I was inspired by WSA-OC member Lisa Cullinane's talk at our June meeting to write about the importance of a "boating community." (See more in June meeting recap story below.) Last year Lisa joined WSA-OC a week after buying her first boat and, over the past year, has become an integral part of our women's sailing community. Many others have done the same; Karen Pacella, as a brand new member, expressed a desire to see a WSA-OC race team. She was invited to head up the effort and we are now heading into season 2 of the WSA-OSeas racing calendar thanks to her. Member Susie Campbell shared her interest early last year in creating an event that would bring awareness to the condition of our oceans and, from that glimmer of an idea, the Ocean Awareness Challenge was born. One of our newest members, Denise Eldridge raised her hand and volunteered to be our WSA-OC club historian at her very first meeting last week.

The point is that the more you put into your community, the more you will get out of it. We have a rich and diverse membership of over 120 women and men who share a passion for sailing. I encourage each of you to make the most of this wonderful community by getting involved; come to a meeting, sign up for a committee, participate in a day sail or offer up your boat for one of our many events. Come to us with your own ideas for a meeting or an on-the-water event. We welcome you all into our shared boating community!   Happy sailing, Valerie

We're switching things up a bit in August (no meeting in July) and will be holding our general meeting at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club in Newport Beach. August's meeting topic will be Endless Summer, Sailing Travel Adventures. Come join WSA-OC and Captain Holly Scott, of Mahalo Sailing, for a virtual vacation. Spend the evening unwinding and relaxing as we sail to exotic locations amidst tropical ocean breezes and azure blue seas finding paradise together. Holly will share tips on a variety of cruising destinations and valuable information about the various ways to plan a sailing vacation. If you know Holly, you know you're in for a treat as her presentations are always informative and a lot of fun!

BCYC will be having their Taco Tuesday buffet, which will be available to any WSA-OC member in attendance for our meeting at the cost of $13 per person. Beer and wine and non-alcoholic beverages will also be available for purchase. 

Tuesday, August 2nd 

5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Mexican Buffet (optional)

7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Endless Summer, Sailing Travel Adventures

Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club

1601 Bayside Drive

Corona del Mar, 92630

949.644.9530

Everyone is invited to attend and we encourage you to bring a friend who is interested in sailing. Parking is available in their lot or on the street. 

We are so proud to have WSA-OC members hailing from all over Southern California with people coming from San Diego County, the Inland Empire, LA County as well as throughout all of Orange County. It has always been our goal to get back to having meetings in both Newport Harbor and Dana Point Harbor. We'd like to survey our membership to see how many would prefer to keep our meetings primarily in Dana Point vs. alternating between Newport Harbor and Dana Point. 

Please click here if you'd prefer to keep meetings in Dana Point only.

Please click here if you'd prefer alternating meeting locations.

Don't be afraid to be seen on a Duffy Boat - as they say "a day on the water is a great day, regardless of conveyance." Join us for a fun few hours of boating around Newport Harbor with fellow WSA friends while enjoying a shared potluck lunch and adult beverages (non-alcoholic  as well). 

We'll also be practicing our GPS navigational skills with a fun Newport Harbor scavenger hunt aboard the Duffy boats. It might be best to do the scavenger hunt before the adult beverages! 

Saturday, July 23rd 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. The cost of the event will be $25.

***This event requires pre-registration as well as a current WSA-OC membership.***

WSA-OC member Lisa Cullinane delivered a fun and informative talk to a packed house on "Boat Buying for the Novice and Experienced Sailor." She shared her story of buying her first boat as a relatively inexperienced sailor and advocated "buying your second boat first!"

Click to enlarge

Throughout her talk, Lisa emphasized the importance of building a boating community to support you as a boat buyer and a boat owner. She identified WSA-OC as a key part of her community along with her boat broker, mechanic, fellow sailors and marina personnel. 

A few key takeaways from Lisa's advice to those who wish to buy a boat are to:

• Know what kind of a boater you are (racer, day sailor, adrenaline junky or zen seeker)
• What kind of a decision maker are you? Impulsive? Methodical? Puzzle solver?
• Establish a boating community who can help you make a good boat-buying decision
• Evaluate your fears and establish which are rational vs. irrational 

• Donate to the OAC scholarship fund to send an underprivileged student to the Mountain and Sea Adventures camp.
• It costs $249 to send one child to the MSA camp for three days/two nights of programming, which is equivalent to the cost of two days admission at a local amusement park. 

  	A a small stingray in the MSA touch tank. Photo courtesy of Patsee Ober.

• Donate goods or services that can be auctioned (monies raised will be used for camp scholarships).
• Donate to the OAC event operations fund.
• Promote the OAC event on your personal or business website, newsletter or social media channels.
• Share the OAC Facebook posts.
• Request flyers to be posted at your yacht club, business, etc. 
• Request an OAC presentation for your organization.

WSA-OC has events* planned through the end of 2016. For more information, view our  All Events page on the website, where you will be able to read more detail about each event as well as additional events that aren't listed below. As each event gets closer more details will be provided via the various WSA-OC online outlets. 

  

*Subject to change

**Affiliate event

Now is the time to get out on the water and start practicing. Both the Long Beach Charity Regatta and LEMWOD will be here before you know it. We have several practice dates scheduled throughout the summer, leading up to the two regattas, in the fall. 

As we begin to identify this year's team, we'll be looking at the following:  

• Do you have the physical ability to do back to back days of rigorous Windward Leeward races?
• Are you attending practices?
• Are you able to meet any financial requirements - approximately $150 - $200 per person
• Are you a team player?
• Do you have the needed skill level?
• Participate in monthly team practices leading up to LEMWOD
• Participate in both:
•  Long Beach Charity Regatta - September 18th
• LEMWOD - October 14th - 16th