The Arizona Yacht Club Board of Directors Election Nominating Meeting will be held March 13, 2012 at 6pm immediately prior to the March General Membership meeting.

Eligible members interested in volunteering to run for election to AYC Board of Directors positions, or that would like to nominate eligible AYC members should see their ACTIVE Fleet Captain, Cruising Captain Mike Parker or Commodore Emory Heisler to participate in the Nominating Committee or to submit nominations.

The ELECTION OF OFFICERS and NOMINATING committee and process are defined by the AYC By-Laws as follows:

9.1.2 Election of Officers. The following Club Officers shall be elected annually by the Membership for one (1) year terms: Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore, Fleet Captain, and Cruising Captain. Each year the following Club Officers shall be elected by the Membership for two (2) year terms: Membership Director, Junior Staff Commodore (who shall become Senior Staff Commodore in the second year of his tenure).

12.1.2 NOMINATING: All members of the Nominating Committee must be Voting Members of the Club. The Fleet Captain of each active fleet shall notify the Commodore of the Fleet’s representative. The Cruising Captain shall select one (1) member from the ranks of the predominately Cruising Voting Membership and the Commodore shall select two (2) members-at-large representatives from the ranks of the non-racing Voting Members of the Club. Such selections by the Active Racing Fleets, Cruising Captain and Commodore shall not be subject to approval or challenge by any other entity or person. For the purposes of this Article, an “Active Racing Fleet” shall mean a racing fleet which qualified for a separate start and has at least four (4) Voting Members registered to race, in the last completed Fall or Spring Series of the Club’s racing calendar just prior to the Nominating Committee’s first meeting. The Chairman of the Nominating Committee shall be the Commodore of the Club who shall have no vote on the Nominating Committee. No other Officers or Board Members may be on the Nominating Committee. There shall be no requirement for the Nominating Committee to nominate any incumbent Officer or Member of the Board of Directors to any Office or Board of Director Membership. The Nominating Committee shall procure approval of each of its nominations from the person being nominated prior to conclusion of its duties for the year. The Nominating Committee may nominate more than one (1) candidate for each position open. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Commodore shall automatically be nominated for the position of Junior Staff Commodore.

Laser Fleet

Hundreds of thousands of these high-performance, one-person Olympic-class boats have been built and raced—and most of the world’s best racers have sailed one.

AYC has fleets of competitive Laser and Radial Laser sailors and welcomes new entries. Lasers are easy to come by, inexpensive, and FUN!

All ages and skill levels are welcomed…AND…you if you don’t have a Laser you can still give one a try and join in the fun at TTL by adopting an AYC Laser (see Adopt-a-Boat page).

Learn more about Laser racing at the national Laser site.

Fleet Captain: George Sheller (gfsheller@yahoo.com)

CLICK HERE for the PDF Version

What a GREAT Birthday Regatta, eh?  Congratulations to us all, and major THANK YOUs to Joe and Katherine Motil and all the volunteers that helped make the 2012 AYC Birthday Regatta and Leukemia Cup such a great success! THANK YOU!

Next up? A desert “winter” full of sailing here in AZ and across the Southwest, AND BOARD OF DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS!!!

Check it out!

1. Commodore’s Corner – Desert “Winter” is Busy!
2. Very Happy Birthday Regatta!
3. US Sailing Instructor Class in March
4. Notice: 2011-12 Officers Nominating Meeting
5. Fleet of the Month – Portsmouth
6. For Sale! Want Ads!

Congratulations to AYC and Leukemia Lymphoma Society for another fabulous Birthday and Leukemia Cup Regatta. We’re on our way into another great year of sailing “Desert Style”!

TTL has already kicked off the Spring Season with racing on 1/22, 1/29 and 2/5, and SCYA Mid-Winters will be combined with LP opening weekend 2/18-19 and with TTL dates in February so there will be lots of reasons to GET YOUR BUTT (ooops) BOAT in gear and join your sailing friends on the water.

What’s next???  BOARD OF DIRECTOR ELECTIONS!  FLEET CAPTAINS….time to get nominating! The Nominating Committee Meeting will be held 3/13/2012 immediately prior to the March AYC General Membership meeting.

February 2012 Calendar of Events

• Sunday, February 5,
  • 2:00pm TTL Race Day 3 – All day Super Bowl Sunday
• Tuesday, February 7,
  • 4:00pm High School Sailing Program
  • 6:30pm AYC Board Meeting
• Saturday, February 11,
  • 9:30am ASF Start Sailing Right Day 1
  • 1:00pm ASF Sailing Skills Development Day 1
• Sunday, February 12,
  • All day Lincoln’s Birthday
  • 2:00pm TTL Race Day 4
• Tuesday, February 14,
  • All day Valentine’s Day
  • 4:00pm High School Sailing Program
  • 7:00pm AYC General Membership Meeting
• Saturday, February 18,
  • 12:30pm LP Race Day 1
  • 12:30pm  SCYA Midwinter Regatta
• Sunday, February 19
  • 9:00am LP Race Day 2
  • 9:00am  SCYA Midwinter Regatta
• Monday, February 20
  • All day  President’s Day
• Tuesday, February 21
  • 4:00pm  High School Sailing Program
• Saturday, February 25
  • 9:30am  ASF Start Sailing Right Day 2
  • 1:00pm  ASF Sailing Skills Development Day 2
• Sunday, February 26
  • 2:00pm  TTL Race Day 5
• Tuesday, February 28
  • 4:00pm  High School Sailing Program

Let’s go sailing!!!

Emory Heisler
AYC Commodore

Where does one start about this year’s AYC Birthday Regatta and Leukemia Cup?

Oh, wait, that’s easy…

THANK YOU JOE AND KATHERINE MOTIL! WOW! What a fabulous Regatta!!!!
…and…of course…
Thank you MOTHER NATURE for fabulous weather!
Thank you ANDREA & DOC CAROE our Race Management Team (PRO)!
Thank you VOLUNTEERS on Race Committee!

Thank you VOLUNTEERS on Shore for keeping everything running so smoothly!
Thank you DAVE CHRISTENSEN and WENDY LARSEN for scoring and shore support!
Thank you SILVIO BERLUSCONI (aka RICK JOHNSON) and TEAM GRAVITY GANG for Friday Dinner!
Thank you FUND RAISERS for raising over $25,000 (and still counting!) to CURE BLOOD CANCERS!
Thank you LEUKEMIA LYMPHOMA SOCIETY for such a great mission for us to join in!
Thank you ULLMAN SAILS for sponsoring the FRIDAY CHALLEGE!
…and last but not least…
Thank you SAILORS for coming from near and far to create and enjoy our wonderful “Desert Vibe”!
Thank you ARIZONA YACHT CLUB for hosting such a great Regatta…AGAIN!

Few things are perfect, but by most accounts, including the Viper Fleet on the first stop of their West Coast Series, the 2012 Arizona Yacht Club Birthday Regatta and Leukemia Cup was pretty darn close.

Here’s what “Vipper” visitor Jim Sears had to say…”Arizona Yacht Club’s Birthday Regatta is like the “Cochella” of sailing… There’s a festival-type of vibe with everyone staying on houseboats or camping in RVs right next to the lake. When not racing, most sailors can be seen “campfire hopping”, hanging out at the yacht club tent, or watching NFL playoffs at the marina bar.  And, with cell signal a bit weak, it was definitely a weekend “off the grid”.  If I could freeze time to a single weekend, this might be one of them.  Great racing at a fun venue with a bunch of crazy Viper sailors…”  (see the full article (HERE):

Take a look for yourself… (photo’s Courtesy of Tom Erickson-Sailboat Shop)

Portsmouth

The Portsmouth Fleet is the birthplace of new fleets, the mixing pot of “dinghy” and centerboard boat designs, and often the first port for new AYC Members to begin racing.

The “Portsmouth Yardstick” (similar to PHRF “Handicapping”) allows small boats of varying designs to race against each other on “even terms.”

Many One-Design Fleets like the Buccaneer and C14.2 classes got their start sailing Portsmouth, and current Portsmouth boats include:

• Megabytes
• Coronado 15s
• Sunfish
• Fireballs
• Mulit-hulls
  …and any other non-One-Design boats that happen to show up!

 In the spirit of mixing it up, Portsmouth welcomes all AYC members to participate in Lake Pleasant and TTL small boat activities regardless of boat design, skill level, or lack of boat. Yes, you can adopt a Sunfish and sail in the Portsmouth fleet at Tempe Town Lake. If you can tell time and have an e-mail address (or not), you are a Portsmouther. Come on out and join the fun!

We’ll leave the line open.

Check with Fleet Captain Joe Motil with any questions you have.

Thanks to Chris Tingom for these great photos!  Submit your own to the website with our Submission Form:  http://arizonayachtclub.org/member-photo-submission/

Where does one start about this year’s AYC Birthday Regatta and Leukemia Cup?

Oh, wait, that’s easy…

THANK YOU JOE AND KATHERINE MOTIL! WOW! What a fabulous Regatta!!!!
…and…of course…
Thank you MOTHER NATURE for fabulous weather!
Thank you ANDREA & DOC CAROE our Race Management Team (PRO)!
Thank you VOLUNTEERS on Race Committee!
Thank you VOLUNTEERS on Shore for keeping everything running so smoothly!
Thank you DAVE CHRISTENSEN and WENDY LARSEN for scoring and shore support!
Thank you SILVIO BERLUSCONI (aka RICK JOHNSON) and TEAM GRAVITY GANG for Friday Dinner!
Thank you FUND RAISERS for raising over $25,000 (and still counting!) to CURE BLOOD CANCERS!
Thank you LEUKEMIA LYMPHOMA SOCIETY for such a great mission for us to join in!
Thank you ULLMAN SAILS for sponsoring the FRIDAY CHALLEGE!
…and last but not least…
Thank you SAILORS for coming from near and far to create and enjoy our wonderful “Desert Vibe”!
Thank you ARIZONA YACHT CLUB for hosting such a great Regatta…AGAIN!

Few things are perfect, but by most accounts the 2012 Arizona Yacht Club Birthday Regatta and Leukemia Cup was pretty darn close.

Take a look for yourself… (photo’s Courtesy of Tom Erickson-Sailboat Shop)

CLICK HERE for the PDF Version

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Out with the old – Congratulations to all the fall series winners!!
In with the new – It’s time for the AYC Birthday Regatta and Leukemia Cup!

Speaking of Birthday Regatta and Leukemia Cup…REGISTER TODAY to allow for accurate planning for regatta committee…and if you won’t be joining us then please take a minute to support your favorite FUND RAISING SAILOR – CLICK HERE – to help the Leukemia Lymphoma Society in their mission to cure blood cancers!

1) Commodore’s Corner – Happy New Year!

2) Birthday Regatta – Get Ready!

3) Governor’s Cup for Christmas

4) Spring Series +PLUS+ SCYA Midwinter Regatta

5) Fleet of the Month – PHRF non-Spinnaker Fleet

6) For Sale! Want Ads!

It’s time for the 2012 BIRTHDAY REGATTA and LEUKEMIA CUP!
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, January 13, 14, 15, 2012

Have you signed up for the Ullman Center Board Challenge(Friday), the Birthday Regatta (Sat-Sun) and Leukemia cup (Sat)? If not what are you waiting for, do it today!

Less than 10 days and the tents will be rising on Spinnaker Point in preparation for the 52nd Arizona Yacht Club Birthday Regatta.

Celebrity Chef Silvio

Here’s the Agenda for the weekend:
January 13 – Friday

• 9:00am – Ullman Sails Centerboard Challenge
  (all classess welcome for 3 days of racing!)
• 6:00pm – Celebrity Chef Dinner – Silvio Berlusconi  

January 14 – Saturday

• 9:00am – AYC Birthday Regatta & Leukemia Cup
• 6:00pm – AYC Birthday Dinner
• 7:00pm – Leukemia Cup Regatta Awards / Auction

January 15 – Sunday

• 9:00am – AYC Birthday Regatta & Leukemia Cup
• 3:00pm – AYC Birthday Regatta Awards

Sign up now, or contact Joe Motil to help volunteer as “shore party!”

 
Joe Motil (480) 967-6990
Birthday Regatta Chairman
Junior Staff Commodore

Don’t blink! February and a full slate of Arizona Yacht Club activites, events and education are right around the corner.

Jan-22  TTL Spring Series Opening Day
Feb-11  ASF Start Sailing Right and Sailing Development
Feb-18  LP Spring Series Opening Day
Feb-18-19  SCYA Mid-Winter Regatta (Lake Pleasant)

DISCOUNTED SCYA MIDWINTER REGISTRATION
$10!!! Really! The SCYA has agreed to allow AYC members to register for the SCYA Midwinter Regatta for a mere $10 on top of registration for either the TTL or LP Spring Series.

Watch for registration details with the Spring Series NOR, SI and Registration/Entry.

Want an SCYA Midwinter shirt – ORDER NOW by contacting Trey Harlow.

Cotton Short Sleeve Tee Indigo Blue $10.00
Cotton Long Sleeve Tee Indigo Blue $12.00

MidWinters Cap Navy Blue One size fits all: $10.00

Wicking Short Sleeve Shirt White $18.00
Wicking Long Sleeve Shirt White $20.00

Oversize Oversize (XXL) Shirt Add $1.80

I hadn’t heard anything else about this so I thought I would post something…I’m going to leave the dock around 10:00 with hopes to make it to Cole’s Bay in the 12:00 hour.  Forecast looks pretty good!  Hope to see you out there…

New Years Day

Mostly sunny. Highs 72 to 77. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Read more – http://w.po.st/share/entry/redir?publisherKey=underground&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wunderground.com%2Fcgi-bin%2Ffindweather%2FgetForecast%3Fquery%3D33.888697%2C-112.280129&title=Weather%20Forecast%20New%20River%2C%20AZ%20%7C%20New%20River%20Weather%20%7C%20Wunderground&sharer=copypaste

The Arizona Yacht Club elbowed its way into Sailing World magazine, the Jan-Feb issue, with emphasis on the Birthday Regatta.

Commodore Emory Heisler is colorfully quoted. Chris Smith gets photo credit. Frank Hunter endorses us. Very cool. When you read it, you may be excused for thinking that Lake Pleasant must be a hundred miles from nowhere, but it certainly sounds like a fun place to be.

On the same page: Anna Tunnicliffe, our March meeting speaker!

A “Sailor’s Christmas Carol” – from Scuttlebutt #3496 (Website: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com)

A CHRISTMAS CAROL
(Courtesy of Captain Jeffry Matzdorff)

T’was the night before Christmas, I swung on the hook, With snowflakes a’landing, asleep with my book.
When up on the deck I heard footsteps and stuff, “I’ve been boarded!” I thought, and I tried to be tough.

Then down the companionway hatch came a dude, He was dressed like a nut and I thought, “I’m so screwed”.
But he laughed and he hummed as he surveyed my junk, So I figured he must be the resident drunk,

His eyes were lit up like a junkie on speed, But he gave me a whole bunch of stuff that I need.
Like rum and cigars and new charts and a dinghy, And some kind of fancy electrical thingy.

I knew it was stolen but I wasn’t telling, I just hoped he was giving and wasn’t just selling.
And I poured him a grog which he downed with a wink, Then I poured one for me (Lord I needed a drink!)

Then he staggered above to the dark snowy night, As I peeked I beheld an incredible sight.
Eight tiny dolphins and a beautiful sleigh, And the dude hopped aboard and prepared to make way.

The dolphins were ready to power the sled, But the guy raised a genny and mains’l instead.
With a burp and a chuckle he gathered the breeze, And called to the dolphins, now swimming with ease.

“Hey Stalker and FEMA and Cancer and Nixon!
Or Stinky and Pepper Spray, Mason, and Dixon!
Or whatever your names are, you cute little fishes, Here’s to every last sailor, my best Christmas wishes!”

As he sailed away leaving a wobbly wake
I hoped he had not many stops left to make.
He got close to shore and he soon was aground, But the dolphins proceeded to pull him around

And I heard him exclaim as he sailed out of sight, “Killer whales!! …
I’m just kidding, don’t be so uptight!”

Pat Favier displays one of the bottles of Bailey's that was later "picked." Photos: Mike Ferring

Liquor once again proved to be the hot item at the Buccaneer Gift Exchange Tuesday night, December 13.

With an excellent turnout and a heaping table of gifts, the social decibel level was at max most of the night. Two “thefts” of open presents was the rule and while the thievery began slowly, it was still rippling through the crowd as the evening ended—mostly bottles of spirits changing hands. Pat Favier managed what was probably the night’s heaviest thievery traffic, owing to her ability to spot the hot presents on the table, including two bottles of Bailey’s Irish Cream. Other top picks to pick: A classic boat lantern and a model sailboat.

Mike Parker also guided the group through the semi-annual Ye Blunder Bucket voting, “won” by Ray Gazzera. Rob Gibbs waved photo evidence of Ray’s Blunder: His Catalina 22 sitting bow up, stern down, still on its trailer, when Ray failed to secure the trailer hitch. Ray is a Blunder Bucket nominee many times over, but this is his first actual “victory.” In fact, Ray had been nominated so many times that in 2007 we awarded him an honorary “Life Achievement” Blunder Bucket.

What, more booze?

Gene Walentiny nominates Bob Worrall for a Blunder Bucket. Bob nominates him back.

Lots of excellent presents for the annual party.

Katherine Motil checks out the choices.

Click Here to Register for the Birthday Regatta and Leukemia Cup

This is the biggest event of the AYC  year, with boats from other parts of the country coming to try out Arizona weather in January.

But the event means more than a great weekend at the lake. Click Here for more information on the Leukemia Cup and what your entry/donation means for the fight against blood cancer here in AZ.

As in past years, the Birthday Regatta is Saturday and Sunday of MLK Weekend – 14 & 15 January.  Come race on Friday, January 13, too, for the Centerboard Challenge, open to anyone who can get the time off to race.

The Leukemia Cup will be awarded based on the Saturday Birthday Regatta results. If you sign up for both the Leukemia Cup and Birthday Regatta, entry Friday is free.

Newport Ocean Sailing Association

…home of the Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race

Commodores and Racers

All Yacht Clubs

Subject: Update Information for The 65th Newport to Ensenada International
Yacht Race

Attached find updated information regarding the 65th Newport to Ensenada
Yacht Race. Excitement continues to build for the 65th Newport to Ensenada
International Yacht Race due in large part to several important changes
made, many based on the feedback we have received from our racers.

Make sure you have your reservation made at the Coral Hotel for its room or
hospitality suites, as reservations are building. Also, if your club is
planning on hanging a club banner from a room balcony, note the maximum size
banner that can be hung is 82″ wide x 67″ tall.

Please post the enclosed details in your clubhouse and on your website. This
will allow your members an early chance to make their hotel and marina
reservations at the new NOSA headquarters in Mexico, Hotel Coral and Marina.

The NOTICE OF RACE and additional information is available at our website:
nosa.org  .

Let your racers know entries open December 1, 2011, with a substantial
discount for December entries:

o The entry fee is $125 through December 31st, 2011.

o The entry fee is $175 from January 1, 2012 through April 12, 2012.

o The entry fee is $225 for any entry received after April 12, 2012.

We have attached two recent articles that appeared in Sailing Anarchy
concerning changes that have occurred at NOSA.

Please share this with your membership.

If you have any questions or input, please contact the NOSA Entry Chair, Tom
Madden: 949-351-9905 or <mailto:tam1654@yahoo.com>tam1654@yahoo.com.

Chuck Iverson Tom Madden

Commodore, NOSA Entry Chair, NOSA

Ahoy AYC Friends and Family! What a great Fall Season we’ve had for the Arizona Yacht Club! Along with our standard fare of LP and TTL sailing with warm breezes and cool water we’ve had some of the best Membership Meeting programs on record thanks to the great works by Mike and Maryellen Ferring!

And if you happened to miss out on these great meetings you can get an excellent “taste” of what you’ve been missing by checking out the video Mike Ferring put together from Peter Isler’s visit (CLICK HERE). Thanks again to Mike for sharing his expert A/V and editing skills with us.

Whether you’re an AYC “Los Viejo Marinero”, a new AYC member, or just joining the fray in Start Sailing Right, we’ve had lots of fun for everyone to enjoy this Fall.

Next up???? Buccaneer Gift Exchange 12/13/2011! And then on into the New Year!
December’s membership meeting brings the annual AYC gift exchange, a gift exchange with a twist. You might say twisted, even. The meeting is at 7 pm, Tuesday, December 13, at the Caddy Shack @ Rolling Hills, 1415 North Mill Avenue, Tempe.

Here’s how the gift exchange works:

• You bring a wrapped gift valued at less than $20.
• You pick a number from a hat to determine the order we select gifts.
• We’ll have two people called to the front of the room at the same time.
• Each person can choose to pick a wrapped gift from the pile or play pirate and take the gift from someone who’s already opened one.
• Gifts can be “pirated” only twice before they’re safe from further theft.

Consider giving AYC goodies as Christmas gifts. The Ship’s Store will be open at the meeting. Other gift suggestions: Liquor always seems to bring applause!

Have a great Holiday Season! I hope to see you at the General Membership meeting next week, and at the re-scheduled Governor’s Cup, otherwise I’ll “see” you in Compass Points next year!

Emory Heisler
AYC Commodore

Fund Raising Sign-up continues this Tuesday night at the December AYC General Membership meeting. Our Desert Mountain States (DMS) Leukemia Lymphoma Society (LLS) partners will be on hand to register sailors for Leukemia Cup Regatta Fund Raising….and chances to win cool prizes.

If you can’t make the meeting, contact Tiffanie Hawkins at DMS/LLS to get your Fund Raising web site up and running!

And also, if you have loot for the LCR auction on January 14th, ballgame tickets, time-shares, art, sports memorabilia, even a bottle of rum – they’re all worth silver and gold and will help us in our cause to Cure Blood Cancers!

Click here to contact Katherine Motil, or call her at (480) 967-6990 and she’ll keep it safe until the Birthday Regatta.

Joe Motil (480) 967-6990
Birthday Regatta Chairman
Junior Staff Commodore

A-Sail Racing Action

The Sport Boat Fleet is built for speed.

It’s the new home of the Viper 640, the light, rapid, carbon-fiber-rich 21-foot, scoop-tailed speed boat.

Viper 640 at speed. Photo: Chris Smith

And suddenly AYC has picked up a bunch of J/80s. These 26-foot speed machines fly in a breeze with lots of sail area and a deep keel.

And we hear that 2010-2011 PHRF Spin fleet champ Dave Christensen will put his new, fabulous, home-built Mini 650 on the line.

Exciting, right?

PHRF Sport Boats are monohulls flying asymmetrical spinnakers. They conform to the SoCal PHRF rules.

US Sailing PHRF Ratings List

Southern California PHRF rules

For further information, contact Fleet Captain Mike Ferring

Fleet Captain Mike Ferring