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!
What 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
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.
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:
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:
Thank you for making your club one of the best in the country. We’ll see you on the water!
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
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.
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
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”
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.
Hey everyone!
This week we’re bringing it back to Tempe. Tomorrow 26 March – Four Peaks Brewery 1340 E. 8th Street, #104 Tempe, AZ 85281. Come hang out with your sailing friends, relive your best (and worst) moments on the water and plan your next moments on the water! 5:30ish to whenever they throw us out.
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
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.
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.
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.)
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!
This month we’re digging deep… deep into the East Valley that is! Come join us for libations and camaraderie at Fibber Magees in Chandler: 1989 West Elliot Road, Chandler, AZ 85224 on Tuesday Sept 25th at about 5:30 to about whenever. As usual, the club will spring for some appetizers and we’ll all enjoy the fellowship! Click the link below to add it to your Google Calendar!
Photo courtesy of the TSC
Our sister club in Tucson is hosting its annual San Carlos Cruise beginning October 22nd.
Ports of call will include San Pedro Bay, Las Cocinas anchorage, and of course San Carlos. For more information visit their website page about the cruise or contact Richard Sebastian, at iwmfg@comcast.net or phone 520-404-8370.
The first crew party held at the lake was a really great gathering! Lots of people, both members and potential members got together, shared their sailing experiences and a great meal.
The event also had a 50/50 raffle to benefit the Blind Buccaneers. We raised a little over $160 towards their trip. They are fundraising through the end of October. If you would like to support them but were not at the event, donations are eligible for an Arizona Tax Credit (see your tax adviser for more details!)
Much thanks goes to Sharon Bell, and Heather and Josh McClain for organizing the event!
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:
We’re looking forward to a great turnout!
Our Happy Hour events are generally scheduled on the 4th Tuesday of the month and move around the valley! This one is going to be in North Scottsdale at O.H.S.O Brewery and Distillery 28 Aug!
This is another Local First location that not only has their own brews, but distills their own spirits (and the Rum is SMOOTH!) The club will spring for some appetizers and you are welcome to pay for your own drinks and dinner if you would like. Hope to see you there!
AYC Cool Camp Out!
As monsoon storms hit the valley over the weekend, making the 100 degree temps wet and muggy, many of our members gathered in the cool pines outside of Mormon Lake and above 7000 feet where the high temp was about 79 degrees!
There was a little bit of everything as far as accommodations goes; everything from Class A motor homes to tents and hammocks! There was some rain on Friday evening after everyone was in bed, but that didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits.
Saturday night Steve Nahkala brought the fire for the Saturday night cookout, and that was welcome after a hard day of hiking, biking, horseshoes, and cornhole!
Club Member Wendy Larsen
After dinner as the sun set there was more fire as we enjoyed evening bonfire (with the monsoon storms the fire hazards had been lowered to allow it.) Next year we’re going to try and coordinate with LPSC who had a camp out here at the same campground two weeks earlier! We hope to see everyone then!
Organizer Steve Nahkala brings the FIRE.
By Heather McClain
This is the unofficial start of the sailing season in Phoenix! Need Crew? Want to crew on a boat?
Scorpion Bay Marina, Lake Pleasant
On Saturday, September 8, from 4-8 pm, we’ll toss a crew party at the end of E dock at Scorpion Bay Marina. The purpose of the event is to be a matchmaker between captains who need crew and crew who want to sail… and to just have a fun time with other sailors or those who are contemplating sailing.
Here’s to a great (and safe) sailing season in Arizona!
