Commodore's Corner
Commodores Corner June 2008
Congratulations to all the winners in the May Regatta! It was quite a weekend. As ballast boy for Dulcinea, I had a great view of the hind end of all the boats in the race. I did see Len Malloy’s front at one point…..but I had to look away!
The road trip to San Carlos I found very much improved since my last excursion down there. The “No hassle for USA” portion is great. San Carlos hasn’t changed that much since we last visited. We arrived, launched the boat, found the slip and started to relax. I’m afraid I relaxed too much, and in the middle of the night when my dear wife jumped on me and started flailing about due to a mosquito attack, I just rolled over as she gathered her things and headed for the car for some sleep. I wasn’t much help. I was buzzed all night, but just buried myself under the sheets. The next day we decided to get a room to avoid another mosquito attack. We found a nice suite at Gringo Pete’s near the marina. No mosquitos, but we had other creatures to contend with, but no mosquito bites, the lesser of two evils. The place had a great view of the bay and the price was good.
Friday night at Dot’s extravaganza was fantastic. Having Mark Mulligan as the entertainment was a great idea, and the food and drinks were delightful . Thank you so much for your hospitality Dot.
The first regatta run on Saturday went well, except for Dulcinea finishing after the committee boat was gone. None the less we had a great dinner at The Palopa with some fellow sailors, service a bit slow, but they were busy. I didn’t get as relaxed as I did my first night in town, Susie was thankful.
Sunday’s race had another great start, regrettably it was blowing a bit much for my limitations after rounding the farthest mark, and it was decided to withdraw from the race. We did get back to the marina before the committee boat though, and that was an improvement.
The banquet was a grand affair. The auction prizes were very nice, and I even won a “girlie bag” of stuff. Olga and her crew did a great job again. Thank you so much. Pete and Judy Burgard with a little guidance from Bill Ahrens, put on a very successful race It takes a lot of work to organize and implement an event like this. TSC is lucky to have members so willing to do these things, we should be very thankful, I know I am. The greeting committee did a great job and need to be thanked. TSC even showed a bit of a profit due to their ticket sales. Well done!
We weren’t able to join the cruise this time, but early reports say that Wally and crew made it to La Paz in near record time. The shorter cruise happened with a couple of glitches, but it did happen. I’m sure the cruisers of both trips will fill us in on the event. Thanks to Rex and Chris for organizing the cruises, it’s too bad they couldn’t participate this time, but a great job in any event!
July 26th is the Commodore’s Loft party. It will be a Luau theme. Wear your finest sarongs and best Hawaiian shirts for this celebration. Glenn is providing some south pacific cuisine for us to enjoy. There will be liquid refreshments, I guarantee it! It will be a 4426 N Camino Gacela, the same place as last year, be there and be square.
September will bring the fall edition of the Fred Ray Top Gun Challenge. Tony Krauss will be the defender. Bring your “A” game and see if you can win it away from him.
I
am fevered with the sunset,
I am fretful with the bay,
For the wander-thirst is on me
And my soul is in Cathay.
There’s a schooner in the
offing,
With her topsails shot with fire,
And my heart has gone aboard her
For the Islands of
Desire…………….The Sea Gypsy…Thomas Hovey
John B/TSC Commodore 2008
Commodores Corner May 2008
The
April program was a “out of this world” experience, all the constellations and
galaxies we viewed were both interesting and extraordinary. I came away more
aware of our space neighbors and better equipped to interpret what I am seeing
in the night sky. The pre-program eats were delicious at the 3 Cheese and a
Noodle eatery of which Glenn is the head
honcho. Thanks for making it a great night.
The pre-Mexico party at Loretta and Scott’s villa was another wonderful
celebration, great food and drinks, and a chance to visit with folks we don’t
see quite as often as we used to. Many thanks to the gracious hosts.
Now, it is almost Spring Regatta time for
TSC! Great things are in store for us in San Carlos over Memorial
Day weekend. Pete has plans well in hand, posters printed and distributed,
shirts ordered and a course design that will challenge the best of sailors.
The two cruises are almost finalized as well. Olga’s raffle prizes are nearly
complete and Henrietta is assisting in this endeavor. Good to see Olga up and
about again. Our best to Connie Weedon during her recovery, I’m sure Rex is a
big help during this time.
July will see the Commodores Loft Party at the Thorne/Babicz Residence, unless
someone else wants to host the shindig. Since it will be difficult to top last
years theme, this year will be a casual affair, come as you are, preferably no
ties for the men, and ladies, leave the formals at home as well.
We had our shake-down outing on Dulcinea at Lake Roosevelt over Cinco de Mayo
weekend. There was plenty of food and drink, and some pretty good sailing
weather. Our vessel performed well. The Roosevelt Yacht Club was a superb host
and I want to thank Jason and Stephanie Rush for their hospitality. The Tucson
attendees were somewhat lacking, only the crew of Dulcinea were in attendance.
We must do better next time. They have their Pirate Regatta in September, last
year was a ball, so put that on your calendar, the exact date will be
announced at our general meeting
As we were enjoying Roosevelt, we discovered some of our lines in need of replacement. That’s why we have a shake-down outing, to find these little problems and correct them before they become large problems. We also need to tune out running rigging, so this will be performed before the big race in San Carlos. We want to get the most out of out sails, we need to be in top form to keep up with the other competitors, so, attention to detail is in order. I’m sure other sailors are preparing for the race as well and well they should. There may even be some records broken this year.
One ship drives east, and
another west
With the self-same winds that blow;
‘Tis the set of the sails
And not the gales
That decides the way to go.
Like the winds of the sea
are the ways of fate,
As they voyage along through life;
‘Tis the will of the soul
That decides its goal,
And not the calm or the strife…………..Ella Wheeler Wilcox
John L Babicz
April 2008 Commodores Corner
The Fred Ray Top Gun Challenge for the spring
picnic is complete. Congratulations to Tony Krauss!
Rex put up the good fight, and took it to a tiebreaker.
It’s good to see a young blood take the day.
Glen did a great job with the food and the cold beverages were a welcome
relief with the wind and the heat and the desert dryness working on us.
Thanks to all the organizers for this great event!
The April 24th meeting at Three Cheese and a Noodle at the UA
student union area is next on the agenda. Then it’s over
to the Planetarium for a great program, we have over 50 people signed up to
attend it will be very informative. Remember, this is a
Thursday night get-together instead of the usual Wednesdays. Be at the
restaurant between 6 and 6:30 PM.
The Roosevelt Yacht Club is hosting a Cinco De Mayo potluck the weekend of May 2nd and 3rd. I will be there, and hope many of you will be as well. It’s always a great time up there. They will provide the main dish and guests bring a potluck to share. Roosevelt is 98% full now! I don’t think I’ve ever seen it that full!
The May Regatta festivities are coming along nicely. Entertainment at Dot’s Friday night fest is booked, rumor has it that the racecourse is still being designed, something different I understand. Pete Burgard is doing a bang-up job with the mechanics of the Regatta. Olga and Henrietta are working on the raffle prizes. They need more awards, so ask your neighborhood businesses if they want to get a little free advertising for a donation.
Two May cruises are in the works. After the race, Rex and Chris will be heading up the long one south and Matt Alexander will lead the shorter cruise north. See them for more information.
The Commodores Loft Party is on the horizon. If any one has any ideas for a special theme, let me know, we are reviewing all possibilities and will make a decision in plenty of time for you to prepare.
Our boat, Dulcinea, has been getting the twice over. I found some minor electrical problems, remedied those so as to be ready for the sailing season. It’s a good idea to give your vessel a once over or even a twice over before the season gets under way. Don’t forget the trailers that some of you use to transport your vessel. You can be ready for the surprises that seem to turn up occasionally.
If you’re driftin’ on an empty ocean
With no wind to fill your sail
The future, you’re horizon
It’s like searchin’for the Holy Grail
You feel there’s no tomorrow
As you look into the water below
It’s only your reflection
And you still ain’t got no place to go.
R.Blackmore/D. Coverdale
Commodore John Babicz
March 2008 Commodores Corner
“March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.”
We’ve all heard that old saying and it’s really a weather observation.
We are in a transition between winter and summer and there is bound to
be some bumps along the way.
To get an idea of what to expect, we can look to the sky.
I’m not a meteorologist, but I can pass along some helpful information that
will aid you in your various boating adventures.
The recent Sail magazine gives
us a review of what we can expect from the various clouds we see in the sky
where water and land meet..
When you are having your first cup of coffee in the morning on your boat, you
may see cumulus clouds. You
know, the white, puffy beauties. These are due to the sun heating the land,
causing the air above to rise. Cooler air from the water flows toward the land
to take the place of the rising air. This flow is called the sea breeze.
The higher the temperature of the water and land, the speedier the sea breeze.
The opposite flow can happen at night because the water is warmer than
the land, thereby creating the off shore breeze.
If those cumulus clouds take on a gray tint, prepare for rain. The darker
the cloud the more moisture the cloud is holding. Take appropriate action to
minimize the dampness you may receive.
How many times have you been out on the water and seen a dark cloud that looks
like a shelf? This is more than likely a
squall line with high winds and
nasty wetness. I’ve seen these myself when sailing the
Chesapeake Bay. No fun! Another nasty cloud is a
waterspout. These are actually
tornadoes on the water!
Avoid them! There are also times you can see entire storm cells, usually
during the daylight hours. These are isolated and usually
don’t last long, so you can weather it out.
Cirrus
clouds are high and wispy, they can be an early sign of stormy weather system
on the way. Dark, low level clouds are
nimbus. It’s usually raining when these are present. Again, the
darker the clouds, the more moisture in them.
You may have heard the term stratus
clouds. This simply denotes layers of clouds at various altitudes.
Arizona and Mexico usually have sunny, blue skies. That’s my kind of sailing
weather. The more adventurous sailors may enjoy cloud chasing and experiencing
a bit more wind in the vicinity of these clouds. Remember though, a man or a
woman needs to know his or her limitations.
On April 13th we’ll see what kind of clouds will be in the
Silverbell Lake vicinity for our spring Fred Ray Top Gun race and potluck
picnic. There have been some good blows there during recent races, the wind is
tricky there, a challenge awaits the competitors. Reserve that day on your
calendar and come out and have a great time! Your potluck dish will be
complemented by Chef Glenn’s main dish presentation, and of course there will
be drink!
Mare’s tails and Mackeral
scales
Make tall ship Captains take in their sails……….Anonymous
When the sun’s out
No clouds about
The weather’s clear
No doubt…………………………………………..Commodore John B.
February 2008 Commodores Corner
We gathered for the annual meal
Drinks all around made for excellent feel
Rocks and Shoals were presented.
And no one resented
John and Jerry in all of their zeal.
It was a wonderful gathering at the Viscount for
our annual Change of Command Dinner. Many thanks to Bob Patrick, Judy Patrick,
Louise Renneckar, Deana Pos and her assistants for all the work that goes into
such an event. John Lubliner and Jerry Helm outdid
themselves as MC’s. My tribute to them up above pales in
comparison to their wit and timing. Everyone did a fantastic
job making this all come together!
We appreciate Loretta’s leadership in 2007, she was one of the best Commodores
I’ve served under, and the club has greatly improved thanks to her.
All the awardees were very deserving of their recognition, we have a great
membership and it keeps getting better!
The time is right to start thinking about the April TSC picnic and the Fred Ray
Top Gun Challenge. We need more bodies to go against the
tried and true racers. The Lasers are available for use year
round for anyone that wants to practice before race day.
Contact Sam Jenkins to arrange it. Glen Brostedt has
promised some added delights to the menu this year, I know it will be tasty.
The monthly program presentations are almost finalized for the year. We are planning a special general membership meeting for April 24th, a Thursday, at the Flandrau Science Center/Planetarium. The entrance fee will be a very reasonable $2.50 per person. We had this program some years ago and the turnout was tremendous. Before the presentation, the TSC will meet at the Student Union on UA campus at the Three Cheese and a Noodle restaurant, managed by Glen Brostedt. It’s a short distance from the Planetarium, and will be a nice change of scenery. There will be a sign-up sheet at the February and March General Membership meetings. We need a headcount for the Planetarium folks, so make sure you sign-up.
We are starting to look our boat over after the long winter in the driveway. Batteries should be checked, sails examined, rigging inspected, etc. Don’t neglect your trailer, if you have one, wheel bearings are important along with tire pressures. We’re all sailors and should know the drill.
The May Regatta/Cruise planning is already in high gear, it’s going to be great. While I’m mentioning the Regatta, remember the need for a Passport for travel in Mexico. There is a backlog of passport applications, so if you need one, you better apply now! I understand it’s still taking some months to process these applications.
The Bridge Meetings are being well-attended, and
the participation is welcome. This is your club, become involved, fresh ideas
are always needed.
Here’s to the Rum Line or is that Rhum………………..John B
January 2008 Commodores Corner
Another new year! It will be tough to top
2007, but we will give it our best shot!
The new TSC Bridge is at the helm:
Commodore John
Babicz
Vice-Commodore Bruce Zortman
Rear-Commodore Matt Alexander
Secretary Sarah Williams
Treasurer Scott Seabree
We have many other members deeply involved in your sailing club, planning races, cruises, picnics, outings with other sailing clubs, and assorted other functions that enable us to have a well-organized and successful club. We are only as good as our members involvement allows us. Any and all help in every area is well received, especially from you younger and newer members, get involved! We are ready to launch!
The Change of Command dinner party is first up on our agenda. Bob Patrick has done another great job in coordinating it all. Come join in the fun on January 26th at the Viscount Suites. John Lubliner and Jerry Helm will again enlighten us with their Rocks and Shoals assessments, as well as act as our MC’s . The annual awards will also be presented. Are you in line for one?
TSC will have it’s spring picnic and Top Gun Challenge at Silverbell Lake in April. The old timers are ripe to be picked off by more youthful members, so come on, outsail them and take home the Fred Ray Memorial Trophy! Glenn Brostedt is our new picnic guru and is anxious to get started.
During the year TSC will join our sailing brethren at Roosevelt Lake for some good sailing and imbibing. Activities will be announced at monthly general meetings. I know there are quite a few trailer sailors in this club, and there is always a need for crew, or just happy partygoers.
Memorial Day weekend brings us to the TSC May Race and Cruise. This is our most well-attended event and San Carlos is a great destination, I’m excited to be going back down there after a long absence. There are activities starting on Friday and continue to Sunday night. Pete Burgard has assumed the Racing Chairman position and Rex Weedon and Chris Edmondson are the Cruise organizers. These two experienced sailors will be presenting an “Essential Cruising” training class for all those interested. I suggest everyone attend, date and time to be announced, but it will be prior to the May Cruise.
The summer will bring the Commodores loft Party. Last year saw many members walk the plank for non-compliance with proper attire, this year violators may be flogged! Particulars will be announced.
Fall brings another TSC picnic and Top Gun Race. This will precede the Fall Regatta and Cruise in Mexico.
Monthly General Membership meetings will continue at O’Malley’s at 7:30 PM on the 4th Wednesdays on the month, with the exception of January, July and December. There are some great programs lined up for this year, bring your money for a chance to win in the TSC 50/50 Raffles.
We will continue to include the Hobie Fleet
this year at our get-togethers, and many of us will support then in their
functions during the year. It’s a great partnership! We will promote
sociability and friendship for all.
We awake with the rise of the sun
The sea offers us a golden trail
A new day has begun
Take in the anchor, set the sail!…………………………John L Babicz
NOVEMBER 2007
Happy Thanksgiving
We just finished another spectacular cruise to Baja. The weather was warmer than expected, but still very pleasant.
The sail across from San Carlos was just that - we sailed and only motored for about 1 hour. The phosphorescence was interesting to watch. On one occasion, a 25 foot line of phosphorescence appeared off our port side and blew a little gush of water. So we concluded, based on ancient sailor lore, that this phosphorescence had to be created by a whale.
We visited San Marcos Island and the pretty little town. Stu Willoughby was the hit of the children brigade with his picture taking of the local children. One of the little girls adopted him until she found a better suitor.
From San Marcos we went to Chivato for lunch at the resort - the food was not as anticipated, but the scenery was gorgeous. We spent the night in Santo Domingo and had a wonderful Sushi party on Blue Skies.
We ratted around Bahia Concepcion for several days. Santispac was cleared of its vacation huts in anticipation of a sale of the property. But the sale never materialized. So a few people were tent camping there. Anna's is the happening place in Santispac - great food and a cozy little bar with sports on a TV.
Around the corner in Playa Concepcion, the Ecomundo place is no longer. The building still stands, but is vacant. The owner mysteriously left for Thailand and never returned. The locals sold off all of the equipment and burned the huts to the ground to get rid of the squatters.Playa El Burro was very comfortable for anchoring. Bertha's has been beefed up and still offers cold Ballenas for only 20 pesos, extra grande margaritas, and connection to Mulege for gas and taxis. We caught a cab to Mulege for the Saturday night Pig Roast at the Hotel Serenidad - scrumptious.
Half Cat had some issues with a broken oil tube and had the pleasure of the assistance of the locals. We caught a ride to Mulege from the first truck that drove by the Playa El Burro entrance. We weren't sure where the welding shop was, so we found a nice gentleman, Antonio, who drove us to the welder. The welder spent about 1 hour fixing the part. Since he wasn't sure it would hold together, he refused payment. Well, the welding was perfect and held together for the motoring in the calm sea back to San Carlos.
Another lady drove us from the gas station near the welder into the heart of Mulege. You can still see damage from last year's hurricane, but the town is working hard to put everything back together.
The rest of the time, the cruising fleet sailed dinghies, had nightly cocktail parties, swam, slept, went for dinghy rides, read, tinkered, and had sailing challenges. Quiza rose to the occasion when Juce, a boat from Colorado, challenged a race to Santa Barbara (winner to be announced). Santa Barbara is a beautiful beach that is untouched, mainly because the wind blows right into the bay, preventing boats from anchoring for a peaceful night.
The saying of the trip occurred in a radio conversation between Henrietta on Cosmolita and Rex on Quiza as both were approaching San Carlos at night on the trip back:
Henrietta: "Quiza where
are you located in relation to our boat?"
Rex: "We are on your right."
Henrietta: "Would that be starboard?"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Announcements
The November progam is the "Saga of the Midriff Island Cruise", complete with
never-before seen footage by infamous photographer, Garry Morris, aka Boat Boy.
This tale, exquisitely narrated by Your Commodore, will thrill with
breathtaking suspense, surprise you in its unique perspective, and overall warm
the cockles of your heart.
IMPORTANT
The next Bridge meeting is Monday, December 3 at Cody's on Fort Lowell, east of
Tucson Blvd. This meeting is a joint meeting with the 2007
and 2008 Bridge and is drink-hosted by TSC. Everyone
interested in contributing to the Bridge activities in 2008 should attend.
An important discussion point will be the format of the TSC events in
2008.
Loretta Peto
OCTOBER 2007
Happy Halloween
It’s time for the big shindig in Mexico – the 37th Annual Fall
Regatta, November 3-4. Just before the regatta the
Mexicans will be celebrating Halloween and the two days devoted to remembering
those who have passed on before us. So a little background on the celebrations.
Halloween in the US is traditionally a time for little tykes to go to parties or
door-to-door in their neighborhood with the hopes of scamming treats from
adults. The celebration of Halloween, however, originated in a more productive
activity. More than 2,000 years ago the Celts of Ireland and the UK readied
themselves for the winter with a festival, called Samhain, pronounced “sowen”,
meaning summer’s end. The festival heralded the beginning of the dark, cold half
of the year. The harvest was gathered to protect against the wintry blast of the
fairies’ breath.
The Samhain was a celebration of thanksgiving and prayers. October 31 was the
last day of the bright half of the year and the following day, November 1,
represented the beginning of winter. The Celts often associated the day with
death since the livestock were generally slaughtered at that time to provide
meat for the coming winter.
In Mexico, Halloween has been influenced by the American traditions, such as the
costuming of kids in search of candy. Though the trick-or-treat motif is used,
tricks are not generally played on residents not providing candy. Halloween in
Mexico begins three days of consecutive holidays. Halloween is followed the next
day by All Saint's Day and then, on November 2, the Day of the Dead or
Děa de Muertos
All Saints’ Day is a feast in honor of all the saints, known and unknown. These
are folks, according to tradition, who have lead lives that gained them entrance
to heaven. All Souls’ Day commemorates the faithful departed who have not yet
been cleansed from sin and, therefore, cannot enter heaven. These souls can be
helped by prayer and celebrating Mass. Since those still living have no idea
whether their departed loved ones have entered heaven, the living visit the
graves of their loved-ones to offer prayers, just in case they need a little
help. After the prayers, folks gather and have parties and bar-b-cues in
graveyards – a great way to celebrate and remember those who have died. So when
you see these little parties in your travel to San Carlos, you will know why
everyone is celebrating.
Remember, right after the Regatta, the cruising fleet will be heading to San
Marcos and various anchorages in Bahěa Concepcěon. Stock up on munchies to pass
at the hors d’oeuvre party, water cannons for the dinghy water battle, and
what-ever you want for the beach party. Guaranteed fun.
Announcements
We have two meetings left in 2007, so be sure not to miss them.
The October meeting is the much anticipated Sailor’s Auction. Bring your sailing
stuff you want to get rid of – someone may think your junk is treasure.In
November, we will be presenting the Saga of the Midriff Island Cruise, complete
with never-before seen footage by infamous photographer, Garry Morris, aka Boat
Boy. This tale will thrill with breathtaking suspense, surprise you in
its unique perspective, and overall warm the cockles of your heart.
IMPORTANT>
The next Bridge meeting is Monday, October 29. Cody's is not available that day,
so we will have the Bridge meeting at your commodore's office - 2525 E.Broadway
(big pink building on the northeast corner of Tucson Blvd and Broadway). Food
and drinks will be available on a first-come-first serve basis. Since the
building doors will be locked, please arrive prior to 7 pm or
call 326-0496 to gain access.
SEPTEMBER 2007
Happy Mexican Independence Day (September 16, 1810)
Since many of
us spend a lot of time sailing the high seas of Mexico, I thought it would be
appropriate to focus on a very important day in Mexican history – Mexico’s break
from Spain. Mexican Independence is celebrated throughout Mexico as a day that
brought the end to centuries of oppression.
The catalyst of the Mexican Independence was brought about by
political and economic changes in Europe and the American colonies during the
late 18th and 19th centuries. The French Revolution and
Napoleonic wars diverted attention away from Spain’s colonies, leaving little or
ineffectual local government, especially in Mexico. Also during this time,
Ferdinand VII was forcefully removed from the Spanish throne and replaced by
Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon’s brother. The Mexicans viewed the French ruler as
an intruder and began instigating independence in the name of the legitimate
Spanish King Ferdinand.
In the meantime, a caste system was developing in New Spain,
Mexico’s name at the time. The Spanish born held most leadership positions in
the church and government even though the Mexican born outnumbered the Spanish
ten to one. The division of leadership favored the Spanish at the cost of
oppressing the Mexican. Several groups of the Mexican born initiated protests
and attacks against the ruling class in an effort to gain some voice in the
church and government, but none of these actions were completely successful in
changing who was in charge of the country.
As time went on and the Mexican born continued to suffer from
lack of representation and access to economic freedom, a liberal organization,
called the Literary Club of Queretaro formed to plan a revolution. One of the
members of this group was Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a well-educated
priest who questioned the policies of the goverrning church. Hidalgo was the
curator of the church in Dolores, in the state of Guanajato in central Mexico.
On September 16, 1810, Hidalgo rang his church bell to call
the Dolores Mexicans to Mass, as was typical every day. However, his sermon
that day was one of revolution to end centuries of Spanish oppression. Although
a movement toward Mexican Independence had already been in progress since
Napoleon’s conquest of Spain, Hidalgo’s passionate declaration of “Mexicanos,
Viva Mexico!” urged the exploited and embittered Mexicans to recover the lands
that had been taken from their forefathers.
When Hidalgo called the Mexicans to action, he tapped into
powerful forces that had been simmering for over three hundred years. With
clubs, slings, axes, knives, machetes and intense hatred, the Mexicans took on
the challenge of the Spanish artillery. They descended upon Mexico City and
recaptured their heritage. Every September 15 at midnight, Mexicans, led by the
President, shout El Grito de Dolores: “Mexicanos, Viva Mexico!” in honor of
Hidalgo, the father of Mexican Independence.
Now back to
Tucson.
Mil gracias to Cassie Pundt for a fantastic golf outing in Tubac in August. It
was wickedly hot, but the golf, presents, and folks more than made up for the
heat.
Tambien, mil gracias to Sue Alexander for a lighthearted look at cruising
cuisine at our August meeting.
Mange takk to Deana and Ned Pos for arranging a great picnic at Silverbell
Lake. The weather was pretty good, the sailing was great, and I found out Bill
Ahrens was my father.
At our next meeting on September 26, we have a trio of lads presenting. They
will be showing us photos from exciting sailboat races, schematics of some
pretty lame sailboat racing, and instructions on how to turn the lame racing
into exciting racing.
Coming up on the first weekend of October is the Hobie Fleet’s annual Pinata Regatta in Puerto Penasco – a not to miss fun time.
Respectfully submitted, Dronning av Hav
AUGUST 2007
Happy World Lizard Day (Aug 14)
A big thanks and great appreciation for the hospitality of John Babicz and Sue Thorne in hosting the 2007 Commodore Loft Party and to Glenn Brostedt and family for providing our culinary delights at the party. Also, thanks to whoever ordered the wonderful weather.
I was rather impressed with people's imagination in their interpretation of their favorite nautical character. The threat of the "plank" or the opportunity to be silly, brought out some rather entertaining characters:
We had a whole bunch of pirates. However, each one was unique. We had one pirate adorned with tatoos and one sporting lethal weapons. Some scantily dressed and one looked like a cross between a 1600s pirate and a 1960s hippy. Others looked like they may have shopped for their clothes at the local prison.
Some folks broke from the traditional pirate theme to dress as surfer dudes, beach toys, divers, and things that looked like they had been in the water too long. We also had beautiful mermaids, handsome sultans, and dashing sailors.
However, the most entertaining were those who stretched their imaginations: parrots, seaweed, lighthouses, gypsies, anchors, and self-tailing wenches (spelling is correct).
The evening was a delight. It reminded me of a nursery rhyme my mama used to tell:
Then a signal was made for the grand fleet to anchor,
All in the downs, that night for to meet:
Then stand by your stoppers, let go your shank-painters,
Haul all your clew-garnets, stick out tacks and sheets.
Now let evey body toss off the full bumper,
And let every sailor toss off the full bowl;
We'll drink and be jolly, and drown melancholy:
So here's a good health to all true-hearted souls.
JUNE 2007
Happy Father’s Day
Thank you to all the folks who participated in the Memorial Day Regatta weekend. As always, it was a smashing success. The wind was a little light, but still provided for some good competition. The parties on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were wonderful events. The race committee and workers kept everything organized and running smoothly. I was fortunate to be part of the introduction of a new way to race - sailing while being serenaded by some rather handsome men.
The Monday after the regatta, the cruising fleet headed north. Thanks to Rex Weedon and Chris Edmondson for putting together a great cruise and Olympiad II. We had a record number of boats (at least as far as I remember) of 22. In addition to the old salts who have been cruising for some time, we had several new comers, some from out of state. We have picked up a few new members. Some boats had boat boys added to their crew list - once they figured out their place, these boat boys were quite handy.
The weather for the cruise was great. After two hot days at Bahia San Pedro and Las Cocinas, the temperature starting dropping as we headed to Dog Bay. By the time we entered the Midriff Islands, the early morning temperature was around 60oF and the daytime high was only about 84oF.
Since we left San Carlos in the afternoon on Monday, we had a short stay in Bahia San Pedro. We left early in the morning for Las Cocinas so everyone could get ready for the Olympics. Even though the beach was boiling hot, everyone eagerly participated in the events. We had an egg toss, blindfolded dinghy rowing races, miniature sailboat regatta, Captain and Pirates races, trivia competition, and egg/spoon races. The winners received gold medals with ribbons to wear around their necks. The children received miniature trophy cups for their efforts in the sandcastle building.
The next day, the cruising fleet split up. Some headed back to San Carlos and others went to Dog Bay and beyond. We spent a couple nights at Dog Bay. We hiked up one of the saddle mountains, had sailing dinghy races, and snipe hunts. No one caught any snipe - seems the little rascals are a bit elusive.
From Dog Bay we did a short stop at Isla San Esteban to see the giant lizards. We saw a few, but the afternoon sun kept most of them sleeping in their hiding places. It seems that the lizards had more common sense than the sailors who trekked through the desert heat to find them.
After a quick overnight stay in North Willard East, we headed to Isla Estanque, just a smidgen from the Southeast corner of Isla Angel de la Guarda. Some folks headed to Bahia de Las Animas, fearing the low water entrance to Isla Estanque. The tides are about 9 feet in this area - a fact that Cheese Whiz (aka Quiza) found out when it came to rest on the rocks halfway through the evening.
Our next stop was Don Juan, about 5 miles outside of Bahia de Los Angeles on Baja. As soon as the sun came up, the bees elbowed their way into our peaceful existence, so we hightailed it out of there for a breakfast, shopping, and museum stops in Bahia de Los Angeles.
Always on the go, we ended the day in Animas Slot, on the southeast end of Bahia de Las Animas on Baja. The entrance to this anchorage is a little deceptive, as Fantasea found out. This anchorage is great - seems to stir up some rather feisty discussions that last until 2 am.
Next was a side trip to Isla Raza with a end of day destination of Isla Salsipuedes. Quiza and Fantasea were able to go ashore at Isla Raza, but were limited in their touring because of the winds - mama birds have a difficult time getting back to their babies and the research folks did not want sailors, who probably have not bathed in a week, interrupting the bird's travel.
Bold Venture, Mistress, and Half Cat attempted to land at Isla Raza, but after sailing about an hour through thick fog, the boats could not anchor in the high winds off the island. So they, along with several other boats, had a rather challenging sail into the safety of Salsipuedes. Unfortunately, Nina bore the brunt of the wind and had to abandon its sail to San Francisquito and make a hasty change of course for Caleta Blanca on Isla Las Animas.
The next day the wind died down significantly, and we all motored into San Francisquito on Baja for some rest and dinner at the Resort. This anchorage was the jumping off point for most boats headed back to San Carlos. The trip back was very bumpy near Isla San Pedro Martir, in the middle of the Sea of Cortez. But the sea life was amazing - thousands (I counted them) dolphins, whales, birds, and flying rays. We could have used more wind on the return trip, but overall, the ride was comfortable. The heat did not return until mid-day in San Carlos.
Thank you for a wonderful cruise - no passade possible.
PS: We have some great local events lined up. Sarah Williams, of Bob Dobb's fame, will give a presentation on sailing in the Bahamas at the June 27 meeting. July 21 is the Commodore's Loft Party. Other programs on the agenda are Sue Alexander presenting cruise provisioning and cooking, Sam Jenkins explaining what he was doing with all those GPS at the Regatta, Garry Morris showing evidence of the fun we had on the Midriff Island cruise, and the Sonoran Institute presenting its research on the Sea of Cortez. All members and guests are invited to attend.
MAY 2007
Happy Mother’s Day
We just came back from a wonderful Cinco de Mayo
celebration with the Lake Roosevelt Yacht Club. Our host put on a great
shindig.
The weekend started off with a bunch of people showing up on Friday evening for
some spirited socializing.
On Saturday morning, we were joined by several other folks. Saturday was pretty
chilly for May – everyone was scrambling to dig out jackets, sweatshirts or
anything that would keep them warm.
Around midmorning, we took off to sail the lake. We had perfect sailing
conditions – the water was smooth and the wind direction was relatively
consistent for lake sailing. The wind speed varied from 12 knots to 30 knots.
Because the water was calm, the stiff wind only gave us minor challenges with
controlling the boat. Although we averaged a speed of about 6-7 knots, going
from the Marina to the east end of the lake and back took us all day. Roosevelt
is one mighty big lake.
On Saturday evening we had a big food fest – lots of culinary delights. We also
had a visit from Josephina – a sweet girl, but a little stiff – and Polly – a
lively little bird even though he was a bit demanding. The day ended with
extensive philosophical discussions that seemed to solve the world’s problems
several times over.
Sunday morning was much warmer with lighter air. We all headed down to Ma’s for
breakfast and more world problem solving. Some folks went sailing while others
embarked on that long-honored tradition of sitting in someone’s cockpit (doesn’t
matter who’s) and chatting aimlessly.
Not to leave un-noted – The Molloy Team is now 3-to-1 in its match with the CREX
Team. The Challenge will continue at the Memorial Day Regatta.
Bob’s Your Uncle.
APRIL 2007
Happy Earth Day!
Now is the time the TSC activities start to gear up. The next couple months are full of great sailing adventures.
The Spring picnic and Top Gun Regatta at Silverbell Lake has just been completed. News of the winner will be forthcoming.
Next on the agenda is the April member meeting at O’Malley’s featuring clips from the 2006 Sailing Season Around the World. Rumor has it that the video has some exciting footage of folks doing some rather impressive sailing.
The weekend after the meeting is the “not-to-miss” 2nd annual weekend hosted by the Lake Roosevelt Yacht Club. The lake facilities are very impressive and offer just about any accommodations you may need for the weekend. Most of us will be heading up to the lake on Friday afternoon, in time for happy hour. On Saturday we will sail as the whim hits us and perhaps have a re-match of our impromptu racing. Saturday night will be a bar-b-que (bring a dish to share and your favorite beverage) and socializing. Sunday will be whatever you want, given you state of body or mind after Saturday night.
For those of you who can’t go north, the Hobie Fleet is heading south for the annual Cinco de Mayo regatta in Puerto Penasco. Bunches of catamarans show up for a wild weekend of racing and frolicking. Chances are you may find a good crew position if you are so inclined.
Our big event happens at the end of May – the
Memorial Day Regatta in San Carlos, Mexico. Many folks head down several days
prior to the weekend to tune up boats, sample the local cuisine, and commiserate
about the world. By Friday night, most have shown up in time for Dot Heron’s
rocking Friday night happy hour. Bill Aherns, are respected race chair, will be
brewing up some mixture for attendees. Saturday will be the first day of the
race, with steady 10-15 knot winds and 0-1 foot seas. Following the first day’s
race, we will be gathering for happy hour at the Marina Cantina, followed by an
informal get-together at another place to be announced.
Sunday of the regatta will have 12-18 knot winds with 2-3
foot seas. Since the seas will be a little bigger, the course will run backwards
so that we have following seas. The day wraps up with our awards banquet at the
San Carlos Plaza hotel – all the food you can eat and beer and margaritas you
can drink.
The Regatta weekend rolls into the May TSC Cruise. The
cruise is designed to include those who have only a few days and those who have
all the time in the world (the retired and unemployed). The flotilla is heading
up the coast to San Pedro Bay and Las Cocinas, where we will stage the Second
Annual TSC Olympics. The Olympic competition will be pretty stiff this year.
The miniature sailboat race will have specific criteria for eligibility and the
trivia contest will require some research. Rex Weedon and Chris Edmonson , our
fearless cruise leaders, are also planning other competitive events that he is
not publicizing so as to even the playing field.
For those with extra time, the flotilla will venture on to
the Midriff Islands to explore the lizard habitats, bird breeding grounds, the
evil karma of Salsipuedes, and the Elefantes of BDLA. This cruise is probably
one of the best in the Sea of Cortez – certainly worth the preparation to go.
Respectfully submitted by your grig , roborating
with her grog.
Loretta Peto
March 2007
Happy Ides of March.
The TSC May 2007 Cruise is coming up in a couple months, the Monday after the Memorial Day Regatta. Many of you may be wondering why anyone would cruise the Sea of Cortez, or anywhere for that matter. Although many reasons exist for cruising, two of the more special reasons are the things you see and hear.
What do you see?
· Horizons fading behind you.
· Birds drafting off your sails, so that they get a
rest in their crossing of the Sea of Cortez.
· Dolphins and whales doing their surface dances
· Dorado flying through the waves, looking for
dinner
· Little fish bubbling the surface to escape being
dinner for other Sea occupants
· Green flashes, however faint, signaling the sun’s
setting.
· Stars gradually appearing, one-by-one, shining
brighter with no city lights to obscure the stars’ glow.
· Moon appearing, maybe as a tiny sliver or as a
bold read disc, throwing sparkles on the black water.
· Tiny red or green specks of light of your
companion boats and every so often a faint flash of white sails.
· Large fishing boats, ferries, and research
vessels lighting up like Christmas trees.
· Low lights on the pongas of fisherman, trying to
make a living
· Flashing navigational lights marking safe
passages, or quite frequently, the absence of lights.
· Eastern sky going from pitch black, to gray, to
yellow, to white, as the sun reappears in the morning.
· Anchorages gradually appearing out of the desert
landscape – right where the charts said they would be.
· Other sailboats and crew arriving and readying
their boats for anchoring, folding sails, bringing out refreshments, diving into
the water for a swim, napping, taking sun showers, launching dinghy’s, rowing to
other boats for happy hour or to shore for exploring, firing up the bar-b-que
for dinner, turning on the anchor lights, retiring to bed.
· Morning activity on other boats, brewing coffee,
cooking up breakfast, putting sleeping bags away.
What do you hear?
· Noise of the city fading away.
· Waves against the hull.
· Hum of the engine.
· Radio updates on fishing, sail trim, broken
parts, and general contentment
· Intermittent squeaking of the autohelm.
· Unfurling of the headsail.
· Mainsail sliding up the mast.
· Cranking of the wenches to trim the sails.
· Squeaking and tugging on the anchor rode on windy
nights.
· Children laughing, calling each other to have
fun.
· Welcomes by other cruisers.
· Tall tales, songs, jokes, discussions considered
politically incorrect.
· Crackling of the beach bonfire.
· Bartering with fisherman for the evening’s meal.
· Snoring.
· Wind, rain.
· Dreams of long-time cruisers wanting to sail the
world.
· Practical suggestions of those who came before
you.
· Thank yous easily dispensed, assistance readily
offered.
Just to name a few . . .
So flog the glass, hop on your barky, and bear toward Fiddler’s Green.
Loretta Peto
February 2007
Loretta Peto
January 2007
Happy New Year and welcome to a new sailing year.
Thanks to everyone for their involvement
during 2006 and we look forward seeing everyone again in 2007. We have several
events planned for the year to cover the gamut of Tucson sailing activities.
Our first event is the Change of Command Dinner on January 27
at the Viscount. Since we have outgrown Rosario’s, the Viscount has moved our
annual bash to a bigger room. Garry Morris is whipping up a great retrospective
of the year, showing pictorial evidence of sailing exploits and follies. And so
that no one forgets those exploits and follies, John Lubliner has engraved the
events on the Rocks and Shoals certificates. If you were hesitating about
attending the Dinner, you may want to reconsider – you may need to be present to
clarify or defend your actions.
In the Spring we are planning another weekend with the Lake
Roosevelt Yacht Club. Last year’s weekend was a great success and the Roosevelt
folks went out of their way to welcome us. We are moving the event from July to
March to avoid the summer heat.
The Spring is also the time for our Silverbell Lake Picnic
and Laser Race for the Top Gun Trophy, the San Carlos Regatta, and The Cruise.
The Regatta over the Memorial Day weekend is our biggest event, offering three
days of activities starting with Friday afternoon raft ups, continuing with
racing on Saturday and Sunday, and ending with a big bash on Sunday night for
awards. After the Regatta, the May Cruise starts – this time we are headed up
to the Midriff Islands.
Summer is a little quieter – too much heat and some more
fortunate sailors leave town. However, for those of us who stick around, we
will have another wonderful Loft Party. Your Commodore is processing
possibilities on the format of the party – stay tuned.
As the multitudes come back to town in the Fall, the TSC
activities pick up. We reunite at Silverbell Lake for the Fall Picnic and a
second chance to win the Top Gun Trophy. The Fall Regatta, with the same format
at the May Regatta, is going to be a little earlier this year – the first
weekend in November. We moved up the Regatta so that the November Cruise can be
open-ended – no need to rush back for the Regatta.
Of course, we will have our monthly meetings at O’Malley’s
every 4th Wednesday at 7:30 pm. We skip meetings in January, July,
and December because of other events that bring our members together in those
months.
Overall, we expect to have another year of great sailing and
camaraderie. And as one old salt says: Fair Winds and Calm Seas.
PART II OF THE NOVEMBER 2006 CRUISE
To pick up where Mr. Helm left off in the last Windbreaker, the group left Santa
Rosalia on Monday morning for Isla San Marcos. We originally were going to the
Northwest Anchorages, which are rumored to be great for dinghy exploration and
snorkeling. However, we heard through the sailor grapevine that these
anchorages were disquieted by the November winds. So we followed Plan B (always
have a Plan B when cruising the Sea of Cortez) and headed to the southside of
the island to Puerto El Viejo.
November can be an interesting time for wind. It can be
blowing with a vengeance or it can be completely calm. On our week long trip we
saw both.
The trip down to Puerto El Viejo was quite nice – downwind
run with following seas and wind of about 15-18 knots. Some of us with smaller
boats topped 9 knots. Unfortunately, Isla San Marcos has a rather long reef that
you must go around to get into Puerto El Viejo. After we rounded the reef, we
had to sail windward for about 1-2 miles to get into the anchorage. Normally,
such a sail would not be a problem. But the wind picked up to about 26-28 knots
with gusts to 30 knots and the waves started breaking over the bow. So we
pounded into the wind and waves for a bit before we got into a relatively calm
anchorage. Everyone was a little spent after the sail and retired fairly
earlier on Monday night.
Tuesday was a perfect anchorage day: lots of relaxing,
reading, swimming, hiking, rowing, and for the little people, dinghy sailing.
The island is a geological wonder with all sorts of rocks. We found a waterfall
about 100 yards in from the beach. We had to hike through a lot of brush and
trees, but the effort was worth it. The waterfall was about 10-12 feet high and
extremely cold. But some of our cruisers took advantage of being able to shower
in fresh water while standing up.
Isla San Marcos has a mining operation and town for the
people who work at the mine. It was surprising to see a rather elaborate set up
on a rather undeveloped island. The town had 2 baseball fields, a large gym, a
sophisticated fire suppression system, neatly arranged houses, several schools,
and courtyards. However, to the disappointment of some of our cruisers, it
lacked a night life.
After a long day of doing whatever came to mind, Toucan threw
a big party in the evening, hosted by Wally Alexander and Sue Turriaga. Wally
and Sue put on a tremendous spread of shrimp, cheese, crackers, crab cakes and
other culinary delights. Fortunately, Toucan is a big boat. Otherwise the
weight of 15-20 people eating and drinking would have sunk it.
The next day, Wednesday, we goofed off in the morning and
around noon headed for San Pedro Bay about 68 NM across the Sea of Cortez, back
on the mainland. The trip across was uneventful – very little wind and flat
seas. The crew of Quiza (aka Cheese Whiz) and Blue Skies caught Dorado while
sailing. And the crew of Sassea ran out of water and beer. If you know the crew
of Sassea, you can imagine the trauma the lack of beer caused. The lack of
water was a minor annoyance. But, when sailing the Sea of Cortez, the cruisers
all band together, no matter what the diversity. We all gathered our resources
and provided the necessary liquids to the unfortunate crew.
Surprisingly, Bahia San Pedro is a rather easy anchorage to
get into at night. “Surprisingly” because it has no lights, but the bay has a
wide entrance, so you have to be way off course to run into anything. The trip
across to the anchorage was quick – 12 to 16 hours for most of the boats. Isla
San Marcos proved to be a nice point for crossing the Sea of Cortez.
Six boats came across to San Pedro and met up with 3 who were
already there. Another 3 joined us in the afternoon on Thursday.
Thursday was a tad bit windy, but was otherwise an uneventful
day. Folks spent the day getting ready for the Beach Party. Some went hunting
for wood for the bonfire; others arranged rocks for sitting and the fire pit. We
were lucky enough to find a picnic table washed up on the beach. The big
dilemma of the day was how to get the picnic table from where it washed up to
where we were going to have the Beach Party. It took a great amount of effort
and planning:
“Let’s pick it up and carry it the 200 feet to the Beach
Party site.”
“No, we should float it in the water.”
“We have enough people, let’s pick it up and carry it.”
“No, we need to get it in the water to float it. We need some
rope to secure it. Let’s take apart this big wad of rope that washed up on the
shore.”
“I think it would be easier to pick it up and carry.”
“No, we would rather spend an hour trying to untie this rope
to put around the table to float it.”
“I don’t think you can tie the rope around the table – a leg
is missing. Let’s pick it up and carry it.”
“No, we have plenty of rope. Let’s put the table in the
water.”
“Gee, the table sunk in the surf and is covered in sand.
Let’s pick up the table and carry it.”
“No, we just need to time the surf so the table doesn’t
sink.”
“Gee, the table is very hard to lift when it is covered in
sand and water. Let’s pick it up and carry it down the beach.”
“No, we need to tie the rope around the table so we can pull
it in the water.”
“Gee, the rope keeps falling off, the surf keeps crashing
into the table, sand keeps covering it up, making it too heavy to lift. We are
making no progress. Let’s carry the table down the beach.”
“Well, perhaps we should get it out of the water and carry it
down the beach.
”The table finally made it to the Beach Party site.
Apparently, the long task of moving the table
wore out the cruisers. Blue Skies and Quiza were relaxing on Blue Skies and
didn’t notice the dinghy floating away. Fortunately, the crew of Sassea was
alert and retrieved the dinghy. Shortly after the dinghy episode, Quiza decided
to break anchor and floated ashore – seems that Rex thought Quiza’s bottom
needed a little sanding.
The Beach Party was a great success – lots of food, drink,
songs, and jokes. We had feared that the bugs might attack us while on the
beach, but the fire ran them all off. Alan Burgard delivered a gift from Judy
and Peter – 3 ice chests full of ice and beer. Needless to say, the cruisers
were extremely grateful for the delivery.
Friday morning the cruisers leisurely sailed back to San Carlos to join in the Regatta festivities.
Loretta Peto
