It was March 2002 and I was on a flight from London to Seattle with the final destination Olympia. The purpose of the visit was to indeed work, although to some of you it may not have seemed so.
Two weeks in I was looking around for a room to rent, frankly there wasn’t much choice but I wont hold that against Dan Decker. The company seemed great and certainly the offer of a sail at the weekend and the dinghies in the yard sold me. Before I knew what I had let myself in for I was meeting the O-My-God up in Gig Harbour for a session in the Tides Tavern. The Islands Race started in thick fog, rain and snow, oh yes, and no wind. We ghosted up the Colvos Passage, my total lack of big boat experience meant I was little more than rail meat even if it was leeward rail meat. The weather improved and wind picked up and it was a sensational first days sailing. The feet were rather on the numb side from being cold and damp but were soon to be warmed up with a few beers in the Tides. Many wonderful races followed with David Ames and the vibrant O-My-God crew: Swiftsure, Smith Island, Protection Island, and yes, wonderful Wednesday Night Races.
It was time to jump-ship from O-My-God. I needed to experience something different and what could be more different than Uproar. Squeaky clean bottom, fresh sails and no room for the crate or two of Bud-lite. Sailing with Ian Christopher proved a task in concentration and focus. It was great to pick up the intricacies of the asymmetrical J-80. Further down the line I was to spend a week sailing the J-80s in San Francisco Bay.
Clark McPherson’s e-mail also became rather busy over the winter; I had had my eye on the 11 meters for some time. I proposed to Clark that if he hadn’t sold McScoots by the spring I would love the opportunity to try my hand at skippering. Well, Clark lived up to this and come the Spring Regatta there we were, Clark rather nervously showing me the ropes. As it turned out the first race was one where half the fleet went to one mark and the other to another mark, a race we would all rather forget about! Thanks to Brad Hancock on the bow, generally things maintained in relative control although I do remember one rather spectacular broach, which was followed, thankfully, by one on McSwoosh.
If you have made it this far, this is really just a big thanks to all those mentioned and others of SSSS, who were so generous and friendly helping me get into the world of sailing. I can see I haven’t mentioned dinghies and must say thanks to Bill Brosius for getting me into the Star program. And Gary Pedigo for the use of his Star.
I’m now based in England and sailing a Formula 25 in the Liverpool Yacht Club series, although we lost the mast last weekend! For all those planning a visit you should look me up for a sail on the Mersey, Liverpool.
Will Grattan
will.grattan@talk21.com