Final WTA Board Member Named

The 11th and final member has been named to the San Francisco Bay Area Water Transit Authority Board.

Rocco Louis Mancinelli is a Senior Research Scientist at the SETI Institute in Mountain View The legislation creating the WTA specifies that Mancinelli’s spot be reserved to a trained biologist. A quick review of his 18-page curriculum vitae listing multiple advanced degrees and credits for working on such projects as "survival of osmophiles in space" would suggest that few will be emboldened to challenge his credentials.

Mr. Mancinelli is involved with many professional associations such as the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life and the American Society for Microbiology and has won many awards including the Antarctic Service Medal (1987) and election as a Fellow in the Explorers Club (also in 1987).

Master Mariners Regatta ~ Saturday, May 26, 2001 Wooden Boat Show - Sunday, June 24, 2001

The annual Master Mariners Regatta will be held Saturday, May 26th. In keeping with a tradition that started in 1867, and was revived in 1965, the Regatta will feature approximately 90 traditional sailing yachts and work vessels, ranging in size from 19' to 103', competing on close San Francisco Bay race courses. Classic vessels from all over the Bay Area and beyond will participate.

Many of the boats were designed and built locally, including the Birds, the Bears, and the Farallone Clippers (recently featured in WoodenBoat Magazine). As is tradition, the Big Schooners and work vessels need only to hit the marks with a potato to constitute a correct rounding.

It will be easy to view the boats between 11:30 to 1:30 off the SF marina green. The race will start off the City front at the St. Francis Yacht Club at noon. It is a reverse start with last boats starting at 1:00. The race is in the Central bay, finishing off the east side of Treasure Island about 3:00. A majority of the boats will then congregate at the Encinal Yacht Club in Alameda for a raft up, awards ceremony and dance.

Many past winners will be available for a closer look at the Wooden Boat Show on Sunday, June 24th at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Tiburon. The boat show helps raise funds for the Master Mariners Benevolent Foundation which supports youth sailing programs such as Tall Ship Semesters at Sea, and apprenticeships at the Arques School of Traditional Boat Building.

(Oakland, CA) - The Alameda/Oakland Ferry Service is seeking a name for its new 317-passenger catamaran ferry boat . The boat, which is currently under construction in Washington State, will enter service between the east bay and San Francisco this Fall. The public is invited to help name the new boat by submitting suggestions for consideration. Names will be evaluated based on historical or geographical significance, originality, memorability and popularity. Names can be submitted in three ways: online at www.eastbayferry.com or www.ci.alameda.ca.us; by fax to Ferry Manager at (510) 839-2793; by mail to Ferry Manager, Alameda/Oakland Ferry, 530 Water Street, Oakland 94607. Suggestions must be received by April 27.

Historic Land and Sea Artillery Battle on Angel Island