Cleveland and Feinstein Schools On Clipper Cove

Posted on May 12, 2014 by skippersgift

SSLearn is in full swing at TICS. Spring classes started in April and continue through May. Fourth graders from Cleveland School and Dianne Feinstein School each spent a day at Treasure Island Sailing Center recently. Experiential learning looks like fun!

Thanks to the San Francisco America’s Cup Organizing Committee and Citry of San Francisco’s ONESF:Celebrate the Cup program every fourth grader in San Francisco will be able to spend a day on the bay learning about the ecology of the bay and Dungeness crabs, San Francisco maritime history, or renewable energy. And go for a sail at Treasure Island Sailing Center on Clipper Cove!

What makes TISC’s SSLearn experiential learning program unique is the curriculum and how it’s delivered. Each day is split into two parts: inside and outside hands-on activities sharing ideas, learning about bay creatures and history, and reinforcing what’s been learned through open discussion; and time in a sailboat driving, touching the water, grabbing seaweed, and experiencing the effects of wind, tide, currents.

San Francisco Unified School District 4th grade classes are split into two groups for their SSLearn day at TISC. While 15 kids pilot RS Venture sailboats the other group learns about crabs, ecology, math and the environment through open discussions. After lunch they switch.

Our activity center is for learning and exploring; we never refer to it as a classroom. No chairs – sometimes the kids stand for open discussion, other times they’re on the floor listening to group presentations.

Playing “The Oh Crab Population Game” provides a chance for outside “energy burn” while gathering statistics which the kids graph, analyze and discuss. Our ecology curriculum teaches kids about what’s needed to survive, like oxygen, food and shelter.

Kids line up representing either the environment or crabs. With backs turned (OK, some prefer to “peek”) each decides on oxygen (holding nose), food (hands on stomachs) or shelter (hands over heads). A match means more crabs – population increases. If what the crabs decide they need is not available in the environment crabs die and their population decreases.

Each student receives a workbook they fill out and take home with them for post-trip study. Other land-based lessons include, crab finding, compass study, and discussions about rising or falling tides. Our SSL curriculum meets California State Standards; the lesson plans identify how the materials support reading, writing, math, graphing skills, and communication to name a few.

We keep the activity center stocked with pictures and posters from sailing on and around the bay. Reference materials and “eyes on” equipment are also readily available.

Students get to experience the wind and water while in sailboats on Clipper Cove. Some get to steer the boat if they want to. Notice the break in the eastern span of the old Bay Bridge.

While taking pictures I always challenge them with questions about the wind and compass directions -“Point toward Ohio”, or “Which way is West”? By the way, the Golden Gate Bridge is almost perfectly aligned north/ south, and can be seen from most points on Clipper Cove.

When asked “what was your favorite part of the sail?” one student answered “I put my feet in the water.” Others were excited to find “mermaid hair” on the cove and by the dock.

My favorite pictures from these SSL days are the kids smiles – whether on or off the water. Can never be too many of them!

These classes are provided at no charge to SFUSD fourth graders. Bus transportation to/from Treasure Island Sailing Center is also included.

Regards from On Clipper Cove, D-

In the wake:

You can read another post about the John Yehall Chin Elementary School fourth grade kids who attended an SS Learn class at TISC last fall.

Go to the registration page to sign up for the few remaining Spring Classes. If you have questions about the SS LEARN program or would like to register for the Fall 2014 session send an email to programs@tisailing.org.

You can also download a brochure with more information about SS Learn at TISC.

Opening Day: Sails, Paddles and Smiles On Clipper Cove

Posted on April 30, 2014 by skippersgift

Saturday’s Opening Day Featured blue skies, steady winds, eight sails, a bunch of kayaks & paddleboards, and hundreds of smiles. Our supportive volunteer force worked Wednesday through Saturday. Kudos to our TISC team for a job well done!

Opening day was combined with Safe Boating Day this year. The rain on Friday was unusual however the Cal Sailing Team showed up to finish the set up anyway, then returned first thing Saturday to make sure all was ready and greet visitors. No way this event happens without their dedicated support.

Parents and students also turned out in force to help set up and manage beach logistics. It was great to see them having fun while giving back. Thanks also to the Life Learning Academy volunteers.

There are many, many, many moving parts to opening day. Some happen in real time, some must be ready days, weeks or months in advance. Madison Gattis, our Director of Operations, has been on this since the beginning of the year.

Once the day started Chris Childers, our Programs Director, oversaw the boats, dock workers and hundreds of guests on Clipper Cove. New this year was the use of the west beach for the water toys with launches transporting guests to/from the docks to the beach.

Annie Butts, our Head Instructor, had her hands full with driving, coordinating crash boats and answering lots of volunteer questions. Thanks also for her many hours of boat prep prior to the event.

Staging the paddleboards and kayaks at the beach and using launches to ferry people to and from was a great idea. This plan provided a completely separate venue and afforded a different view and experience for non-sailors. Not everyone came to sail, yet everyone enjoyed being on Clipper Cove. Here again, volunteers were in place to help ensure safety.

The old Eastern Span of the Bay Bridge is being deconstructed. You can see the initial gap which will continue to widen over time.

The highlights of the day were the huge smiles, compliments, high-fives and sincere thanks from the many guests (we stopped counting sometime after 500) who attended Opening Day 2014. Some were repeats from last year; many were new to Clipper Cove and wanted to bring their families out for awesome time on the water courtesy of Treasure Island Sailing Center.

Four sail boats departed the docks every fifteen minutes from 11:30 until 3pm. Do the math; that’s over 300 opening day sailboat rides. Our volunteers registered all these people, gave them a safety briefing, fitted life jackets and escorted them to and from the docks for embarking and disembarking the five J24s and three RS Ventures. Many thanks to the TI Vanguard and Laser fleets, Cal Sailing, TISC tenants, and Bay Area Association of Disable Sailors for keeping managing the constant flow on the ramps and docks. Special thanks to the V15 and Laser sailers for setting up the tent (and taking it down tomorrow).

Mother Nature favored us with a gorgeous day. Rather windy toward the afternoon, which put an even higher premium on the efforts from Cal Sailing team who helped with dock logistics the entire day. Here are three smiling faces who greeted just about all my guests; this was taken after my last trip – they’re still smiling!

Regards, from On The Cove,

Dave G

In the wake:

Many of the great pictures above, including the first which captured the variety of the day framed by the new Bay Bridge Eastern Section, were courtesy of Valerie Santorini from Golden Gate Yacht Club. She and other GGYC volunteers spent the entire day On Clipper Cove ferrying guests from the dock to the beach while taking great pictures. Thank You Val !!

Dock-In Sunday, Smiles on Monday

Posted on March 27, 2014 by skippersgift

Vanguard 15s are in TISC’s DNA ! V15ers have provided major support for kids’ smiles since TISC’s founding in 1997. The docks are in; racing starts April 3^rd on Clipper Cove – arguably one the best dinghy racing venues anywhere.

Last Sunday sailors from Vanguard 15 West Coast Fleet 53 and the TI Laser Fleet worked with the TISC team to install the docks and launching ramp float stored across the cove to protect against winter storms since last fall. This volunteer day is often viewed as the beginning of summer at TISC. It certainly marks the start of V15 and Laser racing on Clipper Cove.

Many of the “bakers dozen” or so who showed up for the Dock-in are experienced hands at this task. There are a few traditions that have built up over time. For example, first one to sign up gets to run the hoist. Most charged up about dock-in and season opener gets to use the power tools. And best dressed gets to ride the ramp float back to the docks.

The fact is, all these volunteers “get it”. They understand a great way to support their sport and help kids learn life lessons – communication skills, team building, decision making, leadership – is by volunteering at the same place they love to sail, here at TISC on Clipper Cove.

Here are a few more pictures of Sunday’s Dock-in process.

And a few more smiles as the docks were assembled and cleaned up.

Dock-in was just in time. Students from the Life Learning Academy used the ramp and float on Monday for the first in a series of classes covering boat handling, self-confidence and SF Bay ecology.

Regards from On the Cove, and a “tip of the hat” to Madeline Eustis, Claire Hulse and Al Sargent for the great pictures from Dock-In Sunday,

Dave G.

In the wake:

Below are a few pictures from a post about Thursday Night Racing on Clipper Cove. If you own a Vanguard15 or Laser and haven’t joined in on the fun, you’re really missing out. Thursday night racing is a blast on Clipper Cove!

Farewell Ol’ Yeller

Posted on February 24, 2014 by skippersgift

Ol’ Yeller is at Bay Marine Boatworks getting painted thanks to volunteers Jeff, Cory, and Michael. Fortunata and Great White are back. We’ll soon have seven great white hulls ready to be rigged for summer classes. Here’s 22 kids’ smiles.

Jeff Knowles with Ol Yeller Mast

Jeff Knowles helped unstep Ol’ Yeller’s mast in preparation for the transit to Bay Marine in Pt. Richmond. Unfortunately, two engine failures and a dead battery ended our day shortly after we left the dock.

A week later we departed again, this time using our 15′ ribby to tow Ol Yeller across the bay and retrieve Fortunata and Great White. Mother nature served up a great day for the transit.

Cory Schillaci and Michael Weinman graciously stepped in to help with the rescheduled transit. With the mast out and the boat already prepped for delivery we were able to depart Clipper Cove by mid-morning.

We rounded the Pt. Richmond outer mark shortly after 11. Mt. Tam provided a photogenic backdrop to our morning transit.

Mt Tam Backstop

We admired the great paint job served up by the team at Bay Marine as we watched Fortunata and Great White (we joked that ALL our J’s are now great white) being dropped in for the return trip to TISC. If you look closely you can see Fortunata in the shiny reflection on Great White’s hull.

Two identical boats head back out the channel – on their way home to join another four great-looking white hulls back at Pier 12 in Treasure Island.Here’s a couple of pictures from Mike. The first as we pass an oiler that was running lifeboat drills when we first arrived, and the second as we rounded Great Oak Victory on the way back to SF Bay. The bay was rather quiet, however we did pass a couple barges on the way home.

The trip back to Clipper Cove was aided by the wind at our back and a flood tide that helped on the final leg of our journey.

The hulls on six of our seven J/24’s are now refinished; the team at Bay Marine will have the seventh done soon. We’re getting close to “crunch time” for our opening day on April 26th.

We can use help re-stepping the masts our our J/24 fleet, updating the traveler systems so the boats can be used for both sighted and visually impaired sailors, cleaning up the interiors, and adding graphics to the new hulls so we can keep track of which “great white’ hull is which. There are many ways you can help.

Make a donation to help defray the cost of the new graphics
Spend 2-3 hours to help step the mast on two of the boats
Volunteer to work on clean-up on one or two of the interiors; or help pressure wash the decks
Donate or purchase new bow and stern lines for one or more of the boats
Purchase two new dock bumpers for your boat and donate the older ones to TISC – or just buy two new ones for our J24 fleet !
And for the really handy volunteer, join one of our teams working on re-fitting the traveler systems to prepare for our blind sailing days.

To volunteer, donate parts or make a tax-deductible cash gift please let me know (daveg@onclippercove.com) or contact the TISC Team in the TISC office (email info@tisailing.org or call 415-421-2225).

Regards, from On The Cove,

D-

In the wake:

Here are 22 smiles from our picture archives – courtesy of Ol’ Yeller:

Sailing east of Treasure Island with blue water in front and TransAmerica Tower off the dirt quarter.

Big Team Regatta – Sponsors and Smiles

Posted on February 18, 2014 by skippersgift

Planning for TISC’s Big Team Regatta 2014 is under way. Sponsors and donors are signing up. Check out these three kids’ stories from last summer’s program. And the life lessons that accompany them – even better!

There are many ways you can support BTR – mark your calendar for Friday, Sept. 26th – later this year. Sign up to sponsor a team of four racers. Make a financial donation. Provide a gift-in-kind. Every dollar we raise through sponsorships or save through gifts and donations to help defer regatta costs is another dollar that goes to our scholarship fund.

In addition to sponsorships and donations, our team counts on massive volunteer support throughout the entire day. Jobs that must be filled include morning set-up and registration, breakfast, lunch and dinner help and final clean up. If you can help for even a couple hours let our team know the time best for you.

You can start helping us NOW by thanking our awesome 2013 donors when you stop by their stores or make purchases from them. Let them know you appreciate their support for Treasure Island Sailing Center:

Peet’s Coffee in the Laurel Village Shopping Center in San Francisco for their supply of great java
House of Bagels on Geary Blvd in San Francisco for their breakfast boost
Lagunitas Brewery for cold brews after the races
Fine Foods at Home for dinner – special thanks to Kara Forman
Gorgeous and Green for their sustainably sourced floral arrangements that graced our tables during the event
UC Berkeley Sailing Team for their day-long support in so many ways, and TISC tenants, friends, parents and community members for their many hours of support
OCSC for their support, guidance, boats, coaches, and facility that was race headquarters for BTR 2013.

Of course the BIG WINNERS from Big Team Regatta, in addition to the teams who participated last year, are the kids who learn life lessons sailing at TISC as a result of your support for our scholarship fund. Here are a few examples of the smiles from those kids.

Isabella and Sisi’s Story: Teamwork

After meeting at our Family BBQ, Isabella (age 9, San Francisco) and Siyani (Sisi, age 8, Oakland) were excited to learn how to sail together during summer camp. On the first day of camp they stayed close together as instructors reviewed sizing a wetsuit and lifejacket, safely capsizing and righting a boat, and knot tying. They tackled each activity with enthusiasm! Once on the water, one steered the boat while the other trimmed the sails, and then they would switch. Sisi’s sense of adventure and Isabella’s calm demeanor made them perfect teammates. Through sailing, they learned the value of teamwork and how to effectively communicate to get through challenging moments like getting out of irons or gybing in windy conditions, all while having fun and creating lasting memories and friendships.

Ziggy’s Story: Goal Setting

Ziggy (age 9, Oakland), came to TISC with great enthusiasm for sailing. In the first week, although he achieved his sailing goals, he struggled to listen to the instructor and not be disruptive to others. With support from instructors he set his second week goals around making an effort to improve and focus his energy on positive behavior in order to gain his Level 1 certification. He began to help others with rigging and de-rigging the boats and at lunchtime, he helped another student clean up the lunch deck after eating. When he saw another student struggling in class, he was the first to ask what he could do to help. By the end of the week, his focus and positivity allowed him to achieve his goals and he received a Level 1 certification!

Josh’s Story: Leadership

Josh (age 12, Oakland) had never sailed before attending TISC’s summer camp. Josh learned to sail quickly and moved into our intermediate class after only two weeks. While he was a talented sailor, Josh stood out for his willingness to help and encourage his younger and less confident classmates.

Meeting new challenges with vigor and enthusiasm were Josh’s greatest strengths. Due to these characteristics, he was offered greater responsibility as the student helper in our adaptive co-able class. Josh happily accepted and was honored to be able to help Mattias, an autistic student his own age, learn how to sail and have fun on the water. Josh expressed a sense of personal achievement by helping, stating, “That was cool! It was fun to be able to help the instructor teach.”

TISC provides the opportunity for youth like Isabella, Sisi, Ziggy and Josh to learn vital life skills to help them succeed not only in sailing, but more importantly in real-world situations. Every $300 we raise sponsors a young sailor for a whole week of instruction; $500 enables a youth group of 25 individuals to enjoy a half day of sailing with us learning about the wind, water and respect for SF Bay.

If you have special skills, would like to help out with a donation in kind for the September 26th Big Team Regatta or simply want to get involved at TISC, let us know. You may call our office at (415) 421-2225, let us know via email at info@tisailing.org, or connect with us on line with your special skills or interest.

From On The Cove, Dave G

Fourth and Three

Posted on January 18, 2014 by skippersgift

Two volunteers joined forces to help un-step J/24 masts and complete a round-trip to Bay Marine last week. Four shiny white hulls are done with three to go. Bonus enclosure: directions for navigating Clipper Cove at low tide.

Rajat Dutta, long-time crew on Melges24 “Posse”, donated a morning to prepare Fortunata and Great White for delivery to Bay Marine Boatworks. We’ve been using the small hoist to unstep masts for the J/24 upgrade program; this approach works well and saves time over the traditional use of gin poles. A +6.5 tide helped.

A few days later Bill Nork, TISC friend and frequent volunteer, helped with the over-and-back transit from Clipper Cove to Point Richmond; we left on schedule at 11am. Our normal journey of 90 minutes stretched to two hours because of the unusual NE breeze, strong ebb current and missing motor mount on Great White.

No complaints for Mother Nature – we had a blue sky day with balmy temperatures for a January morning and the Bay to ourselves.

As we passed Red Oak Victory the air felt warmer once out of the cool n’easter on the bay. Beef Cakes and Blue Stripe looked bright, white and ready to go. After a quick motor switch we headed back to TISC.

The return trip was much faster; just over 90 minutes from dock to dock thanks to the wind at our back, a boosting current and two motors in operation. The views of the “new” Beef Cakes and Blue Stripe framed by Golden Gate Bridge and Berkeley Pier led to thoughts of “what next” for the graphics on these bright new hulls -suggestions welcome !

Even with dusk approaching, our four newly painted hulls looked clean and bright.

As the sun set on the Western end Clipper Cove the tide lines were clear.

There’s only one more transit before our J/24 fleet will have all new bottoms. If you are interested in helping, let me know. Next to providing rides to visitors on opening day and taking pictures of kids smiles, this has to be one of the best volunteer jobs we “offer” to our tenants and friends.

Regards, from On the Cove,
Dave G

In the wake:

Even with a speedy return trip we rounded Pier 1 later than planned and not much ahead of a -.04 tide. While not the lowest of lows (that would be around -1.6) we did have to be mindful of our entry into Clipper Cove.

If you’re in a similar returning situation (or trying to get out for a practice session) hug the large pier closely – no farther than 1-2 boat lengths away. Proceed nearly all the way to the rocks bordering TISC and then take a sharp left 3-4 boat lengths from breakwall. This path may not enable a 3′ draft to pass over the sand bar across the entry at tide levels shallower than -.5 to -1.0, however it’s your best bet.

For deeper draft boats, not much choice other than stay away from low-low tides; if you must make a transit during low tide use best efforts to do so on a flooding tide not an ebbing tide. That way if you do get stuck your “down time” will be minimum. The boats shown on the right exiting Clipper Cove as we returned did not make it out until the tide began rising.

2014 Resolutions: Unplug, Upload and FOCUS !

Posted on January 4, 2014 by skippersgift

One New Year’s Resolutions for the TISC community, especially for our tenants: publish TISC events and opportunities in one convenient location. And two for me: turn off the IT when around others & during meal time, and stay focused.

Treasure Island Sailing Center is a busy place for good reason: we provide life lessons and rewarding on-the-water experiences to kids and adults in one of the best sailing venues in the world. Clipper Cove is an ideal location featuring protected waters with predictable winds. Just around the corner San Francisco Bay takes it up a notch for those who want to sail casually, race locally or compete at the international level. You can even win the America’s Cup there!

Last year nearly 3,000 children, youth and adults – including those with disabilities – sailed on Clipper Cove from our TISC docks. Many were first-time sailors; some were America’s Cup participants. All were making new friends and either teaching or learning goal setting, teamwork, communications and self confidence.

Tenants are major contributors to Treasure Island Sailing Center’s success. Their fees help support scholarships and maintain our facilities. Many volunteer their time to provide priceless opportunities for experienced sailors to connect with the more novice sailors.

Last year we added a list of events sponsored by TISC or affecting sailing here on Clipper Cove to this blog. It was our first attempt to give tenants a heads up on activities in/around TISC so they could better plan their arrival and departure times and make volunteering a bit easier.

This year we will expand that information and upload both events and volunteer opportunities in a single location: TISC Events and Opportunities. We’ll do our best to make this a place you can check your plans for a race, casual sail or opportunity to fulfill your volunteer commitments.

On a personal level, I’ve made two additional resolutions for 2014: unplug from the IT world when with others, and use best efforts to focus on one task at a time.

When in meetings, hosting parties and especially during mealtimes my iPhone will be off or in another room. No more subtle pocket vibrations to remind me to check email or temptations to send out an unseen text message.

And no more pretending to be a multi-tasker. If you want to learn more about why this term is really a misnomer check out “FOCUS“, by Daniel Goleman (NY Times revew here) . Thanks to this gift from my daughter I have a better appreciation of why focus is a GREAT New Year’s resolution.

I hope you too are looking forward to a promising, rewarding and focused 2014 !

Regards, from On The Cove, Dave G.

In the wake:

2013 brought lit up many smiles on Clipper Cove this year thanks to our many friends, donors, tenants, instructors and staff . The pictures below capture some of my favorites.

Sea Shadow Makes Way for Bay Jobs

Posted on December 15, 2013 by skippersgift

Remember the huge gray mystery barge on Pier1 East of TISC? It housed a once-secret Navy “stealth” research vessel. “Sea Shadow” is now gone. In its place: Bay Ship &Yacht employees working efficiently to recondition massive sea barges and Super Yachts.

HMB-1 on the radar scope We first noticed HMB-1’s arrival at Pier 1 on a sail to Angel Island a year ago last August. It was large and appeared shrouded in secrecy. Peering under the nearly-closed seven-story tall door, we saw suspicious looking “torpedoes” inside. floats or torpedoes

With help from Google (the search engine, not the “new” secret barge at Pier 1) the story became clear: Bay Ship & Yacht had purchased the Hughes Mining Barge-1 with Sea Shadow inside. The former was first constructed to support a secret CIA mission to recover a sunken soviet submarine; the latter was built by Lockheed in Redwood City to develop stealth technologies for navy ships.

We were fortunate to tour the still-in-tact Sea Shadow. We then watched HMB-1‘s progress over the last year from our vantage point on Clipper Cove as Bay Ship fulfilled the terms of their agreement with the Navy which called for them to dismantle Sea Shadow as they repurposed HMB-1.

Last Friday we visited Bay Ship to observe HMB-1’s new role as an efficient, high-tech dry dock for ocean-going barges and super-yachts. The pictures below were taken at various stages of HMB-1’s journey from Sea Shadow tender to Bay Ships state-of-the-art dry dock, the only enclosed facility of its kind on the West Coast.

Our visit inside Sea Shadow was in October, ’12. It was a long climb up steep rusty stairs and ladders to get topside on HMB-1. Then another traverse across two 40’ high catwalks around a corner to the gangway leading inside Sea Shadow.

No matter which vantage point we selected, Sea Shadow appeared larger than life. She was 68′ wide below the water, resulting in a slim 4′ margin on each side when entering/exiting HMB-1. These pictures were taken from the upper level in HMB-1.

The interior spaces were compact but not crowded. Sea Shadow was designed as a test-bed. There were bunks for 12; however she was generally “at sea” for hours not days.The twin pontoons were 15′ under the water, and she was about half a football field in length. When viewed from below she looked massive.

I won’t be posting the pictures from my visit on November 19th because watching the dismantling operation of a historic sleek craft like Sea Shadow was difficult and distressing. Not pictures for publication.

Three weeks later Sea Shadow was gone and HMB-1 looked cavernous. Catwalks were being revamped and crane work was underway.

Mostly out-of-sight in the spaces between the double hull, HMB-1 was being converted from a submarine to a dry dock. In a submarine water gets displaced by compresssed air to surface; in a dry dock water is pumped in and out.

By March, 2013 the internal outfitting was well underway and the outside painting was nearly complete. HMB-1 March 2013 Pumps The Bernie Briere is currently undergoing refitting and refurbishing in HMB-1 which was officially announced by Bay Ship & Yacht in August. You get a sense of the size of these ocean-going barges when out of the water. They are approximately 240′ long, 64′ wide and 24′ deep!

It was sad watching Sea Shadow’s passing. Her history has been well documented, however, and Bay Ship has used HMB-1’s repurposed interior space to create jobs and increase the efficiency of large vessel maintenance just across the Bay from Clipper Cove.

Regards from On The Cove, Dave G

In the wake:

There are many web sites that provide the history, specifications and pictures of HMB-1 and Sea Shadow. Here are a few (and feel free to send along any favorites you may find; we’ll add them to this post):

Historic Navy Ships Association – facts and pictures
History and pictures from nonplused.org
SF Citizen article with links to many other sites
Wikipedia listing for Sea Shadow
Wikipedia listing for HMB-1
Wikipedia listing for Project Azorian
Lockheed Martin Littoral Combat Ship

Concrete Crushed, Need Sawzall or Torch

Posted on December 6, 2013 by skippersgift

A few weeks back our team sliced up the “roadblock” next to the opti rack. A volunteer finished off the job Wednesday. Next step: removing four 1″ reinforcing rods. We’re looking for a volunteer with a Sawzall or torch to help.

The troublesome reinforced concrete block that’s been in the way of kids loading and unloading opti’s and bugs, and keelboats using the large hoist, is almost gone. Dan Fishman, our maintenance guru, removed most of it using a concrete saw funded by tenants dollars from those who were not able to directly volunteer their time at TISC in the last six months.

The concrete saw was able to remove most of the block, but not the reinforcing rods. Two of the remaining four bolts and brackets are shown in the picture below.

On Wednesday a volunteer armed with hammer and chisel finished off the small chunks of concrete. All that remains are the four steel rods.

If you have access to a Sawzall or portable torch please feel free to “have at it”. There are four rods that must be cut off in the otherwise mostly cleaned out space. Feel free to call Chris Childers or me if you can help out or if you have suggestions on the best way to attack these rods.

Regards from On The Cove, Dave G

In the wake:

Next up is filling in a few “mule tracks” in the central yard to smooth out the path for our mule, which takes a beating whenever it rolls over these bumps. If you have experience with concrete patching, can make suggestions regarding the best materials to use, or would be willing to help out for a few hours in January please let us know. Materials for this project will also be funded with dollars assessed to tenants not able to fulfill their monthly volunteer time.

Two “New” J/24s Join TISC Fleet

Posted on November 25, 2013 by skippersgift

Last month we delivered Delos and Barney to Bay Marine for bottom painting. They’re back looking brand new! We swapped them with two more J/24’s before rain and wind announced winter’s arrival on Clipper Cove. Next step: stripes & graphics.

Michael Weinman and I splashed Beefcakes and Blue Stripe last Monday. We were ahead of schedule after un-stepping the first mast. As with most boat projects sailing is not always smooth. The mast on Beefcakes was stuck and would not budge.

Jasper Van Vliet arrived for transit duty at 1030. Additional attempts to remove the mast failed so we headed for Bay Marine.

Jasper and I left Clipper Cove with clouds behind us and blue sky ahead of us.

We were greeted by an enthusiastic welcoming committee as we rounded the entrance to Pt. Richmond harbor.

The SS Red Oak Victory, one of 534 Victory class Cargo ships built for WWII, served as a second waypoint. She was turned over to the Richmond Museum of History in 1998 after an act of congress in 1996.

Two freshly-painted J/24s were launched and waiting for us. Our decision to transit Beefcakes with the mast up to save time proved to be a good call – the pros at Bay Marine and their industrial-strength crane made short work of the mast removal.

The 90 minute return journey to TISC was cloudy. Winter is one of the few times we see clouds around here and they always seem gorgeous over SF Bay whether sky blue or stormy gray.

boat B under SF clouds We completed our second refueling as we neared Treasure Island.

Plenty of time to think about boat graphics on the way home with a brand new pearly-white hull on my starboard quarter for an hour. Our current thinking is a blue boot stripe, possibly an upper accent highlight, bow numbers, and CA registration number. And graphics. Bold graphics to showcase our refurbished fleet.

The big questions are how to name the boats and which graphics would look best while remaining durable. Feel free to send along your thoughts or suggestions (daveg @ onclippercove . com). If you or your company would like to sponsor one or more boats and/or sails even better! Imagine how great your name/logo would look on the side of a J/24 with kids smiling as they learned life lessons on Clipper Cove.

Even with help from the pros, favorable tides, and only one “hitch”, daylight ran out before we washed and retrieved both J’s. The reflection of the new Bay Bridge was another reminder of how attractive shiny these new hulls will be – especially with bold new graphics on their hulls.

Regards from On the Cove, Dave G

In the wake:

The history behind the SS Red Oak Victory is intriguing. Here’s the link to a virtual tour of the ship.

OnClipperCove

Launching Point for New Horizons

Category Archives: Uncategorized

Cleveland and Feinstein Schools On Clipper Cove

Opening Day: Sails, Paddles and Smiles On Clipper Cove

Dock-In Sunday, Smiles on Monday

Farewell Ol’ Yeller

Big Team Regatta – Sponsors and Smiles

Fourth and Three

2014 Resolutions: Unplug, Upload and FOCUS !

Sea Shadow Makes Way for Bay Jobs

Concrete Crushed, Need Sawzall or Torch

Two “New” J/24s Join TISC Fleet