NOVEMBER,
2009, EMAIL FROM BOB ZETTERBERG
...I
maintained and helped sail the Sea Queen from my early days
in high school 1952 – 1957 at which time I continued my
love for the sea by becoming a midshipman at the California
Maritime Academy.
My
years onboard Sea Queen were during the times of Wooden
Boats, when Yachts were “Real Yachts”, Meticulously
Maintained, and when Yacht Etiquette was recognized and
religiously used. Sea Queen glistened with her smooth white
hull, Sea Witch Blue water line/trim accented with gold
leaf. Her varnished rails, hatch covers, and masts
were bright and smooth as silk. Her teak decks were so clean
they shone almost white, and lastly her brass work gleamed.
She was a beauty and caught the eyes of everyone. She
received several awards for the best-kept yacht in LA Yacht
Club.
Fred
Harris, her crew and I were all very proud.
My
Dad taught me seamanship, work ethics, and the love of the
sea.
My
Mom taught me compassion and responsibility.
My Brother taught me how to varnish, paint, and general
yacht maintenance.
Fred
Harris taught me how to sail.
During
my years on Sea Queen we sailed EVERY WEEKEND during the
summer to Catalina Island. We had a buoy in Cherry Cove
along with several other yachts; e.g. Goodwill (175’
schooner), Santanna (60’+schonner owned by Humphrey
Bogart), Serenade (60+ schooner owned by John Wayne). The
Pilgrim (80’+schooner) from Balboa Island was also
frequently there. Sea Queen, with all that company, still
caught the eyes of those around. Sea Queen also participated
in many local off shore races, many mid winter regattas,
several Ensenada races and last but not least, the TransPac
race of 1955.Our crew (not including me) was referred to as
the “Rocking Chair Crew”. Our home was the LA Yacht
Club, located at the tip of Terminal Island.
A
few words about the 1955 TransPac race.
Crew
included three on each watch (4 on and 4 off) and one cook.
Here are the names as close as I can remember:
Fred
Harris –
Owner/skipper – Great and a Very Nice Person!
Clare
Newner – Captain USN retired
Warren
Newmark– Owner, Newmarks Yacht Landing
Phelps
Terkell – Owner, Scotts Tissue
Willard
Bell –
Owner, manufacturing company Beverly Hills
…………
– Medical Doctor, Navigator
Bob
Z....
– Crewmember with BIG Appetite
………
– Cook
As
I remember, it was an overcast day and the wind was blowing
up a storm. It was a beat, but it was preferred, to go
around the west end of Catalina. As I said it was really
blowing. Two boats lost their masts trying to get around the
island. As you can imagine, Sea Queen was a little slower
but we made it.
The
bad news is all but two were seasick; the cook and I were
ok. This lasted for about three days. The cook and I ate
very well. During this time I found myself pretty much alone
while on watch and the only one that could take the helm and
sail Sea Queen. The rest of my watch standers were feeding
the fish.
A
LITTLE SIDE NOTE: Clare Newner and I were on the same watch.
I believe he felt bad that I had to do the sailing without
anyone to help. Having said that, he said that his wife had
made a tin full of chocolate chip cookies, which he had
stored below, and told me to help myself. Being a growing
boy, over the course of three days I ate the entire tin of
cookies. To say the least, it was not a pretty sight when
Clare started to feel better and wanted to have a cookie,
only to find the tin EMPTY.
We
had wind almost every day, a little rough, lots of sail
changes but we thought we were making good time. Every day
we had to call in to the “Scratch Boat” Goodwill to
report our position. One day Goodwill reported she was
taking a little water over her fore deck. Can you imagine
how much water Sea Queen was experiencing that day. We were
swamped!
The
last day or two outside of Oahu, I remember the experience
of going through the Molikai Channel. Wind whistling Dixie,
40 foot swells, top of crest, spanker full, doing a hull
speed of 10 knots – next moment at bottom of swell, spinnaker
collapsed, speed slowing then once again on top of the crest
spinnaker full and once again going 10 knots. That was a
thrilling ride and a great sail.
We
entered port the afternoon of either that day or the next.
We were all dressed in our sailing uniforms (red pants –
red/white striped shirts). Happy wives and girl friends were
waiting to greet us with leis, and champagne.
It
took us 14 plus days to make the crossing and complete the
race. I believe it was about the same time it took Sea Witch
in the 1953 race.
Fred
hired a family to take Sea Queen home. The man & his
wife took one watch and I plus a college kid, wanting a ride
home, took the next watch. I believe it took us 22 days to
return home. Good trip!
Fred
sold Sea Queen in 1956 to a couple that wanted to sail
around the world. Before leaving they added a “dog
house” for weather protection. I did not like it as it
detracted from the lines and beauty of Sea Queen. I always
keep looking, but have never found her. Fred later bought
Freedom, a 42’ sloop. I understand he kept Freedom for a
couple of years and then sold her.
I
soon thereafter lost contact with Fred. Unfortunately he
died of cancer a couple of years later. Meanwhile I
graduated from the Maritime Academy, sailed in the Merchant
Marine and wound up my sea experience spending 6 plus years
in the Navy as Chief Engineer on three destroyers. Made 2
trips to Vietnam. Enjoyed my sea experiences very
much.
I
wish all who might read this, Fair Winds and Following Seas.
Bob
Zetterberg
desron21@att.net
HONOLULU RACE OF 1955
Course: San Pedro (“2A” buoy) to Diamond Head Light, 2225 nautical miles.
Handicap Rule: Ocean Racing Rule of North American Yacht Racing Union subject
to certain limitations plus the Transpacific Yacht Club’s Table of Allowances.
Start: July 4, noon, Pacific Daylight Time. Yacht Owner Elapsed Corrected Place
Class D – Rating from 25 to 32.3, inclusive
Sea Queen (25.3) Fred F. Harris 14:09:58:10 9:13:06:34 15 D-6
(Elapsed Corrected time: 14 days, 9 hours, 58 minutes, and 10
seconds.)
