San Diego Boat Tours

Today was a momentous occasion! Two couples – all friends – chartered the yacht for their weddings. As an ordained minister, I had the pleasure of officiating for both ceremonies. We got underway about 5 p.m., with Capt. Murf at the helm. First up were Coleen and Berdi.

Berdi had served as a nurse on the Naval hospital ship USNS Mercy, which had just days before arrived back into port to San Diego Bay, so we had their ceremony with the ship serving as an amazing backdrop! The weather, which had been gray and overcast much of the day, complied by clearing up for the event – almost miraculously.

Capt. Murf then navigated over to the Coronado Bridge – the backdrop for Ginny and Carolyn’s ceremony. It was a beautiful evening, and the ceremonies brought tears (of happiness!) to all. Our captain blasted the yacht’s horn after each ceremony, announcing the marriages – turning tears to laughter.

We then cruised slowly around the Big Bay; the newlyweds enjoyed champagne and hors d’ouevres while passing San Diego’s amazing landmarks, including the USS Midway and the Embarcadero with the Star of India, the HMS Surprise, and the Maritime Museum. It was truly a beautiful night.

What a day! It began kind of iffy weather-wise, as the skies were overcast. However, being San Diego, the clouds began to break up as we rounded the kelp beds at the end of the channel and headed north. Three dads and a group of enthusiastic kids took the 2 1/2 hour trip up with WC and me. The moms and countless friends were planning to meet us in front of the Beach and Tennis Club … and they did. We anchored as close to shore as we could get, which was surprising close actually.

Parents and kids of all ages seemed to come out in droves … swimming, rowing boats, paddling on surfboards and boogie boards. Everyone was diving and swimming and laughing. Four hours later, the reality of the next day being the first day of school set in, and the party began to head back to shore.

WC and I pulled the anchor up, and headed south by ourselves. As the sun began to set, we experienced a quiet cruise back to the marina.

The woman whose ashes we were scattering had no children of her own, but her niece, nephew, their spouses, kids and mother said the most incredible things about this woman, and it was a beautiful send-off. Each member of the family said the nicest things, recalling happy memories out on the bow of the yacht before the ashes were lowered into the water. The husband of the niece had written two emotional pages that he read aloud. Then the niece read her memories of this woman’s life, both bringing everyone to tears. Each member of the family then shared special memories with everyone laughing and crying simultaneously.

This woman - who was of Hungarian descent - spent much of her childhood in concentration camps witnessing and enduring hideous, unimaginable horrors! Her life continued to be difficult throughout, but she perservered, eventually moving to the US, worked for an airline, and was a fashion designer and artist … never had children, was married once, and always kept close to her family. Apparently, after 9/11, she was moved to share her concentration camp stories with her family, but not in too much detail. She lived right in NYC for 40+ years, and a few years later when her health began to fail, her niece insisted that she move out to California to be near family … and she did. They admitted that she was a bit opinionated and tough as nails, but man did they love her. They brought photo collages with many pictures of the woman and her friends and family – all laughing and smiling. They clearly gave me an idea of who she was … and I liked her!

After her ashes and rose petals were lowered into the ocean, they poured in the rest of a bottle of Stolichnaya that was in her freezer when she died. “She loved her vodka,” said the niece, causing everyone to laugh … and cry.

Tonight’s charter was hosted by a man from Texas who had always wanted to visit San Diego and finally said, “The heck with it, I’m just going.” Two of his friends had been invited to join him for a 4-hour cruise for his first night in town. The fun began immediately with cocktails they brought on board, and catered hors d’ouevres that included lobster tails, scallops wrapped in prosciutto and crab stuffed jumbo shrimp – to name only a few things. And yes, they insisted that I sample some of the fare, so I can vouch for the deliciousness!

The group decided to head straight out to sea for a while, and Capt. Young was more than willing to make it so. Luck was with us as we witnessed a perfect sunset on the ocean, but still … no Green Flash! Maybe next time.

Eventually we headed back into the Big Bay and toured all the sights it offers, such as the Midway at the Maritime Museum, Navy Base Coronado and a couple of aircraft carriers that were in port, Petco Park – where a Padres night came was being played, the architecturally interesting (and huge) San Diego Convention Center … and we even got to hear a bit of a concert at Concerts on the Bay behind the convention center.

Even after four hours, our guests were sad to get back to the dock. However, they had a fabulous time, and promised to “come again!”

Today’s third and last burial at sea was for an aunt of one niece from Arizona. With her were two friends – one a minister. The niece had only known her aunt for six or seven years, but enjoyed the fact that they had been fortunate enough to spend time together.  They brought several pictures aboard and told stories of the aunt and her life. The niece adhered to the wishes of her aunt for her ashes to be scattered in the ocean. The minister talked and prayed, and the aunt’s ashes were lowered into the Pacific leaving a beautiful cloudy trail dotted with rose petals in the water. The trip back to the marina was filled with reminiscing, and feeling of release and peace.

The families got a bit of a late start, but it turned out to be a beautiful service and location for the burial at sea.  The sermon took place at sunset and lasted about 45 minutes.  All present spoke about their loss and the life of someone so young having to leave the earth before her time.

As the group sailed down the coast from La Jolla, the lights of the city were beautiful against the black backdrop of the sea and sky.  The ocean was calm and each participant reflected on the events of the day.

It was a beautiful night on the Pacific and magical as all watched the sun sink below the horizon.  There was family, food, libations as well as music as the group was serenaded by guitar.  All said their final farewells to Shelly and her life was celebrated - she even had a drink of wine as all in the party raised their glasses to toast her.  She will much missed by her family.

To celebrate my birthday, I invited a group of friends to join me on the San Diego Boat Tours yacht for a sunset tour of San Diego’s Big Bay. Everyone brought food … including Corbin’s gourmet baguette sandwiches, Karen’s homemade Bailey’s chocolate cupcakes (with a candle for each one), Frances’ de-lish sausage balls, fruit and vegetable trays, and appetizer-sized wrap sandwiches. I am sure I’m missing something, but I’m equally sure that I sampled everything! Oh, and of course there was some fabulous champagne flowing.

Before sunset the captain took us over to the bait docks to check out the sea lions who lounge about – seemingly all day, either catching some rays or hoping for leftovers from the fishing boats as they load up. We then cruised to the edge of the channel, just before the open ocean, in an attempt to watch the sunset. Unfortunately, a marine layer had rolled in, obstructing a clear view – but it did create an amazingly colorful “cloud show,” which we all enjoyed.

Next up … the aircraft carriers docked at Naval Base Coronado. No matter how many times I see these gargantuan ships, I am still amazed when we pass by and think of all the tidbits of info I’ve learned about them, such as the fact that they carry a crew of some 5,000 troops! These things are huge and there is nothing like seeing them up close and personal from the yacht.

We leisurely meandered over to Glorietta Bay for a look at the magical turrets of the Hotel Del as it got dark. I also love how the lights of all the moored boats twinkle as they gently bob around in the easy wake the yacht leaves behind.

The party was in full swing by now; some people stayed on the sundeck and got into the music. I had made a couple of CDs with my favorite tunes! Other friends hung out on the fly bridge, and some – including me – went out onto the bow to feel the warm evening breeze while we passed the USS Midway museum, the Star of India, the HMS Surprise (the ship used in the Russell Crowe movie “Master and Commander”), and all the other cool sights at the Embarcadero.

A few of us stayed a while after we reached the slip to enjoy the atmosphere of the quiet dock and the sound of the water lapping against the boats. The night was a huge success; everyone left happy. A great time was truly had by all!

Today’s charter on the yacht, was a burial at sea that took place on the north side of Point Loma so that the family could lay their mother to rest at the same coordinates their father had been “buried” 30 years earlier off of a Navy sub. The family members reunited on the yacht from Washington state and Arizona for the solemn occasion.

A normal sunny day in San Diego, the charter began typically as we headed on out through the channel. The two sons stayed for a long while on the flybridge of the yacht talking to Capt. W.C. Young about their collective Navy and other military service, while some family members sat in the sun on the boat’s bow, or out of the sun’s rays on the covered sun deck.

This family had opted for a biodegradable “urn,” allowing them to simply lay the ashes on the water as the urn slowly dispersed into the ocean. They had also chosen to have a private ceremony of their own preparation, rather than have W.C. or myself do any readings … that we are always more than happy to do when desired. We honored their privacy, and the yacht got back underway when the family was ready.

I continue to observe that every family that chooses a burial at sea, always seem to make the return trip with a sense of great relief and peace. And, when they charter the yacht for such a service, they have the run of the boat, and are able to do things as they see fit. It never ceases to amaze me how touching and freeing the experience is for everyone … including the crew.

On a beautiful Saturday, the yacht set out on a two hour tour. Heading toward the end of Point Loma, a visit with the seal lions was in store. After beginning to poke our nose into the pacific ocean, we returned to the bay. From there we headed downtown through San Diego Bay past the aircraft carriers and under the Coronado Bay bridge. It was then on to downtown, the “Star of India” (see our article on the worlds oldest ship) and back to own starting place on Shelter Island. A good time was had by all!