November 20, 2004 Fall Meeting & Dinner Dance St. Francis Yacht Club

(If you like, you can skip down through the prose and go straight to the pictures below!)

Take a spectacular day on San Francisco Bay, a baker's dozen Islanders tied up at the St. Francis Yacht Club docks, and 100 happy skippers, crews and supporters and you had the best Fall Meeting ever. Even Mother Nature contributed with crystal blue skies and picture-perfect views of the Golden Gate, Alcatraz & Angel Islands and the crisp ridge of Mt. Tamalpias rising above Sausalito and Tiburon away to the north. She also reminded us all of her mastery of the water as she replaced the gentle 10-knot westerlies that has blown all day with a foot-stomping, gear-busting 30 knot blast from the northeast at 1545 to slam the last of the arriving Islanders into the shelter of the harbor - still with not a cloud in the sky!

Thirty-two boats were represented at the Saturday evening Winners Dinner & Dance:

Boat	Owners	Boat	Owners
4 R Sanity	Roger & Linda McClellan	Nimbus	Mike & Daphne Dickson
Amante	Frank Mayo & Susan Brooks	Noncents	Jack & Sandy Thompson
Blockbuster	Bill & Jim Higdon	Ohpira	Gary & Pat Salvo
Blue Streak	Don Schumacher	Pacific High	Harry Farrell (& Carol williams)
Diana	Lou & Steve Zevanov	Pegasus	Robert Aston (& Mary Gleim)
Endeavor	Brian & Fran Jacobs	Pilot	Jim & Martha Robinson
Evanescence	Smokey & Laurie Stover	Pulau	Jonathan Muhiudeen & Linda Horne
Falcon	Bruce & Donna Hallberg	Snowflower	Skipper & Nancy Wall
Four Cs	Steve & Tammy Kent	Tenacious	Kris Youngberg
Freedom Won	John & Nanci Melton	Tom Cat	Barry Stompe & Sylvia Stewart
Getaway	Mike Bennett & Leslie Larson	Truckee	Fred & Karen Loeser
Kindred Spirits	Don & Barbara Henderson	Vanishing Animal	Rick & Sandy Van Mell
Lean Times	Tim & Rhonda Shea	Vitesse	Tom Furlong & Elizabeth Gard
Midnight Sun	Peter & Louisa Szasz	Woden	Bob Knickerbocker & Maureen Drotleff
Mustang	Joseph Krensavage	Woodbine	Ron & Karen Damsen
Natural High	Dennis & Judy Bush	Zenith	Art & Betsy Fowler

In addition many skippers brought crews along too. Winner Midnight Sun had the whole gang, so did Zenith and Mustang, and Tom Cat, Tennacious, Four Cs, Freedom Won, and Pacific High had crew along too. When Art Fowler was counting up crew, he calculated that he had 22 crew at the party - counting of course other skippers who had sailed with him on one or another races or practice sessions! When it was all totaled up we had 98 people there, and if you counted Allan Schuman (Wild Onion) who stopped by during the day, we would have had 33 boats and 99 people!

It all began nicely on Friday afternoon as eight boats arrived at the St. Francis docks during the day. A warm westerly wind made for some nice sailing along the way, with sunshine and temperatures in the 60s - very nice for November 19th! Jack & Sandy Thompson's Freeport Noncents was tucked at the bottom of a slip, with Skipper & Nancy Wall's Snowflower, and Dennis & Judy Bush's Natural High seaward, and Gary & Pat Salvo's Ophira across the dock. A few slips down Rick Van Mell found room on the end for Vanishing Animal, then Commodore Farrell brought Pacific High in across that dock. While helping Harry tied up, Dennis decided there was just room to squeeze in another boat, so we walked Natural High in alongside - fenders touching both Harry and a power boaton the other side of the slip. Finally Ron & Karen Damsen showed up with Woodbine, and Art Fowler filled that slip with Zenith to round out the Friday evening crowd. Betsy Fowler arrived by car a little later. All hands gathered in the spacious cockpit and cabin aboard Noncents and between the usual hearty nibbles and Jack Thompson's big pot of chilli, it sufficed for dinner - washed down with a modest flood of wine.

More of the fleet started arriving early on Saturday. Smokey & Laurie Stover put Evanescence out near the small-boat hoist, then there was room for Roger & Linda McClellan's beautifully refinished 4 R Sanity in the little 470 basin, and even John & Nanci Melton's Freedom Won. Bill & Jim Higdon, with crew Cosette Delgado, brought Blockbuster alongside Evanescence before the wind started to howl at 1545. Vanishing Animal had taken Kelley Lefmann and her father Neil out for a sail past the Golden Gate and Pt. Bonita, and were back in the Bay when the 30 knot stuff hit the fan, but managed to furl sail and get safely back to the dock. Barry & Silvia Stompe had rigged their spinnaker sheets and guys and were planning on double handing over from Sausalito with the chute up in the gentle westerly, but fortunately, they were hit with the first blasts before they had hoisted, so they just sailed Tom Cat over on the main.

Meanwhile the decorating crew headed up by Carol williams and Laurie Stover were hard at wrok by noon transforming the big meeting room into a festive and elegant spot for dinner. Over a hundred baloons were filled with helium, tied with measured silver and blue ribbon and anchored with weights to form centerpieces for the tables. Cut greens and sparkling stems, enhanced the look, while I-36 logoed strong plastic wine glasses filled with stars and chocolates marked each of the 100 places set. Add some loose baloons around the ceiling, a clever arch at the far end and tables laden with door prizes and it ws time to party.

How nice everyone looked in "real" clothes. It was convenient to have a full bar at one end, the dance floor in the middle and tables around the edges. The room quickly swelled with skippers, crew and guests all talking about what a great season we were celebrating. There were so many Door Prizes, 45 in all, that Harry asked Sandy Van Mell to start things off with a bunch to get people seated and the evening under way. Here's a link to the Door Prize list that was on the tables - don't you wish you'd had a chance at some of these goodies?! Door Prizes.

As soon as Commodore Harry Farrel finished welcoming everyone, Art Fowler stepped to the podium and read a tribute to Harry as "Mr. Islander" for the supurb job he had done as Commodore and Treasurer for 9 years before that. Here's a link to the full text: A Tribute to Harry. On that happy note we moved on to other business, starting with Skipper Wall's Membership report. How fitting on such a special occasion to be breaking new ground - 205 members with 2 more pending. Harry turned the tables a bit on Skipper by presenting him with the Schneider Trophy for exceptional service to the Fleet for his 12 years as Membership Chairman - it brought tears to his eyes. Skipper made it a personal responsibility to welcome each new member with a packet of information and an affirmation of the Association's sincere desire to help each and every member to a safe and rewarding experience with their Islander. Treasurer Ron Damsen reported that we were quite solvent and Rick Van Mell noted that the web site will likely break the 4000 photos mark by spring.

Barb Henderson gave her last report as Newsletter Editor, thanking the Officers and everyone else for providing stories, photos and reports to get each Newsletter out on time. She was already working with Sylvia Stewart Stompe and Kelley Montana on a smooth transition for next year. Commodore Farrell reread the tribute to Barb that appeared in the last Newsletter thanking her for five years of creative and faithful service. Here's the complete text: A Tribute to Barb.

None could resist the hearty aroma of impeccably cooked Filet Mignon and Salmon arriving at the tables. The elegant meal was as much a treat as the beautiful day had been, and the Frasier Winery Merlot on the table, arranged for by Midnight Sun crew Debbie Lopker, was a perfect complement. Wrapping up with chocolate on choclate cake with a strawberry garnish was, well, the frosting on the cake!

Moving back to business mode, Dennis bush gave out the Cruising awards for the year, including the Charles Winton Cruisng award to Bill Hidgon & his Blockbuster crew, and small gifts to each of the cruise coordinators for pulling together all of the details of the cruisng weekends. Smokey Stover, as the incoming 2005 Cruise chair, had provided a cruise survey form at the check-in desk and encouraged all to make their wishes known. The Spring Meeting was anounced for March 19th 2005 at the San Francisco Yacht Club, and a combined Race Clinic, Cruise Rendezvous and Svendsen's Discount Night will all be wrapped up together at the Encinal Yacht Club on April 23, 2005.

Ceertainly the signature feature of this year was the record participation in the racing events. Starting with the Race Clinic organized by Peter Szasz and Joseph Krensavage, right through the 20 boats on the starting line for the Vallejo Race, on through a season of good, close racing and wrapping up with another fun Islander Nationals Regatta - it was something very special. Joseph had it all organized, complete with a PowerPoint presentation. Lou & Steve Zevanov, in third place with Diana, thanked everyone for their racing participation, and noted that such spirit was the better than it had ever been - and Lou should know as a founding member of the Association in 1974! Barry & Sylvia Stompe's Tom Cat were second, just one point out of first. Winning both the Season Championship's Buster Hammond Trophy and the Charles Winton Nationals Trophy was Peter Szasz and his crew on Midnight Sun.

Not only did Peter capture the two big racing prizes, but he had contibuted much to the fleet throughout the year. First as organizer and instructor for the Race Clinic, then as a mentor aboard two other boats for the last day of racing, but he also presented to the Association a Perpetual Crew Trophy. Its Deed says simply, "the Szasz Family and the crew of Midnight Sun donated an 11" x 17" plaque with a mounted Barient Winch handle as the I-36 Perpetual Crew Trophy, to be awarded annually at the Fall Meeting of the Association to a Crew Member of an I-36 Yacht that has qualified and competed for the Season's Championship or the National Championship of that year. The recipient shall represent dedication, performance and team spirit in the best Corinthian tradition." At Peter's suggestion and with the Board's unanimous agreement, the 2004 winner is Martha Robinson, who, along with their two children, has crewed for Jim Robinson on Pilot since they bought the boat 15 years ago. They won the Season's Championship 8 of the 10 years up to 2003, and when it came time to race the Nationals this year, the kids were off doing their thing, and Martha was Jim's ONLY crew member on the boat - as Jim remarked, "I did the easy part steering while Martha ran around and did everything else." And they still finished third!

The 2005 Officers were elected with Mike Dickson - Commodore, Tim Shea - Vice-Commodore, Daphne Dickson - Secretary, Ron Damsen - Treasurer, and Kris Youngberg - Measurer. Appointed positions included Joseph Krensavage as Race Captain, Smokey & Laurie Stover as Cruise Chairs; Sylvia Stewart Stompe - Newseltter Editor, Kelley Montana - Newsletter Publisher, and Rick Van Mell as Webmaster.

Our guest Speaker was Matt Wachowicz, America's Cup navigator on Oracle, who has also been involved with maxis at the Rolex Maxi World Championships and the Volvo Ocean Race. He told a fascinating story of a day in the life of a Cup sailor. From the 0630 training at the gym, the boat preparation, the hours of sailing, then the debriefing at the end of the day. On a two-boat program we think of the 36 sailors on the boats, but backing them up are at least an equal, or even double, number of dedicated individuals who run the compound and fix everything from fiberglass to fiber optics, rigging to sails, crunch numbers in massive database with several million data points, and keep track of the administrivia of running a campaign for 3 to 4 years. As a navigator, Matt was responsible for "the numbers". From both calculation and endless repetition, the databases describe target boat speeds and wind angles. These parameters have been so refined that the difference between a "pointing" vs "footing" mode might be as small one or two tenths of a knot from the maximum VMG speed. With 17 people spread over 80 feet, good communication is also a necessity. Individuals have their own microphone to communicate, and when it comes time for a particular maneouver, everyone is working from the same "play book" - an 87 page manual on how different things are done. Sure gave us a lot to think about before next season starts. It was a special treat, with many thanks to Matt.

Dancing and general commaradrie finished up the evening. Music was provided by the Pan Estesy Duo.

By Sunday morning the wind had abated, down to a modest 12 knots or so as boats prepared to leave. Evidence of the blast however littered all the boats. Leaves, needles and dirt from the pine and cypress trees to windward covered the decks. Several thousand customers had lost power as the wind battered the Bay area - topping out in the 55 - 60 range at many locations. Though leaving the docks Sunday morning was relatively gentle, Mother Nature reminded us of her strength once again as it piped back up into the 20 - 30 range around noon, before backing off at the end of the day.

It was, from beginning to end, a very special Fall Meeting - even a very special season for everyone in the Islander Association. Jim Robinson sent out his own personal email to the Association email list with his thoughts on how special it had been, and how special the Islander has been for his family. If you missed it the first time around, here's a link to it - and a fine way to wrap up the year. Jim Robinson's email.

Pictures are compliments of Barb Henderson, Bill Higdon, & Rick Van Mell, with more to come from Ron Damsen & Robert Szasz using Lou Zevanov's camera!. Click on images to enlarge, click "Back" to return.

Golden Gate from St. Francis YC	Islanders fit in...	tight!!!
Squeeze in!	Jim Higdon & Cosette Delgado on Blockbuster	View from St. Francis
Decorating Time!	An Islander glass for everyone	What beautiful tables!
Pat Salvo & Judy Bush run check in table	Smokey & Laurie Stover with Nancy Wall	Jack & Sandy Thompson with Skipper Wall
Dennis Bush, Karen Damsen & Don Henderson can't keep Art Fowler awake!	Zenith crew Rene & Jan Robert & Fred Wachowicz	Ron Damsen & Julian & Debby Cohen
Party animals!	Bill Higdon & John Claude	Daphne Dickson with Eleanor & Loring Piper
Sandy Van Mell gives out Door Prizes	Kelley Lefmann & dad Neil	Islander Nationals Trophy
Robert Szasz, mom Louisa & Midnight Sun crew John Claude	Door Prize Tables	Great Goodies...
galore	KnicBobkerbocker & Maureen Drotleff - Woden	Bill Higdon, Barb Henderson & Jack Thompson
Sandy Thompson, Nancy Wall & Karen Damsen	Debby & Julian Cohen	Ron & Karen Damsen
Presenting the race results	Zenith crew	Frank Mayo & Susan Brooks - Amante
Steve Kent (right)- Four Cs - & crew George Ritchie & ?	2005 Commodore Mike Dickson	Angie Lackey & Sylvia Stompe - Tom Cat
Happy Times	Tom Cat team	Midnight Sun crew
Zenith crew & ....	more Zenith crew	Mustang crew
Nancy & Skipper Wall, flanked by Bruce & Donna Hallberg, and Don & Barb Henderson	Kelley & Neil Lefmann are all smiles	Leslie Larson & Mike Bennett, with Judy bush
2005 Measurer Kris Youngberg...	with his crew!	Tom Furlong & Elizabeth Gard - Vitesse
KnicBobkerbocker & Maureen Drotleff with Dennis & Judy Bush	Ken & Sheila Roberts	Joseph Krensavage & Catherine Hutton
Robert Aston Pegasus & his donated Door Prize	Amiral Farrell!!!!	Art Fowler reads tribute to Commodore Farrell
Debbie Lopker & Louisa Szasz	Skipper Wall gives Membership report...	and receives Schneider Trophy
Ron Damsen says the treasury is sound	All the goodies	Dennis Bush gives cruising awards
Our podium & prizes!	Commodore Farrell with Peter Szasz & crew John Claude	Bill Higdon gets Winton Award from Dennis Bush
A great show	Lou Zevanov - Diana - 3rd place	Lou thanks Joseph Krensavage for a fine racing program.
Julian Cohen gets Cruise Coordinator gift ex-Four Cs	Ditto Sandy Van Mell Vanishing Animal	Ditto Harry Pacific High
Ditto Skipper Wall Snowflower	Ditto Bill Hidgon Blockbuster	Ditto Pat Salvo Ophira
Season Winners Midnight Sun	Introducing new Commodore Mike Dickson!	He gives Harry his Commodore's shirt!
The new crew trophy for Martha Robinson	Passing the mantle!	Smokey launches into 2005 Cruising
Speaker Matt Machowicz (sorry about the picture!!!)	John & Nanci Melton - Freedom Won	The boys....
continued.	Harry & Sandy relax	Dancin' & drinkin'
Michelle Williams	Don Schumacher - Blue Streak	Great Dessert
Dance time	Cosette Delgado	Winton Cruising Award
Pan Epsey Duo played	Harry & Debbie Lopker	Pat & Gary Salvo
Fred & Karen Loeser - Truckee	Brian & Fran and Sandy & Rick	Days gone by
Barb & Don Henderson - Kindred Spirits	Sunday morning boat hopping	Is it time to go home yet?
Evanescence, Blockbuster & Tom Cat	Tree debris on Pacific High	Snowflower prepares to ...
head for home.