August 2001

Regular Events

Second Thursday (1900) of every month: Membership Meeting (But see Upcoming Events !!)

Every Thursday (1600) Racing: Rhodes 19s, Lasers, 420s. No experience required !!
Sail with others, meet new people and get your experience here !

Upcoming Events

Monday, September 3: Hawaii Yacht Club Lahaina Return Race

Thursday, September 6: General Membership Meeting

Saturday, September 22: Pearl Harbor Yacht Club "Easter Invitational"

Sunday, September 23: Hawaii Yacht Club Pearl Harbor Return

(Sept 22-23 are "firmly tentative" and assume that the recovery of the Ehime Maru
doesn't interfere as it's sinking did)

News

We have a website!! Thanks to the efforts and hard work of new member Greg Stephanoff, Pearl Harbor now has a website. We'll be posting The Dinghy on the site in addition to hard copy issues at the general membership meetings. Check it out. http://www.geocities.com/pearl_harbor_yc

Junior Sailing News

The Sterlings make more waves!! An update from Oregon and California from Kim Sterling

The North American El Toro Championships were held in Howard Prairie, Oregon this year. John left for Oregon on the 27th to pick up the boats and made sure everything is in good order. The kids were on the plane the next day to meet John in Portland. After a brief visit with John's brother and his family in Vancouver, they drove through the night to Howard Prairie. They wanted to make sure that they'd get there in time for the boat measurement in the morning, which they did. The two boats measured in without a hitch this year. Surprising, considering after what happened last year. (Editor's Inquiry: OK, Kim, what did happen last year?)

There were more adults sailing this year than Juniors. There were about 40 adults and 15 kids. They divided the group into 10 Juniors and 5 Intermediates. The group of Juniors was small, but elite. Martin's tough competitors from last year were there. He knew that he still had to sail hard if he wanted to lug that trophy back on the plane again. Sailing on the lake was something new to Martin and Allen. The wind was light but shifty, changing all the time. Other than a bit of rain here and there and the cold air, the boys did all right. Martin might have set a new trend for himself, sailing in long jeans and sneakers. He forgot his booties and felt comfortable in jeans. Good thing he didn't capsize. There were two races per day for 3 days, totaling 6 races with 1 throw out. Martin got five-firsts and one-second. Allen was consistent with his seventh place. Martin was happy to be able to defend his title as the North American El Toro Champion and Allen was happy he got seventh place; this is his debut at a national regatta. Martin gets to lug the trophy back home again and Allen also got an award: A Big Giant Rock to put in his boat for being the Lightest Sailor of the Fleet. Father and sons were on the road again the next morning to Long Beach for the Sabot Nationals at Alamitos Bay YC., stopping in San Bernardino to visit John's grandmother and have a mini-family reunion before heading for Long Beach.

Martin was able to borrow a Sabot from one of the friends he met when he was at the CISA and the Pram Nationals. There were only 120 boats sailing in the Sabot Nationals, and those who sailed in last year's Nationals were pre-qualified. All others had to sail a Qualifying Race in which Martin had to race against 116 other sailors. He placed fifth, and that allowed him to race the next day in the Championship Flight Selection Series in which both the pre-qualified sailors from last year and those that made it through the Qualifying Race sailed together. Martin missed the Gold Fleet by 2 points and 1 boat. His friends made the Gold Fleet, which is understandable, since they're the top Sabot Sailors. We later found out that there were a lot of last year's Gold Fleet sailors in the Silver Fleet this year, so Martin definitely had tough competition. The Championship Races were Wednesday and Thursday (EditorĠs note: today!). Martin placed seventh on Wednesday, and he said those kids were tough.

Even though Martin and these kids are competitors on the water, once they're off the water, they are great friends with each other, and very supportive of one another. That is so neat!! Martin met these top sailor dudes at CISA and the Pram Nationals, and they have been friends since and been keeping in touch through email. It was also very nice to be able to borrow a Sabot just like that. Martin was happy to be able to defend his title at the North Americans, and then to come to Long Beach to sail with his friends in the Sabot Nationals.
I'm sure Martin will express his thanks later when he returns from his journey, but I just want to say thank you to Andy and Maureen Bates for Martin's airline ticket to Oregon for the North Americans. Sending Martin's boat first to Portland, and Allen's later, was not an easy task nor cheap, I would like to say thank you to Mr. Cy Gillette and The Hawaii Sailing Foundation for helping with some of the shipping costs. Also thanks to John and Margaret Haig for helping with some of the expenses for this costly trip. Also to Stan and all the many others who gave Martin and Allen their warm support.

In Memoriam

Many PHYC members may remember the Paynes. Thanks to Stan for forwarding this notice. If you know any current or former PHYC members who might know them, please pass this information along.

I am deeply saddened to have inform you Linda Payne, in bed at home, passed on yesterday. Thank you for so much support shown to Linda and me during this ordeal. Linda was beautiful and poised throughout her mortal journey. I truly hope I can face, with her courage, the inevitable mortal gateway through which we must all pass.
A memorial celebration for Linda will be held in Annapolis, MD on Sunday, August 5 at 2:00 PM in the Calvary Methodist Church, 301 Rowe Blvd. Another memorial celebration for Linda will be held in San Antonio, TX on Saturday, August 11, at 1:00 PM in the St. Mark's Methodist Church.

Funds will ultimately be donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

A Picture of the Transpac Yacht that PHYC Sponsored: SEDA