Everyone deals with death in their own way. Halloween has become candy and costumes for children and for others it is all hollows eve, the night before all saint’s day. The customs within our own culture are so varied that I could not begin to list them. Similarly, the means of expression is so varied. Cemeteries are the end or beginning of the journey of life. The recognition of that life is the headstone and the epitaph on it.
I just finished the International Masters Regatta at the San Diego Yacht Club with a group of old sailing friends. I had not worked the bow of a boat since the 1977 America’s Cup. I suppose this event constituted “coming out of retirement”.
The marine layer (fog) never burned off today. there was a chill in the air all day. Given San Diego’s reputation we were shocked. The wind was about the same strength from the same direction. Racing was tight. The boats seem to be very equal.
We ate bagels from Einstein Bros Bagels for breakfast. After my experience at the Einstein in Grand Junction, Co. I was ready to go back.
After the formalities of the skippers meeting and photographs we raced three races. Sailing in the waters in front of Shelter Island and downtown San Diego. 12-15 knots of air from 290 degrees.
We are in San Diego racing in the International Masters Regatta with a contingent from 1977 when we received a telephone call with the news.
Eight Bells for Stretch Ryder
We are very sad to report from Port Washington, New York, the passing of a wonderful friend and sailor- Gould “Stretch” Ryder. Stretch is best known as the winch grinder for Ted Turner aboard Courageous for the 1977 Americas Cup defense against Australia (one).
Stretch fought cancer for the past ten months and leaves behind wife Gerry, sons Michael and Christopher, and many family and friends.
Over the past few weeks Stretch received visitors and calls from all over the country. Every member of the Courageous crew called or visited Stretch. A highlight was last Friday’s visit by half the crew of Courageous, flying in from Montana with Ted Turner on his jet. Ted, Gary Jobson (tactician), Bill Jorch (navigator) and John “LJ” Edgcomb (bow) exchanged hysterical stories (mostly true) about the 1977 Cup.
Stretch was his communicating and humorous self up to the end. Stretch grew up sailing and playing football and basketball. Winning the Bacardi Cup racing a Star with Frank Zagarino was a major sailing highlight. At AlfredUniversity he was a tight end. While serving in the Army, Stretch coached football and flew helicopters in Southeast Asia. Since 1982 Stretch worked with John Thomson, running marinas, the famous “Barge” Restaurant, and Ventura Aviation. He raced for decades on John’s famous series of ocean racers and Farr 40s named “Infinity”. Stretch has been a longtime member of the Storm Trysail Club.
There will be a celebration for Stretch at the Manhasset Bay Yacht Club at 2 pm next Friday afternoon November 1. All his friends are invited.
Practice day at the International Masters Regatta at the San Diego Yacht Club. We are sailing J 105s wit crews of 5 people. So many old friends are here.
I am still awed by the size of the country; particularly the west. It is simply put: big country.
I am flying to San Diego tonight. Yes I just returned from the west. I will hope to post while there. Somehow flying is not as fulfilling as the drive.
San Francisco host of the 34th America’s Cup. I still don’t know the city well at all. I know Los Angeles much better. I would like to know San Francisco better. It is strange as San Francisco is a port city and a sailing city.
The “J” class one of the last vestiges of an income tax free world. Majestic and beautiful. The AC 72 catamarans have changed forever how we see yachts and yacht racing.
