CONVENIENTLY LOCATED AT: 37˚ 46’ 47.5” NORTH - 122˚ 23’ 16.2” WEST
WAV E L E N G T H OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER O F THE SO UTH B E AC H YAC H T C LU B
vivete lente, navigate celeriter
VO L X X I I SS U E 3 2 M AY 201 5
SOUT H BE AC H YAC H T C LUB
S PA R E T H E B E A R D AY
A
“A clean ship, a happy ship! Take your pick.” That’s an old joke but, as we all know, boats do take a fair amount of maintenance. Pride of ownership is only one of the many reasons to keep a boat in “ship shape”! Or, more accurately, in “boat shape”…? Whatever, you know what I mean, and in order to achieve this condition and keep up with the required boat chores, I have established a bi-annual Spare The Bear Day (STBD). A typical STBD goes something like this… The devoted crew, previously informed of the date, time and location of the event by electronic first class e-mail (including a hint of a bakers’ dozen donuts and a couple thermoses of coffee) arrive promptly. When all the crew are granted permission (Captain may I…) to come aboard and the boat bags are stowed we form a circle and have our traditional crew hug. It’s a guy thing, OK? Yeah, like as if you guys don’t do it too. With formal procedure out of the
way TEAM DANCING BEAR settles down in the cockpit in eager anticipation of my bi-annual inspirational speech. I take my place at the helm, hands resting lightly on the wheel, and remind them of the rewards of honest labor, the pride of a job well done, yada, yada, yada, blah, blah, blah. As usual, my epistle is enthusiastically received and the crew urges me on with applause and various enthusiastic hand signals, because they know we don’t do the doughnuts thing until the pep-talk-thing is over. As always, we follow the close of my inspiring speech with another team hug. That is the cue for the large pink box of bakery goodies and thermoses full of coffee to make their appearance. Soon all-hands have their hands full of steaming mugs of coffee and freshly baked doughnuts. What follows is an incisive and in-depth discussion of the pros and cons of crullers, beignets, bear claws, glazed doughnuts, cinnamon rolls and that perennial poser: which came first, the maple bar or the jelly doughnut.
In short, broken sentences, punctuated by much chewing and swallowing, we discuss the dunk-ability of doughnuts: the cake vs. the old fashion vs. the old fashion glazed vs. the blueberry vs. the cinnamon and all them vs. that big old double dipped glazed doughnut with chocolate icing on top. As always, each has its supporters and critics. Then we hose down the boat and go home. Hoist the signal up “Well done”; another STBD day logged in.
Ray Hall – Dancing Bear
R AY
H A LL
Cover & Opening Day photos by Julie Fineman
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COMMODORE’S COMMENTS
BARRIE WHEELER
A
pril was a busy month demonstrating the spirit of the members at SBYC! We began the month’s activities with a welcome booth at the Strictly Sail boat show in Jack London Square. Our membership chair, Lynda Maybruck, collaborated with Dave & Lee Baldi, Nancy Ellen (see photo right) and other SBYC members. I spent some time in the booth and can tell you we had great visibility and spoke to several potential members. Thanks to all who participated and made this such a great success! Our Club is looking great these days thanks to the spirited endeavors of several members who volunteered to recover the chairs. Tom Rogers selected the fabric and organized the following volunteers, Pete Hamm,
Richard Frost, Phillip Hadjian, Ray Hall, Roger Ladwig, Bruce Wicklund & Gary Van Giersbergen. Many thanks to all of you! April has witnessed the start of an exciting FNS race season with Rear Commodore Gerard Sheridan and Staff Commodore Bill Adams leadership making sure that everything goes smoothly. What would Opening Day be without Anabel decorated and manned by able volunteers and the Sea Scouts for the PICYA Opening Day Parade? Immediately followed by Bob Mason’s 17th Annual Oyster Festo and live music.
A terrific event with a host of guests, members and volunteers who demonstrate the spirit of the Club. At our May members meeting we will be hosting a discussion about our long term plans for the Club. Lastly, I have set the date for this year’s SBYC Annual Auction. It will be held on Saturday, November 14. I am looking for volunteers to help in the execution as well as donating auction items. Please contact me if you want to help and/or donate. This is our key fundraiser for the year so your help is greatly appreciated! See you at the Club!
SOUT H BE AC H YAC H T C LUB
Photo: © Tommy Bonbon
VICE COMMODORE’S REPORT
W
hile driving, I like to think. A few days ago I was trying to decide if listening to a news story about the recent Caltrans Bay Bridge debacle while driving on the very same bridge was ironic or a coincidence. Then, just as I exited the west end of the Yerba Buena tunnel I began to experience a bit of panic relating to the significant activity coming up at the Club and whether or not I was far enough ahead of the curve. As I approached the middle of the western span I looked out to port where I saw the various buoys, anchored ships, a few pleasure craft and sunshine reflecting across the entire south bay, a peaceful scene to be sure.
M I LT
S M I T H
At the same moment I remembered SBYC’s greatest asset, you know the one: syn·er·gy noun 1.The interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects. synonyms: cooperative interaction, cooperation, combined effort, give and take. By the time I reached the off ramp my trepidation had subsided to the point of just enough angst. Sure enough; over the next 72 hours I interacted with more than 50 volunteers, each of whom were doing their part to build the significant store of synergy that makes our yacht club such a good one. Bob Semple and his squadron of volunteers decorating Anabel for the annual parade, Bob Mason and an entire platoon of volunteers who put together an
outstanding Oyster Festo, our OODs, The Hood and Deck Captains, you know who you are. Roy Yates for getting our sound working great and the Entertainment Committee for figuring out entertainment stuff. Be sure to say thanks to Mr. D, who smoothes out the edges and takes good care of members and visitors. It truly is impossible to call out the names of everyone who volunteers but I certainly want to express my thanks and provide a virtual pat on the back to all who help! Upcoming activities and chances to volunteer… FNS Race nites, Motown Dance Party 5/23, Member Meeting 6/12, Summer Solstice 6/21 and a dance party on 6/27. Can I suggest… spending some time at the club for dinner, imbibing your favorite beverage, come relax, meet friends kick back, enjoy the view and the synergy. BTW, I am pretty sure it was ironic.
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O
pening Day fun included entering the PICYA parade, (we did not win) the annual oyster BBQ and live music! Patti Mangan released the 2015 Northern California PICYA Yachting Yearbook! First opportunity to buy the 2015 yearbook was aboard the Hornblower Cruise during the judging of the boat parade!
SOUT H BE AC H YAC H T C LUB
S A I L I N G I N T H E P I R AT E S S T R A I T P A U L
O L I V A
Princes, pirates, soldiers, sailors... the Strait of Malacca has a colorful history. As my two-year tour in Malaysia draws to a close, I continue to be entranced by these waters and bemused by their relation to my job and their parallels with California’s history of colonial incursions, diverse immigrants, and crossroads trading. The Strait of Malacca is one of the world’s great strategic choke points. If you want to get from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean by the shortest route, you round Singapore and make your way up the strait formed between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Pirates, smugglers, and traffickers still ply these waters. My sailing home has been the Royal Selangor Yacht Club. It sits at the trash-strewn mouth of the Klang River, in the city of Klang—or more archaically known ‘Kelang,’ or as the British called it, Port Swettenham. You do sweat here. Across the river, which flows down from Kuala Lumpur, are fisherman houses on stilts (the tidal range can be 15 feet) flanking a Buddhist temple. High-bowed Indonesian cargo vessels chug past, trailing black diesel smoke and throwing a wake that has marred many a topside. Nearby West Port, in the Port Klang Free Trade Zone, is the world’s 13th largest container port. Which is why two colleagues spend time there
making sure shipping containers aren’t carrying things like nuclear materials. But I digress. A burgee exchange with RSYC was one of my first orders of weekend business. (Commodore Tan It Beng sends his regards.) That got me in touch with German sailor and businessman Arne Hayne who had just purchased a used Dehler 34 and was interested in a racing helmsman. Less than three months after arriving, there I was, helming a boat in club racing on the Strait of Malacca with an international crew. And just a few weeks later, we were doing our best—during the seven-day
Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta—to sail north up the Strait to reach finish lines at Pangkor Island, Penang Island, and Langkawi Island before the wind died and opposing current set in each morning. I’ve now done the Raja Muda Regatta twice, sailed in a few different club races, relaxed on Hobiecats, and have started skippering for the club’s youth team (by youth, they mean 20-30 year olds, and these local kids are smart—two work for Malaysia’s federal reserve bank, one works for Ernst & Young, and one runs a Tupperware sales network).
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Breeze, yes, but rarely more than 10 knots and that for an unknown length of time. It can cool down to as low as 78 degrees at night, but on a clear day the sun beats mercilessly until temps top 93 degrees. The air is always pretty heavy with moisture, and clouds linger overhead or on the haze-and-palm-rimmed horizon. Downpours wash over you like a lukewarm shower. Lightning is frequent. One of my favorite Raja Muda memories was one night sailing toward the next island when all around on the horizon distant thunderheads flickered and glowed with lighting, while overhead, stars glimmered. At the Pangkor finish, we chow down Malay curries by a beach with firebreathers as entertainment. On Penang the boat crews have crazy rickshaw races.
The next night there’s a stupendously acrobatic lion dance, and a banquet of the island’s famous street food such as the stir-fried seafood noodle dish char kuay teow, all in a gloriously carved and lit Chinese clan compound called the Khoo Kongsi. On Langkawi the tropical island scenery is reward enough for
the final prize giving. Ice cold Tiger is the beer of choice, and enough drink tickets float around to satiate everyone. Wheels up in August. Time to plan for DC, where I learned to sail, and then Mexico City, where I’ve not yet visited.
RACE TACTICS APRIL 9TH
Improve your chances of winning with Chris Boone 7:00 pm at SBYC.
SOUT H BE AC H YAC H T C LUB
CLUB CHAIR COMMITTEE RECOVERY If you have been in the Club lately, you have no doubt noticed that our dining chair seats have been recovered with an elegant nautical blue/silver stripe fabric. The old chair seats had gotten a bit gnarly after eight years of use and abuse, and I was contemplating what to do about it without breaking the house maintenance budget. Having overheard me discussing this situation, the “Young Geezers” that normally sail on Tuesdays offered to give up a Tuesday Sail Day to do the recovering. I was a bit reluctant at first, as I really wanted it done right, but they convinced me that they were up to the task. A plan was forged, the fabric chosen and purchased, and April 14 was selected to do the deed. That morning Richard Forst, Philip Hadjian, Ray Hall, Pete Hamm,
Roger Ladwig, Tom Rogers, Bruce Wicklund, and Gary Van Giersbergen arrived with tools, fabric, staples, and attitude. They pulled the old staples, unscrewed the screws, and removed the seat bottoms from the chairs. They then cut the fabric, stapled the new fabric over the old, and reinstalled the bottoms onto the chairs. They completed the overhaul of all 77 chairs in under four hours, for under $500, and more importantly, they look great. There’s no doubt that the “Young Geezers” were up to the task ! This is a nice example of the SBYC tradition of keeping the Club looking good, and utilizing group volunteer effort to do so. We can do more of this... —Milt Smith, Vice-Commodore
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BETWEEN THE SHEETS TIPS UP JAMES MULLARNEY James has been sailing since he was seven. He started on Lasers and worked his way up to J24s and ¾ tonners. He’s sailed in three world championship regattas, holds three European championships, and sailed several offshore races such as around Ireland, the Med Challenge, etc. His 10 years as a tactician for Gerard Sheridan has come to an end as he now owns a 42’ racer named “Scorpio” berthed in SB. He loves our community and wants to contribute in many ways. And he claims to be a mean mixologist!
KUDOS LEE & DAVE BALDI When the thought was first mentioned about the possibility of SBYC having a presence at this year’s Strictly Sail Boat Show, Dave and Lee immediately stepped up to the challenge. They negotiated and contracted for the best possible location for our booth, planned and implemented terrific booth decor with the help of Gerard’s photography, solicited for and scheduled booth staff, ordered very cool clothing attire for booth staff, and did I mention they also worked the booth from 9:00-6:00. All five days of the show! They talked to so many people coming to the booth that Lee lost her voice. A special thank you to Lee and Dave for carrying out a very successful presence at the show. A tremendous display of our volunteer spirit and well deserving of Volunteers of the Month.
SOU T H BE AC H YAC H T C LUB
SUNDAY EAST E R B R U N C H
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WH ERE WE RE YOU WOR K I N G I N 19 8 0? 1980 was such a long time ago. It was before the Loma Prieta earthquake, and perhaps before some of you were even born. This area around Pier 42 did indeed carry a different flavor than it does today. How do I know? I worked here. Yes, right here where the SBYC is today. My friend operated a temp service for the US Navy in Hunters Point. She was desperate for a secretary to work on the USS Camden docked for rehab at License #0E32738 Service Engineering that operated out of Pier 42. I was employed by Supervisors MARINE INSURANCE of Ship Building (Supe Ship) to sit in AGENCY, INC. a portable office building on the flight “Your Marine Insurance Specialists” deck of the Camden and type up two reports a day. I was the only woman on the ship and had my own private restroom in yet another portable build7 Marina Plaza • Antioch, CA 94509 • At The Antioch Marina ing on the flight deck. Latitude 38°-01'10" N – Longitude 121°49'10" W – Buoy 4 Red – On The San Joaquin River About eight naval officers and I • Shop Your Renewal & $ave – Flexible Survey Requirements would sit and chat until one would be • Broad Navigational Areas • Liveaboards • Classic Yacht Coverage called to make an inspection. He would excuse himself for 15 minutes, make his • Agreed Value Policies • Fuel Spill Liability • Get A Quote Online inspection then wander back for more Call Doug For Commercial Marine Insurance / Yacht Clubs / Marinas in depth conversation and banter. There was a nautical, old port flavor in those days. The Embarcadero Freeway rose above removing sunlight from the shore and Union Square seemed like 100 miles away. The officers were such gentlemen and took me to lunch daily West Coast • Hawaii • Mexico • East Coast to hash houses owned by crusty women Marine insurance made simple, affordable and effective. as good as gold with incredible home www.BoatInsuranceOnly.com cooking that just doesn’t exist today. That was the first time I experienced (800) 259-5701 ham hocks...yum! Years of unbeatable experience to match your needs to the right product. Yes, there was a life here prior to the Representing… birth of the SBYC doublewide, and I had a small part in it. The time I spend at the yacht club today has absolutely no Commercial Marine Insurance resemblance to Pier 42 of the past. Was Marinas/Resorts Yacht Clubs the change for the better? Yes, of course, Dealers/Brokers Vessel Repair Facilities but there was something special about Charter/Tour/Fishing Vessels Rental Vessels/Workboats Boat Builders Marine Contractors those shady hash houses and longshoreMarine Products Manufacturers Wholesale & Distributors men puffing on cigarettes in the cool Doug Rader - Your Commercial Marine Specialist • Direct: 209-334-2858 32 Years as an Agent shadow of the Embarcadero Freeway and Naval Vessels. Members: — Judith Janofsky
IN RIVERS W T
Your Twin Rivers Policy Comes With An Agent
Doug
Bob
Gary
Insurance. In-synch.™
ace seguros
NAMS Affiliate Member
SOU T H BE AC H YAC H T C LUB
SOUTH BEACH YACHT CLUB EVENTS CALENDAR COMMODORE Barrie Wheeler 707-938-9442 VICE COMMODORE Milt Smith 925-285-2897 REAR COMMODORE Gerard Sheridan 415-810-2004 SECRETARY Kathleen Dunn TREASURER Roger Ladwig MEMBERSHIP CHAIR Lynda Maybruck 408-472-3667 PORT CAPTAINS Ken Ludlum & Cat Reining HOOD Hugh Coppen JUNIOR SAILING Kevin Wilkinson 650-333-7873 CRUISE OUT DIRECTOR Alan Maybruck 408.489.2477 CHAIRMAN of the BOARD Bruce MacDiarmid BAADS COMMODORE Cristina Rubke 415 533 0276 CLUB STEWARD Mr. D’Artagnan 415-495-2295 NEWSLETTER Patti Mangan 415-272-2053 SB HARBORMASTER 415-495-4911 Pier 40 on the Embarcadero San Francisco, CA 94107
Thursday, April 30
6:00 – 9:00 pm
SBYC Board Meeting
Friday, May 1
6:00 – 9:00 pm
FNS Race #3
Saturday, May 2
7:00 – 11:00 pm Cinco de Mayo
Sunday, May 3
2:00 – 5:00 pm
SBYC Open House
Wednesday, May 6
6:30 – 8:30 pm
CYC Speaker Series - Clipper Racer Elaina Breen
Friday, May 8
6:00 – 9:00 pm
SBYC Members Dinner Meeting
Saturday, May 9
10:00 – 1:00 pm Shoreline Clean up - Vandyke
Sunday, May 10
11:00 – 3:00 pm Mother’s Day Brunch - Two Seatings
Sunday, May 10
1:00 – 4:00 pm Free Adult Dinghy Sailing
Friday, May 15
6:00 – 9:00 pm
Saturday, May 16
10:00 – 1:00 pm Book Club Meeting -
Friday, May 22
Check website
Ballena Bay Cruise Out
Friday, May 22
6:00 – 9:00 pm
FNS Race #5
Saturday, May 23
12:00 – 5:00 pm Master Mariners Regatta / Encinal YC
Saturday, May 23
7:00 – 11:00 pm Motown Dance Party
Tuesday, May 26
6:00 – 8:00 pm
SBYC Membership Committee Meeting
Friday, May 29
6:00 – 9:00 pm
FNS Race #6
Saturday, May 30
1:00 – 5:00 pm
SBYC Bay Bridge 2 Day Regatta
Sunday, May 31
3:00 – 4:00 pm
SBYC Bay Bridge Trophy Presentation
Monday June 1
6:00 – 9:00 pm PICYA Delegates Dinner @ HMBYC
FNS Race #4
For reference to all races held in Northern California visit the YRA master calendar
follow SBYC on twitter @SBYC_SF WaveLength is available for Android devices. This issue relied heavily on Julie Fineman for beautiful photos! If you have photos to share of your adventures please do send them in with names of the folks pictured, where taken and any other interesting bits of detail.
visit www.southbeachyachtclub.org for details and reservations