November 5, 2005 Fall Meeting & Winners' Dinner St. Francis Yacht Club

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

Our last event of the year, the Fall Meeting, kicked off with a casual and gracious potluck at Golden Gate Yacht Club on Friday evening. Skipper & Nancy Wall (Snowflower), along with Gary & Pat Salvo (Ophira) and Harry Farrell & Carol Williams (Pacific High), did the organizing and served up tasty sausages and chicken on the upper deck grill. Everyone else brought a groaning table-load of dishes to round out the meal. The rest of the gang included Commodore Mike, Daphne & Eleanor Dickson (Nimbus), Ron & Karen Damsen (Woodbine), Roger & Linda McClellan (4 Our Sanity), Dennis & Judy Bush (Natural High), Don & Barb Henderson (Kindred Spirits), Peter Szasz (Midnight Sun), Don Schumacher (Blue Streak), Art & Betsy Fowler (Zenith) and Rick Van Mell (Vanishing Animal).

Starting around 1700 hours, nibbles and wine started conversation flowing. San Francisco sparkled in the crisp fall air, and a sliver moon hung momentarily over the lighted dome of the old Fine Arts Museum - better known as the Exploratorium. In the early dark without daylight saving time, everyone was eating shortly after 1800. Good cheer and stories of the great season just completed filled the tables. There was even a fine trio playing, though few made it to the dance floor! It was a great beginning to a special weekend.

Art & Betsy Fowler had given Rick Van Mell a ride to the potluck, and going south Friday night a little after 10 pm on the way home down 19th Avenue through San Francisco to Interstate 280, they noticed flashing police lights on the northbound side of the street. A closer look at the next intersection showed more lights, and they realized there were no northbound cars. For about a mile the pattern continued, then just before reaching I-280, a long cavalcade of big black SUVs surrounded by a police escort with flashing lights poured northbound. It was most likely Prince Charles and Camilla on their way to Pt. Reyes (an Islander destination!) where they toured an organic farm on Saturday.

Our own cavalcade of stars continued on Saturday with the main event of the weekend - the Fall Annual Meeting. It was a beautiful day with bright sunshine and temperatures around 70, though the wind was light. Rick powered Vanishing Animal up to eventually make nine boats gathered along the St. Francis Yacht Club docks. The tally of boats present included: Snowflower; Natural High; Pacific High; 4 Our Sanity; Ophira; Woodbine; Freedom Won; and Fred & Karen Loesser's Truckee arrived just before cocktail hour.

Not content to wait until the festivities officially began at 1800 in the clubhouse, a hearty gang gathered on Vanishing Animal around 1630 and eventually included 14 people. Nibbles and wine spiced a brisk conversation about the day's great racing run by Golden Gate YC. With Pat & Gary Salvo heading up the Race Committee, about 90 boats in nine divisions were sent over five different courses. Our own Peter Szasz has bought an interest in a J44, and led his section and the fleet until running into a hole at the east end of the course while the fleet brought the westerlies to him. Russell Coutts, of America's Cup fame, stepped aboard a Melges 24 and, naturally, won his section.

As the sky darkened through pastel to deep blue and the moon and Venus blazed to the southwest, a steady stream of Islander faithful arrived for the fun. In total 60 folks, representing 23 boats filled the room with it's beautiful bar and fireplace at each end flanking the stunning view of San Francisco Bay through a wall of windows. In addition to those mentioned above, attendance included: Laurie Stover - Evanescence (Smokey, along with Tim Shea, were sailing the Baja Ha Ha aboard Chris Mellor & Kelley Montana's new Norseman 44.7); Kris Youngberg with new fiancee Christine Conti - Tenacious; and newly engaged Joseph Krensavage and Cate Cavanaugh, plus crew Tom Borgstrom and Bruce Vogen - Mustang; Lou & Diane Zevanov and Steve & Gena Zevanove (yes, the spellings are correct!), plus crew Jim and Diana Jesse, Mark & Ann Cheny, Kit & Naiomi Wiegman (Cassiopiea), and Jon & Carol Sjoberg - Diana; Jonathon Muhiudeen & Linda Horne - Pulau; Bob Knickerbocker & Maureen Drotlief, plus crew Jim & Mary Ann Barbee - Woden; Don & Barb Henderson - Kindren Spirits;Charles Hodgkins & Kathryn Munn - Mischief; Peter Szasz - Midnight Sun; Don Schumacher - Blue Streak;Commodore Mike & Daphne Dickson - Nimbus; Art & Betsy Fowler, plus crew Fred & Chris Wachowicz, and Bill & Elizabeth Brugler - Zenith; Michael & Jean Jefferies - Nantucker; and Pacific High crew Michele Williams and Karen Kite.

Commodore Dickson started off the meeting with a welcome and introduced our two newly engaged couples - Fleet Captain Joseph Krensavage and Cate Cavanaugh (Mustang) and Measurer Kris Youngberg and Christine Conti (have known each other nine years) (Tenacious). Do the boat names seem appropriate, or what?!

But the person who spent the most time at the podium this evening was Betsy Fowler. She rounded up such a pile of wonderful door prizes from our vendors and members that it took all evening to hand them out. Why shucks, she even found one more that had slipped under the table at the end of the evening! We are very grateful for these gifts from our vendors supporting the Islander fleet - and we in turn should remember to thank them when we patronize their stores. West Marine, North Sails, Hood Sails, Pineapple Sails, Harken, Svendsen's and KKMI all provided great gifts for the fleet - we really thank you!

Our members contributed prizes too - cork boards for posting notes from Skipper Wall, a hand-made necklace from Sandy Van Mell, two baskets of goodies from Ron & Karen Damsen's Woodbine Bakery, Kathryn Munn Hodgkins' “V-berth" fitted sheets, Pat Salvo's Knit Shawl, Laurie Stover's Floral Arrangement, and Betsy Fowler provided goodie bags for each table and post-its & pens for everyone!

The business part of the meeting included the election of the 2006 officers - Commodore Tim Shea, Vice Commodore Art Fowler, Treasurer Ron Damsen, Secretary Jean Jefferies, Measurer Kris Youngberg and past Commodore Mike Dickson. Appointed offices included Fleet Captain Joseph Krensavage, Cruise Chair Smokey & Laurie Stover, Newsletter Editor Sylvia Stompe and Publisher Kathryn Munn, Membership Chair Linda McClellan, and Webmaster Rick Van Mell.

The racing winners were presented their perpetual trophies, with Peter Szasz - Midnight Sun - taking the Season's Championship, and Lou & Steve Zevanov - Diana - winning the Nationals Regatta. The Crew Award went to Dennis and Matt Bush who crewed on Art Fowler's Zenith. The cruising award went to Dennis & Judy Bush for their dedication and help on cruising events aboard Natural High.

Special recognition went to those boats that both raced and cruised. That included Diana, Freedom Won, Natural High, Pacific High and Zenith. And the Schneider Trophy, for outstanding contribution to the Association for the year went to Laurie Stover for her endless string of great games for kids and adults, decorations for events, special goodies bags for each boat at cruises and just being such a great person!

We all had such a great time the evening was already getting long in the tooth when the formal proceedings wrapped up around 2215. Commodore Dickson had brought some CDs for a little dance music - and there may have been a few who waited until the tables were cleared from the dance floor to partake. Many others headed happily on their way to their home ports. It was a great way to wrap up 2005. See you all next year.

Pictures are compliments of Barb Henderson, Lou Zevanov, Judy Bush & Rick Van Mell. Click on images to enlarge, click "Back" to return.

Moon over Fine Arts	The Brain trust	Eleanor walks the deck	Chef Gary
Chow line & ...	more goodies	Karen , Nancy & Barb	Stairs ahead!
Pat, Gary, & Nancy	Dennis & Judy, Barb & Don	Don, Ron & Karen, Linda & Roger	The Dickson family!
Happy time	Betsy, Art & Peter	Harry & Carol	Music making time!
Who ate my porridge?	Pat & Gary + Nancy	Nancy, Skipper & Dennis	Dennis & Judy
Betsy & Art + Peter	Linda & Roger	Eleanor makes the rounds	Gotch ya, says Daphne
Dennis Bush on GGYC Race Deck	Roger & Linda McClellan	Waiting for action	Nice weather
GGYC Regatta action...	mark coming up...	nice rounding...	headed upwind.
Islanders at St. Francis...	Freedom Won	Woodbine	Pacific High
4 Our Sanity	Ophira	Flags fly	Where's the party?!!!
Aboard "the Animal"...	Wait.. I want some...	Here's a shell bowl ...	We'll drink to that!
Roger McClellan and Nanci Melton	Serious thinkers!	Where ARE you?!	Skipper's hiding
another nice night	Betsy & Laurie do Check-in	Laurie & Betsy's table setting	Grand array
Racer mugs	Cruiser glasses	Some of the door prizes ...	KKMI Haul-out bottle!
More prizes	Ron & Karen Damsen	Barb & Don Henderson	Linda & Roger McClellan
Rick Van Mell with Betsy & Laurie	Nanci & John Melton	Kris Youngberg & Christine Conti + Daphne Dickson	Charles & Kathryn Hodgkins
Gary & Pat Salvo	Commodore Dickson	Lucky plate holder winners	Nancy & Skipper Wall
Gary Salvo & John Melton	Ron (Treasurer!) & Karen Damsen	Art Fowler's crew	Karen Kite & Michele Williams
Commodore Dickson and Fred & Karen Loesser	Daphne Dickson	Linda & Roger McClellan	Daphne Dickson and Kris Youngberg
Charles Hodgkins & Kathryn Munn	Art Fowler & Peter Szasz	Linda Horne & Jonathon Muhiudeen	Rick gives Webmaster report
Diana table is happy	more Diana smiles	Christine Conti and Peter Szasz	Carol Williams & Karen Kite
Diane gets a Door Prize	Peter Szasz speaks ...	as does Diane Zevanov ...	and Art Fowler
Victorious Diana crew	Jean Jefferies gets a door prize	Good Crowd!	Newly engaged Joseph Krensavage & Cate Cavanagh
Also engaged Kris Youngberg & Christine Conti	Nanci & John Melton	Art & Don Schumacher	Very Relaxed
Loessers and Kathryn Munn	Laure surrounded by prizes	Joseph's racing intro	KKMI winners!
Kathryn wins a door prize too!	Laurie Stover gets Schneider Trophy	Peter Szasz gets Hammond Trophy from Joseph	Lou & Steve Zevanov with Nationals Trophy
Dennis (plus Matt) won Perpetual Crew Trophy	Dennis & Judy get Cruising Award	Peter wins Season Cahmpionship	Steve & Lou win Nationals Trophy
Laurie's gift bag to cruise coordinators...	has great fixins...	that whip up easy...	cook fast...
look great...	and taste devine! THANKS LAURIE!!!

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