Letters
Advisor” and Cruising With Your Four Footed Friends”. Closer to home, Diana was a regular contributor to 48° North with her “Realistic Cruising” series which kept readers enthralled for many years.
But in addition to all of her writing, Diana and Jim Jessie developed an ever expanding family of children, of which the most well known are perhaps Jamie and Behan Gifford. I don’t know how many other sailing “kids” Jim and Diana have taken under their wings, but Gail and I count ourselves incredibly fortunate to be among them. We really became friends with Jim and Diana while
they were at Gate 11, Marina Village, on Alameda Island in San Francisco Bay. In the fall of 2003 we brought our boat, Music, down to San Francisco Bay from Bellingham Washington, and in the spring of 2004 moved her to Gate 11. Diana spotted us one day as Music was still sporting our 2003 Van Isle 360 race decal and came over to introduce herself. A few months later we ended up on 300 dock almost directly across from the Jessies. By this time they’d sold Nalu IV and purchased a 53’ Grand Banks Alaskan Trawler, christened Nalu. Last February we had the distinct pleasure of having Diana and Jim onboard Music while we cruised Mexico’s Gold Coast from Tenacatita to Manzanillo. Then, this last summer, while taking a break from Mexico’s intense heat, we joined Diana and Jim as they lead the Oakland YC fleet on their annual cruise out to the ever popular San Joaquin - Sacramento River Delta. During both cruises it was obvious that Diana was not as strong as she had once been but her mind was as sharp as ever. It’s hard to separate Diana from Jim, or Jim from Diana for that matter, as they complimented each other so perfectly. They truly made a consummate sailing team and had an outstanding partnership. Now, Jim must sail on single handed for a while, and we as friends and children have lost our “mom.” I feel a bit off kilter tonight, perhaps even slightly adrift. I miss Diana. Even so, in a few months as we leave Banderas Bay behind, I know that I will find her star shining bright, just off the starboard spreader, as we head south and west into the Pacific.
John and Gail Lapetina Musci, Nordic 44 Currently cruising the west coast of Mexico.
We and our readers got to know Diana through the many
years she wrote her “Realistic Cruising” column for 48° North. Her seminars were extremely popular and during boat shows she and Jim were familiar faces in the 48° North booth, both in Seattle and Oakland. The news of her passing comes as we go to press, but we will have more next month on this fantastic lady who always had a moment, and loved sharing the knowledge she and Jim had gained from their thousands of sailing miles, so others could go on their own adventures safely and joyfully.
48° NORTH, JANUARY 2012 PAGE 16
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