Bob Vincent joins us this week on the SDYC Sailcast with an episode full of stories and volunteerism. Bob talks about his involvement with ARG, the Runabout Fleet, Buffalo Beach and the Support Docks.
The episode starts with Bob telling Host Alli Bell about his childhood in Mississippi sailing Sunfish and Skiffs. He talks about his time in the Navy, seeing the world through his time on aircraft carriers and always looking for opportunities to get on a boat.
When Bob moved to San Diego, he bought a Coronado 25, learned racing, and got involved in a boat partnership, leading to his membership in 2002. He started learning about radios and talks about the beginning of ARG. Bob is known as being an instrumental part of the group and specifically… putting up the star on the antenna.
From there, the story of Bob’s Prize Catch begins. He tells about it’s engine problems and how it led to a commitment of spending more time on the boat. This ultimately led to the beginning of the Runabout Fleet. Bob tells Alli all about how he got the word out about the fleet and his excitement for events before the Covid-19 pandemic started back in March.
Bob tells about his involvement with the support docks. He tells the story specifically of when the 2011 Americas Cup World Series and RC44 sailing events came into town and how he built the system just in time.
The conversations switches to his part in getting Buffalo Beach where it is today and leads into how the SDYC Board of Directors can be great tool in the getting the most out of your SDYC experience.
“I realize that I’m surrounded by people that have more passion and more experience than in any given group. You’re dealing with all-star players,” he explains.
“Its for life. The fuel is the volunteerism of the members. That’s what makes it work.”