Our 120th SDYC Opening Day is behind us! It was a wonderful weekend with terrific weather! Thanks to our Board, volunteers and club employees for doing a great job! Another round of thanks goes to all the club members who took time to uncover and clean up their boats. The sea of flags always makes for an exciting view. PC Row had a number of boats available for show. Next year, we need to do what we can to have ALL our boats available for viewing. As I have said many times before, your boat does not have to be perfect to catch the eye. It just needs to be a PC! Or fleet is more interesting to see when we have all conditions of yachts on display. Most of our boats are works in progress… so don’t think your vessel will not be of interest to others!
In continued tradition, #14, LA CUCHARACHA, not only offered strong competition for the PC Class Inspection, but then went on to win the Opening Day Race in class!!! You will remember that LA CUCHARACHA won the inspection last year and has (many times over (during past years) proven herself to be a race machine. Among her many wins, she won the Opening Day Race in 1950. My thanks and congratulations to George Lindley, Geves Kenny and SC Gary Gould for entering their boat for inspection and for winning this popular annual race!
Readers may remember that, last month, I asked members to help me with an “identification problem”. I was interested in knowing the hull number of the PC “ONEY, as my records were incomplete and I could find no information to verify the hull number. I am pleased to report that SDYC member (and PC friend!), Bill Faust, took time to call me and set the record straight! Bill explained that during the 1940’s, he crewed with Robert Van Wart, who owed PC #27 and she was called ONEY. Bill was very helpful in confirming that Milt Wegeforth owned #27 as PAULA, then sold her to John Fox (ZORRA) who then sold her to Van Wart, who named her ONEY. I very much appreciate Bill taking time to call and give me this information! I hope all readers will understand how difficult it is to keep the history alive. Like Bill, I am sure many of you have notes or photos or PC memories to share. Our fleet, now over 75 years old, has been growing year after year! Many boats are coming back to life and back to sailing with our fleet! In fact, for the first time since the 1950’s, the PC Association and Kettenburg Family have allowed the construction of another NEW PC, built by the skilled hands of member Carl Eichenlaub. This month’s photo is a shot that fleet member (and Champion!!) Jack Sutphen took while checking progress of the vessel. Many of us are anxiously waiting for the splashing of the yacht. It will be exciting to see Vice Commodore Betty Sherman sailing with Carl. Ron Arnold’s PC #70, BRIGADOON, is nearing completion as well. Ron, your comments on the www.kettenburgboats.com web site (PC Registry) needs to be revised! It reads: “The boat is scheduled to be launched in the summer of 2000”. How time flies when you’re spending money… but restoring a PC is worth it! How great it will be to see these two vessels sailing out of PC Row! Thanks again to Bill Faust for taking time to help clarify the PC history!
Those of you who were present at the Opening Day celebration will know that PC #16 DAWN won the Kettenburg PC Inspection award. Of course, I am pleased beyond words and honored that she took the prize. Our good friend (and original owner in 1935!) Scofield Bonnet was on hand to see DAWN on view at the front dock and reminded me that she won the award when he owned her, as well. I could not help but notice a tear in his eye when he told me. In a special way, that brought some joy to my heart. Clearly, Sco still loves her as much as I do.
June will be another busy month for the fleet. The Kettenburg Regatta will be held on Sunday, June 5th. Anyone interested should contact the Ancient Mariners for details. We expect the usual great turn out of boats. Sunday, June 19th will bring the One Design Races. This same weekend (Father’s Day Weekend) will see the 15th Annual San Diego Wooden Boat Festival. As always, this event will be held at Koehler Kraft, on Shelter Island, and we expect a great turn out of lovely boats. Please mark these events on your calendar.
As the rainy season leaves us and warm weather makes its way into the weeks, I look forward to those terrific days out on the bay. There are few things that beat seeing several PC’s side by side gliding along the water.
Until next month, I wish you all a great new sailing season!
Rish Pavelec
PC #16 DAWN