Bill Eddy Eight Bells

[Stu Jackson]

Bill Eddy

Bill passed away last night.  Here's the note from his lovely wife Nora:
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I wanted to let you know that Bill lost his fight with cancer and passed away last night.  He had been at a hospice home since Thursday.  A wonderful, caring place and I was able to stay with him there.  

Fleet 1 meant a lot to Bill.  It was a big part of his love of sailing.  He enjoyed the fellowship and considered all of you good friends.

Per his request, his ashes will be scattered on the Bay in a private family ceremony.  Maybe you will think of him or raise a glass when you are sailing there.

Love,
Nora
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I had the pleasure of knowing Bill for over 15 years, ever since we bought Aquavite in 1998.  He was an instrumental "force" for the Catalina 34 "Family."  He was active in both the C34 International Association and Fleet 1 here on San Francisco Bay.

His boat is #214, Casino, and I always kidded him about his boat getting out of the factory only a week or so before our #224.  There are only a few other "vintage" older C34s here, including his good friend Chris Owen on #8, Mottley, and #108, Larry and Herb's Sea Spirit.

Bill personally encouraged all C34 new sailors and was instrumental in "leveling the playing field" of the racing fleet PHRF ratings, which has resulted in one of the best one-design C34 fleets ever known.  He also led a series of Fleet 1 cruises outside The Bay into the ocean, back in the late 80s and 90s, as well as a memorable trip to Monterey in April 2007.

He was the "guiding light" of the three day "San Francisco Bay Catalina Rendezvous," a yearly event which was earlier held at Ayala Cove on Angel Island and eventually relocated to Marina Harbor in Richmond.  This event attracted over 75 Catalina boats of ALL sizes on a regular basis.  It simply would not have occurred without Bill's leadership.

Bill always entertained us on his immaculate C34.  No one ever knew anyone whose boat was ever cleaner!

After he retired a few years ago, he pursued his sailing dreams and sailed with former C34 owner Paul Gloss on Paul's Catalina 470 from San Francisco down to Mexico and through the Panama Canal.

A good friend, a great sailor, a C34 skipper, and a really fun person and husband.  

We will all miss him.

Stu

[patrice]

Hi,

My sincere condoleance to the family and friends. 

[Gary]

Thanks Stu for the very thoughtful memories of Bill Eddy.

As sailors on Kije, C34 #215, the boat immediately following, we are mindful to carry on in the tradition of Bill Eddy.

Gary

[Ron Hill]

Stu : Thanks for the notification.  Sorry to hear that Bill is now gone.  I had many conversations with him (before the internet) in the early 1990s.

Pass on my condolences to his wife Nora for me and Fleet 12 members,  Ron

[George Bean]

Kim and I are greatly saddened upon hearing of Bill Eddy's passing.  Bill was one of the pillars of Fleet 1 for years and it was through his efforts and others during those formative years that made Fleet 1 racing and the International organization in general as strong as they are today.  Bill was a yachtsman, dock neighbor, mentor and friend.  He was very encouraging and helpful to new racers knowing that they could become future potential rivals.  He was that generous.

I loved both competing against him and also crewing for him.  After racing, Bill would often invite us over to Casino "to share a horn" and over libations, we would trade thoughts and ideas on boat handling and tactics.  He was a true sportsman.  During one particular race we were converging with Bill at the windward mark.  Freya had the inside lane but I didn't think I had overlap and was fully expecting to turn wide when Casino made her rounding.  Instead, Bill motioned for us to take the inside lane and our two boats wheeled around the mark in formation while Bill and I exchanged pleasantries.  It was a real "Grey Poupon" moment.  However, Bill was no pushover either as the various bits of battle damage that Casino acquired over the years could attest.

Bill did a lot of sailing during his retirement.  I've lost count of the number of Baja Ha Ha's and returns he did over the past few years.  Bill was also a crew on the only C34 to race in the Pacific Cup back in the 1990's.

Bill will be greatly missed, but wherever sailors gather in Valhalla after a hard day's racing, I know Bill will be there in the middle of it, quaffing a horn, toasting his fellow skippers and swapping sea stories and other tales well into the wee hours.

[Stu Jackson]

Thanks, George.  I've forwarded a message to LaDonna at Latitude 38 including your note.  Thanks, Patrice, Gary, Ron and others.

[Rick Allen]

I had the absolute pleasure of joining Bill and his crew on Casino for the 2007 Fleet 1 trip to Monterey.  He was one of the kindest men I've ever met. His work with the Fleet 1 racing and cruising folks will be sorely missed.  My thoughts are with his wife Nora and his family.  He was a true friend.