The Long Beach Yacht Club in California has asked us if we would be interested in sending a team to the Seawanhaka International Challenge Cup which will be hosted by LBYC from 2nd-5th June 2021. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we were back to travelling internationally for sailing events by June next year? Who ever thought that would be a treat beyond imagining? The Seawanhaka Cup is said to be the oldest yachting trophy originating in the United States of America that is still in active competition. A few years ago, I was fortunate to be invited onto the umpire team for this event when it was hosted by Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club on Center Island in New York. It must be the only event I have ever been to where the club billeted some of the visitors from overseas in Billy Joel’s guest house! It is challenged for by clubs from around the world and last year it was won by LBYC, so they are the hosts this year. Isn’t it great to think that if we were to win it, we could host the event in Bermuda in 2022 in our RS21s?
First we need to win it! Anyone interested in match racing in Long Beach, Ca next June? LBYC has a fleet of Catalina 37s, which require 7 crew, so we are calling on all our talented match racers (or potential match racers) to let us know if they would be interested in being part of this event. Flights to California aren’t cheap, so we will need a long lead time to organize some fund-raising events for this crew, plus they need to practice as we don’t want to go all the way to California to come last! The entry fee has to be paid by 1st March, which is actually only just around the corner, so we can’t afford to put this on the back burner for too long. If anyone would like to be a part of this: sailing crew, support team, travel companions etc. please email Maria in the sailing office (sailing@rhadc.bm) to register your interest. The Notice of Race can be found here: https://www.lbyc.org/files/SEAWANHAKA%20CUP%202021%20NOR%20FINAL%201.pdf
The Commodorable informs me that he sailed in the Congressional Cup at LBYC in 1974 and when it comes to hosting match racing events, the LBYC knows a thing or two. He is very keen to relive his youth and be a part of this in 2021, but after a delicate discussion, he admits he could be above the age limit, but tells me he is very willing to be the technical advisor to the team! At their own risk…..
Meanwhile back to real life where the news tells us that California has more Covid cases than most European countries…… When will this actually end?
In the hope that our own status quo will continue for the time being, you will see that the Club has published our Christmas plans for the month of December. Due to the pandemic, Santa Claus won’t be visiting as putting lots of little children onto his knee and breathing on them is forbidden this year (it actually sounds sort of gross when you put it like that, doesn’t it?), but we do hope you will all join in the celebrations in some way – if for no other reason than to put 2020 behind us. We are restricted to a maximum of 75 people indoors still, so please book early for anything you would like to attend, as we would hate you to be disappointed. Unfortunately, there will not be a Governor’s luncheon this year as the new Governor is not arriving on island until 9th December and will then have to quarantine for 14 days – perhaps we can organize something to introduce her to RHADC in the New Year. Stay tuned……
Elspeth Weisberg
Commodore
November 20, 2020