Brian Stipakvideo
Shirl Arnold Memorial Service, James Island, San Juan Islands, September 30, 2023
October 5, 2023 · 9 min · 80 views · James Island, San Juan Islands
What this video covers
A group of sailors gathered at James Island in the San Juan Islands on September 30, 2023, to hold a memorial for Cheryl Arnold, who died unexpectedly in her mid-80s.0:26 She had been a regular participant in Brian Stipak's annual San Juan Islands sailing trips and was the oldest person on the most recent voyage.0:32 Multiple speakers remembered her as consistently positive, generous, and physically capable well into old age — one account describes her jumping off the bow to pull a boat into a dock against a northwest wind pushing it off.5:55 She had a racing background that included offshore events and the bridge-to-bridge race from Astoria to Newport, and she served as main trimmer for years, controlling the traveler exclusively.1:27 A recurring image across the tributes is Cheryl cooking scrambled eggs below decks on a heeled boat, passing a wine bottle between sailing vessels on the Columbia River, and driving from Seaside to a friend's home after a serious bicycle accident.2:02 Her son and granddaughter, who had planned to join the trip, were unable to attend after her unexpected death; the gathering was recorded so they could see it.0:17
More from Brian Stipak
From Brian Stipak — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.
The Sailing Directory Newsletter
One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.