January 9, 2020 In Social Events By Mike Ferring

Like to Host an AYC Happy Hour?

By Deb Heisler, Rear Commodore

We are continuing our AYC-hosted Happy Hours each month at various locations around the valley. An evening of food, stories and a brew or two are a fun way to engage with fellow sailors and potential new members. Feel free to invite people you think are interested in sailing.

The Happy Hours are rotated around the Valley and held on Tuesday or Thursday evenings so members and guests can find one that works best for them. If you’re interested in hosting contact me and specify which date you’d like from the available dates:

Thursday 2/27/20, Tuesday 3/24/20, Thursday 4/23/20, Tuesday 6/23/20, Thursday 7/23/20, Tuesday 8/25/20, Thursday 9/24/20, Tuesday 10/27/20

Hosting duties:

  • Select one of the available dates and let me know.
  • Pick your favorite local bar/restaurant and reserve the date/time. Attendance ranges from 5 to 15 people.
  • Submit the date/time/location to AYC Rear Commodore for publication to website, Facebook and the AYC calendar.
  • Show up with an AYC table sign and buy up to $100 of appetizers (no beverages/alcohol) for those in attendance.
  • Collect the contact information of any guest (name, email, phone number) and submit along with receipts to AYC Rear Commodore.

And remember we can adjust the dates to help accommodate your availability to host.

November 13, 2019 In Racing Updates, Social Events By Marc Danner

Sign Up for the November 23 Governor’s Cup Regatta

The Governor’s Cup regatta will be Saturday, November 23, with the first boats starting at 12:30 pm from a start line at the south end of Lake Pleasant.

This is a pursuit race, so your handicap determines the time you start and your start time will be posted on the AYC website the day before the race, November 22nd. 

Awards will be given for the top-finishing multi-hull and the top-finishing monohull boats. The Governor’s Cup (a perpetual trophy) will be awarded to the top-finishing boat in the fleet with the most entrants. In addition to the prize for winning there will be other prizes available for boats that finish the race. Awards will be presented at the December AYC meeting. A brunch will be served starting at 10:00 am at Spinnaker Point as a pre-race social. The regatta costs $10.00 and you can sign up now using this link.  

Almost as big as he is: Martin Lorch hefts the Governor’s Cup after winning in 2017, flanked by crew James Morphis and Katie Yearly. At right: that year’s Event Organizer Tom Errickson. Photo: Mike Ferring

October 28, 2019 In Cruising News, Social Events By Marc Danner

Governor’s Cup Camping Weekend

By Heather McClain ~ Cruising Captain

To our campers and glampers, AYC is having a camping weekend the same weekend as Governor’s Cup, November 22nd to 24th.

It will be located on the 10-lane boat ramp side of the lake. Reserve your spot now! We will have games of cornhole, washers, and disc golf. During the day there are tons of hiking trails to explore and we will have paddle boards (and kayaks if we can get our hands on them!) if you want to try out a new sport. There’s even a free Archery 101 class on Saturday morning. At night we will have live music around the campfire and s’mores.  And we will have THE GLOVE (those who attended the August campout know what I’m talking about)!

Click here to reserve your spot at Lake Pleasant Regional Park.  We are attempting to camp close to one another, as the campground is quite large.  If you want to camp near fellow AYC members, stay at the Desert Tortoise campground on Den Loop or Bajada Loop, campsites 133 to 162. Currently there are 11 spots left for the weekend. Please contact Cruising Captain Heather McClain with any questions. (cruising@arizonayachtclub.org) See you there!

August 22, 2019 In Racing Updates, Social Events By Mike Ferring

Crew Party: September 7

When: Saturday, September 7, from 4 to 7 pm.
Where: Royal Gardens Condominium Pool & Clubhouse, 1917 E. Medlock Drive, Phoenix (plenty of parking available along the street). See map

The location.

Fall racing starts Sunday, September 8, so if you’re a skipper in need of crew or are interested in becoming crew, this event is for you. As always, everyone is welcome to come just shoot the breeze, take a dip in the pool, grab a bite, have a drink, and talk sailing.

  • AYC will serve hot dogs, brats and burgers
  • Bring a dish to share, side dish, dessert, etc.
  • BYOB – We’ll have cups or you can bring your own reusable container. No glass outside the clubhouse.
  • BYOC – There are a dozen + chairs outside around the pool, but if you want bring your favorite lawn or camping chair, please do.

Opportunities for involvement:

  • Show up early/help with set up
  • Participate: bring a dish or dessert
  • Help clean up

Please connect with Deb Heisler to coordinate what to bring and give her a loose RSVP (for food planning) at 602.214.2053 (call or text) or by email at Rear.commodore@arizonayachtclub.org

Interested in learning to race? Sign up for the Introduction to Sailboat Racing Class. This class is offered only once a year so get your spot secured! The next FREE class will be Thursday evening, September 19, 2019 from 6:30-9pm.

 

August 5, 2019 In Member Interest, Social Events By Rob

Monsoon Rain Didn’t Dampen Campers’ Spirits

A little late afternoon monsoon both Friday and Saturday didn’t keep the Annual AYC Campout from being tons of fun!

With a high temp of 80 and tucked in a stand of pine trees, Dairy Springs Campground was as hospitable a venue as you’d find to escape the Phoenix summer heat. The shelters included tents, trucks, and RVs. Kids brought their bikes and BB guns.

Breakfast was everything from low tech dutch oven to high tech butane stove cooking. The best part is always the BYO Meat cookout though! This year the grill saw beef steaks, brats, a ton of marinated chicken, a few pieces of salmon, baked ziti and meatballs, and even a cast iron skillet with Spanish rice! Desert was root beer floats, banana smores, pecan pie, and a few other things I’m sure I was too full to eat! Put it on your calendar for next year!

 

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July 24, 2019 In Education News, Racing Updates, Sailing News, Social Events By Mike Ferring

Registration Open for Fall Racing

Click on the link to the AYC Racing Page for all the information, race documents and the registration button for the 2019 fall racing action.

Racing begins at Tempe Town Lake on Sunday, September 8, and at Lake Pleasant on Saturday, September 21. Plug your ears for the opening gun at Lake Pleasant: we’re firing the club cannon this year to kick off the new season and will follow it up with an Opening Day celebration later in the day.

Looking for crew or wanting to crew? Commodore Rob Gibbs is revising the crew list system this year, so watch for his update. In the meantime, ask around and mark your calendar for a crew party on Saturday afternoon and evening, September 7.

If you’d like to know more about this game we play, consider signing up for the Introduction to Sailboat Racing class. It will be Thursday evening, September 19, from 6:30-9 at the Eisendrath House. Here’s much more about it. By the way, it’s free.

Lori Reger reflecting on sailing a Sunfish on Tempe Town Lake. Photo: Mike Ferring

Bob Naylor has recruited enough Sunfish folks to create at TTL fleet for the fall. If you have a Sunfish under cover, knock the cobwebs off and bring it out to tangle with the other fish. Here’s background on the fleet.

The Ruth Beals Cup race for women at the helm has been moved to Saturday, October 12. Here’s more on that event.

All of the Arizona Sailing Foundation sailing classes are open for registration now, but the adult class is full. Click on the “education” link.

July 6, 2019 In Sailing News, Social Events By Mike Ferring

Plan for the Summer Campout

The AYC Summer Campout will be August 2-4 this year, again at Dairy Springs campground, but this year as a joint venture with the Lake Pleasant Sailing Club.

You can just show up and grab a spot, but organizers Matt and Andi Baker can also reserve a spot for you. Email Andi to let them know you’re coming. And you can also reserve a spot on the parks website.

Think soft breezes, mesquite smoke from the campfire and lazy afternoons in hammocks. AYC Junior campers can participate in chopping wood, starting fires with flint and steel, and making cowboy coffee. For those with refined coffee taste we will be hosting the National Championship Latte in a Dutch Oven Barista Competition. Brush up on your coffee making skills, and bring your best Williams-Sonoma along.

We hope the Museum Fire will be well contained and we can expect blue sky. The Newman fire closure area just north of our Campground will NOT affect any planned activities.

Get in touch by contacting Andi Baker or commenting on the event page on Facebook or by calling 505.550.1218.

Here’s lots of information about this traditional summer getaway.

Read about the event and see pictures from two years ago at Dairy Springs.

Steve Nahkala tends the fire at an AYC summer campout. Photo: Mike Ferring

July 1, 2019 In Events, Meetings, Sailing News, Social Events By Rob

“Dog Watch” at R.T. O’Sullivans

AYC Members got their first “taste” of our new Regular Meeting Venue, R.T. O’Sullivans in Scottsdale on Thursday night. Around 40 members and potential members showed up for fun, food, and camaraderie. The feedback was very positive! We’re looking forward to having our first Membership Meeting there next week on the 9th of July!

Members and Friends gather to partake of the Fellowship

 

Many of the usual “Pirates” approved of the new location!

Lots of positive feedback about the food!

June 14, 2019 In Racing Updates, Social Events By Mike Ferring

Wednesday Beer Can Racing

Wednesday night organizer George Sheller. Photo: Mike FerringWhat are you doing Wednesday night? How about coming out for some highly casual racing at Tempe Town Lake?

We start racing at 5:30 and go until sundown. We do a one minute start sequence. One turn penalty. Short w/l courses.

This started as a Laser thing, but others started coming out, which was great. We all start together.

This is not an official AYC event, so you’re on your own in terms of a boat, liability and fun. We start promptly at 5:30 pm and if you miss one or two races it’s no big deal since we don’t keep scores. This is good practice, with bragging rights and then (for those who want to) off to a local restaurant for dinner and drinks.

Have questions?  Email me.

See you out there,
George Sheller

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 28, 2019 In Events, Racing Updates, Social Events By Rob

Tall Cactus – Great End to the Lake Pleasant Season!

Brunch at PHM

The day started with a brunch and some pre-race socializing at Pleasant Harbor. Everyone was excited or nervous about what was shaping up to be a downwind start. There was reasonably good wind all day.

The youngest skipper was Myles Danner on his Laser 4.7 rig! A regular in the Open Bic at Tempe Town Lake, he and his dad, Vice Commodore Marc Danner, were both out on Lasers. Myles does what he always does…smiled all the way around the race course!

We had a photo boat out and our guest photographer, Kristin Lisson, has over 3000 photos she is curating, so check back to see that slideshow when it is ready!

We had LPSC and TSC members come out and it was good fun all day long for everyone. Line honors was claimed by Dave Newland on Mike & Maryellen Ferring’s J70 (they were out racing some classic cars this weekend and were generous enough to lend their boat to their regular crew Dave!)

Full race results are posted here.

Myles Danner, Youngest Skipper on his Laser 4.7

A Downwind Start

 

 

 

 

April 12, 2019 In Meetings, Membership, Social Events By Rob

April’s Meeting – Full of Questions!

We hosted what seems to be an Annual Trivia Challenge for the April meeting – complete with cash prizes for the winners! Teams were grouped by table and the trivia was put together by your Rear Commodore Joshua McClain with the help of his wife and Cruising Fleet Captain Heather McClain. Questions ranged from questions about the Olympics to questions about our own club. For the full PDF of the questions, Click Here.

The Ultimate Winners of the Competition, dubbed “Tom’s Table”

The “Little Table” of New Member Nelson Passos and Bob LaBine

“The Bar Team” – Runners up…

The “Big Table” had some heavy hitters but couldn’t quite eek out “Team Bar”

April 9, 2019 In Cruising News, Member Interest, Sailing News, Social Events By Mike Ferring

Sign Up for Tall Cactus Fun Regatta

Start with a social gathering at Spinnaker Point from 10-noon, launch your boat, start at 2pm, dash around a couple islands and various marks and finish.

That’s this year’s Tall Cactus Regatta, our fun pretty-much-end-of-the-season regatta, Saturday, April 27. Register now on the Racing page, where you’ll also find the chart and the documents.

Principal Race Officer Rob Gibbs has answered one important question before you ask: Yes, you do have to sail around Horse and Balance Rock islands in addition to the drop marks at those locations.

A chunk of the Tall Cactus race chart showing the route around the northern islands of Lake Pleasant.

February 12, 2019 In Events, Social Events By Rob

4th Tuesday Dog Watch – CB LIVE at Desert Ridge – 26 Feb


Come out for Happy Hour with the AYC at a new venue in North Phoenix!

CB Live will have acoustic guitarist Mike Maleckar (Mal) covering bands from his nearly 800 song list, which varies from Frank Sinatra to Taylor Swift, 2Pac to Hank Williams. As always the club will spring for some munchies.

Starts around 5:30 and goes until you go home (or they kick us out!)

21001 N. Tatum Blvd, Phoenix AZ 85050

 

February 4, 2019 In Events, Meetings, Social Events By Marc Danner

February Meeting: John Jourdane

Whitbread Round the World Race On “Fisher & Paykel, New Zealand” 

With John Jourdane  

John Jourdane – Photo Sailing World

Experience one of the most grueling yacht races on earth. 33,000 miles and nine months of sailing through storms, blizzards and icebergs.  Climb aboard 82-foot “Fisher & Paykel, New Zealand” with author and world-famous sailor-navigator, John Jourdane, who will recount his around the world race through a video of his experience.

The meeting is Tuesday, February 12, beginning at 7pm (but arrive early for dinner). Monthly meetings are held at The Grill @ Rolling Hills Golf Course, 1415 North Mill Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85281-1205 (map) and both members and non-members are welcome to attend.

 

January 17, 2019 In Events, Social Events By Marc Danner

4th Tuesday “Dog Watch” – O.H.S.O Paradise Valley – 22 January

 

OHSO continues to be a great location for our monthly “Dog Watch” events.  This month we will be at the OHSO Paradise Valley. Address: 10810 N Tatum Blvd #126, Phoenix, AZ 85028. Day: Tuesday, January 22. Time: 5:30 to… whenever…

What is this? A casual gathering of members and nonmembers just for the fun of it. It gathers maybe a dozen or so sailors who would just like to hang out, chat, and enjoy an adult beverage.

November 16, 2018 In Sailing News, Social Events By Rob

4th Tuesday “Dog Watch” – O.H.S.O Arcadia – 27 Nov

We got such good feedback from the folks that went to the O.H.S.O. in North Scottsdale, we decided to give the one in Arcadia a call…turns out everyone was well behaved before and they’d be glad to host us!

27 November
O.H.S.O Arcadia
4900 East Indian School Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85018

5:30 until whenever…

All are invited!

Also…why a ” Dog Watch?” Traditionally it is the watch on a ship from 1600-1800 then again from 1800-2000. Since that’s when our gathering is…that’s what we’re going to call it! (It was split, so that seamen didn’t have the same watch at the same time every day.)

 

October 15, 2018 In Meetings, Social Events By Rob

Rogue Tomato – October Happy Hour!

We’re going WEST with this month’s 4th Tuesday Happy Hour on Tuesday October 23rd. This month we’ll be at Rogue Tomato! 18561 N 59th Ave #122, Glendale, AZ 85308. Starts at 5:30(ish) and goes until 8:00(ish). As always AYC will spring for some appetizers and you are welcome to wash it down with whatever you like!