SIGHTINGS bad day at the breach Next to oil, boats were among the most frequently found foreign objects along Northern California beaches in the first half of November — especially on the 2nd and 3rd. On San Francisco’s Ocean Beach, passers by found the 38-ft steel hull of the stoop Hawkeye, while down south in Santa Cruz they cdme upon 40-ft schooner La Gitana high and dry near the boardwalk. A
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California’s water wars, even after the re¬ cent defeat of the Peripheral Canal, are by no means over. In fact, some predict it will be the most important state issue for the re¬ mainder of the century. One aspect of the problem that could be most disturbing is the chemical nightmare now going on at Kesterson Reservoir and National Wildlife Refuge in Merced County. A November 19 editorial in the San Fran¬ cisco Chronicle explained that water poi-
Above, La Gitana at the boardwalk. Right, 'Hawkeye' high and dry.
third yacht, the 25-ft Dark Star returning from Hawaii with blind sailor Hank Dekker onboard, narrowly missed joining the crowd as well. All three boats were apparent victims of huge storm swell. According to re¬ ports in the Santa Cruz Sentinal newspaper, La Gitana broke free from her mooring off the Municipal Wharf and came ashore near the San Lorenzo river mouth on the night of November 2nd. Owner Gary Roller of Santa Cruz had resided on the boat for several years, but wasn’t aboard at the time of the mishap. He stripped the boat on the beach and left the wooden hull, built in 1918, to the elements. Citing potential legal complications, Roller declined to comment on what had happened. Hawkeye's Leo Gulley was likewise reluctant to discuss any details. Coast Guard reports indicate that he was the only person aboard on November 3rd when the boat was broadsided by a wave and never recovered. Conditions at the time off Ocean Beach were described as 15 knots of wind with seas run¬ ning 15 feet. Gulley was plucked from the vessel by helicopter and flown to Crissy Field. Rescuers attempted towing hfs boat, but the line parted and the yacht washed ashore near Lawton Street in the Sunset District. Hank Dekker of Dark Star, unlike Roller and Gulley, had no reservations about giving a full account of his misadventures. You may remember him as the blind sailor who singlehanded to Hawaii in August, 1983, an amazing feat for which he received well-earned publicity. After more than a year in the islands, Dekker was returning to San Francisco to complete both a movie and a book about his life and voyage. (Formerly a sighted, successful business¬ man, Dekker went blind in 1972 and let his life fall apart. His recovery from alcoholism, his work with the blind and his sailing adventures serve as inspirations to those with and without sight.) Part of Dekker’s movie contract prohibited him from sailing atone until the film was completed, so he was accompanied on the trip home by Honolulu shipwright Lou Henderson. The pair left Honolulu on October 1st, encount¬ ering a variety of calms and storms along the way. A bad blow on October 13 to 15 bounced Dark Star around quite a bit and several water jugs were punctured in the process. They were forced to ration themselves to one cup of water a day for the rest of the trip. cont’d on next sightings page
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