April 1, 2020 In Board of Directors, Commodore's Corner, Featured By Rob

AYC COVID-19 Update

Your Board continues to evaluate the guidance from Federal, State, and Local governments regarding the Coronavirus outbreak to determine what we, as a club, can safely do to continue to promote sailing in the local community.

We have come to the conclusion that we will cancel the rest of the Spring 2020 Racing Season. The Racing Fleet Captain, Mike Hester, and the Rules Committee (the other Fleet Captains) will determine how this year’s Club Championship will be decided, but the Championship Race will at least be postponed. Tall Cactus is also cancelled. Our Happy Hour gatherings are canceled until further notice.

We are working with a new speaker for our April Membership Meeting and potentially trying to hold that virtually. Please stay tuned for information about that.

The Commodore’s Celebration has not currently been canceled, but we are not going to open registration until it is clear that we can safely hold this event.

This is the information that led to these decisions:

Your Board appreciates your understanding and support. Please stay safe and do what it takes to stay healthy to sail another day.

Rob Gibbs
Commodore

March 20, 2020 In Commodore's Corner, Sailing News By Rob

Schedule Changes due to Coronavirus

Standby for an update on this communication from Commodore Rob Gibbs.

In light of the CDC recommendations, as well as restrictions handed down to us by local government authorities, your Board and your Fleet Captains have made the following changes to our schedule:

  • All Racing Activities in March are cancelled. A decision on April and beyond will be made prior to the end of March and more communication will be forthcoming.
  • April’s Board Meeting will be held virtually. In accordance with our policies, as a member you are entitled to attend any Board Meeting. Please let me know and I will send you the virtual meeting information when it becomes available.
  • April’s general Membership Meeting is cancelled.

We will continue to monitor the situation and make decisions regarding upcoming events as the situation progresses. Please know that these decisions were made with your health and safety in mind and were not taken lightly. We would all rather be sailing right now…

Your Commodore,

Rob Gibbs

January 27, 2020 In Commodore's Corner By Rob

Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility

Y-Flag – All competitors shall wear Personal Flotation Devices (RRS Rule 40)

Recently we had higher winds at Lake Pleasant than on an average race day and two people landed in the water after a knockdown under spinnaker. The water temp was only about 60 degrees.

The remaining crew members struggled to get the boat back under control and the boat moved away from the two crew in the water fairly quickly. Two competitors trailing them offered assistance, but the people in the water, trying not to interrupt racing and thinking that the Mark Set Boat would be there any second to pick them up, declined assistance and the competitors sailed on. 

As it turns out, the Mark Set Boat crew was about as far away as they could be at the time, essentially anchored because they were dealing with a mark. It took them several minutes to free themselves from their situation before they could get underway.

By the time that the Mark Set Boat was able to find the people in the water, about 15-20 minutes had passed and those in the water were showing first symptoms of hypothermia. Once they were safe on board, they were given some blankets and taken to Pleasant Harbor Marina where they were transported to the Fire Department. They were treated and released and everyone was okay.

After this incident, the Commodore called a meeting of the Fleet Captains and we conducted a Safety Review. The major point was that the group really wanted to reiterate to everyone is this: 

If there is someone in distress, don’t just ask if they need assistance. Stop and help, even if that means you just monitor the situation and communicate what’s going on to  Race Committee and, if necessary, the local authorities. If you find yourself in distress, accept the first help available. You can’t assume any more is coming.

In the RRS, safety is literally Rule 1. It states that “A boat or competitor shall give all possible help to any person or vessel in danger.” In an emergency situation, you’re obligated to render assistance to someone as long as you can do so without endangering your own vessel.

So, when someone goes overboard or there’s a vessel in danger, it is the responsibility of the closest vessels to render assistance. Often that is another competitor. If you are a competitor providing that assistance, you are eligible to request redress after the incident. If you are the boat receiving assistance, under Rule 41 (a) you would not be penalized for accepting that assistance.

Finally, as a skipper, you are ultimately responsible for the safety of yourself and your crew. You have to make the right decision for you and your crew, given the totality of the situation. That includes wind, sea state, temperature, equipment, crew experience, vessel capabilities, etc. We see this reflected in Rule 4, which says that “The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone.”

As we approach our biggest event of the year, let’s all take a moment, review our own safety procedures with our crew, and have a good time, safely.

July 5, 2019 In Commodore's Corner, Events, Meetings By Rob

Over 90 People at July Meeting!

A combination of our Amazing Speakers – Rear Commodore Deb Heisler and Former Commodore and USCG Capt Emory Heisler – and our new venue at R.T. O’Sullivans we had a turnout of over 90 people last night at our monthly meeting! Deb and Emory relayed their experiences on delivering northerly and southerly routes, with destinations including New York Harbor, BVI, Bermuda, and even Nova Scotia. Many people had dinner and beverages and so far the feedback about the food and service has been positive.

Every member has gotten an email survey link on the event. Even if you didn’t go, please take a look and answer the applicable questions. We know that the audio system had a technical problem, so we skipped that question this time, but we’ll add it back in once we work to get that problem fixed.

June 27, 2019 In Commodore's Corner, Racing Updates By Rob

AYC at Long Beach Race Week!

Team Cactus League Helmsman Joel Hurley on the Port Tack Layline

It was a little like a mini-meeting of AYC at Long Beach Race Week this year.

The AYC boats that participated were:

  • Tony Chapman’s Viper 640 Little Wing
  • Mike Hester’s Viper 640 Nectar Sled
  • Mike Grijalva’s Newport 41 Shockwave in the PHRF Random Leg Fleet
  • Paul Liszewski’s Hobie 33 Rolling in the Deep in the PHRF Random Leg Fleet
  • Rob Gibbs’s Catalina 37 Team Cactus League

Conditions were light on Friday but by the Summer Solstice picked up dramatically. Afternoon winds Saturday and Sunday topped 20kts and even the big heavy C37s looked fast! The Vipers spent the whole weekend on the Ocean courses while the C37s whizzed around the marks behind the breakwater.

It takes 8-10 to crew the Catalina 37, and nine of Team Cactus League were from AYC. The team this year was Helmsman Joel Hurley, Main Trimmer Dave Rawstrom, Lead Trimmer Josh McClain, Trimmer David Newland, Grinder Matt Baker, Grinder Toby Ambrose, Pit Master Grant Younger, Mast Princess Heather McClain, and Bowman Rob Gibbs. Our local knowledge expert and coach from the Long Beach area was Matt Rustigan. There were shore crew as well…Kim OlsonGibbs, Andi Baker, and Kaitlin Bowen managed “on shore operations” for the team.

Paul Liszewski and crew.

Vipers crew with at least three and Mike Hester sailed with his daughter Sarah and John Mayall. Tony sailed with Amerson Woods and Glenn Van Hell from the Long Beach area. Unfortunately Tony had damage to his mast track and was not able to race on Sunday.

In the Random Leg Fleet, Rolling in the Deep had Owner Paul Liszewski at the helm and Arizona crew Sean Brown and Bre (owners of the Olson 25 Stargazer) along with Keena, Tyler, and Ann from the Long Beach area. Shockwave‘s crew consisted of Mike Grijalva and his wife Jo, Frank Grijalva, Ricky Gilchrist, Jim Brock and Kevin Edwards.

Everyone left tired and looking forward to next year – June 26–28, 2020. Make your plans now! Let’s add to the number of AZ boats that show up to this WORLD CLASS event!

June 18, 2019 In Commodore's Corner, Meetings By Rob

New Home for our Membership Meetings!

At the last meeting, the current management at Rolling Hills Golf Course asked us (and the LPSC) to remove our trophies and trophy cases and to remove our gear from their storage area. If you were there you noticed that there was a Golf League event scheduled at the same time as our meeting. They are making changes that will help them succeed as a Golf Venue and of course we want them to succeed!

But what is best for Rolling Hills isn’t necessarily the best for the AYC. The board has come to the decision that it is time to part ways with Rolling Hills. We wish them the best, but we feel there are other options that will better fit our needs.

I’m pleased to announce that we’ve been working with R.T. O’Sullivans at the corner of Hayden and Thomas to have our meetings there.

Why did we choose this location?

  • Not far from our current location.
  • Easy access to the highway.
  • A great, affordable Regular Menu.
  • Amazing specials (Tuesday’s are 2 for 1 Burgers!)
  • Flexible space that allows us to have our regular meetings or scale up to large meetings when we need it.
  • An in house AV System that allows us to mitigate noise issues and easily have speakers and presentations.
  • Plenty of parking.
  • The management and staff are really friendly and glad to have us there.

We are holding our next “Dog Watch” Happy Hour there on Thursday the 27th of June starting around 5:30 pm as they always do going until whenever! (The kitchen closes at Midnight and they kick everyone out at 2 am!) We hope you come out and check it out!

Our next General Membership Meeting is on Tuesday the 9th of July and will be held at this new location.

We will be soliciting feedback via email survey from all members about their experience in order to work with RT O’Sullivan’s management to make this a great change for us.

Your feedback will determine if we stay or if we go, so please come out and support Your Arizona Yacht Club as we make this very important change.

THANKS

Rob Gibbs
Commodore
Arizona Yacht Club

June 13, 2019 In Commodore's Corner By Rob

What the Board Does with YOUR Money

Club Treasurer – Tony Chapman

Our club’s finances are not super complicated, but I wanted to take a moment to explain the “model” we are using. Every club operates a little differently, depending on what resources it has to offer and what their leadership feels is necessary to operate the club. As a member, you have a right to know how your money is spent and what we are doing to ensure that the club is financially sound.

Our club is a “Pay for what you use” club. That allows us to keep our annual dues very low, but it also means that every program or event attempts to pay for itself. There are a few exceptions to this but overall that is the goal. Here are some of the programs and their expenses:

The Race Series Program – This encompasses the racing at Tempe Town Lake, Lake Pleasant, as well as the Governor’s Cup, Ruth Bealls Cup, and the Tall Cactus. These programs have to pay for the lake user fees, fuel expenses, maintenance and upkeep on club equipment, and any expenses like food at social events that might be provided in conjunction with a race.

Birthday Regatta – This is such a big event, that we track it separately. In addition to Lake User Fees and fuel expenses, there are all kinds of other expenses, like catering, speaker fees, facility rental (think Big Tent), and other things that might change from year to year depending on the program. This event is the one that has the biggest potential to impact the club budget if something goes sideways, so we get updates from the Regatta Chairman in the months leading up to the event.

Commodore’s Party – This is one of the exceptions to the “pay for itself” rule. We don’t have a facility to host our own celebration, which adds to the cost of this event (as well as others). The AYC Boards over the years have set a precedent that, in order to keep the price of the ticket reasonable, we would subsidize the cost of the Commodore’s Party. This year there were three options and the venue and budget were voted on and approved by the board.

So where do your annual dues go? These revenues are spent on speakers and general membership meeting expenses, hosting the “Dog Watch” Happy Hours, printing the roster and membership cards, club insurance and membership dues in the Yachting Club of America and the Southern California Yachting Association, burgees that we give to our members, as well as making up any shortfalls in any of the programs when the don’t come up in the black. Any surplus goes into savings for major capital investments. The two largest in recent memory being “The Barge” pontoon boat and the “Wicked Awesome” Whaler.

And that is how it works. No smoke and mirrors, just making every attempt to use club funds to create the best sailing opportunities in the region and provide the most value to our members. Our long-time Treasurer Tony Chapman will be giving a short overview with actual numbers at the September Monthly Meeting so come out and discuss it with us!

May 19, 2019 In Commodore's Corner, Events, Social Events By Rob

Your Commodore’s Party!

The Commodore’s Party is so named because the Commodore puts it on, but it is about you…the membership of the club. More than most, our club is our members. It is the friendships we build and the memories we make. The Commodore’s Party is a celebration of what makes our club as great as it is…YOU!

Here are some pictures:

Isabella Hutchinson, last year’s High School Champion relinquishes the perpetual trophy to her brother Reese, this year’s Champion.[/caption]

After everyone toweled off and changed after enjoying the pool, the program started with awards given by the Arizona Sailing Foundation. Mike Parker, the Sailing Foundation President, awarded the following:

  • Heavy Lifting Award – Larry Green
  • High School Championship Trophy – Reese Hutchinson
  • Wayne Jason Tucker Outstanding Junior Award – William Steenken
  • Jerry Linderman Most Improved Junior Award – Ethan Wei

Colin Gibbs earned the top spot for the Junior Racing Fleet and got is name on the new Perpetual Trophy for the AYC Junior Champion.

Then the AYC Racing Awards followed. For the first time, there was a full fledged Junior Racing Fleet at Tempe Town Lake. The club has been gifted (by Rob and Kim -ed.) a perpetual trophy to award to the AYC Junior Champion. This year that Champion was Colin Gibbs.

And the most coveted racing trophy in the club, the AYC Club Champion Trophy, was won by Joel Hurley. Joel won the Laser Fleet championship at TTL and the Santana 20 Fleet championship at Lake Pleasant before taking the Championship Race on a Laser.

Joel Hurley wins the Club Championship Trophy. Next year Joel will volunteer to head up the Opti classes at Tempe Town Lake.

Every year we get to honor one individual for excellence in supporting and promoting the sport of sailing in our club. That honor is the AYC US Sailing Sportsmanship Award. This year’s winner, Emory Heisler, is a long time Club Member, past Commodore, US Sailing and ASA Instructor and all around great sailor.

Emory Heisler accepting the AYC US Sailing Sportsmanship Award

Dave Haggart gets the Blunder Bucket!

And finally, after three heated rounds of debate over who earned the coveted Blunder Bucket, this Spring’s honor goes to Dave Haggart who tried to launch his truck while retrieving his 14.2 at Tempe Town Lake, only to save it from the depths with the help of his son and a group of bystanders.

The last order of business was to thank this year’s Board of Directors and install the newcomers to the group. It’s been a great year and for those who are leaving their posts, the club thanks you very much for your service.

The members of the 2019-2020 Board of Directors:

  • Commodore: Rob Gibbs
  • Vice Commodore: Marc Danner
  • Rear Commodore: Deb Heisler
  • Racing Fleet Captain: Scott Richards
  • Cruising Fleet Captain: Heather McClain
  • Sr. Membership Director: Skip Kempff
  • Jr. Membership Director: Dave Henning
  • Sr. Staff Commodore: Mike Ferring
  • Jr. Staff Commodore: Bill Hutchinson
  • Secretary: Paul Wojcztak
  • Treasurer: Tony Chapman

Thank you for making your club one of the best in the country. We’ll see you on the water!

 

May 12, 2019 In Commodore's Corner, Social Events By Rob

Commodore’s Party – Bring the Family!

Click Here to Sign Up for the Party

We’ll be at the OHasis Pool…the quieter pool at the Valley Ho

This year we’re having a POOL PARTY! We’ve worked with the Hotel Valley Ho to get our party guests pool access prior to the festivities! We’ll also have Yard Games – Cornhole, Giant Jenga, and Washers – for everyone as well.

You will have the Pool and Games available to you as early as 3pm. Our bar opens at 4:30, but there are several places on the property where you can get beverages and snacks before that.

The fun will continue into the evening when we start our traditional Dinner Party and Awards Ceremony. Our program starts with the ASF and other Junior Awards. Once all of those are given out we’ll have a G-rated movie for the kids on the patio if they don’t want to sit around with the adults.

Happy Hour and Reception will start at 4:30 (when the bar opens) and our Dinner will start around 6 and the program will start during dinner.

Dinner menu is:

Southwestern Caesar Salad
Fajita Station – Carne Asada or Grilled + Marinated Chicken Breast
Cheese Enchiladas
Vegetarian Mexican Rice and Vegetarian Refried beans
Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips with Salsa, Guacamole Black Beans, Diced Tomatoes
Dessert – Undecided as of yet…but it will be yummy!

Adults are $50/person
Kids are $15/person

SIGN UP NOW!

Dress for dinner is “It’s Hot But It’s a Nice Party” casual…

The areas we will be using are highlighted here – the OHasis Pool & Palm Court and the Sands Restaurant. We encourage anyone who is planning on have a “really good time” to also book a room for the night.

Another view of the pool area.

April 29, 2019 In Commodore's Corner, Events By Rob

Tall Cactus Brings Out the Best in AYC

I wanted to thank everyone who came out to our last big fun day at Lake Pleasant last weekend. I really enjoyed seeing everyone on the water having a good time. But more than that, it really highlighted what the AYC is. Friends and families that love sailing and love our club. As I finished each boat, EVERYONE had a smile on their face. We had families sailing together. We had husbands and wives sailing together. We had good ‘ole boys sailing together. The event was was run by 3 families. There were Sea Scouts and Scout Leaders. There was an 11 year old on a Laser racing his Dad on a Laser!

This club really has something for everyone. Fun family events, great social opportunities, some pretty serious racing in some very competitive fleets, and at the heart of it all, there is YOU. This club is nothing without its members. Members who bring their family and friends out to spend time together on the water. Thank you for letting me be a part of something so special.

Sincerely,

Rob Gibbs
Commodore

Here’s a video from Court Roberts

Photo Credit to Kristin Lisson (The Gal on the Photo Boat!)

[slideshow_deploy id=’19627’]

March 23, 2019 In Board of Directors, Commodore's Corner By Rob

Your 2019-2020 AYC Board Nominees – Breaking with Tradition

Commodore Rob Gibbs

Official announcement: Notice of Election, May 14, 2019, at the Grill at Rolling Hills Golf Course at 6pm. Instructions for electronic voting will be emailed to all members of record as of April 1, 2019.

It is already time for AYC Board Elections. I am always amazed at how fast a Board Year goes by. I want to pull back the covers a little bit on the formation of the board and the traditions that have been involved over the past 60+ years.

In the past we’ve seen people make a 5 year commitment to the board by moving through the Commodore ranks from Rear, to Vice, to Commodore, then to Jr. Staff and Sr. Staff Commodore. This was a tradition that served the purpose of creating continuity and stability on the board from year to year. We broke with that tradition in the mid 2000’s, but since then have also had trouble finding a slate of willing board members. I would like to consider a revision to that tradition with the hope of providing that same continuity and stability.

Each Board Position cannot be done single handed. Each should have a committee of supporters. The AYC Fleet Captain already has the “Rules Committee” made up of all the Racing Fleet Captains and generally a new AYC Fleet Captain comes from that group. It was never the intent that each board member do all the work of their position themselves. Your support of these people is imperative to get the work of the club done. When each board member has a support group, continuity is created by “promoting from below.” A person that is “promoted” from the support group has knowledge of what has been going on. The other thing that does is allows a person to make a smaller commitment to the board. Instead of a 5 year commitment, they can choose a period that works for them. Maybe it is one term, maybe 3, but it gives them the choice.

This year, we break with tradition again. Many of the board members, myself included, really feel like we are just starting to get some traction and build momentum with the things we are doing and that if we move on now, some of these efforts will fall flat. Things like the Junior Racing Fleet, the 4th Tuesday “Dog Watch” Social, and even some of the changes being considered to the racing schedule. We feel like we need to follow through on these things and vacating positions or even moving on to another position will jeopardize our efforts.

It is with this in mind that, with your support, I have chosen to run for a second consecutive term as Commodore. Along with me running for a second term in their current position is Marc Danner at Vice Commodore and Heather McClain at Cruising Fleet Captain.

So “who will run the Birthday Regatta” you ask? Well, again, the tradition is that the Jr. Staff Commodore runs the Birthday Regatta. This year Bob Naylor, who was one of the instrumental players in helping pull together what has been called the best Birthday Regatta in recent memory, has agreed to be the Regatta Chairman. He will still work with the Jr. Staff Commodore for guidance and other formal approvals. Former Commodore Bill Hutchinson has agreed to be the Jr. Staff Commodore to provide that guidance.

The full slate of Board Nominees looks like this:

Commodore: Rob Gibbs
Vice Commodore: Marc Danner
Rear Commodore: Deb Heisler
Fleet Captain: Scott Richards
Cruising Fleet Captain: Heather McClain
Jr Membership Director: David Henning
Jr Staff Commodore: Bill Hutchison

Additionally, 2 more members filling 2 year roles are:

Sr Membership Director: Skip Kempff
Sr Staff Commodore: Mike Ferring

Finally, the 2 positions that are elected by the new board are:

Secretary: Paul Wojtczak
Treasurer: Tony Chapman

Thanks to our current board and to our new volunteers for their support. Now I ask that you help us too. There are so many activities that we do that require volunteer support. This year, make it a point to pick something, just one thing, to help with. Whether it is running one of our single day events like the Ruth Beal’s Cup or the Tall Cactus, or helping the Rear Commodore contact and book a speaker for our regular Membership Meetings, or agreeing to host a Dog Watch Happy Hour. Step up and help us make YOUR Club the best it can be this year!

March 15, 2019 In Commodore's Corner, Sailing News By Rob

Friday – Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day!

YES! REALLY! This Friday the 17th of May as a kickoff to National Safe Boating Week! Sponsored by the National Safe Boating Council as part of the 2019 National Safe Boating Campaign, they are sponsoring a Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day to raise awareness and draw attention to boating safety and PFD use.

Wear your PFD to work on Friday, take a pic and send it to Commodore@ArizonaYachtClub.org and we’ll include you in an article on Monday!

March 4, 2019 In Board of Directors, Commodore's Corner By Rob

New Membership Director – David Henning

Membership Director Dave Henning.

As you all know, Andy Oliver had a great opportunity to further his career but that required him to move to California and leave us. David Henning has agreed to step up and be the Membership Director in Andy’s absence. Dave sails regularly with Skip Kempff (conveniently our other Membership Director) at Lake Pleasant and he also sails with his wife Amy on their own O’Day 20. They are also active members in the C14.2 Fleet at Tempe Town Lake.

Dave also is active in youth sport and is a Lacrosse coach among other things. We appreciate their commitment to helping us provide the best sailing opportunities in the region and providing the most value per member.

November 1, 2018 In Commodore's Corner By Rob

January Meeting – Club Goals Discussion

Rob and Kim Gibbs

Happy New Year everyone!

At the General Meeting on 8 January, I would like to invite everyone to come and discuss what YOU want out of YOUR club.

The framework for the discussion is really simple. At the beginning of my tenure as Commodore, we came up with the phrase: “Create the best sailing events in the region and bring the most value to each member as possible.” That has been this Board’s guiding principle. From that we had 4 focus areas:

  • Long-Term Planning
  • Reducing the Barriers to Entry to Sailing
  • Adding to our Social and Cruising Calendars
  • Creating Ways for our Junior Members to Participate

These haven’t changed and they will be the basis for our discussion on Tuesday.

Please come and engage with us! Help us chart the course for YOUR Arizona Yacht Club and help us create the club you want!

October 10, 2018 In Board of Directors, Commodore's Corner By Rob

Honorary Life Members – Mike and Maryellen Ferring

Mike & Maryellen Ferring

On Tuesday October 2, AYC’s Board, at the recommendation of all of the current Honorary Life Members, voted to make Mike and Maryellen Ferring Honorary Life Members as well.

According to the AYC Bylaws, “Honorary Life Membership may be granted to any Club Member whose services to the Club and the sport of sailing shall have been deemed outstanding over a period of years.” For several decades now Mike and Maryellen have served the AYC and ASF, as Board members, as Sailing Instructors and in general as “Ambassadors” for sailing in Arizona.
Here are some highlights of their outstanding service:

  • In 2010 Maryellen was recognized by the ASF with the “Heavy Lifting Award.”
  • Mike has long been the Webmaster of our website, one of the best in sailing.
  • Mike served as AYC Commodore on an unmatched record of three separate occasions (2006-07, 2012-13, 2017-18), always, as we all know, with a lot of help from Maryellen.
  • They were instrumental in bringing many of our featured speakers to meetings including the likes of Gary Jobson, North U founder Bill Gladstone, J-Boats president Jeff Johnstone, Oracle USA Tactician and Olympian Andrew Campbell, and many more.
  • In the Spring of 2014 Mike was recognized with Ye Blunder Bucket for “inventing a new way of decapitating a C14 mast: driving under rowing shells parked inside the fence and overhanging the drive.”
  • They are ever present in the racing results, at both Tempe Town Lake and Lake Pleasant.
  • They represent the AYC and “sailing in the desert” wherever they go, literally around the country and all over the world.

Their constant presence and service, whether in the foreground or in the background, has been truly outstanding, greatly furthered the sport of sailing in Arizona and made our club a better one.

This list is by no means complete, but please join me in congratulating and thanking them for their service!

AYC Honorary Life Members: David and Hermine Shapiro (deceased), Joyce Seale, Tom and Carol Ohlin, Frank (deceased) and Marylou Bigelow, Al and Sandy Lehman, Mike Yarnell and Tia Renshaw, George Tingom, Mike and Maryellen Ferring

Commodore Ferring and Maryellen Awarding Trophies at the Commodore’s Celebration

Mike and Maryellen’s J70 – Melissa Kay

Maryellen and Mike Ferring at Some Exotic Location

 

October 4, 2018 In Commodore's Corner By Rob

What Interesting Sailors do YOU Know?

Rear Commodore Josh McClain with his wife and Cruising Captain Heather at Long Beach Race Week 2018

Your AYC has had some pretty amazing speakers on a pretty regular basis. That doesn’t happen on accident! It takes coordination and negotiation, but it all starts with “hey, it’d be great if…” or “I ran into So and So at this event and I think they’d be great…”

We want YOU to keep your ears and eyes open and help us continue to bring great speakers to Your Club. If you have an idea for a speaker or know someone who you think would be fun to have speak to us, send a note to Your Rear Commodore, Joshua McClain, at Rear.Commodore@ArizonaYachtClub.org, in fact, I bet you can think of someone RIGHT NOW!

 

September 25, 2018 In Commodore's Corner By Rob

Do You Like to Tweet, Snap, MeetUp, or Facebook?

I’ve mentioned a few times now that this year Your Board’s focus areas are

  • Long-Term Planning
  • Reducing the Barriers to Entry to Sailing
  • Adding to our Social and Cruising Calendars
  • Creating Ways for our Junior Members to Participate

To further several of these goals , we are organizing an effort to do more with social media. If you like to take pictures, if you are savvy with social media, even just one of the many different platforms…we need your help! Let this be the one thing you do for your club!

Marc Danner, Your Vice Commodore, will be organizing this effort. To find out more, please contact him at ViceCommodore@ArizonaYachtClub.Org.

Commodore Rob Gibbs and Vice Commodore Marc Danner. Photo by J.Q. Selfie

September 12, 2018 In Commodore's Corner By Rob

A Place of Our Own?

Commodore Rob and his wife Kim

At the beginning of my tenure as Commodore, the Board outlined 4 focus areas that we want to work on. They are:

  • Long-Term Planning
  • Reducing the Barriers to Entry to Sailing
  • Adding to our Social and Cruising Calendars
  • Creating Ways for our Junior Members to Participate

When it comes to “Long-Term Planning,” your board members have discussed a lot of things, but the one that keeps coming back time and again is “what about a place to call our home?”

There are 2 problems associated with this question:

  • Funding
  • Location

The board would like to discuss the possibility of establishing a building fund. In conjunction with that, we would also like to define a range of things that this physical location might look like. We aren’t designing a building yet, but just defining a range of possibilities and the current estimated costs of those possibilities. Initially this will require some research on financial products, followed by creating a “planning document” that would be used to help define current cost estimates for building a structure.

I’d like to set the timeline for establishing the fund as the end of this Board Year, with another 6-9 months for the first copy of the “planning document” to be drafted and presented to membership.

We need a group of people that are interested in making this happen. I would like to ask anyone that is interested in helping to make this a reality to email me at Commodore@ArizonaYachtClub.org.

 

September 11, 2018 In Commodore's Corner, Member Interest By Rob

A Big Ask…

YOUR Arizona Yacht Club is a great club with a host of vibrant social and sailing activities. From Racing to Cruising to just hanging out, it is a group that I’ve really enjoyed being a part of for over 13 years now. It didn’t get that way by the work of just one or two people, and it won’t continue to grow through the work of just one or two people (or even 10-15 people).

The BIG ASK of YOUR Club is that you find one thing we do that you are interested in, one thing that you would be willing to help out with and say YES! Give back to your friends and YOUR Club. YOUR Board of Directors has some focus areas we are working on that are important to the longevity of the club. We can’t do all of the work it is going to take to accomplish these goals alone. YOUR Club has events that need organizing and support. Just find one way this year to participate a little more.

YOUR Club is more than a membership card. YOUR Club is built on the relationships between its members. Relationships are what keep us coming back year after year. Relationships are also give and take. In order to continue to succeed and grow as a club, YOUR Arizona Yacht Club needs you to give a little back. The more you give, the more you will receive in return because you have helped sustain us into the future!

Thanks in advance for supporting YOUR Arizona Yacht Club!

September 6, 2018 In Commodore's Corner, Racing Updates, Social Events By Rob

Annual Crew Party Sat, 8 September!

Cruising on Lake Pleasant

One final reminder that this Saturday, 8 September from about 4 to around 8 (boat time you know…) at Scorpion Bay Marina YOUR Arizona Yacht Club will host its annual Crew Party dubbed “Sail Jam!” In conjunction with that we will be fundraising for the Blind Buccaneers and the Foundation for Blind Children with a 50/50 Raffle.

Quick Reminders:

  • Arizona Yacht Club will serve hot dogs and hamburgers for everyone. Please bring a dish to share and BYOB. Can bring a bag of chips or get fancy. (Please connect with Heather McClain if you want to know more about what to bring, e.g. dessert vs side dish.)
  • We have a few dock-friendly games such as corn hole, horseshoes, board games if you want.
  • Bring your own chairs! We have about eight already out there.
  • Bring your boat! Show it off, brag, socialize, and go for a sail to test out crew/boat opportunities.
  • The rules of Scorpion Bay are to be respected as there are many boat owners out there. Good neighbor rules apply.

We’re looking forward to a great turnout!