The Start Gun! The Parade of Boats!

At 9:30 a.m., on Monday, October 25th, nearly 200 boats of every size and shape imaginable (though mostly sailboats, there were a few powerboats), were escorted out of San Diego Harbor with a start gun send of that included dignitaries from both the US and Mexico, along with a fireboat salute, and a Navy submarine to lead the pack.

It was sight to see and although I am certain that these photos cannot do justice to the sight, it really was something to behold. As the call was given for the start (the equivalent of “gentlemen, start your engines”), all sails were raised in an amazing spectacle that reminded me of the British or Spanish armadas heading out to sea in the days of old. The Bonnie Lass had gotten out in front with about 10 other boats when we realized that we had passed the start marker right by, so we jibed back around and picked up again where everyone else was starting. It was an exhilarating maneuver and our small jump on the fleet gave us the opportunity to watch everyone else catch up. My biggest thrill was watching our Catalina Morgan 440sister ship, Full Shell, scream past us, and just about everyone else, with her 135 head sail flying. YeeeeHawwww! The rally has begun! (For the record, our yacht broker in San Francisco would not sell us a 135 head sail for the Bay; a restriction reflecting safety considerations for the high winds and rapidly changing conditions in the Bay. Full Shell, although also hailing from San Francisco, found their head sail via a more circuitous route).

Here a re a few pics that, frankly, do not do justice to the spectacle. For the best photos, please go to bajahaha17.smugmug.com and click on "Parade" ). there you will see that for those willing to brave the chilly morning in their Haloween costumes from the previous day, the rest of us got a good chuckle. Can you spot Hugh Hefner and his gaggle of girls...er... mature women?