Garth Reynolds of North Sails

He was a hit last July; now he’s coming back for a return engagement: North Sails designer Garth Reynolds will be our speaker at the AYC June meeting. His assignment: Light Air Sailing. Not that we ever have any of that.

Join us at 7 pm, Tuesday, June 12, at the Caddy Shack @ Rolling Hills Golf Course, 1415 North Mill Avenue, Tempe. Guests are welcome to attend.

Garth will be leaving the San Diego North loft soon to take a promotion to the Boston loft, where he’ll work under JB Braun, the designer for the Oracle America’s Cup effort. Braun is in charge of the aero for Oracle’s new 72-foot boat.

For this meeting, Garth has gotten North to offer a discount on sails for AYC only. You’ll receive a 10% discount on one-design sails purchased within 7 days of his presentation. Normally those sails are put on sail only in September. Here’s a list of all the one-design fleets covered by the offer.

Describing sail design during last year's AYC meeting.

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.

95 Ballots were received, 89 were “accepted” (mailed by 5/1 and received by 5/8, signed by member on outer envelope for checking with Membership Roster), and all Board of Directors Candidates received at least 83 votes from the 89 ballots counted.

Immediately following vote counting a Board of Directors meeting was held with the NEW Board. The new board, chaired by new Commodore Michael Ferring, elected our Secretary and Treasurer positions completing our 2012-2013 AYC Board of Directors (see below).

BYLAWS CHANGES:
The AYC Bylaw change to modify the definition of “Junior Member” was approved 80 YES to 9 NO (“Juniors” can now be up to 25 years old).

The AYC Bylaw change to allow “Electronic Voting” was approved 82 YES to 7 NO (please remember that “manual” voting will still be an option for any members desiring to receive paper ballots in the future.)

Congratulations – and THANK YOU – to our new AYC Board of Directors:

• Sr. Staff Commodore – Joe Motil (2nd year of 2-year term)
• Jr. Staff Commodore – Emory Heisler (1st year of 2-year term)
• Commodore – Michael Ferring (his 2nd “tour of duty”)
• Vice Commodore – Decker Williams
• Rear Commodore – Bob Whyte
• Racing Fleet Captain – Greg Woodcock
• Cruising Fleet Captain – Michael Parker
• Membership Director – Brenda Shears (2nd year of 2-year term)
• Membership Director – Thom Dickerson (1st year of 2-year term)
• Treasurer – Tony Chapman
• Secretary – Peter Lehrach

Thank you to our outgoing Sr. Staff Commodore Greg Jackson for your 5 years of service, and also thank you to everyone that voted for your support of our voting process.

Fair Winds! to our new and FULLY STAFFED AYC Board of Directors.

Emory Heisler
Election Committee Chairman

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.

CLICK HERE for the PDF Version

It’s May, end of the line for the 2011-2012 AYC year and time for Congratulations and Thank Yous!

• Congratulations to our Fleet Champions and best of luck to them in the Championship of Champions – the AYC Championship!
• Thank You!!! to all the sailors and their families that do so much to make our club so great, from the Board of Directors to the volunteers that all made 2011-2012 a great year of sailing in the desert.

REMEMBER TOO…IT’S TIME FOR THE PARTY!  Our AYC Membership meeting 5/8/2012 has no program.  We’ll be counting votes  election of our new board and for Bylaw changes.  You’re welcome to stop by and socialize and help with the counting.

And then we’ll hope to see you at THE PARTY to recognize the “Changing of the Guard”, to announce the election and Bylaw results and to celebrate 2011-2012 together!

Check it all out in this month’s COMPASS POINTS!

1. Commodore’s Corner – Thank You AYC!
2. Get Ready for “THE PARTY”
3. Bob Worral Takes Line Honors - Greg Jackson 3-peats at Tall Cactus
4. Arizona High School Sailing Champs: Luke Marino and Jack Griffin
5. Congratulations to AYC Fleet Champions
6. Trash Talk – AYC Keeps it Clean – Join in the Fun 5/19 at Lake Pleasant
7. Not What You See from Cruise Ships – Martin Lorch Shares San Jaun Sailing
8. Fleet of the Month – Thistle
9. For Sale! Want Ads!

May 2012 Calendar of Events

• SATURDAY, MAY 5
• AYC CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP Races at Lake Pleasant
• TUESDAY, May 8
• 7:00pm Election Vote Count at Tempe Rolling Hills – Caddie Shack
• SATURDAY, MAY 12
• 6:00pm THE PARTY! Food! Music! Friends! Fun!!!

Wow! What a year! We had our share of “headwinds” and “windshifts” but all in all together we—your Board and all of us volunteers—turned out another fabulous year of desert sailing.

As I write my last “Corner” it’s time to say thank you to recognize a few of our more outstanding successes from AYCs 2011-2012 sailing year:

1. OUTSTANDING MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS!  Maryellen and Mike Ferring, you turned out an exceptional series of programs with national and international sailing stars and experts together with our own local cruising experts.  Thank you Maryellen and Mike!
2. CRUISING FLEET CONTINUED RESURGENCE!  Michael Parker, you continued sharing your love of  “non-buoy” racing and cruising with us all, all to OUR benefit with the Governor’s Cup, Tall Cactus, and don’t miss the upcoming Catalina Cruise in July!  Thank you Michael for keeping the cruising fleet activities growing!
3. RACING, RACING, RACING!  Trey Harlow, you MORE than just delivered on the water, you also delivered in the “Delivery Room!” We all know racing is by far racing what we do the most of in AYC (despite having a new little sailor in the house) Trey and many, many volunteer hands on RC, on boat maintenance and elsewhere made for another excellent year of racing.  Thank you Trey – and Nina too!
4. HAPPY BIRTHDAY REGATTA!  Joe and Katherine Motil you two together with a host of volunteers including new and long-time members and even non-members provided the entire Southwest with another great celebration of our Club and of “winter” sailing in the desert.  Thank you Joe and Katherine and all involved!
5. ARIZONA SAILING FOUNDATION-ASF: John Mayall, George Tingom, Lisa Lake, Leo Bauman, Greg Dean and a cast of US Sailing Certified Instructors and other “Just happy to be on the water” volunteers continued this great legacy of the Arizona Yacht Club. Our ASF classes continue to overflow and the ASF team continues to ensure our passion for sailing is passed on to many new sailors every year thanks to their efforts.  Thank you ALL!
6. “VIRTUAL” VICE-COMMODORE:  Thank you Rob Gibbs and Mike Ferring and “yours truly”  for combining to fill the vacant Vice Commodore role and deliver club communications – i.e. our website and Compass Points.  And, yes, we may have missed a topic or a deadline here and there, but by and large we kept up the great AYC tradition of excellent, frequent and comprehensive coverage of all things happening in and around the AYC and ASF.  Thank you Rob and Mike for all your extra efforts!
7. “MY” BOARD:   Thank you each and every one of you for your guidance, your engagement, your TOLERANCE of me and my many faults and frailties.  Together, we did a job that we all can and should very proud of.   I am.  Thank you all!

And lastly, let me thank all of you in the AYC that brought me into the club 10 years ago with such joy, passion and commaraderie.  Thank you for your trust to allow me to be your Commodore this past year.  Thank you for your kind words—and your challenging requests ,  and for making this such a great club and great “family” of people who make sailing in the desert so wonderful for all of us!

Fair winds!   Arrr!

Emory Heisler
AYC Commodore

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 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.

The Thistle is a 17-foot open dinghy designed for racing and daysailing. The sail plan consists of a main, jib, and spinnaker. The large sail area makes the boat fast in most winds.

The original boats were built in the 1940′s, constructed of wood and are still very competitive. Thistles are now built with fiberglass hulls, but still use wood for the rails and gratings. The boats are fast and beautiful.

The Thistle class is a national organization. It’s broken into districts throughout the United States, each district made up of several fleets located in separate cities.

Fleet 127 (part of the Southern California District) in Phoenix, Arizona has 12 boats, including new boats built in 2000, older wooden boats, and everything in-between. Our skippers have just as wide a range of experience from novice to very experienced.

If you’re interested in racing or daysailing please Contact Fleet Captain Trey Harlow for more information. Or click to the Thistle national site.

To place an ad, contact Web Master

The restored 1949 motor yacht Euphrates.

For Sale: Euphrates, a beautifully restored, 1949, 40′ Matthews wooden motor-yacht.  Available for fractional ownership in Newport Beach, California.  She is the product of a ten year restoration.  Re-powered with twin GM Crusader V-8s, all new plumbing and wiring.  Modern galley.  Sleeps four adults.  An elegant classic.  Teak, mahogany, leather, brass and chrome abound.  All is polished and gleaming.  She is a member of the Classic Yacht Association.

She has a beautiful berth in Newport Harbor.  It is a bit like owning a cozy waterfront condominium in Newport Beach.

Fractional 10% ownership shares are being offered at $20,000, however, for members of the AYC a 10% discount is offered. In addition, partial, $5,000 non-recourse financing, on friendly terms is available.  There is a $3,600 yearly fee, per 10% share, covering professional management by PrimeTime Yachts of Newport Beach, all taxes, insurance, excellent professional maintenance and our beautiful slip in Newport Harbor.  Principal owner is a member of the Arizona Yacht club. The Euphrates website is, www.euphrates-newportbeach.com.

Contact: Bob Hersh, PrimeTime Yachts, 949 278 6764, robert@primetimeyachts.com, or Dick Strand, owner, 480 239 3810, schooner007@msn.com

ASF Boats for Sail! Check out these boats donated to ASF. Contact George Tingom, John Mayall or Emory Heisler for more information or to make an offer on any of these boats!

1974 Buccaneer 18

Flying Scott

 

Banshee

O'Day 22

 Buccaneer 18- 18ft dinghy. Good trailer. Good “starter” boat.
LINK for more information about Buccaneer 18 sail boats.
Flying Scot-19 ft day-sailor. Needs some TLC to be in racing shape.
LINK for more information about Flying Scot sail boats.
Banshee-13 ft dinghy. Similar to a Laser. Excellent sails. (dolly not included).
LINK for more information about Banshee sail boats.
O’Day 22-22 ft. Needs mast. Lots of TLC.
LINK for more information about O’Day 22 sail boats.

FOR SALE: Catalina 22 – 1972 Catalina #1361, “Jammin” – Get it in time for the Birthday regatta & Spring series: Weight 2160 lbs as weighed at the 1996 Nationals, The third lightest out of over 60 boats weighed. 2 Mains, 2-150 genoas 1-jib,16-1in boom, out haul, boom vang, split back stay, new keel-winch,ladder.

CONTACT: Paul Liszewski – Cell 480-797-1631
(01/2012)

FOR SALE: 1996 CATALINA CAPRI SAILBOAT for sale $29,000 OBO - This boat is in “like new” condition. Even has original upholstery. Garaged much of it’s life.  Fixed fin keel, 18 hp inboard Perkins diesel.  Pedestal wheel steering w/all gauges.  Heavy duty tandem axle trailer.  Boat loaded with options.  Located at Elephant Butte, NM.  Will send pictures on request.  575 744-4152

FREE: Model 912 PowerWinch used to pull Mind’s Eye up onto it’s trailer. Comes with easy dismount platform, extended power cable, owners manual, etc. Pulls 3500 lbs direct pull or 6000 double line pull. The case was cracked in a couple of places, but has been repaired. It has worked great.
Contact Cliff Peterson, (480) 831 1241
(12/2011)
FOR SALE: 15 foot Javelin O’Day. Trailer raises manually like a dump truck to simplify solo launching. This day sailor is rigged for solo sailing. Jib has a roller furler. All rigging upgraded. Stern needs some maintenance. $350. Flagstaff.  Call Terry at 928-699-1138 or e-mail me at terryfemale@gmail.com(07/2011)
WANTED:  I am looking for a late model used Catalina 14.2 daysailor or equivalent, in reasonably good condition w/ a trailer. Please call Bob @ 602-788-1218 or email me at bobstropicals@qwestoffice.net
(08/2011)
      
FOR SALE: Martin 242 Team Gravity: Proven winner on the lakes and off-shore, five-year PHRF Spin Champion, fleet second place Coastal Cup (San Fran to Santa Barbra.)  Carbon mast, carbon spinnaker pole, 3.5 Nissan outboard, Vang Master, all Harkin blocks and cleats, running rigging arranged for super-fast sail changes and the best sail handling, spectra backstay with kicker.  Garage full of sails, off-shore racing equipment. Two-axel Aros trailer set up for ramp launching, stepping mast to stand rig.   $10,000  Rick Johnson 602-762-9797 TeamGravity@q.com (7/2011)  

      For Sale:  Hutchins ComPac 16. $4,500.00 Beautiful 16′ sloop. Perfrect for beginning sailors or old salts ready to downsize. Includes main, jib, trailer, 2hp Johnson outboard, many little extras. Cockpit seats 4 adults easily. 2 berths. Can be seen in Ft. Hills. Contact John Birkemo (480) 717 4012.   (6/2011)

To place an ad, contact WEBMASTER

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.

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

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.

Spring Training may be over, but the 2011-2012 AYC season sure isn’t and as always we’re saving some of our best events for last!

Final races at LP and TTL are on tap of course and April means time to kick-back and cruise to Humbug with the gang for Tall Cactus Regatta.

In addition to Tall Cactus we’ll have a busy month for “paperwork” with Election ballot mailing – hopefully the last via snail mail – and two recommended AYC Bylaws changes to vote on. Please give your serious consideration to both these motions from the board:

1. Expansion of “Junior” membership to sailors 25yrs and younger (currently up to 21) to allow more of our ASU students to join us on the water at “Junior” rates.
2. Modification of votion procedures to allow members to “Opt” to vote electronically rather than requiring mailing of paper ballots.

Both of these changes look like good improvements and I hope you’ll “bounce around” these ideas with your crew and friends and share your feedback with us online with comments and on the AZYC Yahoo Group.

Have a great April!

April 2012 Calendar of Events

• Sunday, April 1
  • 9:00am LP Race Day 8
  • 1:00pm Opti 1-2 Sailing Classes (TTL)
• Tuesday, April 3
  • 4:00pm High School Sailing Program
  • 6:30pm AYC Board Meeting
• Saturday, April 7
• 9:30am ASF Start Sailing Right Day 4
• 1:00pm ASF Sailing Skills Development Day 4
• Sunday, April 8
• Easter Sunday
• ASF Opti 1-2 Day 4 (TTL)
• Tuesday, April 10
• 4:00pm High School Sailing Program
• 7:00pm AYC General Membership Meeting
• Saturday, April 14
• 12:30pm LP Race Day 9
• Sunday, April 15
  • 9:00am LP Race Day 10 – FINAL DAY!
  • 1:00pm ASF Opti 1-2 Day 5 (TTL)
• Tuesday, April 17
• 4:00pm High School Sailing Program
• Sunday,  April 22
• 3:00pm TTL Race Day 8
• Tuesday, March 27
  • 4:00pm High School Sailing Program
• Saturday, April 28
• 9:00am Tall Cactus Regatta – Skipper’s Meeting
• 11:00am Tall Cactus Regatta
• SATURDAY, MAY 5
• AYC CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP!!!
• SATURDAY, MAY 12
• 6:00pm THE PARTY!  Food!  Music!  Friends!  Fun!!!

Emory Heisler
AYC Commodore

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/

Sail Very Fast

The PHRF Spin boats are among the fastest of the regatta, usually driven by larger crews over longer distances than the other classes. These folks are hard core—sailors who love nothing more than to win a close start or push the boat up on a plane.

The fleet is made up of a diverse collection of boats, made more or less equal through the PHRF handicap scheme and includes “big chute” boats from 20 to 30 feet and beyond!  Check out the current fleet:

Crunch Time

1. Santana 2023
2. Ranger 22
3. J/24
4. Merit 25
5. Evelyn 26
6. J/29
7. Hobie 33 (prepping for Transpac 2013!!!)

Interested in joining us for a race, a day, a weekend or the whole series?  Learn more by contacting Fleet Captain: Bruce Andress

A fabulous spring season is off and running with over 50 boats registered for LP and TTL racing and 35 students registered for ASF Sailing Education courses.

March is an especially busy month for Arizona Sailors with as 15-20 boats heading to San Diego for the NOOD regatta along with our regular slate of LP and TTL Racing. Good luck and safe travels to the Viper, Buccaneer and other sailors heading to San Diego for the 3/16-3/18 SD NOOD!

On the Board of Directors front please on the lookout for RECOMMENDED BYLAW CHANGES being proposed by the Board to land in your in-basket in the next few weeks.

Have a great March Madness!

March 2012 Calendar of Events

TTL Sailors…remember the time change!  TTL Racing “First Horn” moves back an hour in March to 3:00pm for first horn.

• Saturday, March 3
  • 12:30pm LP Race Day 3
• Sunday, March 4
  • 9:00am LP Race Day 4
  • 1:00pm Opti 1-2 Sailing Classes (TTL)
• Tuesday, March 6
  • 4:00pm High School Sailing Program
  • 6:30pm AYC Board Meeting
• Sunday, March 11
  • 1:00pm Opti 1-2 Sailing Classes (TTL)
  • 3:00pm TTL Race Day 6
• Tuesday, March 13
  • 4:00pm High School Sailing Program
  • 6:00pm AYC Board Elections – Nominating Committee Meeting
  • 7:00pm AYC General Membership Meeting – Anna Tunnicliffe!
• Friday, March 16
  • SD NOOD Regatta Day 1 of 3 - San Diego, CA
• Saturday, March 17 
  • GO GREEN!  Happy St. Patrick’s Day
  • 12:30pm LP Race Day 1
• Sunday, March 18
  • 9:00am LP Race Day 2
  • 1:00pm ASF Opti 1-2 (TTL)
• Tuesday, March 20
  • 4:00pm High School Sailing Program
• Saturday, March 24
  • 9:30am ASF Start Sailing Right Day 3
  • 1:00pm ASF Sailing Skills Development Day 3
• Sunday, March 25
  • 3:00pm TTL Race Day 7
  • Sunday, February 2
• Tuesday, March 27
  • 4:00pm High School Sailing Program
• Saturday, March 31
  • 12:30pm LP Race Day 7

Emory Heisler
AYC Commodore

Anna Tunnicliffe in action. Photo: John Payne

Our March speaker has a sailing resume that starts off this way: #1 Ranked Women’s Match Racer.

Scroll down to read about her latest honors: ISAF World Sailor of the Year (her second) and, in an award presented February 23, US Sailing’s Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year (a record-tying fourth). Click on that link to watch the ceremony. Then there’s the Olympic Gold Medal from 2008 for Laser Radial.

Oh, and she’s terrific person. The sort of person who gives away all those flashy Rolex watches she won to parents and teammates.

Anna Tunnicliffe will be our speaker for the Arizona Yacht Club membership meeting at 7 pm, Tuesday, March 13, at the Caddy Shack @ Rolling Hills Golf Course, 1415 North Mill Avenue, Tempe. Guests are welcome to attend.

This summer, Anna will compete in the Olympics in Weymouth, England, with teammates Molly Vandemoer and Debbie Capozzi in match racing on Elliott 6m boats.

Born in England, Anna’s parents moved to the U.S. when she was 12 and she began sailing on Lake Erie, proving to be a natural. She competed for Old Dominion in college and then focused on sailing in the Olympics, bringing home to the U.S. the first women’s gold medal in sailing in 20 years.

The traditional trophy-smacking shot. Photo: Daniel Foster

Dennis Davis took the Learn to Sail Right class with his brother in Fall 2011 and thinks ASF instructors are GREAT!! He is running two Lasers at TTL; Ema is currently taking High School Sailing. They are looking to add larger boats to the family fleet – maybe a buccaneer!
 
The Edwards Family, Kevin, Stacy, Austin and Hollis, are long-time Scottsdale residents that pursue many outdoor activities. Kevin has been involved in sailing for many decades and has crewed on Team Gravity at Lake Pleasant for over six seasons.  He crews with the “Shockwave” sailing team out of Long Beach, has been on many ocean excursions and continues to enjoy boating with friends and family.  Austin, is a student at ASU and looks forward to participating in the sailboat racing program at Tempe Lake this spring. Stacy and Hollis both enjoy boating very much but have taken a more casual approach to their sailing experience. They look forward to being active members and getting know more of you at the Arizona Yacht Club.

Chalz Kirubi is a mechanical engineer who has helped in building a 20-foot wooden Catboat called Kinship with his family in the Boston area. He has been on sailboats all 40 years of his life. He has lived in Phoenix for the past six years and owned a 22-foot Laguna Windrose that he would tow to Lake Pleasant. He is now looking to sail a bit more casually than owning by adopting a boat at Tempe Town Lake or crewing with others.

Peter Lehrach taught himself to sail at age 13 on a Sunfish (the only boat he’s ever owned) and began racing competitively in college.  He is experienced sport boat crew on J/22, J/29, & J/80s and raced extensively on a Pearson 30 in the Gulf of Mexico.  As foredeck on a Farr 37, they won class at the 2003 Key West race week earning the crew an invitation to the National Offshore Championship at the US Naval Academy.  The highlight of his sailing career was being #1 foredeck on a 70’ ketch for Antigua Race Week and then racing the same yacht in the America’s Cup Jubilee at the Isle of Wight, England.  His cruising resume includes Marion (MA) to Bermuda, Newport to Ensenada, Turks & Caicos to Nassau, and bareboat charters from Guadeloupe, and the BVIs.

Court Roberts joined AYC in the fall and right away took the championship in the 2011 Governor’s Cup!  He hails from Anthem and sails a Melges 24 and recently has begun sailing in the Laser fleet on Tempe Town Lake. Last year he began racing his Holder 20 in AYC Lake Pleasant races. Court originally grew up in Southern California where he starting sailing Sidney Sabots way back in the day as a kid. He spent many vacations sailing with his family to Catalina Island and other coastal cruising and often participated in the boat parade in Huntington Harbor. He moved with his family to Northern California in the late 70′s and picked sailing back up in the early 90′s. He owned and operated a night club and restaurant in Eureka, California for 15 years until the move in 2005 to Anthem; some of the summer months are still spent at his home in Northern California taking in the summer racing in the Humboldt Yacht Club, where he is also a member. Court says he is excited to be a member of the AYC and involved with such a great group of fine sailors who enjoy sailing just as much as he does. We look forward to his active racing involvement in Arizona.

Devin Sloan became interested in sailing while completing the Deepwater Cruising course series at USC. While the course was geared towards offshore sailing in larger keelboats, it did include some experience with smaller boats such as 420s. He then helped crew in the Marina Del Rey beer can races for 2 years.  Unfortunately due to work and relocation he has not been on the water for almost a decade and is looking to get back into sailing. He is interested in racing and assisting with equipment maintenance.

Matthew and Jacob Thomas joined as Junior Members in the fall. They have participated in the High School Sailing Program.

George and Pam Weaver have come full circle, having learned to sail in the early 70’s with an AYC member, racing on Lake Pleasant and participating in a cruise to Isla Tiburon off Hermosillo. They have since sailed a variety of boats in the Chesapeake, San Diego Harbor, the Willamette & Columbia Rivers in Oregon, the Pacific Ocean off Honolulu, and the Pacific Northwest as proud owners of a 50’ Sea Ranger trawler.  George is a retired Captain with Continental Airlines; Pam is an interior designer turned writer and is now the accomplished author of three books. They live in Scottsdale with their Papillion Angel, an experienced watch-stander on the flybridge.

If you are a new member and have not been introduced through Compass Points, please send a brief writeup about you (and your family) to membership@arizonayachtclub.org.

Brenda Shears
Arizona Yacht Club Membership Director