"Welcome on the Folalier. On behalf of the Cornerstone School, I want to thank you for your generous donation, which resulted in your winning the raffle for this trip. It will become a great sailing day. The fog will soon lift, and the Golden Gate bridge will emerge ahead of us. The wind will pick up a bit and we can switch from the motor to raising the sails."
Some safety rules:
- You can stay outside in the cockpit or go down in the cabin.
- Always hold on with one hand when you move around the boat.
- Watch your head for the boom at all times.
- Wear a lifejacket when outside in the cockpit.
"Dad, can you jump off and undo the front line? Since the boat is ass-backwards in the slip, I can easily lift off the line on the back."
With the motor purring we are ready to leave the harbor into the canal leading to the bay. The guests consist of a family; father, mother, two daughters and a son. Father had been on a sailboat before, but it was the first time for the rest of the family. The boy, being the youngest about 7 years old, was not so sure about this trip. His sisters loved it! Getting into the bay, the boat moved up and down with the waves created by the upcoming wind. Time to raise the sails; first the main sail by wrapping the hoist line on the spindle and turning and turning until it reached to top of the mast. The sail bulged nicely as it caught the wind. With the motor turned off, the boat found its course and slanted slightly away from the wind. Time for Paul, the seven-year-old, to go down in the cabin for a while... Time to unroll the jib from the forestay.
The family thoroughly enjoyed the sail trip. They have their own family challenges. One of the daughters has an un-treatable terminal illness. She has may have two - three years left to live, based on her condition and history. The family felt moments of relief on this unique sailboat tour in San Fransisco Bay.
The boat cruised nicely through the water, the fog lifted, and the Golden Gate bridge became visible.
The goal was Angel Island. A place of heartrending history and breathtaking beauty, the Angel Island Immigration Station is a National Historic Landmark, and like Ellis Island, it is recognized as one of the most important sites where America's immigration history was made. This fascinating history is ultimately about America itself and its complicated relationship to immigration, a story that continues today.
From 1910 to 1940, over half a million people sailed through the Golden Gate, hoping to start a new life in America. But they did not all disembark in San Francisco; instead, most were ferried across the bay to the Angel Island Immigration Station. For many, this was the real gateway to the United States. For others, it was a prison and their final destination, before being sent home.
Today, the island is a tourist attraction, accessible by ferry or private boat. Sailboats are a common sight. Just before entering the little harbor, the sails came down and we motored in to moor at one of the docks. The harbor is a little cove, secluded by the hill from the prevailing West wind, on the North-East corner of the island. There are trails to walk all around the island as well. The captain and his wife prepared sandwiches, fruit, chips, and drinks to be consumed on the boat or at the picnic tables.
Cornerstone Academy was a private school in Woodland, California attended by children with challenges. Students had to complete about 17 paces per quarter, as they were called, each at their own speed. A pace had to be completed, corrected by the teacher and understood before a student could go to the next pace. School fees where insufficient to cover all costs, so they had an annual dinner for which donors provided prizes that were raffled off. A much desired prize was a day of sailing with the Folalier on San Fransisco Bay. Our grandson attended the school for two years, staying with us during the week and going home for the weekend. He had a very good teacher, who took an interest in him and challenged him to do good work. Mrs. T. would go from student to student, checking what each one needed, and spend the time to make sure he or she understood the material. Our grandson has a slight attention deficit disorder, but can focus when he wants to. He got good grades at Cornerstone so we, and his mother, knew he was smart but needed some personal attention and nudges, which he did not get in a public school. The three guest children also went to Cornerstone Academy.
Well fed and rested, we set sail again along the north side of the island. Through the narrow straight between Angel Island and the main land, the wind was blowing now, so the boat tilted some more. Paul, the 7-year old, had more confidence and braved his time outside now. Like the rest of us, he admired the Golden Gate Bridge as it loomed up bigger. We rounded the island and San Fransisco city was our next sight. Meanwhile, the tide was starting to rise, great for the trip back. On the back side of Angel Island, the hill protected us from the heavy wind, cruising along Alcatraz, the famous prison and now a historic landmark, we went under the Bay Bridge between Treasure Island and Oakland.
This trip is added to the Folalier history, which started in France, where the boat was built. The first owners sailed it across the Atlantic Ocean, through the Panama Canal, up to San Fransisco where they sold it. Mark, my son, bought it, becoming the next owner, he actually lived on the boat for a couple of years.
Thus ended a memorable excursion on the Folalier, for a raffle-ticket winning family.
