Part II – OHSC Explores San Diego Bay’s Early Maritime Past

Before Point Loma had lighthouses and Liberty Station had Stone Brewery, the waters we now sail were part of a much bigger story—one of conquest, curiosity, and the eternal allure of a good harbor.

Let us set our compass to the year 1542. While Michelangelo was finishing his final frescoes and Queen Elizabeth I was still in diapers, a Portuguese navigator named Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo was sailing under the Spanish flag with a mission: to explore the Pacific coast and claim fresh territory for the Spanish crown. He arrived along with two support vessels, in what is now San Diego Bay on September 28, naming it San Miguel. Cabrillo was the first European to set eyes on our shimmering bay—but certainly not the first to appreciate it. The Kumeyaay indigenous people had lived here for thousands of years, no doubt wondering why the visitors wore such ridiculous hats.

Cabrillo’s crew noted the calm waters, the sheltering point, and the inviting inland terrain—features that we, centuries later, still relish during our club sails. Sadly, for Cabrillo, his exploration was cut short when he died a few months later from a wound sustained on a nearby island. (Sailing was a bit more dangerous back then.)

Then…silence. For over two centuries, the tides ebbed and flowed over San Diego Bay, but history and Spain’s grand plans for colonization were “temporarily” shelved. Spain’s attention had shifted elsewhere. It was not until 1769—yes, over 225 years later—that the Spanish remembered they had dibs on this stretch of coastline and got serious about settling.

That year marked the founding of Mission San Diego de Alcalá and the adjacent Presidio, bringing priests, soldiers, and sailors back to the harbor. The bay became a hub for resupply ships, military operations, and trade. Slowly but surely, San Diego’s identity as a strategic coastal site began to solidify.

What does all this mean for us today? For starters, we get to enjoy one of the most naturally beautiful and historically significant harbors on the West Coast—without the risk of scurvy. Our Sailing Club outings may be less about conquest and more about camaraderie, but the spirit of exploration lives on every time we set out from dock to sea.

Each OHSC sail is a small celebration of this layered past. We follow in the wake of ships long gone, sail past points once claimed by empires, and end our days not with colonial conquest, but with dinner, laughter, and maybe a “toast” to having had a great day sailing.

And while Cabrillo may have been the first European to log San Diego Bay on a nautical chart, we like to think he’d tip his plumed hat in approval if he saw us now—wind in our sails, joy on our faces, and absolutely no armor required.

As of the end of August, OHSC has 287 members and has completed 83 sails. Next up: our competitive event of the year!

Written by Pat Melzer in collaboration with ChatGPT and Sailing in San Diego, A Pictorial History

If you or an aging loved one is considering home care in San Diego, CA, please contact the caring staff at A Passion for Care today. Call (858) 798-5005

A Passion for Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving San Diego, La Jolla, Del Mar, Rancho Bernardo, Encinitas, Oceanside, Rancho Santa Fe, Point Loma, and surrounding areas.

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Pat Melzer

Owner at A Passion for Care

Like many people in the senior care business, founder Pat Melzer was motivated by personal experience to start an in-home senior service business in 2010. After watching chronic conditions, dementia, and surgeries take over the life of her once very intelligent and lively mother-in-law, Pat saw the enormity of the need for better in-home care. Drawing on her 23 years of experience in the computer industry as a software product manager, engineering manager and computer programmer, she decided to develop best practices to build an organization that provides truly excellent, personalized care. Throughout the company’s history, Pat has been personally and professionally committed to ensuring your loved one receives the quality care they deserve. With often heroic efforts by the staff and dedicated caregivers, the vision has become a reality to be very proud of.

Making the transition to a completely new industry brought the opportunity to learn and grow, which continues still today. Pat studied Gerontology in San Diego State University’s certificate program and became licensed as a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), a Home Health Aide (HHA), and completed the California Certification Program for Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCCFE) as a Certified Administrator. She presented workshops at Aging in America Conference four years in a row and served as Chair of the San Diego Regional Home Care Council 2019-2020 and was the education board member for several years. More recently, Pat became a Certified Senior Advisor and was a San Diego Business Journal “50 over 50 2022 Women of Influence Honoree”.

Pat and her husband Roland have lived outside San Diego in the San Pasqual Valley for over three decades. She has two children who are grown professionals and three grandchildren. Pat enjoys traveling to, and visits from, family and friends throughout the year. While at home in San Pasqual Valley, she and Roland enjoy peaceful views and exploring the surrounding valleys.

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