Welcome to March, as the month brings in a busy BCYC calendar full of events and activities. The clock will spring forward March 9, which is always a good thing, as the days seem brighter of course, and we have an extra hour to make things happen.

Showboat 2025 performances kick off March 12 and run through March 15. Showboat is a long-standing BCYC musical theater performance that marks its 52nd year this month, and presents the multiple talents of the BCYC members. A lot of work goes into the performances, costumes, lighting and staging. This year’s theme is country, built around a Texas roadhouse bar, and there will be some surprises.

BCYC has been recognized for our sailing programs and how our Race Committee performs and executes our BCYC-sponsored races throughout the bay and in the ocean. Your club’s Race Committee, directed by Paul deCapua, has secured BCYC a position helping with sailboat racing competition during the 2028 Olympics. Our first assignment is to participate in running the Olympic Classes Regattas in Long Beach starting in July. That’s right, this year, as there is a three-year run-up to the actual “go date” to the medals. Our Race Committee needs some volunteer assistance from our boat owners for two assignments for this race series. Contact Paul deCapua @ [email protected] for specific details or Debbie Dunne, BCYC Waterfront Administrator.

As you read through the various articles in The Masthead, written by the respective committee chairs, there is something within each that may pique your interest to become a part of that committee. This is a great way to peek “behind the curtain” to see how decisions are made and why. Look at it as a learning experience, not a commitment, unless you want it to be.

The coming months for BCYC are going to be some of the best of the year. COME on in…and join with YOUR CIRCLE of FRIENDS

Mike Means, Commodore

During the first two weeks of March, the iQFoil International Regatta will take place in Cadiz, Spain. If you haven’t seen an iQFoil yet, don’t blink. They can zip past you at 35 miles per hour. I cannot imagine the stress on a competitor’s back, arms and legs. It’s definitely a young person’s sport.

Mark your calendar for July 2028 and watch the iQFoil “Marathon” competition in Long Beach during the 2028 Olympics. Competitors will race for 60 minutes…do the math…that’s about 35 miles standing up (Avalon is only 26 miles) …and then do one last lap before finishing.

Closer to home, and definitely more my speed, are BCYC’s Angelman, Bogart and Weiss Races. Rather than talk about the races, here are a few items of trivia about them you might find interesting.

ANGELMAN SERIES – The three-race ocean series is named after Hugh Angelman, the designer of the 35-foot ketch, Sea Witch. She won the Transpac race from California to Honolulu in 1951 with a corrected time of 8 days, 12 hours, 00 minutes and 01 second. I’d recommend reading a short bio of Angelman at https://www.heritech.com/seawitch/angelman.htm. Be sure to check out the paragraph about the HMS Bounty.

BOGART SERIES – This two-day race to Avalon and back is named after Humphrey Bogart. Most people know “Bogie” as an actor, but he was also an avid sailor. He frequently raced his 55-foot yawl, Santana. He won the Around San Clemente Island Race three years in a row and won his class in the first race from Newport to Ensenada in 1948. Because of his knowledge of boats, he was cast in a number of boat-related movies, like “The African Queen” and “The Caine Mutiny.” In case you didn’t already know, the wheel at the entrance to the Columbia Room is from Santana (be sure to read the plaque at the top).

WEISS SERIES – Named after BCYC Staff Commodore, Lorin Weiss, the three race days of windward-leeward competition for Harbor 20s is a staple in Newport Beach. Lorin was also commodore of the Newport Ocean Sailing Association (NOSA) in 1990. You can find his name on many perpetual trophies, in particular the Elmer Carvey for the person who contributed most to the sailing community. In case you didn’t already know, the bell in the Columbia Room is a trophy – retired for display – from the Lorin Weiss Series. A few years back, we would ring the bell to alert people in the Columbia Room that we were about to announce race results for the Weiss Series.

Paul deCapua, Sail Fleet

After sailing up to the Bay of Islands on New Zealand’s northeastern side, we sailed into the small harbor at Opua and anchored near the Opua Cruising Club facilities. Since we arrived in the late afternoon, we were able to watch their equivalent of “Beer Can” races, while we sipped our gin and tonics and cheered on the OCC juniors who were flying by us on their course around the leeward mark. When the races concluded, we took our dinghy ashore and joined other cruisers and club members for a fantastic dinner of giant prawns, green-lipped mussels and a big bowl of clam chowder with garlic bread, and talked about our sailing adventures with other cruisers and Kiwis. I managed to secure an Opua Cruising Club burgee and it will be displayed in our Columbia Room.

After a few days of hanging out on the hook and exploring Opua, we rented a car and drove up the coast to Waitangi, which is the protected site of the 1840 signing of the first accord between the British Crown and the Maori chiefs. There is a beautiful native New Zealand botanical garden at the site and museum, which we toured and watched several video presentations of the history of the Maori, and the British involvement in New Zealand since the early 1800s. There are two enormous Maori “Waka” war canoes on display, the largest being 130 feet long and capable of carrying 150 Maori warriors. They hold an annual celebration of the “Treaty of Waitangi” negotiations and signing, and ferociously-tattooed Maori warriors perform their war dances, then carry the canoes down to the water. They then paddle these “waka” at a top speed of 27 knots (35 miles per hour) – truly amazing!

After a week cove-hopping in the Bay of Islands, we then reprovisioned the boat and sailed to Great Barrier Island, about 50 miles offshore. This island is reminiscent of the Jurassic Park movies, in that it is very remote and incredibly green, lush and beautiful, with tall Kaori trees and singing Tui birds. We joked about the possibility of Pterodactyl overflights of the boat while we anchored. So my brother, Scott, readied his speargun just in case! After our first night at anchor in Smokehouse Bay, we moved the boat up to the more protected cove at Port Fitzroy because the winds were about to change to the extreme as a foul weather front moved in. That night, we had 45 knots of wind with torrential rain and lightning all around as the squalls passed. Having a proper anchor and enough chain to set at least a six-to-one scope is paramount in these conditions and we held very well throughout three days of these blasts. Once the weather settled and turned more favorable for our course back to Marsden Marina on the mainland, we set sail and had a comfortable ride back across the strait, making good speed with a following sea. That’s what cruisers prefer because after all, gentlemen never go to weather!

In a few days I will be forced to leave this paradise and return to California and my duties at the club. If you ever have an opportunity to sail in New Zealand, take it! I will indeed return next year for more adventures. It would take a lifetime to see and enjoy it all.

Fair winds and following seas.

Mark Jensen, Port Captain

This month, we have the Commodore’s Caribbean Cruise, March 23-31, and April 25-27 will be the Shoreline Yacht Club exchange cruise. We have many cruises scheduled this year, which are posted on the BCYC website under the cruise tab (add link) and in the electronic version of the 2025 club calendar (add link), also on the website. Registration for the Shoreline Yacht Club cruise opens March 26. Join us by land or by sea!

Would you like to collaborate and give ideas for our cruises this year? Join us on the first Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. upstairs where we plan out the cruises, or contact Debbi Bodewin, cruise chair ([email protected]). Because we are still in the early planning stages for the year, we would love to hear your great ideas and appreciate any volunteers to make successful cruises for all to enjoy. After all, this is a member-based yacht club. We want to honor the great traditions while bringing in our members’ fresh ideas.

Here are some pictures from the fun land cruise to Temecula (You can find them in this month's Masthead). We had a great time and pleasant temperatures. It had been several years since it was hosted there and this time, we did not have the COVID-19 restrictions. Thank you to all who participated. We enjoyed going to Old Town, a wine tasting tour, entertainment at Pechanga Casino, and mingling at the Embassy Suites breakfast and happy hour venues. We look forward to seeing you on the sea soon!

Debbi Bodewin and Will Wolfe, Cruise

I write this article reflecting on this past year. This is my final Masthead article – what a whirlwind and exciting year I’ve had as Las Commodoras President. I appreciate everyone’s support this year.

The Toy Drive kicked off Nov. 7, and Julie Granbery, Rhonda Tolar and I were Santa’s helpers as elves for the Marine children. We were dressed in festive attire to kick off the season with all of your charitable gift giving.

The Fashion Show had an incredible turnout with so many members and vendors. We shopped until we dropped, or our credit cards made us stop. Thank you to all the beautiful and handsome models who took time out of their busy schedules to make fittings and a rehearsal. Our models were Gail Cyprus, Joan Delaney, Wendy and Steve Fink, Jodi Geoffroy, Artesha Harvey, Staff Commodore Ted and Connie O’Connor, Ronda Rolnicki and Bobbi Silvey. We hosted several Marine ladies join us from 1st Marine Division 1st Recon Battalion at Camp Pendleton. Special thanks to Eva Waite for volunteering to coordinate the fittings and assisting the day of event. LA O’Kane, one of the show vendors, did a wonderful job as our announcer/MC. Thanks to all for their hard work and involvement in making the Fashion Show such a success!

My grandma, Barbara Eden, and I made BCYC history by being the first grandma and granddaughter to be Las Commodoras Presidents and to both win Woman of the Year, the year of our presidency. I am so honored and privileged to have my name on this perpetual trophy with so many capable, creative and incredible women.

I am so proud of the 2024 Las Commodoras Board. A special thank you to my board: Joyce Barnes, Patti Brandt, Lori Buchanan, Mary Citrano, Past President Lori Curtin, Past President Grandma Barbara Eden, Julie Granbery, Sherena Jarvi, Jamie Mead, Cathy Miller, Lisa Morris, Sally Sopkin, Natalie Tolar, Staff Commodore Rhonda Tolar and Carol Wallace. You ladies have rocked this year and I love you!

A big thank you to my handsome hubby, Jon Kraushaar, for always helping even though he was not officially a Las Commodoras board member. Love you!

I am looking forward to our final luncheon of the year Dec. 12. We’ll play quarter mania and regale each other with holiday stories. I am handing off the presidency to Staff Commodore Rhonda Tolar’s capable hands on Dec. 1, at the Annual Meeting.

Tara Kraushaar, Las Commodoras