SPAULDING CENTER EVENTS
See our Calendar of upcoming events and activities at the Spaulding Center and in the maritime community.
2010
Whiskey Plank Party for Freda
June 5, Saturday • 4pm to 6pm
The Spaulding Wooden Boat Center in Sausalito has reached a milestone with the impending completion of the hull of the historic gaff sloop Freda, built on San Francisco Bay in 1885. She is the oldest active private sailboat on the west coast of the United States.
A traditional "shutter plank," also known as a "whiskey plank," celebration will take place at the Spaulding Wooden Boat Center in Sausalito on Saturday, June 5 from 4pm to 6pm. Refreshments & appetizers will be served. E-mail info [at] spauldingcenter.org if you wish to attend.
A shutter or whiskey plank party is a time-honored custom among boat builders. According to tradition, a libation of whiskey is poured on the shutter plank before installation, hence the name whiskey plank.
More information about Freda can be found at our main Web site and at www.sailfreda.org.
Open House
April 24, Saturday • 10am to 4pm
The Spaulding Wooden Boat Center is hosting an open house on Saturday, April 24 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM to showcase its restoration and educational programs. Freda, our gaff sloop built on San Francisco Bay in 1885, is just finishing up getting replanked and is poised to enter a new phase of restoration. Our 2010-11 Youth Apprentice Program in Boatbuilding and Sailing is starting in June. Read more on our Web site about Freda and our Youth Apprentice Program.
Sausalito Marinship Day—Benefits the Spaulding Wooden Boat Center
April 24, Saturday • 9am to 4pm
Sausalito West Marine would like to invite you to participate in their first Sausalito Marinship Day on April 24, 2010 9a.m - 4 p.m. This celebration of our waterfront community will combine a local trade show and maritime flea market. In addition, West Marine will be hosting a tri-tip barbecue and a raffle. All proceeds collected through the raffle, barbecue, and booth rentals will go to benefit the Spaulding Wooden Boat Center. Anyone who would like to participate in the event, or donate goods or services for the raffle please contact Karen Mentzer at West Marine in Sausalito.
West Marine is looking forward to this fun day of friends, music, food, boating gear, and community involvement. If you plan on participating please contact the store as soon as possible as spaces are limited. Call (415) 332-0202. West Marine hopes to see you there.
2009
Celebrate with us on November 7 at the Spaulding Wooden Boat Center
We're celebrating:
• The first planks on Freda, our 1885 gaff sloop
• The launch of Lightly Salted, a pram recently completed by the Youth Boatbuilding & Sailing Program
• The launch of Auroral, a Spaulding 33 sloop restored by staff member Jonah Ward
• Myron Spaulding's birthday on October 28
There will be music and refreshments.
This is a special event open to members and special friends of the Spaulding Wooden Boat Center. If you’d like to attend and didn’t receive an invitation, contact Andrea Rey, Associate Director, at 415 332-3179 or .
Sausalito Chamber of Commerce Mixer
September 17, Thursday • 5:30pm – 7:30pm
At the Spaulding Wooden Boat Center
• Hors d'oeuvres
• Refreshments
• Entertainment
• Raffle with great prizes
Enjoy a tour of this waterfront gem and don’t miss a chance to win a sail on the Bay!
Chamber members free • Non-members $10
Sausalito Chamber of Commerce calendar
Sausalito 4th of July Parade
July 4, Saturday • 10:00am
Come see us in the parade!
Parade information
Master Mariners Wooden Boat Show
June 28, Sunday • 10:00am to 4pm
Master Mariners Wooden Boat Show, Corinthian Yacht Club, Tiburon, California
Come visit us at the show!
Master Mariners Web site
Summer Sailstice
June 20, Saturday • 10:00am
Come see us at Clipper Cove on Treasure Island for the Summer Sailstice sailing festival
Summer Sailstice Web site
Keeping Our Local Maritime Heritage Alive
June 17, Wednesday • 6:00pm
A presentation by the Spaulding Wooden Boat Center and selected guests
Cove House, San Francisco Yacht Club, Belvedere, CA
An optional, no-host dinner follows the presentation in the main Club dining room at approximately 7:15pm. Contact the San Francisco Yacht Club for reservations (see invitation).
Download Invitation (PDF)
How Safe is Your Sailboat?
March 25, Wednesday • 6:30pm
Guy Stevens of Real World Cruising presents a free 90-minute seminar on how to recognize safety issues on your sailboat, and offers suggestions as to the best (and cheapest) ways to make your boat more safe and worry-free.
Location: Spaulding Center in Sausalito
Open House for 2009 Youth Boatbuilding & Sailing Program
The Spaulding Center hosts an open house to present, and answer questions about, the Youth Boatbuilding & Sailing Program that commences March 21 at SWBC. Students aged 12-18 will have the opportunity to build and then learn to sail a traditional wooden boat. For further information, call Andrea at 415 332-3179.
Information about the program is at 2009 Youth Boatbuilding & Sailing Program.
Location: Spaulding Center in Sausalito
Hidden Causes of Rig Failure, with Brion Toss
Brion Toss, master yacht rigger, popular speaker and author of The Rigger’s Apprentice and Chapman’s Guide to Knots, will present a free seminar on Hidden Causes of Rig Failure at the Spaulding Wooden Boat Center on Thursday, February 19th at 6 pm. Brion, of Port Townsend, Washington, has been a professional rigger for more than 30 years.
In addition to his books and how to rigging videos, Brion has written numerous articles for Sail Magazine, Cruising World and Ocean Navigator. He specializes in blending the ageless wisdom of traditional rigging with the materials and applications of the modern day. Brion is also known worldwide for work of the highest standard in preparing vessels and their owners for extended cruising and offshore voyages.
This seminar is jointly sponsored by the Spaulding Wooden Boat Center and Guy Stevens’ Real World Cruising, http://www.realworldcruising.com.
Brion's Web site is www.briontoss.com.
2008
Launching of “Guppy”
Guppy, a 12-foot Norwegian sailing pram, was built by fourteen young people, ages 10 to 16, from our summer Youth Boatbuilding and Sailing Program. Please join the kids for a festive and historic launch party and BBQ on our dock.
Read more about building Guppy at the kids’ Boatbuilders’ & Sailors’ Blog.
International One Design (IOD) World Championship Regatta Opening Evening
September 29, Monday • 6:00-9:30pm $55
The Spaulding Center hosts the IOD Regatta Opening Evening
In September, the 50-member
San Francisco International One Design Fleet will welcome 12 world-class
teams from five countries for 5 days of unsurpassed competition.
The 60 visiting sailors will race IOD's traditional yachts on one of the
most exciting sailing venues and best race courses in the world: San
Francisco Bay.
—Business Wire
7 pm Lecture:
Tides and Currents given by Kame Richards of Pineapple Sails
$55 tickets Hors d'oeuvres and drinks
Bringing Wooden Boat Culture, History and Involvement to Sausalito
September 12, Friday • 7pm
Richardson's Bay Maritime Association hosts Dick Wagner, founding director of the Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle, and Mark Welther, executive director of the Spaulding Wooden Boat Center in Sausalito. They will lead a discussion at the San Francisco Bay Model Visitor Center in Sausalito on how to bring wooden boat history, education and involvement to Sausalito.
The Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle (cwb.org) was founded in 1981 and has become a vibrant part of the Seattle waterfront. The Spaulding Wooden Boat Center is a relative newcomer to Sausalito (2002) and is actively building its education, sailing and restoration projects.
There is no charge but donations are appreciated.
The San Francisco Bay Model Visitor Center Auditorium is at 2100 Bridgeway, Sausalito
http://www.spn.usace.army.mil/bmvc/
The Great San Francisco Schooner Race
The San Francisco Yacht Club (sfyc.org) hosts the inaugural Great San Francisco Schooner Race on Saturday, August 23. Half of the entry fee will be donated to the Spaulding Wooden Boat Center.
Notice of Race at Great San Francisco Schooner Race NOR
Sailing Instructions at Great San Francisco Schooner Race SI
Entrants at Great San Francisco Schooner Race Entrants
Results at Great San Francisco Schooner Race Results
Pardeys talk of love and storms at the Spaulding Center
Noted sailors and world travelers Lin and Larry Pardey will present their new seminar, Sixteen Ways to Keep A Lover, and introduce the revised and expanded 3rd edition of their highly regarded Storm Tactics Handbook at the Spaulding Center on April 24. The theme of the seminar was chosen because most potential voyagers dream of setting sail as a couple, with the goal of sharing one of the most romantic and rewarding adventures available to people of modest means. To keep the dream working, it is vital to assure both partners are enjoying the experience. This presentation highlights ways to be sure each partner gains both confidence and voyaging skills so they feel comfortable about setting sail. Also covered are ways to make sure the experience is truly a shared one and how to keep the romance alive underway.
Admission is $15. To reserve your place, send a check to the Spaulding Center. Copies of the new book will be available for purchase.
See a description of the book at Paradise Cay Publications.
See photos from this event in our Media Gallery.
Open House for Youth Boatbuilding Program
The Spaulding Center hosts an open house to present and answer questions about the Youth Boatbuilding Program that commences in April 2008 and runs through November. Students aged 12-18 will have the opportunity to build and then learn to sail a traditional wooden boat.
See the program description for more information.
Jack Sutphen to speak at SWBC
Jack Sutphen, member of the America's Cup Hall of Fame, and Dennis Conner's “coach” on seven of Dennis Conner's America's Cup bids, will appear at the Spaulding Wooden Boat Center on Saturday, February 16th from 2pm to 5pm to sign his new book, Messing About in Boats for 80 Years, with Jack Sutphen.
Sutphen, 90, is a legend among America’s Cup and yacht racing fans and has sailed more miles on 12 meter boats than anyone. Steve Barber of the Kettenberg Boat Owners Association refers to Sutphen as “a sailor’s sailor.” He had a key role in nine America’s Cup campaigns between 1958 and 2003.
Read Sail Magazine West Coast Senior Editor Kimball Livingston's writeup on Jack Sutphen and Myron Spaulding in History Meets History February 13, 2008.
See photos from this event in our Media Gallery.
2007
Spaulding Center Gala
Hors d’oeuvres and wine provided
For arrival by boat, please call to reserve a slip.
Celebrating:
• Arrival of the Arques School of Traditional Boatbuilding
• Progress of the Freda restoration
• A year of growth for the Spaulding Center
• Appreciation of our founding donors
See photos from this event in our Media Gallery.
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