Santa Margarita Yacht Club Anchorline V O L U M E 3 8, I S S U E 5 M A Y 2 0 1 2 Inside this Issue: Opening Day Coverage: Page 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 General Membership Meeting: Page 3 Education and Safety: Page 4 May CNO: Page 5 Race Calendar and Race Report: Page 7 Activities Calendar: Page 8 This year s opening ceremonies were once again a festive event enjoyed by SMYC members and invited guests alike. Red, white and blue were the dominant colors, reflected not only in countless flags, fluttering in brisk morning breezes, but also in formal and informal dress of most participants. Some people had a difficult time hanging on to their beautiful hats during this sunny, but windy morning. And everybody was pleased that predicted rain showers did not materialize. Marybeth Thayer and Editor Edelgard kept their cameras clicking, resulting in many good photographs printed throughout this newsletter. So read on and ENJOY! Right after signing in at the Welcome Table Bloody Mary s and Screwdrivers, generously provided by Julian and Rosemary Ragsdale, were served to anyone who wanted to wet their whistle.
P A G E 2 Commodore s Corner Dear members and friends, We often hear the phrase a picture is worth a thousand words. Here are four photos that beautifully reflect the splendor of our Opening Day Ceremony. The U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard, the U.S. Marine Corps Brass Quintet and all the gorgeous flags were highlights of a most wonderful celebration, very skillfully planned and executed by our Bridge, the Board and many volunteers. THANK YOU, Commodore Joe Nunez I believe our flag is more than just cloth and ink. It is a universally recognized symbol that stands for liberty and freedom. It reflects the history of our nation and it is marked by the blood of those who died defending it. (John Theine)
P A G E 3 Semi-Annual General Membership Meeting and Potluck Picnic Saturday April 28, 4p.m. Please join us for our Semi-Annual Membership Meeting and find out what is happening within our little club. Then enjoy our traditional picnic and friendly fellowship at the beautiful Del Mar Marina. Ham and turkey will be provided. Please bring your favorite appetizer, side dish or dessert for a fabulous feast. Don t forget to bring your preferred beverage. Alonzo de Jessop Memorial Award During Opening Ceremonies on April 1, 2012, Rear Commodore Gary Hall was honored with the Alonzo de Jessop Memorial Award for Outstanding Service to Yachting. The San Diego Association of Yacht Clubs, represented this year by SDAYC Commodore Gregg Hansen, offers this award annually to individuals, business firms, fraternal organizations, boating groups, and governmental bodies which shall be deemed to have performed services to yachting beyond the recipients normal obligations. The award may be presented to more than one recipient each year, but no more than six recipients shall be named for any calendar year. The recipient shall receive a plaque or certificate. It is the intent of this award to honor individuals and organizations who may contribute services to yachting equivalent to those considered for the association s Yachtsman of the Year Award, but who may fall outside the purpose and limitations of that particular citation. Gary is the third member of the Santa Margarita Yacht Club to receive this award. Bill Thayer and Jim Murtland have been honored in previous years. Sincere Congratulations, Gary!
P A G E 4 Education and Safety Underway Preparations Greetings Shipmates! The 2012 Sailing Season is upon us. The pomp and ceremony of opening day is complete. The wine and champagne bottles are empty, the burgee and colors are hoisted and now it is time to get serious. I would like to take this opportunity to discuss underway preparations. As with many yachting clubs, the goal of the SMYC Bridge is to have an accident-free sailing season. My last article regarding complacency at sea seemed to strike a raw nerve in some of our members. I am very pleased. It is agreed that complacency in recreational boating must be guarded against whenever going out to sea. Some members readily admit that they have been guilty of being complacent at one time or another. Standard protocols are customary; however, each skipper should tailor the underway preparations to his own boat, crew and to the particular situation or destination. It is my intent to be reminiscent and put forward standard underway preparations that all skippers should complete prior to getting underway. As I suggested in my March article, a minimum of two hours of preparation should be done prior to putting to sea. I strongly recommend submitting a float plan to family or friends prior to sailing. Checking the weather forecast and knowing that weather can change in an instant and being prepared for it is absolutely critical. Harbor entrance conditions should be known and evaluated. The latest update to the local Notice to Mariners, updating your charts, current So Cal military maneuvers, daily tidal and current data, and reviewing the local Coast Pilot should be routine. Reviewing and briefing your crew on collision, man overboard and emergency procedures should be practiced. If an overnight trip is planned, review night sailing procedures and have onboard the Southern California Light List and Maritime Guide to Night Rules of the Road. Moreover, a detailed material and engineering inspection of your boat from stem to stern should be done. Securing for sea is absolutely essential to any underway period. Every skipper should be fully aware of the material and engineering conditions of his boat and pre-flight the boat prior to going to sea. The boat should be able to minimally pass an annual U.S.C.G Vessel Inspection. According to U.S.C.G. statistics, one out of four boats fails to pass this inspection. A U.S.C.G. boarding is inevitable, welcome it and be ready for it. I will discuss this in a later article. Tailored underway check-off lists should be diligently used each underway period. I advocate several types, i.e. general pre-flight, navigation, engineering, low visibility and heavy weather. The overarching concept is to be able to locate a vital piece of equipment or information when it is needed most and to identify a weakness, either materially or operationally. Potential problems should be corrected or be thought through prior to them arising. The most common dilemmas that arise at sea are a collision, a major unexpected engineering problem or significant change in the weather such as increase in sea state or reduced visibility. Every skipper should conduct a pre-underway safety briefing with the crew. They should know how to cope with a myriad of situations, such as a collision, man overboard, fire, flooding, heavy weather and low visibility; these should always be in the back of your mind. This is where check-off lists become critically important. Expecting the unexpected, thinking through the process and paying attention to detail is often the difference between a successful sail and one that is fraught with difficulty and life threatening issues. A professional mariner not only can set an example, but also can go to sea with the utmost confidence in his own ability to handle any situation that arises. With proper planning and training a responsible sailor can significantly reduce his chance of becoming a victim or a statistic. Diligent underway preparations such as briefing your crew, using check-off lists, securing for sea, knowing the weather forecast and attention to detail are the keys to a successful trip whether a day sail or a more lengthy one to a distant port of call. Think before you leave the dock! Do not become a statistic! Michael J. Williams, Education & Safety Director, SMYC
P A G E 5 May Club Night Out Please join us for a beautiful Sunset Dinner and Mexican Fiesta at the El Callejon Restaurant 345 South Ccoast Highway 101, Encinitas Friday, May 11, 2012 Cocktails: 7.00 p.m. Dinner: 7.30 p.m. The price for the set menu will be $25.50 per person including tax and gratuities. Menu items include: Enchiladas, Chile Relleno, Tamales, Tampiquena, Puntas de Pollo and Salmon in Lime plus house salad A Mariachi Band will provide entertainment. RSVP: Michael Williams at 760 439 8660 or battlespeed@yahoo.com The little Cannon with the big sound The salute cannon that we used on Opening Day was borrowed from SC Brian Evans from Convair Sailing Club. It was manufactured by Winchester Arms and designed to shoot a 10 gauge blank shot gun shell. The cannon is used to signify that the sailing season is officially open. All yacht clubs do something similar on opening days. A comparable cannon is offered by the Johnson Company for $495. Information is available on the Cannon Store.com website. Rear Commodore Gary Hall is hoping that SMYC will consider purchasing one of these impressive little gadgets.
P AGE Opening Day Coverage continued (photos provided by Marybeth Thayer, Donna Moore-Sturgill and Editor Edelgard ) Small Boat Race March 31, 2012 Photo provided by Donna Moore-Sturgill Members and guests were eagerly awaiting the beginning of the ceremonies Yachtsperson of the Year: Joe Palmiotti Racer of the Year: Tom and Glenda Gardner After conclusion of the Opening Day Ceremonies everybody was treated to a scrumptious buffet brunch, provided by the club and its members and beautifully presented by these lovely ladies. 6
P A G E 7 Eight Days, Forty Races Series, Open to SMYC Members - 16.5 Capri s and 14.0 Nomad s Saturday, March 31, 2012 Saturday, April 28, 2012 Saturday, May 19, 2012 Saturday, June 23, 2012 Saturday, July March 14, 2012 31, 2012 Saturday, August April 28, 11, 2012 Saturday, May September 19, 2012 15, 2012 All races start at 1p.m. Saturday, June October 23, 20, 2012 2012 Saturday, July 14, 2012 Saturday, August 11, 2012 Ken Hallett 760 908 7353 Saturday, September 15, 2012 Saturday, October 20, 2012 Small Boat Race - March 31, 2012 Sign-In and Skippers Meeting at 12.30p.m. For further information please contact: Joe Palmiotti 760 726 6789 or joejanepalm@cox.net The Del Mar Marina was very active on Saturday since our first races coincided with preparations for Opening Day Ceremonies the next day. The sky was overcast and light winds prevailed, testing the sailing abilities of skippers and crew. In spite of the light winds all five races were completed. The team of Tom and Glenda placed first, but were humbled by the fleet in the first race. Gary and Linda were the most consistent sailors on the course. They sailed their races with precision and skill and placed second overall. Bill and Marybeth remained competitive and locked in third place solidly. Daniel and Patrick were fourth, and Mace and Lee fifth. It should be noted that the last two boats had crew that had never raced before - and they vowed to return and compete again. I would like to thank everybody who assisted the committee: Jim, Bill, Hue and Dan. Ken Hallet and I are very much looking forward to the next race day, the competition and the camaraderie. Joe Palmiotti All races start at 1p.m. Sign-In and Skippers Meeting at 12.30p.m. For further information please contact: Joe Palmiotti 760 726 6789 or joejanepalm@cox.net photos provided by Daniel Walker
Santa Margarita Yacht Club SMYC of Camp Pendleton P. O. Box 2043 Oceanside, Ca. 92054 www.santamargaritayc.org 760-725-SAIL (Del Mar Marina Phone} anchorline@santamargarita.org Club Activities Calendar M ay 2012 June 2012 May 11 Club Night Out May 17 SDAYC Dinner Meeting May 19 Small Boat Race (3) May 24 Blue Gavel Meeting Board Meeting May 28 Memorial Day June 21 SDAYC Dinner Meeting June 23 Small Boat Race (4) June 28 Board Meeting