Volume 84, Number 10 October 2012

SCYC Members Racing Updates!

ILLINOIS – Check out this photo of Junior into the regatta I was hoping that the conditions kept Sailor, Emma Drejes, who raced in the Women’s Sin- up and continued in my favor. Unfortunately, the wind gle Handed Championship, The Letter Cup, in Chicago. died off & the racing became a whole different sce- Emma wrote “Participating in a serious event for the nario, making the fleet focus on how crucial the start first time was incredible and most definitely the first of was and how tactical mistakes immediately flushed many. I flew to Chicago for a three-day clinic, in a fleet you to the back of the fleet. Sailing in a fleet of 50 or of girls preparing for a two-day championship regatta more boats was also an entirely new experience for in the Laser Radial. The first three days were focused me. I was challenged and worked my way through on boat speed, tactics and sail shape. During the clinic the regatta. The best race I had was a 14th. I learned we saw winds reaching 20 knots. I was surprised by a lot about big fleet starting and how different racing how big the waves were on Lake Michigan. I felt really becomes, with 50 boats as to 15. Racing in Chicago comfortable in the waves because it was very similar with such a strong fleet put things into perspective and to the sailing we see in Santa Cruz, which gave me an showed me how much I have to learn and that being advantage on most of the girls. I found myself consis- at the top is not impossible, but takes hard work and tently in the top ten, and occasionally top five. Leading commitment. It was really neat for me to connect with other female sailors and sail in a new venue.” October 2012 Santa Cruz Yacht Club Spinnaker

ing 2nd in class; Chris Watts raced on the RP44, Tai Kuai, in a challenging class; Mike Evans on the J105, the Walloping Swede; Philippe Kahn on Pegasus, MotionX, finishing 4th in class; Paul Allen and Brent Ruhne on the Swan 45 Swazik who finished 3rd in class. Corinthian sailor Dylan Watts raced in his first BBS on the bow of the Express 37, Bullet, finishing rd3 in class. Chris Watts was tactician and main trim- mer aboard Polly, in the SF Perpetual Challenge, a 104-year-old contest, and the 2nd oldest trophy in Yacht Racing after the America’s Cup. The contest was held on SF Bay, between the Corinthian and the San Fran- cisco Yacht Clubs. Although Chris’ Team didn’t come WALES - The final day of the Extreme Sailing out on top this time, it sounds like it was a fun event. Series Act 5 in Cardiff saw Morgan Larson and his team If you have info on where club members are Oman Air, reaching the podium again. Going into the final racing, please feel free to pass along details to Buc- double-points race, all eyes were on the two Omani teams [email protected]. and the Austrians. Morgan Larson ensured his team got the best start. Finishing in 2nd place cemented their spot at Ellen Kett the top of the podium for the second time this season after winning the inaugural Act (I) in Muscat, Oman, and deny- ing The Wave, Muscat their fourth straight win. “Our level Vice Commodore Report of sailing was high enough to win all week, but somebody just always had a little better day than us, especially The Commodore Dave Emberson needs a bone Wave, Muscat,” said Morgan Larson. “You know, those marrow transplant and you may be able to help by guys are so good. They are a real challenge for us, but as it going to this website to check the process and criteria: got lighter and shiftier, I think that worked to our advantage http://bloodcenter.stanford.edu/ >donate >marrow. a little bit - it really was anybody’s race. We just got on a We are also contacting the National Marrow Donor roll for the last few races. To win here is fantastic. It is a Program to help us register more possible donors by testament to the Series and the competitors that there were coming directly to the club on a Wednesday night. Our five teams in for the win on the last race.” The win here for blood drive last month was very successful and I pray Oman Air also moves Larson’s team up into second place we will be able to find a bone marrow donor for Dave. on the Overall 2012 leaderboard. What a busy month it has been in the club. CALIFORNIA - On September 1st, in the Jazz There was one event after another. We got a late start to Cup, at the South Beach Yacht Club, Rocket 88, Bill Turpin the organization of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Recep- and Ian Klitza, raced to a 2nd place finish out of 74 boats. tion but something wonderful happened. In a rush to Zhenya Kirueskin-Stepanoff, raced as well aboard his K- find someone to prepare food for the reception, I started sport boat, Akyla. This month, at the 2012 StFYC’s Big Boat Series, SCYC had many members racing. Bill Turpin and Ian Klitza on Rocket 88, unfortunately had some drama. Ian said “We started the first race of BBS, tacked, then lots of cracking sounds! The port hull fwd of the fwd cross-beam was breaking off! We had been upgrading the sailplan, carbon sails, added a jib, straighter luffs, that and old age! And she gave in. We will repair and race her again. Heard a quote - boats are fastest right before they break”; Chris Deaver raced on the SC37 Tiburon finishing 3rd in class; Pepe Parsons raced on the custom Tripp 43, TNT finish- 2 October 2012 Santa Cruz Yacht Club Spinnaker

wine was invited to the reception to eat, drink and be merry with the Corporate Sponsors. I hope I get invited to make appetizers next year! It was non-stop racing and sailing this month. Along with the BBBS Regatta and reception, there was the Windjammers Regatta, One Design, SCORE, a joy- ful and fun filled Jack and Jill Regatta and now we are right in the middle of the Flying Dutchman Worlds with boats and crew from all over the world. The harbor is alive with foreign languages and accents. The energy is intoxicating. The nominating committee selected a slate of officers for the year 2013. They are recommending:

(Commodore Dave Emberson at the helm of Elyxir Rob Schuyler Commodore during the Day on the Bay Regatta) Barry Whittall Vice Commodore Don Conant Rear Commodore asking members on a Wednesday night if they would Mary Larkin Secretary donate appetizers and to my delight, everyone I asked Lou Pambianco Treasurer said yes. Chris North and De Schuyler teamed up to Chuck Murray Director organize the event and we ended up with 15 platters of John Buchanan Jr. Director some of the best appetizers we’ve ever had at the club. In addition, club wine makers Jack Gordon, John Thanks to the nominees for their commitment Blackburn and Bret Gripenstraw donated excellent to contribute their time and energy to help make our wine. Everyone who made an appetizer or contributed club a better place. Remember to attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday, November 4th at 4 pm (appetizers to follow).

Rob Schuyler Vice Commodore

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that blasted out oldies and goodies throughout the evening. De lead “rock and rollers” in dance contests, limbo challenges, and we all tried to master the hula hoops once more! The most challenging and hilarious part of the Dance Party was the “bubble gum blowing” contest. Jaws were chomping; faces were turning bright red, and partial bubbles protruded from the not so elegant mouths. Everyone was a winner that night and received “Ever-glow” bracelets, trophies, and plenty of appre- ciation for their talents. Volunteers filled our stomachs with the potluck contributions that fueled us for an Rear Commodore’s Report active evening. An energetic (Dirty Dozen) group of Corinthians closed the club and would not surrender the Big Brother Big Sister (BBBS) Reception was variety of wigs or the Hula Hoops back to their owner, a total success and will most likely be a “call back” Jan Dewitt. for future SCYC sponsored Corporate Receptions. The Hats off to Sydnie Moore for her leadership donated appetizers and wine were well received. The and organizational talent with the Jack and Jill Regat- wide array of food selections was elegantly displayed ta. All regatta “Jacks and Jills” were winners with the and included nametags identifying its creator. Kris numerous categories and a plethora of prizes that were North and De Schuyler provided the coordination of awarded. The overwhelming compliments permeated delicious food and decor. The team of Club Volunteers the conversations about the day’s event as we transi- included: D.J. Timpany, Rob and De Schuyler, Judy tioned to the Sunday Night’s Asian Buffet. We are Webster, Janel Schuyler, Nancy Beekman, Tom certainly getting maximum usage of our new facilities! Postlewaite, Ellen Bucci Kett, Carolyn Susman, Kris KISS prepared a cross section of Asian dishes for a full North, Jan and Bob Dewitt, Angela Madden, Nancy house of members. We even seated diners at our three Rinkardt, Marilyn Diola, Bret Gripenstraw, John new, very popular, sets of bar stools and roundtables. Blackburn and Tom Garside. If I have left anyone out Get out your calendars and mark them with accidently, please accept my apology at this point and these inviting activities. Dave Emberson’s Lobster know that you to are very much appreciated. Feed will be Saturday, October 13th beginning at 5:30 The BBBS regatta was well attended. (see pm. Dave has requested 1&3/4 lb. lobsters to make sure BBBS article for specifics) With every social activity that everyone gets comes the task of clean up and the need for volunteers their fill. The cost is to work. The job of returning all those sailboats and a bargain at $30.00 trailers back to their very own dry slips is a tedious and per person. Rick thankless job. We can all thank Gene Sofen, Chuck Linkemyer, Kris, and Sasha Hawley, Chip, and Tom Garside for help- and Fred Molnar ing with this laborious process. will be preparing the The Windjammer Regatta has returned and fresh, live lobsters SCYC hospitality volunteers (lead by Magdalena for our consumption. Naef) provided delicious hot red and white clam chow- Reservations are der accompanied by sourdough bread and lots of real required and we will butter to all. Rob Schuyler modeled the SCYC generos- be enforcing the club ity by treating the entire crew of Akela, First To Finish, policy of a 48-hour with pitchers of ice cold Margaritas at the dock. advance notice for The Pink Ladies (Jan, De, Sue, Marilyn, Kris, cancellations. Call and Christine) outdid themselves once again! Kurt now as the reserved Hoffman, Sue Clayton, Rob and De Schuyler and Jan seats are going fast! Dewitt decorated the club with musical memorabilia, The Okto- pink and black balloons, and an antique, old Jukebox berfest Dinner is on Sunday, October 4 October 2012 Santa Cruz Yacht Club Spinnaker

21st. Check the website for the menu and don’t forget to provide your anonymous feedback and suggestions Upcoming SCYC to KISS Catering through the Dining portal on our Events Calendar webpage. Halloween this year falls on the Club’s last Wednesday Night of Sailing. You do know what this 505 Fall Regatta means? Party Time and yes, most everyone will all be October 6, 7 wearing costumes. That will lead to some humorous recognition of our partygoers creative outfits. Plan- ning is currently underway to identify unique costume Lobster Feed categories; other than “Pirates”! Now is the time to turn October 13 that costume idea into a reality. You can do it! Beg, bor- row, and or buy something. Remember those costumes you saw and said to yourself; “That is a good one!” Fall One Design #3 They will not be using it again. Steal it with pride. October 20 I look forward to seeing everyone at our An- nual General Membership (AGM) meeting at 4:00 pm Sunday, November 4th. There will also be a New Sunday Buffet Oktoberfest Theme Members’ function on Sunday, November 11th and a October 21 Regatta Appreciation Activity on Saturday, November 17th. Enjoy yourselves, smooth sailing, and be safe.

Staff Commodore Dinner Barry Whittall October 25 Rear Commodore

Junior Halloween Social Lobster Feed October 27 Saturday, October 13 @ 5:30pm

Social committee will be your host Pirate Party Raft-Up Whopping 1 3/4 lb. Lobsters October 27 $30.00 per person (tax & tip included) Reservations Required Fall SCORE #3 48 Hour Cancellation Policy October 28 RSVP to 831-425-0690 or [email protected]

Halloween October 31

Last Wednesday Night BBQ October 31

AGM Meeting November 4

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Treasurer’s Report

With our new construction, and refurbishing of the clubhouse, this has been a most exciting year. I can’t wait for our formal recognition of all this construction and our being allowed to use the tram. It has been a stressful year for our outstanding Office Manager, Jennifer, Bret Gripenstraw, supervisor of all construction and doing such an outstanding job, and me as treasurer. We have had to get bills paid on time, get cash advances from the bank, keep track of total costs etc. Greetings from the Port Captain This has all been accomplished! The unexpected problems of the motors on the As many of you already know, we have spent whaler, a problem with the motor on the Black Pearl and an unusual amount of funds on hoist repair and main- hoist problems have stressed our budget. The Black Pearl tenance this year. Some of these expenditures were due and hoist are fixed, and new motors have been ordered for in part to component failures and operational errors. As the whaler. a result, I would like to offer some suggestions to help But complicating this have been; purchases/ver- reduce expenses for our hoist. bal work orders to workers by well meaning club mem- When launching or retrieving boats, the only bers for items without getting approval from the person in person operating the controls should be the owner or charge of that program. These have caused the program slip renter. Please do not allow an untrained or inexperi- to go significantly over-budget. We do not have unlimited enced person to operate the hoist. The control box may money. The SCYC Board would like to have the option to seem to be “industrial strength” but it is fragile. Try to evaluate anything that makes a program go significantly keep it from being dropped. We have installed a new over budget. Are there alternatives? Could it wait until upper limiting safety switch. It is there to prevent the next year? load hook assembly from becoming two-blocked. When Persons in charge of each program’s budget know raising your boat, check the clearance above the load what they can spend/authorize. hook and do not over hoist the equipment. We have also Please do not buy or authorize any expenditures replaced the tension relief lanyard on the control cable of Club funds without authorization from the program in an effort to secure the power into the control box. chair or the SCYC Board! Hopefully, with fresh components on our hoist and some additional care when it is being used, we can Chuck Murray anticipate lower operational expenses and down time. Treasurer Thanks for your help and safe boating!!

Tom Garside Port Captain

Advertise in the Spinnaker Sheet

Reach your target market. Rates, for a business card size, as low as $15 per month or $100 for the entire year. For more information or to advertise please call 831-425-0690 or e-mail [email protected].

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Cruising News SCYC Wet Slip Policies The month of Sept. was great for the cruisers. On Sept 8th we had a dock party hosted by Rick and • Wet slip space is available to members and Dorie Green. The turnout was great with plenty of visiting guests of reciprocal Yacht Clubs. drinks and food. I am surprised on how many of you miss out on free drinks and food. We also had the Mon- • Guests may stay in the Yacht Club wet terey Jazz Festival Cruise, Sept 20-23 slips up to three nights at no charge (limited “When you’re smiling, the whole world smiles depth/length). with you.” Monterey Jazz Festival headliner, Tony Ben- nett (who’s 86 years young), reminded the crowd with • Members and dry slip holders, who are his lyrics and his enthusiasm just how infectious happi- registered to race, can leave their boats in the ness can be. A happy group of SCYC cruisers went by water the night before and the night of a posted land and by sea to Monterey for the 55th annual jazz SCYC race at no charge (Wednesday Night festival held at the Monterey Fairgrounds. Tom Man- Races are included). heim and Nancy Shanfield, Ron and Carol Merrall, Vern and Meredith Wallace and guest Kristi Dunning • Members and dry slip holders, who are not went by land. Steve Smardan on Reachable Star Too, registered to race, will be charged the follow- Marc and Lynn Barshay on Aeolian, and Fred Mol- ing rates (per day). nar and Bridget Binko on Gypsy went by sea. Steve took the leisurely route through Moss Landing on the Rates: Summer Winter way down, while Marc and Lynn, and Fred and Bridget 4/1 - 10/31 11/1 - 3/31 had “spirited” sailing straight down to Monterey on a blustery Thursday with large quartering seas produc- Monday – Thursday $10.00 $8.00 ing a bit of roll, pitch and heave, and whole lot of yaw. Friday – Sunday $16.00 $12.00 MPYC hosted several of the group for Friday night dinner, and Fred and Bridget tried their hands at radio- controlled boat racing from the MPYC clubhouse deck. Veeder Cup 2013 The Festival had jazz artists with styles to please every- one, with some of the crowd favorites being The Blues MPYC will host a meeting of the Veeder Cup Broads, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, John De- committees of the four clubs named in the deed with Johnette with Pat Methany & Christian McBride, and of the purpose of reinforcing the vision of the deed and course, Tony Bennett. We were also treated to the Space coming to agreement on resolving issues that have led Shuttle flyover on Friday, and the Air Force Thunder- to the cancellation of the last two Veeder Cups. birds tearing up the sky from the Salinas Air Show. A The SCYC Veeder Cup committee will host a great weekend for smiling! meeting of our club members to discuss the thoughts Coming up is the most popular event of the of our committee and to gain input from our member- year. It is the Pirate Party Raft Up at Cowells on Oct ship. The SCYC committee believes upholding the 27th hosted by Vance Landis-Carey and Robert vision and spirit of the Deed is foremost: To promote Carey. This is another great opportunity to party with spirited competition and camaraderie between the clubs your fellow yacht club member. If you don’t have a represented in the Deed. boat, NO PROBLEM, rides to the raft up are avail- able. If interested in more details please contact Vance To meet that vision, we propose the following for or Robert at [email protected] or robertcarey@ discussion: sbcglobal.net. Feel free to contact me if you have questions or 1) Identify and agree on the classes that are eligible to want to participate in the Cruising Club. race for the cup. Include PHRF ranges that could race for the cup, e.g. PHRF -20 to +20 Jason Lauer Cruising Club Chair 2) The host club will select the competing yachts. 7 October 2012 Santa Cruz Yacht Club Spinnaker

Host and challenging clubs will race using each of the yachts alternately. In race one, host club will sail in yacht A, challenger in yacht B. In race two, host club will sail in yacht B, challenger in yacht A and so forth to the completion of the regatta.

3) Crews will be composed of members from the host and challenging clubs with one additional crew mem- ber from each of the non-competing yacht clubs per yacht.

4) The question of amateur versus professional crew needs to be discussed and agreement reached. Greetings from the Galley

Please stay tuned for the date and time for our It seems this year is flying by, as we find Veeder Cup meeting and feel welcome to come and ourselves already in Autumn. We’re looking forward provide your input. Thank you. to adding some cozy fall dishes to the menu, and also change our burger a bit by only offering the Big Woody Veeder Cup committee every other week (which is a burger stuffed with Blue Cheese) to new options. Let us know how you like our food, or if you have a favorite that may be added to our menu. Best dishes from all of us at KISS to all of you.

Sandy & Scott Kiss Catering

Sunday Night Dinner Oktoberfest Buffet Sunday, October 21 5:30pm Cocktails 6:30pm Dinner

Appetizers: Roast Beef Roulade and, Konigsberger Klopse (Poached Meat Balls in Lemon Caper sauce)

(Introduced at the last Board meeting are new Dinner: Corinthian members Dylan Roberts and Dylan Watts Behrensalat: (Green Bean Salad) and Warmer Kertof- and Regular members Shawn Padilla and Megan Nutt felsalat Mit Speck: (German Potato Salad with Bacon), shown with Vice Commodoe Rob Schuyler) Sausages Soft Rolls, Spicy Mustards and Sauerkraut, Bratwurst Mit Saurer Sabnensosse (Steamed Bratwurst in Sour Cream Sauce), Braised Red Cabbage in Beer Regular 418 Non-Resident 70 and Caraway Junior 92 Corinthian 59 Life 10 Honorary 26 Dessert: House made Apple Strudel Total 675 $16.00 plus tax and Tip RSVP to 831-425-0690 or [email protected]

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Sister City

On August 22, 2012, six visitors from Alushta (our Santa Cruz sister city in Ukraine) were SCYC guests at the Wednesday night barbecue. Although their questions and conversations required a transla- tor, their laughter and smiles let us know how much they enjoyed our hospitality. Yacht Club members, Nancy Lenz and Virginia Lee Roberts, set up for the guests with colorful hand-painted pisanki as well as other souvenirs and maps collected on their visits to Ukraine. Virginia Lee was a Peace Corps Volun- teer in Ukraine from 2007-09 and Nancy has hosted Ukrainian visitors through the Santa Cruz Sister Cities Committee. As a remembrance of this visit, Alushta’s by Wally’s Swing World, Ukrainian food, speeches and mayor, Stanislav Kolot (who is on his fourth visit to greetings by mayors of both cities expressed the warm Santa Cruz) presented an Alushta yachting cap to Staff feelings that have been shared over the 25 years between Commodore Charlie Roskosz. The Mayor told us these two seaside cities. On Monday, the Alushta visi- that now that government restrictions are being eased, tors were given a tour of the harbor arranged by Port they hope to develop their own yacht harbor on the Commissioner Reed Geisreiter. Before their week-long Black Sea. visit ended, all six toured UCSC, San Francisco and Earlier in the week, a community event on the Monterey and attended our local Rotary Club meeting. Wharf on Sunday, August 19 celebrated 25 years of the Santa Cruz/Alushta sister city relationship. Music Nancy Lenz

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West Marine Fun Regatta prep for the race. Liz McComb, West Marine and other very cool West Marine employees who volunteered on Thank you to all of the volunteers who helped their time off. You were great fun to work with. All make the 2012 West Marine Fun Regatta safe and fun others local and not, who made it possible for these for our sailors. We had 42 boats, 4 fleets: FJs, Laser young sailors to participate in this regatta. (Sailors - Radials, El Toros - Advanced and Intermediate. The thank your parents!) weather was beautiful with winds ranging from 4-12+ More thanks to: Harbor office - Officers Sean, knots and cooperated all weekend. Huge thanks to Don and Bryson - thanks for working with us to ensure Bret Gripenstraw, PRO Outside Course and Ken the safety of our sailors and assisting in event logistics Eckert, PRO Inside Course for your support and around the Harbor neighbors: Aldo’s, Velocity, UCSC, patience. You guys did an incredible job of running Bob and Carol Simpkins, Jack and Carol Gordon, the races. John Fraser, Support Boat Coordinator Phillipe Kahn, - thanks for sharing your “space” with and Gene Sofen for recruiting the experienced and the racers. talented people that made up the Race Committee and Thanks to the generous sponsors: West Marine, water support team which included: Matthew Coale, Lighthouse Information Systems, Inc., Gayles Bakery, Charlie Roskosz, Henry Cassady, John Buchanan SCYC - Jen and Greg. Your contributions make the Jr., Bruce Donald, Tim Kelbert, John and Wendy regatta possible. Wurster, Mark Langer, George Arthur, MJ, Gene Sofen, Chuck Hawley, Malcolm Northcott, Lowell Bengie Hodges Ellis, Royce Fletcher, Guido Diaz, Kristen Lenz, 2012 West Marine Fun Regatta Coordinator Fred Molnar, Bridget Binko, Jim Foley, Linda Moore, Sasha Hawley, Loren Marcellini, Eric Back in the Old Days; Kaija—39 Years Malmberg, Buster Long, Tim Stapleton, John Pa- cholski and John Marlett. Later

Thanks to all Onshore Support volunteers After 39 years, our 24-foot Piver Nugget, Kai- who kept this regatta running smoothly: Dick Mc- ja, was ‘reintroduced to the wild’ on September 22, Cartney, Shore Services, Brian Beers, Patrick 2012. The first day of Fall proved to be an excellent Tara, Paul Tara, Royce Fletcher, Hilary Walecka, day to let her spread her wings and fly again under sail Rachel Cherry - Boat Wranglers Extraordinaire, on the Monterey Bay. Holly Schipper, Julie Levy, Trish Malmberg, Royce I and my two sons Christian and Jack on Fletcher - Safety Check team, Mary Tara and board headed out of the Santa Cruz Harbor into Kristen Lenz for EVERYTHING, Tina Verutti, Kim sparkling seas with just 10-12 knots of Northwesterly Americh, Dianne Pacholski at the Registration Table/ breeze blowing. We had intended to err on the side Welcome Table, Charlie Roskosz for taking on race of caution and not push Kaija too hard as she had not committee duty and standing by as Protest Committee sailed since 1973. But, exuberance, anticipation and Lead, Barbara Booth for helping with scoring on ex- temptation lead to confidence and we stuck her bows tremely short notice, Andrea Miller, Chuck Murray out toward mile buoy and a building breeze on a star- and the many other volunteers who help with food board tack. She handled 15 knots of wind beautifully powering off the tops of the choppy waves and accel- erating in the lulls. Nothing broke. The best sailors use their superior knowledge to avoid the use of their superior skills, so we tacked before mile buoy onto a port-tack beam reach towards the wharf and the Dream Inn. On this point of sail, Kaija, stretched her wings, picked up her pace and we saw speeds close to 10 knots. That’s when the irony kicked-in for me; I had never sailed a trimaran until this day! 10 October 2012 Santa Cruz Yacht Club Spinnaker

Kaija began for us as a back yard project in the mates on F-Dock back the 1980s. I wish I had a pad fall of 2009 when Kurt and Sue Larsen gave her to us. and pencil to record the stories they told! Two summers passed because my wife and I are busy Everyone that shows up to see Kaija has a raising two active little boys and ‘life’ often gets in the good story to tell about the kindness of Kurt and Sue way of the things we’d rather be doing. We were not Larsen. Together, Kurt and Sue ran Larsen Sails for 35 going to let this summer slip away so we launched her years, building and fixing our torn sails, repairing our on September 9. boat covers, and just being very warm, gentle, honest, All during her restoration, Kaija, brought our hard-working people in the Santa Cruz sailing com- sailing community together. At the Sunday afternoon munity. All the attention Kaija garners is proof of what launch my kids & my wife Joanne, and my best friend people around here think about Kurt and Sue. Dale Tracy and his dad Norm Tracy showed up. We Back on the bay, on Kaija’s first sail in 39 restored Kaija in Norm’s yard at Brommer and Chanti- years, the winds seemed to lighten that afternoon. With cleer, and I’m sure Joanne wanted to see the results of a gut feeling that we could sail downwind towards our ‘free boat.’ She works very hard and hasn’t paid Capitola and not pay the price coming home, we de- much attention to our progress. cided to call Kurt and Sue to see if they could make it I told a few friends that we’d launch Sunday to the top of their street on 37th Avenue to watch us sail afternoon, but that we weren’t having a party. Howard by. We were delighted to get Kurt’s phone call asking and Yvonne Spruitt, Steve Leddy and Fredda Orol, us, “Which one are you?” They were the ones ‘on the Jim Wallace and Cindy Phillipy, Jim and Sue Byberg, bench, under the palm tree’ by Jack O’Neill’s house. Caleb Murray, Ian Jones, Michael Schweyer and many We responded by telling them that we were the others showed up anyway. Kurt and Sue Larsen’s most inside boat coming around Rockview sailing wing daughter, Lisa Evans came to see Kaija float again with on wing. Even though we were outside the kelp line her son Brady and her daughter Kaiya (same name/dif- and half a mile away Kaija was easy to spot. We sailed ferent spelling/long story). as close as we could, just outside the kelp line for Kurt When we stepped her mast two weeks later J.R. and Sue to see the boat that they built together 48 years Parker appeared from Costa Rica to run the hoist for ago. Before slogging home to weather, we sailed a few us. Staff Commodore Steve Niemann offered to take circles so Kurt and Sue could see their Kaija sailing pictures. John Wurster was there to lend a hand and again on her re-maiden voyage. Tom Garside got sucked in to help. Later Jim Robin- The following is a re-print of the story that I son and John Frasier reconnected after 20+ years and wrote in 2009 just after Kurt and Sue entrusted us with talked about the good old days when they were dock Kaija and her future: Back in the old days, a tiny willow tree began life in a beautiful back yard in Pleasure Point. Today the tree towers over the yard with its wispy arms en- circling and protecting a 24-foot trimaran hand-built of fiberglass and plywood. The little boat, parked there in 1973, has not plied the waters of the Monterey Bay for thirty-six years. The 24-footer is a Piver Nugget that was hand- built in 1964 by Kurt Larsen of Larsen Sails. You may recall from a previous article that Rich Gerling sailed a Piver Nugget to Hawaii in 1961. Rich followed Art Piver across the Pacific with Piver sailing aboard his 35-foot, self-designed, Lodestar, trimaran. Rich and Art were among the first people to accomplish ocean passages on multi-hulled sailboats. Although they caught the attention of the media at the (Kurt Larsen checks out the boat that he and his wife time, these funny, little boats were not yet popular and Sue built 48 years ago in 1964. She is ‘prepared for far from being accepted by the sailing establishment in launch’ on the trailer near the launch ramp with the 1961. harbor office in the background) After reading my article about the local sailor, 11 October 2012 Santa Cruz Yacht Club Spinnaker

Rich Gerling and his Piver Nugget, Kurt and Sue surprise, there was a sailboat under construction in their Larsen called to invite me to their home in Pleasure yard! Kurt tells the story of being in college at the time Point. Under a willow tree in their back yard sat their and studying engineering, but he thought building his Piver Nugget, Kaija. As I peeled back the tarp cover- own boat would be far more fun and interesting. Kurt ing the boat, it was like opening a time capsule. The had heard of Piver and one day he went to Sausalito boat started projecting stories of many sailing adven- to meet the designer and trimaran guru himself and he tures in and around the Monterey Bay, of being hand- picked up a set of plans. built with care and of being coveted by the builder and There was a small boat-building industry go- his wife. ing on in nearby Alviso. Kurt spent time there getting All the parts and pieces are there just like they ideas and locating resources to help with the project were 36 years ago when she was put to rest under of home-building a boat. Among the many talented the willow tree. The cabin still features the home- “hippies” there were wood workers, metal fabricators, made curtains and bunk cushions hand-made so long welders and people using one of the latest technologies ago. Navigation charts sit on the nav table waiting of the day, fiberglass. People freely shared what they for course lines to be plotted on them and the little knew and Kurt gobbled up the free advice and lovingly alcohol stove appears ready to heat water for a cup built his beautiful boat. of hot chocolate to be enjoyed on a brisk spring day Distracted by his school studies, it took a year while reaching from Capitola to Moss Landing. Even to build Kaija. She was launched in Alviso and kept the self-steering vane sits in the cabin ready to take in Redwood City for a time while Kurt and Sue spent the midnight watch while a weary crew catches some a summer sailing her on the San Francisco Bay. Even- well-deserved shut eye. tually they ended up keeping her in the San Leandro Kurt built his little Nugget trimaran in his par- Marina where slip rents were very reasonable. ent’s front yard in Santa Clara. They were on vacation Kurt, Sue and Kaija were all perhaps a bit in Europe and when they arrived home, much to their restless in the 1960s so the three of them headed south for the Monterey Bay in 1966. Their new home port was Moss Landing where the slip rent was cheap at just $12.00 per month. Kurt left school that year and volunteered to work for VISTA. VISTA stands for Volunteers in Ser- vice to America. It was a domestic Peace Corps pro- gram and a way of serving our country without being sent off to fight the war in Vietnam. After two years of serving VISTA in Houston and the South, Kurt returned to Santa Cruz. Their first daughter, Karen, was born in 1968. Later that year, Kurt took a job running the Capitola Wharf for Tom Shanahan. Tom owned the wharf, as well as the boat rentals and the bait and tackle business. Kurt ran the store, rented fishing skiffs and did all the maintenance for the business. He tells of the struggles he had keeping the outboard motors running and keeping the rental boats from sinking (leaking too much) without much budget. Overall, those were some good days back then with many great hours spent anchored off the Capitola Wharf and sailing the clear waters of the Monterey Bay. Kurt and Sue kept Kaija anchored off the wharf (The boys and I sail Kaija on the first day of fall off of all summer and sometimes sailed her back to Moss the Casino Building at the Boardwalk. We handed our Landing for the weekends. With his own key to the camera to Jim and Marty Robinson, anchored off he Wharf, Kurt could let himself in to go sailing anytime. wharf, who took this image for us) With a gleam in his eye, Kurt recently told 12 October 2012 Santa Cruz Yacht Club Spinnaker me about the wonderful reaching conditions that they Going Where the Ice Cream is Always Cold enjoyed between Moss Landing and Capitola where (Conclusion from last month) Kaija often hit speeds of 20 knots. She was fast, stable and easily driven. After getting under the bridge we went into Kurt was handy at fixing stuff and word got the town of Waterford for the West Marine, lunch and out that he could also fix torn sails and ripped canvas. ice cream. We find the town very comfortable. Older People started bringing him things to sew and it soon brick buildings are filled with comfortable people became apparent that this would become a business doing comfortable things, food is cheap in this part of its own. His parents had since bought a vacation of the country. We have lunch or dinner, all four of home on 37th Avenue and this home became the first us for 18 to 30 bucks. Gas is a little less expensive location for Larsen Sails. but the housing costs are the big difference. For $250 Raising a family and keeping up with a grow- thousand dollars you can get a beautiful river, canal ing business began to take up all their spare time so front home with boat dock, but in the winter time you Kaija was retired from sailing. She was parked under will have to trade the boat for a snowmobile. the tiny willow tree in 1973 where she still sits. Kaija Day five we are going west and we transit waits patiently to be released from that beautiful back 11 locks and 39.8 miles before we are too tuckered yard in Pleasure Point, waiting for the day when she to transit. We get as far as Putnam Park. Along the will once again sail on the Monterey Bay, just like canal these parks include free dockage with no hook- Back in the Old Days. ups but there are picnic benches, BBQ’s, maintained (Author’s Note: With a promise that Kaija lawn, and wooded areas. In this case, the remnants will once again sail, we acquired the boat from Kurt of the “original canal” and the “Enlarged Erie” from and Sue. My boys, Christian and Jack, are very the 1840’s are on proud display with story boards, excited about the prospect of restoring her to sailing displays and a visitors center (Closed after Hurricane form and experiencing multi-hull sailing for ourselves. Irene in August last year). My wife, Joanne, is more into sailing boats than fixing Proposed in 1808 and completed in 1825, them so she has put in her reservation for the first the original canal links the waters of Lake Erie in ride after the shakedown cruise. Ever since, and even the west to the Hudson River in the east. Governor before, writing about Rich Gerling and his passage Dewitt Clinton broke ground for the construction of to Hawaii, I have often contemplated “life without the canal. In those early days, it was often sarcasti- a keel.” Kaija, all told, weighs less than the 2000 cally referred to as “Clinton’s Big Ditch”. When pound keel on our current 34 foot sailboat. Kurt and finally completed on October 26, 1825, it included 18 Sue Larsen have given me and my family a chance to aqueducts to carry the canal over ravines and rivers, experience multi-hull sailing with little investment. I and 83 locks, with a rise of 568 feet from the Hudson will keep the membership updated on our progress as River to Lake Erie. It was 4 feet deep and 40 feet we proceed with the restoration of Kaija.) wide, and floated boats carrying 30 tons of freight. A Kaija will be hosting her own launch party on ten foot wide towpath was built along the bank of the Sunday, October 7 from noon until 3:PM at or near canal for the horses and/or mules which pulled the the yacht club hoist. She is old enough to buy a keg boats and their driver, often a young boy (sometimes of beer which she will gladly provide and share with referred to by later writers as a “hoggee”). An engi- anyone of age that shows up. Bring along your stories neering marvel when it was built, some called it the from boat launchings back in the old days and I will Eighth Wonder of the World. try to remember them for future newsletter columns. In order to keep pace with the growing de- There will be a few headbands on-hand to dole out if mands of traffic, the Erie Canal was enlarged between there any Santa Cruz Hippies left among us. 1836 and 1862. The “Enlarged Erie” was 70 feet wide and 7 feet deep, and could handle boats carrying 240 Niels Kisling tons. The number of locks was reduced to 72. SCYC Historian The “Barge canal” which is the one in use today was completed in 1918, and is 12 to 14 feet deep, 120 to 200 feet wide, and 363 miles long, from Albany to Buffalo. 57 Locks were built to handle

13 October 2012 Santa Cruz Yacht Club Spinnaker

barges carrying up to 3,000 tons of cargo, with lifts all day and the ice cream is as good as it gets. There is of 6 to 40 feet. This is the Erie Canal which today is even an amusement park in Sylvan Beach on the shore utilized largely by recreational boats rather than cargo- of lake Oneida and getting into the swing of things I carrying barges. ride the rollercoaster. But I can’t talk anyone else in our Our next stop was for ice cream and lunch the party to ride with me. next day in the town of Canajoharie (Can-jo-harie) This is the season to visit the lake, lots of boat- above lock number 14. Then we stop for the night ers, bathing suits, swimming in the fresh water lake, jet in Herkimer just past lock number 18. In Herkimer skis, amusement park, cheap beer, everything for the we find a free dock with no services but that does summer happening spot. maybe it’s me. not stop us from swimming, the water feels great, it We have dinner at a place called “Harpoon is completely fresh and the boat loves it. We have Eddies” in Sylvan Beach but after a nap Josanne drags noticed that the engines have cooled down a bit and us down there in the heat and we are all complaining. we can use the anchor wash off as a forward shower Turns out, it was worth it, A/C , friendly staff and a now. In Herkimer, we find out there is such a thing as couple of pitchers of Sangrias and we are dancing to a Herkimer Diamond which is a clear crystal that has the (I am impressed) one man band belting out Billy facets and makes lovely jewelry. Joel and Aerosmith. Who knew they could have this Josanne and Katie really know how to put the much fun in the sticks. meals out. During the day there is a constant flow of Onward across Lake Oneida to Syracuse and fruit, nuts, chocolate, yogurt and liquids going be- we are wondering how we are going to get back to JFK tween decks for Don and I upstairs navigating the boat for our return to California. No problem, check on-line and at night the food is great. Nobody I know keeps and you can find six ways to “Get Back, to where we a cleaner or happier galley than Katie, I am guessing once belonged”, rail, plane, helicopter, rental car, bus, that comes from years and years of trial and error. or taxi. Turns out our 7 days on a boat is only a four The locks, entering, going up, and then exiting and a half hour bus ride back to Manhattan. Don told take an average of 30 to 40 minutes per lock. Doing 8 me “What we travel in a day is practically equal to to 10 of these a day and traveling 40 miles or so is re- what a car does in an hour.” What can I say. ally quite a day. Josanne was quite the trooper, by the I am sorry to say we have to leave Don and time we are done with 24 locks she still has a smile on Katie to go on their merry way, “living the life”. Their her face. It was kind of tricky to fend off the bow and future destination may be Montreal to leave the boat the stern while a line was tied around the pole at the for the winter and come back to Santa Cruz. Josanne beam or the other option is to hold onto a slimy rope and I need to go home and work in the dirt, but that is a at each end as we are raised and fend off the wall at landlubbers calling. the same time the water swirls and eddies all around You know I would consider doing this Great the boat. Loop myself in a few years, for us yachties it would I am getting concerned about the traffic on the be like strapping on a motor home (a land yacht) and canal. There isn’t any, where are all the boaters transit- seeing the country, the good old USA. The complaints ing the canal? I have only seen a few at most that have that I hear from world cruisers are that it costs a little paid the $100 season pass to use the facilities. I am more in the states to cruise and you don’t have the ca- utterly surprised that after 18 locks we have not seen maraderie that you do outside the country. Good or bad a soul doing the loop. We have not even seen anyone in this country, everyone (Americans) are all caught using the locks, not one boat entering or leaving the up in their own lives and generally there is no need for locks while we were in the vicinity. The lock operators them to be eking out a living on the whims of the visi- are all very talkative and happy to have some com- tors. In America you also don’t have the theft, crime, pany. foreign exchange, and languages problems you have in On to Lake Oneida (like the dinner ware) on foreign lands. Also in the states you always have good the east shore of this 24 mile long lake is the town clean water, food and vegetables, it is easy to get parts of Sylvan Beach. I would call Sylvan Beach “tired”, for the boat, and the ice cream is always cold. maybe it was just me, I mean in the heat of the sum- mer this is the place to go, the sandy beach is as Randall Sparks packed as our boardwalk beach, the restaurants are great, and hotels are full, the tee shirt stores are busy 14