Photos by Tod Klingler

Last weekend the club celebrated another great cruise out at Angel Island. This is becoming a very popular tradition with all the fun of a Turkey dinner a la mode  - that is - in the picnic area!  The popularity of this cruise out has seen a growing turn with nearly 40 people. We had continued good fortune with another weekend of marvelous late November weather.

Our sincere thanks to Barbara and Tom Keegan for putting all of this together with help from all the cruisers - notably Shannon and Tod who decked out the picnic area with lights, table cloths, real plates and, of course, some special favorites.  The party continued well after sunset in the picnic area and then continued in fine style on Pied Piper.

Saturday was another perfect day of hikes, camaraderie and again fantastic weather.  We had a record turn out - 13 boats - and all the mooring balls were filled with a few of the boats rafting together as well.

It was also good to see some first time folks making the journey for this Thanksgiving weekend of fun. If you missed out this year - put it on your calendar for 2014.

Sequoia has started the cruising year off in very fine style!

Peter Blackmore - Staff Commodore

Date line: 12/1/2013
Reporting: Cody Hmelar

This past week, 40 + Sequoians braved the relentless no wind conditions and traveled all the way to Angel Island.

The majority of the club arrived Friday afternoon to a sunny 70 ̊F @ Ayala Cove.

Dinner was hosted by the Keegans; Dad said Patricia spent many an hour toiling over the preparations.  I really loved the Turkey- it was the best I ever had.

Saturday we hiked up to the top of Mount Livermore

In the afternoon we hiked to the Immigration Station in China Cove where my grandfather came to America all by himself when he was 9 years old.

We had a potluck dinner on Saturday with an amazing view of Tiburon.

Sunday we went to Fort Mason on the way home and picked up pot stickers at the Farmers Market.

The Sequoia Yacht Club 2014 Winter Series continues this Saturday, December 7 with Race #2. We had 21 boats out for Winter #1, come join the fun.

This is a five-race series with one throw-out race. The start line for the Winter Series is at Marks 3 - 4 and the start time is 1:30. All skippers should attend the skipper's meeting at 11:30 on the day of the race. Non-Sequoia members, unless you signed up & paid for the entire year, you should get your entry forms and fees to the club before the first race. For those boats coming down from CPYC, you can call me at 650-576-3990 after 11:45 for race instructions and then check-in at the start area. Plan on racing, rain or shine.

If you haven't yet filled out a Skipper's Entry Form for 2014, please download it and fill it out before the race. Members of the crew are also required to fill out a 2014 Crew Registration Form. If you or your crew completed these forms already, new forms are not required. There are blank forms at the Club if you aren't able to download copies before Saturday.

Come on out for some of the best sailing of the year. I'll look for you at the start line.

Regards,
Richard Butts
Winter Series Fleet Captain
Sequoia Yacht Club
http://www.sequoiayc.org/racing

Come enjoy some holiday cheer at the Encinal Yacht Club and join us for the 37th Annual Lighted Yacht Parade.  The Lighted Yacht Parade is organized by the Encinal Yacht Club and the Oakland Yacht Club for Saturday, December 7 and takes place along the waterfront of the Oakland/Alameda Estuary. The parade begins just after sunset, around 5:30 pm.

Please bring munchies and cocktails to share for Docktails at 4:30 pm.  We will enjoy the parade followed by dinner at the Encinal Yacht Club.  (At this point, it may be too late to get reservations at Encinal.)

Thank you to Shannon Amerman and Tod Klingler for taking over hosting the cruise out due to some ankle surgery.

Happy Thanksgiving,

John and Stacy Zolck

Yesterday was our first Wednesday lunch, after a long break. Carole made a terrific home-made turkey chili along with some fresh-from-the-oven cornbread. We had salads, desserts and lots of fixins. About 25 people turned out to enjoy the lunch and camaraderie. It  was a great time to connect with friends, old and new.

We will continue to offer this every Wednesday and will have it ready at 12 o'clock sharp, so those of you who would like to stop by from work, can get back quickly.  It is also a great opportunity to  take the morning or afternoon to work from your boat, if you can, as we do have wifi.

There will be times when Carole and I will not be available, so if you are interested in occasionally stepping in to do a meal, let us know.

So, come on down next Wednesday.  Rumor has it there will be tomato soup and toasted cheese sandwiches.

Winston Bumpus - Commodore

The Holiday Season is in full swing and we have much to celebrate here at the Sequoia Yacht Club.

Whether you have just come back from a marvelous Angel Island Thanksgiving cruise-out, helped trim the club tree, enjoyed your  first revamped Wednesday lunch or are looking forward to racing Winter # 2, your club has much to offer this month!

On December 13, (that's Friday the 13th for you  triskaidekaphobics) we will have a DID and a General Meeting.  Okay, I know that is not exactly thrill-a-minute stuff, but the food will be good and it gets  better:

On  Sunday December 15th, we have the annual Children's Holiday Party.  There is a sign up sheet at the club.  We ask you list the children in your party and their ages and genders so Santa can work his magic.  We will have crafts for the youngsters, Magic Mike will entertain all ages with his magician skills  and the Big Guy himself will likely make an appearance.

On Friday December 20th, it will be the adults turn to party:  We will have our annual Holiday DID!  This will not only be the culmination of the Lighted Boat Contest with shore side judging and the Lighted Boat Parade, we will enjoy the disturbing yet heartwarming spectacle of  the Twelve Days of Christmas acted out by our members.  This is one of my personal favorite Sequoia events.

On New Year Eve Day we will have one of the highest tides of the year.  Assuming our clubhouse is still there later that day, we are scheduled to have a rocking New Year's Eve party.  Kathy Harris has pulled out all the stops;  she has hired an excellent band and put together an evening of dancing and celebration that will be second to none.  Please make your plans to attend.

Happy Holidays!

Dan Lockwood - Vice Commodore

Our new Good Of The Order (GOTO) member this year is Patricia (Patty) Corcoran.  If you have some great news you would like to share with the Club, be it birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, weddings, new members to the family, etc., please send the information to her. We all will be able to share in your excitement and help you celebrate. 

Send your Good Of The Order information to: pcorcoran27@yahoo.com

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