The Port Captain of Capitola Boat Club likely needs no introduction. If you sail out of Santa Cruz Harbor, or the SF Bay area, you have probably sailed on one of his designs, had your boat built by, repaired by, or crewed by Howard Spruit, a master of all trades. Among other firsts, Howard built the first Moore-24, before Ronnie and John Moore took over.
Howard has been experimenting since a kid. In the 3rd grade he built himself a crystal set. In 4th grade he put together a one tube radio on which he listened to KGO, KFRC, KNBR, and 50,000 watt country western KEEN.
Howard has always been in or around water. In high school he was a swimming star and red hot water polo player who played for the San Jose St. frosh while he was still in high school. The coach had only one rule for his team, "no biting."
By the time he was 15 and living in Santa Clara, Howard had discovered Santa Cruz and surfing. At 15.5, his parents gave him a Lambretta scooter to ride, not realizing he'd built a 12' 2x4 trailer with soap box derby wheels that he tied behind the 5 horse power scooter with a rope and towed his surfboard over Highway 17 to get to the waves.
The Italian scooter eventually failed when the drive shaft broke and Howard upgraded to an American made, Cushman Eagle scooter, with a flathead, 4 stroke, 2 speed, 7 hp engine. This was a better deal, because the Cushman had a side car onto which Howard could lash his surfboard.
When the surf was low, but the wind was up, Howard noticed people sailing, which looked like fun. So he bought a well used, 10 foot dinghy for $75, which he launched through the surf to get to the wind, and taught himself to sail.
One day, surfing guru Jack O'Neill showed up with the first catamaran in Santa Cruz, an 18' "P" Cat, and asked for Howard's help carrying it across the beach. The rest is history, and Howard took up multi-hull sailing and racing, as well as surfing.
Howard is the best of Port Captains as his anticipation, boat building and repair skills, and never-say-no generosity keeps our local fleet afloat and in use. Thanks, Howard!
And here's the Port Captain arriving this morning at the breakwater for coffee club and dredging critique.
Tomorrow, join in the fun when Howard launches another of his new boats with a traditional Shinsuishiki ceremony literally, "enter water ceremony"). The age old purpose of Shinsuishiki is to ritually purify a new boat, as well as its builders and owners. " We don't do no stinkin' champagne launches," said Port Captain Howard Spruit.