Katherine F. Humphreys Commodore, Sequoia Yacht Club 441 Seaport Court P.O

Katherine F. Humphreys Commodore, Sequoia Yacht Club 441 Seaport Court P.O. Box 5548 Redwood City, CA 94063-0548

September 15, 2012

Doug Hipsley Chairman, Awards Committee Pacific Inter-Club Yacht Association

Subject: The Garrett Horder Memorial Trophy

Dear Chairman Hipsley:

The Sequoia Yacht Club respectfully petitions the Directors of PICYA to submit a nomination for Sequoia Yacht Club to the Pacific Coast Yachting Association for the award of the subject trophy for the year 2012.

The Sequoia Yacht Club was organized in 1939 and by 1961 had become a family oriented club and the need for a group activity for its youths led the development a junior sailing program. This program has continued to introduce and to provide instruction and sailing opportunities to youth for the past fifty-one (51) years. Our program is a combination of four offerings, the Junior Program, Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation, the Sea Scouts and the Mariner Scouts. Below is a description of each and what they offer. There is very little overlap between the programs other than camaraderie, ability to participate in any one or all and participation in service events such as the California Coastal Clean-up day and providing their service at our annual Past Commodore and Installation Dinners.

The Junior Program maintains a fleet of El Toros and Lasers (full and 4.7 rigs) for training as well as two Santana 22 sailboats which offer our youth the opportunity to experience keel boat sailing and participate in our racing series throughout the year.

The Junior Program’s Mission is to: Offer learn-to-sail opportunities to the general community and club members that promote boating as a sport and teaching boating safety and boating skills Teach sailing for all ability levels Conduct all programs in a safe and enjoyable manner so as to elicit a lifelong love of the sport Provide facilities, equipment, leadership, information, and organization for learn-to-sail activities Promote excellence in competitive sailing Emphasize fun and teamwork Emphasize self-reliance, sportsmanship, and mutual respect

Promote Volunteerism of the Junior Members

Ten training sessions are held twice a year (fall and spring series) utilizing volunteer club members who have obtained their US Sailing Level I certification as lead instructors. The junior sailing program is oriented toward getting youth on the water, teaching them basic sailing/nautical skills and providing a safe and fun environment to expand upon those skills. Currently, the program offers beginning and intermediate El Toro classes, and adventure sail class utilizing the El Toro and a class on Laser sailing. In addition to fun sailing, the youth are introduced to the rules of racing. This program is often a feeder to its sister program, Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation, which specializes in promoting the racing aspect of sailing.

In addition to learning basic sailing and safety skills, there is the opportunity to learn the safe operation of motor boats, such as Boston Whalers, in support of the junior program as safety boats. There are also sessions on how to maintain a boat with biannual maintenance days. This year youth also had the opportunity to help in the rebuilding of one of our shore boats, learning skills in carpentry, fiberglass and painting.

Due to the volunteer support we have been able to keep our fees to a minimum allowing for greater participation. The program also has scholarships available to youth who may not otherwise be able to participate. The program is open to youth associated with our membership as well as youth from the public at large. All youth participating in the program are awarded a Junior Membership with Sequoia Yacht Club and have the opportunity to maintain their membership even after they are no longer enrolled in the program. We have youth returning to the program year after year and even returning as parents enrolling a second generation of sailors.

In addition to the Junior Sailing Program, since I997, Sequoia Yacht Club has sponsored and supported the Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation (PYSF). PYSF achieved 501c (3) status in 2000. The primary mission of PYSF is to coach, teach and nurture youth sailors in the Bay Area. The organization provides youth an opportunity to learn the rules of racing and actively participate in local, regional, national and international sailing regattas. Youth are offered the opportunity to sail in Optimists, JY Trainers, Lasers (full, radial and 4.7 rigs), Collegiate Flying Juniors (FJ’s), 420’s, Vanguard 15s and 29ers and to learn how to safely operate PYSF’s chase and safety boats (Boston Whaler’s and inflatables). In addition PYSF has two keel boats available (J-29 and Wilderness) for the youth to participate in the Club’s Wednesday night Beer Can Series.

PYSF offers a competitive high school sailing team open to youth in grades 8-12 from all schools in the area, a summer youth program that participates in the Bay Area Youth Sailing regatta series, Junior Olympics, PICYA regattas, Bay Area yacht club sponsored youth regattas and national qualifying regattas up and down the coast. Some of our sailors have also gone on to compete in national and international regatta events. PYSF also offers an Optimist team for younger sailors, as well as summer Opti ‘camps’. The programs provide quality coaching for all sailors.

We are excited to have Olympian and several times over world champion, Molly O’Bryan Vandemoer, as our Director of Sailing. Molly has taken over the helm this year from Director Emeritus, Eric Andersen, last year’s winner of PICYAs Condon Award, who has run the program since its inception.

PYSF is proud to have a competitive high school team. Early on the high school team was ecstatic to finish mid feet at PCISA regattas, but in recent years the team has improved and placed in the top ten of California. The team has routinely sent sailors to compete in US Sailing’s national regattas, Smythe (Laser-Byte), Bemis (420) and Nancy Leiter Clagett (women- Laser Radial). This can be attributed to the efforts of volunteers, quality coaching, and growing team enthusiasm. As time goes on the high school team has grown and now numbers approximately 25-30 committed members. The Optimist team of younger sailors is also growing. It has produced sailors who have sailed on the US Optimist National Team representing Sequoia Yacht Club nationally and abroad.

Volunteers provide a variety of duties from on the water help, to administrative and organizational duties. Volunteers and donations enable PYSF to offer the program to all youths at a reasonable cost. Scholarships for tuition and or regatta fees are available to youth who may not otherwise be able to participate for financial reasons. PYSF also has provided summer Opti camp spots at no cost to children living in a nearby homeless shelter, providing these youth an opportunity to be at the helm of their ship and experience the joy of sailing, if only for several hours each day.

In addition to our two training programs, Sequoia Yacht Club, sponsor’s the Boy Scout of America, Sea Scout troop sailing on the ship SSS Gryphon as well as the Girl Scout’s of America Mariner Scout troop sailing on the ship Tradewind. Both troops are based in the Port of Redwood City and are skippered by troop leaders and Sequoia Yacht Club members Terry and Mike Marzano.

The Gryphon Crew consists of male youth ages 14-20. The Gryphon’s program teaches nautical skills, teamwork, and leadership. Their main vessel is ship T-439, a 65 foot Army transport vessel from the Korean War. Aboard the ship, youth learn all about how to maintain and operate the vessel with their fellow ship mates. The troop owns many other vessels for training including sailboats, whale boats, canoes, kayaks, and a ski-boat.

The Tradewind’s crew consists of female youth ages 13-18. Tradewind’s program provides an accepting environment for young women to develop leadership, teamwork, values and self- worth. Through community service, problem solving, and applying skills both on the vessel and in their lives, they have fun, learn, and form friendships while achieving their goals in a welcoming setting. Their main ship is an ex-US Navy Landing Craft Swimmer Reconnaissance Vessel. The youth participate in all facets of team building, leadership, and fun adventures involving boating and sailing. Swimming skills are promoted culminating in the opportunity to earn a Life Saving Certificate (Red Cross, YMCA or BSA Lifeguard).

The youth maintain their boats themselves with plenty of scrubbing, swabbing and polishing. The crews take an annual cruise to the California delta complete with a watch schedule and maintenance chores. They also compete with other ships and crews from around the nation. Such competitions include sailing regattas such as the Old Salt’s and Ancient Mariners Regattas. The youth learn how to navigate the waters of the San Francisco Bay and they participate in events such as Fleet Week. In addition to the sailing on the Gryphon, Tradewin and sailboats, summertime activities include wake boarding and water skiing in California's beautiful delta, sailing an kayaking in the bay. Both programs emphasize safety at sea and participate in training programs to promote such skills. Both programs offer scholarships making membership accessible for all youth in the area.

All of our programs are supported by an annual fund raiser, The Hannig Cup, a Sequoia Yacht Club regatta. Member, Ted Hannig, began this fund raiser seven (7) years ago on his birthday as a way to give back to the youth boating community. It has become an annual event. This year’s cup raised over $40,000 for our four youth programs combined. In addition, the programs receive monetary and in kind donations that enable them to maintain/augment their boats, gear and facilities and fund their scholarship opportunities.

Our youth and alumni are regularly invited to crew on club member’s boats during our racing series as well as series up in the North Bay such as the Rolex Big Boat series, the Jazz Cup, The Great Vallejo Race, Westpoint Regatta, Master Mariner’s, Leukemia Cup and more.

Combined we feel that our programs provide one of the most comprehensive offerings to get youth of all backgrounds and abilities involved and on the water. We have had youth with disabilities such as Autism, Asperger Syndrome, and post-polio complications as successful participants in our programs. All are encouraged to give sailing a try. Youth are not restricted to participation in just one of the programs and are able to mix and match depending on their interests.

I have attached an article from Sea Scout Centennial on Sequoia Yacht Club youth alumni, Will Larsen, and his accomplishment of earning Sea Scouting’s highest rank, Quartermaster. Will began his sailing experience in the Junior Program completing the full rig Laser class. He joined PYSF and competed as part of the high school sailing team while all the while participating as a crew member of the USS Gryphon. Will went on to sail in college for UC Irvine. Will is a great example of the success that can be achieved through our program. We hope that you will take a minute to enjoy Will’s story.

The Sequoia Yacht Club believes that it has met or exceeded all the requirements of the Deed of Trust. It has, and continues to introduce, encourage, support and instruct youths in their many adventures of sailing and boating through its four youth programs. As a whole we hope that you will feel as we do that we are meeting the diverse interests of today’s youth. We strive to make sure there is a place for every youth with an interest in sailing and/or boating to excel within our program. We respectfully request PICYA’s consideration of our request to nominate Sequoia Yacht Club for the Pacific Coast Yachting Association’s Garrett Horder Memorial Trophy.

With sincere thanks,

Katherine F. Humphreys

Katherine Humphreys Commodore, Sequoia Yacht Club [email protected] 415-269-9303

KFH/bmh 1 Attachment

Sea Scout Centennial

An American Tradition Since 1912 Quartermaster Bridge of Honor for William Larsen

Will on the USS Iowa.

The Sea Scout Ship Gryphon of Redwood City, CA, sponsored by the Sequoia Yacht Club, and member of the Pacific Skyline Boy Scout Council, is proud to announce that William Larsen has earned the rank of Quartermaster. Please join us on March 24, 2012 at the Redwood City Elks Lodge in honoring William for his years of hard work and dedication.

The Quartermaster Award is the highest rank in Sea Scouts. The Quartermaster Award is a symbol of excellence in nautical skills and proven leadership abilities.

In 2011, only 34 of the 7,000 Sea Scouts earned this very prestigious award.

William has had amazing accomplishments in Sea Scouts, leading competitive teams at the Old Salt’s and Ancient Mariner Regattas. William diligently planned regatta practices, organized recruiting efforts and was a constant source of leadership in training younger Sea Scouts. Will’s leadership and teamwork were rewarded with Clippers at both Regattas and a Resolute Mariner at the Ancient Mariner Regatta.

William is a highly successful sailor who has raced competitively in high school and currently is the UC Irvine Sailing Team president. William is also the undergraduate president of the Pacific Coast Collegiate Sailing Conference.

The Gryphon Sailing team at the 2010 Koch Cup.

William has earned many sailing awards, including coming in 2nd overall in the Nor Cal High School double-handed Championships in 2007. In 2008, William was 3rd place skipper in the Nor Cal Champs.

Will taking out the Gryphon.

William has traveled more than 9,000 miles in Sea Scouts to compete in the 2006 William I. Koch International Sea Scout Cup; the 2008 Koch Cup at the US Naval Academy; and the 2010 Koch Cup at the Coast Guard Academy, where his team came in 8th Place out of 40 international Sea Scout sailing teams.

Will and his Shipmate Robbie at the 2008 Koch Cup Awards Dinner.

William has his US Sailing Instructor 1 certificate and is a Red Cross Certified Lifeguard.

Please join us on March 24, 2012 in recognizing William Larsen at his Quartermaster Bridge of Honor.