As I sit here beginning to write, I cannot believe the month I have had. I am FINALLY finding time to sit and get my heart rate somewhere below 300 and actually have time to enjoy such things as looking at flowers, cooking dinner, kicking the cat and all the other things that bring me such pleasure. For the
first time in months I am starting to relax!
As you all must know, this year marks the 75th anniversary of the birth of the Kettenburg PC. We, again, celebrated the Nationals and had 11 boats at the line. Before I report, allow me to thank Mike and Marilyn Foster for not only driving the Race Committee train, but for helping handle the booth at the PC BBQ!!! You guys and your crew are GREAT!! Please know that we all appreciate your hard work and dedication. The fine job that you do is proof of your dedication. The PC Fleet thanks you! Others who need to be acknowledged include our SDYC club for supporting the event, Graham Kelly for standing by for possible protests, Ron Render for assisting with participation plaques, Jack Sutphen for arranging Trophies and gifts. Jim and Gail Thompson (www.jimgail.com) offered some great “on the water” shots of the event on their web site, so thanks to them!
It might not come as a surprise that our, Jack Sutphen (#62) showed up with a crack crew and cleaned up. New comer to the fleet (but old friend) Andy LaDow gave the JW MENACE crew a run for their money and did very well with #45, SALSA. Congratulations, Andy and crew!! #14, (LA CUCHARACHA) picked up 3rd place. Boats to follow (in this order) were 66, 18, 9, 21, 54, 44, 72 and 37. You are all to be commended! The winds were light to start, but developed over the day for a total of 5 good races to test everyone’s skill. The fleet only saw one very minor “Oops”, so that made for a great weekend.
Our Saturday evening PC Nationals BBQ was the usual great party! We were pleased to see PC Skippers and crew of years past in attendance. I want to tell you “past PC sailors”, that the entire PC fleet is honored that you still care enough to attend our functions. Among the dignitaries were: Paul Kettenburg, Wally Springstead, Sco Bonnet, Fred Hage, Mort Carlile and Don Giddings. Of course, because they are “PC Guys”..most of them had wives or “girl friends” accompanying them, so it made for an especially great evening. Cissy and I enjoyed chatting with all of you! We regret that Doug Giddings was unable to attend. Seems there was a mix up in his schedule and the date of the event. Next year I’ll buy you a beer, Doug, but only if you tell my how you made WINDY smoke the other guys! I also feel obligated to tell you guys that I expect the price of the BBQ dinner may increase for our 100 year PC celebration, 25 years from now, so no complaints when we send you the 100 year invitation!
My thanks to Fleet Captain Vance Gustafson, for helping me with a detailed report of the entire event, so that I might share it with readers. I also wish to thank Commodore Mike Fink for enjoying the BBQ with us and, thus, showing support of our 75 year old fleet.
Many of you may know that Cissy’s boat PC #16 DAWN is in our slip E-70! Several friends attended the launching at Koehler’s on Saturday, July 31st, and we had a great splash party. Thank you to all that attended. Of course, member Scofield Bonnet was on hand with his family to assist with the launch and to sail the boat back over to the club during the sea trial. Just as he did in 1935, he seemed to enjoy this event the second time around!! So please come visit DAWN down at E Street and look for Cissy and I to be out on the water. We are both EXTREMELY pleased to be back at the club and sailing. My personal thanks to CF Koehler, Master Shipwright Dana Hardy and the Koehler Kraft crew for putting up with me and for doing, what I consider, a beautiful job. If their hearts were not in it, the end result would not be what it is.
Remember that August 22nd will bring, what has been our “Coronado Island Race”, which, this year is replaced by a shorter course with less “windward/leeward” legs. The detailed course is a 13 mile triangular route. Those interested can contact Vance Gustafson or Jack Sutphen for exact marks.
Lastly, I am sure that I can speak for the entire fleet in expressing our regrets for the loss of our Jodi Estep. Jodi, with the patience of a saint, always had a smile on her face for everyone and we will all miss her greatly. Our hearts go out to the Estep family.
In closing, I wish you fair winds to sail by.
Rish Pavelec
PC # 16 DAWN