Mock-up of a sign you'll see near Lake Pleasant. If you help.

Here’s a great three-fer:

1. Keep the highway to Lake Pleasant clean.
2. Have a good time with your AYC pals.
3. Spread the good name of the Arizona Yacht Club

Come and join us!! We’re looking for a few volunteers to walk 1.5 miles of State Road 74 (Carefree Highway) as it approaches the Pleasant Harbor turn. We’ll do it Saturday morning, May 19, starting at 9 am and we’ll cap it off with lunch/brunch/beer at Wild Horse West Saloon. AYC will buy lunch.

If you can help, please get in touch with Peter Lehrach at peter.lehrach@cox.com or 602.741.2016.

Here’s the deal. To earn the road sign shown in the photo, AYC needs to bag debris four times a year. We’ll provide the bags, gloves, high visibility safety vests, water, and lunch afterwards for our first pick-up. ADOT requires that volunteers be at least 12 years old and that they wear sturdy shoes.

We’ll make this 2-3 hour activity fun, and I’m sure you’ll feel good about improving the environment while making the drive to Lake Pleasant better for everyone.

90 people attended The Party at the Fiesta Inn. Photos: Mike Ferring

The Party lived up to its name Saturday night (5/12).

Headed by the band, Los Big Grandes, with lead guitar player and J/80 sailor Chris Smith, some 90 members and guests celebrated the end and the beginning of AYC membership years.

The new board took office: Mike Ferring as new (and returning) Commodore heading a team that includes Joe Motil (Sr Staff Commodore), Emory Heisler (Jr Staff Commodore), Decker Williams (Vice Commodore), Bob Whyte (Rear Commodore), Greg Woodcock (Fleet Captain), Mike Parker (Cruising Captain), Brenda Shears (Membership Director), Thom Dickerson (Membership Director), Tony Chapman (Treasurer), and Peter Lehrach (Secretary).

The Club’s top annual honor is the U.S. Sailing Sportsmanship Award, our Most Valuable Player honor, and this year it went to Tony Chapman, recognizing the leadership role he’s played in the organization for several years, including as treasurer for both AYC and ASF.

Trey Harlow and Dave Willis with the punch bowl

Martin Lorch handed over the big punch bowl, the AYC Club Championship trophy, to Trey Harlow and his crew, Dave Willis. The two won the prize in last weekend’s seven-way championship race. Trey also handed out nicely framed photos to the winners of the year’s fleets.

Al and Sandy Lehman and Mike Yarnell and Tia Renshaw were officially presented with their Honorary Life Member status (including shirts displaying their new standing).

ASF President John Mayall presented the Wayne Jason Tucker Award for most improved Junior to Ema Davis and the “Heavy Lifting” Award to Danielle Kiel for supporting junior sailing.

Somehow the PHRF Spin fleet at the Tall Cactus regatta won the Blunder Bucket. Their blunder: not hanging around for dinner or spending the night.

Then it was time for some rock and roll and even some blues. Emory Heisler stepped in to join the band as guest lead vocalist on a couple songs. Los Big Grandes made the trip from Tucson for the event, for which we thank them hugely. Their only pay: a big bottle of tequila.

Emory Heisler, guest singer.

Trey Harlow and Dave Willis, 2012 Club Champs

Thistle sailor Trey Harlow is the AYC 2012 Club Champ.

After seven races in Thistles at Lake Pleasant Saturday, 5/5, Trey and crew Dave Willis were the clear winners over a field of fleet champions. There is no second place in the club championship, but let’s just say that official numbers (see below) put reigning champ Martin Lorch in that unofficial spot.

The windward-leeward races were run in a wide variety of conditions, from drifting to a couple gusts that must have topped 30 kts. Many thanks to the Thistle fleet for providing the one-design boats and to a flock of race committee people, including PRO Ben Doane.

Besides Trey and Martin, competitors included Matt Davis, Mike Ferring, Greg Woodcock, George Sheller, and Alexia Lorch. Norm Anderson was not able to make the event.

The Class Photo: Fleet Champs & Crew. From left: Greg Woodcock, Dan Perrine, Martin Lorch, Mike Davis, Steve & Christina Campos, Sheila Reed, Alexia Lorch, George Sheller, Champ Trey Harlow, Matt Davis, Mike Ferring and Peter Lehrach. Not pictured: Dave Willis (but he's in the shot above).

Here is the scoring:

The annual AYC Championship Race will be Saturday, May 5, with the first gun at 9:30.

This face-off pits 8 fleet champs against each other in Thistles at Lake Pleasant to see who can hold the Big Cup for the next year. The captains include reigning Champ Martin Lorch (who qualified again by winning C22), Thistle winner Trey Harlow, PHRF Spin’s Norm Anderson, PHRF Non-Spin’s Greg Woodcock, Sportboat’s Mike Ferring, C14 winner Alexia Lorch, Buccaneer champ Matt Davis, and Laser winner George Sheller.

Thistle fleet captain Ben Doane volunteered to be the PRO for the event, sailed round-robin in 8 Thistles. Ben and Trey were kind enough to share their boats and their sailing and tuning tips with the other competitors during an informal orientation at Lake Pleasant Sunday, April 29. In a mixture of light and puffy air, a pack of non-Thistlers tried to identify too many lines while stumbling over the center trunk of the boat and hiking on the too-skinning gunwales, while being guided by the comforting hands of Ben and Trey. This could be interesting.

Race documents can be found here.

Spectators are welcome to watch the race and Ben says he’s still looking for a few more race committee members. Contact him at this email address.

NOTE: Bring green folding money for the cash bar. No credit cards.

What it is: The AYC End-of-Year Party and Changing of the Guard
Where it is: The Fiesta Inn, 2100 South Priest, Tempe
When it is: Saturday night, May 12, with cocktails at 6, dinner at 7 and dancing as late as you and the band can hack it.
Why: Congratulate, Recognize, Award, Celebrate!
Dress code: Business casual or whatever moves you. (Dave Christensen can wear his flip flops.)
The band: Los Big Grandes with sailor/guitarman Chris Smith

Los Big Grandes with Chris Smith on the right.

Oh, sure, we’ll pass out some awards and swear in the new board, but mostly it’s a time to have fun with your sailing pals, enjoy a nice dinner and rock out. We promise to keep the speeches to an absolute minimum and the fun to an absolute maximum.

The band is led by J/80 sailor Chris Smith, the band coyly called Los Big Grandes, and they’re huge. Muy humongous gigante. Rock and roll. Yes, they’re loud, but we’ll have room for people who just want to talk, too. But come dance.

The dinner: You have a choice of four main courses, all including salad and dessert.

1. Citrus Marinated and Grilled Chicken Breast with Mango Pineapple Salsa
2. Roulade Medallions of Pork Loin stuffed with Apple Chutney and topped with Demi-Glace
3. Oven Roasted Fillet of Halibut with Basil Butter topped with Tomato, Kalamata Olive and Red Onion Balsamic Relish
4. Chile-Rubbed New York Strip topped with Mushrooms, Onions and Bacon Ragout. Served with Merlot Sauce

Registration is closed for this event.

Children? Bring them! We have chicken fingers or mac & cheese for the kids at $14.95, cheaper than a baby sitter and more fun by far.

Questions? Contact Mike or Maryellen Ferring.

The entrance to The Party. The bar is just to your left. Belly up.

The room before we've filled it with tables and Maryellen has decorated it with centerpieces. The band will be off there to the left.

The 2012 Tall Cactus Regatta and Siesta is now in the books.  Mike Parker will be posting pics and video of the beautiful sailing conditions and the picture-perfect downwind sailing first leg of the regatta, followed by pictures of the finish line busted open by a Catalina 22: Spirit, driven by Bob Worrall. Bob was closely followed by Greg Jackson’s Viper, flying down the canyon with spinnaker flying just 15 seconds behind but “adjusting” in over Bob for a 3-peat victory!

The racing was followed by the fun and food by all including some rattlesnake sitings and the Bean Pot was duly awarded to the Spin Fleet representative after a fierce battle (and a bit of skulduggery by the Non-spin fleet).

Mike offers a great BIG thanks to Patty Rosky for the encouragement and moral support all day, to Bob Worrall for tending the steaks and salmon, to Kyle Clark for the use of his dinghy, and all the folks who made it a pleasure to share a fine meal and fireside chat (minus the fire) in to the late afternoon.

2012 High School Champions Jack Griffin and Luke Marino

Luke Marino and Jack Griffin slipped past last year’s champs to grab this year’s High School Sailing Championship, held at Tempe Town Lake Saturday, April 21.

After three light-air races in the morning, last year’s winning team of Alexia Lorch and Scott Soethe were just two points behind Luke and Jack. After a lunch break, the wind picked up and everyone headed out for one more deciding race. Luke and Jack won, sealing the championship.

Luke is a Washington High School student in Arizona’s Glendale district. And Jack is a student at Ward Traditional Academy in Tempe. They were awarded a perpetual trophy that they can display at their schools and were given individual trophies to keep.

The high school championship is run by the Arizona Sailing Foundation (ASF) and was organized by George Tingom. The Principal Race Officer was Arizona State University student Gerald Byrnes.

While the championship isn’t limited to students who participate in ASF’s Tuesday after-school sailing class, both Luke and Jack are in the program. Three years ago, Jack also won the most improved junior sailor award as part of the ASF Opti Program.

Information on the ASF high school class is available here.

George is already planning the next championship and says that unless a special Tempe event forces a date change, the event will happen Saturday, April 15, 2013.

The annual AYC Championship Race will be Saturday, May 5, with the first gun at 9:30.

This face-off pits 8 fleet champs against each other in Thistles at Lake Pleasant to see who can hold the Big Cup for the next year. The captains include reigning Champ Martin Lorch (who qualified again by winning C22), Thistle winner Trey Harlow, PHRF Spin’s Norm Anderson, PHRF Non-Spin’s Greg Woodcock, Sportboat’s Mike Ferring, C14 winner Alexia Lorch, Buccaneer champ Matt Davis, and Laser winner George Sheller.

Thistle fleet captain Ben Doane volunteered to be the PRO for the event, sailed round-robin in 8 Thistles. Ben and Trey were kind enough to share their boats and their sailing and tuning tips with the other competitors during an informal orientation at Lake Pleasant Sunday, April 29. In a mixture of light and puffy air, a pack of non-Thistlers tried to identify too many lines while stumbling over the center trunk of the boat and hiking on the too-skinning gunwales, while being guided by the comforting hands of Ben and Trey. This could be interesting.

Race documents can be found here.

Spectators are welcome to watch the race and Ben says he’s still looking for a few more race committee members. Contact him at this email address.

A gaggle of geese check out Martin Lorch on board the 34-foot boat.

Martin Lorch took us on a seven-day tour of the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia, Canada, at the next membership meeting, Tuesday, April 10.

The scenery is as spectacular as the pictures suggest. Martin put us on board a 34’ Beneteau, departing from Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, BC. From there the names and the adventures got even more fascinating: across the Strait of Georgia to the Sunshine Coast, to Secret Cove just north of Sechelt, Pender Harbour, then through the Agamemnon Channel to Egmont and the Skookumchuk Narrows (the mouth to the Sechelt Inlet), then through Saltery Bay, around Hardy Island to Van Anda on Texada Island, and across to Powell River and to Lund, Copeland Island, Bliss Landing which is at the entrance of Desolation Sound. Returning to Nanaimo by way of Scottie Bay on Lasqueti Island, through Sabine Channel, back to Pender Harbour/Garden Bay.

Thank you Martin nfor sharing this extraordinary adventure with us at the April 12 membership meeting!

The Sunshine Coast. What's another word for "breathtaking"?

The Tall Cactus Regatta will be run this coming Super Sunny Saturday with high temps around 90 degrees with the rum punch hovering around 40 degrees.

This will be a sprint course compared to the marathons the last few years. The idea is to sail the course hard, then drop the hook—or tie up on someone and enjoy the great weather and a wee bit of competition onshore between fleets, Clubs, and/or individual boats.  Some random prizes will be awarded for the victors.

This is no Hunger Games.  Pull up a chair and feast on steak, chicken, salmon patties, salads, corn on the cob, beans, deserts, and cold drinks, but only if you’ve ordered in advance or if we happen to have some leftovers.

START TIMES:

Montgomery  17                       11:00:00

Sunfish                                      11:02:00

Catalina  22                              11:02:00

Capri  14.2                               11:02:00

O’Day 222                                 11:03:48

San Juan  23                              11:06:36

Tanzer 22                                 11:06:48

O’Day 25                                 11:08:00

Montgomery  23                       11:09:12

Catalina  25                              11:10:24

Ranger  22                               11:10:24

Santana  20                              11:11:36

Capri  26                                  11:14:36

Buccaneer  18                          11:17:36

Santana  23                              11:21:12

J/24                                           11:21:12

Evelyn  26                                11:21:48

Merit  25                                  11:22:24

J/80                                          11:30:48

Wavelegth  30                          11:32:00

J/29                                          11:33:12

Viper 640                                 11:33:48

Corsair F27                              11:39:48

Reynolds  33                            12:11:58

NON- spin boats Course:

Marks to PORT

1. Start at between the South Ramp lake exit buoy and the RC.
2. Horse island
3. Castle Creek buoy
4. Balance Rock
5. Horse Island
6. Finish between East Shore and R/C boat near the North end of Humbug Cove

SPIN Boats Course:

1. Start at between the South Ramp lake exit buoy and the RC.
2. Coles Bay buoy
3. Castle Creek buoy
4. Balance Rock
5. Horse Island
6. Finish between East Shore and R/C boat near the North end of Humbug Cove

• Date – Saturday, April 28^th
• Skippers Meeting – 9am Spinnaker Point – is where you will get YOUR sailing instructions.
• Start – 11am
• Finish – Humbug Cove between R/C boat and shore (aim is 3pm finish)
• Dinner – Steak – Chicken – Salmon Patty served open face sandwich-style with salad, beans, and dessert and my special Party Punch!
• Friendly competition between clubs to determine who gets to clean the bean pot.

Enter here.  Or see Mike Parker at the lake Saturday. The entry fee is $15.

Need more information? Contact Mike!

Michael Parker – 2012 AYC Cruising Captain
SailArrrr@gmail.com
602-770-0195

Another great season of racing at Tempe Town Lake draws to a close. Click here for the scores for Spring 2012 and click here for the combined Fall & Spring series scores. Congratulations to Spring 2012 Skippers: Matt Davis, Alexia Lorch, Greg Dean & Joe Barnett. And congratulations to Fall/Spring Series Skippers: Matt Davis, Alexia Lorch, George Sheller & Clay Poulson.

Rain, hail, cold, big wind, to warm air drifter, Lake Pleasant served it all up in one weekend. The scores for the spring series, Fall 2011 & Spring 2012 combined & The Fireball Fiesta Del Sol Regatta are posted on the results page. Close racing with-in the Non Spin Fleet for the spring, decided on the 2nd tie breaker.

Congratulations to the Spring 2012 Series winners: Steve Campo, Dianna Andress, Norm Anderson, Mike Ferring & Trey Harlow.

Congratulations to the 2011/2012 Series champs: Martin Lorch, Greg Woodcock, Norm Anderson, Mike Ferring & Trey Harlow.

Spring 2012

Fireball Fiesta Del Sol

2011/2012

Lake Pleasant served up another foolproof weekend of racing, Go to the Race Results page or click here for the scores.

The hottest little boat on the water are bringing their WESTERN REGIONAL event to Lake Pleasant the 14th and 15th of April!  For more information contact Clay Paulson at cm_poulson@yahoo.com  or go to the Fireball NA Page.

Anna Tunnicliffe helps ASF high school kids. Photos: Mike Ferring

Accomplished. Humble. Determined. Nice. All Anna Tunnicliffe.

We’re still dazzled that she took time from her Olympic training schedule to come to Arizona to talk with the club. That she even slipped into shorts and stepped onto one of our ASF Laser Radials to spend more than an hour teaching raw beginners a thing or two about roll tacking.

In just two months this world #1-ranked women’s match racer will know whether her team will compete in this summer’s Olympic Games and take a shot at winning her second Olympic gold medal. Tuesday night (3/13) she posed with dozens of us holding that first gold medal and talked about the race that won it—a race that began by turning around to restart after she thought she might have been OCS (on course side), one where she picked the wrong side of the course for the wind, where a shift suddenly vaulted her into medal position, where she sat still on her boat during the final leg to avoid being called for a Rule 41 (propulsion) violation and held her breath to the finish, where she flew into the water in celebration, but only felt the joy and weight of the accomplishment after she sat alone in her hotel room that night, crying after having achieved a dream that took so much effort and concentration.

Anna coaches roll-tacking.

Now she drills with coach Dave Dellenbaugh and teammates Molly Vandemoer and Debbie Capozzi on an Elliot 6 meter, a boat she describes as being hugely physical, getting fully-powered-up in 8-10 knots of breeze and then demanding a crew that will fight her to keep her moving. Anna is clearly up to the job physically. She’s rock hard and toned. And she matches it mentally: she’s focused and determined (one of her four “Ds” that keeps her driving).

After saying good night to the AYC audience Tuesday night, she headed off for a brief night of rest and a 4:30 airplane back to Florida and more time on the water. Thanks, Anna. It was a fabulous few hours.

Go here for quick donations to Anna’s Olympic campaign, or here for tax-deductible contributions, or here to keep track of her exploits.

The Bucc Bunch at the AYC meeting: Matt Davis, Cindy Pillote, Brenda Shears (with the gold medal), Anna (with the burgee), and Emory Heisler.

The Fourth Annual Arizona High School Sailing Championship is scheduled to be held on 21 April 2012 at Tempe Town Lake.

Last year Alexia Lorch won and her crew was Scott Soethe.  She is was junior at Xavier College Preparatory and Scott was a student at Brophy College Preparatory.  A perpetual trophy to display at the school of the skipper for half the time until next years race (the other half of the time to be displayed at the school of the crew) was presented after the races.  Individual trophies were presented for the winners to keep.

This year’s competition promises to be great.  For more information and to get your race documents visit this link: http://arizonayachtclub.org/arizona-high-school-sailing-championship/

Results from this Sundays’ Tempe Town Lake Racing are posted on the race results page or click here.

And the winner of Big Bass Days is, oops wrong event. High winds, rain and cold. Old Man Winter served up an exciting weekend of racing on March 18&19 (scroll down to see both of the pictures below). The scores are posted on the results page or you’ll find them by clicking here.

Chris Smith, Craig Quist, and Sheila Reed blast along on Chris's J/80 on a wild Sunday ride. Photo shot using a GoPro camera mounted on the stern rail.

Or, if you like your horizons level and your boats heeled, try this one.

The results from Week 6 of racing at Tempe Town Lake are posted on the results page or by clicking here.

Lake Pleasant again serves up varied weekend of racing with winds from 25kts to 0. See the results on the results page or click here.