lynnehammet | The Argonaut Newsweekly

Many Marina boats were in Long Beach Race Week last weekend

Posted by lynnehammet | Jun 30, 2005 | On the Water, Opinion |

Many Marina del Rey sailors participated in the Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week, held Friday through Sunday, June 24th to 26th. The event drew sailors from as far away as San Diego. Web site reports said more than 800 sailors, 127 boats and countless volunteers enjoyed “87 starts, 896 finishes and 228 Mark sets” during the three-day event. Ullman Sails was the title sponsor, joined by Mount Gay Rum, West Marine, J Boats and New England Ropes. Class Action Racing, Sailing Angles, Inc., and Mureadritta, sailmaking apparel, completed the sponsor list. Alamitos Bay Yacht Club and Long Beach Yacht Club were the host clubs and did an outstanding job of performing their host duties. Transportation between the clubs was provided by one of the Catalina shore boats, from the Isthmus. Thirteen classes competed, over the three days and completed seven races each, over three separate courses. Winds were definitely a challenge factor, “as Friday was grueling and heavy, Saturday presented extremely light winds and Sunday was just about perfect,” said John Staff, California Yacht Club (CYC), who was sailing his Cheetah 30, Wildcat. The “J” boats made up four classes with local participants: J-105s; Grace O’Malley, Alice Leahey/Ron Baerwitz, CYC; and Twelve Bar Blues, Chuck Spear, Del Rey Yacht Club (DRYC). The J-80 Class was won by Curt Johnson, CYC , sailing Avet. In the Olson 30 Class,...

“What Makes A Boat Light Up”

Posted by lynnehammet | Dec 10, 2004 | Marina Del Rey, News - Features |

Transforming cruising sailboats into parade floats takes time, talent and creativity. Those words came into play seriously this past month as many area residents began the daunting task of turning their vessel into the “Winner” in their category. Not only does this task require talent and creativity, but funds must be raised for the entry fee, the paint, the lights and, oh yes, Santa. We must have generators to run the sound system and lights and we must have music! Examples of what is entailed are illustrated by Santa Monica Windjammers Yacht Club (SMWYC) and Women’s Sailing Association (WSA) of Santa Monica Bay. In early November the WSA design crew began their facet of the project. Once this was completed and approved, the real work began in a warehouse in Valencia. Again, club member Emilio Basile has shared his Formosa 47-foot Noteworthy with WSA to produce “Christmas is for Kids of all ages.” Ten or 12 members have driven to Valencia each weekend since Thanksgiving to construct and paint all of the pieces that will adorn the boat. On Friday, at their slip in Marina del Rey, the assembly will begin with one member (unknown) going up the mast to set the lights from the top. The assembly and finishing of a boat truly resembles Santa’s toy shop, as member “elves” scurry back and forth, up and down the...

Winners go head to head in invitational Champion of Champions Regatta

Posted by lynnehammet | Sep 23, 2004 | Marina Nautical News, Opinion |

The Association of Santa Monica Bay Yacht Clubs (ASMBYC) hosts the “Champion of Champions Regatta” with winners, wind and wonderful results. This is an annual invitational regatta. Participants must have won a trophy or finished in the top third of their class in any of the 2004 race series sanctioned by ASMBYC or be a class winner in the 2003 Champion of Champions Regatta. This year the race was the weekend after the “Fred Harris Series” sponsored by California Yacht Club, which was the final qualifier. Eighteen boats competed, under the supervision of ASMBYC fleet captain Gary Green and...