Alli Bell welcomes SDYC Member Dan Brown on the SDYC Sailcast. Dan Brown has a significant timeline of accomplishments including the introduction to a Handicap Fleet in San Diego, involvement with the America’s Cup and a long history of studying meteorology.
Dan Brown came to the area first to Silver Gate Yacht Club. He started the San Diego Handicap Fleet, at the time called the Silver Gate Handicap Fleet. Dan tells us a little about how he got that started, the technicalities and difficulties that go into it, and the expansion of the fleet to different clubs in the area. He explains how this strategy is now used in the Hot Rum Series.
Alli Bell sits down with sailors and brothers, Chris and John Busch. Chris and John grew up in the SDYC Junior Program, attended Gonzaga University and are both still active sailors.
The brothers started out in sabots right in La Playa. Their father was in the Navy, sailed in San Diego and helped start the sailing program for regular officers and enlisted around the country. They start off the episode by telling some of their stories of childhood sailing, how they started crewing and some of the family sailing rivalries including on the Transpac Race.
SDYC Commodore Michael Dorgan took the reins hosting this special episode with Tyler Sinks, the most recent skipper to win the Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Cup. Tyler also recently skippered SDYC's winning team for New York Yacht Club’s Resolute Cup.
Tyler started sailing at a mere six years old and tells us about some of his first experiences with some bumps in the road as a junior sailor. He goes on to talk about the potential he saw in himself as he got older with sailing and notes the importance of friendship in the sport through his whole life. Tyler also thanked his parents for their support growing up sailing.
This weekend, the San Diego Yacht Club hosted the 2018 IKA Formula Kite North American Championship off Crown Cove State Beach in South San Diego Bay. Twenty nine kiteboarders from twelve different countries gathered to sail in a series of nine races for three days. The regatta also seconded as a Pan American Games Qualifier.
The Club Leaders Forum Platinum Clubs of America list for 2019 was released, and ranked San Diego Yacht Club as the #2 ranked yacht club in the country. The voting was done by General Managers, Presidents and Owners based on the seven Platinum Club of America Selection Criteria: Univeral Recognition, Excellence in Amenities and Facilities, Caliber of Staff and Professional Service Levels, Quality and Commitment of Membership, Governance and Prudent Fiscal Management, Adapting to Changing Times, and Overall Experience.