April - Master Mariners Benevolent Association

Since 1867
April, 2012
Norm Harris, Editor
2012 Master Mariners Annual Regatta
Saturday, May 26th
Invitations for this year’s MMBA Regatta were mailed to all members in March – if you
did not receive one and want to enter the race please contact the Regatta Chairman,
Bill Belmont at bearasc@earthlink.net or (510) 486-2156. The Regatta will be held on
Saturday, Memorial Day Weekend, May 26, 2012. A Race Packet including race
instructions, starting times, etc. will be available at the Sponsors/Skippers Luncheon.
The Sponsors/Skippers Luncheon. will be at the St. Francis YC on Friday, May 18th,
starting at 11:30 a.m. Come pick up your race packet and see the unveiling of the
new T-shirts and other clothes. If you can’t make the luncheon a race packet will be
mailed to you.
The after-race festivities will once again be at the Encinal Yacht Club. There will be
outdoor bars, a buffet dinner, an awards ceremony and dancing. For boats staying
overnight the Encinal YC will serve breakfast on Sunday and there will be a potluck
BBQ later in the afternoon. The price for the buffet dinner will be $20.00 and the
Sunday breakfast should be the same as last year. More information will be in your
race packet.
Be sure to get your reservations for berthing and dinner into Terry Klaus by Monday,
May 21st. There will be a form in your race acknowledgement letter and also the race
packet. Dinners must be pre-paid to guarantee dinner. The pre-paid dinner tickets
will be available on the lawn – filed under boat name.
Regatta Application due date is April 30th without penalty.
ABSOLUTE DEADLINE IS MAY 7th.
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Sponsors – time to start courting yours for the next regatta!
Our Rear Commodore, Steve Hutchinson, is picking up the reins of Regatta Sponsorship this year. You may
remember his charming wife Maggie helped with this in recent years as well. I will help Steve a little his first
time out, and you will be hearing from him in the near future. Skippers, please help the sponsor program by
finding one or two to sponsors (no limit really) for your vessel in the regatta. One of my friends told me he
will be moving up to Oregon soon, but is already excitedly planning to come back down to race on his
friend’s gaffer in the regatta. The 2011 Sponsor Directory is included on a page in this Shellback. Please remember to go to our loyal sponsors for their products and services. Thank you!
Ariane Paul, Jr. Staff Commodore
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Notice of Annual Meeting & Election of Officers
June 23, 2012
Corinthian Yacht Club, Tiburon, CA
Our annual meeting and party will be a fun, relaxing evening before the next day’s rush of welcoming the
public to our Wooden Boat Show at the grand setting and venue that is the Corinthian Yacht Club. As spelled
out in the MMBA By-Laws, membership is to meet annually and vote for open Director positions. This year
there are three positions up for election, each for a three-year term. Two positions have incumbents that are
up for re-election, Paul Dines and Peter Miller. Both were appointed last year to fill the remaining one year
terms of Hans List and myself, Ariane Paul. Dean Gurke’s position is the third and will be open. Potential
new candidates please step forward and let me know that you would like to be on the ballot. Feel free to ask
any of the current or past Directors what it entails and we’ll be happy to fill you in. Many of us have put in a
few years here and there helping out in various roles for our well known and lively events that are always
enjoyable. Generally, the Board meets once a month except for July and December. If you get a lot out of
Master Mariners, our events, and the fellow members you get to know and sail with, then put a little back in
to keep our club going strong.
Upon arrival at Corinthian YC on Saturday afternoon, current members are to pick up a ballot from Ariane,
vote, and put their ballot in the ballot box in advance of the meeting by 1730. At approximately 1800 the
meeting will be called to order on the boat deck and the results will be announced along with other pertinent
MMBA news and notices of the day. The meeting will be followed by a no-host dinner with live music. If you
are unable to attend, candidate names will be forwarded to members in advance by email, and members in
good standing can mail their choices and other nominee names by mail, limited to three choices total. Please
submit your mailed ballot with your name and vessel name and mail to:
Ariane Paul, 1710 Stanton Street, Alameda, CA 94501. Mailed ballots must be received by June
19, 2012.
No Regatta for Sans Souci
This year we thought that some cosmetic refreshing was all we required for the regatta and the boat show.
The goddess of wooden boats frowned on us.
As you can see from the photo (taken after removal), I found rot in the covering board and the moulding that
forms the outer edge. Because of the location of the known rot, I
worried that we would find rot in the shear plank, chain plate
shelf, and frame ends. So I removed the moulding beyond the
soft areas and removed the covering board far enough back that
the frame ends were clearly visible. Luckily, we found no rot in
the suspect areas, only in the covering board.
Repair continues. Although we will not be able sail in the regatta,
we expect to be ready for the boat show. Knowing the way of
boat repairs, we are keeping our fingers crossed.
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Traditional Clothes for Our Traditional Boats?
Like many of you, we've been busy cleaning out lockers, sanding, varnishing, and making time to take our gaff cutter
Mercy out on the bay.
As we prepare our boat for the Regatta, I've had a thought I'd like to share with all of you.
Why not sail the Regatta in traditional yachting clothes or in matched crew uniforms? Something to complement the
traditional vessels on the water that day.
We can bring a more visible sense of fun and tradition to the Regatta, provide fantastic picture opportunities for the media, some great souvenir photos for our generous sponsors, and add to the great celebration of maritime tradition that is
the Master Mariner's Regatta.
Last year I noticed most of us sailed in foulies and street clothes. But when you look at pictures like these from other
regattas (from the McNish and Les Voiles de St.Tropez), you can see how traditional yachting attire or uniforms would
be a fantastic way to highlight our boats and crew, and bring more attention to these beautiful traditions of sail.
I'm working on something for the crew of Mercy. I've got a closet full of old uniforms from my days in the U.S. Navy,
and Alameda Army/Navy is always good for old-fashioned work clothes or naval attire. I'm sure I can put together
something. Peacoats? Crackerjacks? Sailing whites? Something properly nautical and traditional - and just plain fun.
What do you think?
If a few of you want to take us up on it, we can even make it a contest. I'll even donate the prize for the best dressed
crew: a night of pizza and local beers at my restaurant, Croll's Pizza in Alameda (in the historic 1879 Croll Building). Send me an email if you're in.
- Lorenzo Puertas
S/V Mercy
Oakland
lorenzo@lolocenter.com
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We need volunteer crew, experienced sailors!
Spaulding Center’s Community Sail season will be getting underway soon – Polaris, our 1906 gaff sloop
has been hauled, with lots of work done on her and she is looking wonderful!
In addition to Polaris, we'll have Dixie, the adorable launch donated to Spaulding last year, for tours
along the Sausalito waterfront. The Sausalito Historical Society is partnering with us to provide docents
for these tours.
About our Community sails: A program designed to take people sailing on the bay. We take around 300 people a
year for free! Our program is all volunteer run. Join us!
Contact Sharon White, Community Sails Coordinator: sharon@spauldingcenter.org or visit our website:
www.spauldingcenter.org
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BIRD CLASS
2012 marks the 90th birthday of the Bird boat. It is the
oldest one design class on the Pacific Coast. The inaugural
event of this years celebration was the Bird boat program
at the STFYC Yachtmen's Luncheon on
April 4. The class will
be racing a full schedule including the
YRA WBRA series, the
Woodies Invitational
and the class Perpetual. The Birds will also
sail in the Master Mariners Regatta, the Jessica Cup and participate in the Master
Mariners Wooden Boat
Show.
The final event will be the coveted San Francisco Challenge Cup. The SFYC has accepted the challenge of the CYC in
Birds. The race will be held September
15. This will feature the Pacific Coast's oldest yacht clubs sailing in the coast's oldest
one design for the oldest challenge
cup. This is real yachting !
"Nothing sails like a Bird "
Bird Boat #4, 1924, Mavis is for sale.
Restored, two sets of sails, spinnaker and
pole, inboard 10hp Yanmar engine, depth
sounder, two way radio, elegant interior.
$25 000.
Contact John Ferguson at johnfergo21@gmail.com.
The big birthday party
will be September 15 at SFYC. It will feature pictures,
memorabilia, movies, talks, stories, the fleet at the dock
and dinner. All former Birders, current Birders and future
and interested Birders are invited and welcome.
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EIGHT BELLS – Alberta Ecker, 1922-2012
Services for Alberta Ecker were held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 114 Montecito, Oakland, at 2:00 pm on Sunday, April
22nd.
Alberta Ralston (Meek) Ecker, Sept. 19, 1922 - Apr. 4, 2012
Recently a resident of Walnut Creek, Alberta lived in her family home in Oakland for
over 80 years. Growing up, it was a lively place filled with love, books, frequent entertaining and extended family. The only child of George and Sara Meek (Ralston), Alberta
loved art, books, animals (especially cats), sailing, Cal football games, and her Lancia
sports car, in no particular order. Most of all she adored her beloved husband Frank,
whom she married July 27, 1947 at St. Paul's Church in Oakland. Frank who passed
away in January 2009. Both Alberta and Frank graduated from Cal-Berkeley. After obtaining both a BA and an MA in Art, then acquiring a teaching credential, she spent a
year teaching middle school in Richmond. After that she decided a somewhat different
path would suit her better and took a position in customer service at Pacific Telephone,
where she was employed for over 30 years. In retirement, Alberta and Frank's life focused around the Oakland Yacht Club in Alameda, Cal football games and museums. She never missed a new exhibit - modern, traditional or Asian, although her favorite artist was El Greco. A Cal football season ticket holder, she often gave their seats
to friends when their alma mater was playing against Cal. She curtailed her participation in sailing after recovering from skin cancer, but was always there to meet the boat
when Frank returned from racing. Over the years he participated in 18 Master Mariner
Regattas. Alberta charmed friends with stories of her life. When she and Frank first
saw the Lancia for sale, how she rescued the glass slides of Chiuro Obata during his
internment then returned them to his family 50 years later, the first Cal football game her mother took her to where she
fell in love with the sport, and when she first met Frank. She loved sailing on their two boats Firecrest, then Holgonza
and remembered fondly how Frank and his good friend Big John used to play chicken in their boat Holganza on the estuary, heading full sail towards Kincade's building then always turning away just in time. Alberta could really tell a
story. Alberta's lively wit, outspoken manner, and wonderful spirit will be sorely missed by her second cousins Lucinda
Thorington-Gunn, Annie Milner, Bill Thorington and John Krisik, her friends at OYC and especially by her friend Mindy
Hart-Shaw to whom she was so very dear.
Donations can be made by those wishing to do so to the UC Berkeley School of Architecture, Master Mariners Benevolent Association, or the Oakland Yacht Club Art Fund.
Alberta passed away peacefully on Wed., April 4, 2012. She had been under the care of hospice following a major
stroke on March 23rd. Alberta had been a member of the Oakland Yacht Club for 40 years, and she and her husband
Frank Ecker had been active in Master Mariners for decades with their 44’ yawl HOLGANZA built in 1941, and their earlier boat FIRECREST. Holganza placed first in the annual MMBA regatta several times:
1998
1992
1989
1987
1978
-
2nd Place, Marconi II Class
1st Place, Marconi II Class
1st Place, Marconi II Class
1st Place, Marconi II Class
1st Place, Marconi I Class
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From Spirit of the Sea and Richard Gillette
It has been a whirlwind of activity since we arrived in Jack London Square on March 5th. We love
our new home in Jack London Square and are making many friends and contacts. The exposure is
very good as we are right on the Estuary where many boats, ferries, and marine activity takes place.
We have conducted 9 sails since our arrival. Three of these sails have been with children and one
with College students. The first group was an after school group from the Berkeley Boosters Police Activities League that I mentioned in my last email.
We have been blessed with so many new talented wonderful crew who are being trained and sharing their enthusiasm, knowledge, hearts and souls with the kids! They are the true hero's of Spirit of
the Sea! Thank you for giving or yourself and for your huge generosity. You make a huge difference
in the lives of the children you touch
We also took out a group from the Albany YMCA and Albany Police Activities League (PAL)
called Girls Rock.
They really enjoyed seeing all the huge Container Ships as we motored out of the estuary. They
loved learning about the ocean and were saddened to see the trash that had entered the Bay after
the last rain storm. We discussed the Pacific Gyre and how what we do on land and how we treat
our trash has a direct effect on the Ocean and the wildlife that live in it. Showed them a picture of
the contents of a bird that had been dissected and they were amazed to see how much plastic the
bird had ingested. I asked them what they thought they could do to help. After discussing several
ideas they decided they wanted to start a group at their school that would clean up trash and plastic
and inform other students how they could change their behavior to help the oceans. They even
came up with a name- POP- Pacific Ocean Protector’s. I set them up with a friend who runs the
Plastic Coalition and a program for Plastic Free Campus’s. They had huge smiles as they hoisted the
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stay sail and the boat started moving with the wind. Please see the pictures link below. We are looking forward to more sails with this group this summer.
We also did a crew training with our Junior Crew aboard. Anna, Alahandra, Kassy, Julia, Emily,
Sara and Nancy came along for their first sail on Ocean Watch and they loved it! They could not get
over how large and magnificent she is. They really enjoyed exploring down below and were amazed
at the size of the fore deck. Their smiles were contagious. We are looking forward to having them
on board and to some overnight voyages this summer. They all told me how happy they were to be
out sailing again and how much they love it and how much they love Ocean Watch
On Thursday April 5th we took 25 Cal Berkeley Students and their Professor Mike Dvorak for
an incredible sail on Ocean Watch.
These students are in Mike's class on Wind Energy and what better place to learn about the winds
than on San Francisco Bay from a sailboat. We had winds up to 30 knots and lots of white caps.
Mike had prepared the class with weather data and explanations of how the winds in the Bay are
generated. I took groups of five to our pilot house helm where our instruments are. We computed
what the apparent wind speed would be when headed into the prevailing wind by taking our SOG
(speed over ground) and adding it to the true wind speed. We also computed what the current was
and what direction it was moving by comparing our speed through the water and our speed over
ground. We tucked into the harbor by Pier 45 in San Francisco so they could see the Blackish and
SF's fishing fleet and for a little break from the wind. We then hoisted only our stay sail for a fast
ride back along the city front. Everyone got some time on the foredeck enjoying the sun and the
stunning view of the City. We spotted a seal who was struggling with a large fish and was battling
the seagulls. There is a picture in the album for this group.
All the students had a wonderful time and now have a whole new perspective of the power of the
wind and San Francisco Bay.
The Shellback, April, 2012, Pg.9
In this issue...
MMBA
2012 Events Calendar
Coming up:
 Annual Regatta
 Annaul Meeting
 Boat Show
New Year’s Race & Chili
Potluck Pt. San Pablo YC
Mar 17 Spring Potluck Pt. San Pablo YC**
May 18 Sponsors Lunch St. Francis YC
May 26 Annual Regatta Encinal YC
Jun 23 Annual Meeting Corinthian YC
Jun 24 Wooden Boat ShowTiburon
Jan 1
Recent Happenings:
 Eight Bells—Alberta Ecker
 Happy Birthday Birds
and more:
 Vessel for Sale
 Traditional Clothing Challenge
 Doings around the Bay Spirit of the Sea
 Regatta Sponsors
TBD
The Great Schooner Regatta
SFYC
China Camp Sail-in Potluck
China Camp State Park
Sep 1-3 Chicken Ship Cruise
TBD
Offshore Cruise
Oct 13-14 Jessica Cup * St Francis YC
TBD
Norm Harris, Editor
2226-A Westborough Blvd # 404
South San Francisco, CA 94080
normharrris41@gmail.com
Patty Henderson
SWBC-MMBA BBQ
Spaulding Center Sausalito
Petaluma YC
www.mastermariners.org
(415) 364-1656
Commodore
July 21
* not a MMBA event
** New venue
seaharpy@hotmail.com
Vice Commodore
Bill Belmont*
bearasc@earthlink.net
Rear Commodore
(TBD)
Director
Paul Dines
Director
Richard Gillette
Director
Dean Gurke
deangurke@gmail.com
Director, Editor
Norm Harris
Normharris41@gmail.com
Director
Steve Hutchinson***
Director
Peter Miller
Director
Dick Wren**
Treasurer
Tom O’niell
Secretary
Paul Dines
Trophy Chair
Ali Immel
luc.maheu@yahoo.com
Jr. Staff Comm.
Ariane Paul
arianepaul@yahoo.com
* Race Chair
** Membership
Chair
info@sfbayadventures.com
captain.rgillette@gmail.com
hms008@earthlink.net
lutarious@lutarious.com
dickwr@comcast.net
tom.p.oneil@gmail.com
info@sfbayadventures.com
***Sponsor Chair
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