Photo Credit: AYC

You will be seeing soon a notice from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Desert Chapter regarding our record fund raising numbers. Every AYC’r and guest should be patting themselves on the back for a marvelous turnout in support of the Arizona Yacht Club charity.

For another year, I think this makes it five or six years, AYC’s own celebrity chef Rick Johnson and his crack culinary team served a hit for the Friday dinner. The food line was long, but Rick with his excellent management skills guided his team through feeding almost 150 dinner guests. We think that’s a record for Chef Rick. Thanks to Lee Lee Oriental Supermarket, Chandler, Ariz., for their support.  I hope Rick comes back next year.

A special thanks goes out to the Lake Pleasant Sailing Club www.lakepleasantsailing.com/. They again put on a fantastic Saturday breakfast. All of their volunteers served over 100 breakfast attendees. Cheers to the LPSC !

The first Land Cruise event on Saturday afternoon was a pleasurable social event with special guest Ruth Beals and her daughter’s family in attendance. Thanks to Mr. Belic for helping with contribution to the food.  A common request was to bring this event back next year.

Certainly the Burnt Biscuit Barbeque Co., Chandler, Ariz., was popular with the generous servings of chicken, steak, and swordfish. The Saturday dinner tickets had sold out with almost 240 guests.  Wow! That is a record and about all we can handle in that size tent. A great job they did! Please use them for your future events.

Now we know that what we come to the regatta for is also to race, race, and race. This three-day event kicked off with the Friday Eventagram and then Saturday and Sunday racing venues.

This was Pat Blumm’s third year in a three obligation sponsoring the Friday sailing. Let’s give your best thanks to Pat and his family for their time.

At this point of my memo I would like to bring attention to some key people who don’t get enough recognition and are unbelievably humble with their servitude to the club. That’s the Race Committee.

Skip Kempff — AYC Fleet Captain — getting NORs and SI together and, when everyone was sleeping, repairing valves on the boats.

John Wilcox — Lead PRO — a fantastic job using the wind at its most efficiency for the most races

David Allocco — PRO Assistant and volunteer round up.

Pat Byrns — Guest PRO from New Mexico and AYC friend

Scott McClintock — Run-About driver, setting and moving marks all three days with crew Kevin Opperman

Little Joe — Running the safety RIB

Mike Favier — Driving pontoon boat #2

David Rawstrom — Race Committee consultant and boat driver

David Cummings — He made sure all the RC boats and gear were Regatta-ready.

Of course, we thank all the RC Boat scorers and tenders.  Thank you, thank you, thanks!  This weekend would not have been without their dedication. I cannot thank them enough!

The credit of the regatta success does not go to the chairman; it is owed to all the volunteers from setup to cleanup who stepped up to make this event happen. I bow to all of them with great appreciation!

We have a banner that is signed by all the volunteers and contributors. It will be hanging at the next membership meeting. If you have not signed it, please attend and make your mark for the 2009 Regatta.

It was my pleasure to serve this organization and LLS.  Lastly, I thank my wife Dawn for her unwavering support. Both of us gained immeasurable satisfaction.

See you on the water,
 Arno Marcuse