Day sailing at Marina del Rey

Many of our friends want to know what it is like sailing on Windarra. This past weekend we took some friends for some day sails.

On Saturday, Amanda Mazzoni and Mike Ryder joined us. Amanda had some boat handling experience from her days fishing with her dad on the New Jersey coast. We had both of them grinding winches and handling lines. They had joined us for dinner on Windarra last week but going sailing is a different experience.

 Today, we took Timothy Wannier and his girlfriend, Kelly Roberts, for a day sail. Timothy is Rae’s oldest brother. He had some previous sailing experience and both of them were gung ho to learn some more, again grinding winches and handling lines. We had heard on the VHF that there were blue whale sightings in the bay so we kept looking but no luck. Timothy had spent some time in Australia so we had a chance to compare notes on the land down under.

It was fun for us to take folks out for day sails. We are not worried about trying to get somewhere and we are able to enjoy the sailing more, especially when we are taking others out for a new experience.

We also met another couple who are planning to do the Baja Ha-Ha, Russ and Doreen on August Moon from Vancouver B.C. We might see them at Catalina as well.

I also met another couple today who were looking at Windarra from the shore. They called out and asked what type of boat she is. I walked over and replied, “a Stevens 47”. The gentleman told his wife, “I told you so”. After some conversation I learned that they were from Mississippi and that they had a Stevens 47 as well but that it was damaged by Katrina, a total loss, the side caved in and the mast torn off. Recently someone from California had bought it and trucked the boat west and was in the process of restoring it. I am afraid that I did not catch their names. Hopefully their boat will sail again.

Tomorrow we plan to head back to Catalina Island and enjoy some other anchorages. We may not be in touch as cell phone was spotty on the island. Next weekend we plan to go to Newport Beach.