|
It was a breezy evening in San Francisco when 13 women gathered
at Pier 40 for the start of the May 2008 Women’s Challenge.
Our emotions ranged from nervousness and apprehension to excitement
and anticipation. What would the next three days bring? We
stowed our gear below decks, introduced ourselves, met the
crew, and set sail directly from Pier 40. Almost immediately,
Captain Body had Chanda at the helm steering us north towards
Paradise Cove. The women were on deck learning lines, observing
the sunset over the Golden Gate Bridge, and getting used to
the gentle rolling of Seaward on the waves of San Francisco
Bay. Thus began our adventure. For the next three days, these
women learned about life onboard a schooner – sailing, cooking,
cleaning, and generally, enjoying life at sea. We had all
signed up for this program for different reasons: some people
were looking for adventure, some people had wanted to learn
to sail for years, and some people wanted only to raise scholarship
money for the TSEA students. Whatever the reason for signing
up, everyone was eager to learn and be part of the team. We
started Friday morning by learning the language of sailing
- parts of the ship, specific sail names, the names of the
lines that controlled the sails, and the nautical commands.
Soon, we were taking advantage of the brisk breeze to sail
around Alcatraz, to dart under the Golden Gate in the rolling
swell of the Pacific, and to return to the calmer harbor of
Sausalito for the night. I came on deck at one point to see
Carmelita striking the fisherman sail in big waves, loving
the spray that soaked her and grinning from ear to ear! This
is what it’s all about. Friday night was everyone’s first
anchor watch – it was an adjustment to be woken up at an odd
hour and then to responsible for the safe operations of the
ship. But the stillness of the night, the glimmer of the city
on the horizon, and the smell of the ocean made it worth the
missed sleep. On Saturday, everyone began to be more comfortable
with the daily ship schedule, and we enjoyed a spectacular
and windy day of sailing up river to Vallejo. Everyone tried
their hand at steering, calling commands, navigating by plotting
on a chart, and tying knots. After another night of anchor
watch in Sausalito, the day of the challenge had arrived.
These new sailors were going to sail off the anchor, under
the three bridges (Golden Gate, Richmond, Bay Bridge) and
get us home to Pier 40 by 4 pm! Heads together, charts out,
tide books consulted, the plan was set and executed. We had
a splendid sail from Sausalito to the Richmond Bridge, then
we fought the tides and low wind back to the Golden Gate,
and finally made it to the Bay Bridge, where we sailed triumphantly
back to Pier 40. Not only did everyone learn to sail as part
of a team, but everyone came away feeling proud of the challenge
that they had overcome. The trip was a success, and I am grateful
to have been a part of the weekend.
Written by Christine
Whitcraft, Women's Challenge Leader
See more pictures from Women's Challenge 8 on photobucket:
Click here for Christine's
album
Click here for Sue's
album
Join the next Women's Challenge, October 16-19, 2008. Click
here for more information. |
