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Chatting With The Commodore
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Valerie Rhodes,
WSA-OC Commodore
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Who remembers the immortal movie line from Field of Dreams, "If you build it, they will come?" As we welcomed another six brand new WSA-OC members this week, that line kept bouncing through my head. It's pretty remarkable we have rebuilt this wonderful organization to well north of 100 members in the past few months and I have to give credit to our hard working board and to each of you, our members.
I absolutely believe the success of WSA-OC is due to the "pay it forward" attitude of so many of our accomplished sailors. Since day one, we have seen our seasoned sailors volunteer to coach our novice members beginning with our very first meeting when Lisa Doliva stood up to volunteer to take a crew of women out in the Thursday afternoon races on Izablue. Captain Susie Campbell has taken countless members out aboard Campbell's Sloop for day-sails and race practices. Many members have also had the opportunity to sail with Brenda Highley aboard Mañana including to our recent Catalina 5-Day sail.
Member Wayne Wallace has spent a lifetime sailing and racing and is sharing his love of the sport by coordinating the upcoming Racing 101: Training Regatta for members who want to try their hand at racing. We have had members such as Cindy Wynne, Vicki Sweet, Monique Vigeant, Sue Senescu and Captain KC Matlock with years and years of experience dedicate their time to sharing their knowledge with our membership.
Not all clubs have members who are so willing to share their knowledge and experience it such a selfless way. I am so proud of WSA-OC members and welcome other members who may be shy about getting more involved to contact me so we can find a way to better connect you with other members to make your participation in WSA-OC more fulfilling.
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Since we've been talking about and promoting a lot of races, we'd like to offer you an opportunity to try your hand at sailboat racing. WSA-OC will be hosting a Racing 101: Training Regatta on Sunday, October 4th. 
The event is designed to introduce new-to-racing members to sailboat racing in a more casual environment. The event will include a pre-race meeting for boat assignments, race strategy, rules of the road and race course details. The regatta will be followed up with a post race discussion, question and answer session, a social gathering, and trophy presentation.
Pre-registration is required, sign up here. Space is limited and is first come, first served. If you would like to have your boat participate contact, WSA-OC Board Member & Training Regatta Race Chair, Wayne Wallace.
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Our September meeting featured WSA-OC member and avid racer Sue Senescu discussing the topic Why Race?: Racing 101. She has been sailing since she was three years old. She has competed in six TransPac, 26 Newport to Ensenada, and five LEMWOD races. Sue enjoys racing because it has a purpose; there is somewhere to go and someone to catch.
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| Sue Senescu aboard Yippee Kai Yay. |
Sue feels a good way to begin racing is to volunteer on a race committee boat. It gives you an opportunity to watch everything and then talk with the crew after the race and discuss what you observed. It also provides a good opportunity to crew on a boat.
Once you get aboard a race boat there are several things to consider, primarily no one knows everything. Being a sailor is a constant learning experience, we all start knowing nothing.
The primary elements for a race boat:
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| Sue during her WSA-OC presentation. |
- TEAMWORK.
- Assign positions.
- No chatting.
- Have a crew boss, not the helmsman. That is their position.
- The pit person is the quarterback of the boat; central communicator between the foredeck and cockpit.
- Have a navigator
- It's about the boat first. You come second.
- Always be trimming.
- Don't think small.
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| Ocean Awareness Challenge |
Like WSA-OC, the Ocean Awareness Challenge (OAC) has come a long way in a short amount of time. The OAC planning team recently held a pilot event in Emerald Bay, Catalina to work out the kinks ahead of the September 2016 inaugural event. The 2016 event will feature a weekend of speakers and opportunities to educate people about the conditions of the ocean. Funds raised during the event will be used
to send school aged children to the Mountain & Sea Adventures camp on Catalina Island.
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Thanks to the diligent work of Boat Boss, Karen Pacella, WSA-OC has fielded a team for the 2015 LEMWOD Regatta. The team's first practice, on the Catalina 37, will be held on Saturday, September 19th.
If you want to support our team, the regatta will be held on the inner harbor of Los Alamitos Bay. There will be a Burger Bash following the regatta at the
Alamitos Bay Yacht Club beginning approximately at 3:30 p.m. Proceeds from the regatta will benefit The Children's Clinic.
The team is still looking for sponsorship(s) and is also in need of
t-shirts. Any financial assistance would be welcome. Contact Karen for additional information or you can
directly contribute to the team by logging in to your
PayPal
account and selecting "Send money to friends and family" enter the email lemwod2015@gmail.com and enter the amount you'd like to contribute.
Go WSA-OC Race Team!
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WSA-OC has several events* planned through the end of 2015 and early 2016. 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.
October
~ ~ No General Meeting
November 3rd
~ ~ General Meeting; Election of Officers
December 1st ~ ~ Holiday Party
January 5th ~ ~ General Meeting
February 1st ~ ~ General Meeting
February 6th ~ ~ Women's Sailing Convention
*Subject to change
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Our sister organization WSA-LB/LA hosts the annual LEMWOD Regatta. You aren't participating as a racer but want to be involved? Great News! Volunteers are needed to assist with the dock party on Friday, October 16th at the
Long Beach Yacht Club. Don't want to drive up to Long Beach? You can help with donations for the auction fundraiser
Contact
Owen Provence for more information.
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We really need your photos! Would you be willing to share your photo(s) with the WSA-OC membership? If so, please submit your sailing and/or ocean 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.
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The 27th Annual
Women's Sailing Convention is looking for new people to serve on the the planning committee for the 2016 convention. If you are interested, contact Gail Hine from the Southern California Yachting Association at
gail@scya.com.
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Congratulations to Risa Scott on her new boat
Mille Onde II.
Karen Pacella was a crew member on the 1st Place winning boat,
Day Tripper II, in the Point Fermin night race.
Do you have some news you'd like to have featured in this space? Don't be shy. Let us know by sending an email to
info@wsaoc.org. Don't forget to include a photo, they help to tell the story.
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We Want You!
If you've been thinking of joining WSA-OC now is the time. We have a fantastic deal for new members. Only $25; September - December 2015. You will receive a magnetized name tag, membership card and car logo cling.
Ship Swag
Burgee, burgee, burgee get your burgee
here
! Make sure you have your boat looking sharp by flying our redesigned burgee and show everyone WSA-OC is back!
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| The WSA-OC burgee flying proudly aboard Mañana. Photo by Valerie Rhodes |
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Welcome Aboard 
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WSA-OC continues to grow, thanks to all of you for being WSA ambassadors.
Welcome to our newest members:
Mary Ellen Barlow, Sandy Gilman, Priscilla Givan, Judy Kraemer, Terry Manok, Patsee Ober and Annette Perkoski.
Happy Sailing!
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The partnership between WSA-OC and the American Legion Yacht Club's Sail for the Visually Impaired is still going strong. 2015 marks the 25th year for SVI.
Boats and volunteers are needed. There are many volunteer opportunities land and sea, such as: guides, servers, crew, guide dog sitters and more.
If you would like to be of assistance or you would like to donate items for the fund-raiser drawing or service dog gift bags, please contact Dan O'Sullivan from the ALYC or Bonnie Gibson from WSA-OC.
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Sailor Girl
Oatmeal Fudge Bars
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Since so many of you LOVED the Sailor Girl bars served at the September meeting Jan Guyette is sharing her recipe with WSA-OC. Thanks Jan for the recipe and providing/setting up of all the snacks!
Sailor Girl Oatmeal Fudge Bars
1 cup butter
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1½ cups flour (regular or almond)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
4 cups quick oats
~ Beat eggs and vanilla add to butter and sugar.
~ Add flour, salt, baking soda.
~ Mix in oatmeal.
~ Save 2 cups of mixture out for topping. ~ Press the rest of the mixture into a greased 13x9 pan
Fudge Layer:
~ 1 12oz package chocolate chips
~ 2 tbs. butter
~ 2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
~ ½ tsp salt
~ 1tsp vanilla
~ Combine ingredients, heat and stir until melted.
~ Pour fudge layer over oatmeal layer.
~ Crumble saved oatmeal layer over fudge layer .
Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or so.
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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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