Volume CMXCVII February 2011

Octavia Turns 30 Jeremy Leonard of Surf City Racing spent the week- Octavia did just that last Saturday in the Santa Cruz end hanging with the crew, owners and contributors Harbor. Past and present crew, the owner, friends and of Santa Cruz 50 “Octavia” at the SC Small Boat family, and the man who started it all, The Wizard Harbor as they celebrated her 30th, and files this (Bill Lee) showed up for the dockside festivities. report: The party, which included a catered buffet right out on the dock, was punctuated by countless sea How many people have a birthday party for stories, and a very nicely appointed hardcover book their sailboat? My guess, not that many. How about dedicated to the 30 year race-winning history. A birth- a 30th birthday to celebrate a multi-decade winning day banner hung on the boom, and a celebratory flag spree, which amongst the many highlights include made by my friend Mel at Santa Cruz Sails hung from a PacCup win, a blistering Coastal Cup record time the forestay. Christmas lights dressed the rigs spattered that stood for almost 10 years, and a Delta Ditch Run randomly around the harbor, and the warm evening air whose monohull record still stands to this day? The set the perfect stage to reminisce about all of the great owners and crew of the well known Santa Cruz 50 times had while racing aboard this legendary Santa Cruz 50. February 2011 Santa Cruz Yacht Club Spinnaker Sheet

Octavia, as the name suggests, is number eight and was ordered by the Kett family back in the late 70’s and delivered in 1980. Shepard Kett, the cur- rent owner recalls what Bill Lee told his father Stewart Kett upon delivery of Octavia 30 years ago, “When Bill gave it to Stewart he said that he was just letting him take care of it for a while. Bill felt like it was his baby. We are the last of the original owners of the SC50s.” In true Santa Cruz fashion, the boat has been sailed by many well known Santa Cruz sailors over the years, and you can imagine the tales. Shepard recalls a few of his favorites, which include many coastal, off- shore, and Bay races, “The ’97 Coastal Cup we won breeze, even so it’s just a really good all around boat. overall and set the record which stood for over almost Crossing to Hawaii, it’s just a really nice size to spend 10 years before a 70 foot sled broke it. The 2000 Pac a week on.” Cup, which we won over all was probably the high- Mike Evans, a long time Santa Cruz sailor, light.” Octavia has seen tens of thousands of ocean who has been racing on Octavia since 1987, has over miles and has raced in too many events to count. 10,000 ocean miles on her and currently works the Of course the ‘ULDB Revolution’ of this era bow. With 3 PacCups, a Mexico race, and countless is best known for spawning some very fast downwind others, Mike describes the Ditch Run where they beat sleds, and one of the best known downwind wins for the record as, “…one of the most intense races ever. Octavia is the record that still stands to this day, the Nobody ate or drank for the entire race. We got to Delta Ditch Run. Kett recalls, “The year that we won Stockton and there was a sense of relief. It was really the Ditch it was howling and with the flat water you intense. We were so close to wiping out and putting could feel the whole boat lift up out of the water. It that thing on the hard so many times, it was brutal. was dead flat…I mean dead flat, with huge breeze. We had two bowmen for that race, and we had to keep Occasionally we would feel it skip off of the mud. swapping them out.” That’s typical Santa Cruz Style There’s one section where you have to sail between a right there. narrow channel of buoys, and tripping the pole under Well known sailor Jay Crum worked for some of those bridges with concrete pillars on either Bill Lee during the late ’70 and early ‘80s and actu- side, it had to be a perfect trip…25 feet away there’s a ally helped build Octavia. Crum crewed on her in the levy with giant rocks, yeah, it was really fun!” Santa Del Ray to PV and the Trans-Pac in 1981, where he Cruz sailors are known for their high-powered, balls- describes this finish, “We finished overlapped withSe ‘ - to-the-wall approach, and this is but one fine example. cret Love’ in the middle of the night and the commit- In mellower times Kett describes Octavia as tee in the hotel room didn’t see us finish because we a, “…big old Cadillac with power steering; it’s just so were behind the other boat. So we had to go through a comfortable and smooth. In big winds it becomes a Ferrari and only the best drivers can handle it in a big

2 February 2011 Santa Cruz Yacht Club Spinnaker Sheet protest the next day to get reinstated.” Good times. I had a chance to catch up with Bill Lee (the Wizard) recently, and we discussed the success of the SC50s in the 2010 Pac Cup. Bill is truly amazing; he can remember hull numbers, original owners and a little anecdote about each. It really does seem as though he was connected to each and every boat that left The Coop. He recalls, “The first 50 was named Chasch Mer and went to Honolulu in ’79… and that was Randy Parker’s boat. I think we built twenty-eight 50s all together. We built most of them in 1982, when we were building a boat a month.” This is an impres- sive boat-building schedule to say the least. Happy birthday to Octavia! May there be What changed in the Santa Cruz boat-building many more years of radical offshore downwind racing! scene to where now there’s hardly any new develop- I want to wrap up this article with a little story from ment? Bill speculates, “In those days the average my friend Dave Wahle who worked at The Coop for person could afford to live in Santa Cruz, and as the years and probably poured the keel for Octavia. This housing prices skyrocketed, so did the cost of keeping story will give you a glimpse into the world of Bill Lee a roof over your head. It became a lot harder to hire the Yachts back in the day when Octavia was built. It was people that you need…boat building is a labor-inten- a point in time that I don’t think could ever happen sive deal and it’s just hard to do in an expensive area.” again; a time when the stars were aligned just right so The cost of living, and more strict environmental that a bunch of really smart, creative and motivated regulations probably played the two most major roles friends could get together and produce some pretty in ending the SC boat building party. incredible boats that have obviously stood the test of In such a radical and creative environment time. such as Santa Cruz back in the ‘70s and ‘80s, Lee had To set the stage, apparently, the crew would to employ tactics to keep the employees from wander- use extra boat bits lying around and build electric ing off. He remembers with a chuckle, “We bought go-carts to race up in The Coop. Wahle tells the story, lunch for the guys for several years, we found that if “Bill, genius Bill, put two 30 amp breakers on the west they went away for lunch, sometimes they wouldn’t wall of the Chicken Coop. Merlin was in there shoved come back. One day we were working on wage re- up to one side, so there was a ten-foot wide alley all views and we couldn’t find somebody. Turns out they the way down the shop, I’m going to guess that it was, were out on a surf break.” The mantra of keeping all maybe, 150 yards. It was a long way. So there were of the new boats’ bows pointing toward the front door the two breakers at one end, and he had a 30-foot or necessitated the use of certain creative tactics. If a boat so extension cord hard wired in each. You’d back up had to turn back into the shop in order to revisit a sta- your electric car to the starting line and plug it into tion or repair someone’s screw-up, the boat was said to the back of your car, so you had 30 amps of juice for have bad juju. 20 feet or so. When you turned on, you had juice until This year during the 2010 Pac Cup, three Santa your cord pulled out, and you coasted on down to the Cruz 50s, Horizon, Deception, and J Worlds Hula Girl finish, which was ¾ the way down the shop. We had a placed 1st, 3rd and 6th overall respectively. This time- stack of hay bails to stop you. There were some pretty less, 30 plus year old design keeps putting the hurt on incredible machines that showed up. I was the official all types of other sailboats. According to Tom Carter timer and I built a little bridge from the deck of Merlin who worked for Bill for years and built one of the first to take times.” SC 27s, early on the ULDB designs of that era were No one really remembers who won overall, looked down upon. Carter explains, “It was sort of but according to legend, some pretty fast craft showed pooh-poohed by other yacht designers of the time, they up; maybe a bit too fast. More on that when I pin down didn’t think that the public would accept an ultra-light one of the young (at the time) racers, Morgan Larson boat; a mono-hull at a weight.” And here we for an interview in the future. are over 30 years down the line and the SC 50s keep winning these offshore, downwind distance races. Jeremy Leonard 3 February 2011 Santa Cruz Yacht Club Spinnaker Sheet

Also for your vision of trying some things new such as: Sunday Brunches and Dinner Theme nights. Although the success may not be immediately recognized, I (Jr. Staff Commodore, Steve Niemann, believe it will become more popular through time. It’s introduces the 2011 Commodore, Michael Wood, not an easy task, and you both did a fantastic job. I’m at the Installation Dinner & Dance) confident Rob Schuyler and De will follow your lead Commodore’s Report and continue our tradition of hosting many fun social events in the year to come. As I begin my journey at the helm, I want to I thank Adam Borcherding for all his time first recognize the efforts of past commodore,Steve managing our busy Regatta schedule last year. Regatta Niemann, and his lovely wife Ann. Also, I think I is a very time consuming responsibility, and it takes speak for us all in thanking them both for their dedica- many volunteers to make it happen. Thanks to all the tion, time, and energy over the past several years. Race Committees and volunteers who helped with our I also want to thank our past board for all your regattas last year. I’m looking forward to John Bu- support and encouragement, as I have learned a great chanan Jr. managing our regatta schedule and keeping deal from you all. And of course, a special recogni- us on the map as one of the best places in the world to tion to Barbara Booth; you truly do keep this club in race sailboats. A special thank you to Matthew Coale check, and running smoothly. Thank you Greg Haws for all his time spent keeping Onward ship shape as our for all your years of service. You have a great wealth Race Committee boat. of knowledge with the clubs workings and you are invalu- able to the club. Jennifer Whall, your charm, and smile behind the bar and in the office has always made a visit to the club a joy, thank you for all your years of dedication as well. I thank Dave, and Janell Ember- son, for all their time and energy creating an exciting social (Commodore Wood and Family posing during all the calender, and hosting festivities at the Installaton Dinner & Dance held at the the many events our Dream Inn in January) club puts on yearly. 4 February 2011 Santa Cruz Yacht Club Spinnaker Sheet

We have a busy year ahead with the many club and regatta activities planned, as well as the expansion, and inclined elevator projects. My theme over the years has been “If we build it they will come.” We will continue to grow and main- tain our place in the world of Yacht Clubs and increase our already incredibly world recognized membership. With our planned expansion project and Rob and De’s Outreach vision this is ringing true. We have added many new members and we’re creating an infec- tious energy around the club. Vice Commodore Dave Emberson will act as liaison between our expansion project leader, Brett Upcoming SCYC Gripenstraw, and our membership. It is Dave’s charter to ensure that this project meets its time lines, budget Events Calendar requirements, and that our membership knows exactly what is happening. Please, if you have any question regarding the expansion and or tram, please contact Mini-Boat Regatta/Jr. Fundraiser Dave. February 5 I’m looking forward to serving our member- ship, and representing you as your Commodore in 2011. Through communication, collaboration, and our Super Bowl Party vision we will continue to grow, and be well repre- February 6 sented around the world continually being recognized as a top notch Yacht Club. It takes many people to run a club, and I encourage you all to join in and get involved Seminar in some form so you become part of our continued February 9 & 16 growing success. You, as our members are the most important aspect to the success of our club, and are the driving force behind it all! Valentine’s Day Dinner Nothings more important than a positive at- February 13 titude and the light shines ahead. Thank you for your support and I look forward Midwinters #4 to seeing you around the club or on the water February 19 Michael Wood Commodore Wine Tasting/Pinot Noir February 23

Family Night/Games February 24

Oscar Party February 27

5 February 2011 Santa Cruz Yacht Club Spinnaker Sheet

Vice Commodore’s Report

2011 promises to be an exciting year for SCYC and for me as well! As Vice Commodore I have re- sponsibility for the House Committee and serve on the Finance Committee. Our new Commodore Michael Wood (Congratulations, Michael!) has also given me responsibility for the construction oversight committee. Throughout the year I will be using this space to report on our progress. This might be a dry subject for some, so I will endeavor to keep it short. Feel free to call me any time if you need more information. working with these gentlemen as well as Commodore Recently we discovered that our low-bidder for Wood and the rest of the Board and committee members the proposed SCYC tram has never done a commercial to complete the construction project and ensure the con- installation in California and would likely be unable to tinued financial health of SCYC. meet the requirements of the California elevator code. There are many exciting things going on at the We had asked the vendor to work with the state elevator club this year, so please get involved! Whether it is inspector to resolve the issues but so far he has failed House Committee, Social Committee, Regatta Commit- to do so. This has thrown our tram cost estimates into tee, the Junior Program, the Corinthians, Disabled Sail- doubt, so we are now working to get hard cost estimates ing, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Lighted Boat Parade or and turnkey bids from alternate vendors. Once we have serving as Officer of the Day, we need your help! solid bids we will be able to determine whether or not the tram will fit into our budget of $500,000 plus the Dave Emberson donations pledged by generous members. Most of us Vice Commodore would certainly prefer the tram to the elevator proposal, but we must live within our means. If the tram fits Rear Commodore Report within the budget, then we will proceed with it. If it does not, we have two choices. We can raise additional Happy New Year! I am excited about being the funds or we can revert to the elevator proposal and leave Rear Commodore this year. I attended more social events the tram project for another day. In either case, we will last year and found myself enjoying them more as I made be working hard to resolve this issue and make the final more new friends. I’m hoping that the social functions are decision this spring in preparation for breaking ground well attended this year because I do believe it is good for in the fall. us and the club to be more involved in social intercourse. Rick Linkemyer has accepted the position of The New Year’s Eve party was an elegant and Chairman of the House Committee. Rick will be orga- relaxing way to welcome in the 2011. Thanks to Dave nizing the upcoming work days and projects around the and Janelle Emberson and KISS Catering. The food was clubhouse. Ric Diola has agreed to chair the Finance Committee. And Bret Gripenstraw will continue in his role as construction project manager. I look forward to

(Past and Present Yachtswomen of the Year) 6 February 2011 Santa Cruz Yacht Club Spinnaker Sheet

gave his presentation on “Starting Racing” and packed the house again. The next presentation is on February 9th and Jay Crum is talking about “Advanced Sailing Tactics and Strategies.” Get there early and stay late because there is a lot of good conversation before and after the presentations. Due to popular demand the side-bar is now open before and after the presentations. There will be more presentations on the rules and protest process on February 16 and March 9 by Mike Gross and Beau Vroylk. Take a look at the Event Schedule. There are some great dinners and a lot of potlucks happening in February. (Past and Present Yachtsman of the Year) If you haven’t been to a Mini-Boat Regatta you don’t know how much fun they are for young and delicious, the place settings elegant and there was a old alike. Come and support your Junior Program. tremendous arch of balloons spanning over the proceed- A new event is the Family Potluck Game ings that was an amazing feat of engineering. Night. Holly Schipper is getting together with other The Installation Dinner was very well attended families and playing with their kids. Imagine that! this year. We were sold out. It was exciting to partici- Playing with Holly is always fun. pate in the traditional evolution of new officers and Wine Tasting Zinfindel/Potluck withJack awards given to members of the club. Ernie Rideout Gordon was thoroughly enjoyable. The next wine tast- was reluctant to be the last to sit down again this year, ing will be on February 23rd tasting Pinot Noir. The as he wants to share the honor of oldest member with potluck hors d’oeuvres are always as good as the wine. someone else. Paul and Mary Tara were given the Chuck Hawley will be giving a presentation Dave Goodall award for their years of work with the Ju- on Friday, March 4th. He is speaking on cruising the nior Program. Dennis Bassano Jr. won the Yachtsman French canals. Come early for dinner and stay for our of the Year award for all of his sailing achievements in- first “Fireside chat.” Don’t miss it. De and I will be cluding his contributions to land sailing. Melanie Ferri there. Hope to see you there too. won Yachtswoman for her participation in many racing events. . Our new Commodore Michael Wood gave an Rob Schuyler enthusiastic talk about the future of the club. Virginia Rear Commodore Lee Roberts won a bet at Peter Dalton’s table for how many times Michael would use the word “fabulous” which turned out to be exactly 12 times. De Schuyler has started an amazingly success- ful series of Wednesday Night Midwinter Presentations. Jack Halterman gave the first presentation on “Local Knowledge” and packed the house. Dave Emberson

(Commodore, Michael Wood, introduces your 2011 Board of Directors at the Installation Dinner & Dance)

7 February 2011 Santa Cruz Yacht Club Spinnaker Sheet

Mini-Boat Regatta: Notice to Race common house fan mounted a few feet away from the head of the pond. The wind will pass through a diffuser Invitation to race for prizes and glory. Proceeds will between the fan and the pond, to minimize the be donated to the Junior Sailing Program. created by the rotary action of the fan.

Design Rule: This event is first and foremost a yacht race. Therefore, all boats must be wind-driven, they must be entirely supported by water, and they must function in a “right side up” condition. All “club-built” boats must be built at the SCYC between the hours of 4:30 pm and the start of racing at 6:30 pm. They can only be made with the materials provided. “Home- built” boats can be made at any other time, with no restrictions on materials. There is no limitation on the number of sails or hulls a single boat may have. Legal boats must be able to pass through the “rule can” without deforming any hull or sail features. The rule can is a Town House brand (Safeway) 8-oz. can of fancy Hawaiian pineapple chunks. A boat will be measured first by passing it through the can as if it were to sail straight through the can. This is a measurement to control a combination of beam and mast height. Greater mast height allows for more sail area, but at the When: Saturday, February 5, 2011 expense of craft stability, or beam. 4:30 p.m. Registration/Start building boats 6:30 p.m. Start Racing

Eligibility: All comers

Classes: Club-built: Boats built at the SCYC on the day of the race; boat building limited to official materi- als provided. Junior fleet restricted to ages 15 and under. Home-built: Boats built at home; no material limits.

Entry Fees: Club-built (Jr. Division) $ 3 The second measurement calls for passing the “floating Club-built (Sr. Division) $10 plane” squarely through the can. This measurement ef- Home-built $20 fectively limits LOA. In passing a boat through the can Team (with 5 club boats) $50 for measurement, it is allowable for the boat to touch the can, but not to the extent that there is any significant Awards: deformation of the boat, her sails, or her rigging. Boat Trophies will be awarded in each class, the number (sail) features that deploy themselves through the action of trophies depending on the number of entries. of the wind are not allowed. During a race, a boat shape must remain true to its Sailing Instructions: measured shape. The regatta chairman or persons des- The racing will be held on an artificial pond, 14 feet ignated by the regatta chairman are the only legal boat in length and 4 feet wide. The water will be ap- measurers. The regatta chairman’s “rule can” is the proximately two inches deep. The wind source is a only legal measurement can.

8 February 2011 Santa Cruz Yacht Club Spinnaker Sheet

3rd Annual SCYC Oscar Party February 27, 2011

Come and watch the glitz and glamour of the Academy Awards on our very own big screen. Be festive: dress glam or outrageous as your favorite stars do. Enjoy some fun games and prizes, which will in- clude $25 Regal Movies gift card and a cash prize for guessing the most Oscar winners. Festivities will start around 4ish. Bring something to share and $2 (to participate in the cash prize). More participants, greater the booty. Bottomless buttery popcorn and other movie snacks will be provided. Valentine’s Day Dinner Menu: Lalaine Dowdell 831-359-3945 Choice of Entrée’s: http://www.linkedin.com/in/lalainedowdell Balsamic Marinated Tri Tip stuffed with sau- From the Galley téed Onions, Peppers and Mushrooms grilled and sliced with Cabernet Demi Glace Sauce served with Hey all you Yacht club members! Come in, Roasted Rosemary Potatoes and fresh Vegetables bring your friends and join us this year for some fantas- tic food and fun at your Galley Restaurant. Delicious Lobster Ravioli on a bed of sautéed lemon garlic dinners served every Friday night from 5:30 to 8:00 Spinach topped with Pan Roasted Petrole Sole PM, something for everyone. Also check out our Sun- with Chimichuri Dill sauce, served with fresh day Holiday Brunches and scrumptious steamed asparagus spears Sunday night full service dinning. If you’re up for some excitement for your taste buds you’ll want to try Chicken Breast Saltimbocca stuffed with cured our Sunday Theme night Buffets where you can taste Turkey Ham and Dilled Havarti Cheese, served different foods from around the world. For example, with tomato mushroom béarnaise and toasted al- Italian, Mexican, Asian, Western, Mediterranean and mond herb Rice Pilaf and fresh vegetables German. Menus will be posted as they come up for the month. Tax and Tip all inclusive $27.50 per person for In February you can beat the Valentines Day Beef or Seafood - $25.50 per person for Chicken crowd by making reservations for you and your sweet- heart on Sunday 2/13/11, at 6:30. A very special Valen- tines dinner menu is being prepared. Coming In March…Yahoo!! 3/16/11 Wednesday Nights Sailboat races and BBQ. We’ll (continued next column) look for you in the Galley for some great grub. So not to miss out, Friday March 18th for Post St. Patrick’s Day Dinner (Menu to be posted non-partakers option also). We’re very happy to be here serving you, and so appreciate your support!

Thank You,

Sandy and Scott and the Kiss Catering Crew

9 February 2011 Santa Cruz Yacht Club Spinnaker Sheet

MEXICO – Paul Allen Sailed the Cabo race on the SC70 ‘Holua’ in early Nov. They sailed a very close racing, just missing 1st by 4 minutes.

FLORIDA – In Miami, the week after Christmas, Do- menic Bove sailed a full rig at the Orange Bowl Regatta one of the largest youth regattas in the U.S. On the first day the sailors fought record low temperatures in the 40’s and gusts up to 30 knots. The weather im- proved on the subsequent days but the winds subsided and officials were only able to complete a total of five races for the regatta. Domenic placed 16th of 30 boats. Cruising Committee Also in December, Andy Estcourt was in Mi-

ami racing aboard the RC44 Aqua, where they complet- It’s Cruising season again! Sunday February ed the 2010 match-racing circuit by taking first, which 20 at 3:00PM we will be holding our annual Planning / meant they also took first overall for the series. Scheduling meeting. This is an important meeting to For Andy Estcourt and brother-in-law, Morgan come to if you want to be involved in Cruising Commit- Larson, Key West Race week was quite a battle. With tee events this coming sailing season. We will be dis- them both on ’s, Morgan on ‘Warpath’ and cussing events of last year, what we would like to carry Andy on competitor Goombay Smash, the class came forward and entertain any new ideas you may have. Also down to the wire with Goombay Smash registering a this is a good opportunity to volunteer as a sponsor and narrow two-point victory over Warpath. Three boats handle an event or to contribute in any other way. The – Goombay Smash, Warpath (Steve Howe, Portland, bar will be open, please come and make this an enjoy- Ore.) and Leenabarca (Alex Jackson, Riverside, Conn.) able meeting, we would love to have your input. – were tied atop the standings with two races to go.

Andy and his team on Goombay Smash were able to Forest Roberts pull off finishes that put them on top. forest(dot)roberts@gmail Brent Ruhne was also in Key West this month racing aboard the R/P 69 Bella Mente in both the Ft Racing Outside the Bay Area Lauderdale to Key West and Key West Race Week. The Ft Lauderdale to Key West race is a 160 mile Here are our latest updates for this winter… downwind / reaching ocean race. Brent’s team won the race and just missed the record by 40 minutes. Brent UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – In Dubai, Morgan described the race……”we did 48 jibes in the first 50 or Larson spent a week in November competing with the 60 miles, then power reached the rest of the 160 miles Italian team, Mascalzone Latino in the final Louis Vuit- pulling in and shaking a reef and going between the ton Series event. They match-raced the old America’s A3 spinnaker and the ‘Fro’ which is a fractional code 0 Cup dinosaurs for the last time in a round robin tourna- reaching sail on a furler out on the end of the sprit, and rd ment that found them 3 overall. finished with a short beat up the Key West channel with the #4 jib.” ARGENTINA - Max Fraser and David Liebenberg In Key West Race week, Brent and Bella Mente participated in a wild and Worlds in Mar del took 3rd in Class. The boat will be heading back to Plata, Argentina this month. Max described being one California next month for upcoming regattas. of several boats that broke their mast on day 2 in 20-25 In Early January, Evan Diola and Zhenya knots (as Max says….”in Spinal Tap lingo, that’s 11”), Kirueshkin-Stepanoff flew off to St. Petersburg to but luckily finding one they could charter for the last compete in the 2011 midwinters in day. Despite the breakage, they were still able to be the their FD ‘Anger Management’, hosted by the St. Pe- first American boat in the Gold Fleet. They placed 14th tersburg Yacht Club. over all. Evan had only one week’s notice, practiced with Zhenya in the sister boat, “Blue Max” at Trea- 10 February 2011 Santa Cruz Yacht Club Spinnaker Sheet

sure Island. After the practice, they agreed they might to improve for the gold fleet racing to come. survive the trip - and each other. Of course, whether Our speed off the breeze has been significant or not they survived the 32-degree weather was another on everyone but the Aussie boys as they put it “you just story. Well, survive they did to have a grand time in a gotta send it swim or win” in so many words this has beautiful setting. The guys and their boat have a busy been our moto for quite some time by David dropping year ahead, planning to travel to places like Connecti- all the way down trimming the for full power and cut, Lake Garda, Italy, Kingston, Ontario, and back to me hiking all the way down wind on a rather hot angle Santa Cruz. we were able to blow by most teams downwind who were sailing a much more conservative approach of CALIFORNIA - Long Beach - A class skipper sitting up sailing low crew up with a bit of over sailed the “Turkey Day” regatta in Long Beach in mid trim to help keep the bow out and impacts into waves Nov. Paul Allen raced with his crew, Howie Hamlin to a minimum (FASTER IS FUNER). Our troubles and Fritz Lanzinger, against the current North Ameri- were on the beats being used to either a longer wave can champion and past World champions. base or shorter waves that you can sail low and fast According to Paul, they’re refining sails and through the particular conditions did not allow this as mast development with sailmaker Jay Glaser, prepping every time we would get up to speed we would hit a for the World championships in Sydney next year wave keeping our speed to a minimum and constantly trying to accelerate (similar feeling as hull speed no If you have info on what club members are do- matter how much power u put in you just can’t go fast- ing out there in the world, please feel free to pass along er you just go lower and the same speed) so the Argys details to [email protected]. keep the sails in very tight and pinch their way up wind at “hull speed’ but much higher pumping and ooching Argentina with Max Fraser their way through the slop. After a few days we started Editor’s note: The following is being printed here getting the hang of it really only using it effectively the exactly as received.....unedited. last 2 days and there is still a lot to learn and refine in So here I sit atop team Shake and Bakes bunk this technique. bed (only place in club we can get WIFI) the day after The first day of Gold fleet racing was bru- one of if not the most challenging and demanding tal really struggling with the upwind technique just races I have ever sailed looking over the 20 or so other sleeping sailors from all over the world trying to regain some feeling of normalcy in our beat cut and bruised bodies and minds I will think back to some of the most interesting and meaningful moments of the last 6 days. Qualifiers started off with a roar 18-20 knots of fresh sea breeze on a fresh well rested fleet with consistent 5-8 foot waves and a harsh wind chop covering the course. Nerves were up and we were still pretty green trying to find our stride back in the 29er we were quickly reminded how not only how fast the top Argentinian teams were but how deep and strong the fleet was as well as the importance of consistency not only in starting and tactics but also in every foot step through the boat every grip and position on the tiller and every trim/pump. Mar Del Plata did this in (Picture taken Tuesday 1/11/11 Buenos Aires, Argentina. the best way it knows how hurling you into the water Max Fraser and good friend Daniel Riente, who is a with 2 capsizes the first day, a throbbing tail bone (that member of the Santa Cruz Yacht Club, and a Argentin- is still throbbing from a fall to the deck after a particu- ian. He loves to sail his Olsen 30 single handed on larly quick acceleration out of a slow jib) and a better Monterey Bay. We met him at the SCYC hoist hauling appreciation for the racing we managed another two his boat one day. He helped us enjoy Argentina in so solid days of qualifying without too many issues trying many ways. A wonderful friendship born under the hoist 11 February 2011 Santa Cruz Yacht Club Spinnaker Sheet mentioned and could not get an understanding of the for unknown reasons and we were able to charter their much further north north west wind direction while mast for the last day of racing. really struggling to get off the start line ( there are no The last day was a welcome sight to sore soft spots of a Gold fleet line). All three races we were body’s light air. 3 races in 5-12 knots of breeze and a rolled over the top by the same team no matter how far fairly flat sea state (in comparison to days prier) very down the line we started this caused us to be unable to interesting challenging shifty conditions working go the direction we wanted and compounded our issues. through the short chop, nailing a side (hopefully the It was a tough day for us but one of the things I believe right one) and in incredible amount of concentration we do best is no matter how bad the races or situation were the keys to this day and we knew it racing very we are able to pat each other on the back take it as it is strong considering our favor to breeze a solid way to prepare for the next race or situation and HAVE FUN end a very difficult regatta. But the excitement was which is really why we are here! (I really believe that not over. One of the interesting features of this venue this is not only a great way to enjoy your racing, keep is a large primarily undredged harbor entrance much a great relationship with your skipper crew but also like Santa Cruz. Waves will break across the entrance allows you to get back in the game fast and effectively unlike Santa Cruz conditions for this are almost always and keep your scores up and consistent no one fights perfect causing 12-15 foot waves to break across all their way back through their flight while fighting with but 100-150 feet of the quarter mile wide entrance al- themselves). most all the time. So on our mellow sail in after a hard Day two went and felt much better. We really day of light air sailing the wind lightened and light- found our groove upwind for the first time solid tactics ened as we approached the entrance with a slight one knowing where we wanted to go with a more normal knot current pushing everyone south...... the breaking north north east sea breeze and with a few old starting side of the entrance. Now 29ers are fast but only when tricks and adjustments able to get off the line in the di- there is wind there was no wind. We were leading the rection we wanted and have some amazingly fun tough race to the dock and got pushed furthest south first no battles with some great teams...... until race 3. breeze one really noticed the drift towards danger as we were had been building all day but before race 3 it went to 11 all chatting about the last 6 days we got the first and (for those none spinal tap fans it’s just one more AKA only real warning a med to small set hit us while we 25-28 knots) finally really in our element we got off the were still a 100 feet out from the break so it was not line clean and with speed hit the favored side rounded much to handle. Mar Del Plata did not have to tell us the weather in a pack of the top 5 had an incredible rip twice we made an immediate 90 deg turn and David down wind with boats going down all over rounded went to the bow paddling as hard as he could making the bottom well out with the top 3 boats started a b line away from the surf most of the others did not our climb back up the right side of the course when see or understand this warning as some were smiling CRACK white water everywhere when it laughing and waving at as they were passing us still cleared David was in the water and so was our mast (in heading in we made a few aggressive warning screams two pieces) moving fast and calm we managed to secure at those who were still heading into the break as a few the rig from banging around too much. Got the sails safety boats noticed what was happening grabbing all rolled and on a safety boat and started the long tow in. but one Danish boat who were still unaware of their This was one of the strangest experiences I have had as danger despite our yells as we were still paddling as we had been sailing upwind for almost 2 min with no hard as David could the first wave hit the Danish boat change. Windy but steady and relatively flat it snaps maybe 100-150 feet away from us lifting it up turning without warning or reason it appears as though this it sideways and hurling it down rolling it in the white new mast section and all in the batch that came to Rio water the next three or four broke almost directly on Techna was a bad batch unknown problem but we were top of it hurling it around and around giving the sailors not the only ones to have similar issues with a brand just enough time to get a breath or two before the next new mast and Santiago informed us of this and waived one power boats unable to enter the surf as this large any possible liability from us. The real problem when set of waves rolled through after maybe 5-6 waves a we got to the dock was so many masts had broken (few short break came to allow a safety boat to rush in and of which were due to defective parts) that there were pick up the sailors as they powered away watching the no more extra parts. Fortunately after talking to a few boat get pounded by another set. Incredibly the sailors locals we managed to contact a team that stopped racing escaped unharmed the boat did not after a while a big 12 February 2011 Santa Cruz Yacht Club Spinnaker Sheet

enough break came that they were able to grab the remains of the boat and tow it out. The mast broken in many spots sails shredded the hull relatively only a matter of a few bangs cuts and scratches from the mast. These are only a few moments of my experi- ence over the last 6 days I have truly enjoyed every moment of it will never forget it and cannot wait to re- turn. I started writing this email in silence surrounded by sleeping sailors they are now all up laughing joking and telling their favorite story’s and moments of the last days now I must finish packing and prepare to head to Buenos Aires. Weaver and Hiram Johnson, Jr. withdrew from the club and founded the St. Francis Yacht Club. The Santa Max Fraser Cruz members of the San Francisco Yacht Club became attached to the new organization. The old San Fran- Back in the Old Days… cisco Yacht Club building remains on the waterfront. It is now the “Ondine” restaurant. This month I am reprinting an article that Three prominent Santa Cruz men were in- Ernie Rideout wrote in his 1991 newsletter column volved in this dispute. Having friends on both sides of called, Looking Aft. It is fitting because Ernie writes the argument, the three of them later decided to orga- about the founding of our club and of the first commo- nize a yacht club in Santa Cruz. dore, Bruce Sharp. At this time I would like to recog- One of these men, Sam Leask Jr., said, “It is nize our new commodore Michael Wood and thank him my feeling that the roots of the club and of in advance for his service to come in the next year. I on Monterey Bay extend back to about the year 1925 first remember meeting Michael when he was on the when Bruce Sharp and C.E (Charlie) Towne started membership committee many years ago. I know he has sailing around Santa Cruz in a 14 foot cat boat. Bruce put forth many volunteer hours of dedicated service to was the president of the Santa Cruz County Bank, a our club and he deserves to be at the helm this year. natural organizer and leader with a host of friends in Congratulations Commodore Wood. Santa Cruz and San Francisco. Charlie Towne was a member of a pioneer Santa Cruz family and vice presi- (From Ernie’s column printed in November dent of the Farmers and Merchants Bank. Bruce Sharp 1991) The San Francisco Yacht Club was the first was the motivating force and to his memory belongs yacht club founded on the West Coast in 1869. Early the credit for the movement. A meeting was held in in its history a group of members elected to depart in a balcony room of the Saddle Rock restaurant on the 1886 and form the Corinthian Yacht Club, now occu- night of January 5, 1928. In addition to Bruce, Charlie pying beautiful quarters on the Tiburon Peninsula. and me, eleven others were invited to attend. Before In 1926 another group spun off to form the St. the meeting ended all agreed to become members, thus Francis Yacht Club on San Francisco’s marina water- forming the Santa Cruz Yacht Club.” front. The background for this split was that the San Bruce Sharp was elected commodore, Jay Francisco Yacht Club anchorage in Sausalito had be- Harris Jr. vice commodore, Leo Cardiff secretary/ come overly crowded and the club was called upon to treasurer, Bob Cardiff and R.H. Hamilton directors. go elsewhere. There were no berths so all of the yachts The other charter members were; Judge Harry Bias, swung on moorings. This was beautiful to see, but was Dr. Phil Bliss, Lloyd Bowman, Leo Cardwell, C.G. not a very economical use of space. Dake, Howard Emigh, Harry D. Hall, Sam Leask A bitter fight took place among the members as Jr., Alvin K. Mathews, W.L. Payne, J.B. Rogers Jr., to whether to move the club to Belvedere Cove or to a W.A. Saunders, Charlie Towne and Frank Wilson. location on the San Francisco waterfront. A majority of Jay Harris designed the club’s burgee and the members, led by John Piver, favored the Belvedere within a few months the new yacht club was negotiat- Cove site. However, a substantial minority led by Hart ing with the Pasquinucci Boat Yard of Sausalito for the 13 February 2011 Santa Cruz Yacht Club Spinnaker Sheet construction of two 18 foot, Cub Class sloops, the origi- nal Jack and Jill. Worth Brown, 1939 commodore, states, “The Seaside Company has always befriended the yacht club. The first meeting rooms were in the Casino Building and Bob Cardiff helped in many ways.” The Casa Del Rey trophy was made in 1926. It is the oldest trophy in the collection of the Santa Cruz Yacht Club. It was won by Ben Brooks in his little sloop Chance in 1927 and then donated to the yacht club by the Seaside Company as a perpetual award for the first-to-finish in the club’s initial sponsorship of a sailing race from San Francisco on May 30, 1928. The winner was Lester Stone’s sloop Migirl. (The fishing vessel Shady Lady coming up the Our club has come along way since this early channel in 1979. Then new, Aldo’s Restaurant is beginning. The older members have a feeling of pride seen to the far left with the bait & tackle shop moved when they see our burgee flying on the great racing to its new location at the end of Aldo’s Pier. This picture yachts of today. The SCYC burgee has been first-to- is brought to you by Georges McCormick who handed finish in the Transpac and Pacific Cup races, in many me a bag of photographic negatives a while back. I am class championships & regattas the world over, and in now well-equipped with a beautiful, new photo scanner dozens of Mexico Races. I’m sure that when Jay Harris so please dig out your photos and negatives so we can designed this burgee, he never imagined it would so get them in the digital archive. Note the lack of develop- high. ment in the hills behind the harbor)

Niels Kisling SCYC Historian

(New members introduced at the January Board (In May of 1955, the Santa Cruz Sentinel featured this meeting: Gene Sofen, Seth Cohen (Corinthian), Carl picture inside our clubhouse on the Santa Cruz Wharf. Pichotta, John Curtis, Commodore Michael Wood, Right out of an old black-n-white TV episode of Father Robert Barker and Larry Walerstein & Linda Carter. Knows Best, the Sentinel caption reads, “Informality Congratulations and welcome to one and all) prevails when yacht club members get together at their As of 1/20/11 the Membership totals are as follows: new clubhouse on the wharf. Enjoying potluck supper after a day of sailing, with Commodore Elton Green Regular 418 Non-Resident 69 as the chef, are (left to right) Staff Commodore Edwin Junior 101 Corinthian 40 Anderson, Mrs. Bert B. Snyder Jr., Mr and Mrs. Howard Life 11 Honorary 27 Sloan, Staff Commodore Bert B. Snyder Jr. and Mrs. Anderson.” Ernie Rideout photo) Total 666 14