What is a lifelong learner? A sailor is. They read, take classes, spend time on the water, attend regattas, teach and coach others, and ask questions. Gaining skills is often more a source of enjoyment than winning races and dusting awards on a shelf.
Many of our members have taken their knowledge and skill to new levels with ASA & US Sailing Courses. Some of you have become instructors or race officers, and many have went the distance and obtained your captain’s license. In the past few months two AYC members have taken the initiative to earn new credentials. Congratulations are in order.
USCG 25 Ton Masters License – Near Coastal
US Sailing Certified Club Race Officer
Congratulations Emory and Rob. You sail and you know things!
Our Membership Directors Skip Kempff and Gordon Briner have kept busy with 17 applicants this past month. We will end November with a total 265 members. Please join me in welcoming the following new sailors into AYC:
- Sierra Blemaster – Junior
- Marco Bianchi
- Brendan Bracken
- Tom Fuge
- Rob Hahn-Lowry
- Olivia Jackman – Junior
- Jodi Owens
- Patricia Pearson
- Luke Pfannes
- Greg Romano
- Chirag (Chris) Trivedi
- Jason Van Doren
Welcome to AYC!
Sailing is alive and well in Arizona and our monthly meetings are thriving too. This month we are hosting Karen Lile – a broadcast journalist, sailor and adventurer. I’m looking forward to hearing Karen share about her sailing in the BVI’s since Emory and I are cruising there at months end. Read the full meeting post.
The annual AYC Governor’s Cup Regatta will be held on Saturday, November 20th. This is another one of our distance races and our second largest regatta of the year. The after race social will be held at the Wild Horse West Bar & Grill just minutes from the lake. Bring your hunger and a wallet (cash only)! Read the full event post.
Volunteer Opportunity – Equipment Maintenance: The board recently approved new advertising skins for our big pontoon boat at Lake Pleasant. Lake Captain David Newland was instrumental in working with the vendor to keep our costs down and part of the agreement is for us to remove the old vinyl wrap and repair a few banged up panels in preparation for the new vinyl. Read the full post from David.
Coming Soon – Race Committee 101: Now that we can meet again we’d like to offer US Sailings Race Committee 101 – in person. “RC 101” is not a training course, but it does provide an overview of race committee functions for those who are interested in learning more.
This 2-hour session will be conducted by AYC member and US Sailing Certified Regional Race Officer Wendy Larsen. Along with the overview, Wendy will discuss specific details about the different lakes we host our races on. An interest survey will be coming in the mail.
And now for a funny Thanksgiving day joke. The timing is critical for this one.
What did the pumpkin say after Thanksgiving? “Good pie everyone!”
If I don’t see you before then, enjoy your family, your friends and the feast.
With gratitude,
Deb Heisler
Commodore
