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And, if you hadn't read enough already.......

Posted By: Dave Kautz - P-15 #1632 & O'day 192 #313
Date: 10/27/08 11:09p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Clipper Cove Rescue (pic) (Goose p14#164)

.....a few comments from the sail "host";

First, not to forget the good, what a beautiful day and what a great turnout!

Second, but no less important, I feel sorry about the misfortune that occurred and very grateful to Steve Potter for his heroic deeds. Thank you Steve Potter - we are friends and you know how much I mean it.

I, too, saw a P-15 with a half-raised flogging sail on a course returning to the shelter of Clipper Cove as we were departing. Francesca and I diverted our course in that direction but saw the skipper under power and turning into the wind to attend to the sail and the situation looked to me like it was under control. A conflicting priority was that the party of Pier 54 bound sailors that we were with had all already left some time before and I didn't want to get too far separated from them. I could also see Goose and Steve still launching off the beach and acknowledged to myself that the sailor was not alone. With 20-20 hindsight, I still should have lingered behind.

Truth be told, any position of responsibility in the context of the Potter Yachters is a bit like herding cats. No one sailor can simultaneously lead the way and also make sure no boat drops off the back of the pack. Potter sailors are also a bunch of strong-minded individuals and even if there is a knowledgeable skipper out front on the right course there is no guarantee that the rest of the fleet will follow.

I think we Potter Yachters may be suffering a bit from our own success. As the groups of boats get larger more organization may be appropriate for the events to be safe and enjoyable. This could be more detailed preparation in advance, more discipline on staying together as a group, a prescribed course of waypoints to follow, mandatory radio check-ins, mentoring for new sailors? I don't actually know the most practical way to address this and, frankly, often feel like part of the problem.

Since this is not just a local challenge - I know Captain Howie has had to make changes to the Catalina trip arrangements to accommodate larger and larger numbers of participants - perhaps we could continue this thread with a request for suggestions on how to safely "grow" the Pottering/small boat cruising family in a way that doesn't cut down on the enjoyment of good sailing with good friends.

Messages In This Thread

Superb Weather Brings Potter Yachter Record Showing of 19 Boats to Clipper Cove -- Carl P-19 #1432 "Dagmar" on SF Bay -- 10/26/08 8:04p.m.
Clipper Cove Rescue -- Goose p14#164 -- 10/27/08 9:22a.m.
Goose makes a good point -- Mike Higgins -- 10/27/08 10:05a.m.
Are more details to come? -- Jose P15 #2045 "Witty" -- 10/27/08 10:41a.m.
I spoke with Steve and Paul . . . -- Jerry Kergan (P-15 "Lazy Ka", Concord / San Francisco Bay) -- 10/27/08 11:36a.m.
details -- Goose p14#164 -- 10/27/08 8:29p.m.
One more perspective -- Jose P15 #2045 "Witty" -- 10/28/08 6:34a.m.
When you get all those boats together . . . -- Jerry Kergan (P-15 "Lazy Ka", Concord / San Francisco Bay) -- 10/27/08 11:09a.m.
Was the wind so light he could sit on the lee seat? -- John Madill Mackinac Dreamere WWP15 -- 10/27/08 4:07p.m.
That's why I chose this image. -- Jerry Kergan (P-15 "Lazy Ka", Concord / San Francisco Bay) -- 10/27/08 5:16p.m.
Steve Potter deserves the Potter-Yachter Medal for Valor . . . -- Carl P-19 #1432 "Dagmar" on SF Bay -- 10/27/08 11:18a.m.
More praise for Mr. Potter -- Harry Gordon, WWP14 #234, Manatee, Mountain View, CA -- 10/27/08 5:26p.m.
Harry - Send that photo to Latitude-38 for Potter-Yachters -- Dave_N - - SF Bay Area Sailor -- 10/27/08 6:22p.m.
Oakland Estuary vs San Francisco's Pier 54 Points of Departure for Clipper Cove -- Carl P-19 #1432 "Dagmar" on SF Bay -- 10/27/08 9:02p.m.
Current more than wind maybe -- Harry Gordon, WWP14 #234, Manatee, Mountain View, CA -- 10/28/08 6:20p.m.
Harry, good points. Check this photo for the name of the MC club at Pier 54 -- Carl P-19 #1432 "Dagmar" on SF Bay -- 10/28/08 8:38p.m.
You have to stay away from islands during peak flow -- Mike Higgins -- 10/28/08 8:42p.m.
Mike, interesting observation. -- Carl P-19 #1432 "Dagmar" on SF Bay -- 10/28/08 8:53p.m.
Mike, Nice story on "Jean Alden" -- Dave_N - - SF Bay Area Sailor -- 10/30/08 3:37p.m.
I sail alone in the company of others -- Rich McDevitt P-15 #2531 Minnow SF Bay -- 10/27/08 11:33a.m.
Some more thoughts from someone (me).. -- Jack, H23.5,F-5 Clermont, Fl -- 10/27/08 12:26p.m.
We should monitor and use Ch. 68 -- Eric Zilbert -- 10/27/08 1:50p.m.
Lessons relearned -- Dick Herman, Muddy Duck -- 10/27/08 2:00p.m.
 And, if you hadn't read enough already.......  -- Dave Kautz - P-15 #1632 & O'day 192 #313 -- 10/27/08 11:09p.m.
Right on -- Dick Herman, Muddy Duck -- 10/28/08 9:19a.m.
float plans -- Rich McDevitt P-15 #2531 Minnow SF Bay -- 10/28/08 11:12a.m.
These are all very good points -- Katie Lea, P15 "Follow Me", Santa Clara, CA -- 10/29/08 4:27a.m.
To put the focus back on the positive, here's a few photos of the trip. -- Carl P-19 #1432 "Dagmar" on SF Bay -- 10/27/08 9:19p.m.
Mike Higgins Rounding Yerba Buena Island -- Carl P-19 #1432 "Dagmar" on SF Bay -- 10/27/08 9:28p.m.
Potters Approaching Clipper Cove -- Carl P-19 #1432 "Dagmar" on SF Bay -- 10/27/08 10:01p.m.
Jerry K Relaxin' with the Commodore -- Carl P-19 #1432 "Dagmar" on SF Bay -- 10/27/08 10:08p.m.
It was a very relaxing sail . . . -- Jerry Kergan (P-15 "Lazy Ka", Concord / San Francisco Bay) -- 10/28/08 5:07a.m.
Potter Yachters Getting their Land Legs at the Cove -- Carl P-19 #1432 "Dagmar" on SF Bay -- 10/27/08 10:17p.m.
Congregation at the Cove -- Carl P-19 #1432 "Dagmar" on SF Bay -- 10/27/08 10:24p.m.
Local Color. That's all folks. -- Carl P-19 #1432 "Dagmar" on SF Bay -- 10/27/08 10:28p.m.
Great Pics Carl.... -- Tim..."Morning Dove" P19 #457 Potter Valley CA -- 10/28/08 5:42a.m.
Thanks Carl! -- Bill Nolen, WWPotter Owner's Web Site -- 10/28/08 6:25a.m.
Dagmar photo -- Mike Higgins -- 10/28/08 8:45a.m.
My photos -- Terry G P15 #821 SF bay -- 10/28/08 1:05p.m.
Try again -- Terry G P15 #821 SF bay -- 10/28/08 1:08p.m.
Maybe your photo was too big -- Harry Gordon, WWP14 #234, Manatee, Mountain View, CA -- 10/28/08 4:26p.m.
Still in a whirl. -- Paul R. Gregory -- 10/28/08 10:59a.m.
Boating people. -- Paul R. Gregory -- 10/28/08 1:33p.m.
So, what happened to your Potter? -- Harry Gordon, WWP14 #234, Manatee, Mountain View, CA -- 10/28/08 5:36p.m.
paul and steve's ordeal -- Goose p14#164 -- 10/28/08 7:31p.m.
The Recovery (from my point of view) -- Steve Potter, P-15 Stars & Bars -- 10/29/08 10:15a.m.
Messup. -- Paul R. Gregory -- 10/30/08 7:52a.m.
No reason to feel down Paul.... -- Tim..."Morning Dove" P19 #457 Potter Valley CA -- 10/30/08 8:01a.m.
Don't feel down... -- Dave Kautz - P15 #1632 & O'day 192 #313 -- 10/30/08 8:50a.m.
Paul it was just a thing that happened -- Robert Griffin P-19 #1505 Sandbob, Tahoe -- 10/30/08 7:30p.m.
Mess-up -- Dan Phy P15 #1051 Ol' Geezer , Ft. Bragg, Ca. -- 10/30/08 9:07a.m.
Don't be down ... -- Rich McDevitt P-15 #2531 Minnow SF Bay -- 10/30/08 9:44a.m.
CAUTION (turtle porn above) -- Tim..."Morning Dove" P19 #457 Potter Valley CA -- 10/30/08 11:42a.m.
Welcome to the Potter Yachters, Paul! -- Harry Gordon, WWP14 #234, Manatee, Mountain View, CA -- 10/30/08 12:37p.m.
Like Harry said.. -- Jack, H23.5, Force 5, Clermont Fl. -- 11/1/08 8:15a.m.
Helps to know I'm not the only one. -- Paul R. Gregory -- 10/30/08 3:39p.m.
LOL. No. You're not the only one. -- John Turpin, P-15 "Tetra", Edmond, OK -- 10/31/08 5:19a.m.
don't be down Paul.... -- John Madill WWP15 Mackinac Dreamer -- 10/30/08 4:06p.m.
I imagine my day is coming heh heh -- Eric Hughes WWP 15 # 2475 Moonbeam Mechanicsburg Pa -- 10/31/08 5:41p.m.
I love all these "incidents" -- Rich McDevitt P-15 #2531 Minnow SF Bay -- 10/31/08 7:53a.m.
INCIDENTS!! -- Dan Phy P15 #1051 Ol' Geezer , Ft. Bragg, Ca. -- 10/31/08 12:04p.m.

 

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