I no sooner had all of the waivers signed and wanted to hold a short briefing to coordinate radio freqs, paddle signals, compass headings, etc. when I noticed that 3/4 of the group was so anxious to paddle that they were on the water and starting out. I jumped in my boat as Peter O'Sullivan said that he would wait for the stragglers. We agreed to raft up at the breakwater and hold the briefing on the water. I paddled like crazy and caught the main group of early starters and between loud blasts on a lung powered fog horn that I just got and paddle signals, we got everyone to hold up at the breakwater. We held a short 5 minute briefing and started out towards Gina which could just be seen in the haze of the marine layer. View navigation map.

The water was relatively calm with about a one foot wind chop. The weather forecast had been for light winds from the SE but we were being hit with both a light wind and wind chop from the west. So much for thinking the weather forecasters would have made it easier for us.

As we paddled, every once in a while a wave from no-where would just sort of come up and hit the boats from the "wrong" side making people comment that their boats were behaving "squirrelly. In spite of the fact that we had several paddlers in boats that should have been slow, we made it out to Gina in 1 hour and 15 minutes. We then played around and/or rested at the oil platform and then started back to the harbor. It always amazes people that after they get to Gina, which is a landmark that they can see on the outbound leg, there is very little detail to be seen when you look back towards the coast. We told people to aim at the 2 high rise buildings that you can see and that when the breakwater becomes visible, to adjust from there.

We took about the same time on the return trip even though we had a little bit larger wind chop ( about 1 - 2 feet and again some of those waves from the "wrong" direction) and found that we had to stagger our landings, because all of the boats could not fit on the beach at the same time.

Several people went over to the pond to practice while the rest of us hit Daddy-o's for some of their famous tri-tip sandwiches. Most of us were disheartened to learn they may have to close because of a zoning battle going on and we all signed their petitions before sitting down to a great lunch.

All in all it was a great day on the water. Although there were plenty of flares, VHF radios, tow ropes, etc present--None of our safety equipment had to be used and everyone made it to and from Gina without incident. The only complaints were that out of 18 paddlers, we still have only 2 women who paddle with us, Carol Miller and my wife Robin. Where are the rest of the women members of CKF???

    Steve Holtzman & Peter O'Sullivan