Cheoy Lee 41"Astraea"
Homeport San Francisco CA
Rob and Bob of Astraea
Does anyone really "own" a sailboat, or do they own us? Good question! Well, anyway, we are the people whose name is on the title and we are the ones who clean her, maintain her, write lots of checks for her, and sail with her!
Although we have been together as a couple since 1981 (27 years!), we only started sailing together in 2005 when we purchased Astraea and took sailing lessons at Modern Sailing Academy.
Rob was the instigator of buying the boat, but Bob went along......although a bit relunctantly at first... but now is really a good sailor! In fact, Bob is probably the better sailor! (And this is Rob writing this). Although Rob had learned to sail when a midshipman at the US Naval Academy, that was a long time ago: "Long long ago in a place far, far away". Considering we had a BIG boat and LITTLE experience we decided it was prudent to take lessons and learn how to sail Astraea properly and safely.
Bob and Rob both went to Modern Sailing Academy and took the Basic Keelboat and Basic Coastal Cruising, and passed the tests! Bob decided he did not really want any more formal lessons, but Rob went on to complete the Advanced Coastal Cruising, Bareboat, and Coastal Navigation. We have only made one trip out onto the Ocean, and that was only to Half Moon Bay. However as those who have sailed San Francisco Bay know quite well, it is some of the most challenging sailing in the world. Here on the Bay 25-30 knots in the summer is pretty routine. In San Fancisco in the summer the joke is "When do you reef?". The answer "1:00". In the afternoons in the summer the winds scream through the Bay.
The problem with long distance sailing outside the Bay is time, not interest, as Rob is a SVP of a public corporation and spends a lot of time at work and traveling. Bob is a CPA but took early retirement from the federal government and spends his time taking care of the house in Palm Springs, the SF Condo, the cars, the boat, the bills, etc. We are trying to figure out how to squeeze in enough time one of these days to sail to San Diego (and back!). However Rob is retiring from the corporate rat race in 2009 and the plan is to make up for the lack of long distance cruising.
We are both active members of the South Beach Yacht Club in San Francisco . Bob is the club treasurer and Rob is the Head OOD. We are also active members of the SBYC Racing Committee. Astraea is a bit heavy to be a racer, but we enjoy being involved in Club Racing as members of the committee.
We have both really gotten into the sailing on the Bay and what scared us to death the first few months now is great fun!
Rob in May 2006 some 20 miles or so offshore during the Advanced Coastal Cruising with Modern Sailing Academy. It was COLD!!!!
Rob looking very serious. SF Bay October 06. A great sailing day!
Bob looking very serious (and petrified) during day one of our Basic Keepboat lessons with Modern Sailing Academy aboard their Erickson. Suzette Smith, our MSA instructor, is keeping a close eye on him as he backs out of the MSA slip.
Bob looking much more a "Salty Sailor" after his three MSA courses and three weekends of sailing with our MSA instructor Suzette. I would call this "Wind in the Teeth!"