July 2020 Official Publication of Alamitos Bay Yacht Club ... · Even though this year’s Fourth of July at ABYC will not be occurring, we are all united in our memories of past

sou’wester • july 2020 • page 1

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Full ABYC Calendar

July 2020 Official Publication of

Alamitos Bay Yacht ClubVolume 93 • Number 7

Manager’s Corner ............................................. 2Commodore’s Comments.................................. 2Vice Verses ....................................................... 2Rear View .......................................................... 3Fleet Captains Log ............................................ 3Juniors............................................................... 4Membership Report ........................................... 4Rules Quiz #68............................................ 5 & 8Good Times/Good Friends ............................. 6-7Hails From the Fleets ................................... 9-11

i n s i d ei n s i d ei n s i d ei n s i d ei n s i d e

s as as as as a vvvvv e t h e d ae t h e d ae t h e d ae t h e d ae t h e d a t et et et et e

raft upsam’s surprise

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WITH THE BESTEST OF FRIENDSIt’s tough to surprise a guy like Sam Bell. After being married to him for 50years he usually figures out pretty quickly when I’m up to something, or at the

very least becomes pretty suspicious. During the pandemic and sheltering at homepeople have gotten creative with celebrating birthdays and other special days. But, Ididn’t think Sam would be terribly excited by a drive-by, both of us are pretty sick ofZooms, and we couldn’t sneak away to the Island as the poor guy is still working andhis birthday fell on a Tuesday. What to do? Ah, ha, the Lido 14 Fleet is always up for aparty! I put out an email to our sailing buddies, and told Sam to come home early if hecould as I was taking him out on the Bay in Shorty’s Boat for a picnic birthday dinner.The first surprise was on me. Our eldest daughter decorated one of the Naples canalbridges with a birthday sign and as we came upon it she and her two rugrats popped upand shouted to Grandpa, “Happy Birthday!” We motored out onto the Bay with theintention of cutting the engine at about the “C” buoy and just drifting down toward ABYCas we ate dinner. As we motored down the Bay Sam sees a bunch of people rafting just where he intended to start ourfloating. So he cuts the engine about 100 yards away and says that we’ll just drift a little further out. Okay, what to do now?I suggest that we at least go down and see who the crowd is, and as we approach Sam is greeted with signs and shoutedHappy Birthdays! The surprise was a success with our very bestest friends under an almost full moon and with a gorgeousfluorescent wake as we made our way home more than a couple hours later.

Dana

Lori VanSkyhock photos and video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb7O5gRAy_4&t=6s

Birthday video:


manager’scorner

compasscommodore’s

versesvice

Dear ABYC members and your families. As we move into July, images of U.S. flags lining our city streets and kids with sparklers flash into our minds.

We may be in the midst of pandemic which requires social distancing, but we are still Americans. And I believe we will still celebrate this July 4th with enthusiasm and pride. Whether it be in front of our homes or at a public fireworks show, this tradition will continue. You cannot hide pride in country behind a mask. Even though this year’s Fourth of July at ABYC will not be occurring, we are all united in our memories of past Big Bangs and in looking forward to spending time with each other at the

July 2021 event. Sailing activities here at the club have increased, but we still need your help in keeping what permissions we now have. Like it or not, we are required to wear masks whenever we are outside, especially when around anyone not in your immediate family. Wandering around the boat yard and docks on weekends, I see most everyone wearing masks and aware of fellow members and friends around them. This is a big help for us as a club, to continue toward the goal of having our clubhouse reopen...hopefully soon! Thank you everyone, for your support and efforts through these challenging times. May God bless you and keep you safe. Rick

July is here and summer is upon us. Although we will not be hosting our planned regatta schedule it is great to see so many people

out on the water. As we continue to work with he city and the changing COvid-19 guidelines I am optimist for future events at the club. Until then, please come down and enjoy the club. The summer sailing program is set to start July 6th and I would like to thank Sawyer Gibbs, Brooke Jolly,

and the members of JAC for their commitment to making this happen. I wish all of you a wonderful summer. Stephen Mueller

I was sitting with Eileen on the patio at ABYC a few days ago considering all that is good in our lives. We have done a bit of travelling and gave some serious consideration to living in many of these places. Thinking that could live there for at least 6 months. We did give

consideration for those ideas many times. We came back home from each of those trips and realized that we already live in paradise with the added advantage of having all of our friends close by. We were on the patio of ABYC the other day enjoying a snack and seeing some members (friends) come by to say hi. This is the place we will enjoy for a long time.

We are looking forward to when we will be able to use the BBQ and firepit as the club becomes more accessible.

Now that the galley is available for eating maybe you would enjoy a bit of time on the patio in the sun with a beer or wine in hand? Still getting the yard in order and It appears I will be able to accommodate some of the summer program with scattered spots in the yard. Later, Dan DeLave


2019/20 Officers & Directors

Commodore Steve Mueller [email protected] Commodore Dan DeLave [email protected] Commodore Brooke Jolly [email protected] Captain Mike Van Dyke [email protected] Nigel Brownett [email protected]. Staff Commodore Dave Schack [email protected]

DirectorsSAC Director Gabe Ferramola [email protected] Mike Shea [email protected] Rob Stropky [email protected]

Sou’Wester DEADLINEJuly 25, 2020 is the deadline

for the July Sou’Wester.

Treasurer Nicole Peoples

Junior Commodore Julia Carpenter

Fleet Surgeon Dr. Richard Bell

Judge Advocate Alan Cunningham

Fleet Chaplain Don Reiman/Jorge Suarez

Port Captain Dave Myers/Rich Ferdon

Sou’wester Editor/Layout Sharon Pearson [email protected]

Weekly Reader Stacy Massey [email protected]

ABYC Phone (562) 434-9955 Homepage www.abyc.org Email [email protected]

Help us to Help you!Please keep your e-mail address current with [email protected] to receive all of the weekly news and events. Thank you.

viewrear

logfleet captain’s

A big thanks out to Rich Ferdon and Joe Hudak for their assistance on Saturday, June 20th helping out with whaler check-ups. We are just a few days away from kicking off our summer sailing program and, after several months without much usage - if any, we wanted

to be sure the whalers were all functioning properly and ready to go. We met at 8, grabbed all the gas tanks out of the storage shed, loaded them all up, made sure keys were accounted for, batteries charged up, engines lowered into the water and fired them up. With the appropriate safety gear on board we each took one for a quick run outside for the bigger boats and a moderate bay cruise on the others, to be sure we had no engine or transmission trouble. All engines handled it just fine with the exception of one, which Rick Roberts is getting fixed up. We also had a few bilge problems, as discovered with a good wash-down at the end of the day. And, the gas tanks

were all filled up and ready for summer action. Thanks again to Rich and Joe for their help with the nine whalers. I am very excited for some summer fun and hope all are well and healthy! Brooke

Believe it or not, the warning signal has been fired and we have a P flag flying for the Club Championship regatta. The regatta will be held on July 18th with several practice days available on July 11th and 12th for those competing.

This year the regatta will be hosted by the Tempest fleet for the revered perpetual trophy…the parking spot! We have representatives lined up from the Juniors, Lidos, Cal 20s, Multihulls, Vipers, Lasers, and of course the host fleet, the Tempest.This is our first regatta since the shut down and we are starting to look at more internal events as the summer unfolds. Look for Men’s Day as well the Latham Bell regatta in August. Stay tuned for more events as we prudently work thru the schedule on what is possible.See you at the Club.

Mike


gaitersabyc

Just in time for summer ...sun protection or handy face covering are ABYC gaiters made of soft 50+ UPF fabric. While the club remains closed you may purchase for $20 by charging

to your club account via email to Jenny LaForce or Jennifer Golison and pickup from the Golison’s doorstep.Alternatively, we can mail to you for $3 additional charge. Once the club reopens they will be available for purchase at the club. Any questions please contact Jennifer Golison at 562-305-6410 or [email protected]

Summer is almost here!Even though the club isn’t officially open yet, it has been great seeing everyone’s bright and smiling faces (behind the mask that is). Our staff really gets a kick out

of seeing our members back at the club doing what they love- being on the water. With gloomy days behind us (hopefully), we look forward to a bright summer of sailing here at ABYC. We only have a few more weeks until the start of our 2020 Summer Sailing Program and my staff and I couldn’t be more excited to get started. Being away from the club for this amount of time gave us plenty of time to prepare lesson plans as well as COVID-19 friendly activities. A big thank you goes out to Brooke Jolly & Kathleen Melvin for their endless hard work preparing us for a fun summer ahead. It’s very hard picturing us hosting a successful program without their efforts. In other news, our sabot revitalization project is well underway with the help of Tom Newton & Kathy Weishampel. The two have been hard at work scavenging for parts to put together a sabot fleet for future generations here at ABYC. They have been unbelievably helpful spending their days at the club working non-stop on these boats. As of now we have 4 club owned sabots and it wouldn’t be possible without the help of Tom & Kathy. If you have any questions about our Summer sailing Program or want to get involved in our sailing programs please contact me at [email protected].

See you on the water!Sawyer

reportmembership

Despite the recent surge in new C19 cases, the club seems to be well on the way to recovery. Of course, social distancing protocols are in place and actively enforced. After all, we must do our part to stay safe and help ensure the overall health of the membership and staff.

For June/July we welcomed new junior members Noah Stapleton sponsored by Commodore Mueller and regular members Ravi Parent sponsored by Stan Gibbs, and Tiffany McIntosh also sponsored by Commodore Mueller. Applicants to be approved for membership at the July board meeting will be junior Jordan Janov sponsored by Steve Kuritz, and regular member Patricia Rojek sponsored by myself. To be approved at the July meeting for 30 day posting will be new junior member applicant Adam Mead sponsored by Joel Stone, and regular members Brian and Janet Roberts sponsored by Nicole Peoples. Several inquires have been received and several membership packets have recently gone out which is a great sign of summer growth and COVID recovery. The club is alive with activity, despite not being 100% open, with as much small boat sailing as I can remember. Cal 20s, Lidos, Lasers, 505s, Tempests, Vipers, cats and several other groups have been out regularly. The snack bar has reopened and we hope the reopening of the patio and building will not be far behind. Hope to see you soon. Mike Shea, Membership Director [email protected] (562) 900-0234

cloggerthe bay


rules quiz #68mark’s racingAnswer on page 8

App rox ima te l y f i f t y seconds before the starting signal, Yellow

and Blue were on starboard tack reaching about 4 boat lengths to leeward of the starting line, with Yellow 10 boats ahead of Blue. After passing the pin end of the line, Yellow tacked, intending to pass ahead of Blue. Yellow hailed ‘Hold your course’, but Blue luffed, hailing ‘starboard’ multiple times. Yellow did not immediately respond. Blue then tacked in order to avoid contact. Both boats protested. Yellow claimed she was keeping clear and that Blue broke rule 16.1 and 16.2 by altering course after her hail of ‘hold your course’. Blue by continuing to luff until there was risk of contact caused the incident. Blue claimed that Yellow, as the port boat, was required to keep clear by rule 10. Even after she, Blue, altered course Yellow could have kept clear if she had acted promptly. How should the protest committee rule? See if you can figure out the relevant facts, conclusions and decision.

The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) governs the sport of sailboat, sailboard and kiteboard racing. The current edition is The RRS 2017-2020. The rules are revised

and the changes take effect only every four years on 1 January of the year following the year in which the Olympic Sailing Competition is held. For those of you paying attention you’ve already spotted the problem with that plan…The Olympic Games have been postponed until 2021, which means the year following the year the Olympic Sailing Competition will be 2022, five years after the last rules. So which is it; every four years on 1 January, or the year following the Olympic Sailing Competition is held? World Sailing’s current plan is that the new 2021-2024 rules will become effective January 1, 2021. Copies of the new rules should be available in July 2020. See you on the Water (at a safe distance) Mark Townsend

are coming ?new rules


good friendsgood times... Dana Bell & Lori VanSkyhock photos


Pat McCormick photo

good friendsgood times... Dana Bell & Lori VanSkyhock photos


...from page 5answer #68mark’s rules

Answer Definitions, Keep Clear, Room Rule 10,

On Opposite Tacks Rule 16.1, Changing Course Rule 16.2, Changing Course WS Case 13 WS Case 50 WS Case 105

A hail “Hold your course!” is not mentioned in the rules. There is no rule that requires a starboard-tack boat to hold her course if a port-tack boat is trying to cross ahead of her, and the hail places no obligation on the hailed boat to comply. Blue was entitled to luff to a close-hauled course on starboard tack. After the luff, Yellow still had room to keep clear, so rule 16.1 was not broken. RRS 16.2 did not apply as the incident occurred before the starting signal. Yellow, being on port tack, was required by rule 10 to keep clear of Blue.

CONCLUSIONS 1. Yellow on port failed to keep clear of Blue on starboard and broke RRS 10. DECISION 1. Yellow is disqualified

See you on the water. Mark Townsend

floatilla 2020Stacey Gibbs photofather’s day

A famous quote by Kenneth Grahame states ”There is nothing - absolutely nothing -

half so much worth doing as simply messing around in boats.” And that’s exactly what a number of dads did over Father’s Day weekend in Cherry Cove on the west end of Catalina Island. While the suggestion was merely a whisper in the wind the week prior, sometimes it is the softest whispers that ring the loudest in our memories. Fishing, paddle boarding, hiking and cave swimming were all part of the memory making, but the highlight of the weekend was without a doubt the raft-up happy hours at the stern of Bill and Sue McDannel’s Island Girl at their newly acquired mooring can. And, if patience is a virtue, then Bill and Sue are the most virtuous people this side of the Pacific Ocean, because they have waited, and waited, and waited . . . (wait for it - pun intended) for 27 years to get one of the best moorings in one of the best coves - C-1 in Cherry Cove! CONGRATULATIONS to Bill and Sue on Island Girl’s new home away from home! It was a most memorable Father’s Day Floatilla messing around in our boats. So here’s a toast to the future, a salute to the past, a tribute to all Dads and making memories that last! Lori VanSkyhock


the fleetshails from

...continued page 10

...from page 8

If you are missing sailing while stuck at home, here are some top notch exercises on how to recreate those feelings without breaking the lockdown.

1. Buy some beers, put them in a warm place for 6 hours, then drink them.2. Put a wooden chair sideways on the floor, perch on it and look directly into the sun. Maintain that position

for an hour or so. For the next level of difficulty ask some friends to swear at you via Zoom. 3. Drink your weight in alcohol at night, sleep for 4 hours, then stand on the rocking chair for the next 6. Try to smile.4. Draw a 1000 dollars from your bank. Burn them in your shower.5. Sit in front of a large fan. Ask someone from your household to throw a bucket of cold salt water in your face ever

now and again.6. Repeat exercise 5, but this time in jeans and a jumper. Turn your head from side to side to ensure that water gets

properly into your ears.7. Get a broom or a shower pole, tie some ropes to it, then stand on a side of your bath holding them above your head.

Drop the whole contraption on your head every 10 minutes. Ask your friends to shout expletives at you. 8. Set your watch to beep every 5 minutes. Leave it like that on your wrist for the rest of the day.9. Tie some ropes between two trees or posts outside. Run in the ropes with all your weight – continue for 4 hours,

ignore pain and bruises.10. Sprinkle some sand on the floor and spend some

time crawling backwards and forwards on your knees.

11. Make 12 sandwiches. Wrap then in one plastic bag and place on the radiator. Eat one sandwich a day for 12 days.

12. Buy a new mobile and place it on the highest shelf you have. Drop mobile on the floor, check if it’s working.

13. If mobile still works, go into a dark bathroom and throw the mobile into some cold water. Extract the mobile from the water and take out the SIM-card. Do not switch on the lights.

14. Get your most expensive sunglasses and place on the sofa. When someone from your household sits on them, try and find socially acceptable language to convey your disappointment.

15. Stick a nail into your floor leaving an inch above it. Kick it with your bare foot pretending you are Ronaldo. Practice First Aid.

16. Find a wardrobe with a light switch nearby. At night, climb on top of the wardrobe and attempt to switch on the light. Shout “are the nav lights on?” into the darkness.

17. Get a pair of binoculars, balance on a rocking chair next to your window and try to note the house number on a house 200 meters away. Climb down and find that house on google maps.

18. This exercise requires a bottle of rum, pen, notepad and wristwatch. Place the notebook in the furthest corner of your kitchen and drink rum until you can’t stand up. Go into the kitchen, find the notebook and note the current date and time. Sign your name next to it. If you can’t read this in the morning, keep practicing.

Here’s hoping we’ll all be on the water soon! Tim Carter

Say hello to the newest Viper owner Russ Fox. Long time ABYC member and that’s his nephew Alan Peoples. We put together the boat from South Carolina today and went for a sail. Successful day to say the least. Good boat and sail inventory. Welcome Russ!



Lido Love

...from page 9

Lidos take to the water…Are we racing yet? With the prohibition of fleet racing in full force at the start of the month, the Lido fleet adapted to the new rules and social guidelines. The first few Twilights were more like Tour de France time trials but without the

widespread doping. Just a couple of dopes (you know who you are). With staggered starts from the dock, to maintain social distancing, boats went on a 3 mile tour of the bay. Times were recorded for each boat leaving and returning to basin 5. It was reminiscent of PHRF racing, you really didn’t know how you did until the times were posted. Well that’s not completely true. It was pretty obvious that Mark and Lorna won. But how did everyone else do? It really didn’t matter. We got butts on boats and everyone had a good time. The ban on racing in the bay was finally lifted for the final Thursday in June. Or was it? We were still flying under the radar. No bay barge or loud horns. Martyn set a start line from his whaler and Ed ran the mark set boat. 3 races (can we use that word now?) were completed with 16 Lidos split between the A and B fleets. We finished off the evening with a burrito and beer bash back at the docks hosted by the lido fleet. Special thanks to those that made the sailing possible: Martyn, Sharon, Sue, Bill and Ed. Thanks to our board members Gabe and Mike for operating the hoist. Thanks to club manager Rick Roberts for keeping us up to date on the regulations and helping get us back on the water. Kevin

Sabot Nationals are still tentatively scheduled for the weekend of October 3-4. This was the same weekend as the ABYC Ladies Day Regatta,

but with the shuffling of all regattas, this is the best slot to try to keep nationals scheduled at ABYC for 2020. In other fleet news, Tom Newton is working with Kathy Black-Smith, Kathy Weishampel and the club to find good Sabots to bring up to competitive quality for use by the Junior program and for Seniors to charter. Kathy Black-Smith’s boat “Harvey” has been refurbished and is now available for charter as a Sabot Fleet boat. Last month Deby Johnson and Stacey Schack asked for Sabot lessons, which we were able to accommodate while keeping social distancing. Deby used the newly refurbished “Harvey”, and was joined by Stacey and Susan. Tom Newton coached from land and water, and it was a successful first light wind day. We hope to schedule an organized lesson day as soon as the club is open and everyone feels comfortable. Will send out an email when we schedule the next lesson. Hopefully we will be able to schedule a Sabot Sunday soon! Kathy



the pastblast from


Documents

July 2020 Official Publication of Alamitos Bay Yacht Club ... · Even though this year’s Fourth of July at ABYC will not be occurring, we are all united in our memories of past