AHOY! Half Moon Bay Yacht Club At the Helm

AHOY!
At the Helm
Commodore Terri Lahey
Food, Fun and a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Opening Day Festivities Include Unveiling of Club’s New Building
A swarm of small children bounced themselves to exhaustion in the giant jumper. Many more children played along the shoreline, some
venturing out onto the water in kayaks and paddle boards. Club boats paraded in the harbor, King Neptune and a beautiful mermaid held
court, while everyone else lounged, ate, drank and generally had a wonderful time. April 5 was Opening Day at HMBYC with the
weatherman providing a stunningly beautiful afternoon for all to enjoy.
And it was on this occasion that Commodore Terri Lahey, before
an enthusiastic and joyful audience, officially opened the Club’s
sparkling new building by cutting the ceremonial ribbon with the help
of general contractor Urs Willimann, as shown in the photo here.
In his comments to the assembly, Willimann had special praise for
those who went far beyond the call of duty to help with the project,
including Terry Ramseyer, Dave Morris, Kelly Pike, Bob Cantillo,
Harry Ysselstein, Paul Minoletti, Monty Hampton, Terri Lahey and
others too numerous to list who made invaluable contributions to a
successful effort and a facility that we can all be proud of.
After the ceremonies, the festivities continued with Hawaiian music,
hula dancing, kayaking, paddle boarding, sailing, delicious food,
great refreshments and what everyone agreed was one of the Club’s
best opening day parties ever.
Please see page 4 for more photos of Opening Day.
Half Moon Bay Yacht Club
Included in 2008 Edition of “World’s Best
Yacht Clubs and Marinas”
Monthly Newsletter
May 2009
Congratulations all! We have completed Phase I construction of our new building. This is
a huge milestone for our Club! Previous Boards and many years of volunteers have
allowed us to achieve this goal to meet the needs of growing membership and activities.
The County has signed off the building inspection. Urs Willimann, our contractor, has
completed his contract. Thank you to all our volunteers who helped clear the yard and
with building construction. We had a ribbon cutting ceremony during our April 5 Opening
Day Festivities.
Welcome new members! Our April membership has increased by 26 new memberships. Take a look around
and welcome all our new members. It was nice to see so many new and old members at the General
Membership Meeting on April 19. And we met in our new building! How lovely to be able to fit in one space!
Continued on Page 2

New Club Members
by Bernadette Forde, Membership Chair
On March 29th our members invited friends and neighbors to
the first Open house of 2009 and it was a great success.
Families came down to have fun and check out what HMBYC
had to offer on a sunny day by the beach. Too windy for
sailing but not for Urs Williman who took some of our visitors
out sailing on Attitude.
We are delighted to welcome a large and wonderful group to
be a part of our community of friends:
Brian and Wendy Connolly
Keith and Carin McVicker
Jim and Kay Howie
Alicia Vargas and Lars Howlet
Michael and Susie Rose Tempesta
Minot Parker and Sydney Tyler Parker
Bill Wood and Laurel Cole
Bryan and Michele Hannegan
Larry and Linda Peterson
Susan Vermeir and Abbie Goldstein
Michael Reed
Sid Walton and Sandra Johnson
Claude and Donna Windell
Victoria Woodrow and Lisa Lindahl
Patti Holt and Frank Grassler
Roberto and Danette Pugliese
Chris and Jacquie Cuvelier
John and Kim Gagnon
Paul and Janie James
Kelly and Anita Krpata
Mallory Nomura-Saul and Tom Saul
Claudia Marshall
Denis and Margrit Pichou
Anne Bauer-Wright
I would like to thank all our members who banded together to
make this such an wonderful and effortless event for me.
Special thanks to Marie Parfait-Patti, Sirje Bewley, Ray and
Kristi Durazo, Maureen and Ofer Grimm, Deb Kessler, Terri
Lahey, Kelly and Susan Pike, Carol Smith, Neal Wehje, Karen
Flick , Rich and Jessica Sullo, Ginger and Paul Minoletti, Jim
and Sandy Stretch, Cecily and Neil Hooper, Karen Hampton
and Urs Williman.
Thank you to everyone who came down and brought great
food, and to the clean-up crew who worked so hard the day
before!
Editor’s Note: In the months ahead, you will be seeing
stories and photos of many of the above new members.
If you are a new member and have not yet sent us a brief
blurb and photo (see previous editions of AHOY!),
please do so at your earliest convenience. Email to
rcommodore@hmbyc.org.
At the Helm
Continued from Page 1
May AHOY! – Page 2
Two items remain before we can fully use our new building. The
Fire District requires fire suppression in our kitchen hood. The
contract has been awarded. Secondly, we await approval of our
alcoholic beverage permit for the new building.
We need a work party to clean building dust, and help moving
into the new building. I’m looking for a volunteer to coordinate
the last work items on the new building. Contact me or Facilities
Director Bjorn Conrad by email or phone.
Phase II is commencing, where we decorate the inside of the
building. Contact Kay Burns, Kay@kayburns.com who is leading
our décor committee, or Marie Parfitt-Pattie, Gayle Pietras, Barb
Walt, Neal Wehtje, Mimi Wisnom, and me with your ideas.
A group of chefs have researched and done field trips to pick out
a new stove. Tireless workers Liz Allison, Bob Cantillo, Eric
Hasler, Jeff Hume, Terry Ramseyer, Cynthia Ramseyer, Carol
Smith, Leon Smith, and Harry Ysselstein made room for the
larger stove. Watch for more great food and fun in the kitchen!
Thanks to April event volunteers at the Club! Suzy and Bob
created a fabulous Opening Day, which was enjoyed by a large
showing of membership. Clarke Simm and instructors brought us
a very well attended racing seminar. Dick and Tami Schubert led
the sailout to Angel Island during Opening Day (on SF Bay).
Thank you to all our chefs and sous-chefs: Liz Allison, Bob
Cantillo, Norma Lawlor, Suzy Pinkerton, Terry Ramseyer, Kat
Ryan, Carol Smith, Jessica and Rich Sullo, Barb Walt, and all
others that I may have missed. Thank you to our Watch Officers
and Hospitality volunteers! Want to help? Contact Cynthia
Ramseyer for social night dinners and Suzy Pinkerton for movie
night dinners and hospitality, or any Board member.
Our spring 2-day regatta, Commodore’s Cup, is May 2-3. Starting
May 10, Sunday afternoon, 2-4, a sailing officer will be on duty
to take members for a ride on a Cal20. Contact Karen Flick to
help. Come down to the club to race on Sundays: Noon starts on
the 3 rd Sunday, and 3pm other Sundays. Our Spring Laser Sail-
Off is Monday, May 25. Please come down on May 16 and 30
for a work party to get the C15s cleaned up and ready for the
Summer Youth Sailing Program. Contact Race Director Charlie
Quest, Cal20 Fleet Leader Clarke Simm, Sailing Committee
Chair Karen Flick, or Rear Commodore Ray Durazo for more
information.
Saturday, May 9, Diana Plank presents a photo safari of Africa in
our next Arts & Science Symposium. Third Thursdays are Dad’s
Night out and Fourth Thursdays are Women’s Sailing Group.
The June Adult Sailing Class (6,7, & 13) is filling up, and youth
sailing camps (one week each) will start to fill soon. Register
online or contact Vice Commodore Neal Wehtje. See you at the
Club!
Terri

MAY EVENTS
Friday, May 1 – TGIF Dinner 7:00 PM $15
Saturday, May 2
Events Committee – 10 AM to Noon
Dinner and a Movie – Dinner at 7 PM, Movie when the sun sets.
“Cuthroat Island” is a 1995 swashbuckler about a female pirate and her
companion (Geena Davis and Matthew Modine) in search of buried
treasure. $10
Saturday & Sunday, May 2 & 3 – Commodore’s Cup Regatta
Skippers meeting at 9:30 on Saturday. Racing ends Sunday at 2:00 PM
Tuesday, May 5 – Sailing Committee 7:00 PM
Friday, May 8 – TGIF Dinner 7:00 PM
Special Events Catering prepares chicken breast Montrachet. Spinach,
guyrere cheese and artichoke hearts fill a juicy grilled chicken breast; with
penne pasta, salad and dessert. $15
Saturday, May 9 – Arts & Science Symposium – Diana Plank presents
photo safari of Africa 5:30 PM
Social Dinner 7:00 pm – Kay Burns cooks Jambalaya.
Sunday, May 10 – Spring Racing Series 3 PM to 6 PM
Tuesday, May 12 – Board of Directors meeting 6:30 PM
Thursday, May 14 – Dad’s Night Out. Come and share the joys and
challenges of fatherhood and other topics of interest.
Friday, May 15 – TGIF Dinner 7:00 PM
Special Events Catering prepares beef fajitas with all the fun toppings,
Spanish rice, Harry’s spicy frijoles and dessert. $15
Saturday, May 16 –Dinner at 7:00 and a Movie at 8:00. “Riding Giants” is
a surfing documentary starring real surfers, including footage shot at
Mavericks in HMB! $10
Sunday, May 17 – Spring Racing Series 3 PM to 6 PM
Thursday, May 21 – Women’s Sailing Group. 5 PM.
Friday, May 22 - TGIF Dinner 7:00 PM
Special Events Catering prepares grilled Mahi Mahi with pineapple pico de
gayo, rice pilaf, garden salad and dessert. $15
Saturday, May 23 – Scrapbooking Saturday 10 AM – 2 PM. Contact
Cynthia Ramseyer, 2blackcats@comcast.net or 650-726-4860.
Social Dinner 7:00 PM – Terry Ramseyer makes his famous Spaghetti
Dinner with garlic bread, salad bar and fabled fruit tarts!
Sunday, May 24 - Spring Racing Series 3 PM to 6 PM
Monday, May 25 – Spring Laser Sail-Off. Go to www.hmbyc.org for details
Friday, May 29 – TGIF Dinner 7:00 PM
Special Events Catering prepares cheese & mushroom lasagne, tomato
pomodora, Italian sausage, antipasta, garlic bread and dessert. $15
Saturday, May 30 - Dinner at 7:00 and a Movie at 8:00. Three Stooges
and Cartoon Festival. Don’t be a knucklehead. Join us! $10
Sunday, May 31 – Spring Racing Series 3 PM to 6 PM.
COMING SOON!
May AHOY! – Page 3
Dance Instruction! We have a dance instructor who
will host classes in May. Check Telltales for details.
Contact portcaptain@hmbyc.org to get on invite list.
Saturday & Sunday, June 6-7. Adult Sailing Classes.
Classroom & on-the-water instruction for grownups.
Monday, June 22. Youth Sailing Program begins,
runs through August. Weekly sessions, Monday thru
Friday, for kids 8 to 16. Sign up now!
Go to www.hmbyc.org and click on
Calendar to see all 2009 events.
NOW HIRING:
California Canoe & Kayak (our boatyard neighbor)
is hiring a part-time employee to run their kayak
rentals on weekends.
Great opportunity for college student home for the
summer. Contact: kenny@calkayak.com
HMBYC is hiring a part-time dishwasher to
supplement our hospitality volunteers.
This is a PAID position that will be open to teenage
or college students with appropriate working papers.
Please contact Port Captain Suzy Pinkerton:
portcaptain@hmbyc.org / captain_suzy@mac.com

Snapshots from the Club’s Opening Day Festivities
Photos by Kristi Durazo
2009 Board of Directors
May AHOY! – Page 4
Position Name Primary Phone # Email
Commodore Terri Lahey 650 726-2474 - h commodore@hmbyc.org
Vice Commodore Neal Wehtje 650 726 1011 - h vcommodore@hmbyc.org
Rear Commodore Ray Durazo 650 703 0813 - c rcommodore@hmbyc.org
Treasurer Rich Sullo 609 273 7221 - h treasurer@hmbyc.org
Secretary Cecily Hatchitt 650 728 8009 - h secretary@hmbyc.org
Membership Bernie Forde 650 302-1892 - c membership@hmbyc.org
Facilities Bjorn Conrad 650 793 8654 - h facilities@hmbyc.org
Port Captain Suzy Pinkerton 650 728 3361 - h portcaptain@hmbyc.org
Director-at-Large Kelly Pike 650 712 0452 - h directoratlarge@hmbyc.org

Building Update
by Kelly Pike, Building Committee Chair
Editor’s Note: This will be the last in the series of Building Update
articles by Kelly Pike you have been reading over the last several months.
Now that the new structure received its final sign-off from the County
Building Department, we are about to enter Phase II – the interior décor.
The planned cost of Phase I was $700,000. This included a $50,000 buffer
should there occur unexpected expenditures. The most recent estimate
(4/14/09) of the total cost is $687,000. The breakdown is below. This
includes all outstanding invoices.
The hard work of many people was involved to reach this point. Through
their efforts we were able to save $32,100. As savings were realized the
building committee was able to stretch the budget to upgrade the building.
For the first time the property has natural gas service. (No more propane!)
We were also able to convert our hot water system to a more energy
efficient “tankless” water heater in both buildings. The other notable
upgrades were tile and fixtures in the restrooms and showers and the
commercial vinyl floor.
The county of San Mateo was not to be denied. It found additional ways
for HMBYC to support the building code, fire safety and water drainage.
A few improvements were required on the current building and property.
May AHOY! – Page 5
The remaining financing activities are:
• Convert the construction loan to a
mini-perm loan. This will occur in
May.
• Pay down a portion of $687k
balance from HMBYC cash
reserve. The pay down is still to
be decided based on the treasure’s
assessment of cash on hand and
budget status. It will transpire
concurrent with converting to the
mini-perm loan.
The Building Committee: Terry Ramseyer,
Kelly Pike, Al Linhares, Mimi Wisnom,
Margie Gater, Ofer Amir, Terri Lahey, Urs
Willimann, thanks you for your support.
Enjoy the new space, the view, the
restrooms, the showers. It has been an
honor to have served the membership on
this project.
HMBYC
YOUTH SAILING
PROGRAM
Starting Soon!
Weekly Sessions for Kids 8 thru 16
June 22-26 June 29-July 3 July 6-10
July 13-17 July 20-24 July 27-31
Aug 3-7 Aug 10-14 Aug 17-21
$325 per student for a one-week session
Non-members pay additional $50 for
temporary Club membership that
entitles them to family Club access.
Get more details and
register online at www.hmbyc.org
Questions?
Contact Vice Commodore Neal Wehtje
vcommodore@hmbyc.org

Memo from the Bar
Manager
by Deb Kessler
I hope everyone is
ready for a big
summer season at our
club! We are certainly
thrilled to welcome so
many new members—
it promises to be an
exciting time for all of
us. As promised, here
is another column to
give our membership some updates on the bar
and its contents. Be on the lookout for a
dry rose wine for the summer. I had some
requests and it looks like we can bring in a
refreshing summer pink wine at a good price.
Do NOT think this will be a white zinfandel,
however!
The Castle Rock pinot noir has been in stock
for a couple of months now and it seems to be
selling well. Thank you for your support! On
the beer front, the Mavericks ale has also been
popular and it looks like our taps are all
pouring desirable beers.
In my ongoing efforts to stock what our
members and guests are regularly buying, I will
not be reordering bottles of Budweiser and
Miller Genuine Draft. You can get 25% more
beer, much fresher, at the same price from the
tap or choose one of our 2 light beers, our nonalcoholic
beer, or our 3 other beers in bottles.
As always, please let me have your feedback
concerning our choices of drinks and
beverages. Send an email to me at
yachtclubbarmanager@gmail.com
Volunteers Needed
Serving as a Watch Officer or Hospitality crew
is one of the best ways to get involved and
make new friends in our Club. And it’s fun!
We are looking for folks who want to help.
If you are interested, all you have to do is let
us know. Just send an email to Suzy Pinkerton,
Port Captain, at portcaptain@hmbyc.org
What are you reading?
Reviews
Of Of Of Of Salty Salty Salty Salty Books Books Books Books
May AHOY! – Page 6
Champlain: Master
Mariner, Explorer, Statesman
What can you say about a man who commanded 27 roundtrip
voyages in the early 1600s across the storm-racked North
Atlantic without ever losing a ship? In the non-fiction
historical book by David Hackett Fischer, “Champlain’s
Dream,” (Simon & Schuster) we learn that Samuel Champlain
(1570-1635) was also an explorer of monumental proportions, a
cartographer whose maps proved to be among the New World’s
most accurate, a military strategist, a talented artist, and a
visionary statesman.
And yet, the image of Champlain that rises over all of the
above is that of humanitarian. As the French founding father of
Canada, he was the antithesis of the Spanish conquistadores
who treated the native people they encountered with
unrelenting cruelty.
Champlain dreamed of a multicultural country in which
Europeans and natives could live together as equals, in
harmony and peace. He believed that a shared vision of
prosperity was always preferable to violence and war.
At 531 pages of text and 303 pages of appendices, the book
is a formidable tome. But for history and nautical afficianados,
it is well worth the investment of time.
Hilarious Take on Life in “Paradise”
Ever dream of living on a South Pacific atoll beside a
turquoise lagoon under wind-swept, blue skies? According to J.
Maarten Troost, author of “The Sex Lives of Cannibals,”
(Broadway Books) your daydreams may need an overhaul.
When the author is not being wryly cynical, he is just
outright hilarious in his telling of the two years he spent on
Tarawa in the Marshall Islands. On this tiny dot in the vast
Pacific, he learns that there is no supermarket, no newspapers,
no reliable sources of electricity, fresh water or sewage
treatment and…omigod!…no beer, more often than not.
In fact, almost nothing on Tarawa works, including officials
of the alleged government. The island’s sole airline has one
plane that seems to be held together with masking tape. The
electrical generating plant functions sporadically and fresh
water is captured in cisterns when it rains, which isn’t often.
But, when his wife’s tour of duty as a UN social
development agency’s representative is over, they return to
“civilized” Washington DC only to find that they desperately
miss the South Pacific life they had.
You will love this constantly entertaining, funny, breezy
book that also offers some illuminating insights on life.

Watch Officer & Hospitality Schedule – May 2009
Watch Officer Hospitality Event
Fri May 1 Neil Hooper Sandra Scowen & Jay Howell TGIF Dinner
Sat May 2 (2-7) Kay Burns
(7-11) Jim Stretch
Sun May 3 Dick & Tammy Schubert
Fri May 8 Dan Bodmann
Sat May 9 (2-7) Ray Durazo
(7-11) Volunteer needed
Sun May 10 Neil & Cecily Hooper
(6-10) Volunteer needed Movie Night
Reinhard
May AHOY! – Page 7
TGIF Dinner
(6-10) Volunteer needed Social Dinner
Fri May 15 Peggy Ruse Karen Litcher TGIF Dinner
Sat May 16 (2-7) Clarke Simm
(7-11) Volunteer needed
Sun May 17 Carol Hoover
(6-10) Volunteer needed Movie Night
Fri May 22 Volunteer needed Richard Hector TGIF Dinner
Sat May 23 (2-7) Marie Parfitt-Pattie
(7-11) Jess & Rich Sullo
Sun May 24 Volunteer needed
Mon May 25 (2-7) Volunteer needed
Fri May 29 Jim Stretch Reinhard
Sat May 30 (2-7) Kristi Durazo
(7-11) Charlie Quest
Sun May31 Kelly Pike
Neal Wehtje
Construction
Kitchen and Bath Remodels
a specialty
650-726-1011
nealwehtje@comcast.net
Contractor License 864704
650-996-5217
kay@kayburns.com www.kayburns.com
RE/MAX Dolphin Real Estate
Half Moon Bay, CA
Kay donates 10% of her commission
for all referrals and transactions that close escrow
that come from HMBYC members.
Sandra Scowen & Jay Howell Social Dinner
Liz Allison Movie Night

Normal Clubhouse Hours: Office Hours: (Call)
Friday, 6pm-11pm Office Email: hmbyc@sbcglobal.net
Saturday, 2pm-11 pm Office Phone: (650) 728-2120
Sunday, 2 pm – 7 pm Office Fax: (650) 728-1947
Club Phone & Message: (650-728-2120)
Club Mailing Address: P.O Box 52, El Granada CA 94018
Physical Location: 214 Princeton Avenue, Princeton
AHOY! Newsletter
Half Moon Bay Yacht Club
P.O. Box 52
El Granada CA 94018
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