Issue 46
Fall 2025
A LETTER FROM THE COMMODORE
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ibrant fall foliage, crisp autumn days and nearly empty favorite anchorages signal the end of the summer sailing season for most of us on the East Coast. And what a season it has been for the members of the CCA! We had Spring, Summer and Fall cruises in nearly every Station and Post, a unique and memorable Scotland cruise alongside new friends from 5 other “virtual” yacht clubs in the UK and Ireland, and a wonderful cruise around the San Juan Islands and Fall
Commodore John Gowell
Meeting hosted by the Pacific Northwest Station. In many Stations, Fall is also the harbinger of changes in Station leadership, annual meetings, new member welcome events, winter season lunches, holiday parties and other shoreside gatherings. The Western Isles Cruise is well-documented in this edition of the Gam, and rightfully so! What a fine time we all had! The same is true of Continued on page 2
Above: Moonstone at anchor in Vatersay.
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Gosling’s party in Bermuda. Commodore Jay and Elizabeth Gowell, Newport Bermuda Race, 2024.
Moonstone. Photo credit: Andrew Armstrong
Feeling his Scottish roots, Commodore Gowell asks, “Why not a CCA Club House here on Iona?”
Meeting and PNW Cruise (and our daughter’s wedding!), Moonstone is now off the coast of the Western Sahara, Africa, carrying us back toward Antigua, although by the time you read this, we should have made landfall. We are looking forward to another fun season in the Caribbean, kicked off with the Grenadines Cruise in late January/ February. Hope to see you there! Don’t miss out. Later in the season, we will head north to join in the anniversary 2026 Newport Bermuda Race followed by the Bermuda Station Cruise and then the New England Islands Cruise in our home waters. Some members are very active in seeking out prospective members and shepherding them through the membership process. Other members rarely, if ever, propose someone. If every member proposed just one qualified offshore sailor for the CCA, it would have a momentous impact on our Club. New members can only be proposed by existing members; there is no “application” through which a non-member can attempt to join our ranks. So, it is incumbent upon each of us to keep a sharp lookout for qualified prospects and bring them forward. Remember, someone took an interest in you and made the effort to propose you for membership in the CCA. It is rewarding and fun to “pay it forward” and to see someone invited to join the CCA. I hope to see many of you at late fall and December Station and Post events. I will attend as many as possible.
the PNW Fall Cruise which reached full capacity and the Fall Meeting which was well-attended by your Club leaders. I am repeatedly impressed with the level of dedication and professionalism our volunteers devote to the programs, publications, initiatives and other affairs of CCA. The PNW Three Corners Cruise was particularly memorable for me since it gave me a chance to explore new cruising grounds while imitating a bygone era aboard Historian and PNW Rear Commodore Doug Adkins’ immaculately maintained Concordia, Coriolis. It was a step back in time to a more refined and gracious era of yachting. Sailing Coriolis perhaps was akin to going to sea in a harpsichord. Thoughtfully designed, purposeful and solid, but elegant and to be treated with great care. You will enjoy another of Doug’s wonderful retrospectives on our Club’s history in this edition of the Gam: three past Commodores who are also 50-year members! For Elizabeth and me, our “other” little sailing trip was a crossing of the Atlantic aboard Moonstone to participate in the Western Isles Cruise. Along the way we cruised for a couple of weeks in the Azores where we ran into Blue Water Medal winner Kirsten Neushafer, sailed up the west coast of Ireland visiting many lovely islands and villages, and rendezvoused with Royal Cruising Club Vice Commodore and CCA member Tim Trafford. We spent a few weeks cruising around the Hebrides, Isle of Skye, and other western isles prior to the commencement of the cruise. After a September rest in Spain while I attended the Fall
Best wishes to all. JG, Commodore
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A MESSAGE FROM THE EVENTS COMMITTEE
The CCA GAM Published for the members of The Cruising Club of America www.cruisingclub.org Editors: Phil Dickey, Chief Editor Dennis Powers Elisabeth Bohlen Robert Beebe Barbara Watson Tad Lhamon New Members Editors: Dianne Embree & Dorothy Wadlow Commodore: ................................John R. Gowell Vice Commodore: ............... A. Chace Anderson Secretary: ................. Patricia Ann Montgomery Treasurer: ...................... Kathleen M. O’Donnell Historian: .............................Douglas D. Adkins Fleet Captain: ......................Ernest L. Godshalk Webmaster: ......................Michael Moradzadeh Fleet Surgeon: ..................... Jeffrey S. Wisch MD Rear Commodores Bermuda ............................... Somers W. Kempe Boston..................................... Nicholas R. Orem Bras d’Or ................. William B. Greenwood III Chesapeake ..................................John F. Devlin Essex ................. Gretchen Dieck Biemesderfer Florida...................................Clinton G. Bush III Great Lakes...................Peter Balasubramanian New York..................................... Peter B. Becker Pacific Northwest ............... Douglas D. Adkins San Francisco....................... Charles G. Hawley So. California...............................James A. Eddy Post Captains Buzzards Bay.............................. Ed Van Keuren Gulf of Maine............................. Barney J. Baker Narragansett Bay....................Whitney E. Jones GAM Editors Emeriti Dan and Mimi Dyer.................................2003-07 Chris and Shawn Otorowski..................2008-13 Pieter de Zwart and Joanna Miller-de Zwart ......................2014-17 Wendy Hinman........................................2018-20 Haley Lhamon...............................................2020 Chris Otorowski............................................2021 Email submissions to gam@cruisingclub.org
The Events Committee convened during the Fall Meeting in the Pacific Northwest with a full and productive agenda. Two standout cruises—the Western Isles CrossBurgee Cruise and the PNW Club Cruise—were celebrated for their exceptional participation and organization. All but one station was represented, and both events were hailed as among the most memorable in recent years. A heartfelt thank you goes out to the organizers and volunteers who made these cruises, and the Fall Meeting, such a success. Additional details on the cruises and the Fall Meeting can be found in separate articles in this issue of The GAM. Fall Meeting Highlights • Hosted at the beautiful Semiahmoo Resort, the Fall Meeting brought together seven Rear Commodores and representatives from ten stations. Attendees enjoyed engaging presentations by CCA members: • Sheila McCurdy, who captivated the audience with insights from her new book High Seas and Home Waters. • Barbara Watson, whose enthusiasm inspired excitement for future CCA cruises. • Nick Nicholson, who delivered a riveting keynote reflecting on his four decades in the America’s Cup. • The atmosphere was lively and truly a celebration of camaraderie and a shared vision for the future of the Club. • The Events Committee addressed several key topics including but not limited to: planning for the Fall Meetings in 2026 and 2027, supporting the Membership and Cruise Resources Committees, progress in appointing a new Fall Meetings Chairperson, collaborating with the new West Coast Growth Committee, and preparations for the Annual Meeting. • The Club calendar is available online in the Member Portal under “Events” and is updated regularly. Major events and cruises are also listed inside the jacket of the Yearbook. • Sations are encouraged to consult the calendar when planning local events to avoid conflicts with Club-wide activities.
UPCOMING EVENTS & DATES TO PUT ON YOUR CALENDAR FOR 2026 Jan. 24th – Feb. 7th:
Grenadines Cruise
March 5th & 6th:
Annual Meeting will be held in New York City at NYYC
March 7th:
Leadership Breakfast (Saturday morning)
June 16th:
Pre-Bermuda Race Membership Event
June 19th:
Newport Bermuda Race Start, with the Race Watch event at Fort Adams.
June 25th:
Post Race Membership event (Date subject to change)
June 28th - July 4th: Bermuda Cruise Sept. 23rd - Oct. 4th: New England Islands Fall Cruise Fall Meeting hosted by the Southern California station. Scheduled for Newport Beach Yacht Club. Please visit the website for additional information.
Oct. 22nd - 24th:
For more details, please visit the Club website or consult the Yearbook.
Submissions deadlines are March 15th and October 15th.
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Kerrera Marina Photo by Maureen Koeppel
WESTERN ISLES CRUISE 2025 WE CAME, WE CRUISED, AND WE LEFT WITH A MULTITUDE OF MEMORIES! From July 19th to August 1st, 2025, cruisers gathered from a far-flung variety of home ports to the West of Scotland to cruise the Western Isles. It has to be said one more time that the assistance, planning and camaraderie given by our sister clubs was invaluable in organising such an event from afar. The Cruising Club of America gratefully thanks the Clyde Cruising Club, the Irish Cruising Club, the Ocean Cruising Club, the Royal Cruising Club and the Royal Highland Yacht Club for their generous welcome, effort and participation in the Cruise. We also appreciate the respective constellation of Commodores: David Denholm, Alan Markey, Fi Jones, Nick Chavasse and Martin Clarke, who attended and hugely propelled all aspects of the Cruise to be the success it was. After over two years of planning and organising spurred along by Commodore Gowell’s determination to have a Scottish cruise, the Western Isles Cruise happened with huge thanks to chairmen Jonathan
Brewin and Rob Childs who really got the ball rolling. Thanks also go to the Commodores and the extended committee: CCA Vice Commodore Chace Anderson, Communications and Cruise Book Barbara Watson, Cruise Treasurer Chris Coulter, Club Treasurer Kathleen O’Donnell, Fleet Captain Ernest Godshalk, Webmaster Michael Moradzedah, CCC Ken Andrew and Clive Reeves, OCC Vice Commodore Reg Barker and RCC Vice Commodore Tim Trafford. Even with modern communications, distance creates tricky logistics. Both Jon and Rob, although in the UK, were not exactly on the spot, being a good week’s cruise away. This was a different cruise from years past, but the invaluable help from our sister cruising clubs created an immersive and joyful cruising event for everyone. Both the opening and the finale dinners at Kerrera were run by the CCA with each club taking the lead in running the other events. Overall, the Western Isles Cruise had 259 attendees. Twenty others were
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sadly missed and unable to attend due to a variety of causes, from open heart surgery to inability to launch as a result of a yard’s hoist’s failure. In total five yachts ventured across the Atlantic to join the Cruise, including four CCA members: Commodore Jay Gowell’s Moonstone, Vice Commodore Chace Anderson’s Bonnie Rye, Past Commodore Chris Otorowski’s Aphrodite (sadly without Chris and Shawn Otorowski), and Carol Harrington’s Icebear. Also crossing was OCC’s Tom and Patty Ray’s Lyric, from the Chesapeake, with Jonathan and Dorothy Goldweitz on board from the Azores to Ireland. Seven CCA yachts were already in Europe and joined, including Jonathan Brewin’s Big Bear and Rob Childs’s Dragon, both based in the south of England. Pete Kolyer’s First Draft IV came around the north of Scotland from Orust in western Sweden and is now wintering at Silvers on the Clyde, whilst Steve McInnis’s Maverick also from Orust came via the Caledonian canal. Paul Kanev’s Momentum came
Tobermory Race. Lyric off Lismore. Photo by Donald Wood
The crews of Big Bear, Altaria, Aurora, and Top Spot Too in Wizards Pool. Standing and left: Somers Kempe, Andrew Kallfelz, and Tim Jeffery. Sitting: Alan Markey, Colin Crosby, Paul Hamilton, Jonathan Brewin, Virginia Braid, Stephen Kempe, Kate Crosby, Patti Young, David Shearer, Stephen Harris, and Julie Kallfelz. Photo by Somers Kempe
Kerrera. Commodore Jay Gowell welcomes all. Photo by Barbara Watson
from Iceland having wintered in Troon and about to winter in Lymington. Dean Rau’s Rongevaer II came from Bergen Seilforening Hjellestad, Norway, and Bill Strassberg’s Visions of Johanna arrived from winter in Concarneau, France (now out of the water in Carrickfergus, NI). There was a total of 58 participating yachts. Fourteen yachts were chartered by CCA members, including three with skippers, crew and most importantly, chefs! So—a total of 24 CCA yachts participated along with 34 from our
sister clubs: nine each from the CCC, ICC and RHYC, four from the OCC and three from the RCC. In March, Florida friends shared their Indian Ocean Cruisers WhatsApp, and there was no question the Western Isles needed their own one! With David Denholm’s help, this was set up, and at the height of the cruise, 176 of 252 participants were on board. And it continues! During the Spring there was much communication regarding boat preparation and the subsequent transatlantic photos to show progress across
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the Pond. There was also communication from members already in Europe and planning to cross the North Sea. The Scots and Irish responded with all kinds of information and offers of further assistance if needed. There was much talk about what to wear in Scotland and what to look forward to once there, with pictures ranging from glorious beaches to foul weather gear under test. So, the mixing of members from six different clubs was beginning to happen. Once in Europe, decisions had to be made about leaving Ireland to starboard or port. Kilronan, Inishmore, in the Aran Islands had Jay Gowell (from Antigua and the Azores) and Tim Trafford (from Galicia, Spain) get together for the first of many cockpit parties. Crosshaven was a general meeting point for others who then reconnected in Howth on the way north, hosted by Alan Markey. Kerrera Marina hosted the initial Meet and Greet party on July 19th. But, actually, the get-together happened earlier that morning as the Waypoints restaurant filled with rugby enthusiasts. Kerrera Marina is run by Tim and Gill Vollum: they performed above and beyond, nothing was too hard for them and their staff, and all happened with a smile. Continued on page 6
WESTERN ISLES CRUISE 2025
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
Constellation of Commodores: Jay Gowell, Martin Clarke, Alan Markey, Fi Jones, David Denholm, and Nick Chavasse. Photo by Shelia McCurdy
Kerrera. Transoceanic pennant. Awards Chair Jim Quanci, Rob Childs, VC Chace Anderson, Elizabeth Gowell, Commodore Jay Gowell, Jonathan Brewin, Steve McInnis, and Mary Lovely.
Tobermory. Photo by Jackie Peacock
Festoon 1: Tim Trafford, David Denholm, and Reg Barker, Vatersay.
Festoon 2: Jay Gowell, Martin Clarke, and Alan Markey.
Photo by Barbara Watson
Photo by Barbara Watson
Talisker Tour. Photo by Barbara Watson
Salut Ballyclaire Pur Magic singalong including Derek Jones, Aisling and Anthony McCarthy, Viv White, Peter Killen, and Derek White. Photo by Jimmy Houston
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Vatersay. Photo by Linda Pender
In the Beer Garden, Commodore Jay welcomed everyone and introduced the committee. CCA Awards Chair Jim Quanci then announced and presented Transoceanic Pennants to Commodore Gowel, Vice Commodore Chace Anderson, Jonathan Brewin, Rob Childs, and Steve McInnis. A table plan had tables of buddy boats with Americans, Irish and Scots together for the sit-down buffet. Much of the fare came from the island as the Vollums are also local farmers. Gill was hard to speak to during the spring as she was often out birthing lambs! However, much of their own produce was enjoyed. The CCC has run their Tobermory Race annually since 1932. Sunday dawned with little wind, so their Annual Tobermory race turned into a drifting match with only a couple of boats finishing. A gentle progression from Oban, past Duart Castle and on up the Sound of Mull, with the tide, got most to Tobermory. Thanks to Commodore David Denholm, CCC, for
his team’s efforts. Then the Mishnish and other pubs were sampled amidst cockpit parties. With the wind under control the next day, RCC VC Tim Trafford was able to inform the fleet that a Sunflower Raftup would happen in Loch Na Droma Buddha or, more simply, Loch Drambuie. It happened with the able help of the CCC’s Alastair Mill, who choreographed the 2010 Raft (as his father, CCC past Commodore John Mill, had the Guinness record breaking Raft of 1985). The raft was celebrated with bagpipes and a wee dram or two, along with Sheila McCurdy’s photo of the six commodores. The fleet then spread out for a couple of nights with many anchorages to choose from, Muck, Rhum and Canna. Several made it to Loch Scavaig for the hike up to Loch Coruisk, the dramatic freshwater loch amidst the Black Cuillins. Having a few days off to decompress between parties is always recommended as is a sail up the west coast of Skye to Loch Harport
OCC Mussels Party Potluck. Photo by Darrel Walters
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admiring the waterfalls. The new local docks at Carbost were made good use of and others anchored off. The ICC helped us set up for the day. Diageo generously opened up and offered tours and tastings at the famed Talisker Distillery with lunch at the Three Chimneys restaurant for everyone. Following the Talisker visit, many boats headed west from Loch Harport for the shorter and, as it happened, calm hop across the Minch to the Outer Hebrides, to the Wizard’s Pool and other Loch Skiport anchorages that were uncharacteristically busy. Like Roque Island in Maine, Vatersay is the ultimate Outer Hebridean location, featuring a magically huge sandy beach with a secure anchorage for all. It’s also a short walk across the ‘machair’ amidst harebells and clover to the Atlantic-facing westerly beach. This was a very different party on Vatersay from years past as the islanders now have their new Community Hall where we all met. Organised by the RHYC, after multiple visits by Martin Clarke, Sarah MacLean and her local team, we enjoyed an amazing buffet with mouth-watering baking followed by the new younger Vatersay Boys playing for some enthusiastic dancers. OCC commodore Fi Jones decided on the Loch Spelve Mussel Farm for their Potluck party. It had been hoped that a Gunna Sound or other magic Continued on page 8
WESTERN ISLES CRUISE 2025
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
Left: Tartan won by Philippa and Commodore Martin Clarke, Robin Wills, and George Seaton. Right: Kerrera. Sheilagh Murphy, Jimmy and Sandra Cochrane, Noel Anderson, Simon and Linda Pender.
beach would fulfill this plan, but the cloudless and windless blue sky days were nonexistent. Fi and Chris with their team literally prepared gallons of mussels for our pleasure, along with a variety of potluck choices brought by everyone. Miriam Sutter’s salami sailboats even made their way into the Art Show. The fleet returned to Kerrera for the Finale Dinner and to hand back their charter boats. Meeting again in the Beer Garden, Commodore Jay thanked everyone, and all the Commodores said a few words. It had been a joint effort, and many new contacts were made, hopefully to be followed up on. Tokens were given to everyone to purchase their dinner of choice from several stands. By this time everyone knew most people and enjoyed a final dinner together. The Ceilidh Band did a great job of instructing in the art of Scottish Ceilidh dancing, always such good exercise after a meal. The CCA has several talented watercolourists, so there was an Art Show at the closing dinner on Kerrera. Participants were informed in advance, so paints were brought, and each entry was to be completed during the cruise. Twenty-five pieces of art were created, from mixed media to knits and felting, paintings and an Iona marble pendant. Gill Vollum commented on one piece of netting with found objects stating that it would stay in the shed till it smelt! Everyone voted for one entry —Josie
Kerrera. Commodore Jay Gowell congratulates Art Show winner Josie Anderson with Barbara Watson. Photo by Darrel Walters
Kerrera. Commodore Jay Gowell thanks OCC Commodore Fi Jones.
Anderson’s watercolour Highland Cow overwhelmingly won, with Cindy Croft-Wisch’s Highland Bouquet coming second and Chris Jones’s painting third. New for this cruise was a move to have no single use plastic, so everyone got a pint cup in their goodie bag. Gill had anticipated using
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compositing plates but had recently bought 250-plus assorted china plates from charity stores, which caused some interest. When going ashore at Vatersay and the Mussel Farm, everyone took their own plates and cutlery. The Outer Hebrides have to pay to remove all their trash to the mainland, so no rubbish was left ashore. August 1st, after gathering from afar and spending 14 days together, the fleet scattered, some in haste to get home before Storm Floris hit on August 4th. Oban, with its charter boat availability and car, train and bus connections to Glasgow, makes a logical starting point for a cruise. However, there is a finite choice of roads between these two destinations. This year with train cancellations and a major route blocked by a fatal accident, the journey south was hugely impacted, just like following the major thunderstorm that ended the 1985 final CCC 75th party at Loch Melfort, caused Loch Lomond landslides, and closed that road south. So perhaps one should always plan to have a day in hand both before and after a cruise or any important event abroad! Perhaps our new friends will cross to cruise our waters? But let’s hope it is not another fifteen years before the CCA returns to Scotland. Haste ye back! - Jonathan Brewin, Rob Childs, and Barbara Watson
HIGH SEAS AND HOME WATERS High Seas and Home Waters is the story of a club for capable sailors. The Cruising Club of America is famous for its adventurous members who have proved their self-reliance and seamanship skills exploring the world’s oceans and remote shores. They are, and always have been, storytellers or “yarners” as the founders would have said 100 years ago. While High Seas and Home Waters relates sea stories of daring accomplishments, the heart of the book is the close friendships of the Cruising Club of America members themselves, bound by their shared love of boats and the maritime
world. The beautifully designed and illustrated book covers a century of societal and technological change— starting in a time of voyaging with wooden boats and celestial navigation up to today’s high-tech yachts and satellite connectivity. Sheila McCurdy, the author of High Seas and Home Waters, has drawn on her experiences from 125,000 miles of ocean sailing, and knowing many of the world’s best yacht racing and cruising sailors, she brings to life the captivating and often lighthearted history of the generations who have contributed to the global reputation of the CCA.
Selected comments on High Seas and Home Waters Offshore sailors tend to be an ungovernable lot. Only free spirits head off to pursue adventures at sea, and CCA attracts the most accomplished and ungovernable of them all. While nobody could “herd the cats” represented by the ambitious, freespirited, and accomplished CCA members, Sheila has managed to herd their stories into a delightful and insightful history of the CCA. Sheila, due to her long commitment to the CCA, and her family’s history that is intertwined with that of the CCA, has been speculateda to be the Queen of the CCA. With the accomplishment that this book represents, Sheila earns that title. - Stan Honey, Record-setting navigator; 2010 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year; National Sailing Hall of Fame inductee, 2012
A beautifully written tribute to a century of adventure, innovation, and seamanship, High Seas and Home Waters captures the spirit of the CCA and the sailors who helped shape offshore cruising and competition. - Charlie Enright, CEO, US Sailing; Winning skipper, The Ocean Race, 2022–23
Sheila McCurdy has compiled an invaluable history of our Club with an emphasis on what makes it distinctive: shared stories and camaraderie. This book is well written, provides a complete view of our club for current members and is also a good overview of our values for potential new members. The introductory heading “Stories are our Clubhouse” gives a clear image of what the Club is about: good adventures and shared stories rather than glamorous settings. It is a tour de force with a delightfully personal touch. - Sally Lindsay Honey, Two-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year; Co-skipper of Illusion; winner of St. David’s Lighthouse Trophy, 2022; National Sailing Hall of Fame inductee, 2012
Sheila McCurdy’s comprehensive story of the Cruising Club of America captures the essence of American yachting over the past 100 years. The book features compelling images from the past and present day. The narrative is a story of people, ports, and their yachts. CCA members and sailors everywhere will be motivated to schedule adventurous cruises, which will inevitably generate more stories on the High Seas and Home Waters. - Gary Jobson, Television commentator; America’s Cup winning tactician; Author, Sailing America and 18 other nautical titles
Editor’s Note: High Seas and Home Waters: The Centennial History of the Cruising Club of America is ready for printing, but the Club was notified in late August that the contracted publisher suspended operations. The Club asks that if any member knows a publisher who would be willing coordinate the printing, distribution, and sales promotion for High Seas and Home Waters and the companion book Adventurous Use of the Sea, please contact Richard Casner at richardcasner@gmail.com or Sheila McCurdy at sheilamccurdy@mac.com.
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THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST STATION ‘CORNERS’ THE FALL CRUISE FLEET wind worn sandstone reefs and stately russet-colored madronas welcomed Northwest sailors back and introduced our visitors to the wonders of these cruising grounds. The opening event was followed by a lay day where many of the participants sailed to nearby Stuart Island and its two welcoming harbors. Many endured the hike to the lighthouse at Turn Point on the island’s northern tip and some were rewarded with glimpses of whales as they gazed toward the Canadian shore. The next day featured a rum barrel and the traditional PNW chowder feast at the impressive home of Peter Powell and his partner Lynn Thompson at Garrison Bay on San Juan Island. The fleet scattered at anchor across the bay and gathered mid-afternoon for the christening of Phil and Laurie Swigard’s new
West Sound, Otterbank Overhead, The Seafood Feast.
Dancing in the Barn.
The Fleet Captain at his Duties. Photo by Doug Adkins
catamaran powerboat The Golden Hour. Then the inflatables crowded the dock as 140 people gathered under the trees on the expansive front lawn. The chowder pot was filled to the brim, and the rum barrel was recipe
Photo by Steve Leonard
With the prospect of wonderful late summer weather, the Pacific Northwest Station organized their normal regional fall cruise but included CCA members traveling to the Fall Meeting at Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine. The response was almost overwhelming with 43 boats and over 125 sailors joining in. About one half of the fleet were from away. Cruise planning under the direction of Joe Golberg and Stacey Wilson was exhaustive and had us visiting the three lighthouses that define the northwest corners of the continental United States: Patos Island, Turn Point on Stuart Island, and Lime Kiln Point on San Juan Island. Thus, the event was dubbed the 2025 CCA Three Corners Cruise. Opening night featured BYOB and appetizers on geologically fascinating Sucia Island State Park. Glaciated and
Seafood. Photo by Steve Leonard
Spot Prawns caught by the PNW Crew.
James Watlington, Susanne Crump and Commodore Gowell.
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Howard and Stephanie Conant.
perfect. It was a delightful evening. An additional lay day followed and included an optional tour of English Camp, headquarters of the English garrison during the Pig War of 1859, and those attending were treated to an historic lecture concerning this little known but important conflict in American/ British history. The fleet then assembled at Rear Commodore Adkins’ waterfront home on West Sound, Orcas Island, for a seafood extravaganza. Hand caught spot prawns and lingcod supplied for the fleet were provided by CCA members John McCartney, Tom White, Joe Golberg and Steve Jacobsen and their wonderfully helpful wives Gail, Barb, Elayne, and Kathy. Pat Montgomery (FLA) and Roddy Hearne were
Steve and Karyn James, Jeff and Cindy Wisch, John and K Robinson, Mary Utley, and Nick Orem.
sous chefs. Quartermaster Doug Cole weighed in. Salmon, potato salad and cookies filled out the menu. Serving and cooking logistics were expertly organized by Howard and Stephanie Conant, and more than a dozen PNW members pitched in to make the evening a home-grown success. With red tablecloths, flowers and umbrellas on the lawn, the meal was a treat. It
was followed by a dance in the barn featuring a disco ball and a DJ in a 1941 Dodge pickup truck spinning age-appropriate tunes. Who knew this crowd could dance like that? The exhausted fleet next enjoyed another lay day while many returned charter yachts and then temporarily adjourned to Semiahmoo Resort near the Canadian border for a closing dinner in conjunction with the National Meeting which featured Sheila McCurdy discussing her soon-to-be released history of the CCA High Seas and Home Waters. It was a remarkable cruise, made so by the wonderful contributions of so many and the enthusiastic responses of our visitors.the National - John Kennell and Douglas Adkins PNW
Cruise Chair Golberg kicks things off at Sucia.
Elayne and her Cruising Friends.
Peter Powell’s Dock at Garrison Bay. photo by Steve Leonard
The Christening of the Golden Hour.
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Continued
Left: The Cruise Chair, The Commodore and our Host. Right: Rum Meister Gary Nolan, PNW Historian John Kennell and PNW Quartermaster Doug Cole.
Kathy Schwartz, Cruise Co-Chairs Stacey and Jean Wilson.
Fisherman Tom White and Rusty Lhamon.
Secretary Pat Montgomery and Mike Brown.
Left: Kathi and Bill Cuffel, Susan Stillman, Mary Alice O’Neill and Haley Lhamon. Right: Pauline Watlington, Betsy Kellogg, Robert and Kitty Lansing. All photos by Barbara Watson
To reduce waste and minimize our impact on the environment, you have the option of requesting a single copy of the GAM, Voyages, and the Yearbook for multiple-member households.
Elayne Golberg, Joan Dalton and Mary Baker Anderson.
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NEW ENGLAND ISLANDS CRUISE 2026 How would you like to enjoy some of the most spectacular fall cruising you can imagine? Steady breezes, warm water, cool evenings, and locations, for the most part, which can only be reached by boat. If this fits what you would consider a fabulous couple of weeks of sailing in the fall, you can’t miss the CCA 2026 New England Islands Cruise. The planning for the 2026 cruise is well on its way with the itinerary set, the locations selected and the Port Captains in place. Activities at each location are in the works with extra time being allotted at each stop to enjoy all that the islands have to offer. With late September timing the beautiful islands of Cuttyhunk, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket will have lost most of their busy
summer crowds making each stop feel like you have the island almost to yourself. Wonderful restaurants and points of interest will still be open and welcoming to visitors. Our kickoff location of the always popular Newport, RI, and the final dinner at the New Bedford Whaling Museum in historic New Bedford, MA, will give
you the feeling you are there with friends. The entire cruise is created as a relaxing sojourn through a beautiful part of New England. So put it on your calendar now… Opening event in Newport, RI on September 22, 2026, with a final dinner on October 3, 2026. For members not sailing their own boat, bareboat charters will be available out of Newport, RI. Please complete the Expression of Interest form at https:// cruisingclub.org/form/new-england-interest or by going to the CCA website under Upcoming Cruises as soon as you are able so we can get a feel for participation. If you have any questions about the cruise, please contact Cruise Chair Ray Cullum at raycullum1@gmail.com -Ray Cullum
SPANISH VIRGIN ISLANDS CRUISE 2027 Planning is well underway for a 14-day cruise through the magnificent U.S. and Spanish Virgin Islands. Dates are Saturday March 20, 2027, to Saturday April 2, 2027. From St. Thomas to St John to St. Croix to Vieques and Culebra. As of today, we have five groups who have expressed interest in the cruise. Members are encouraged to check out the cruise page and add your information to the interest list to keep abreast of updates.
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BRAS D’OR LAKES CRUISE: JULY/AUGUST 2027 Co-Chairs: David Stanfield and Peter Rugg From July 20th, 2027, participants will be encouraged to find their way east stopping at small towns and wild islands of coastal Nova Scotia before passing thorough Saint Peter’s Canal into the Lakes where the cruise will begin in earnest with a opening dinner on July 25th. There will be four more group events over the ten days giving participants a great opportunity to relish the hospitality of the region known for a Celtic music scene and natural beauty. It will be a perfect time to get to know Club members from many other stations. More information is available on the 2027 Bras d’Or Lakes website.
BERMUDA STATION CRUISE CONFIRMED FOR 2026 Popular demand is driving the post-Newport Bermuda Race Cruise for 2026 following last summer’s cruise which got rave reviews!! With Jay and Chace’s prompting, we plan to repeat the fun (with some changes we are sure you will enjoy) following the 2026 Race. We hope NBR competitors, their take-home crews, and others will focus on the opportunity for some unbeatable cruising. The cruise will be similar to last summer, starting with fitted dinghy racing before an opening party on Sunday on Watling Island. Monday, has us moving west to Mangrove Bay for a tour of the National Museum and dinner at Sandy’s Boat Club.
Dinner at Tom Moore’s Tavern.
Tuesday sees us round the island’s west end, along the Southeast Coast to Castle Harbour, then dinner at the c1652 Walsingham House, home for 200 years to Tom Moore’s Tavern. Wednesday has us in St George’s for a tour of the town. On Thursday, we will move to Flatts Inlet on the North Shore for a tour of the Bermuda Aquarium and a cruise around exquisite and rarely seen Harrington Sound. Friday, we finish up with a dinner at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. For those with a tighter time limit, you can check out of St. George’s on Thursday and be back in New England before the end of the holiday weekend. Take an extra week and join us or have your take-home crew join us and
Castle Harbour.
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© Garmin
enjoy the beauty of Bermuda – crystal water and great anchorages. What can be better? Full details on the CCA Club web pages. Above is a chart, and below some shots of our 2024 event.
GRENADINES CRUISE 2026 groups of 6 ,8, or 10. Anyone interested in this option may contact Peter Rugg or Mike McBee. The itinerary courses through the Grenadines to Grenada, all off the wind sailing in the trade winds. Check the Cruise Web Page for complete information(https://cruisingclub. org/event/grenadines-cruise-2026).
Our Grenadine Cruise is two months away, beginning on Saturday, January 24th. We currently have 13 boats signed up with approximately 60 sailors. Boats are still available for anyone interested in warmer weather, trade winds, and beautiful anchorages. Several options are available for a group charter with crew, for
Admiralty Bay Bequia
St. Vincent to Grenada
Tobago Cays
Chatham Bay, Union Island
Salt Whistle, Mayreau
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CCA AND A NEW MEMBER’S FIRST CRUISE TO MAINE We decided that 2025 would mark our first cruise to Maine, a welcome departure from our usual sailing grounds of Block Island, Martha’s Vineyard, and Narragansett Bay. To prepare, I immersed myself in the CCA’s digital catalog of resources, starting with Tom Babbitt’s How to Plan a Maine Cruise, Taft and Rindlaub’s A Cruising Guide to the Maine Coast, and the CCA Cruising Guide to Maine. Each offered a wealth of knowledge that proved invaluable throughout our trip. This is our second season with our 2010 Beneteau 40, and we knew a few upgrades would make the voyage safer and more enjoyable. I installed a new Raymarine radar system with Doppler capability (more on that later) and replaced the original autopilot—which had a habit of steering its own course—with a new unit. I swapped the fixed prop for a FlexO-Fold prop to minimize the risk of snagging lobster pots and added a Shaft-Shark line cutter. In July, I stocked up on spare parts, had the engine fully serviced, and inspected the rigging from top to bottom to ensure readiness. After consulting fellow CCA members on the best route from Long Island Sound, I settled on an overnight sail from the Cape Cod Canal directly to Portland, Maine. I was joined by three close friends: CCA member Rick Oricchio, a veteran of Fastnet and Bermuda races; Bob McHugh, also an experienced offshore racer; and Rick Brown, newer to overnight passages but eager to learn. We departed Black Rock YC in Bridgeport, CT, and headed for the Cape Cod Canal, stopping overnight at Stonington YC. The following day, with winds building to 25 knots on the nose, we hoped to secure a spot at Cuttyhunk. The island was packed for its annual fireworks show, but the harbor master kindly found us space
at the dock. The next morning, as we left, we saw how rough the outer anchorage was and were grateful for the safe berth.
The wind strengthened as we pressed on toward the Canal, making for a wet and pounding passage. David Curtin, a longtime CCA member (BOS), and his wife Sally graciously offered us a mooring in Pocasset, MA, near the Canal entrance. David later ferried us by Whaler to dinner at the Chart Room in nearby Cataumet, where he and Sally joined us for a memorable evening.
Portland at 5 a.m. and secured our reserved slip. After picking up a rental car at Portland Jetport, my crew returned home to Fairfield. My wife Anne and our dog Pipa soon joined me. After provisioning and enjoying dinner in downtown Portland, we prepared to set out the next morning. Using Navionics’ auto-route planning, I mapped a 12–14-day itinerary guided by the CCA Portland to Penobscot Bay cruising guide. The suggested routes were excellent, offering two daily options and plenty of local insight on dining, moorings, anchorages, provisioning, fuel, and water. Our first night was spent at Dolphin Marina & Restaurant, where we enjoyed dinner and, true to tradition, were greeted the next morning with blueberry muffins delivered to our boat. Next came Christmas Cove, a beautifully sheltered harbor with the Coveside Restaurant. Cocktails in the Burgee Bar followed by dinner on the porch overlooking the harbor was a highlight.
CCA members David Curtin (BOS) and Rick Oricchio (ESS) (Stam), Bob McHugh and Rick Brown in Pocasset Harbor
Anne at the Burgee Bar, Coveside Inn, Christmas Cove
The following day brought sunshine and calm seas as we transited the Canal. Just off Provincetown, pods of whales entertained local whale-watchers and our crew alike. Though the wind stayed stubbornly on the nose, the Gulf of Maine crossing was pleasant. We arrived at the Maine Yacht Center in South
On the third day, we stopped at Tenants Harbor Boatyard and dined at The Happy Clam, a gem recommended in Taft’s guide. The boatyard is owned by renowned marine artist Jamie Wyeth, and his striking, blackhulled Dreadnought was docked there. The following morning, we topped off fuel and water before sailing
The full crew at Cuttyhunk
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across Penobscot Bay to North Haven. Anchoring near J.O. Brown’s Boatyard gave us easy access to Nebo Lodge, where we celebrated our 43rd wedding anniversary with a farm-totable dinner, discovered through the CCA Digital Cruising Guide. The next day, while strolling North Haven, we found Sage Woods, a 14-acre preserve donated by Ted and Hope Sage in 2017. By chance, we met Hope herself, who warmly recommended Duck Harbor on Isle au Haut. Until then, it hadn’t been on our itinerary, but her enthusiasm convinced us. Sailing through the scenic Fox Thoroughfare, we reached Duck Harbor and anchored among just a few boats opposite the National Park Service dock. A steep hike rewarded us with sweeping views of the harbor, surrounding islands, and Mount Desert in the distance. The following morning, I captured a photo of the moon setting over the water—a magical moment. From Duck Harbor, we continued
Lobster buoy collection at Wooden Boat School
mooring, though at quite a distance from shore. After dinner in town, our sleep was interrupted by a heavy surge around 1 a.m., waking the entire harbor to the same unanswered question: “Where did that come from?” From Camden, we sailed to Five
Moon setting over Duck Harbor
Five Islands Lobster Co
to Brooklin, stopping at the Wooden Boat School before sailing up Eggemoggin Reach under the suspension bridge to Bucks Harbor. Taft’s guide again pointed us to the Bucks Harbor Market, where we enjoyed a hearty dinner with local flair. Next came a quiet night at Holbrook Island, chosen over busy Castine so we could explore its serene hiking trails. After a simple dinner aboard and a chance meeting with a tall-ship captain and his soon-to-bemed-student companion, we moved on to Camden Harbor. Camden Yacht Club provided a
Islands Harbor, a charming, sheltered stop with an excellent lobster house at the town dock. Guest moorings are first-come, first-served, with a watertight container for donations. After savoring the best lobster roll of the trip, we departed. Later, to our delight, we received a personalized email from a local resident thanking us for our mooring donation and welcoming us back anytime. Our fair-weather luck held until we ran into dense fog en route to Chebeague Island. Here, our new Raymarine radar with Doppler proved its worth: red for approaching targets,
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green for receding, gray for static. Surrounded by lobster boats and pots, we navigated a tight channel with confidence until the Chebeague Island Inn came into view. Guests with dinner reservations are offered moorings, and a launch whisked us ashore to the inn’s porch for cocktails and dinner. There we met fellow sailors Larry and Kimberly Laprade, cruising aboard their Hunter 46 Stella Blue after four years of voyaging. Our final days included fueling at the Maine Yacht Center and a mooring at Portland Yacht Club, where the staff’s warm hospitality stood out. With more than 900 moorings in the area and an active racing schedule, it was a lively place to end our trip. From there, Anne returned home, and I began the solo sail back to Black Rock YC. In the end, two weeks of near-perfect weather made our first Maine cruise unforgettable—perhaps even spoiling us into thinking summers here are always this good. With its stunning sailing, welcoming harbors, and countless hidden gems, Maine is a destination I can wholeheartedly encourage every sailor to explore.
Anne and Rob Stephan on the porch of the Chebeague Inn.
100 YEARS OF THE CCA AND THE BERMUDA RACE —
A LEGACY WORTH CELEBRATING The 2026 Newport Bermuda Race marks a milestone like no other — 100 years since the Cruising Club of America took the helm as co-organizer alongside our esteemed partner, the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. This centennial year is a big deal, and we’re already planning to make it our most memorable edition yet. As of October, 32 of the 85 teams entered are CCA members — and we’d love to see that number grow significantly. If you haven’t done the Race in a while, or have never experienced the thrill of the “Thrash to the Onion Patch,” this is the year to join in. There won’t be another 100-year anniversary, and we want our membership well represented when the fleet sets sail from Newport next June. Behind the scenes, the Bermuda Race Organizing Committee (BROC)
is hard at work enhancing every aspect of the Race: Safety & Inspection protocols are being updated for a smoother and more transparent experience based on knowledge gained from recent years. Communications are being refined to keep competitors better informed, both onshore and offshore. Building on the success of our Starting Line Live Show, we’re introducing a new daily Gulf Stream Show to help fans follow the fleet’s progress every day from home. And, of course, there will be plenty of ways to celebrate when we arrive in Bermuda — including a special postrace cruise with our Bermuda Station, plus commemorative 100th Anniversary memorabilia like T-shirts, scarves, and keepsakes that capture the spirit of this historic occasion. To mark this incredible milestone,
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we’ve also launched a new storytelling series called This One Time in The Gulf Stream, where sailors share their favorite Bermuda Race memories — from wild weather to unforgettable moments of seamanship, teamwork, and humor. We’d love to include your story too! Visit bermudarace.com/foundation/ stories to read the submissions and share your own. This is not the one to miss. As CCA members, we can take immense pride in our century-long stewardship of this legendary ocean race — one that has inspired generations of sailors to take on the challenge, camaraderie, and adventure of blue water racing. Join us as we make history again. Learn more and enter today at BermudaRace.com - Kate Somers and Andrew Kallfelz
RONNIE SIMPSON TO COMPETE IN THE 2027-8 GLOBAL SOLO CHALLENGE Ronnie Simpson (SAF), who was in 3rd place in the 2023-4 Global Solo Challenge when his Open 50 Shipyard Brewing dismasted off the coast of Argentina nine days after rounding Cape Horn, will race again in the 2027-8 running of the event. Ronnie acquired Class 40 #15 Koloa Maoli early in 2025, and he is developing his program from his base in Portland, Maine. To increase awareness of his solo non-stop around the world racing effort, Ronnie sailed Koloa Maoli down the east coast in September stopping over in Newport, RI, during the Newport International Boat Show, held September 11-14, and next to the Pequot Yacht Club, in Southport, CT, on September 19. At Pequot, Ronnie gave tours of the boat and entertained a large audience with a well-received talk about his background, past sailing adventures, and his plans for the 2027-8 Challenge. After leaving Pequot with local guest crew, Ronnie made a stop in Manhattan, NY, and then sailed to Annapolis, MD, for the Annapolis Sailboat Show, held October 9-12. A US Marine Corps veteran and professional sailor with more than 175,000 miles at sea, Ronnie has a compelling personal story and will be a serious contender in the 2027-8 Global Solo Challenge. A grassroots campaign that still seeks title sponsorship, he is soliciting contributions to his program, as well as business networking and sponsorship assistance. He secured support at the Pequot Yacht Club to supplement funds he has raised
Above: Koloa Maoli at the Pequot Yacht Club dock.
AVAILABLE NOW:
Skip Novak on Sailing
Steeped in personal experience, but designed to be as inspirational as it is practical, Skip Novak on Sailing will help you become a better sailor, no matter your level of experience. 101 articles collated from Skip’s Yachting World column. Mainly opinion pieces on topics all things sailing with a few yarns thrown in. Read a few pages while on watch, keep on your bedside table or along-side when on the loo… Enjoy!
Ronnie speaks at the Pequot Yacht Club, Southport, CT, on September, 21, 2025.
through the 501c3 veteran’s sailing non-profit US Patriot Sailing, crowdfunding and other sponsorships. To come onboard and support his campaign, please feel free to reach out at ronniesimpsonracing@gmail. com. For more information about his campaign as well as how to follow on social media, you can visit www. ronniesimpsonracing.com. - Phil Dickey
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Tongue-in-cheek sketches by Davide Besana.
AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT: Bloomsbury/Adlard Coles: www.bloomsbury.com Blog Post: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/ discover/articles/features/ skip-novak-on-sailing/ Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk
CCA FALL MEEETING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST The Pacific Northwest Station was scheduled to host the 2020 CCA Fall Meeting and elaborate preparations for venues and activities had been led by Susan Stillman. But all was for naught as the Pandemic rode roughshod across our calendars and the meetings were held by Zoom. Undaunted, the PNW was tapped again for the 2025 Fall Meeting and again rose to the challenge. With wonderful guidance by Events Chair Deanna Polizzo (NYS) and Margie Robfogel (CHE), the Fall Meeting was taken in hand by Bruce Johnston and his bride Mary Baker Anderson assisted by an eager committee. The scheduling allowed
for the meeting to be proceeded by the PNW Fall Cruise and that enticed a good many Fall Meeting attendees to join the regional cruise, ultimately attracting 43 boats and their crews totaling over 125 sailors. Nearly half of the participants were ‘from away’. The Cruise ended and the Fall Meeting began on September 17th at Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine, Washington, a lovely waterfront facility on an extraordinary sandspit facing Pt. Roberts, a remnant of American territory surrounded by Canada. The warm late summer weather which had delighted those on the Cruise continued. The first event was a joint
Commodore Gowell thanking Meeting Chairs Bruce Johnston and Mary Baker Anderson. Photo by Barbara Watson
Dorothy Wadlow, Joanna de Zwart and Karyn James.
Cruise/Meeting affair, highlighted by an address by Past Commodore Sheila McCurdy who gave the gathering a preview of her soon-to-be-published book “High Seas and Home Waters, A History of the Cruising Club of America”. Sheila has devoted several years to this important effort and the hard work shows. Scheduled committee gatherings for Safety & Seamanship, Cruise Resources, the Bonnell Cove Foundation and Events were held on Thursday in addition to a Governing Board Meeting. Friday’s meetings included Financial Affairs, the Bermuda Race Foundation, Long Range Planning and
Dick and Sandy Bell with Rick and Maureen Meslang. Photo by Barbara Watson
Dave and Sally Curtin, Doug Adkins, and Peter and Susan Griffin.
Photo by Barbara Watson
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Communications. The well attended Thursday cocktail party in the warmenough early evening was followed with an entertaining and amusing improv/crooner presentation by Scott Palmason to the delight of the assembled. The speaker for our luncheon on Friday was our own Barbara Watson (FLA) who presented her photographs of the recently completed and very successful Western Isles Cruise in Scotland’s Inner and Outer Hebrides interspersed with wonderful images of past CCA Cruises. Barbara’s efforts are always a highlight. The Fall Meeting of Members was held on Friday afternoon and opened
with Commodore Gowell’s report congratulating all for a very successful Western Isles Cruise and emphasizing the CCA’s efforts in expanding our international engagement. He announced the initiative to include spouses and partners in the email distribution of Waypoints and other club communications and encouraged all members to redouble their efforts in seeking new members. The upcoming Grenadines Cruise was highlighted. Vice Commodore Anderson discussed our association with the International Council of Yacht Clubs and opportunities for engagement with this worldwide group as the
John and K Robinson. Photo by Barbara Watson
Rod and Jill Hearne, Mike Brown, and Clint Bush.
Clint Bush with Pieter de Zwart and Dave Curtin.
newest member and the only club without a physical presence. He urged members to attend ICOYC meetings held around the world. Dave Curtin provided an important outline of the processes and structure of Final Voyages reporting and clarified guidelines and pitfalls. Chuck Hawley described the efforts of the West Coast Working Group to expand awareness of the CCA and identification of new member prospects within the reach of the three West Coast Stations. James Phyfe reported on the increasing Membership Committee’s review schedule and the important
Lynn and Roger Werner with James and Pauline Watlington.
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Continued
progress being made in more rapidly reviewing candidates. Andrew Kallfelz outlined the terrific advances in coverage of the Newport Bermuda Race. Fleet Surgeon Jeff Wisch noted transitioning of the Covid Task Force into the Medical Advisory Board and the bulletins issued for specific health concerns. Fleet Captain Godshalk outlined upcoming cruises and called for ideas as the future schedule expands. Finally, Peter Griffin explained proposed By-Laws changes relating to dates for budget finalization and conforming financial language modifications, all of which were approved. Of note was Alli Bell’s (SOC) recent winning performance in this summer’s Transpac, the first by a
Semiahmoo Sculpture
Susanne Crump, Karyn James, Nancy Cook and Barry Klickstein. Photo by Barbara Watson
Barbara Watson delivers her terrific Western Isles Slide Show. Photo by Mary Baker Anderson
woman skipper. Also highlighted was Chuck Hawley’s selection for induction in the National Sailing Hall of Fame in Newport. The Fall Meeting closed with a delightful cocktail party and dinner in the Tent Pavilion. The recent Final Voyages of members were commemorated with Eight Bells. Our dinner speaker was Nick Nicholson who provided a fascinating overview of his many decades of America’s Cup involvement as a sailor and measurer. At evening’s end the brass compass and sextant table decorations were awarded for correct guesses to important navigation instrument questions. All seemed to agree that the 2025 Fall Meeting was a grand success.
Phyllis Orem, K Robinson and Susan Stillman. Photo by Barbara Watson
Nick Nicholson delivers his fascinating America’s Cup Review.
NEWS FROM STATIONS & POSTS BOSTON Boston Station members have had a very active summer ranging from transatlantic passages to cruises east in Scotland (July) and in the Pacific Northwest (September). Members also sailed locally in the Mass Bay Cruise (June). Maine was a favorite destination as always. A number of yachts are staying over in Europe to continue their venturing in 2026. The Rats luncheon gatherings continue to be well attended, about quarterly. And we have a closing GAM in mid-October over two evenings: one at the home of Michael and Hanna Moore on Ram Island at the entrance to Marion Harbor, and on the following evening at the New Bedford YC, to be reported elsewhere here by the Buzzards Bay Post. Transatlantic passages were completed by Boston Station members Commodore Jay Gowell and crew on Moonstone (Tayana 52) and Carolyn Harrington and crew on Icebear (Morris 48). Both went onto Scotland to participate in the very successful interclub cruise there — reported on elsewhere in this GAM. They were met by other Station members on their own yachts who had made the passage to Europe and Scotland in a prior year. These included Bill Strassberg and friends on Visions of
Johanna (Chuck Paine, custom 62) and Steve McInnis / Nancy Jamison with friends on Maverick (Hanse 505). In addition, some 31 Station members participated in the Scotland cruise on a range of charter yachts—a spectacular turnout and cruise in company by all accounts. In September the Station was well represented at the excellent cruise through the San Juan Islands by some eleven Boston Station members in a fleet numbering 30-40 boats. Many were on chartered boats, and others sailed with friends on west coast yachts of PNW members who all provided a wonderful reception to their very lovely setting. The season got off to a good start in June with a six-day Mass Bay Cruise, being reported in more detail elsewhere here. This was a very successful and well-organized venture around the harbors and points of interest in the waters that neighbor Boston. These included the many historic fishing ports from Gloucester to Provincetown, yacht havens large and small such as Marblehead and Cohasset, islands that dot Boston’s Inner harbor and of course a visit to Boston City itself. In Boston we had a range of marinas to overnight in. Rear Commodore Orem (Wassail) and your Scribe/ Historian (Innisfree) chose the old India Wharf to tie up at. India Wharf, historically,
Cruise participants on foredeck of the full rigged clipper ship, Stad Amsterdam.
represents a significant part of old Boston’s commercial activity, though a mere shadow of its former self now. The adjacent land was all reclaimed for the industrial wharfs and prominent buildings erected to house both products and offices in the early to mid-1800’s. They were occupied by prominent merchants, legal and financial interests as well as a number of consulates. In 1886, one such group of businessmen formed the India Wharf Rats Club to promote American commerce whilst enjoying a bimonthly dinner with poker and other such activities. Such was the origin of our quarterly Station lunches host ‘Club for our own quarterly Rats lunches. The attached photo from its early days shows how little the atmosphere with its long central table has changed. On an adjacent pier the splendid full rigged sailing ship Stad Amsterdam (Spared Length 249’, LOD 198’) was berthed. A private tour was arranged for us to visit, to our great delight, for along with her immense presence we marveled at her impeccable maintenance and attention to detail--a truly beautiful ship to complement thoughts of how this waterfront might have been. A photo is attached of tour group on a sunny foredeck with yardarms overhead. - David Curtin, Historian BOS
India Wharf Rats Club where the Boston Station has enjoyed their facility for its regular Station lunch meetings. The photo shows the iconic central long narrow table.
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NEWS FROM STATIONS & POSTS BR AS d’OR “It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.” - Eleanor Roosevelt
With that in mind, Bras d’Or Station members came together for the March Spring Meeting. The meeting was held at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron’s Wardroom, with those wonderful views of the clubhouse grounds and marina backdropped by the beautiful waters of the Northwest Arm. Surrounded by stunning trophies and half models of past Prince of Wales race winners, the atmosphere could not have been better. The evening kicked off with a welcoming meet & greet reception. Rear Commodore Bill Greenwood began the business portion by welcoming the thirty or so members in attendance and reviewed future cruises as well as station donations in support of Mahone Bay Island acquisition(s), which our own Syd Dumaresq has led, as well as the Atlantic Sea School, which Wilson Fitt has mentored. • Wilson Fitt presented information on the CCA Cruising Guide for Labrador/St. Lawrence as well as the upgrading of the Nova Scotia Cruising Guide. • The proposed Station cruises discussion was led by Grant Gordon. Phil Wash presented potential raft updates and locations. • Reg Goodday spoke on activities surrounding CCA Safety at Sea and related information. • A busy itinerary; much was covered. All in all, it was a productive and terrific evening. Thank you Bill and all who attended. Judy Robertson completed her second transatlantic crossing, 22 days, making landfall in St. Lucia. This is a wonderful accomplishment all achieved with family and friends. Congratulations! David Stanfield’s Beneteau First
40.7 Reggae sold in late March, David Arenburg sold his pretty little daysailer, and Sandy MacMillan’s Manana was not far behind ... on to the next! You cannot walk any wharf in Atlantic Canada and not end up talking about sharks these days. It is the trending conversation. Phil Wash reports the shark research boat he is aligned with is now fitted out with a gyro stabilizer ... kinda cool, and a true participant pleaser I’m sure. The previous GAM followed Hans Himmelmann’s trip south and touched on his and Dani’s island cruising winter. There was an unfortunate event this spring—Hans had a nasty fall while Delawana was on the hard. No need to go into details; just know he was hospitalized and all is fine. CCA friends Dave Frazier (BOS) and Sandy MacMillan stepped into Cap’t the delivery back home—Dave to Bermuda and Sandy the balance of the way—another fine example of CCA friends/network coming together to help a fellow member in need. 2025 was a Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race (MHOR) year. For Bill and Kathy Greenwood’s Airborne IV, preparation kicked off with Skipper Bill Greenwood and Watch Cap’t David Stanfield participating in the Safety at Sea session(s) at RNSYS. Jokingly, Bill and David named it ‘survival at sea’ ... the ‘survival’ part occurs while executing the pool activities, avoiding a heart attack or worse—drowning! When was the last time you swam four lengths of an Olympic pool with all your foul weather gear on and an inflated PFD ... this was the initial task ... and we lived to talk about it, phew. Righted an 8-man life raft single handed lately? Geez ... I’m exhausted thinking about it. It would be remiss not to welcome Bill and Sue Tucker to the Club. He and Sue own Wandrian, a 49 ft. Lyman-Morse cat/ketch. You cannot miss her; she is a beauty. Bill winters
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Erwin Wanderer and Sheilagh Murphy, Western Isles Cruise (Photo by Erwin Wanderer)
Bill Tucker helming Wandrian, Shediac to Charlottetown Race (Photo by David Stanfield)
Left to right: Wilson Fitt, Judy Robertson, Sebastiaan Ambtman—Pig Island raft up (Photo by Sebastian Ambtman)
the boat in Maine and brought her home to Lunenburg in early June. The wildfire smoke particulate in the atmosphere made for spectacular sun sets and rises .... Bill Tucker participated in the Fundy Endurance Race hosted by the Royal Kennebeccasis Yacht Club (RKYC). Past RC Ernest Hamilton met Wandrian on her arrival to RKYC and
NEWS FROM STATIONS & POSTS
Pig Island raft up—dining aboard Philharmonic (Photo by Phil Wash)
Wandrian, Docked in Shediac, N.B. (Photo by David Stanfield)
extended his renowned hospitality with a tour of the area. Later in the summer, Wandrian won the Shediac to Charlottetown Overnight Race which Bill and a handful of other Strait racers founded in the mid 70’s. June 7th, 2025, at 3:30am , Judy Robertson arrived back to where her Mediterranean adventure began seven years ago, RNSYS .... home.... ahhhhhh. You may be wondering how Bill Greenwood got along in his MHOR campaign. The race started July 6th with perfect conditions. The racers got off the line with breeze that slowly built into the night. Airborne IV struggled a bit that first night. A guy shackle exploded (a first for me) only to be tested a short time later when the tack line parted, both events ably handled by Will Greenwood making him 1st Star of the watch! It was a record-breaking race, Airborne IV crossing the finish line in just over 45 hours resulting in a 1st in Class. Well done. Will Apold, sailing Dragon Fire, had bigger challenges requiring a crew member going aloft to address a wrapped spinnaker at one point.
It is a wonderful race, and the organizing committee for the 2027 Bras d’Or Lakes CCA Club Cruise is hoping more Eastern Seaboard members will take advantage of the race to make their way to Nova Scotia. The hospitality goes far beyond the race itself demonstrated by S/V Blue Skies’ visit with Hans and Dani at their home in Schooner Cove, St. Margarets Bay post-race. “The most interesting man in the world”.... remember the beer commercial? Well, that is how someone recently described Phil Wash... and one can understand why. He was at it again this summer... when he joined the crew of a superyacht cruising and touring Atlantic Canada. As a result, most of us did not see much of Phil this summer, but Sandy and Janet MacMillan, participating in Charlottetown Race Week, bumped into him while the superyacht was docked there. Erwin and Diane Wanderer along with Anderson and Sheilagh Murphy participated in the CCA Scottish Cruise and forwarded much appreciated pictures such as the sunflower raft up in Gallanach Bay on Muck
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Island. What a wonderful experience. Reg and Christine Goodday were kept busy cruising with their grandchildren mid summer. Meanwhile, hurricane Erin killed off the station cruise. Grant Gordon, Chair, texted members the cancellation. Undeterred, Ben Garvey made his way to Rogues Roost anyway ... there is some Maritime spirit! The station raft up headed for Pig Island, Prospect. Eleven boats came together under light winds and blue skies (did I mention we enjoyed outstanding weather this season?). After a lively meet and greet, crews retired for supper with Phil Wash’s, Philharmonic hosting a large group who somehow squeezed into the salon of Phil’s J/120. My mother used to say, if you want a successful party, put forty people in a room that holds twenty and give everyone a stiff drink! So we know they had a fun evening. The following has to be one of the best ideas .... Reg and Christine Goodday hosted a reunion of all those who had crewed aboard Akubra over her 28 years. What a fantastic event. The weather could not have been better. Reg’s welcoming and following remarks from the heart struck the perfect tone for the fun that followed. The crowd was sprinkled with family, from adult children (Hugh and his sisters) to the littlest grandchild, numerous Bras d’Or station members, and friends who have delivered, cruised or raced on Akubra over the years. It was a wonderful example of a celebration of sailing life. Beautiful. Continued
NEWS FROM STATIONS & POSTS On that note, we cannot celebrate enough, so get your creative juices flowing, and plan your own sailing celebration. In the meantime, the best way to get the most out of your CCA membership is to get involved, and one coming event is sure to deliver... the 2027 CCA Bras d’Or Cruise, July 25th – Aug 3rd ... it’s as simple as contacting David Stanfield. Do it today, don’t delay! Signing off. Respectfully submitted, - David W. Stanfield
BUZZA RDS BAY As is the tradition, the Buzzards Bay Post holds their final rendezvous of the season over the long Columbus Day weekend. 2025 was no different even though it was at the beginning of the first nor’easter of the fall. CCA folks are a heartly lot so the forecast of high winds and rain did not deter the group assembling on Saturday for a beautiful evening on Ram Island at the mouth of Sippican Harbor in Marion, MA. You had the option of travelling by car and be ferried to the island by the island’s owner Michael Moore or coming by boat, which six members decided to do so. Moorings were made available for all who needed them offered by local CCA members who had already vacated their mooring for the season making for a short dinghy ride to Ram’s stone wharf. Twenty-eight members attended the evenings activities in a most idyllic setting with spectacular views of Buzzards Bay and the surrounding coves. Everyone enjoyed walking the property, taking in the views, while seeing an array of animals from chickens to donkeys. Of course, the Buzzards Bay Rum Keg was full with pitchers of the infamous CCA punch at the ready. All the members brought fabulous appetizers to share including a pot of fish chowder and chili. We can’t thank Michael and Hannah Moore enough for opening up their home and island
to the Buzzards Bay Post. It was a most wonderful setting that I hope we can visit again in the future. With the forecasted nor’easter beginning to rage, we enjoyed our second night of the rendezvous fortunately indoors at the New Bedford Yacht Club in Padanaram, Ma. with twenty-three members in attendance. The evening began with a cocktail party and brief annual meeting. Post Captain Ray Cullum thanked all for enduring the lessthan-ideal weather conditions. As the evening’s dinner was getting close, Ray quickly moved to the annual meeting agenda which included a thank you to all, recognizing Post member support during his tenure as Post Captain. The final agenda item was the announcement of the new officers that will be running the Post for the next two years. Don Watson was welcomed as the new Secretary/Treasurer and Ed Van Keuren, the most recent Secretary/ Treasurer, was introduced as the new Post Captain. Ray presented Ed with his CCA Post Captain burgee and label pin. After the annual meeting wrapped up, the group moved upstairs to the New Bedford Yacht Club dining room where they enjoyed an excellent dinner ordered from the club’s extensive menu. A fine evening was had by all and all returned home in the now in force nor’easter. - Ray Cullum, Post Captain
Andy Burnes, Jim Hammitt, Past Commodore Shelia McCurdy, Steve Taylor
Ed Van Keuren, Post Captain Ray Cullum
Ram Island
David Brown and Wendy Cullum
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Ram Island
NEWS FROM STATIONS & POSTS CHESA PEA KE The Chesapeake Station has been very active since the CCA Annual Meeting. The April luncheon was held at the Corinthian Yacht Club of Philadelphia to accommodate our northern members. Secretary/Treasurer Bill Read welcomed 22 members and spouses who were present. After a brief introduction, the floor was opened, and several members made announcements and comments. Roel Hockstra (the current Commodore for the Corinthian Yacht Club) welcomed everyone and encouraged all to participate in the CYC’s Spring Cruise and Summer cruise. An excellent lunch was enjoyed by all. The May luncheon was held at the Annapolis Yacht Club. A full house was on hand for an excellent lunch and an interesting presentation by Tony Parker about the role of PT boats during WWII focusing on the Pacific Theater. He provided background on the origins of the PT boat platform, facts about the design, construction, armament and operations and descriptions of a few specific campaigns. The material was proudly grounded with references to specific actions involving his father’s service as commander of PT-12. Later in May, twenty-six members and two guests kicked off the CHE Spring Cruise with rum keg, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and dinner at the Chesapeake Yacht Club. CYC was a great host and provided a sumptuous buffet. Due to COVID, boatyard backlogs and the forecasted weather, the cruising fleet setting out the next morning, unfortunately, consisted of three boats (Gratitude, Dress Blue and Mei Hua – a prospective CHE member), so the Robert Goldsborough Henry Race was postponed until Fall. While the evening at CYC provided fair weather, the weekend storm warnings did not invite extended cruising, so the cruisers headed to Dun Cove for a brief 3-boat raft,
Deja Vue Western Isles crew doing what they do best.
All the Crew aboard Blue Clipper.
Dun Cove - Sunset following the forecasted violent storms.
separating as the forecasted T-storms arrived in the area. Fifteen minutes of heavy rainfall and gusting winds were experienced, but the golf ball sized hail raining down in a couple of nearby cells did not appear. A most pleasant sunset followed the storm’s passing. So much for those weather reports. The skippers decided to shorten the cruise and disbanded the next morning. With the Spring Cruise behind us, members were looking forward to the Annapolis to Newport Race, summer cruising on the Chesapeake and voyages to New England waters and beyond. PRC Myers prepared to move Tonic to Maine, and Vice Commodore Anderson was in the late stages of preparing Bonnie Rye for a transatlantic voyage from Newport to Kinsale, Ireland, as a prelude to joining the Western Isles Cruise. Jonathan and Dorothy Goldweitz headed for the Azores to join an Ocean Cruising Club member to complete the journey to Scotland. The skipper
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is a target for CHE membership. Clearly, Dorothy is willing to go to extremes as CHE Membership Chair. A2N beckoned several members as skippers and crew. Jay Weaver aboard Aweigh returned to Oxford after a two-season transit of the Great Loop. Safety Officer Parish aboard Nellie Crockett completed a cruise south to explore the St. Johns River. The Annapolis to Newport race was quite a slog with very light winds throughout making for a long race for most. Six CHE Skippers participated as follows: Crocodile – Scott Ward Nanuq – Glenn Doncaster Polaris – Will Passano Sonrisa – Jeff McCarron Reindeer – Tony Parker Windborn – Richard Born There were likely other CHE members aboard these and other vessels. Also of note: Past Rear Commodore Mark Meyers had the pleasure of being aboard Temptation, Continued
NEWS FROM STATIONS & POSTS
One of the lighthouses defining the PNW Three Corners Cruise.
Attendees with PNW RC Doug Adkins at his home.
Blue Clipper CHEcrew suffered waistline expansion
Spring cruisers enjoying a nightcap aboard Dress Blue.
Monthly Luncheon banter waiting for lunch andspeaker.
the first boat to finish by about a day. Fleet Captain John Wright sailed aboard Tenacious with the Naval Academy crew. Given the conditions faced, he was not as excited as Mark. At the June luncheon, Ralph Naranjo delivered an excellent presentation highlighting various experiences while sailing and maintaining their sloop Wind Shadow over 50 years. Some of these adventures were recapped in Ralph’s first book Wind Shadow West. He added other interesting experiences from over the years. Virginia Jeffery attended with a fellow circumnavigator – her 12-year-old daughter. Our membership chair took note. Thanks to Ralph for sharing his family’s sailing adventures. In July, 20 CHE Members and spouses joined the Western Isles Cruise. The charter vessel Blue Clipper was filled by 12 CHE members for a very memorable experience. All felt that this cruise was not to be missed. Other CHE participants enjoyed cruising aboard chartered and owned yachts.
In September the monthly luncheons were restarted at AYC with a good crowd sharing their summer adventures. The PNW Fall Cruise and CCA Fall Meeting were enjoyed by 14 CHE members and spouses. The PNW Station did a fabulous job of planning and hosting these two events, and a good time was had by all. The October luncheon at AYC featured a talk by Captain Fredrick H. Hallett USNR(Ret.) with highlights from his recently completed book - Rewinning the Revolution: The Misunderstood War of 1812. The book explores the genesis of the war from a seafaring perspective. The reality is that the Treaty of Paris that intended to end the American Revolution did not recognize the independence of the United States at sea, nor did they evacuate the British forts in the U.S. Northwest Territory as agreed, preferring to continue the lucrative fur trade, knowing that the Americans had no army able to evict them. But they could not finance a war against Napoleon and a war against the U.S.
and flirted with bankruptcy before deciding to make peace. Meanwhile, American privateers and the new U.S. Navy severely embarrassed the Admiralty. CHE Safety Officer Ted Parish continued to provide monthly Safety Moments for our newsletters covering a range of topics including Safety as a Culture, learning to swim, snippets from the NTSB Safer Seas Digest, communication technologies — the good and the bad, lithium battery concerns. The Station is looking forward to the CHE Fall Cruise in October with 22 boats and 54 participants already registered. The year closes out with a November Luncheon at Tred Avon Yacht Club to round up the Chesapeake Eastern Shore contingent and the annual Holiday Luncheon and CHE Annual Meeting of Members in December at the Annapolis Yacht Club.
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- Submitted by RC John Devlin
History of the CCA
Our Commodores He brought the expeSince the founding rience gained on of the Cruising Club five Bermuda Races, of America in 1922, one Halifax Race fifty-nine elected and several NYYC members have served Cruises to his resume a term as Commoalong with a lifelong dore. Only one, interest in sailing, Hobart Ford, served cruising, and naval two terms. Most but architecture. Jim not all of the terms joined the were for 2 years with Boston Station 14 having been a and commented that single year or shorter. “As a new member In the earliest years of attending my first our history, a single dinner, I learned year at the helm was that young members commonplace and it were rare and slow was not always the From left; Commodores Bill White, Jack Merrill, Kaighn Smith, Bob Drew, Jim Pitney and Jim Harvie. to be accepted when case that the Vice Commodore rose to Commodore. pod of whales” or “a murmuration several much older members expected That pattern of elevation was firmly of starlings.” Could this be called “A me to get drinks for them, thinking that I must be a waiter.” Maybe that established at the end of WWII and commotion of Commodores”? has held consistently since. All the Thankfully our roster includes ten early experience combined with a Club’s Commodores were from the Past or Present Commodores but only positive and inclusive outlook served Northeast until 1968 when Clayton three of them have been members as the foundation for Jim’s future Ewing from the Chesapeake took the for over fifty years. They are James views on the club and its memberchair. The first West Coast Commo- Harvie who served as Commodore ship. He waded right into the affairs dore was James Michael of San Fran- in 2000-2001, Ross Sherbrooke in of the CCA and in time served as cisco in 1972, and the first and only 2008-2009 and Bradford Willauer in Rear Commodore of the Boston woman to date to serve as Commo- 2018-19. Each was asked to share Station, Chairman of the Membership dore was Sheila McCurdy in 2010. their early memories of being a Committee, The Committee on Future Robert Medland was the first Cana- member and their thoughts on how Directions, The Select Committee dian Commodore and the first based the club and yachting have changed on Membership and, of course, as on fresh water, hailing from Toronto over the last 5-6 decades. This history Vice Commodore prior to serving as Commodore. He chaired many cruises and the Great Lakes Station. is about them. Collective nouns name groups. It James Harvie was elected to CCA including the 60th and 75th Annivermight be “a murder of crows” or “a membership in 1966 at the age of 33. sary Cruises and was honored with
Commodore Harvie at the helm
Brad Willauer: Bermuda Race, 2006.
CCA HISTORY PAGE 115
Brad Willauer and grandson Jackson Fitch.
History of the CCA
Ross Sherbrooke (far left) aboard Dan Strohmeier’s Malay, Newport Bermuda winner, 1954
the Richard S. Nye Award in 1996. Throughout that involvement he worked to examine the makeup of the membership and can be said to have been at the vanguard of the movement to include women as members, an effort to which he devoted seven years and built upon the initiatives of members before him. There are accounts of truly important future members such as John Rousmaniere and Steve Taylor who refused invitations to join because of the exclusion of women. Despite acknowledgement by the Governing Board that the issue was of importance to a growing number, no action was taken until Jim, with the urging and support of then Commodore Jack Merrill, submitted a proposed amendment to the bylaws signed by five Boston Station Members. It was voted on and approved at the 1993 Annual Meeting, and the first three women members were elected in the following year. The importance of that initiative cannot be overstated.
Throughout his years of leadership, Jim has been concerned about building membership, not only by including women but also by advancing the election of younger members. He has also pointed out that the rising costs of CCA events may have the effect of lessening participation. His has been a consistent voice in promoting “the throwing of a wider net “. Jim’s term as Commodore was marked by cruises to the Spanish Virgin Islands, Alaska, the Saint Johns River, Abaco, and a French Canal barge cruise in Burgundy labeled the “Spring Fling”. Two important and lasting initiatives also marked Harvie’s tenure. In April 2001 a seminar entitled “Suddenly Alone” was inaugurated with the support of the Bonnell Cove Foundation and held at Mystic Seaport. The event was aimed at providing cruising spouses with the knowledge and experience to command their yacht in the event of the incapacitation of the skipper.
CCA HISTORY PAGE 116
Communication, navigation, and man overboard training was provided to the 225 in attendance. It was an early and important step toward the kind of Safety and Seamanship leadership that the Cruising Club continues to advance. A second important milestone was the establishment of the Rod Stephens Seamanship Trophy presented and funded by 20 of Rod’s friends and shipmates. The trophy is awarded in recognition of an act of seamanship that significantly contributes to the safety of a yacht or one or more individuals at sea. It has been awarded every year save one since 2000. Jim Harvie’s term saw Y2K and the passage of all of us into a new century, a 2000 Newport Bermuda Race with a near record 175 entries, and it ended with a membership totaling 1150. Ross Sherbrooke was elected to Cruising Club membership in 1967 after a few quiet years in the prospect hopper. He followed Jim Harvie as a new member by a scant six months. Ross had honed his sailing skills on Boston’s South Shore in Cohasset sailing as a Junior in Herreshoff 12 ½’s, 110’s, 210’s, Stars and Lightnings in the Sears Bowl and the Mallory Cup. He had sailed in the McMillan Cup Intercollegiate Big Boat Championship in Luders 44 Navy Yawls as Princeton’s winning skipper. Ross crewed aboard Dan Strohmeier’s Malay in her Bermuda Race win in 1954. He recalled being asked as a college freshman by Richard “Pop” Nye to take Carina II Transatlantic and replied that he would need to ask his parents for permission. (Nye would later serve as CCA Commodore.) That invitation led to a Transatlantic Race win in 1955 followed by cruising in Scandinavia, the Gotland Runt, the Britannia Cup, the NYYC Cup, the Fastnet Race and instruction in Martini mixing. Ross was navigator in the 1958 Service Yacht trophy-collecting Bermuda Race
History of the CCA aboard the Navy Yawl Alert and coached sailing at the United States Naval Academy with the rank of 3rd Class Quartermaster. He was the only enlisted faculty member. He brought 25 Newport Bermuda Races, three Marion Bermuda Races, nine transatlantic voyages and races, and a 1962 Sydney-Hobart 1st to finish aboard Ondine to his sailing resume. Ross served as CCA Treasurer from 1993 to 1998 and on various committees for the Boston Station including Membership. He was elected Vice Commodore in 2006 and served as Commodore in 2008 and 2009. Sherbrooke’s term as Commodore began with a significant economic downturn worldwide but his financial background allowed him to take the helm with confidence. Cruises to Antigua, Norway and The Thousand Islands enlivened the club’s gatherings. Important changes were made to the annual schedule. Historically, three meetings were held each year with a Winter Meeting in January and an Annual meeting in November, both held at the New York Yacht Club, and a Spring Meeting held in some other rotating location. It was proposed and approved that the schedule include only an Annual Meeting in New York in the first half of the year and a Fall Meeting hosted by one of the Stations or Posts in the year’s second half. Further, the Club was re-incorporated in Delaware, a seemingly small organizational change which has led to a cumulative savings in taxes of over $250,000 in the years since. Also important was the inauguration of the CCA Ski Gam in Utah by Bill Polleys, an event that has mostly endured in one form or another since. Interestingly, Ross’s term saw the passing of long-time member Olin Stephens who had marked Jim Harvie’s term with an S&S Rendezvous in 2003. That was a look back, but the look forward was Sheila McCurdy’s election as the Club’s first woman Commodore in 2010. It was a very important milestone.
The Crew of Carina II after winning the 1955 Transatlantic Race and finishing at 3:00 am. Sherbrooke is to the far left.
Ross’s observations regarding his earliest exposure to the CCA at a 1949 Gam aboard Alex Forbes’ Stormvala are instructive. He wrote “The crew had all been involved in the war. The owner was too old to fight and so he mapped Newfoundland from his airplane for the Navy. Dr. George Clowes had run a front-line battlefield hospital and returned to run the Harvard unit at Boston City Hospital where he could continue the same kind of surgery. He could stich a heavy sail faster than anyone. At the Gam stories, laughs and drinks went on awhile. Dinner was baked beans and codfish cakes and Sunday breakfast finished them off. The decks leaked, it was damp below in fine weather and the conversation could be rough. Everyone was at least twenty-five years my senior. No woman I knew would enjoy that.” During Ross’s term the Newport Bermuda Race of 2008 drew 196 starters and the membership of the Club at term-end was 1251 including eight Honorary members. W. Bradford Willauer was elected to Cruising Club membership in 1975. Brad joined the Club at the age of 32 and states “As my brother
CCA HISTORY PAGE 117
Peter joined at age 22, I wasn’t overwhelmed.” His father Oz Willauer taught sailing at Edgartown Yacht Club, and all his three boys became expert sailors and racers. Brad’s older brothers Peter and Chip sailed the Navy Yawl Alert in the 1958 Bermuda Race (coincidentally with Ross Sherbrooke), and Brad was asked at the age of 14 to help bring the yacht back to Annapolis. What a treat! By the time of his election, Brad had sailed with the renowned CCA Historian Jack Parkinson as a paid hand in 1959 for summer races and the NYYC Cruise. The Bermuda Race of 1960
Ross, Mid-Atlantic, 1962 aboard Barlovento.
History of the CCA was the first of many for him as he sailed aboard Jack’s Winnie of Bourne, and he followed two years later aboard Arthur Homer’s Salmagal III with impressive results. Other NBR assignments included thrashes with Commodore Jack Merrill aboard Bellatrix, on Dan Gregory’s Lyra, with George Clewes on Alacrity, and others. Cruising with a young family in the Bras d’ Or Lakes and Maine cemented the sailing life for the next generation of Willauers. His J-46 Breezing Up has been a constant presence in Newport Bermuda Races for decades. Over many years he served as an active member of the Boston Station and the Gulf of Maine Post serving as Secretary, Historian and Post Captain at GMP as well as BOS Rear Commodore and a member of the Finance and Nominating Committees. He continues to serve as the President of the Newport Bermuda Race Foundation Board. When Brad was elected Commodore in 2018, the Club was becoming more complex. With contributions from all Flag Officers, Committees, Stations and Posts, the Annual Meeting comprised 44 written or spoken reports. The financial complexities of a growing organization required more sophisticated controls and budgeting. A Financial Affairs Committee overseen by the Treasurer and a small committee was inaugurated. The Bermuda Race and its management required greater structure and oversight as the Club coordinated responsibilities with the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. Flag etiquette seemed to demand greater attention and rules concerning the burgee at the truck and a Member Aboard Flag at the starboard spreader were promulgated and debated. The Newport Bermuda Race drew 169 boats and included multihulls for the first time. CCA boats took home 10 of the 31 trophies. Fall
The Three Commodores Medland, Willauer and Lhamon and a very important ESS Member racing model sailboats in New Zealand, 2018
meetings in Miami and Boston filled out the calendar. The 100th Anniversary was looming, and plans were already in full swing. What was also looming but not yet known was the Pandemic which struck in force just at the end of Willauer’s term in March of 2020. The important financial and structural initiatives of the Willauer years positioned the Club to weather the storm and further refine how we attract new members and provide leadership to the yachting world through our publications, safety programs, cruising guides and philanthropic work. Brad embraced change and commented that it was “almost all driven from below, not from above. The beauty of being Commodore was to say thank you, great idea! Almost all the wonderful initiatives that happen come from the membership, not from the Executive, and I know that will continue.” Brad’s term saw an important Cruise in the Stockholm Archipelago. By the end of his term the membership totaled 1,403. Much of the most important change in the Cruising Club has occurred
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under the watch of these three Commodores all having been members for more than fifty years. That is not surprising given that they have all been witness to over half of the Club’s history, but there are common themes expressed by these three leaders. Clearly, changes in yacht building materials and the advent of GPS have changed the way we go to sea, and all three made note of those trends. Importantly, they each express the strong view that CCA membership by women was overdue, is essential for our Club, and that women have made contributions far beyond their proportion of the membership. All three support the expansion of female membership vetted in the same way that we have vetted all members. Secondly, they each have expressed a view that some informality has been lost as the Club has grown, not that it is a surprise but is, instead, a concomitant to our increasingly complex world. Further, it is clear that the Cruising Club has made a foundational impact on the lives of Commodores Harvie, Sherbrooke and Willauer, creating for them opportunities of adventure and the establishment of some of the most important and enduring friendships of their lives. They are quietly and justifiably proud of being CCA members and honored to have taken the helm of an important organization. Each faced different challenges and times, but all three succeeded in propelling the Cruising Club ahead. All of our Commodores have done so, and we as members could not be luckier. - Douglas Adkins, Historian
NEWS FROM STATIONS & POSTS ESSEX Spring activities began with our Pot Luck Dinner, once again hosted by Clay Burkhalter at his attractive venue, The Hounds, in Stonington, CT. Thirty-four attendees came with good energy and big plans for the summer sailing season. A month later, we held our Spring Dinner at the Essex Yacht Club. Fifty attendees enjoyed dinner, followed by a presentation by Pietor Roos, Mystic Seaport Museum’s Collections Curator. Pieter described the Museum’s latest large project, the Wells Boat Hall. The Seaport has a small boat collection of more than 500 vessels, four of which are designated National Historic Vessels. Each boat in the collection has a story, and the 170 small boats with the best stories will be on exhibit. Knowing his audience, Pietor shared the story of George Bonnell’s GRAMP. This 24’ runabout, designed by William Hand, was built by George Bonnell in 1915. In fascinating detail, Roos described some of Bonnell’s adventures with GRAMP, featuring a trip from Long Island Sound to Bras d’Or. Last June, Louis Meyer competed in his 9th Bermuda 1- 2 race; Newport to Bermuda singlehanded, returning doublehanded in his Hinckley Pilot Strummer. Louis was south of the Gulf Stream, 300 miles from Bermuda when the RC texted him that a competitor in a POGO Mini had been dismasted 30 miles upwind from Louis Meyer on his position, and Strummer to go to the skipper’s rescue. Louis replied “I’m on my way!” So began a difficult rescue in difficult conditions. Eight hours later the skipper of the Mini was safely aboard Strummer. Both sailors were exhausted but no injuries were suffered. For this rescue at sea, Louis was awarded the Arthur
Cruise Chairs Stan and Barbara
Bill Gunther’s Blue Skies
Cruise GAM on Puffin
Fall Cruise Dinner at SHYC
B. Hanson Medal by US Sailing and the Bermuda 1-2 Seamanship Award. Look for the details of this rescue in the 2026 Voyages. Blues Skies had a very successful racing season in 2025. Her crew include five ESS members: Bill Gunther as skipper, Frank Bohlen as navigator (Marblehead to Halifax), John Brooks as watch captain (Annapolis to Newport), and Tom Klin as navigator (Annapolis to Newport), and Jeff Wilson as watch captain (Marblehead to Halifax). They won their class and the Performance Cruising Division in the Annapolis to Newport Race and won their class and were third in the ORR Division in the Marblehead to Halifax Race. Tom and Barb Klin and Bill Gunther had a wonderful cruise back from Halifax. Our Fall Cruise was held over three days in early September with three destinations: West Harbor, Fishers Island, Stonington Harbor, and Block Island. A deteriorating weather forecast reduced the fleet from nine to five boats in West Harbor. Gathering in West Harbor were Tom and Dorothy Wadlow (Puffin), Rob Moore and Kim Kurziel (Selkie), Stan and Barb White (Lark), Matt and Hobby Coudert (Mischief), and John Storck 29
(NYS) (Blitzen). Mary Martin and Eric Irwin (Minerva) were at the Fisher Island YC dock and joined the GAM on Puffin. On Saturday some boats took the short hop across the sound to Stonington, but Cruise Chair Stan White went the long way around the island in a strong SW wind and favorable tide. At Stonington Harbor Yacht Club, Dean and Irene Miltimore (Constancy) and land cruisers Dan and Gretchen Biemesderfer, Harry and Mary Guidotti, Louis and Iris Meyer, Mike and Carol McBee, Pieter and Joanna de Zwart, Barnaby Blatch, and Carol Conner joined the dinner. SHYC RC Helen Garten and Michael Wiseman provided a warm welcome to the dinner party. Sunday turned out to be a very wet and windy day. Lark was the only boat to venture out to Block Island. The trip was fast and wet, but Stan and Barb were on the CCA mooring by noon enjoying hot soup. Finally, the ESS Station lunches are held on the third Thursday of each month at Pilots Point Marina, Westbrook, CT. Come join our merry sailors! -- Mike McBee, ESS Historian
NEWS FROM STATIONS & POSTS F LOR IDA
WIC Herb McCormick with Janet and John Hamm at the Talisker distillery on Skye.
Blue Heron leads in Tampa Bay Hospice Cup.
WESTERN ISLES CRUISE John and Janet Hamm chartered a catamaran, Whimbrel, for the Western Isles Cruise. Their fellow crew were from Maine and Boston, so new friendships were made, and the skipper was a first-class chef! Barbara Watson was also on a fully crewed charter boat, Zuza, based in Oban. It is a unique South African-built vessel that is now heading for the ARC, then back to the builders for a refit so the owner’s family can circumnavigate. Zuza’s crew included Bob and Sally
Medland (GLS), Jeb and Dianne Embree (ESS), Katie Christie (CCC), and Bill and Renèe White (CHE). Bill had crewed on Bonnie Rye for VC Chace Anderson from Newport across the Atlantic. They all enjoyed being pampered by a most competent skipper and crew. The cruise was a real joint effort, spearheaded by Commodore Gowell with five other clubs involved and all clubs running events (covered elsewhere in this publication), but it was good to be back in Scotland after fifteen years.
Happy Abacos Crew (L to R) Amon Williams, Bob Morgan, Russ & Mary Anne Hoadley, Brooke William.s
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THE BEST LAID PLANS OF MICE AND SAILORS In June John Siegel and Erin Clancy planned to sail Night Hawk to Ireland and Scotland for the CCA rendezvous in the Western Isles of Scotland. Here is their report: The boat was in great shape, reservations were made for winter storage in Sweden, the plan for next year had been hashed out, more reservations were made… All was looking like a Go! Then came the fateful call from the boat yard. While installing the mainsail,
Russ & Mary Anne Collect Trophies.
NEWS FROM STATIONS & POSTS they snagged it and tore a 4-foot hole in the sail. No one would repair it, no decent used sails could be found, and it was a 6-week lead time for new sails. We did not think sailing across the Atlantic with the genny alone was a good idea, so we scrapped the trip. Our Plan B, cruising Maine waters for another season, was a delightful backup plan. BACK IN FLORIDA Russ and Mary Anne Hoadley, sailing their Catalina 424 Blue Heron, carried home a first-place trophy in an annual Hospice Cup Regatta at Tampa Bay’s Davis Island Yacht Club in April. The event raised more than
Above: Lobster in Canada. Left: Blueclaws on Long Island Sound.
Steve and Karyn James christen their new Threshold.
$100,000, a record for area hospice organizations. They followed this with a 4-day cruise for their crew to the storied Cabbage Key area of Boca Grande on Florida’s West Coast. Then in June and July, the Hoadleys and crew spent four weeks in the Abacos in the Bahamas, sailing 1,000nm round-trip from Tampa, FL, for the renewed regata in the Abacos, a week of racing among the many islands there. After a 2nd and 1st in the first two events, a badly damaged mainsail took them out of the remaining three. CRUISING BY RV, BUT ANTARCTIC BECKONS! Ron Schaper and Andrea Dowling, Coral Springs, FL, reported that this was their “first summer without a boat.” Instead, Ron writes, they “… cruised by RV up to Canada, enjoyed the wonderful people, gorgeous scenery, and delicious seafood … lobsters in Canada (Campobello Island), crabs on Long Island. There are very few things the same as when I was a 9-year-old ... but cruising the docks with a crab net to catch some blueclaws hasn’t changed.” They spent time at the old family fisherman’s beach house on the south shore of Long Island to devote time with family and give some of the grandkids their first introduction to handling a sextant.
Racing in the Abacos.
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Grandson Connor Schaper gets time in on sextant.
Next, he says, they’re “soon off to Antarctica ...” STRAIGHT ON TIL MORNING (AN ACCOUNT FROM KEN HEGE AND PAT MONTGOMERY) It was late July, and we were overstayed at home in Miami. The heat is oppressive, mosquitoes can be mistaken for small birds, and the rain arrives like clockwork. This year was like all others, except we were here and not on our boat in Europe! Every summer for the past 12 years has been spent on Straight on Til Morning – a 43’ highly customized Shucker motorsailer. The journey began in Genoa, Italy, and progressed through the rivers and canals of
NEWS FROM STATIONS & POSTS
Straight on Til Morning.
Europe until reaching the Baltic in 2019. The Stockholm Archipelago cruise, the Gota Canal, Sweden’s West coast archipelago and the fjords of Norway have all been explored, and we were ready to move on. Our working plan was to ship her home. We had five weeks to sail up to Norway, clear out of the EU, and make our way to the Netherlands to ship out from Eemshaven. And while the route covered was mostly familiar ground, we had a hard stop on our return home date and had a tight schedule with no weather windows. As summers go in Scandinavia, this was a dream year for weather. The sun shone brightly most days, and wind and rain were nonexistent. The whole of Scandinavia’s boating population agreed, and every harbor was packed with boats four deep to the docks. Ingress and egress were a bit tricky, but these close quarters provided interesting conversations that steered our route to the Netherlands. Some highlights include: Pete and Candi Kolyer’s
recommendation to stop in Tuborg Harbor (Copenhagen) outside of the Royal Danish Yacht Club. Which led to a recommendation from a boat in Tuborg to alter course and not miss a private island in Denmark. This required traversing shallow channels for ten hours but was highly rewarding. The island of Vejro led to our last conversation, which took us further west to the Aero islands, and by this time, Ken was questioning whether we should skip the ship in the Netherlands and stay in Denmark for a few more years! Reason and signed shipping contracts prevailed, and the boat now sits outside of the shipping port waiting to be loaded for its trip home. CRUISING IN MAINE Atle Moe and Kristina Thyrre spent the summer cruising season in Maine. Here’s their account: We started in Portland early May this year after picking up Summer Star from her winter storage. As you
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all know, the first week onboard you are busy checking that every system onboard works and trying to fix it if that was is not the case — hey, there is always something onboard that needs fixing. The great thing about starting off in Portland is the easy access to provisioning. Portland has great food, and we would start our day with a stop at the greatest bakery in Portland (if not Maine), namely Standard Baking Co. off Commercial Street. Our verdict is that Standard Baking Co. is competing with the bakeries we visited while cruising in Denmark many years ago onboard our previous boat. Well, after a week of eating too many freshly baked goods, tuning the boat, and stuffing it with too much food, we very leisurely headed down east towards Eastport. We took our time enjoying the many anchorages (we typically end up with spending 50% of the time at anchor and 50% of the time at a dock) as well as the various towns scattered along the Maine coast. On our way to Eastport we stopped at Campobello Island, right over the border in Canada, to visit the Roosevelt Campobello International Park which was super interesting and well worth a stop. As a side note, the island has some of the most beautiful off-road bicycle tracks we have seen and as we have off-road bicycles onboard, we took advantage of this roaming around the island on these dirt tracks. Next stop was Eastport where we wanted to celebrate 4th of July. Eastport is the easternmost city in the continental USA. Eastport puts on the most amazing 4th of July that actually last for days with all kinds of events, games, concerts, parades and on and on. Also, ever since Roosevelt was Assistant Secretary of the Navy, the US Navy has docked a navy ship at the town dock as part of the 4th of July celebration. As we tied up to the town dock (as the only pleasure craft) the Harbormaster warned us
NEWS FROM STATIONS & POSTS
Summer Star with destroyer ‘escort’.
that the destroyer USS Farragut would be tying up catty corner from us, and that once the destroyer docked, we would not be allowed to move until they left. We saw no problem with this, and as you can see from attached picture, we certainly didn’t have to worry about our safety with armed guards overlooking our vessel 24/7 for days. Eastport was amazing, and we loved every minute of our stay. One thing that makes a port memorable is the people you meet, and Eastport didn’t disappoint. As soon as we walked off the boat, the local Eastport pilot, Bob, came over and said that if we needed a car for anything then his car was normally parked on top of the dock with the keys in the ignition. Whew, what a friendly welcome, and that was the way our next 10 days were. Everyone was super-friendly and went out of their way to make sure we had a great stay, which we indeed did have. One more note about Eastport is that because of the tidal range and the resulting high current the waters are full of sea life – we saw everything from dolphins to whales to bald eagles on a daily basis. Everything good has to come to an end, so after 10 glorious days, we started to head down the coast of Maine which included dropping
Author Tim Murphy tells story of CCA’s origins.
anchor at many fantastic anchorages of course. The final “cruise” we had planned was a week in Washington, DC, before heading back up to Maine to lay up the boat. So, in September we set course for DC which included a few anchorages in the Chesapeake of course. Our week in Washington, being docked at the Capital Yacht Club in downtown, was amazing. We spent the entire time in serious tourist mode but still only scratched the surface, so we will be back. We left Washington DC early October and ran non-stop up to the Cape Cod canal for a quick visit with family and then up to Boothbay Maine where we are sitting onboard writing this story. Next stop is Rockland Maine in a few days where we will lift out the boat for winter storage. ALSO IN MAINE Margaret and Gerry Douglas spent the summer at their Christmas Cove home on the Mid-Coast of Maine. Cruising aboard the Winslow B, their Legacy 28, included local trips to the islands around Boothbay Harbor and up the Damariscotta River. One of the best parts of the season was catching up with Kristine and Atle Moe aboard Summer Star while they were anchored in the Sheepscot River.
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Another highlight was hosting CCA member Tim Murphy at the Christmas Cove Improvement Association clubhouse. He read from his new book, Adventurous Use of the Sea, and talked about the origins of the CCA and its early founders. The turnout was great, and the evening wrapped up with a lively Q&A and book signing. THE FLA SOCIAL SCENE The Florida Station’s winter lunches commenced with a small group at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club mid-October. This lunch was run by Bill Ballard as Charlie and Heather Lalanne are touring the US, visiting many old cruising friends, by road. - Submitted by Russ Hoadley, FL Station Historian
NEWS FROM STATIONS & POSTS GREAT L A KES
Skip Novak, South Georgia Island
What great fall weather we have had in the Great Lakes this year. Great sailing and fair breezes. Always great to hear of Skip Novak’s adventures. His pictures are amazing, and his sailing lifestyle is so unique compared to most of our leisurely cruises—so nice that his offspring (son and daughter) are taking up their father’s experiences. Once again, Skip Novak has been to South Georgia on the Vinson of Antarctica for a late winter Shackleton Traverse, this time with a mixed group of Dads and their children. His children Lara (23) and Luca (21) were on site with old Pelagic veterans from the 90’s, Hamish Laird and daughter
Donna Hill Killarney Lighthouse.
Lenny (25) and Frank Macdermot and son Zu (23). He reports that it was a very windy and wintery September, and they just managed to get the six-day traverse in at the end of the expedition cruise. The blogs on the Vinson site are worth reading for the full story: www.vinsonofantarctica.org. Of particular note is his one entitled ‘The Changing Nature of the Shackleton Traverse,’ for those interested in glacial recession. Meanwhile, on the Amundsen, sistership of Vinson launched in Holland one year ago, Great Lakes Station member Chuck Gates was on board with a group of eight for ski touring on the island. This two-boat campaign was quite out of
the ordinary and it was quite a sight to see both boats tied up on the Tijuca Jetty at Grytviken. At the start of this year Jean and Jim Foley logged another 1,000 miles looking for, but failing to discover, places that Captain Cook missed in New Zealand. They caught up with Tom and Harriet Linskey (BOS/BUZ) in the Bay of Islands for dinner on Onora. Mike and Donna Hill completed the final leg of their Great American Loop adventure aboard Baccalieu II, a Back Cove 41. Hurricane Irma’s sweeping destruction on Florida’s west coast influenced their early arrival in Key West where they stayed
At the Sunflower in Loch Drambuie we are joined by shipmates left to right: Bill White, Renee White, Jeb Embree, Sally Medland, and Barbara Watson.
Devil’s Door North Channel.
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NEWS FROM STATIONS & POSTS
At Vatersay left to right: Anderson Noel, Sheilagh Murphy, Sally Medland, Kit Tatum, Erwin Wanderer, Diane Wanderer, Stuart Macrae, Julian Aziz, Bob Medland.
several weeks before heading north. Several months later, a 5-6 week Erie Canal closure, due to high water levels and resulting lock damage, forced a 240-mile detour including the Champlain and Chambly Canals and the St Lawrence Seaway. Traveling the Trent-Severn Waterway, they arrived in their home waters of Georgian Bay, having accumulated over 7,000 miles and 115 stopovers. And to be sure, Great Lakes Station had a large turnout of participants in the Western Isles Cruise. Congratulations to Cruise Co-Chairs Jonathan Brewin
Sunset over Kerrera.
At the Closing Ceilidh in Kerrera, l to r: Les Crane, Jock Macrae, Val Macrae, Mags Crane, Sally Medland and Pauline Watlington.
& Rob Childs and the organizing team for a memorable and fun-filled cruise. Barbara Watson did a fantastic job in communications. The CCA was joined by the CCC, ICC, RCC, OCC, and RHYC with each club hosting an event. Must admit it was an “All in the Family” cruise which included Bob and Sally Medland, Kit Tatum, Jock and Val Macrae, Cameron and Courtnay Macrae, Somers Kempe’s Fatherin-law Julian Aziz, and Jock’s brother Stuart Macrae. Our contingent sailed on three different boats. The weather was much better than
the cruise ten years ago--little bit of rain, cloud and cold, but the most part quite pleasant. Scotland has come a long way in the sailing world. They now have hot showers in most of the ports and islands. By everyone’s account it was a fantastic cruise, and many of us want to go back and do it again. To top off the cruise, the Medlands, Macraes, and Cam Macrae’s crew attended the Edinburgh 75th Anniversary Tattoo. It was an event no one should miss. - Jock Macrae, GLS Editor
Jami and Adrian Kloet, Daina and Trevor Fencott, They say the water was nice in Vatersay. Cam and Courtnay Macrae, Nancy Massie.
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NEWS FROM STATIONS & POSTS GU LF OF M A INE On August 4th, twenty-five CCA members and guests joined together at the Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership for a full day of learning and camaraderie. Retired UMaine professor and Hurricane Island board member Rick Wahle delivered a captivating talk on the history, current challenges, and prospects of Maine’s lobster fishery. Hurricane Island staff shared their innovative work on the emerging scallop aquaculture industry. Staff led walking tours, showcasing the island’s rich history and cutting-edge sustainability practices. At day’s end, Members and staff mingled over a rum keg, discussing the founding of Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership and its vision for the future at the new Field Station that is set up for visiting and fellowship research on Penobscot Bay and the Gulf of Maine. We encourage all members and friends to consider supporting the work of the Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership. Members Pam MacBrayne and her husband Denis Moonan have pledged up to $5,000 to match donations to the Peter O. Willauer Fund for Hurricane Island’s
The Schooner Harvey Gamage is a historic sail training vessel dedicated to education, character development, and maritime heritage. Built in 1973 in South Bristol, Maine,AGTi by the renowned Harvey F. Gamage Shipyard, this 131-foot wooden schooner has spent decades at sea, serving as a platform for experiential learning and hands-on leadership.
Future, a specific Board directed fund for capital to be applied to unexpected repairs and maintenance of the island campus. Burnt Coat Harbor on Swan’s Island buzzed with boats carrying folk music festival attendees on August 5th, but our Club members enjoyed a special treat: a lobster bake at Trafton’s Wharf hosted by CCA member John Good and Swan’s Island Yacht Club Commodore Mike Butera. The gathering included 11 boats flying the CCA burgee and 30 members and guests. A special thank you goes to Susi Homer whose tireless efforts delivered an epic feast of
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lobster, steamers, corn on the cob, and delectable pie with ice cream. Members in attendance agreed this memorable event deserves to become a tradition. Watch out, John, Mike and Susi—we’re already looking forward to next year! As this newsletter is being prepared, over 20 Post members are preparing to explore HARVEY GAMAGE, an active youth sail training vessel, learn about the Marine Learning Project’s mission, and discover ways to get involved through philanthropy and volunteerism to sustain the Harvey Gamage. - Howard Coon
NEWS FROM STATIONS & POSTS PACIF IC NORT H W EST This past summer has been a blur for the PNW Station, and aside from our regular station meetings, we have held two successful cruises and a National Meeting. Herewith, the details: Our local cruising season was nicely bookended by two cruises: our Spring Cruise deftly organized by Roger Werner, took us down Hood Canal in mid-May, and featured a Mexican feast at the Port Ludlow Yacht Club, cocktails and appetizers at Port Gamble Spit, a rum barrel and chowder feed at Kennell’s beach resort on Dabob Bay, which featuring a visit from, His Holiness, the recently ordained Pope Magnamius the Innocent (aka Rear Commodore Doug Adkins), who blessed the fleet, and took confessions and sacrament afterwards. The newly cleansed then proceeded to Pleasant Harbor for a side excursion to Hama Hama Oyster Farm (so wonderful they had to name it twice) for fresh oysters and growlers, then the final stop at Alderbrook Lodge at the very end of the Canal, where a dock potluck was held. The National Three Corners Fall Cruise was terrific and had us visiting the three lighthouses that define the northwest corners of the continental United States: Patos Island,
The Chowder Police: Roddy Hearne, Kathy and Dan Schwartz.
The Blessing of the Fleet
Turn Point on Stuart Island, and Lime Kiln Point on San Juan Island. With terrific and intensive organization by Joe Golberg and Stacey Wilson, opening night featured BYOB and appetizers on the geologically unique Sucia Island, followed by a lay day where many of the participants endured the hike to the lighthouse at Turn Point on Stuart Island. This was followed by a rum barrel and chowder feast at the impressive home of Peter Powell and his partner Lynn Thompson who graciously hosted 140 people on their front lawn. An additional lay day included an optional tour of English Camp, headquarters of the English during the Pig War of 1859. The fleet then gathered at Rear Commodore Adkins’waterfront home on West Sound, Orcas Island, for a barn dance and seafood extravaganza
Rum Meister Gary Nolan, Past RC Rick Meslang, RC Doug Adkins, Sec/Treas Roddy Hearne, Rod Hearne, Past RC John Robinson.
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hand caught (for 140 people!) by CCA members John McCartney, Tom White, Joe Golberg and Steve Jacobsen. Serving and cooking logistics were expertly organized by Howard and Stephanie Conant and more than a dozen PNW members pitched in to make the evening a success. The fleet then adjourned to Semiahmoo Resort near the Canadian border for a closing dinner in conjunction with the National Meeting which featured Sheila McCurdy discussing her soonto-be released history of the CCA High Seas and Home Waters . On the world cruising front, Starfire with Trish and Caspar Schibli has departed Adelaide, Australia with plans to arrive in home waters sometime next year. Altair with Paul Baker and Suzette Connolly aboard, is in Shelter Bay in the east end of the Panama Canal shortly taking off for the San Blas Islands. Hoptoad with Sonny and Margie Stolstig has arrived safely back home from the South Pacific. Totem with Jamie and Behan Gifford has departed Micronesia bound for Japan. Scott and Mary Malone in Morning Star are in Micronesia. Complexity with Jim and Barbara Cole is in Trinidad. Continued
Jill Hearne, Maureen Meslang, Mary Baker Anderson.
NEWS FROM STATIONS & POSTS Our interesting lunch programs this spring and fall included April’s seminar on medical preparedness presented by Dr. Rob Hurlow. June’s meeting had Glen and Sonia Margolis taking about their previous summer’s cruise to Haida Gwaii, and October’s meeting had a show and tell slideshow with various members outlining the highlights of their summer cruising adventures. Please join us for our monthly meetings. The PNW Station normally meets at the Seattle Yacht Club on the first Wednesday of alternative months except July, August and September when we are out cruising. We are always very happy to have members from other posts and stations join us, whether for luncheons or our fabulous spring and fall cruises. - John Kennell PNW Historian
CCA SHIP’S STORE For CCA burgees, private signals, club apparel (with cruise logos and boat names optional), discounted IMRAY charts and cruising guides, name tags, and more, visit The Member Store at: https://cruisingclub.org/store
NA R R AGA NSET BAY
Naval War College Museum.
May 7th was a beautiful day in Newport, and we had a NBP exclusive tour of the Naval War College Museum on base at Naval Station Newport. NBP member David Fuquea, USMC, graciously helped schedule the event and navigate the strict security measures intended to keep rogue CCA sailors in check. Two separate groups each with their own fabulously interesting docent tour guide worked through exhibits. The museum is a gem. History and artifacts abound not only of the Naval Station, but also of the area torpedo development and manufacturing as well as Aquidneck Island and Narragansett Bay. Following the tour most of our group had a nice lunch in the Officers Club on base with lots of conversation. The first week in June saw a GAM scheduled for Cuttyhunk Island at the western end of the Elizabeth Islands. The interest and sign-ups were robust, and that was a good thing as early spring New England weather
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hit exactly on our weekend. While we officially scrubbed the outing, quite a few boats and crews made the trip and had a fantastic time despite the weather. This event sparked much debate regarding weather, participation, responsibility, and seamanship. We will hope for better weather next spring. We have a fall cocktail party planned for October 18 at Meredith and Peter Rugg’s home in Newport. - Ned Jones, Post Captain
NEWS FROM STATIONS & POSTS SA N F R A NCISCO Led by Rear Commodore Chuck Hawley, Secretary Mary Lovely and Treasurer Synthia Petroka, the 107-member strong SAF Station is active and is engaged in cruising and racing on its home waters of San Francisco Bay, as well as over blue waters to Hawaii, the South Pacific, North Atlantic and around the Americas. SAF members are proud of our Rear Commodore who was inducted into the Sailing Hall of Fame on September 24th, at The Sailing Museum & National Sailing Hall of Fame in Newport, RI. Chuck was inducted in absentia because, on the morning he and wife Susan were to fly from California to Newport, both of them tested positive for Covid and, of course, elected not to fly. At the event, Gary Jobson read Chuck’s acceptance speech. Chuck said, “You could not ask for a better substitute.” R/C Chuck Hawley was recognized as, “a skilled sailor with over 40,000 miles at sea, known for his contributions to maritime safety, education, and leadership in Safety-at-Sea seminars.” Chuck joins other SAF members who have also been inducted into the Hall of Fame including Stan (2012) and Sally (2023) Honey, as well Bill Lee (2022). An SAF Blue-water Medal winner, Randall Reeves, continues his “wrong-way circumnavigation” of the Americas. Randall and his friend, Harmon Shragge, have sailed Randall’s yacht Moli to Rio de Janeiro, where she awaits their return in early November. Readers will remember that Randall and Harmon positioned Moli from San Francisco Bay to Homer, Alaska, during the summer of 2023. Then, during the summer of 2024, they transited Moli west-to-east
Two women solo CCA sailors. Banu Oney (Left) and Jeanne Socrates (Right) in Noumea, New Caledonia on October 6, 2025. Banu is just leaving for Australia and Jeanne just arriving from Australia. Photo by nearby yachtie.
through the Northwest Passage to St. John, Newfoundland, where Moli spent the winter on the hard at the Royal Newfoundland Yacht Club. This year, the summer of 2025, Randall and Harmon departed St. John and sailed Moli to Rio de Janeiro via the Azores, Madeira, Cape Verde Islands, and Fernando de Noronha to Rio. Randall and Harmon will return to Rio to sail Moli to Puerto Williams, Chile, by the end of this year and then, in 2026, sail Moli home to San Francisco via Cape Horn to, depending on time, Easter Island, the Society Islands, and Hawaii. Another SAF Blue Water Medal winner, Jeanne Socrates, ended her 10-month sojourn in Australia and set sail for Noumea, New Caledonia, and arrived on October 5th. She has solosailed her yacht Nereida on a Pacific tour since she sailed from Mexico, in April 2023, calling into ports in French Polynesia, Tonga, New Zealand, Fiji and Australia.
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Waiting for Jeanne in Noumea was another SAF solo sailor, Banu Oney, who recently lost her husband Peter Saggers to cancer and is continuing alone on the voyages that they had planned together. No stranger to solo sailing is Banu. She is an Istanbul native and, before she met Peter in 2010, she solo sailed between Turkey and Barcelona, Spain, to the Red Sea and all over the Mediterranean. Two of SAF solo sailors are women, and here they are together in Noumea. Exploring the high latitudes is SAF member Ashley Perrin, who is an Arctic and Antarctic Ice Pilot. After crewing aboard Favonius 2 in the 2025 Transpac Race, finishing a respectable fourth in Mt. Gay-Division 2, Ashley flew to Greenland where she piloted a superyacht on the coast of western Greenland north of Disko Bay. Following that assignment Ashley boarded the expedition vessel Sylvia Earle in Nuuk, Greenland, as Expedition Leader on a voyage through the Northwest Passage to Nome, Alaska. She arrived in Nome on September 22nd, completing her third voyage through the Northwest Passage. Interestingly, the Sylvia Earle entered some unchartered waters in the Northwest Passage guided by Ashley in a Zodiac outfitted with “Olex,” a unique electronic-charting system developed in Norway. According to Olex, “Using GPS and sonar, depth data is collected by Olex and mapped, in real time, to present a realistic 3D map of the seabed.” Ashley would go ahead of the ship into a potential, but uncharted, anchorage and map the bottom so that the captain could decide if it was safe to enter. The ship followed the Zodiac, with
S/V Moli anchored at Fernando de Naronha, Brazil, enroute to Rio de Janeiro.
cruising in 2025 actually started in September of 2024, when they sailed Acquaviva southward from Newport, RI, to the Chesapeake Bay. While in the Chesapeake, they attended the Annual Fall CCA meeting in October at Annapolis Yacht Club. Acquaviva joined the post-meeting CCA cruise of the central Chesapeake, including a wind-free “race” leg to the Eastern shore and some good camaraderie with fellow CCA members, before heading down the coast to Florida via the Dismal Swamp and the ICW. During November and December, Liz and Todd meandered southward on the ICW to Manatee Pocket in Port Salerno, Florida. In January 2025, they crossed over from Palm Beach to the Bahamas where they spent four months cruising around the Bahamas, through the island chains — the Berries, the Exumas, Long Island, Cat
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Photo Credit: Harmon Shragge.
Ashley monitoring the electronic “lead line,” over many miles of previously uncharted waters in the Northwest Passage. Next up for Ashley will be her fifth trip to Antarctica to pilot ships during the upcoming Southern Hemisphere summer. Another one of SAF members who raced the 2025 Transpac from LA to Honolulu, Stan Honey navigated the 88-foot Lucky to a first overall finish and the Barn Door Trophy. Stan has raced to Hawaii nearly two dozen times with remarkable results. He has navigated three yachts to finish the Transpac first: Charley (1983), Commanche (2017) and Lucky (2025). In 1996, Stan and his wife Sally, in their Cal-40 Illusion, won the Pacific Cup from San Francisco to Kaneohe, Hawaii, overall, as well as their Double-handed Division. Continuing their winning ways, Stan and Sally, this time with crew aboard Illusion, won the 2022 Newport Bermuda Race. Since then, Illusion has a new owner, John Vrolyk (CHE), Stan’s nephew. Stan and Sally have since acquired a powerboat, Sarissa, and spent most of the summer of 2025 exploring the Pacific Northwest. Rowena Carlson and Robb Walker spent their fourth summer cruising the east coast of Sweden on their Omega 42 Natsuko. They visited their favorite places in the Stockholm archipelago and then went south into to the Östgöta archipelago. The weather was different from the previous years with much stronger wind events. Even the locals were surprised! In the middle of this exciting summer, they left Natsuko with Swedish friends on the island of Vattersö, one of the fabulous stops on the CCA Stockholm Archipelago Cruise in 2019, while they flew to Scotland to join Jim Quanci and Mary Lovely for the Western Isles Cruise. Rowena and Robb plan to return to Sweden next summer for another four months of beautiful cruising. Liz Bayliss’ and Todd Hedin’s
Photo Credit: Harmon Shragge.
NEWS FROM STATIONS & POSTS
Aboard S/V Moli, Harmon Shragge and Randall Reeves celebrate crossing the Equator enroute to Fernando de Naronha.
Island, Eleuthera, Spanish Wells, and the Abacos. Liz says, “We had lots of good sailing over the course of four months before sailing out of the west end of the Abacos and catching the Gulf Stream to Charleston.” From Charleston, Acquaviva made her way north to Annapolis and then to Dutch Harbor, Jamestown, Rhode Island, on Narragansett Bay, where she spent the summer 2025. Todd and Liz said that Jamestown became the “vacation
NEWS FROM STATIONS & POSTS
Harmon Shragge (left) and Randall Reeves (right) enroute from Cape Verde Islands to Brazil. Photo Credit: Harmon Shragge.
home port” for Acquaviva. Finally, after almost an entire year aboard for Liz, less for Todd, they hauled Acquaviva for a deserved rest and rehabilitation, during next fall and winter, in Bristol, RI. Back in school are twelve-year-old Henry Beek and his eight-year-old sister Lena. And, back to work is their mother, Dr. Alison Cooke, MD, after a six-month cruise on the West Coast of Mexico with husband and father Clark Beek, aboard Condesa, the family yacht. The family had a wonderful time exploring Mexican anchorages, villages and cities of
Acquaviva sailing along the Tropic of Cancer in the Bahamas. Photo Credit: Norman Davant.
Mexico, and the children learned a lot. How lucky they were to have the time to make this educational cruise at this time in their lives. SAF member Ronnie Simpson (www.RonnieSimpsonRacing.com) was very busy during September and October sailing his Class 40 (#15) Koloa Maoli to boat shows and yacht clubs from Newport, RI, to Annapolis, MD, to fundraise for his campaign to race in the second edition of the Global Solo Challenge, a singlehanded non-stop sailing race around the world in 2027-28, departing from and finishing at Vigo, Spain. Readers
will remember that Ronnie raced in the first Global Solo Challenge, in 2023-24, and was in a solid third place when he was dismasted in the South Atlantic and had to abandon his yacht. Organized by SAF Cruise Chairmen Bill Edinger and Bill Mittendorf, an SAF Station cruise, on April 25 to 27th, to Petaluma, California was well attended by members who came by vessel or by car. Petaluma’s city-center basin was dredged last year, and it is a lovely Northern California cruising destination. - Bob Hanelt, SAF Historian
Stan & Sally Honey’s yacht Sarissa anchored in the Pacific Northwest while enroute to the CCA-PNW “Three Corners Cruise.”
Acquaviva’s tattered ensign gets emergency repairs after several years of cruising the East Coast down to the Bahamas.
Photo credit: Stan or Sally Honey.
Photo Credit: Liz Baylis.
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NEWS FROM STATIONS & POSTS SOU T HER N CALIFOR NI A STATION REPORT The SoCal station’s fall cruise got underway October 9th for Catalina and Santa Barbara Islands. Ten yachts departed from harbors along the coast. Those from Newport harbor and further south arrived at White’s Cove after an upwind effort. Those from Marina del Rey enjoyed a nice and fast wind angle all the way to Howland’s Landing. While October often offers smooth seas and calm winds, it turned out that the cruise’s departure date featured a significant amount of breeze and swell. The attempt to reach Santa Barbara Island (25 miles northwest) was scrubbed by acclimation. The boats arriving at White’s Landing did so covered in salt and seeking shelter near shore. As the wind eased, crews made their way by dinghy
Good to rest under a shade structure at Parson’s Landing. L-R Left to right, Gary and Sandi Hill, Brad and Julia Avery.
Cruise crews enjoying dinner at the Harbor Reef restaurant at the West End of Catalina Island.
Hikers at overlook at Parson’s Landing. Brad and Julie Avery with Galatea crew Dom Wallis and Brie Colavita, SOC Station Rear Commodore James Eddy, Stephanie and Steve Hathaway, Roger DeYoung, Gary Hill.
to the idyllic repast of Moonstone Cove where previously lit barbeques awaited significant use. A fine time of comradery ensued. The following day the White’s Cove fleet got underway for a lumpy passage of about 10 miles northwestward to meet up with the rest of the fleet at Howlands Landing. Both locales dished up rolly nights for those anchored out or moored in less desirable locations. Dinner at LA Yacht Club’s outstation at Howland’s Landing was convivial with a fine view of the fleet and regular visits by the endemic Island foxes who seemed interested in their guests and the items from the barbeques. The following day featured a four-mile hike to Parson’s Landing which was just about right for a good workout that ended back at Howland’s and digging into lunch on board. It was very good to get the cruise underway after several years of going without. Many thanks go to our Rear Commodore James Eddy and Staff Commodore Steve Calhoun with a great assist from Gary & Sandy Hill. The following CCA members, spouses, and family members participated in the cruise: Fin Beven & Deborah Norum, Steve & Stephanie Hathaway, Gary & Sandy Hill, Larry Somers & Lisa Lang, Roger& Sandy DeYoung, Rear Commodore James Eddy, Seymour Beek and Bobbie
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Daniel, Rick & Monica Sanders, Bill & Jeri Barzi, Eric Phipps, Al & JoLinda Garnier, Brendan and Fred Huffman. It was very good to get the cruise underway after several years of going without. Many thanks to our Rear Commodore James Eddy and Staff Commodore Steve Calhoun for organizing the event along with station member Gary Hill and his wife Sandy who always bring fun and energy to a gathering.
LES VOILES de SAINT-TROPEZ The town of Saint-Tropez opened it doors wide open on September 27 as sailing enthusiasts came from all over the world to the historic and beautiful harbor setting to see the boats and watch the racing that was to occur over the coming week in Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez (The Sails of SaintTropez). Add to that the 3000 crew from the racing yachts and you had a very busy little town! I must say that I have raced in a lot of impressive events over the years, from World Championships to Super Yacht Regattas, and attended some remarkable sailing events such as the America’s Cup, but this was without a doubt the largest and most spectacular sailing event I have ever been to and raced in. There were 245 sailboats, divided into 19 classes with 119 boats in the Modern Fleet, 45 boats in the Maxi Fleet, and 81 boats in the
NEWS FROM STATIONS & POSTS Traditional Fleet. The Modern fleet included everything from J111s to Swans to TP52s. Sailing our Tripp 65 Prevail, we were one of the smallest boats in the Maxi 4 fleet, and certainly the least “racy” having just spent the past two years cruising around the Med (we only had one 1.5 oz spinnaker, two racing jibs, and a staysail…nothing compared to the quiver of sails on our competitors’ boats! But we had air conditioning and a bar!). The largest Maxi was Geist at 34 meters (111 feet), and there was a score of boats over 25 meters (82 feet). These full-race machines were sick! The Traditional fleet was composed of a variety of incredibly beautiful classic yachts from 6-meter sloops to 12-meter former America’s Cup racers, from Gaff-rigged Cutters to Bermudian Yawls to Ketches of all shapes and sizes. The schooner Atlantic, at 65 meters (213 feet LOA) was a sight to behold, especially with all sails flying. Somehow, they managed to squeeze almost all of the boats inside the small harbor, and the forest of masts was a sight I will not soon forget. We arrived a few days early to check the place out and pick up the keys to the two villas we had rented for our crew and significant others. Saturday and Sunday were practice days with light to moderate breeze and our race crew of 11 performed well getting to know the boat. This was the first time I had ever raced
Crew of Prevail.
Prevail, having missed sailing her in Antigua Sailing Week in 2023 due to an unexpected double-bypass two months earlier, after which my cardiologist insisted I not race. Imagine that! Most of my crew who did sail Prevail in that event were able to join us for Les Voiles including my college mate and the designer of the boat, Bill Tripp, BYC and CCA member Rob Vandervort, BYC member Jim Tyler, long-time friend Stephen Champtaloup, as well as Captain Greg Wessel, and first mate Maggie Thompson. New to the crew were CCA former Rear Commodore of the So Cal Station Stephen Calhoun, BYC member Tyler Wolk, my roommate from UC Berkeley and Vice Commodore of the Royal Perth Yacht Club Rob Scharnell, and our Navigator and CCA member from the New York Station, H.L. DeVore. It was a real pleasure sailing with all of them in this spectacular event. The first day of racing we found glassy conditions with TWS in the 4-7 knot range, not our best conditions. They sent us on a coastal course where we managed a 5th. The next day we had a bit more wind to 8 knots TWS and earned a 4th on the same course. Wednesday was a lay-day and the wind was quite fresh…but we went to the beach to swim in the crystal clear and warm Mediterranean Sea. That night it blew hard from the northeast, kicking up a nasty short-fetched chop that we had to contend with on
Saint-Tropez Harbor with Sailing boats.
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Thursday in similar light air on two windward-leeward races. That day we got another 5th in the first race…at least we were consistent! In the second race that day we were sailing very well until the last leeward rounding when the spinnaker shackle jammed in the masthead sheave and we had to send Tyler up the mast to free it up. Sailing far past the mark before we could drop the chute really hurt…that 6th place finish became our throw-out. Friday it blew from the south initially and then from the west in the 6-14 range and finally we had enough breeze to make the boat lively. Back to the coastal course, we were 5th in that race too…do you see a pattern here? The final race was on Saturday in breeze up to 18 knots true and it was by far the most fun race for me as driver, especially on the runs. With our finish that race we ended up 5th overall in our class, which given the conditions and our competition was fine with me. Just to have raced in this regatta and experienced the event was worth it, regardless of the results. If you ever have a chance to visit Saint-Tropez, even if not to race, it is well worth it! The food is terrific (I gained a few pounds), the scenery is beautiful, the historic town is quaint, and the sailing is world-class. Check that one off the bucket list! - Dan Gribble
NEWS FROM STATIONS & POSTS SKIPPER ALLI BELL AND RESTLESS CREW MAKE TRANSPAC HISTORY (Originally Posted July 14, 2025, David Schmidt; adapted and printed with permission of Transpac)
Skipper Alli Bell.
THE (FIBER) GLASS CEILING ENDURED FOR 119 YEARS. On Sunday night, July 13, at 22:23, local time, skipper and CCA member Alli Bell (SoCal) and the crew of her Cal 40 Restless took a winch handle to the notion that winning the Transpacific Yacht Race’s top corrected-time prize requires membership in an old-boys club or a mighty war chest. Bell’s Cal 40 crossed the race’s storied finish line off Honolulu’s Diamond Head with an estimated corrected
finish time of 8 days, 12 hours, 5 minutes and 49 seconds. This was the fastest time among the 53 boats, competing in 10 divisions, that began this year’s 2,225-nautical mile race in Los Angeles. Bell and her Restless crew were honored with the King Kalakaua Trophy for the race’s highest corrected time; they are also winners of Bridger Insurance Division 9. More importantly, Bell cemented her place in history as the first woman skipper to win the Transpac, which was founded
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in 1906 and is widely regarded as one of the world’s greatest offshore races. Bell and her four crew members— all Corinthian sailors, save one professional who raced off-the-clock—bested many teams that benefited from newer, faster designs, better sails, and fully professional crews. By contrast, Restless was flying secondhand sails aboard a boat that was designed in the mid-1960s. More impressive still, the team topped the corrected-time leaderboard for all but a handful of hours of their elapsed time of 12 days, 12 hours,
NEWS FROM STATIONS & POSTS 3 minutes and 16 seconds. The race began for Bell at 13:20, Pacific Daylight Time, on Tuesday, July 1. The seeds of Bell’s historic win were sown decades ago when her grandfather, Willard Bell, purchased Westward, the family’s Lapworth 50. The Transpac Race runs deep in Bell family lore, and generations of sailing Bells have raced Westward in the cross-Pacific competition. Bell sailed the first of her five Transpacs in 2013 with two of her uncles and three of her cousins aboard Westward, a boat that she described as an older cousin to her Cal 40, itself a design with its own Transpac pedigree. Family ties abound amongst the Restless crew: Bell’s winning team consisted of her cousin, Graham Bell, who served as navigator; her husband, Stephen Driscoll; plus friends Eric Heim and Greg Reynolds. Another cousin, Mara Bell-Hoshina was planning to sail with the team but broke two ribs about a week before the race and had to remain ashore. “It was just something that happened,” said Bell about the lastminute crew shake-up. “We dealt with it and adapted our schedules.” When Bell bought Restless in 2019, her first call was to her cousin Graham, requesting his services at the navigation station. Then, a lengthy work list began. “Pretty much anything that could be touched, was,” said Bell. This included upgrading the boat’s hull-to-deck joint, replacing the toe rails and the cockpit coaming handrails, and repainting the interior. “A bunch of people saw that I was upgrading the boat for the race, and they offered secondhand sails, boat parts and equipment to help us,” said Bell, who works ashore as a higher-education policy analyst. Unlike many boats that were vying for the King Kalakaua Trophy, Restless isn’t a high-dollar program. “In a difficult race, with a lot of great performances, this one stands out,” said Bill Guilfoyle, Commodore of
Bell and her Restless crew.
Transpacific Yacht Club and a fivetime Transpac Race veteran. “It demonstrates that anybody with a well-prepared boat who sails well has the potential of winning,” he said. Guilfoyle was clear that Bell’s win is a testament to her skills as a sailor, a skipper and a leader. “This should be an inspiration to anybody who doesn’t have the multimillion-dollar
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budget and wants to compete,” Guilfoyle continued. “This shows you can do that.” Bell, it should be noted, is a firsttime Transpac skipper, TPYC’s current Rear Commodore and Vice Commodore of San Diego Yacht Club. Interestingly, Alan Andrews, TPYC’s Vice Commodore and a noted yacht designer, raced this year aboard John
NEWS FROM STATIONS & POSTS Raymont’s Ker 42 Fast Exit II, which had been one of the 2025 provisional winners until Restless usurped their position on the estimated corrected-time leaderboard. “That our Rear Commodore and Vice Commodore were not only in the race, but were as competitive as they were, is a testament to the fact that we’re a club of sailors,” said Guilfoyle. Take, for example, the inevitable racecourse challenges. “It’s always at night,” said Bell, describing the crux of their race. “Something happens that’s kind of scary, but turns out to be really scary.” During the 12 and a half days that Restless was at sea, this moment arrived when the spinnaker guy line unexpectedly let go while the team was straight-line sailing, sending the spinnaker pole clocking forward. “Everybody just did their jobs,” reported Bell, adding that the team communicated well with each other in the heat of foredeck battle, and, once the situation was contained, they debriefed. While the night fright is a legendary part of offshore racing in general, and of Transpac in particular, so too are the times of unbridled joy. “We had champagne sailing conditions for about three hours on Monday afternoon,” Bell said, describing Restless’s final day at sea. “We were just going straight down the pike, headed for home. There was no need for big movements or adjustments—it was just dreamlike sailing.” But then came the race’s final test: the notoriously windy Moloka’i Channel, which Bell said delivered 28-30 knot winds and huge seas. At times, the boat hit double-digit speeds as they sailed the final few dozen miles toward Oahu.
Restless crossed the finish line at 22:23 local time, and about a half hour later, arrived at their slip in the Ala Wai Harbor to the sight of more than 100 family members, friends and fellow competitors. “It was so awesome,” said Bell. When asked how it felt to be a major role model for tomorrow’s Transpac sailors, Bell characteristically downplayed her achievement. “I don’t think I’m a role model,” she said, the emotion thick in her voice. “I’m just someone who wanted to do something and did it.” The Transpacific Yacht Club extends its congratulations to Bell and the Restless crew on their win. As a reminder to all newly minted race veterans, membership in the TPYC is open to anyone who has completed a Transpac or Tahiti race.
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“I don’t think I’m a role model…I’m just someone who wanted to do something and did it.”
BONNELL COVE FOUNDATION The CCA Fall Meeting in Blaine, WA, and the Three Corners Cruise are now in our wake. These events were superbly hosted by the Pacific Northwest Station and well attended. During the Fall Meeting that was superbly hosted by the Pacific Northwest Station in Blaine Washington at the Semiahmoo Resort, the Bonnell Cove Foundation held its Annual Meeting of Members and a meeting of the Board of Directors. We welcomed Peg Brandon as a new Director. Peg is the former President of SEA Education Association and brings extensive knowledge and experience in the not-for-profit sector to our Foundation. Also, we said farewell to Director Sheila McCurdy. Shelia has served as a Director of the Bonnell Cove Foundation diligently since 2011 and as President for part of her term. We are indebted to Sheila for her contribution to the Foundation.
As sailors, we share more than voyages and adventures — we share a duty to give back to the waters that have shaped us.
Left: Great Salt Pond, Block I, Rhode Island
Sailing with Purpose As sailors, you know the sea gives us more than adventure—it gives you joy, challenge, and perspective. With that gift comes responsibility. The Bonnell Cove Foundation supports qualified not-for-profit organizations that care for the health of sea and the safety of those who sail upon it. At our September 18, 2025, Board meeting, we awarded 15 grants totaling $61,667 from 23 applications requesting nearly $185,000. Year-to-date, we have awarded 30 grants totaling $126,474 out of 48 requests totaling $383,152. Behind these numbers are stories: students inspired by their first watch on a training vessel, fragile shorelines being restored, safety innovations making offshore sailing more secure. But for every project the Foundation is able to support, there are others left wanting. Not because they lack vision or heart—but because the Foundation’s resources fall short. Why Sailors’ Support Matters We, who know the pull of the tide and the call of distant horizons, also know how fragile our oceans are. Each
gift to the Bonnell Cove Foundation helps ensure that the sea we cherish is safer, healthier, and more vibrant for the next watch, the next voyage, the next generation. Join Us as an impetus for change The Bonnell Cove Foundation is powered entirely by sailors and friends of the sea. We are proud to promise that 100% of your contribution goes directly to grants— every dollar flows straight to the programs that keep sailors safer and the ocean healthier. Please be part of the solution and donate. Online: bonnellcove.org/donation By mail: Checks payable to Bonnell Cove Foundation c/o Paul K. Rogers III, Treasurer 124 Chestnut Street Camden, Maine 04843 With appreciation, Bob Medland President, Bonnell Cove Foundation
The Bonnell Cove Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) tax-deductible organization.
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MEMBERSHIP On June 3, 2025, we welcomed 14 highly qualified new members to the Cruising Club of America. The average age was 58 years, three are considered Next Watch (<55 y.o.) and two are women.
Station Boston Boston Boston Boston Boston Bras d’Or Bras d’Or Chesapeake Chesapeake Pacific Northwest Pacific Northwest San Francisco San Francisco Southern California
Member William Lynn Gregory Foy William Jones James Philip Haydon Moya Cahill David “Bill” Tucker Andrew Devlin David Shaeffer Stephen Van Dyck Margaret Pommert John Paulling Michael “Tony” Pohl Robert Vandervort
Our club faces many challenges, not least of which is identifying and attracting new members. New member candidates come from only one source in our organization, and that is the existing membership. Many, many hours have been spent among the Club’s leaders discussing how to increase the number of membership proposals. But the reality is that the only way to drive new membership is by engaging and inspiring our existing members. We cannot expect members who are not enthused by the purpose and activities of the CCA to enthusiastically invite their friends into the fold. So, we must make our club very relevant to existing members.
Proposer Edward Kane Gian Luca Fiori Buell Heminway Robert Farley Roy Greenwald Christopher Otorowski David W. Stanfield Robert M Mathews Jeffrey C Warden PETER L. WILSON John Robinson Jim Quanci Norman Davant Alan Andrews
Between cruises, gams, station events and the like, we already do that for a large portion of the membership. Shouldn’t we be doing more to excite those groups we are not already reaching? For instance, if we have an issue attracting young members, why aren’t we doing more to make the Club special to our existing young members? If we are having difficulty reaching women candidates, why aren’t we working harder to make the Club somewhere they want to be and providing resources to support them on their journey to membership? In my recent memory, the conversation seems to always be about members – not enough members, the aging membership, the need for women and younger members. But
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Seconder Richard DuMoulin Joseph McDonough Derek Ratteray Raymond Cullum Joseph Cooper Anne Kolker Reginald H.B Goodday Thomas C Campbell Karl von Schwarz Roger Lowlicht Ryan Helling Jim Hammitt Terry Klaus Dan Gribble
the fact is, qualified candidates don’t just arrive at our doorstep. The CCA should be full of activities and conversations on the topics which repeatedly bring us back to the sea, and thereby become a place that all ocean sailors yearn to be part of. It should be a place where existing members cannot wait to invite their friends to join. It is up to all of us to make it that place. This is not a leadership problem. It is not a Rear Commodore problem or a Membership Committee problem. It is an issue for all of us. Ask yourself what makes the Club a special place for you and then figure out ways to do more of it. I am guessing that in the process, the CCA will only become more valuable to you as well. Thanks, - James Phyfe (BOS), Membership Committee Chair
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS J. THOMAS BOWLER (TOM) Palm Beach, FL Spouse: Ellen Yacht: Morris 46 Ocean Series Escapade II Station: BOS Proposer: Robert Farley
Tom has been sailing since childhood, starting in Blue Jays and dinghies to offshore racers and cruisers. He has skippered Escapade II in 4 Marion Bermuda races with 3 podium finishes, taken Escapade I from Ardfern, Scotland, to Southampton non-stop, and has taken part in a 1-2 from Palm Beach to Marion and return in 2018. These varied passages all require quick thinking in heavy weather as well as in frustrating light wind conditions. As Captain, his leadership skills promote feedback from crew members, navigators and tacticians to help make sound decisions and execute changes in strategy or safety measures. This skill was exemplified in Tom’s recently-completed 2025 Transatlantic Race, where all crew members had previously sailed with him. Needless to say, they were all very pleased with their 1st in Class result (IRC 2). Tom races with his wife Ellen on her Herreshoff H-12.5 out of Beverly Yacht Club. Their son-in-law is a regular crew member on either cruising or racing adventures, and his grandchildren participate in junior sailing programs for which Tom is a coach and mentor. Each year Tom organizes an overnight cruise for the grandchildren, and he has also participated as a member or chair of a number of race committees. Affiliation: Beverly Yacht Club
MOYA N. CAHILL
ANDREW FRANCIS DEVLIN
Moya grew up in Newfoundland and cruised the eastern Canadian waters with her family. Those passages taught Moya her remarkable navigational skills which prove eminently useful in dense fog. She was the organizer of the CCA cruise to Newfoundland in 2022 at which time she was Commodore of the Royal Newfoundland Yacht Club. Moya skillfully navigated her beautifully-maintained vintage wooden power boat through all the reaches of water on the Eastern coast, leading the fleet through harbors not on the original itinerary. Her actions earned her the respect and admiration of the entire fleet. The following year Moya was Watch Captain on Chris Otorowski’s Aphrodite on her passage from Mallorca to the Canary Islands and in 2024 was Watch Captain for Chris on the Newport Bermuda race. Besides the heavy weather encountered en route, the boat suffered from a major ingress of water from an improperly secured holding tank which allowed water to pour into the boat. It took quite some time to identify the problem and fix it during which time Moya demonstrated her ability to take charge, righting the boat and holding position. In addition to her seafaring skills, Moya has built a major business enterprise in Newfoundland and has been widely recognized in Canada for her accomplishments. Affiliations: Royal Newfoundland Yacht Club, Commodore
Andrew Devlin has been well-known to a number of CCA Chesapeake Station members since childhood. He is the son of current RC John Devlin (CHE) and son-in-law of Past RC Tad duPont (CHE). Andrew grew up in the junior sailing program at Tred Avon Yacht Club (TAYC) in Oxford, MD, and his first “big boat” sail was aboard Eric Crawford’s Restless. Andrew Devlin eventually married Cornelia (Cory) duPont, a fellow TAYC member and an accomplished offshore sailor. Andrew and Cory are active TAYC members and are raising their children (Henry [7] and Sara [1]) in the sailing lifestyle. In 2017, Cory and Andrew took over stewardship of the duPont family Chesapeake Bay Log Canoe, Island Lark. She is a double-masted 34’ wooden sailing log canoe that extends to 51’ when outfitted for racing. Built in 1901, Island Lark was meticulously restored by Tad and Ebby duPont (CHE) and is one of 22 Chesapeake Bay Log Canoes listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Chesapeake Bay Log Canoes are believed to constitute the oldest class of racing sailboats in the world. In addition to racing and maintaining Island Lark, Andrew has long been active in the Shields fleet at TAYC, first as crew for Drew Kellogg
Saint John’s, Newfoundland Yacht: 42’ power Moya C Station: BDO Proposer: Chris Otorowski
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Easton, MD Spouse: Cory Yacht: Chesapeake Bay Log Canoe Island Lark, Shields Dragonfly Station: CHE Proposer: Robert M. Mathews
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS (CHE) and then as owner of Shields Dragonfly. Whenever work and family commitments allow, Andrew sails offshore. He was a regular for offshore races aboard the Schuyler Benson (CHE) family’s Swan 47 Bandana, including two Newport Bermuda Races, one as Watch Captain. Since 2017 he has raced with his Proposer and acted as Watch Captain for his Seconder Tom Campbell (CHE) aboard the Cal 40 Nicole for two Newport Bermuda Races and three Annapolis to Newport Races. He also participates in long-distance deliveries, most recently as Watch Captain for a 1,400-mile delivery from Oxford, MD, to Tortola, BVI, with Andrew Parish (CHE) aboard the Benson’s Oyster 62 Fetch without the owner aboard. Affiliations: Tred Avon Yacht Club, Chesapeake Bay Yacht Club
His leadership skills came to the fore in 2024 on his first long offshore voyage as Captain on Astra’s passage from Marion to Antigua. Every member of the crew was eager to sail with him again. Greg’s next big passage is to sail Astra in June 2026 from Marion to the Mediterranean where he plans to stay for two seasons. Greg is also involved in cruising administration and was Cruise Chairman of the Beverly Yacht Club for several years, during which he organized the Marion to Maine cruise as well as other local cruises.
PHILIP G. HAYDON
Boston, MA Spouse: Marianne Yacht: Sunfast 3300 Fearless Station: BOS
inspired hundreds of sailors without epilepsy to understand what it is and has helped those who have it. In 2022 Phil crossed the Atlantic in his Leopard catamaran from Fort Lauderdale to Portugal via the Azores. Once there, he worked with medical doctors in the Azores, Portugal and Morocco to expand access to help for people with epilepsy. An offshoot of Phil’s short-handed and transatlantic sailing has been his interest in sleep deprivation. His presentation on “Sleep Management for Offshore Sailors” at the Northeast Ocean Race Symposium in 2024 was rated the top session in that year’s program. Then, in March 2025, Phil once again had the top-rated session when he presented “Approaches to Offshore Route Planning” in which he detailed his planning for his victory in the 2024 Bermuda race campaign. Affiliation: Constitution Yacht Club
GREGORY FOY
Hingham, MA Spouse: Deborah Smith Yacht: Hallberg-Rassy 48 MK-1 Astra Station: BOS Proposer: Gian Luca Fiori
Greg has been sailing for over 40 years, cruising New England waters with his family and friends, making deliveries, and taking part in numerous Marion Bermuda Races. He is known by those fortunate enough to sail with him as a meticulous planner. His preparation for offshore passages is exemplary, and once on board he familiarizes himself with all aspects of readiness, equipment checks and safety planning. He makes decisive weather-based course adjustments and manages sail trim and engine usage to optimize fuel efficiency. Greg is always fully prepared for solo watches and has demonstrated his ability to think and act decisively in challenging conditions.
WILLIAM L. JONES
South Portland, ME Yacht: Bristol 32 Nagini Station: BOS Proposer: Buell Heminway
Although Phil has been sailing since he was in his twenties, his first Newport Bermuda 1-2 was only in 2017. He has subsequently raced to Bermuda many times, and in 2024 he won the double-handed division of the Newport Bermuda race on his Sunfast 3300 Fearless. Phil has now retired from his position as Chair of Neuroscience at Tufts University School of Medicine and has brought his meticulous planning ethic to his sailing life. Following a traumatic brain injury as a teenager, Phil developed epilepsy, which is now successfully medically controlled. In 2019 Phil decided to share the joy of sailing with others suffering from epilepsy, and he founded a charity called Sail for Epilepsy, whose mission is to “inspire people with epilepsy to take one more step toward achieving a fuller life.” His work with the charity has also 50
Will has sailed since childhood on a variety of small vessels, enjoying summers with his grandparents at Bucks Harbor Yacht Club in Maine. While there he was coached in laser and 420 racing from the age of 5 through high school. As a teenager, Will assisted his father in building a Corsair F31 trimaran in the family’s backyard. Will now coowns a Bristol 32 on which he regularly competes in local races. His love of being on the water led him to choose a career in the marine industry with a
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS specialization in marine systems. Will is a recent graduate of The Landing School in Maine, and he runs his own company as a marine technician and consultant. Over the past 15 years, Will has sailed offshore with several CCA members making deliveries and taking part in races. He has been Watch Captain on several passages from Portland, ME, to Bermuda, and he was most recently Watch Captain on Derek Ratteray’s Alida on her passage from Portland, ME, to Tortola, BVI. The heavy weather they encountered brought Will’s leadership and sailing skills to the fore. Besides these skills, Will is also an excellent hand in the galley, is very useful at fixing things, and is a delightful watchmate. Bill hopes to participate in the CCA gathering at Swans Island in Maine this summer.
WILLIAM H. LYNN
boundless energy who will take on tasks himself rather than finding someone else to do them. His yachting experiences and contacts within the sailing community led Bill to be invited to take on the helm of Executive Director of the Herreshoff Marine Museum in 2015. Since then he has worked to expand the docks at the Museum to allow cruising yachts to berth there, utilize its shoreside facilities, and to become the place for CCA members to go in Narragansett Bay. He has also introduced a number of sailing and boatbuilding programs. In the fall of 2023, the 55’ yacht Patrician was donated to the Museum. In November of that year, Bill did a solo delivery of her from Osterville to Buzzards Bay in a 20-30 knot WSW breeze, which he has described as a “pretty epic” voyage.
JOHN RANDOLPH PAULLING
Marblehead, MA Spouse: Sarah Station: BOS Proposer: Edward Kane
Fremont, CA Spouse: Sue Yacht: X 412 About Time Station: SAF Proposer: Jim Quanci
Bill has been involved in all aspects of sailing for his entire life, having grown up in an active sailing family. He started out with junior sailing at the American Yacht Club, was an All-American at Tufts, and progressed to skippering a wide range of boats from 420’s to superyachts around the world. His offshore experience includes multiple Bermuda Races and Chicago Macs. He and his wife have also enjoyed cruising in the Caribbean, and they are looking forward to doing more. Will originally ran a sailmaking loft in Connecticut and is noted as a man of
John Paulling’s avid sailing family took him for his first sail on their 33’ sloop Sumatra when he was 10 days old. Growing up in the Richmond Yacht Club Junior Program, he raced El Toros, FJs and Lasers and crewed with his family and others on larger boats. While studying naval architecture, John sailed on the UC Irvine and UC Berkeley Sailing Teams in dinghies, and he squeezed in a Newport to Ensenada Race. During college summers off, he worked as a deckhand aboard 136’ ocean-going tugboats, including a delivery via the Panama Canal to the West Coast and several trips 51
to and from Alaska’s North Slope. After graduation John remained active in local and distance races in the Bay Area. He taught sailing and directed the Junior Program at RYC. His first race to Hawaii was in 1982 as bowman aboard a Frers 58 which took first in class, and he then stayed aboard for the Pan Am Clipper Cup that summer. Jonathan Livingston (SAF) and his Proposer Jim Quanci (SAF) remember racing against John and his father Randy in the 1986 Pacific Cup Double-Handed Division aboard their Peterson 44 Tropicbird. He then raced six more Pacific Cups as Skipper or Watch Captain—two with his father and four with Jim Quanci, including two aboard Jim’s Cal 40 Green Buffalo. As a result of a lasting friendship with Susie Klein, a childhood friend from RYC, and her husband Jim Hammitt (BOS, Seconder), John gained some sailing experience in the Atlantic. In 2004 he was Watch Captain for the delivery of Jim and Susie’s Sigma 41 Reveille from Bermuda to Padanaram, MA. The next year he was Watch Captain again when they sailed to the Azores. In 2021 and 2023, Jim chose John as his second for two Bermuda One-Two Races, and in 2022, the pair sailed double handed in the Newport Bermuda Race and the Short-Handed Return Race. Since John retired, he and Sue have purchased an X 412 About Time for fun racing and longdistance cruising. Merchant Marine: Three summers as Ordinary Seaman aboard ocean-going tugs. Affiliations: Richmond Yacht Club, US Sailing
WHERE TO GET CCA BURGEES The Sail Bag Lady is the supplier of CCA burgees. There is a seperate page for them on the CCA website at: https:// sailbaglady.com/cruising-club/ You can also call Bettina (the sailbag lady herself) at 203-245-8238.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS MICHAEL ANTHONY POHL (TONY) Fremont, CA Spouse: Carrie Yacht: Express 27 Young Betty Station: SAF Proposer: Norman Davant
Tony Pohl was introduced to sailing at a young age and then sailed Lasers and Scows on Lake Ontario. His first keelboat experience was in partnership with three novice sailing doctors. He began handicap racing with the purchase of an Olson 30 Bottom Line in 1984. For more than 40 years, Tony actively raced in-harbor and offshore aboard a succession of boats—a Melges 24, a Synergy 1000, and a Farr 40 Twisted— continually adding to his distances and skills. He sailed Twisted from San Francisco to Los Angeles and back three times and volunteered for offshore passages on other boats—from Cabo to Seattle on a Brooks 88 and from Grenada to Aruba on a Tayana 55 double-handed. Bitten by the offshore racing bug, Tony learned celestial navigation and earned safety at sea certificates in both the US and UK. After rigorous training and preparation in Royal Yacht Club courses, he was selected as a crew aboard the 70-foot Henri Lloyd, overall winner of the 2013-2014 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Tony was aboard for the two legs from Rio de Janeiro to Cape Town and Cape Town to Albany, Western Australia. During the second leg to through the Roaring 40’s, Skipper Eric
Holden praised the crew for “loving the conditions and doing everything I could ask of them….Many top sailors will have gone through their whole careers and never experienced conditions like these.” Tony’s current boat is an Express 27 Young Betty. In 2024 he skippered her in the Pacific Cup from San Francisco to Hawaii and got to the podium. The crew of three included his daughter Krysia who is also an avid sailor and USCG Commander. Tony has been a member of the St. Francis Yacht Club for 20 years. In recent years he and Carrie have taken up cruising, and he is an active member of the Cruising Committee. Affiliations: St. Francis Yacht Club, Encinal Yacht Club
MARGARET POMMERT Seattle, WA Station: PNW Proposer: John Robinson
Margaret has been sailing since she was a teenager. By 2009 she had earned her USCG 100-ton Captain’s License and was voyaging on a variety of boats in the Caribbean through the Panama Canal, Greece, the West Coast and the Pacific Islands. In 2016-17 she was hired aboard a Sun Odyssey 49 Nomad (crew of 3, single person watches) for a 3000-mile passage from Puerto Vallarta to Nuka Hiva and further cruising in the Pacific. She recently crewed on a
power cruiser from Hawaii to Fiji. As coleader of the Waggoneer Guide Inside Passage flotilla to Alaska for many years, Margaret helped many cruisers turn their dreams into reality. She has hosted a free website for Pacific NW boaters since 2015: https://seattleonthewater. com/. Margaret has an amazing breadth of knowledge about sail and power cruising. She teaches courses in a variety of subjects for Cruisers College in Anacortes. She is ABYC certified in marine diesel and an advanced cruising instructor with US Sailing, American Sailing, and US Powerboating. At US Sailing Margaret is a member of the Safety at Sea committee and Chair of the Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal committee, a national award which recognizes those that have saved a life at sea. She is also co-author of their basic keelboat and new electronic navigation textbooks. Margaret has earned praise from several CCA member co-workers for her services as V.P. for Safety at Sea with The Sailing Foundation teaching Lifesling and Safety at Sea classes. She has been an employee of the US Naval Academy in Annapolis for many summers, teaching newly graduated Ensigns to be sailing instructors. Margaret is especially interested in promoting boating among women. She skippered an all women J/105 racing team for 10 years and for two years wrote a column for Northwest Yachting Magazine on topics of interest to Pacific Northwest boaters, especially women. In 2020 Margaret was honored with National Women’s Sailing Association’s Women’s Sailing Leadership Award. Her knowledge and commitment will make her a valued addition to the CCA. Affiliations: Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS DAVID SHAEFFER
Annapolis, MD Spouse: Brenda Station: CHE Proposer: Jeffrey C. Warden
After serving in the US Navy, David Shaeffer developed a lifelong passion for sailboat cruising and racing that has resulted in his current total of approximately 70,000 miles offshore. He began by racing one-designs in national and international regattas. After purchasing a Tartan 37 in 1980, David and his wife Brenda spent more than ten years racing the boat locally and cruising her on various passages between Maine and the US Virgin Islands. They later owned, cruised and locally raced a J/120 Zephyr, a J/110 Airbender and his current boat, a J/100 Zephyr IV. In addition to local racing, David became very involved in offshore sailing. He raced the 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004 Newport Bermuda Races in the Double Handed Division plus two Annapolis to Newport Races and numerous offshore deliveries as Watch Captain on a friend’s J/120. David’s offshore experience made him a popular delivery and race Watch Captain and Navigator, including three more Newport Bermuda Races. His seamanship and sailing skills led to Jahn Tihansky (CHE) selecting him as a volunteer onboard coach and safety officer for the US Naval Academy’s Varsity Offshore Sailing Team where he supported the team for the next 10 years. David has also contributed to the management of our sport. He has been a regatta manager, is an expert at racing rules and navigation, has delivered talks on offshore safety, and has served the
Storm Trysail Association as Governor and coordinator of the Junior Safety at Sea Committee for the Chesapeake Station. Recently, David served as Watch Captain and Navigator for two 1400mile deliveries to and from the eastern Caribbean aboard his Proposer Jeffery Warden’s (CHE) A57 Catamaran Agility. According to Jeff, “Being able to sleep off watch soundly due to his experience, knowledge and focus on safety is something every captain wants to have onboard.” Military Service: US Navy 1972-1975 Medical/Dental Corpsman Affiliations: Annapolis Yacht Club, Storm Trysail Club
past Director of both the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick Sailing Associations, and Rear Commodore of the Shediac Bay Yacht Club. This year Bill and Sue travelled to Saint John to take part in the Fundy Endurance Race and are also planning to participate in the Shediac to Charlottetown race. Bill’s skills as an ice hockey coach are also worthy of an honorable mention! Affiliations: Lunenburg Yacht Club
STEPHEN K VAN DYCK Seattle, WA Spouse: Kristen Johnson Yacht: Boreal 44 Flyer Station: PNW Proposer: Peter L. Wilson
D. WILLIAM TUCKER
Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia Yacht: Frers Cat Ketch 49 Wandrian Spouse: Sue Station: BDO Proposer: David W. Stanfield
Bill grew up in a sailing family and participated in the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron’s junior sailing program. As a young man, Bill went on to race with his father in Marblehead to Halifax races as well as in local regattas. The year 2025 marks 50 years since Bill’s first Marblehead to Halifax race. He has now participated in 22 of these races. He has also skippered Wandrian in Newport Bermuda races, and he cruised her from Hilton Head to Lunenburg in 2022. With over 50 years of blue water sailing, Bill has surpassed 30,000 miles of passage making. Equally noteworthy is the sailing community leadership that Bill has shown over the years. He is a Past Vice Commodore of Sailing at RNSYS, 53
Stephen K Van Dyck was involved in sailing almost from birth thanks to the encouragement and support of his father Stephen A Van Dyck (FL). His first offshore passage was at age 14, bringing the family Swan 42 Musketeer back to Newport after a Bermuda Race. He did the next 5 Bermuda Races as well as many other races and deliveries aboard the family’s Tripp 47’ Wonder, including double-handed racing with his father. Steve was an excellent sailor: enthusiastic, a quick learner and safety conscious. He accepted invitations for offshore passages whenever possible including a transatlantic passage, Channel and Fastnet Races with George Coumantaros (NY) aboard his 80’ Frers maxi Boomerang, a refit and delivery from Brazil to Ushuaia with Skip Novak (GLS) aboard the 55’ expedition sailboat Pelagic, and Montego Bay, Fastnet, and Bermuda Races with Huntington Sheldon (NY) aboard Zaraffa, a Reichel-
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Pugh 68’, earning the St. Davids Lighthouse trophy 2002. During his busy years of graduate study and early career as an architect, Steve continued to race sailboats in the US and Europe whenever he could. After moving to Seattle, Stephen and his wife Kristen welcomed sons James and Paul to their family. They purchased Massimo, a 30’ power catamaran for Pacific Northwest cruising, a fast and safe cruising platform to take advantage of his short windows of availability. But offshore sailing remained his dream. By 2023 Steve could take more time off and their boys were ready for bigger adventures, so he and Kristen purchased a 2019 Boreal 44’ Flyer. Steve chose and prepared the boat carefully for offshore passage making. That summer they cruised 800 miles to the Broughton Archipelago in British Columbia and back. In 2024 the family cruised from Seattle to Haida Gwaii via the inside route and returned along the west coast of Vancouver Island (1400 miles). These and other cruises have prepared the family well for a clockwise circumnavigation of the Pacific. They plan to depart Seattle in the summer of 2025 and will proudly fly the CCA burgee. Affiliations: Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle
ROBERT VANDERVORT (ROB) Newport Beach, CA Yacht: Laser, ILCA Station: SOC Proposer: Alan Andrews
Rob Vandervort has known many SOC CCA members for years. He has raced against some in the ILCA fleet and sailed with and against others on local and offshore races for the last 20 years. Rob has also cruised with his Proposer Alan Andrews (SOC) locally and in French Polynesia and with his Seconder Dan Gribble (SOC) in the 2024 CCA Sea of Cortez Cruise, where he fit right in and met many more CCA members. Rob’s racing resume is impressive. From 2007 through 2019 he was in six Transpac Races from LA to Hawaii. He did five
aboard Ross Pearlman’s Jeanneau 50 Between the Sheets, the first as crew and the others as Watch Captain. Kerry Deaver (SOC) was involved in choosing the crew for these races and says Rob was always first on his list. With the owner’s permission, Rob brought each of his children on the race when they turned 16. All still sail and count this as one of the best experiences in their lives. His sixth Transpac in 2019 was aboard Dan Gribble’s Tripp 56 Brigadoon when he was Watch Captain and Navigator on his watch. He has also done two San Diego to Puerto Vallarta Races with Dan and numerous other Mexican races. Rob often does the bow but is an expert driver and is accomplished at every position. His engineering background also comes in handy when things break. He helps skippers with projects and boat maintenance and often shows up for races with a batch of homemade cookies. Rob is a longtime member of the Balboa Yacht Club where he served as Head Parent for Junior Sailing, Fleet Captain and Director, and he is active in organizing regattas such as the ILCA Nationals and US Sailing’s Rose Cup Youth Match Racing Championship. Affiliations: Balboa Yacht Club
Check out the Website: www.cruisingclub.org The CCA website is remarkable for its clarity, ease of navigation and the wealth of information it contains. Michael Moradzadeh has done a truly amazing job in putting together a website that functions so well. You can find out almost anything you need to know about the CCA, its cruises, officers, committees and members on the site and download important cruising information. GAMs from the past seventeen years can be downloaded.
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FINAL VOYAGES LeRoy A. Wilbur February 22, 2025
Mark Ellis May 11, 2025
Arthur Foster Draper August 5, 2025
Harvey B. Loomis March 20, 2025
William L. Palmer July 3, 2025
Wallace J. Stenhouse August 17, 2025
William P. Kellett March 21, 2025
Robert W. Macleod July 6, 2025
Robert Bernheim August 19, 2025
Charles R. Smith April 23, 2025
Richard P. Anderson July 19, 2025
George W. Curran September 8, 2025
Robert Eichler April 25, 2025
Jesse Terry August 1, 2025
George I. Rockwood September 26, 2025
Zdenka Seiner Griswold April 27, 2025
Claiborne (Sandy) Van Zandt August 3, 2025
Allan M. Heyward October 12, 2025
Obituary links may be found on the Final Voyages page in the members-only section of the CCA website. Voyages will continue to carry full remembrances with photos.
FINAL VOYAGE INFORMATION FLOW PROCEDURES ON THE PASSING OF A MEMBER-FRIEND The passing of a friend, no matter how expected, is one of life’s great moments of loss and grief. A revised procedure to better capture and act upon the information flow was recently discussed and approved by the Board. It is detailed in a Board Presentation document which you can review on the website – https://cruisingclub.org/member/passing The documented and revised procedure identifies the Station’s Rear Commodore as the principal gatekeeper for information pertaining to Station members and especially the death of one. He or she will inform the Station as appropriate and work with the deceased member’s spouse to see if he or she wishes to continue as a Surviving Spouse. He or she will also work with the Final Voyages Coordinator/Editor (currently David Curtin) for matters such as arrangements for an Eight Bells Notification and for the Final Voyage essay to be written and included in Voyages. The key here, like with a building on fire, is to “call it in.” Please be sure that information of a colleague’s passing is forwarded to your Station’s Rear Commodore as soon as possible. Everyone’s cooperation and knowledge of the system will help in the timely sharing of the information to allow friends and membership to be advised quickly and with dignity. - David Curtin – Final Voyages Coordinator and Editor
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Cruising Club of America 449 Thames St., #331 Newport RI 02824
CCA Calendar of Events FALL MEETINGS
Deadline for Spring Issue is March 15 2026 CLUB CRUISES
2026
Southern California Station
2027
Great Lakes Station
ANNUAL MEETING & AWARDS DINNER March 6-7, 2026: New York Yacht Club
2026
January 24: Grenadines June 28: Bermuda September 22: New England Islands
2027
March 3: Spanish Virgin Islands July 20: Bras d’Or
STATIONS & POSTS Please email your major events dates so members visitingyour area can be aware, to: gam@cruisingclub. org For latest info, please check: www.cruisingclub.org.
Monthly Station Luncheons: Check station websites for latest information.