LUNCH AT THE ST FRANCIS YC, March 2006

[Bill]

As pointed out on other occasions, the St Francis Yacht Club hosts a weekly yachtsman’s buffet luncheon that includes a speaker. They get some very interesting people. A recent speaker was Phil Gioia, a naval historian who consults for the History Channel and who spoke on the rescue of the submarine Squalus back in 1939. Phil had the audience mesmerized.

But, Gioia could not hold a candle to the speaker who followed two weeks later. It was Dave Perry who spoke about “When Boats Meet” on the race course. Or more precisely, "Use the Rules or be Abused by Competitors – A Racers Guide to the Rulebook." Now this was exciting stuff!

Perry pointed out that, "It’s damned hard to be crew. You have to be a contortionist, a psychic, a glutton for verbal abuse, and, oh yeah, flawless." As my fellow racing skippers know, that’s precisely what we expect from our crew . . .

Here is the book from which Dave takes his presentation. (NOTE: for you skippers who have not been keeping up with the rules, "mast abeam" is no longer available. Get the rule book and learn all about it and other changes.)

[Bill]

Here's Dave Perry working the white board . . .

[Bill]

The lunch crowd listening to Dave . . .

[Bill]

Here’s the bar in the St Francis Grill Room . . . (early in the day)

[Bill]

The view of Alcatraz from the Grill Room windows . . .

[Bill]

The view of the Golden Gate Bridge from the Grill Room windows . . .