Santa Monica Windjammers Yacht Club Sea Sounds Since 1941 August, 2018 Welcome Aboard the New Sea Sounds! Inside This Issue Commodore Ron Orr Enjoy Our Offshore Waters 2 Vice Commodore Denise George The Vice Commodors Report 3 Rear Commodore Mark McLellan SMWYC is you 4 Judge Advocate Alan Sege Want to Ride a Bike 5 Treasurer Susan Ross Welcome to Tess 5 Jr. Staff Commodore A Fresh, New Club Newsletter for the Modern Age Themis Z. Glatman Club of the Year 6 The 2018 SMWYC Board has decided to Jr. Program Director resurrect the old quarterly newsletter Sea Sounds Steve Potter Junior Program Update 7 for the new, dynamic age. Now every quarter, you Meet the can learn about all the events at Santa Monica SMWYC staff Windjammers Yacht Club and its members. 8 In this issue, Board Members contributed articles about any topic which interested them. Currents 11 Featured Content Becoming the Do you have a story to Club of the Year tell? Do you have a photo to An Interview with one share? Do you know any good of our Youngest Sailors jokes? SeaSounds wants you! Submit your photo, story (up to 500 words), and joke to the newsletter and we will publish them to share with our community. New Bikes for Contact: Members! [email protected] SMWYC Since 1941 Sea Sounds Enjoy our Offshore Waters by Commodore Ron Orr Over the past few years, as Commodore of SMWYC, I have participated in many of its Club Cruises and sailboat races. In addition, I have had the oppor- tunity to deliver sailboats between San Diego, Marina del Rey and San Francisco. Sometimes, we forget how unique and satisfying it is to be a recreational boater here in Southern California. As SMWYC members, we have reciprocal privileges at many yacht clubs in Southern California. I urge you to take advantage of this membership privilege. I have been welcomed with open arms at Southern California yacht clubs in Morro Bay, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Channel Island, King Harbor, Long Beach, Newport Beach, Dana Point and San Diego. Just reach out to the yacht club before your anticipated arrival, tell them you are coming, find out what their hours of service are and what temporary slip accommodations are available. Don’t forget to take your current SMWYC membership card and your boat insurance policy when you Commodore check in. Ron Orr What is unique about boating in Southern California is the plethora of safe anchorages in addition to public moorings in many harbors. Catalina Island has many safe anchorages all around the island as does Paradise Cove north of Malibu, and the Channel islands. Santa Cruz Island has safe anchorages on all sides. There is something really special about sunrises and sunsets at anchor in a quiet cove by yourself or with other cruisers. The farther away from crowded Marinas and shores, the more of nature’s gifts are there to be seen. The schools of dolphins are well known to all of us, but there are plenty of sun fish, sharks and whales to remind us how beautiful nature can be. You can help maintain this beauty. Often when sailing, I see plastic bags and balloons floating on Those last few minutes when the the water’s surface. Whenever possible, I head towards them sun sinks below the horizon are and fish them out with a boat hook. always worth a pause and a picture Although sunrises in Southern California are a refresh- ing start to the day, sunsets are the best. Those last few minutes when the sun sinks below the horizon are al- ways worth a pause and a picture. On a clear night, offshore beyond the city lights, the stars and moon are often unforgettable. Just don’t forget when sailing at night to maintain constant watch for other boats. Trawlers, fishing boats or Vessels Restricted in Their Ability to Maneuver all have right of way over recreational power or sail boats. Let me leave you with one unforgettable moment that constantly reminds me of the beauty of nature off our shores. I was sailing south from San Francisco, and it was near sunset. There were clouds on the horizon in the waters near the shipping lanes south of Point Con- cepcion. As we looked back at the horizon just as the sun was going down, a whale jumped all the way out of the water right in front of the sun about 7 nm away. Get out on the water and enjoy one of the best boat- ing environments in the world. 2 SMWYC August 2018 Sea Sounds A New Vibe at the Club by Vice Commodore Denise George My name is Denise George and my husband Mike and I have been members of Santa Monica Windjammers Yacht Club since 1998. Well, I lie a little, he was the member when we met in the parking lot and became inseparable, I joined under his membership shortly after. Since then I’ve witness the club go through many, many changes. Back then we managed the slips behind the club, ran sailboat races, and had many social events. People joined our club so they could get a slip, or put their race boat in storage space. But the energy was not great within the club, the county was debating to renew our lease, and the rebuild of the marina meant we would no longer manage the slips. We had no junior program, no boats, bikes or kayaks for our members to use. The result was members left in numbers for other clubs that were a sure thing, and no new members Vice Commodore came because there was no reason to join. Our remaining members did Denise George their best to hang on to what we had and remain an active part of our community, we ran good races and opened up our clubhouse for the community, but it was not easy and some- times felt impossible. Fast forward to today: There is a new vibe in the place, you can see it, feel it and taste it. You drive through the parking lot and there are kids putting their dinghies in the water excited to go sailing, you can get on a paddle board or small sailboat and experience the marina, or you can walk up to the bar and enjoy a drink, juicy burger and some There is a new vibe in the place, live music. you can see it, feel it and taste it. Our club is vibrant again, we have a lot to offer and the energy is positive. There are people here, all with one worthy goal to be near the ocean. It is positive because of a small group of members who believed things could get better and they have worked hard to make it happen. It is positive because you’ve joined, but have you joined in? You’ve become a member to be a part of something cool and fun so join in, help out, volunteer, invite your friends to join. We need you, we need your energy, and your ideas to keep this vibe going. What are some things you can get involved in? Help with membership, organize a paddling group, help run our sailboat races, run a social event, assist with our monthly newsletter, small boat fleet, think of something, anything, but get involved? Bring it to my attention, I guarantee we’ll do our best to support it. Good, good, good vibrations! Bringing those good vibes out to the waves! 3 SMWYC Since 1941 Sea Sounds SMWYC is You by Rear Commodore Mark Mclellan What an exciting time this is! So many new faces. A refreshing new vibe is taking hold and the club is prospering. Each day bears witness to new bonds being forged. Acquaintances be- coming friends. Friendships growing stronger. A love of the sea has brought us together and through this shared love we are all more alive. We are drawn closer to the salt in the air and the salt in our veins. It is my humble honor and privilege to serve as Rear Commodore for the SMWYC. It is a great joy of mine to introduce others to this jewel at the end of Mindanao. The greatest blessing I have received from this club is friendship. While working side-by-side painting boats, taking sailing lessons or telling tall tales in the bar I have learned so much from so many. So, I say to members old and new, this club is you. You help define who we are and where we are going in this 21st century. Your input and elbow grease will help set the You have at your fingertips: paddle boards, course for our bright Rear Commodore future. We need you Mark Mclellan kayaks, bikes, sailboats and an unbelievable now more than ever venue with a spectacular view. to speak up, help out and join in. Tell others about us, better yet, bring them by the club! Share with them what you have found. And if you are unsure how to pitch in, reach out to me or any one on our board or in the front office, we will be glad to listen. And finally, I ask you, if we are not having fun, what are we doing here? You have at your fingertips: paddle boards, kayaks, bikes, sailboats and an unbelievable venue with a spectacular view. This is your club. USE IT! Fair winds and following seas to all! 4 SMWYC August 2018 Sea Sounds Want to Ride a Bicycle? by Judge Advocate Alan Sege Feel like exercising and having fun while staying dry? You can do it now! Members can just park their car at the best location in Marina Del Rey, and hop on a brand new bicycle for a relaxing ride around the Ma- rina or up to Venice or down to Playa Del Rey.