On The Water
By Rear Commodore John Warren
Racing: 
It seems like it was only yesterday that Aaron DeZafra fired the starting gun for the first Friday Night Series race and now the season is coming to a close. How fast time flies when your having fun!!! This year we have had a good turnout of racers and the competition has been spirited...all you have to do is be on the main deck Friday night after the races and you will see what I mean. There is no lack of bragging rights with this crowd!!! As I write this article there are two races remaining and unfortunately can not announce the winners of the series, but we will have all the results posted at the club as usual.
Do you want to do a little sailing? How about crossing an ocean? The Corinthian Spirit was on the high seas last month with two open ocean races happening simultaneously. This one race is more sailing than some people do in a life time!!!
The 2004 Singlehanded Transpac from San Francisco to Kauai, a mere 2120 miles, started on June 26th with two of our members giving it their all. Wen Lin on Wenlemir started the race and unfortunately had to return. Steve Saul on Kaien made it to Kauai and finished the race in 16 days, 8 hours, 22 minutes and 43 seconds. Sixteen days by yourself, steering a boat….how did you do that? Congratulations to both Wen and Steve for giving it your all and having the courage to do such an endeavor.
The 2004 West Marine Pacific Cup from San Francisco to Kaneohe Bay, Oahu started several days later with two entries from CYC. Michael Moradzadeh on Cayenne, along with David Johnson, Rich Lauman and yours truly raced across the blue Pacific in Division A to take 3rd place in 14 days, 8 hours, 1 minute and 40 seconds. Timothy Ballard on Inspired Environments absolutely flew across the Pacific and never looked back, in Division C to take 1st place in 11 days, 23 hours, 50 minutes and 25 seconds. What an incredible run Timothy had to Kaneohe Bay. He started first off the St. Francis Yacht Club, going under the Golden Gate Bridge and didn't relinquish his dominance ever. Congratulations to Michael and Timothy!
After the Friday Night Series is over, we have a few more yacht club races in September and October and then the season will come to a close. It definitely has been a fun year racing.
Cruising: Since the last Telltale, we have cruised to Martinez Yacht Club hosted by Clay and Teresa Prescott, Benecia Yacht Club hosted by Fred and Sonja Conta, Vallejo Yacht Club hosted by Harry and Sondra Blake and Encinal Yacht Club hosted by Trip and Jill Ames. These cruises, as I'm sure you know, take a considerable amount of coordination and scheduling by the individual hosts. All of the cruises this summer have been very successful due to the hard work of the cruise leaders. Please take the time to say "Thanks" to these cruise leaders when you're around the club.
Upcoming cruises are Marin Yacht Club and Delta Yacht Club/Tinsley Island. Sign up when you're at the club.
Other Events: In late June the Corinthian Yacht Club hosted the Master Mariner's Boat Show and it was a huge success. The day was beautiful and filled with lots of sun and fun. The bands were playing and the food was good. What more could you want! Our harbor was packed with beautiful wooden boats of all sizes flying very colorful flags. This was an opportunity for the general public to come and visit our club and experience the beauty of these older wooden yachts with lots of history. I know it takes a lot of effort and coordination for our club boat owners in the harbor to relocate for the week to allow space for the SSS sailors and the Master Mariners. Without your help, these events couldn't take place at our club. I personally want to thank each and everyone one of you for helping to make this event a success for the Corinthian Yacht Club and our community.
In late July we hosted the Easter Seals "Day on the Bay" for their kids. The day was overcast and somewhat cold, but you never would have known it by looking at the smiles on those kid's faces. Dawn Riley came to the club, spoke to the kids about having fun and being safe and had many pictures taken with them. Herb Meyer was also there with his big smile -- you couldn't have stopped him from being there anyway -- This is another event that our club participates in which is very worth while and is from the heart. To all of those boat owners that gave their time, Easter Seals thanks you, Herb thanks you and so do I.
I'll see you at the club and/or out on the water. Everyone have fun this month, be safe and enjoy!