The fun continues as Orion crews geared up for a couple of festive San Francisco Bay sailing excursions! Among the highlights. . .BAADS welcomes the NVC Group for an outing on the bay, kite surfers, Golden Gate passage in big wind, funny hats and a big birthday celebration at SBYC! To see pics of the action, just download/open the pdf link OrionsLogFeb11-12 and enjoy!

See you next time!

Ray Duran
BAADS, Orion

WL: How and when did you hear about BAADS?

Kristi: I heard about BAADS from friends about ten years ago, but I worked most weekends managing a cycling program for people with disabilities, so there was little time to become involved until about four years ago when I went back to school.  
Alex: I had heard about BAADS from Latitude 38, but didn’t get involved until I broke my back. I hesitated, thinking that it would involve a bunch of able-bodied people “helping” the disabled sailors, and was pleasantly surprised to find the complimentary abilities model. The commodore (Ed Gallagher at the time) was blind and he knew the keelboats inside and out — being able to recite which line was run without having to think about it. And the guy who ran the dinghy dock (Greg Williams) was a salty ex- construction worker who used a wheelchair. He knew his stuff. I was really impressed.

WL: Had you any previous sailing experience and what was your first day sailing with BAADS like?

Kristi: I spent a week sailing in Tonga, and was pretty sure an extended sail was in my future. Actually learning how to sail seemed like a reasonable first step, so I found my way to the dinghy dock to learn the basics.

Alex: My dad was an instructor for a youth sailing program where I grew up in Poland. So I had been around boats since I was 2. Before I got hurt, I raced regularly on the Bay, had done deliveries across the Atlantic and had my own J24. After I broke my back, I was afraid to sail by myself – - not knowing if I could depend on my body. I remember the first day I went out on a keelboat with Ed Gallagher and he told me about “Christ before Orange Juice” — which was the order in which the lines are run on the Raven (cunningham, boom vang, outhaul, jib furling sheets). Being blind, he wasn’t able to see where they ran, but he was actually able to tell which line was which faster than a sighted person who would look first. I was really impressed with how adaptive sailing can be.

WL: What is your disability? Which boats do you sail and how does that work for you?

Kristi: I’ve been paralyzed from the chest down since being thrown from the back of a motorcycle when I was twenty. I occasionally join BAADS on their keelboats, but I most like sailing dinghies. Racing isn’t my cup of tea, but I enjoy the camaraderie when everyone is out on the course and doing well together.

Alex: I have a titanium vertebra in my lumbar spine. With all the other hardware in there, on an X-ray it looks like I swallowed a wrench. Sometimes I have real trouble walking. Sometimes you can’t even tell. 
I love racing both dinghies and keelboats because I believe competing is the best way to improve your skill level. After a race, those who do well are usually very happy to share their knowledge — especially after you buy them a beer. But I also love cruising — on the Bay, in the Delta, in the tropics. My experience taught me that all those close quarter maneuvers you learned on the racecourse come in handy when you least expect it. You’ll also know when you can push your boat and when you can’t in heavy weather. Trying to round Point Conception from the South can be much like beating to the windward mark

WL: Can you talk a little about your Mexico sailing trip?

Kristi: In 2010, we sailed out of Berkeley on a seven-
month honeymoon down the coast to explore the sea
of Cortez. We owned Fjordmus, a Contessa 26, for a
year before leaving and spent the bulk of that time
sailing and getting to know the boat. The list of things we wanted to do before we left was long, and had we completed it, we’d still be here checking the list off and paying for everything. We finished what we felt were the basics and set off just before a nasty series of storms.

They made the next few months wet and exciting. After a couple of gales, leaks in the fuel line and the head and a fire in the galley, we found ourselves in Mexico just as a tsunami warning was issued. Without yet having stepped ashore, Alex pulled up the anchor and out into the deep blue we went until what ended up being an inconsequential wave has passed.
Alex had done a few Atlantic and Pacific crossings, but the longest I’d been on a boat was a week. But, I’m not sure any amount of sailing can prepare you for small boat sailing with your sweetie. In our six by eight foot space, I often felt like we were pieces in those small games that require shifting little tiles back and forth until they line up to make a picture. But just outside was a huge swimming pool and we had the foresight to bring two kayaks.

Alex: I second that. Take a relationship class or something in addition to a sailing class before you go. I bet a lot of couples that have sailed together would say the same thing. Conflict resolution skills come in real handy when you’re both stuck in a small space.
Still, Mexico was awesome: whales, jumping manta rays, small fishing villages, being able to catch dinner from a kayak in the morning and so much more that I could go on and on. And yes, you’re never quite done getting ready. It’s best to have a “shove-off” date and stick to it (which we did by a week or so). I ended hooking up our water-maker in San Diego even though I’d installed it 2 months before. I was stoked it ran. However, you’ll have time to tinker when you get out there. Whether you want to or not.

Kristi: My favorite part of the trip was the months spent between La Paz and Santa Rosalia on the island side of the Baja peninsula. The water was warm and the small communities along the way were a welcome change of scenery.

Alex: Now back on land, we run a small web design company, mettadog.com out of our home.

WL: What would you suggest to BAADS or SBYC to improve sailing or any of our operations?

Kristi: We like that BAADS and SBYC are becoming more integrated. Alex: I’m excited about the talks of BAADS expanding to other locations on the Bay. With America’s Cup, the timing couldn’t be better. I’d also love to see more racing. More cruises. I love how the Club evolved since I started. I think it’s heading in the right direction.

WL: Thank you Kristi and Alex for sharing your story. ~~~_/)~~~

Sunshine, blue skies and glorious mid-winter weather beckoned BAADS sailors to enjoy the best of the Bay! Among the recent adventures, Angel Island tropics, storming the Gate, roaring jets and a lively flute serenade!

To see pics of the action, just download/open the attached .pdf file and enjoy: OrionsLogJan15-Feb5.

See you next time!

Ray Duran
BAADS, Orion

A perfect day for sailing

Saturday was a beautiful day for the first time in a while. The winds were light although the tide extreme in the Cove. A re-bar was visible in front of McCovey himself almost the whole time. It looked like a really evil sea serpent.

John in his orange 303

Two 3.03s and four Libertys went out. Kevin sailed a Liberty for the first time Saturday.  Ben, Heather and Tiffany were all new sailors who sailed with some of experienced BAADS sailors. They all seemed to do really well. Another new sailor with excellent skills dropped in and took Heather out the first time, (I think). This sailor, Matthew Davidchuk, handled his boat in extremely light air very well. He deserves a thank you and we hope to see him back at the dock.

Chris Rubke was our stalwart back up because Cristina, Magdalena, Alex and Julia all went off to the hills to experience a little skiing and snow in the high country. Of course, if the weather is beautiful other sailors need crew. Naturally enough, Chris got a last moment invitation to crew on sleek racing machine and he begged to be turned lose for the day.  Chris needs to teach us what he learned to make up for playing hookie.

Kevin's playing with a liberty

Charles, Ray and Jocelyn were all angels and worked their tails off.

Thanks for all the help.

And, just to touch base with one of our challenges, we have been having terrible problems with our ancient Zodiacs. We have priced a new glass bottomed hypalon boat from West Marine.  It’s about $2,800.  We think our eight HP motor would be enough for what we do.  The repair on our boat in the shop will be $600.  We are seriously considering dumping the Zodiac and begging for donations to end the endless problems with the our old Zodiacs. Any and all donations will be appreciated.

Jeff Breen,

BAADS Dinghies

New BAADS Officers - The new BAADS board is pleased to announce our officer positions: Commodore – Cristina Rubke, Vice Commodore – Rick Galbreath, Rear Commodore – Walt Raineri, Treasurer – Brian Pease, Secretary – Chris Rubke, Bosun – Ray Duran, Development Director – Kristi Hruzewicz, Dinghy Director – Jeff Breen, Dinghy Coordinator – Alex Okrut, Webmaster – Alex Hruzewicz, Outrreach – Margreta von Pein, Director – David Meredith, Director – Ron Wallace.

Bylaw Review - Our Vice Commodore Rick Galbreath is leading efforts to review and update our bylaws. Some issues we are taking a close look at are: membership classifications, voting rights, voting procedures, and board vacancies. If you would like to be part of the bylaw review, please contact Rick at vicecommodore@baads.org.

Brian was sailing the dark blue liberty

At the dock ten foot crash boats were deflated.  The one had a bottom that would not hold air.  The other had a pontoon that would not stay up up.  Eli Frank was aboard and had spent the last week pumping.  Was he up to another day of good excercise.  Eli’s wife had convinced that pumping Zodiacs in McCovey Cove was far better than working out in the gym.  She waved from shore as Eli pumped vigrously all day.
Races started at 1:00pm just after th last South Beach start. Dylan had the best starts all day.  He was right on the line when the whistle, yell and radio announcement went off. Carwile had been quaking in his boots after the sound trouncing Dylan had given him in the previous races. The gusts favored Carwile, John Wallace and Cole Roland. The three  of them used their bulk to stay to the center of the course and for most of the races reach the windward mark before Dylan.  Cole, Carwile and John were pretty much even except for one race where Carwile had time to have lunch before the other racers came in.  Both John and Cole had small technical issues that needed to be solved on the water.

BAADS folks chatting at the dock

John lost his jib when the traveler shackle came undone and Cole was unable to use his outhaul because it had been set up improperly. To confuse things the race committee, Jeff, Alex and Eli, had a few problems with securiing the committee boat to a single spot in the over.  Brian Pease came close to the committe boat as he finished up a race and accidentally caught the anchor rode. The rode broke, leaving a lovely Danforth anchor secured to the bottom of the cove and a committe boat drifting a bit with the fifteen knot gusts. Double checking and triple checking to be sure all equipment is in once piece is really important before heading out.
Thanks goes out to everyone for making a successful and lovely day of sailing. Chris Rubke did show up at the end of the day so his lovely dog could sample the donuts. Thanks Chris for helping clean up and thanks Magdalena, Eli, Charles, Niels and both Brians for helping all day long.

Jeff Breen,
BAADS Dinghies