We held our 5th annual California Cape Dory Owners Association Rendezvous last weekend in Benecia, California, about 25 miles upriver from San Francisco.
The harbormaster had us pretty well scattered in assigned slips about the marina, but a couple of our boats were assigned to a 150' long dock along with a 41' non-CD to arrive later. By the time it did get there, we had seven Cape Dorys (five sail and two power) rafted up with 50' of dock space to spare for the other guy. So with two other CDs in slips on the same finger, and two more on the same gate, we were almost all together. The harbormaster was accommodating (and actually pretty glad to free up the other slips as the marina was full).
We had 13 boats in all (one home-ported there) ranging from a 22D to a couple of 36's, two 28 powerboats and my 30 power. Including those who drove, there were 29 of us at dinner. Benicia is a great port to visit, with lots of interesting shops and good restaurants. It was the capital of California for a couple of years when the state was new, and the old Capitol is still there as a museum.
We had an election - I think. It's hard to tell for certain since our only rule of procedure is that we don't have any rules. But most eyewitnesses seemed to agree that Jo Anne Kipp and Dick Honey (of the CD 36 La Baleine) were elected Commodore. (Yes, that's two Commodores, or co-Commodores, but it's not against any of the rules we don't have). So finally, after five years, we've got some sailors in charge.
Noel Peattie, who is well-known for his Typhooner newsletter, appears to have been acclaimed Vice-Commodore in charge of our irregular CCDO newsletter. Since no rule precludes it, Noel will probably come up with a better title when he's had time to think about it. And I will join founding Commodore Mike Fahy as a Staff Commodore, and continue as Webmaster.
Neither Jo Anne and Dick, or Noel, have got email addresses, but I will forward any information to them. Or you can contact Noel directly with newsletter contributions (and he really hopes you will) at 23311 County Road 88, Winters, CA 95694-9008, (530) 662-3364.
The spring 1999 float-in will return to Coyote Point YC, which we hugely enjoyed visiting last year. The marina is in a park, with a great museum and a restaurant which serves one of those great Sunday brunches. For the 6th Annual Rendezvous next year, we will see if San Francisco's South Beach Marina is available - in a neighborhood which each month seems to get spiffier and acquire yet another restaurant.
Each float-in continues to be a great experience, with lots of old friends and each time a few newcomers who have discovered either us or a Cape Dory, or both. This time we had Pat and Nancy Turner, who bought the CD30 Sasha Oren which Marion Lewenstein unfortunately had to sell. So sometimes we even have old boats and new friends.
I think we are starting to take on some of the patina of an institution. We'll see how long we can build an institution without having any rules - just (as Mike Fahy put it) "Nice boats, nice folks."
- Walt Bilofsky
Staff Commodore and Webmaster
bilofsky@toolworks.com
CCDO 5th Annual Rendezvous Report and Election Results
Moderator: Jim Walsh