Yacht clubs celebrate Opening Days
“Fire in the hole!” With that traditional warning holler, accompanied by an ear-deafening cannon burst, cannoneer Besim Bilman proclaimed the start of the annual Association of Santa Monica Bay Yacht Clubs two-day Marina del Rey yacht clubs’ Openings Days celebration. The festivities began at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 15th, at Santa Monica Windjammers Yacht Club and came to a conclusion with the firing of Del Rey Yacht Club’s cannon across the harbor at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 16th. In between, came ceremonies for California Yacht Club, Marina Venice Yacht Club, South Bay Yacht Racing Club, South Coast Corinthian Yacht Club and Pacific Mariners Yacht Club. The guest list itself was a major project. Each club had copies of the 15 page list to make sure all the dignitaries arriving from national, county and city agencies, plus the bridge officers from the Southern California Yachting Association — over 93 clubs strong, representing the five southern California harbors from Santa Barbara to San Diego — were checked in to be properly recognized. Woe to the tardy whose names weren’t highlighted. Because everyone, and I mean everyone, was announced — at almost all club ceremonies. Sighted were Harbormaster Lt. Rod Kusch with his two boys Ryan and Taylor and Sgt. Mike Carriles, assistant harbormaster. What was this really all about? We could string together all the commodore and officer speeches to answer...
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