VIEW FROM THE HELM

I hope you all are having a great summer. I have been. I was fortunate to be able to spend some time in San Diego for the club cruise in July. It was nice and chilly – a very pleasant relief from the Arizona heat. We had a couple of land-based activities during this cruise where I was able to get to know some members that I don’t see at the Lake Pleasant cruises. Nancy and Warren Barrett on Sea Squirt, Ted and Toni Stuart on TS I Love You, and Gail (poor Gary had to work in Phoenix) Disch on their new Catalina 34. These boats are in San Diego slips and we were able to take in a tour of each one of their “San Diego Condos”. Appreciation of our new honorary 30-year membership category was expressed to me by these seasoned San Diego “Zonies”.

While in San Diego, I was asked by my brother, a Chula Vista sailor, if I could use Gypsy Wind to take some kids from Mission Bay to Chula Vista – that is out to the Pacific Ocean, around Point Loma, all the way through San Diego bay, and under the Coronado bridge. I thought it was a good excuse to get my ocean sailing in. However, it turned out to be much more. These kids, ages 8-15, are part of a program called CYSS which teaches kids how to sail. I was totally impressed with how much these youngsters knew about sailing. They knew their terms, they held a better compass heading that I do, they raised and lowered the main, and they were not bashful at all with using the marine radio. My main job was keeping track of their time at the helm so that none of them were slighted on their watch; they pretty much did the rest.

For my birthday I received a book on the history of Lake Pleasant. I haven’t had a chance to read it all yet, but what I have seen is very interesting. I learned that the lake was named after a man, Carl Pleasant; I had thought it was named because it was so pleasant to sail on. Mr. Pleasant was instrumental in the design and construction of the dam. Also I learned that the water irrigation plan for the dam & lake was patterned after the Hohokam nation that created an irrigation system using the Agua Fria River. The book also talks about a Mr. Waddell and a Mr. Beardsley and their part in our water system.

Tee-shirts are in and I am trying to distribute them. Hopefully, I will catch most of you at the membership meeting on the 17th. These are collect on delivery; bring your $10.00 plus two forms of picture ID. I promise I will not turn you in to the INS unless I catch you violating some other sailing rule.

I am excited about a couple of events coming up on our calendar. The planning for the second Ladies Day@the Lake is in progress. Last year this program, which encourages and advances women sailors, was very successful and we fully intend to enhance it further this year. If you are interested in letting us use your boat for this program let David Devoucoux or myself know; if you want to sign up as a student, see the article in the newsletter or check out the web page. Also in October, we are participating in the National Women’s Sailing Association’s “AdventureSail” program which gives underprivileged girls an opportunity to experience sailing. We will be working with the local Boys & Girls Club to coordinate this program using members as skippers on their sailboats. If you are interested in volunteering your boat and time for this program, please let a board member know.

I am juggling a few topics for upcoming general meeting presentations. These include preserving and beautifying your boat, a presentation by the Maricopa Water District, and hopefully a presentation of members’ recent cruising in the Caribbean.

Happy sailing,
Tom Dumbauld