Bill Buchan Jr

January, 2008 Bill Buchan Jr. Awarded Honorary Life Member of CYC Our first thought, of course, was, At the Christmas Lunch Bill Buchan Jr. ‘There goes the series.’ In any other was welcomed into Corinthian Yacht race it wouldn’t have been so bad; Club’s Honorary Life Membership. we were in pretty good shape and Bill and Karen were joined by their could still throw out one race. But children and spouses: Carol and Carl another was coming up, back to Buchan, Mara and Brian Bohman back, with only one leg left of this and Brian and Jennifer Ledbetter. race. Very fortunately for us, Basil As is traditional, mention was made Kelly’s wife happened to be right of some of Bill’s sailing career in there in a fast powerboat. She the Star class which began when he came alongside and asked what was twelve years old and he watched she could do to help. A very quick Charlie Ross win the 1948 Star North won by Photo by George Trusk conference determined that there American Championship held on CYC member Alan Holt with Dick was not time to tow the boat all the Puget Sound. Gates as crew, Bill finished a close way in and back out again. Instead, second, Lowell North was third and Steve jumped aboard the powerboat Over the winter of 1948-49, Bill and Dennis Connor was fourth. and they roared off to the Creek his father built a Star in the basement In 1980 Bill won the Olympic for our spare mast, which was of their Madison Park home. That was Trials but that year the United States all rigged and ready for such an the first of as many as 60 Stars which boycotted the Olympics held in emergency. They must have made Bill has built up to this point in his Moscow. In 1984 Steve Erickson, it to shore in about 10 minutes and life. Those early boats were wood one of his son Carl’s friends, talked made the return trip, against the which Bill selected from local lumber Bill into another Olympic Trails wind, in maybe 20 minutes, because yards where he selected the lightest which they won and subsequently in just over half an hour they were cedar he could find, “just short of dry won the Olympic Gold Medal. After back with the new mast. rot” as he said. the Olympics, his wife Karen said, “Meanwhile I had un-rigged the One of Bill’s early successes in the “Bill gave us Star sailing. That lasted broken spar and cleared away the Star class included finishing 13th in about three weeks.” Then Bill and mess. In 18 knots of breeze, we the 1957 Star North Americans with Steve went to Nassau for the 1985 switched masts and stepped the his father as crew. In 1961 Bill won Star World Championship where new one. I was a bit concerned his first Star World Championship they topped a fleet of 80 boats to that something might be loose or with boat #4260. In 1962 he won the take Gold Star. In that event, Bill missing aloft, but everything went North American Championship and was leading the regatta when in the together like clockwork. We had the in 1970 he won his second Star World fourth race while in second place on sails up and were sailing around 20 Championship with Carl Sutter as his the last windward leg a shroud let minutes before the start of the next crew. In the 1972 Olympic Trials go and the mast went over the side. race.” Continued Page 6 Corinthian Yacht Club • Sailing at its best • www.cycseattle.org • (206) 789-1919 &'<?>()*+*'* Corinthian Yacht Club Leadline, January 2008 FromFrom the the Helm: Helm: Commodore Joe James Allan Johnson and directors look forward to 2008, However, with the incredible number I am we see that the club is poised for an- of events we offer, additional PRO’s proud to other year to offer the best in racing are needed as back up and replace- and cruising for our members thanks ments when Kevin and Charley are assume to the efforts of the 2007 Board of not available or would like to take a the role of Directors. Eric Sanderson has been well needed break. We are very for- Commo- an excellent role model for future tunate to have Leslie Keller, current dore for commodores. His attention to detail Treasurer for U.S. Sailing and our Corinthian Yacht Club while at the has left the club in excellent shape. regional race officer. Leslie will be same time humbled while assuming Eric will continue to be a significant offering a race management seminar this position for our club which has asset to the club as a member of our at our Shilshole clubhouse in Febru- produced and continues to produce risk management team and Junior ary for all those interested in learn- so many of the finest sailors in the Staff Commodore. ing the ropes of a PRO. Later this world. The history of our club is spring, we will offer a whaler training one which makes all of us proud. Our task this year is to continue to workshop to add more whaler drivers Corinthian Yacht Club sailors are well improve our very fine racing program to our overworked staff. Without a represented in regional and world on both Lake Washington and Puget good supply of PRO’s and whaler championship regattas. Many of us Sound. To do this we will focus our drivers we cannot continue to offer followed the recent America’s Cup efforts in two areas: maintain and all the events we currently have on with a special interest because some improve our race equipment and our schedule. of our members were sailing there. train additional PRO’s and whaler Every evening this winter I have read drivers. As we look forward to our club’s Scuttlebut to follow the Barcelona activities in 2008, the Monday Lunch World Race because our own Jona- Dan Heyl has been working with a speakers’ program is an area where than McKee is one of the two sailors host of volunteers to get our equip- we have seen significant growth. Bob on board Estrella Damm, an Open ment ready for racing. Improvements Miller put together a great speaker’s 60 foot monohull. Recent news of have been made in several areas to program in 2007. Herb Holley has Jonathan is that his boat suffered ir- replace tired and worn out parts and accepted the chair for Monday Lunch reparable damage and has withdrawn add new features to enable our race after several years under the guidance from the race. However both sailors staff to operate our committee boats of Murray Field. Look at our web are safe and rejoining their families and whalers safely and efficiently. site for future speakers and come join for the holidays. Currently we have two expert PRO’s us when you have the opportunity. in Kevin Cunningham and Charley Thank you for reading this column. I As our new Board of Officers and Rathkopf. welcome your suggestions and ideas.. Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle Officers Web Site: Derek Storm Commodore Joe James 7755 Seaview Ave. NW Pier S Allan Johnson, Editor Vice Commodore Bruce Sherman Leadline: Seattle, WA 98117-6007 Joe James, Asst Editor Rear Commodore John Rahn Oce Phone: (206) 789-1919 Patty Heyl, Contributor Fax: (206) 789-5896 Treasurer Jamie Thomas email: [email protected] Secretary Suzette Connolly Web Page: www.cycseattle.org Fleet Captain, Race Lorenzo Migliorini The Leadline is published monthly by Corinthian Hours: Mon, Wed, Thurs, Friday 12-5 Fleet Captain, Cruise Rod Deyo Yacht Club of Seattle, Inc. Material may be sent to the club. Noncommercial classified ads are Junior Sta Commodore Eric Sanderson published free of charge for members for one Corinthian Staff month and must be resubmitted (or notification given) for subsequent issues. Commercial adver- Directors tisement, including business cards, are solicited. Manager: Charles Fawcett Lisa Winterhalter Dan Falk Contact the office for rate card. Ad copy must Race Manager: Kevin Cunningham Dan Heyl Steve Travis be received by the 10th of the month preceding Asst. Manager: Pattie Heyl Bev Multerer Lisa Dodd publication. All other copy must be received by the 15th. Page 2 Corinthian Yacht Club Leadline, January 2008 Heart of CYC Campaign Exceeds Goals!!! By Wayne Balsiger You did it!!! Heart of CYC Campaign Does ‘Horizon Job’ as Campaign raises over $336,188 The Heart of CYC Capital Campaign finished with 111% of the goal, raising $336,188 including $4,800 of in-kind donations. Many thanks to the 140 CYC club member families who have given very generous from the heart. It is inspirational to see what club members are willing to do to support the needs of the club. I am gratified the campaign blew past the aggressive Star Sailors were large donators to the Heart of CYC Campaign goal by 10%. Thank you to everyone $20K anonymous donation from a So what started in November 2004 who donated. You all deserve three Shilshole sailor for a whaler named with many Platinum pledges ends cheers! after Fleet Captain James Miller. with more Platinum pledges!!! The final $500 is from Staff Com- We raised $50,000 in the final two At the start of November, the campaign modore Marty Seelig who pledged months of the campaign. Work was at $284K when Foss Miller added at the Christmas Lunch. Thanks to begins soon on the plaque to com- another $5k to the campaign.

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