February, 2008

Greetings to current and former PCC owners, and friends:

WHAT'S NEW:

The 2008 elected PCCYRA Officers are:

President:                  Neil Atwood
Vice President:            David Rice
Secretary/Treasurer: Archie Contreras
Fleet Captain:            Chris Museler, East Coast Fleet
Fleet Captain:           Jean Alexander, Los Angeles Area Fleet
Fleet Captain:            Jim Conachen, Pacific Northwest Fleet

That the original PCCYRA Constitution and By-Laws were approved October 2, 1948. This year marks the 60 year anniversary. Greg Stewart at the Ancient Mariner's Sailing Society has confirmed that the 2008 PCCYRA Nationals will held in conjunction with the Kettenburg Regatta again this year. As in the past, the Kettenburg Regatta will be co-hosted by the Southwestern Yacht Club, and the Ancient Mariner's Sailing Society. The regatta will be held on June 8th this year. The Classic Yacht Foundation is sponsoring the PCC Nationals, and awards will be given for both the PCC Nationals, and the Kettenburg PCC Class.

Peter English, Board of Directors member of the Master Mariners Benevolent Association has let me know that the Master Mariners Regatta will be held in San Francisco this year on May 24th. All PCC owners are encouraged to enter.

Terry Klaus, Staff Commodore of the St. Francis Yacht Club, and Peter English have graciously agreed to allow the San Francisco Bay Area PCC Fleet Championship to be held in conjunction  with the Jessica Cup being held October 18th and 19th. The Jessica Cup is co-hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club, and the Master Mariners Benevolent Association. Slips at the St. Francis Yacht Club will be made available for yachts entered for three days during this event. See the Master Mariners Benevolent Association at: www.mastermariners.org

PCCs SOLD

Joshua "Josh" Berglund has purchased "Kachina", PCC #23. Josh lives in the San Francisco Bay area, and will be moving "Kachina" from Los Angeles to join the San Francisco Bay Area
Fleet. That will bring the total to four PCCs sailing in San Francisco.

Gordon McRae of  Vancouver BC has purchased "Ricochet", PCC #21. You can contact Gordon at:
[email protected] "Ricochet" will remain in the Pacific Northwest Fleet.

FOR SALE:

Chris Museler is selling "Janley", PCC #14. (see ChrisÕ latest article in the current Wooden Boat magazine) "Janley" is located in Rhode Island, and is in excellent condition, with a new mast and chain plates (2005). I sailed with Chris and Kara on "Janley" in 2005, and she is very well maintained. The family is growing, and a larger classic S&S are in Chris' sights.

CURRENT RESTORATIONS:

Archie's restoration on "Ballerina", PCC #12, and Jim's restoration of "Belle of the West", PCC #19 continues. Both will be a show piece when finished, both Archie and Jim trying to out do David's "Selene", PCC #3.

As reported, "Cyane", PCC #17 (formerly owned by Henry B. duPont) suffered significant structural damage when she fell off the jack stands onto her starboard side in October. I visited the site in Maine the day after this occurred. Anyone wanting additional information regarding the restoration of "Cyane" should contact me directly.

CURRENT EVENTS:

Jack Sutphen, America's Cup Hall of Fame member, and PC National's champion gave a presentation, and did a booking of his book "Messing About in Boats for 80 Years with Jack Sutphen" at the Spaulding Wooden Boat Center in Sausalito on February 16th.

Five PCC owners were there (Archie, Tom, Kat, Josh, and Neil) in addition to Steve Barber (K-38 owner, Kettenburg Boat Owners Association web site), Kimball Livingston (Senior Editor SAIL magazine, St. Francis Yacht Club Board of Directors), Peter English (K-38 owner, Master Mariners Board of Directors), Sara Simmons (past St. Francis Yacht Club Board of Directors), Dick Enerson (Off Shore Productions film company, St. Francis Yacht Club member, and former America's Cup crew member), Tom List (Spaulding Wooden Boat Center Board of Directors),
and R."Bob" C. Keefe (former Commodore of the St. Francis Yacht Club).

Mark Welther, Director of the Spaulding Wooden Boat Center, and Steve Barber did an excellent job organizing this event. The Spaulding Wooden Boat Center is a working boat building and restoration facility. Anyone in the Bay area should make a point of visiting this significant wooden boat facility, meeting Mark, and talking with their master craftsman. You can become a member for $100, and you will have done a good thing in supporting their effort. See their web site at:
www.spauldingcenter.org

I have been in contact with Andy German, the person editing the book about Kettenburg Boat Works for the Mystic Seaport Museum, which was written by Mark Allen. The book is now titled "Building Kettenburgs: Premier Boats Built and Designed in San Diego". The book is being co-published by the Maritime Museum of San Diego, and the Mystic Seaport Museum. The book is now scheduled to go to the printer sometime in March. Bob Kyle and Gene Trepte are accepting financial donations for some of the pre-production costs of the book on behalf of the Maritime Museum of San Diego. Anyone making a financial donation on behalf of the book will be listed in the book as having made the donation. For further information, or to make a donation, contact the
Maritime Museum of San Diego directly: www.sdmaritime.com

The end product for this book will be a very high quality "coffee table" style book. I have read most of the draft copy of this book, and it will be a "must have" for anyone interested in Kettenburg boats, or classic yachts in general. I assume there will be a book launch at the Maritime Museum of San Diego. I'll keep you posted.

For those of you that don't know, Mark Allen was diagnosed with brain cancer last year. mark has since had two surgeries to remove the tumor. Mark's wife Laura told me that Mark seems to be making a slow recovery at home, with some memory loss. Anyone wanting to contact Mark can e-mail Mark at: [email protected] Everyone wishes. I am sure you will join me in wishing Mark a quick and full recovery.

Until next time, sail on...............

Neil