend, so the Wildcat will be cruising to SqYC.
 
4th ANNUAL CRUISE DOWN

It's time for the Cruise-Down to Sequoia Yacht Club. I have been asked for a show of masts, so please advise here whether you plan to join us.

We meet in McCovey Cove at High Noon, sail down (NOT RACING. THIS IS NOT A RACE) (hahaha), and spend the night.

Food is provided by the SSS, bring something edible to share, prizes all around. The Friends and Family prize for the most people aboard, oldest shirt, longest trip/highest odometer from your home port, youngest crew aboard and oldest SSS hat. Probably breakfast the next morning for a donation of $5 each. There may even be cupcakes.
 

Attachments

Last edited:
UPDATE regarding the SSS Cruise-Out on Saturday October 6, 2018.

We will reconnoiter at McCovey Cove @ High Noon on Saturday. Remember, this is not a race. It is a Cruise. There are no rules, skippers must find their own way down via charts and avoid all manner of pitfalls and restricted areas without the guidance of a race committee. Wearing a life jacket is recommended. Boats will monitor Channel 72.

Below click to find charts of the South Bay and a map of The Port of Redwood City Yacht Harbor. See the location of Sequoia Yacht Club on the map. If you find it too difficult to open the attachments, call Jackie @ 510.681.5440 before Friday October 5 and leave a message. I will walk you through the process of locating them on your computer. If you don’t have a computer I will mail you the map and charts.

The street address of Sequoia Yacht Club is 441 Seaport Court, Redwood City. There is room to stern-raft up for several boats at the Sequoia Clubhouse deck. The Yacht Club has showers for use, but they will be closed at 8pm.

If you have a slow fat boat and you don’t think you’ll get those raft up spaces you might call ahead to reserve a slip from Spinnaker Sailing, which manages the harbor. Slip rental = $1.00/foot. No credit cards, cash or check only. A separate cash deposit is required for the gate key/fob. For slips call Rich Ferrari or Dana Ochstein @ 650.363.1390 email: [email protected].

It is recommended that you call ahead for a slip.

The harbormaster office hours on Saturday and Sunday = 9am – 5pm. They monitor channel 16 but weekends are busy, so phoning is preferred.
http://www.spinnakersailing.com/redwoodcitymarina/

• The SSS will provide hamburgers, hot dogs and a vegetarian option (probably bocaburgers), also some kind of yummy dessert. Please bring side dishes of your choice to share. They don't have to be elaborate, just edible. Chips and dip are not side dishes. We are welcome to use the club’s gas grills.

• There will be a Sequoia member available behind the bar until 8pm.
• After 8pm we cannot drink on the Club's beautiful deck or on the guest dock. After 8 pm all alcoholic beverages must be moved aboard our boats.

• THERE WILL BE PRIZES FOR: 1/ The oldest SSS shirt; 2/ The most friends and family members aboard upon arrival; 3/ Youngest crew member aboard; 4/ longest trip (set your gps odometer as you leave your slip), 5/ oldest SSS hat. Maybe one extra prize depending upon demand.

There have been questions:
Q: how good are the prizes? I don’t need another tshirt
A: The prizes are very cool. Not expensive. Very SSS.

Q: How many points for children?
A: Despite stereotypes to the contrary, many members of the singlehanded sailing society like children. Some even have children of their own. To encourage this proclivity children aboard garner double points. Anticipating PHYF questions (“performance handicap youth fleet”), a measurement method (a measuring tape) will be utilized at the Sequoia Yacht Club if necessary. There will be no appeal process and protests will be disregarded.

If you can’t persuade anyone to sail with you, if you can’t bribe friends and no one will let you borrow their children, take note:

This is the Singlehanded Sailing Society. It’s okay to come solo.

Photo below is an example of a typical Cruise-Out Dinner

Cruise Out Dinner.jpg
 
Last edited:
Last Minute Reminder

The Sequoia Yacht Club has advised me that space at their guest dock is a bit shorter this year because a club member with a large cruising sailboat is tied up there through the weekend. There should be room for about 4 or five sailboats in the 30’ range, otherwise you are advised to reserve a slip of your very own. I’ve reserved a slip for Dura Mater @ B-9.

If don’t think you’ll get one of those raft up spaces you might call ahead to reserve a slip from Spinnaker Sailing, which manages the harbor. Slip rental = $1.00/foot. No credit cards, cash or check only. A separate cash deposit is required for the gate key/fob. For slips call Rich Ferrari or Dana Ochstein @ 650.363.1390

It is not clear at this time whether we will have access to the kitchen for breakfast Sunday morning. Best idea is to bring your own breakfast just in case. Strong coffee available on Dura Mater, c'mon over, I'm awake early.

Who is coming? Mike and Cindi Meloy s/v Even Keel, Rob Tryon and LaDonna Bubeck on one of their two or three beautiful boats, Tom Boussie on JouJou with an even newer rudder than when he left for Kauai, Greg Ashby and Titia Farthing on Nightmare, Alan Hebert and the long promised Joan s/v Wildcat of Loch Awe, David Nabors sans boat, maybe Philippe Jamotte if he can figure out how to get himself up to South Beach Harbor, David the Commodore via land yacht, Dennis Maggard of Hanalei Bay fame and Kristen Soetebier, SSS treasurer.

It would be great to also have YOU come. Remember that there will be prizes and cupcakes. What's not to like?

Sequoia YC 6am.JPG
 
Last edited:
The SSS Cruise Down to Sequoia YC was a "don't miss" event. Fresh Westerlies blew the fleet down in good order, leaving the Blue Angels in the dust. Only one soft grounding was reported, that by a Redwood City local in home waters.

It was a diverse group of both newcomers and old guard, not to mention the SSS staff commodore, treasurer, webmaster emeritus, historian, chronicler, cat herder, bouncer, reverend, shoreboat captain, at least 10 SHTP participants and 3 SHTP overall winners.

The sea stories, delicious BBQ and food, unique and historical prizes, and homemade cupcakes were of the highest SSS standards. Kudos to Jackie and Kristen for organizing. If you missed it, well there's always next year...
 
Last edited:
I confess to a "soft grounding" of my own as I approached the right turn into the Redwood Creek channel. I was sailing as deep as I could on starboard, occasionally going wing on wing to clear the entrance. I thought I had room (despite what the chart plotter was telling me), until I looked down to see "3" on the depth meter. Yikes! I did a crash jibe in 23 knts wind and SLOWLY plowed my way back into deeper water.

My first grounding in 20 years sailing the Bay. May it be my last.
 
Having run aground in Redwood Creek more times than I can count all I can say is welcome to the club.

Our lovely bartenderess, Ashley and her husband Paul invited me aboard their Norseman 400. They'll be heading for Mexico and Chile, soon. Its a very rare thing that I get aboard a cruising boat like that.

wow. Just wow.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top