2003 Archive Stories
- 2003 Awards Dinner
- In Momoriam Jerry Langkammerer
- Day on the Bay
Potomac Stays Afloat Despite Folkboat Awards
By Dieter Loibner, Photos Brock DeLappe. All rights reserved. Reproduction with permission only.
Posted: January 4, 2004
No, Folkboaters don't need an awards banquet on terra firma. Laurie Chambers was out of town so he could not give an encore to his performance at last year's dinner, but he managed to find a willing deputy in Peter Jeal. Knowing Peter, surprises can be expected and he did not disappoint.
The Potomac, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's yacht, moored in Oakland's inner harbor, was the chosen venue for the 2003 debauch in early November. More than 50 faithful Folkboaters and their spouses came to attend the festivities that featured Magali's delicacies and treasurer Chris Herrmann behind the al fresco bar on the aft deck. The civilized alternative to drinking on the poop was taking a seat in the cozy atmosphere of the mess room to have dinner, a glass of Cab (it is a red-wine fleet, remember?) while the Folkboat epic Sea Room was being screened.
Evie Ashcroft, Race Chair Don Wilson and Wed. Nite Meister Peter Jeal
After that they handed out the silver, the jackets and the perpetual prizes. Bill Madison supported by Mark Slichter, Ansel Wetterston and Brad McCrea fended off a late charge by perennial nemesis Peter Jeal and Susie Parker for the season championship, his second in a row. Wednesday Night action saw the same two teams in the top spots, albeit in reverse order. Veteran and race chair Don Wilson held off rookie Eric Kaiser to take 3rd in the season championship, but Kaiser returned the favor on Wednesday Night in a nailbiter. Because he won one more race, the tie-breaker was in Kaiser's favor.
Champs 2003: Mark Slichter, Skipper Bill Madison and Brad McCrea
A respected ghost form the past dropped by, too. Sven Svendsen the Grand Master of Folkboat culture in the bay, showing flag for St. FYC, the sponsor of the Wednesday Night races, presented the well-known and aged rudder to Bill Madison for winning the single-handed regatta during the fun weekend.
Svend Svendsen, Dana Herrmann and the Rudder
Without remorse or mercy, Susan Parker took the ladies race again. Dana Herrmann got second despite sailing with her hubbin. Third went to Monika Jensen who was along for the ride with the Herrmanns but jumped ship because Mr. President looked like he needed a lady on board. Monika is Norwegian and had not sailed since she was very young. Reports indicate that communication between skipper and crew was phenomenal. She didn't know the American sailing jargon and Bill's Norwegian was a little rusty. We hope her exploits won't lead to complications with her home country, which has shunned the Folkboat and embraced something called Knarr.
Even though the Internationals might get postponed again (to avoid scheduling conflicts with the Walcon Cup in the UK) the Folkboat fleet keeps adding new faces and some known ones, too. Participation, especially on Wednesday Night was encouraging with 13 teams while the season championship attracted 10 boats. Several contenders indicated that they will use the Midwinters as tune-up so they can hit the ground running when the gun for the first race of the 2004 season sounds in April.
Awards:
Ladies Race: 1. Susie Parker; 2. Dana Herrmann; 3. Monika Jensen
Singlehanders: 1. Bill Madison; 2. Peter Jeal; 3. Chris Herrmann
Wed Nite: 1. Peter Jeal, 113; 2. Bill Madison, 76; 3. Eric Kaiser
Season Championship: 1. Bill Madison 76; 2. Peter Jeal, 113; 3. Don Wilson 106
In Memoriam Jerry Langkammerer
Posted: October 12, 2003
Without music, life would be a mistake.
Friedrich Nietzsche
A quote often recounted by Jerry Langkammerer. For Jerry, music mirrored life. Life could be a grand opera, a bittersweet country western song, a deeply moving symphony, a rallying folk tune or a stirring gospel rhythm. Jerry loved music and music reminds us of what we loved in him ‚ his amazing creativity, appreciation of beauty, endless productivity, constant curiosity, and joy of expression.
Like music, Jerry was wonderful to listen to and be around. Life was fuller, richer, and more fun in his company. As with music, architecture thrives on beauty and structure. Not surprisingly, Jerry made it his lifelong profession. His talent was remarkable, due to an impressive spatial ability (well-honed from his early years of doing jigsaw puzzles upside down) and an amazing sense of the grace and form of a well-designed building.
Jerry was the quintessential "design and build" architect ‚ as happy at a drafting table as with a table saw. He graced the Bay Area landscape with his architecture ‚ "classic" Jerry homes, a winery, a yacht club, a national park visitor center, a waterfront bookstore and the many, many residences of Jerry and Judy. His eye for architecture always matched the beauty of the settings he built within. Jerry¼s buildings enhance many splendid neighborhoods, a redwood forest, the wine country, and the San Francisco Bay shoreline.
Along this shoreline, or the "Cityfront," Jerry found another love of his life. Sailing contained the discipline, challenge and fun that characterized him. Jerry approached sailing in his usual way, reinventing it with new sail designs, well-studied tactics, and restored boats. The Folkboat fleet embraced his energy (and personality) as he challenged sailors locally and internationally. His boats, Volker and Sadie, brought championships and lasting friendships.
It¼s not surprising that Jerry found a lifelong partner who shared his love of the water, music, architecture and people. While Judy shared these many interests, most of all, she simply and deeply loved Jerry ‚ his complexity, his optimism, his irreverent sense of humor. Together, they faced the joys and challenges of life. And together, they brought abounding joy to the many friends who were irresistibly drawn to them both.
An evening meal with Jerry and Judy was something to treasure ‚ the food, the drink and the conversation. Like his friends, Jerry¼s sons treasured his unique presence and enduring qualities. Jason and Peter had a mentor, a friend and a loving dad. Jerry filled their lives with unique adventures, some unplanned. They experienced the beauty of San Francisco Bay at night from many sails to the boatyard; they learned to be curious about people, ideas and history; they discovered that life should not be taken too seriously. Jerry taught them a quick sense of humor, an openness to all people, and the value of deep friendships.
Through sports, friends, girlfriends, school events and career pursuits, he was a unique and formative presence. Jerry gave them his best. Life without Jerry is impossible to imagine. His life force was so strong and the joy he brought to others was so tangible and ever present.
As we cherish our time with him, we know that he would be wishing us well in our future journeys ‚ encouraging us to enjoy the wind in our sails, the salt spray on our face, and the thrill of moving to the finish line with optimism, zest and love of life.
Thanks to Hilary Andersen and Bill Madison for submitting these words and the photo that previously appeared in a Jerry Langkammerer memorial pamphlet.
USA 108's Day on the Bay Adventure
Posted: May 14, 2003
"Captain, lets do another spin," nine-year-old Juanita called from the foredeck and the entire crew agreed. Time flies when you're having fun even if the breeze hides behind Mount Tam.
For 120 inner city kids from the Bay area that balmy Easter Saturday was about getting out and having fun and much more. A Day on the Bay, organized by Dawn Riley and her dedicated volunteers at AmericaTrue, gave these less privileged children a chance to get a taste of our sport and learn what it takes to make a sailboat go.
Some of them even fell in love with a humble Folkboat.
They signed up at the YMCA, Big Brothers and Sisters, at the Battered Women and Family Shelters and at the Hawk Manhood Development Program. "Some did not even register. They simply showed up in a pickup truck," Riley said. "Yet it was out biggest event in the Bay to date."
Dockside at the Jack London Aquatic Center on the Estuary, the young passengers met their boats and crews. From zippy Hobie Cats to the more sedate Folkboat, every one of the 30 participating vessels took aboard a batch of children decked out in colorful PFDs, along with snacks, water and sunscreen. It was a leap of faith for both sides.
What will it be like? Will I like it? What if?
108 had room for four. Juanita and her 10-year old sister Brandi, Matthew, 11, and his cousin Shelby, 12, all from Oakland. The wind was anemic, no harm with a bunch of rookies on board.
From the boat perspective their hometown showed them many surprises. The gargantuan container ships from places like Shanghai and Odessa; the towering cranes that inspired Star Wars; the grimy barges that juxtaposed the sleek Gentry Eagle and the dapper Potomac, once President Roosevelt¹s yacht.
But sailing was also about taking tricks at the helm, grinding and tailing the sheets, and pointing out traffic: "Coast Guard 12 o'clock, no 6 o' clock. They are everywhere!"
The fact that we weren't going anywhere in the building flood did not get lost on Matthew. "Hey, it is like running up an escalator that comes down." The girls, predictably, had a different agenda.
Quickly they figured out that the dark sliding doors above the nav table could be used to apply lip gloss and sun screen. "Captain, you need a mirror down here," Juanita advised before striking up a little rap improvisation and showing us the hand signal for "Whassup," so we can hang with the cool dudes.
At the end, the classic farewell at the dock. Crew Gwen Hammer and I hugged our little friends before we posed for the camera one more time. When headed for the barn, a mile or so down the Estuary, we agreed that there are no better rewards than children's smiles.
And we felt blessed for having shared the joy of sailing we take for granted. Thank you, Juanita, Brandi, Shelby and Matthew. You are the real stars.
If you want to contribute, volunteer or find out what it takes to put on your own event, visit www.americatrue.org
