WSA-OC The Whistle
July 2015
Chatting With The Commodore
Valerie Rhodes, 
 WSA-OC Commodore

It's been really fun and gratifying to watch WSA-OC take shape over the past six months. One of the first things we did as a board was review the existing mission statement to see if it needed any tinkering.  While our core mission to support women in sailing is unchanged, it became evident in surveying our members that there was a desire to participate in activities that make our world a better place. Many members expressed a desire to give back to our community and to build awareness and create action around the fragile condition of our oceans. 

 

With these goals in mind, our board spent a great deal of time crafting a new mission statement that would reflect these principles. As we plan future programs and events, we will be mindful of our broader mission.  

 

We welcome your thoughts, ideas and participation as we continue to grow WSA-OC. You can read our new mission statement on our website or below.

   
WSA-OC Mission Statement

Women's Sailing Association - Orange County is dedicated to enriching th e lives of women through expanded access to sailing-related activities and educational opportunities. WSA-OC is committed to preserving and protecting our oceans and contributing to our local community through on-the-water philanthropic activities.

 
July General Meeting Recap
The July meeting included announcements about our many upcoming events and a vote to approve minor modifications to the WSA-OC Bylaws as  outlined in an email sent prior to meeting. The proposed changes were unanimously approved by the members in attendance. The amended by-laws can be read here. 

No Moorings? No Problem! is the title of featured speaker
Marc demonstrating how you DON'T want your anchor line to look.
Marc Hughston's guidebook of the many options available at Catalina Island beyond the crowded mooring fields. 

Marc has been an instructor for 17 years and has enjoyed a lifetime of sailing including cruising to Catalina. He also teachs a three-day anchoring class at Orange Coast College  School of Sailing & Seamanship. 

Since WSA-OC is embarking on our inaugural five-day sail to Catalina at the end of the month, the ins-and-outs of "Anchoring
At Catalina," couldn't have come at a more opportune time. 

According to Marc, The Three Steps to Anchoring are: 
1) Survey the anchorage
2) Determine appropriate  scope
3) Set the anchor

Marc is offering WSA-OC members 20% off of the ebook version (great for an iPad or other tablet and/or a computer!) of No Moorings? No Problem! through July 31st. The regular price is $16.99. Just use coupon code "WSA" at checkout. 

 
Swag Is Here
WSA-OC has it's first official item of swag! Our brand new redesigned burgee! 

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WSA-OC's burgee; redesigned by Kathleen Brown.

The burgees are all handmade and cost $35, which includes shipping. Order now as they take approximately four to six weeks to arrive. 
Upcoming Events
WSA-OC has several events* planned through the end of 2015. Of course you can always look at our online Calendar of Events. As each event gets closer more details will be provided via the various WSA-OC online outlets. 
 
July 30th - August 3rd  ~ ~ Sail to Catalina with  LB WSA
August  ~ ~ No General Meeting
August 16th  ~ ~ WSAil Catalina 37s Event
September 1st  ~ ~ General Meeting; Race Tactics
September 20th ~ ~ On-The-Water Event
October  ~ ~ No General Meeting
October 16th - 18th ~ ~  LEMWOD Challenge
October 17th  ~ ~ Sail for the Visually Impaired
November 3rd  ~ ~ General Meeting; Election of Officers
December 1st ~ ~ Holiday Party

*Subject to change
This & That

Photo by Brenda Highley

WSA-OC is looking for members to serve on the following committees:

Membership

Events/Programs 

Marketing

Drop us a note a info@wsaoc.org

if you'd like to meet some new people and help WSA-OC thrive!

 
Do you like to take photos? Would you like to share your photo with the WSA-OC membership? If so, submit your sailing and/or sea related photos to info@wsaoc.org to be considered for our Member Photo of the Month. The chosen photo will be featured in the WSA-OC monthly newsletter. 

⬇️⬇️⬇️
Our friends at Dana Point Yacht Club have invited WSA-OC members to attend their U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary seminars. The first one is Wednesday, July 15th 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. entitled Suddenly in Command. The cost is $15 and you are encouraged to signup in advance. 
Photo of the Month
Sunrise at Avalon by Melissa Fox
Sunrise at Avalon by Melissa Fox

WSA Catalina Sail

There's still time to sign up for our first WSA-OC Social Sail to Catalina with our friends from Long Beach-WSA. Come for all 5 days (7/30 - 8/3) or just come for a couple of days - we are flexible! 

You can sign up to sail your own boat over or, if you don't have a boat and want to be assigned to crew on a fellow member's boat, let us know. 
Activities include:
  • Fun sail over and back with dolphin and whale watching
  • Welcome dinner Thursday night
  • BBQ's & Campfires
  • Happy hour raft-up
  • Morning hiking
  • Sail to Big Geiger Cove 
  • Games & more!
Thank You!
A big thank you to our Cannery Day Sail skippers: Lisa Doliva and Brenda Highley for not only captaining, but also for donating the use of their boats. Bonnie Gibson & John Oddo made sure we had enough space for everyone who wanted to attend by chartering a sailboat from Aventura. 

The biggest thank you of all goes to YOU! Thanks to all of you in the six months since the WSA-OC relaunch and rename, we've grown to to almost 100 members! If you're thinking of joining, now is the time; we have something special to award the 100th member to sign up! 
Quick Links
Let's Race
Click on image above for taste of LEMWOD action

WSA-OC is fielding a race team to compete in the 2015 LEMWOD Challenge. Remember there are only 11 all-women teams able to participate.  In order to compete, the team needs to have at least nine, but not more than 11 crew members. 

The requirements to be considered for the WSA-OC LEMWOD Race Team are as follows: 
  • Participate in all practices; the first of which will be August 16th sign up here.  
  • Participate in all three-days of LEMWOD
  • Understand and agree to all financial obligations
  • Comfortable working as a team member
  • Agree to rotate and/or learn all of the boat positions. 
Currently, we are compiling a list of people who are interested in participating. Email Karen Pacella (who is our Boat Boss for this race) with the position(s) you have experience in as well as race experience and any questions you may have. 

Bigger is Better

We're continually working to bring you the best product possible. One of the improvements, we've recently made, is being able to have a larger view of the photos within the newsletter. If you want a more detailed look at a photo, now you can click on the photo. It will enlarge and open in a new window. 

Welcome Aboard

WSA-OC continues to grow, thanks to all of you for being WSA ambassadors. 
Welcome to our newest members:
Charles Buckner
Dee Carroll
Julie Haywood
Happy Sailing!

Board of Directors

WSA-OC 
Board of Directors

Commodore
Valerie Rhodes

Vice Commodore
Gabi Schwaiger

Treasurer
Wayne Wallace

Secretary
Brenda Highley

Membership Director
Shannon Harshman

Director
Kathleen Brown

Director
Bonnie Gibson

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Newsletter Editor
Tracy Gallucci

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 P.O. Box 937 
Dana Point, CA 92629

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