Women’s Challenge 8 completes the Three Bridge Challenge!

It was a breezy evening in San Francisco when 13 women gathered at Pier 40 for the start of the May 2008 Women’s Challenge. Our emotions ranged from nervousness and apprehension to excitement and anticipation. What would the next three days bring? We stowed our gear below decks, introduced ourselves, met the crew, and set sail directly from Pier 40. Almost immediately, Captain Body had Chanda at the helm steering us north towards Paradise Cove. The women were on deck learning lines, observing the sunset over the Golden Gate Bridge, and getting used to the gentle rolling of Seaward on the waves of San Francisco Bay. Thus began our adventure. For the next three days, these women learned about life onboard a schooner – sailing, cooking, cleaning, and generally, enjoying life at sea. We had all signed up for this program for different reasons: some people were looking for adventure, some people had wanted to learn to sail for years, and some people wanted only to raise scholarship money for the TSEA students. Whatever the reason for signing up, everyone was eager to learn and be part of the team. We started Friday morning by learning the language of sailing - parts of the ship, specific sail names, the names of the lines that controlled the sails, and the nautical commands. Soon, we were taking advantage of the brisk breeze to sail around Alcatraz, to dart under the Golden Gate in the rolling swell of the Pacific, and to return to the calmer harbor of Sausalito for the night. I came on deck at one point to see Carmelita striking the fisherman sail in big waves, loving the spray that soaked her and grinning from ear to ear! This is what it’s all about. Friday night was everyone’s first anchor watch – it was an adjustment to be woken up at an odd hour and then to responsible for the safe operations of the ship. But the stillness of the night, the glimmer of the city on the horizon, and the smell of the ocean made it worth the missed sleep. On Saturday, everyone began to be more comfortable with the daily ship schedule, and we enjoyed a spectacular and windy day of sailing up river to Vallejo. Everyone tried their hand at steering, calling commands, navigating by plotting on a chart, and tying knots. After another night of anchor watch in Sausalito, the day of the challenge had arrived. These new sailors were going to sail off the anchor, under the three bridges (Golden Gate, Richmond, Bay Bridge) and get us home to Pier 40 by 4 pm! Heads together, charts out, tide books consulted, the plan was set and executed. We had a splendid sail from Sausalito to the Richmond Bridge, then we fought the tides and low wind back to the Golden Gate, and finally made it to the Bay Bridge, where we sailed triumphantly back to Pier 40. Not only did everyone learn to sail as part of a team, but everyone came away feeling proud of the challenge that they had overcome. The trip was a success, and I am grateful to have been a part of the weekend.

Written by Christine Whitcraft, Women's Challenge Leader

See more pictures from Women's Challenge 8 on photobucket:
Click here for Christine's album
Click here for Sue's album

Join the next Women's Challenge, October 16-19, 2008. Click here for more information.