NHYC Hosts U.S. Finn Olympic Trials COMMODORE’S COLUMN
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NHYC Hosts U.S. Finn Olympic Trials COMMODORE’S COLUMN functional items this year outside of just Sabots on the bay. Not bad after hosting having fun. First and probably foremost a similar amount in August for the was the successful negotiation with the Nationals. Then we held an event that Catalina Conservancy for a long term speaks for the excellence of this yacht lease of Moonstone Cove. This club – the U.S. Olympic Finn Class Trials. accomplishment now allows us to make This was an 11 day event that went off financial and physical plans that will without a hitch due to the involvement of insure future generations of NHYC 70+ members volunteering for everything members will be able to enjoy our little it takes to run an event of this magnitude. bit of paradise. Our host members, our measurement Another major hurdle behind us is committee, our race committee, our the refurbishment, top to bottom, of the judges, our boat department, our chef, Jim Webster. Staff Commodore Bill our race director, and last but not least Palmer, headed up this undertaking with our manager, Tom Gilbertson were the able help of Port Captain, Tad fantastic. It made me proud! Springer and his staff of volunteer The Skipper Members stepped up to I now know the full meaning of members. We have bought five-plus the plate and put on a highly successful “lame duck.” It really hit me when the years of time before we need to address Casino Night Party. Miami Vice never “Dress Memo” came out for the the replacement of this NHYC icon. had so many beautiful people on the November Board of Directors Meeting Many things happened behind the show. I understand that they raised a and Photo Session. The “monkey suit” scenes, due to the management of Tom substantial amount of money to fund their will not be required of me. I am off the Gilbertson that improved our efficiencies future racing needs. list. Well, it has been a great year and I in the office, the race office, the boat In closing this year I look back at am going to miss it. It has been great yard, the bar, and the restaurant. Our many highlights, but none were better for because of you, the members. Your House Committee installed a new series me than having my entire family join participation in the many events and of security cameras throughout the club Adrienne and me, all from afar, for festivities as well as the tedious tasks has and premises, so be aware that “big Opening Day. This day magnifies what a made this year a sleighride for me. brother” is watching – academy awards family experience NHYC is. There are so many members to thank I could follow. I can only thank you, the will leave it at a simple THANK YOU! Rather than go on and summarize membership, for allowing me the With the support of my and your all that has taken place this past year, I experience of being your Commodore. Board of Directors and the support of will emphasize what we did in the last the Policy and Planning Commission, we two months. First we held the Fall Gold I hope to see you on the water, have accomplished a few important Cup. This little event had only 180 John Garrison SAVE THE DATE: APRIL 12, 2008 2008 Conservancy Ball The Catalina Island Conservancy invites the Southern California yachting community to the 13th Annual Catalina Conservancy Ball to be held on April 12, 2008 at the beautiful Avalon Casino Ballroom. The Ball’s theme is “Earth, Wind and Fire.” “Earth” for the island’s land, plants, and animals, “Wind” for the island’s bird life, and for its marvelous boating community, and “Fire” for the re-growth of the island’s plant communities after the recent fire. The black-tie event will feature dinner, dancing to Pete Jacobs and his Orchestra, live and silent auctions, and some surprise guests. You’ll want to consider sponsoring the Ball at the $1,500 level. The popular VIP Sponsorship Party will be held at Casa del Monte – Philip Knight (P.K.) Wrigley’s stunning hillside home since 1927, and newly restored by its current residents Alison Wrigley Rusack – P.K.’s granddaughter – and her husband Geoff. To become a sponsor now, or to order tickets immediately online, please go to www.catalinaconservancy.org. And to receive a formal invitation, please e-mail your name, address and telephone number to [email protected], or send a note to 2008 Conservancy Ball, P.O. Box 2739, Avalon, CA 90704. This is your chance to show your support for the island we all love, and to share this experience with friends and family. cover photos by John Fuller 2 RACING M ALLORY C UP Southwestern was accommodating they were happy to see us participate. in that they had a live band and snacks The format was round robin and after by Adam Beeckman being served when we got in from learning one boat’s setup, we then had to practice. Sitting on the club deck switch and learn another in quick order. On June 28th, Alan Carmichael, sipping your favorite drink, eating tasty The results were relatively one sided Cryssa Byers, and I slipped down to San pupus, and chatting among friends was a where the overall winner had a distinct Diego for the Mallory Cup. The Mallory great way to kick off the regatta. That advantage with their Etchells experience is a qualifier for the Adams Cup, a evening we dined in style at Little Venice and boatspeed. However, it was fun to national triple-handed event between and then headed out for nighttime mix it up and play the spoiler where we yacht clubs. We arrived on Friday festivities. made some impressive moves and had afternoon for a quick tune-up session in The morning dawned with light good speed, at times. Etchells, a boat I have never sailed. The winds and warm weather. Only three These events are a staple to keeping winds were very light that day so it was teams showed up for the event, which NHYC in the national sailing scene and it difficult to get a good feel or work on was a little disappointing, but there were is very important for us to participate in boat-handling but we managed to do no slouches as the San Diego Etchells events such as the Mallory in the future. just fine in the small puffs that came fleet is known to be strong. Only a single Good sailing and may the wind be at rolling our way. boat could enter the regatta per club so your back!! L ASER PACIFIC C OAST the top 10 in either the Laser or Radial and gone to the smaller rig before the Fleet. I was one of the larger sailors in regatta started. The wind hit 30 knots C HAMPIONSHIP the Laser Radial Fleet which definitely even earlier than it had the day before played to my advantage as the winds and avoiding wiped out boats near the by Adam Deermount continued to build. Even so, I found marks began to get challenging. The myself sheeting out between 4’ – 6’ and race committee sent us in after the first Treasure Island Sailing Club played footing upwind to keep the boat flat. race as the conditions were becoming host to a total of 81 boats for the Laser The Race Committee ran trapezoid too difficult to run races and there were Pacific Coast Championships on the long courses for most of the regatta which simply not enough support boats to pull weekend of August 10th – 12th. Laser made for some awesome reach legs and the sailors of flipped boats out of the and Radial sailors arrived on the morning out of control downwind runs. cold San Francisco Bay water. By this of August 10th to an already brisk point I had a fairly large lead, due and building sea breeze at the mostly to an upwind and reaching Treasure Island facility in the middle boat speed advantage. After of San Francisco Bay. I had originally derigging, I discovered that I intended to sail with a Standard Rig managed to bend my top section, in the regatta but my plans quickly bottom section and boom (I had changed after driving over the Bay never bent all three on the same Bridge and witnessing the building day before). breeze at 10 a.m. Switching to the On the final day, the Race Radial Rig turned out to be the best Committee decided to sail the decision that I made all weekend. fleet further east on the The racing venue for the first two Emeryville Flats where the wind days was between Alcatraz and Angel and current were supposed to be Island, frequently referred to by locals slightly more manageable. as the windiest spot on the Bay. As Unfortunately, the breeze never the fleet sailed to the venue it was Adam Deermount (right) really materialized and most of apparent that San Francisco would the day’s racing was in a light to live up to its well deserved reputation for Fortunately, this also meant that there medium breeze with regular 30+ degree awesome summer breezes. The first race was less upwind hiking than there would shifts. The change in conditions served was sailed in approximately 15 – 18 have otherwise been. to shake up the standings quite a bit as knots but built steadily throughout the The second day of racing started sailors went from survival mode to day to over 30 knots, buffered by a even breezier than the first with an simply trying to find the next breeze.