Wow! What a great weekend of fun we had during last weekend’s South Bay Opening Day – South Bay Magic. I want to thank our Rear Commodore Rick Gilmore and his team of volunteers for their awesome job in organizing the entire weekend and especially the record breaking activities at the club. 

After many months of planning and meetings, the weekend kicked off with a nice dinner and music at Coyote Point Yacht Club on Friday night. I think as I looked around their club that night the Sequoia Yacht Club members outnumbered the rest of the clubs. I think there were even more SYC members there than Coyote Point YC. Way to go SYC.

Saturday morning there was a great pancake breakfast where over 100 breakfasts were served by the Club.  This was followed by Opening Day ceremonies kicked off with a rousing Star Spangled Banner sung a cappella  by our very own talented David Elliot and speeches by our Grand Marshall Mayor Gee, Miss Redwood City Diana Noriega Weng, and myself, your Commodore. This was followed by a very moving and heartfelt Blessing of the Fleet by our very own Reverend Terry Burley and the opening day cannon fired by David Payne. The boaters, from over 25 highly-decorated boats for the boat parade, were able to enjoy the speeches and the announcements made by Master Of Ceremonies, David Bliven, due to the good work by Bar Houston.  Bar set up the broadcast for not only the speakers at the viewing area, but through short range FM transmission to the FM radios on the boats, plus the receivers at the Club. Well done!

The lunch turnout was amazing as the initial count for lunches served at our Club was over 180 lunches. I think this is a new all-time record. And for our dining pleasure, we were also privileged to have a Huey helicopter flyover the Club.  And we can’t forget the packed club house for the ‘awards ceremony’ for the decorated boats from all the clubs.  Or, the lazy afternoon on our deck of folks simply enjoying the gorgeous weather and our fantastic club.

What an amazing day and what amazing efforts from so many people at the Club including: Petra Gilmore, Kathy Harris, Nick Weber, Ron Howard, Larry Mayne, Dan Doud, Linda Dalton, Joanne Wright, Olivia Sadlowski, Bar Houston, Lilley Yee, Helen Horn, Deb Garvey, Fadi Maamari, Lou Anne Graves with Daniel Graves and troop 446, Anya Bog, Peter Weigt, John Mattis, Linda Mattis, Dave Elliott, Leslie Fish, Jim Fish, David Bliven, David Payne, Jerry Jones, Sheila Jones, David Jackson, Mark Nardini, Tom Wikman, Sydney Morris, Carole Bumpus, Secretary Robin Weber, Director Michele Hartman, Director Tim Petersen, Director Clinton Ward, Director Richard Butts, Director George Carr, Port Captain James Brown, Vice Commodore Dan Lockwood, Staff Commodore Peter Blackmore and most especially, Rear Commodore, Rick Gilmore. (I apologize if I have missed someone.)

Later that evening the party continued with dinner and dancing at the Peninsula Yacht Club with many members of Sequoia Yacht Club members having a great time with our friends from the various yacht clubs visiting from around the south bay.

Then on Sunday we all went down to the Annual Gin Fizz Brunch at South Bay Yacht Club in Alviso. Many of us stayed around to be sure we were in the traditional group photo. I think the group photo tradition has been around for over 100 years and Jack London was in some of the very early SBOD group pictures.

It was a great and magical weekend in the South Bay and I want to thank everyone who worked hard to make it possible.

- Winston Bumpus, Commodore

South Bay Opening Day!

Can you believe what a weekend that was?  Coyote Point on Friday, Peninsula Yacht Club Saturday night, South Bay Yacht Club Sunday morning and, in between, the most amazingly fun and energetic flow of activity in our own corner of the South Bay – our Sequoia Yacht Club. 

My thanks to the SBOD Committee and a small army of volunteers who made this day possible!  The club looked great and attendance, meals served and, I’m certain, bar sales all broke records.

My highlights?  I have to say David Elliot’s singing our National Anthem, the boat parade, the UH-1 flyover and talking to the veterans on their ground crew, the Spike Beer tent on the deck and just the spirit and upbeat mood of our members and guests.  It portends well for our summer in the South Bay!

But that was then…way back then.  This is now:

This Friday May 9th we get to enjoy a Drop In Dinner and a General Meeting.  This Friday’s dinner is a Grill Your Own!  That is not dinner with the Donner Party but rather a selection of the following tasty entrees:

T-bone or Filet Mignon (40 available)
Salmon (30 available)
Homemade Potato Salad
Homemade Macaroni Salad
Coleslaw
Fruit Salad
Corn on the Cob
Ice Cream Bar
Adults: $ 14.50, Kids: $ 8.00

On Saturday, May 10th or the very next day to the calendar challenged, we have Tom and Teri Wikman’s Paella Extravaganza.  Now this is a dinner you have to sign up for but it will be well worth it.  They will have a couple of paella dishes to choose from and I understand authentic sangria will be served.
The evening will also have music and will feature the talented latin/ salsa band Mambo Soul!  Price is $18.00.

On May 21st we will get to enjoy a Wednesday lunch.   These lunches are hosted by Winston and Carole Bumpus on the first and third Wednesday of the month. 

On May 23rd we will have a Drop In Dinner with an after-dinner presentation of a Delta Primer. 

Sequoia’s annual trips to the Delta are the stuff of legend and this years’ trip (7/28 through 8/1) is already on the calendar.   If you have ever considered going up the river or have questions or concerns, be certain to put this dinner on your calendar.

- All Photos courtesy of Shelia Jones

See more photos on the Sheila's SmugMug page!

Dear Members,

Please join us at the club for some “PMS”!

Paella, Music & Sangria

This Saturday Evening at  5PM…Adults=$18  Kids=$9

“P”…..Tom, Teri and Scott will be in the Galley showing off their culinary skills making two types of Paella…one is vegetarian!
Dinner includes paella, salad and dessert.

“M”…..At 5PM our entertainment begins with the famous Mambo Soul Band. They will play Spanish Ballads and move into more Latin Rock as the evening continues.

“S”…..Tod will be preparing authentic Sangria for us to enjoy for this special evening.

This is the best PMS ever!  Please sign up at the club or email me (click here).

- Kathy Harris, Social Chair

Hi Racers!

The Sequoia Yacht Club Single/ Double-handed Series continues this Saturday, May 10th with Race #2. We had 17 boats out for SH/DH #1, come join the fun.

This is a five-race series with one throw-out race. The start line for the race will be this time between marker S and a committee boat.

The start time is 12:30 PM. The changed starting procedure gives all of us a fair and safe start All skippers should attend the skipper's meeting at 10:30 AM on the day of the race. For all of those who couldn’t make it down for the first race please don’t forget to sign up and register your boat at Jibeset.

Please make sure that you paid your fees and handed in your release forms before the race. For those boats coming down from CPYC, you can call me at 650-847 9018 after 11 AM for race instructions and then check-in at the start area. Be aware of the forecast which predicts hairy 30kn of wind, but we will race nevertheless. There is no way to chicken out ;-)

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.

Anja and I are looking forward to see you on the water to proof that you can handle your boat yourself in all kinds of conditions.

- Anja Bog & Peter Weigt, Single/Double-handed Fleet Captains

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