September Meeting

by Bob Naylor, posted in Events, Featured, Meetings, Uncategorized

Guest Speaker: Martin Lorch – Baja Ha Ha Cruisers Rally

7PM, Tuesday, Sep-14
The Grill at Rolling Hills Golf Course
1415 N Mill Ave, Tempe, AZ


This is AYC’s FIRST in-person meeting since the onset of the pandemic. Arrive early for dinner and beverages – we’ll mix and mingle, then at 7PM, we’ll kick it off with club business and updates – introductions, upcoming AYC events, etc. Then we’ll turn it over to our Guest Speaker, Martin Lorch. Martin will present on his experiences participating in the annual Baja Ha-Ha Cruisers’ Rally! Join Martin, your AYC shipmates, and our guests for a fun evening and a great presentation. See you there!

– PLEASE SEE IMPORTANT INFORMATION AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST –

The Baja Ha-Ha XXVI

In November of 2019, Martin joined his brother aboard Jacques’ Irwin 38 for the 26th annual Baja Ha-Ha cruisers rally. A “bucket list” trip for many sailors, it was Jacques’ fifth time participating in the rally – a scenic long cruise from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Martin will provide a pictorial overview of the rally, accompanied by his always entertaining live commentary, and covering the journey to Cabo, the stops at Bahia Tortugas Bay (Turtle Bay), Bahia Santa Maria and around the corner at Puerto Magdalena (Mag Bay) and the final rush to get into Cabo before the tropical storm Raymond made landfall at the tip of Baja Sur. If you love sailing, you’re going to love this presentation!

About Martin Lorch:
Martin was born into a seafaring family – he’s been under sail since the age of two (2)! A third-generation sailor, Martin and his brother Jacques followed in their father’s and grandfathers’s footsteps. His grandfather extensively sailed the Baltic Sea in a 12-meter in the early 1900s, and his father sailed his 9.6-meter Finnish-made HAJ off the coast of Morocco, across the Strait of Gibraltar, and around the Mediterranean.

Martin really gets around. He’s sailed in Morocco, Europe, Southern and Baja California, and Arizona. He raced and crewed in many Southern California races, including the Marina Del Rey to San Diego race, Santa Barbara to King Harbor (Redondo Beach), the Congressional Cup on Cal 40s, the Cal 40’s Nationals in the mid 70’s, the Lipton Cup in the early 80’s, around Catalina Island on his brother Jacques’ Irwin 38, raced in the Sea of Cortez near San Carlos and Guaymas, cruised the west coast from San Francisco to Los Angeles and the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia.

This is Martin’s 40th-year as an AYC member! His service to AYC includes several years as Fleet Captain, a term as Commodore, and designation as a Distinguished Life Member. A seven-time Club Champion (most recently in 2021), he’s been sailing with AYC since 1980. Martin owned and raced his Santana 20 “Water Colors” since 1985. From 2001 to 2015, he raced a Catalina 22 with his children, Alexia and Cedric, winning the first ever AYC Club Championship for the C-22 Fleet. He aspires to become AYC’s oldest active (still sailing) club member! He enjoys teaching hands-on sailing.

When not aboard Water Colors, Martin manages his real estate and property management company, specializing in development and management of self-storage properties, office buildings, and mobile home parks. He enjoys travel, fixing things, cooking, mushroom hunting, and planting trees.

  • Martin Lorch
  • Martin and Cedric with AYC’s Championship Trophy in front of a painting of Martin’s grandfathers 12-meter sailboat

Important Information: The Grill at Rolling Hills Golf Course

The City of Tempe is permitting AYC to use The Grill for our monthly meetings. Our usage is after their normal operating hours, which means that we’ll have the facility to ourselves, and that Tempe will incur added labor costs for providing after-hours kitchen and wait staff. As part of our arrangement, they ask that we generously support their staff with food and beverage orders to defray labor costs.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

  • RSVP: We’re uncertain how many people to expect at our first in-person meeting in over 18-months. The Grill is presently operating with reduced staff – to ensure adequate kitchen and wait staff for our meeting, we ask that you RSVP for this event. If you think you’ll attend, please RSVP (there is no firm commitment) not later than Sunday, Sep-12. Click here: RSVP.
  • Entrance: The main entrance will likely be closed – please enter through the SOUTH entrance (right side of the building as viewed from the parking lot).
  • MASKS REQUIRED: The City of Tempe has implemented a mask requirement effective July 30 for all patrons and employees at indoor city-run facilities. Masks may be lowered when eating and drinking; but, should be properly worn at all other times. For more information, go here: City of Tempe – masks.