FEBRUARY 2016

Commodore Donna Beckett (510) 857-6599 – [email protected]

I am very happy to welcome our new Food and Beverage manager, Theresa Barnes. Theresa will be joining us on February 1. Her duties will be to manage the galley staff, make sure the galley runs smoothly and members enjoy a wonderful dining experience. With her coming on board Adam will now be in the office full time as the office manager. As you’re reading this you are probably aware by now that the San Francisco Progressive Boat show has been cancelled. Because of the last change in date due to storm damage, many of the exhibitors were not able to make the new date and so the show was called off. The Richmond Strictly Sail show is still on and we will have a booth there. Volunteers are needed to work the show. It only takes a few hours of your time, you get to meet some interesting people, it’s a great help to the Club and you get free admittance to the show. Volunteer and help build membership.

Our Valentine’s Day party will be a very special evening. Chef Matt has planned a gourmet menu. We have a very popular musician scheduled who had everyone at the Change of Watch out of their chairs and on the dance floor. So plan to take your sweetie to the Club for a wonderful and memorable evening of dining and dancing. The Club is looking to move away from accepting cash at the bar and the galley. We are attempting to streamline our services and become more efficient. More detailed information as to how this will be accomplished will be provided once we have a final plan. On February 27 from 10:00 to 11:30 I will be in the Regatta Room. I am planning on doing this once a month the rest of the year. If any member has anything they want to talk about, any questions they need answered, any suggestions of things to do or do differently, I’ll be more than happy to listen and discuss anything that’s on your mind about the Club. It’s your opportunity to make your thoughts and ideas known. I look forward to seeing you then.

Here’s a recap of the January Board of Directors meeting:

 The Buz software start-up date is set for February 1. A chart of accounts and member roster is being prepared and will be installed.  The Commodore has formed a Strategic Planning Committee which had its first meeting this month. A mission and vision statement was created and goals were formed with subcommittees to look into them. The mission, vision and goals were all garnered from member input obtained some months ago.  The House Committee is investigating new floor coverings for the Club, new window coverings for the office and new table identifications for the dining room.  October, November and December financials as well as year-end financials were presented.  We have had an increase in outside parties using the Club.  There were four resignations this month, all due to life changes.  Phil Davies, our measurer, is working with Lee Corkran, Club photographer, to set up a boat photo day in the spring.  The Membership Committee is involved in the upcoming boat show, Strictly Sail Pacific, April 7-10 in Richmond. Open House is planned for that time as well.  The Race Committee presented the following motion, which was passed unanimously: Any new Regular Member who joins the Club and rents a 28' slip after January 31 and no later than December 31, 2016 will be entitled to enter every OYC race or series of races free of charge during the first 12 months of membership so long as he/she remains a member of OYC and is renting a slip at OYC at the time of registration for the race or series.  There are three cruise-ins scheduled in the next two months. The St. Francis cruise-out has been cancelled.  The Ham Radio Club will be giving seminars on communications at sea at both boat shows. The Radio Club is also planning on charging $25 to join the Radio Club. That money will allow the Radio Club to buy the equipment which will allow the station to be accessed remotely.  The Race Committee budget was approved.  Dan Jones will be going to an ABYC class in marine corrosion. $2200 from the Harbor Maintenance Fund will be spent to repair the eastern pitchfork on Dock 3. $20,000 from Harbor Reconfiguration will be spent for a dinghy dock which will be built off site. It will be located in 28’ berths with shallow depths. It will have room for 12 dinghies and room on top for paddle boards and other light craft. Possibly later a lifting device will be installed.  The House Committee requested $1,000 from the operating account for four months of off-site storage. This will allow the office to be cleaned up and re-arranged. That’s the recap. I hope to see you at the Club and on the docks. …from the General Manager Robert Lovejoy, CCM (510) 522-6868 - [email protected]

Have you been to your Club lately? We have had a lot of fun, and there are more good times ahead. Have you made your Valentine reservation yet? The Club is celebrating on February 13th and offering a four course dinner for only $29.00 dollars, with great entertainment. This is going to be a blast, and it’s a great value for any occasion. Wine Society met on January 28th, and we will now be back to our normal monthly schedule. Mr. Conger has brought some sailing seminars to the Club and they have been very entertaining and informative. I wanted to apologize to anyone who has had problems calling the Club. We have put a new phone system in, and we had a few technical problems at the start. But now you should have no trouble calling the Club. We have a new employee at the Club, her name is Theresa Barnes and she will be the new Food and Beverage manager. She has loads of experience, and will be an asset to the Club. This will allow Adam to start his new position as the Office Manager down stairs, I know he will be doing an outstanding job and we are excited to have him. He will be working with our Controller Tina Davison, and you should notice some nice improvement in the office. This will allow us to install our new software and help us be more efficient. The new software will help keep the Clubs financial reporting more accurate, and correct. So the Club is truly coming together, and you should notice more service, and overall better reporting. Up in the Commodore’s Hall, Chef Matt is working on new menu choices to give our valued members more dinner options. Please do not forget about Comfort Nights on Thursday evenings. It’s the best value on the island, a homemade meal, salad and dessert, for only $13.95. And don’t forget you can wash it down with dollar drafts. The bar is now open at noon every Saturday. There will be a bar menu available as well. So there is another reason to stop by and use the Club. In closing, we have a few prime slips available. So if you have a friend who is looking to be part of the best Club around, now is the perfect time to join. Remember you as members are the prime sales force to introduce new folks to the Club, so if you know someone, remind them of the best kept secret in . I’m always here to help you, so please drop by and allow me assist you in any way I can. Hope to see you soon at your Club. It’s your Club so enjoy it! Robert Lovejoy, CCM

Vice Commodore Sam LaVanaway (501) 435-6104 – [email protected]

Ahoy OYC members! As we approach February 1, Northern is about 100% of normal rain. We need it to keep on coming just to remind everyone to check their boat for leaks, working bilge pumps and switches. The best way to make sure your boat is in working order though is to use it. I have to say with the busy holidays and my pending move (Susan and I are moving to Pleasant Hill to be closer to the club and our lonely boat) we have not had any time to enjoy our boat. Repair work is underway on the Dock 3 end tie with Dock 6 to follow. There are some exciting things going on in the harbor. In the not too distant future, docks 301 and 303 will be converted to a large, stable dinghy dock. The slips currently are too shallow for most boats and almost un-rentable. This is a great transformation that will be great for small boat sailors. The old dinghy docks will be moved and they will not be de-commissioned at this time, which brings up the fact that there are many boats on the current dinghy docks that are not registered with the office and are not being billed. In February we will identify the boats on the dinghy dock that are registered with the office and paying the monthly fee. Any boat on the dinghy dock that is not registered or is current will have to be removed or the club will dispose of the boats. I hope everyone knows what a “HOT” marina is. It is not good. It means there is stray electrical current in the water. That current eats underwater metal. It starts with zincs and works its way through stainless steel. If your zincs are only lasting 3 months, then there might be a “HOT” boat near you. We have the solution! Dan is going to an ABYC course on Marine Corrosion and will be qualified to test our marina to find out if it is hot or not. You can do your part by doing the following. Only use a marine charger that is properly grounded, do not use automotive chargers. Make sure your dock cords are grounded too. There is more, but for now make sure those two items are good.

Some people will tell you that the marina wifi is terrible, others have no problems. Both claims are true. There is a boring technical explanation for this but suffice it to say that the wifi radio spectrum is crowded. Personal computers, every smart phone, personal wifi routers on the dock and in the local businesses all compete for the same channels the marina wifi system uses. There is also a lot of grounded metal and antennas in the marina as well as boat structures that can weaken the signals.

This is one reason all the members who were paying for wireless in the marina are no longer being charged the five dollars a month. This stopped during the middle of last year. This spring, there is a plan to remove the marina wifi and install a better system that will have more bandwidth, capacity, and signal strength. The marina wireless may be down between 30 and 60 days. Watch here and in the blast for further communications. Till next time, may the winds always be at your back!

Rear Commodore Greg Lonie [email protected]

It has been a really busy month at OYC. There were several fun events in January, including an informal cruise out to Sausalito and a couple of well attended races hosted by OYC as part of the Sunday Brunch Series. If you have in interest in racing, or just like to watch, stop by the club on a Sunday afternoon and join the fun. The racing schedule is available on the website. The house committee had a full agenda this month. One item that was brought to our attention by several club members is the need for identifying the tables in the Commodores Hall. The members of the House Committee are in full agreement and have taken on this task. We have decided to return the old table numbers to the Commodores Hall while researching a new solution. Members of the committee are also researching different ways to better protect the artwork we have in the Commodores Hall, and plan to report their findings in February. We are expecting to be reviewing prospective plans for the much needed replacement of the carpet in the club. We are all anxious to see what options have been found! Our new office blinds should arrive the first week of February. We will be looking for volunteers to install them, so if you are handy with tools, and have a couple of hours to spare, let us know. Thanks to Michelle Leonard and Kim Lonie for all of their efforts on this!

The staff in our office has been busy as well. Robert reported that hiring a leader for food and beverage at the club was his number one priority, and I understand he was successful in his search. Keep an eye out for our newest staff member in February, and be sure to say hello! Our Flags and our office team have also been working diligently to implement the new accounting software, which is set to go live on February 1st. Thanks to Donna, Sam, Bill, our staff, and many other members who have dedicated long hours to bringing this new system into our club. I am confident that this effort will be a great benefit to our club going forward, simplifying processes, and freeing our staff to handle other important tasks. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Robert and his team are preparing a nice event for the occasion, including providing some smaller dining tables for those who want a more private dining experience. It should be a great event! Hope to see you there. Memory bricks are still available! This is a great opportunity to create a lasting memory for future generations of club members and guests. As an added incentive, the cost of the bricks will be discounted by 10% starting in January. Order forms for the memory bricks are available in front of the office area. OYC will once again offer a youth sailing scholarship for the Alameda Community Sailing Center in Alameda. Watch for further details in the weekly Blast, and in the office. I look forward to seeing all of you at the club in 2016! As always, please forward any questions or comments to [email protected].

Cruise Committee Chair – John Egland [email protected]

Cruise to the Corps of Engineers’ Bay Model in Sausalito, March 11 – 13.

Please join Cruise Captains Len & Barbara Cardoza for a cruise to and tour of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Bay Model Visitor Center in Sausalito, March 11-13, 2016 (weather permitting). I included the caveat “weather permitting” after discussing berthing arrangements with Schoonmaker Marina. Apparently, the Sausalito marinas are very nervous about potential / predicted winter storms this year…especially with south facing visitor docks and narrow fairways. The Bay Model Visitor Center is a fully accessible education center administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers which makes possible the viewing of a scientific / interpretive tool: a working hydraulic model of the and Sacramento - Delta System. The Model provides scientists, educators and the general public interested in San Francisco Bay and the Bay - Delta Model a unique opportunity to view the complete bay-delta system at a glance. Len Cardoza, former Commander and District Engineer, San Francisco District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will give an introduction to the Bay Model, short history, and provide an overview of the system. The tour is scheduled for 1pm, Saturday, March 12. Len & Barbara have been Bay Model volunteers and docents since 1990. Information about the Bay Model can be found at: http://www.spn.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/BayModelVisitorCenter.aspx

Proposed Itinerary:

We will generally follow the same itinerary as the successful cruises in 2014 and 2015…With some (hopefully) improvements. I am in the process of coordinating with Schoonmaker Point Marina and Clipper Yacht Harbor for berthing arrangements (see above caveat).

 Friday, March 11 Travel to Sausalito. 5pm: Bring your own hors d’oeuvres to share together with a sundowner to the picnic tables in front of the Bay Model (water side). Either walk to the Bay Model or dinghy over. Dinner on your own.  Saturday, March 12 1pm: Meet in the lobby of the Bay Model for a tour of the same led by Led Cardoza…Be prepared for bad jokes and a sea story or two…But you know Len. WARNING! No Belly Flop contests allowed in the Bay Model…Bad Form! 7pm: Meet at Saylors' Landing Restaurant for dinner.  Sunday, March 13 Return to Alameda Other things to do / places to eat:

Downtown Sausalito (shops, art galleries, trinkets galore) is about a 30 minute scenic walk south. Fish Restaurant. Delicious (but pricey food). Located about a 15 minute walk north of the Bay Model at 350 Harbor Drive. Le Garage Bistro. Continental setting! Also pricey. Located adjacent to Schoonmaker Point Marina, a few minutes’ walk north of the Bay Model Mollie Stone’s Market. One of Len & Barbara’s favorite destinations in Sausalito. Located about a 10 minute walk north of the Bay Model. Great deli. 100 Harbor Drive. Educational Tall Ship: Matthew Turner. 2330 Marinship Way. Located inside the white tent across the grassy field next to the Bay Model. Mon – Sat, 8-4. Volunteer to help build a ship! Ask Barbara or Sandy and Ken Fouts! They’ve done it (at least contributing to crafting some hefty frames! For more info: www.educationaltallship.org. Berthing: Based on the weather caveat above, I will try to make arrangements for berthing at one or both of the following marinas:

 Schoonmaker Point Marina. 415 331 5550. Schoonmaker is located a few minutes’ walk just south of the Bay Model. http://www.schoonmakermarina.com/contact.html  Clipper Yacht Harbor. 415 332 3500. Clipper Yacht Harbor is located a few minutes’ walk north of the Bay Model (a bit further that Schoonmaker). http://www.clipperyacht.com/ Drive-ins: Drive-ins / Land Yachters are welcome. Parking is free at the Bay Model, located at 2100 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965 Sign-up link: http://www.oaklandyachtclub.net/events For more information: Len Cardoza 415 420 3749 or 510 638 1025 and/or [email protected]

During the cruise-out, I will be monitoring Channel 16 on my handheld Fri/Sat. Contact “Edelweiss” and we can switch to a working channel. Best cell number to reach me is 415 420 3749 - Len

Point San Pablo YC Cruise cancelled, so we improvised…

It was a stormy Friday afternoon in January when several OYC members headed across the rough waters of the San Francisco Bay, determined to enjoy an “Iceberg Cruise”, in the absence of the annual crab feed. Four boats gathered in Sausalito, followed by two more boats on Saturday. With Tardis, Vets Pet, Tango, The Glimpse, JayHawk, and Bay Wind safely tied into the spacious docks of the Clipper Yacht Harbor, it was time to relax! This last minute, informal cruise proved to be a lot of fun! The weather really didn’t hinder the passage of any of the boats, some arriving during the day light, and one or two arriving at night. The rain came, but mostly overnight, with a little rain on Saturday, but it didn’t slow any of us from exploring the house boats of Sausalito, or from checking in on the progress of the Matthew Turner, an educational tall ship being constructed in Sausalito. This is an amazing project being constructed mostly by volunteers. If your travels take you to Sausalito, don’t pass it up. Our evenings were filled with good food, good drinks and lots of laughter! We dined on Italian food at Seahorse on Friday night, and Mexican food at Saylor’s on Saturday night. Many thanks to the Conger’s and the Stoup’s for hosting cocktails as well.

Kim and I have visited Clipper Yacht Harbor many times, and found them to be very accommodating, and have always found something new to explore in the Sausalito area. It is a

great destination for a quick getaway, or a long weekend. Racing Committee Chair - Jim Hild (510) 277-4676 – [email protected] Article by Debby Ratto

OYC Sunday Brunch Series is off to the races! We expanded to a 7 race series for 2016, with remaining races scheduled for 2/7, 2/21, 3/6 & 3/20. Race #1 found us 24 boats signed up and 19 boats on the line. With little to no wind at the start, and an ebb tide, which for some was the helping hand they needed to cross the start line. After a postponement to clear the line, and the hint of a breeze, we were back into sequence and the wind slowly built, although spotty, with all racers finishing shortened courses. Our second race had a much different feel, under threat of rain, and we did see some sporadically, but 18 boats of hearty racers, jumped into a down wind start, with those in the spinnaker fleets, popping their colors at the start line. The courses were challenging and the wind held for full course racing by all.

As is our custom, we finish up at the club house with banter, libations, prizes and noshing. Good times on the water, what’s not to like! And, yes we do have a race on Superbowl Sunday and will be sharing the club with the our non-racing boating friends

Jim Conger’s first OYC Educational Seminar on Sunday, Jan 17 was a great

success, with about 50 sailors in attendance. Jim is having the second of his two seminars on the physics of how sails work on Feb 21 at 0900. In addition, on March 6, Kame Richards will be giving a presentation on Light Wind Wail Trim and Tactics. Join Kame in Commodores Hall, time to be announced.

Perpetual Cup … Check it out... results posted on the bulletin board along with Race results and you can also find it on the OYC Race Info Web page. Other Racing News … IYC mid-winters are well underway, with three races completed (although one had to be abandoned due to horrible rain) and two more to go on the second Saturdays of February and the March. Courses will be on the , and will start at an orange buoy north of the Island Yacht Club. EYC Jack Frost, has two more races as well: 02/27/16 and 03/19/16 . These are races held in the central bay, usually between Treasure Island and .

Racing Results can be found on the following Web sites: Racing results hyperlink .. Racing! Island Yacht Club or go to jibeset.net EYC: Racing results hyperlink ..Encinal Yacht Club or go to jibeset.net

Find more photo’s on the OYC Web site, Racing section. For additional information about the OYC Racing Program, call Jim Hild @ 510-277-4676 or e- mail: [email protected]

Holder Racing News Holder Racing by the Numbers January 24 by the numbers: 6 boats, 6 racers, 3 races, 1 race with decent winds, 1.5 knots of ebb current in the Estuary, 1 hour on Tom Charon’s MI VIDA drinking wine and waiting for wind, 1 Rear Commodore racing, 2 siblings duking it out for first place, 2 people who hit the starting mark in the second race, 1 XO of Coast Guard cutter 751 who had been married for just 8 days and who got wet up to his hips when he reached for a missing hiking strap, 5 racers finished with at least one first or one second place. The results for the day: Russ Klein, 4.7, Susie Klein 4.2 (who invited the Kleins, anyway?), Ted Keech, 3.3, Jim Jessie, 2.8, Mike Cilenti, 2.7, Greg Lonie, 2.

Social Report - Toni Lyman & Carol Martin [email protected] & [email protected]

Happy February to everyone! We are off to a good year with lots of fun events at the club! Sign up now for the Valentines Dinner Dance. Chef Matt will be preparing us a romantic four course dinner and just when you think it can't get any better we will be dancing the night away with the Dave Badilla Band! February 27th is the Ladies Luncheon. Carmen and her team have a wonderful day planned for us lucky ladies! You don't want to miss this special OYC event. In April is our popular Wine Maker’s Dinner. Anne Jacobson is planning this event. Look in the blast for more details. This is always an exceptional night. Looking down the road on our Social Calendar are two really fun events to look forward to! “The Beatles Are Back " will be on June 4th!!! An exciting night with our favorite band Nigel, Clive and The British Invasion. Start now digging out your 60's and 70's outfits for this really fun rocking evening! In August we will have our first OYC Hoedown! You have time now to dig out those wonderful Cowboy Boots you haven't had a chance to wear in years! Yee Haw! Thank you to our wonderful OYC staff and all the many volunteers for making this such a special club. -- Toni Lyman and Carol Martin Here is our Social Calendar for 2016:

January 30th – Crab Feed (crab availability allowing) February 7th – Super Bowl Chili Cook Off February 13th – Valentine’s Day Dinner February 27th – Ladies Luncheon March 17th – St. Patrick’s day (Thursday Night) March 27th – Easter Brunch April 8th – Possible Eric Stone Concert or Alternative May 5th – Cinco De Mayo (Thursday Night) May 8th – Mother’s Day Brunch June 4th – The Beatles Are Back! (Nigel, Clive, and the British Invasion Band) June 21st – Father’s Day Brunch July 4th – 4th of July Potluck and Activities August 27th – OYC Hoe Down September 17 – BBQ and Blues October 2nd – Oktoberfest Race and Party October 29th – Halloween Party November 12th – Change of Watch December 3rd – Lighted Yacht Parade December 31st – New Year’s Eve Party

A “thank you” from Oakland Firefighters Random Acts

Dear Lighted Yacht Parade Committee Members ~

Oakland Firefighters Random Acts extends a heartfelt Thank You for your participation in our 2015 Holiday Toy Drive. Thanks to your toy donations, Oakland Firefighters delivered over 1,000 gift wrapped presents to children in need in under-served neighborhoods in the Oakland community. Firefighters played Santa Claus and delivered toys to 6 Head Start programs, the Brighter Beginnings teen parenting program, and the East Oakland Boxing Association after- school program. Random Acts also responded to all the 'Letters to Santa' and 'Letters to Firefighters' that children dropped off at Oakland fire stations, and fulfilled all the requests from families that stopped by or contacted a fire station in need of toys for their children. Random Acts volunteers gift wrapped the toys, and Oakland Firefighters personally delivered the bags of presents to the family's houses on their fire engines. The kids were just as excited to see the fire engine and Firefighters as they were to receive the toys.

To truly appreciate what your toy donations mean to Random Acts and the children who receive them is to see the smiles on the children's faces when they open their presents and express their excitement and joy unwrapping their toys. Please click on the link below to view a YouTube video of children opening their presents delivered by Oakland Firefighters.

2015 Random Acts of Christmas

Please share this message with all involved.

Thanks & Happy New Year, Oakland Firefighters Random Acts

THANK YOU ALL! PICYA Delegate Maggie Sabovich (510) 787-1258 – [email protected]

No report this month as there have been no delegates meetings since the November awards dinner. Tune in next month for Maggie’s report.

NOW HERE’S AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY

The 2016 Nominating Committee is now looking for a few good members who are interested in serving on the Oakland Yacht Club Board of Directors next year. The Board of Directors is charged with the “business and property of the Corporation,” and “to do all things which may be necessary for the proper management of the corporate affairs.” The Board of Directors consists of the following 12 positions:

 Commodore, and President of the Corporation

 Vice Commodore, Vice President of the Corporation, Chair of the Harbor Committee, and Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee

 Rear Commodore, Chair of the House Committee

 Port Captain – responsible for all fleet cruise-in management

 Secretary

 Treasurer

 Membership Director – Chair of the Membership Committee

 3 Directors at Large

 Measurer – measurer of all boats consistent with Club policies

 Staff Commodore – the immediate past Commodore

The Nominating Committee consists of 5 members who have agreed to serve at the request of the Commodore, and were approved by the current Board of Directors at the December meeting. They are Jim Labbe, acting as Chair, Larry Calfee, Marya Budinger, Anna Kramer and Kim Lonie. The committee is charged with nominating candidates for the positions of Officers and Directors to be elected at the Annual Meeting in November to serve for the ensuing year.

If you are interested in serving on the Board of Directors, please contact one of the Nominating Committee members and let your interest be known. We are looking for members with broad experience with the activities of the Club, who have time to spend to help with the business of the Club and like to work as part of a team to get things done. Unfortunately, there is no pay.

Meetings & Committees

FEBRUARY MEETINGS Open to all members 2/4 House Committee 1830 hrs 1st Thursday, Regatta Room 2/12 & 2/26 Membership Committee 1600 hrs Every Other Friday, Regatta Room 2/9 Racing Committee 1900 hrs 2nd Tuesday, Regatta Room 2/11 Harbor Committee 1830 hrs 2nd Thursday, Regatta Room 2/18 Board of Directors 1830 hrs 3rd Thursday, Regatta Room

COMMITTEE CHAIRS Amateur Radio –Rich Beckett Photography – Lee Corkran Budget & Finance – Sam LaVanaway PICYA & RBOC – Maggie Sabovich Cruise – John Egland Racing – Jim Hild Education & Safety – Jim Conger Reciprocity – Vacant Position Harbor – Sam LaVanaway Reconfiguration – Dave Humphrey House – Greg Lonie Risk Management – Bill Fowler Library – Barbara Cardoza & Sandy Fouts Seascape – Bob Paulsen Membership – Wayne Martin Social – Toni Lyman & Carol Martin Merchandise – Michelle Leonard Staff Commodores – Jim Labbe Parliamentarian – Kim Lonie Webmaster – Jack Boeger