Seascape June 2007

Bill Niepoth, Education Chair

John Curry to give powerboat session at OYC

Frank Hooper and I were talking after a Board meeting a couple of months ago. Frank says, “What we need is an educational session for power boaters . . . and I know just the guy to do it.” Sounded good to me. Frank added that he would put me in touch with this individual so I could talk with him. He did, and I did . . . and, as a result, Capt. John Curry will do a powerboat session for us on Saturday, June 16, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon in the Regatta Room.

The connection between Frank and John is that when Ballena Bay Yacht Brokers sell a boat, Frank arranges for John to provide training or re-training for the new owners. Frank wants to be sure they get off to a good start. He is particularly concerned that if two people are involved (spouses, partners, etc.), both know the boat and can handle it safely and comfortably. John does a great job of providing that kind of training.

John Curry is the owner of Stem to Stern Boating Services. He holds the 100-ton near coastal Master’s License, and several other certifications related to marine operations. He has been the skipper for Signature Yacht Events on cruising vessels up to 150’ and 700 passengers. Currently, he serves as a Captain with Vessel Assist. He has been an instructor for Club Nautique, and he served for seven years with the U.S. Coast Guard. He is exceptionally well-qualified.

The Saturday morning session will be a program especially for power-boaters. We will not ID you at the door . . . and some of the information will, in fact, be applicable to sailboats . . . but John will emphasize things of importance to power boaters and will work from that point of view. He will open the session with a review of basic dockside information, including pre-departure and return check-offs, keeping a log, safety gear location and usage, fueling and pumping out. He also will present principles of boat handling, including leaving the dock, throttle control, stopping distances, maneuvering in tight places, turning and circling, backing down, dock approaches, entering slips, fender placement, and tying up. John will then open the session for questions and discussion of items of specific interest to participants.

For new skippers, the program will provide an excellent overview of basic information related to safe and effective boat handling. For some, it may lead into a later session with John on board your own boat. For experienced boaters, the session will give an opportunity to brush up on things you may have forgotten . . . and it will encourage you to knock the rust off some of your skills next time you are on the water.

This will be a great way to get smart . . . or smarter about powerboat operations. Space will be limited, and we are asking for registrations. You can register by signing up at the OYC office, or by phone (510-522-6868) or email (emendes@oaklandyachtclub.com). The fee for the program is $20 for individual members or $30 for a couple. For non-members, the fee is $30 and $45. These are bargain rates because the program is an OYC-sponsored event.

Another item related power boating. In the April Seascape, I mentioned that Graham Norris gave the OYC a full set of Passage Maker magazines, from issue number one in January 1996. He also donated a large collection of Ocean Navigator. These resources now are available in our Club Library. The Passage Maker collection is in three boxes, on a lower left-hand shelf. Labels show which volumes are in each box. The Ocean Navigators are in two boxes, same location and also labeled.

For the Passage Makers you can go on-line (www.passagemaker.com/) and check the tables of contents for the various months and years. When you have the home page up, click on “the magazine,” and then on “back issues.” Select a volume and click on “table of contents (complimentary).” Note the pages and you can fish the actual article out of the appropriate box in our Library. Take a look; there is some good stuff.

Social Report June 2007
– Anne Jacobson & Maria Murray

Thanks to all who came out to support our first Flamenco Night – we had just under 100 people in attendance. Everyone enjoyed the beautiful classical guitar concert by Glenn Staller, followed by the exciting Flamenco music and dance performance by Flamenco Vivo. Bill Fishel told us he already wants to have them come back next year!

Our Spanish buffet was excellent – I know we challenged Chef Patrick with that one, but he pulled it off in grand form. The Spanish wines were a great complement to the evening, and a real bargain too.

Don’t forget our June 16^th Dock Party and July 4th pot-luck and fireworks. Come August, it will be time for the Blues and BBQ. This year the band will be Blues Cadillac, recommended by musician/club member Michael Maurier. Summer officially ends at OYC with the September 15^th dock- and new-member-recognition dock party.

Put us on your calendar, and join us for all the parties in 2007. Events in Red below require reservations.

Dock Party	16-Jun-07	Saturday
July 4th - Potluck	4-Jul-07	Wednesday
Blues & BBQ	4-Aug-07	Saturday
New Member/End of Summer Dock Party	15-Sep-07	Saturday
Change of Watch	10-Nov-07	Saturday
Lighted Boat Parade/Buffet	1-Dec-07	Saturday
New Years Eve	31-Dec-07	Monday

OYC MEMBER "BOAT PHOTO OPPORTUNITY"

On June 2nd between 11 and 1 pm Bob Steffensen will venture forth to the South End of Yerba Buena Island with Mike Russell aboard vessel Angelique for a OYC Boat Photo shoot. You can reach Angelique on channel 72. This is a great opportunity for you to Pass By Angelique and enable Mike Russell to capture your vessel on film for you and for the OYC Photo Wall in the Club House .

OYC Banshee Restoration Project

This fine sailing dingy is being restored by OYC member Tom Charron. Below is pictured new flotation inserted before fiberglassing of a new marine plywood mahogany transom. Plans are to launch before mid July 2007. All members are welcome to use this fine sailing vessel which will be stored on the dingy dock @ OYC.

OYC Delta Daze – August 10-17

Mark the days on your calendar now for our annual Delta Cruise. We will be working on the details, and promise updates in the near future.This year we will be cruising off the “hook.” We will not make marina reservations, however you may book dates at nearby marinas on your own. You will need a dinghy to participate successfully in the cruise. Likewise your anchor light should be operational, your propane tanks full and your water tanks topped off.

schedule: First rendezvous Sunday, Aug 12 at 1100 hrs at Decker Island for a gin fizz party. Over night at Decker Island on the hook. Monday, cruise Three-Mile Slough to Potato Slough, overnight on the hook. Tuesday move on to Three River Reach for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Friday members may go on to Georgiana Slough for more cruising enroute to Steamboat Slough or return to the Bay.

There will be activities to sharpen the mind and nonsense to make you smile. Nothing is mandatory except sunblock. Signup sheet will be available about June 1.

If you have questions, please contact us.Jim & Diana Jessie 510-769-6753 <alaskannalu@cs.com>

Sail down to Catalina Island

Hello cruisers

At the request on a number of boat owners who would like to get a little offshore experience we are putting together a cruise to Catalina Island this summer

Catalina Yachts is having its 25^th annual gathering on July 13 & 14^th at Two Harbors and we have been invited to join them. Because of the very busy summer season and availability of moorings it is best to arrive by Wednesday July 11^th to assure a mooring ball. That being said, we can depart the gate on Sunday to arrive by midweek if we sail directly. Those that want to depart earlier and stop at Monterey or other ports along the way would be free to do so. This trip is not limited to Catalina sailboats, all boaters are welcome to join us.

Should the weather not co-operate due to sea conditions that are not satisfactory, we would perhaps stop at Monterey for a shortened cruise.

You may elect to return from Catalina via a short visit to a Southern California port. Transient berths are generally available should your schedule or weather preclude you from an immediate return trip home.

We are planning a meeting on May 5^th at 6:30 in the Regatta Room at OYC. If you would like to sail down with us or just learn more about our plans please feel free to join us. Our goal is to provide an overnight sailing and navigation experience.

Diana Frizzelle
Roger Frizzelle

Coyote Point Cruise Out

Memorial day annual cruise out to Coyote Point Yacht Club was a huge success. Fourteen boats made the trek across the bay, experiencing some great weather along the way. Once again CPYC made all thirty eight of us feel welcome, as we were treated to a gourmet meal on Saturday night. Marsha Stark showed off her incredible sales skills as she convinced us all to buy raffle tickets for some wonderful gifts. After expenses over a hundred dollars was raised for the OYC Women's fund.

A special thanks to Roy and Marsha Stark, Brian Cooley and Bob Martin for putting together a feast for brunch on Sunday morning. The food was delicious and plentiful and we all felt some exercise was in order. A rousing game of Ladder Golf, provided by Bob and June Steffensen, was enjoyed by all who participated. Who knew that Claudia Bass would turn out to be such a ringer.

A big thank you to all who attended the cruise out. Mark your calendars as were tentatively scheduled for the same cruise next year.

compliments of Mary Cooley

See photos of Coyote Point Cruise Out

New Club Photo

Click to see a really big photo of the club with Oakland in the Background. This is a large file, so make sure you have a fast internet connection! There is also a link to this in the photos section of our website

Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee is looking for OYC members who are interested in serving on next years Board of Directors (BOD). The responsibility of the BOD is the decision making for all club functions and property management of the corporation. Being a member of the BOD includes additional responsibilities. These are Port Captain, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Chairperson, Rear Commodore and four At Large positions. If you are curious about participating in the future leadership of the club, please contact one of the members of the Nominating Committee, below:

Christy Casassa, PC, Chairperson

Mary Canada, Past Co-Chair Membership Committee

Brian Cooley, Past Member BOD

Carol Martin, Cruise Chair for OYC Caribbean Cruise

Steve Shafer, Race Chairman, Sailing Division

Discount Evening at Svendson's

Mr. Alex Jordon, Manager of Svendson's Chandlery, on Clement Street, Alameda has once again extended to OYC Members a 2007 "Discount Evening Opportunity".

The date is set for June 23rd from 6:00pm to 7:30 pm.

In years past, OYC Members have been very pleased with this opportunity. I hope that this event will continue to be well supported by the club.

Thanks,

Michael Hershey

San Jose Sailing Club's - opening day on the bay

I provided the boat for San Jose Sailing Club's entry for the opening day of the bay. The boat was a youth decorated boat. The theme this year was the Pages of Time.

The entry was put together by the Dyslin girls Debbie, Michelle, and Sara. Their parents did a lot coaching and engineering work. We had posters of made of Time magazine covers depicting major events, Joe Montana, Spider man, Marilyn Monroe, Dennis Conner.

The entry one the youth decorated on the bay along with opening day on the south bay at Sequoia Yacht club in Red wood city.

The people you see on the boat are: Mike Dyslin, Marsha, Debbie Michelle and Sidney a friend of Sara. Michelle was not able to come she had soccer game that day.

We also have one a new Boat U S perpetual Trophy.

Jim Catto, Commodore of SJSC and OYC Member