Such an exciting month it has been! The new clubhouse is finally open for use, regattas up and down the coast, and school is winding down. Life is good!!!

The juniors are happy to announce that Claudia Snider is now working in the Jr. Office assisting Jana with the thousands of things that go on in our department. This will free up Jana so that she can spend more time on the water and supervising our summer staff of 13 instructors. Claudia is no stranger to our program as her son Alex and daughter Andrea have both grown up in the program. Claudia has been handling the summer program registrations for the past 4 years and has excellent knowledge of all the details of all the different and diverse programs. Claudia is part-time during the year and will be full time in the summer. Please stop by the office and say hi to Claudia.

On the local racing scene the SWYC/SDYC Spring Series wrapped up on the 11th of April with many of our racer team members participating. Give it up for Jack McGraw, Dean and Gwyn Curry, James Ziebarth, James Letchinger, Dylan Elliot, Donatello DeGregorio, Blake Buckner, Luke Kellerhouse, and Cody Odou. These local (very local, just off the dock) races are a great way to sharpen your skills during the off-summer season.

Our junior officers had a hand- full of events to attend this past month supporting of our club and representing the junior program. There was a ribbon cutting ceremony in mid-April that Jr. Vice Commodore Jesse O’Dell, Rear Commodore Cody Odou, Sail Fleet Captain James Ziebarth, Secretary Gwyn Curry and juniors Conor Porter, Dylan Elliott and Courtney Odou assisted with the art work unveiling. James said the toughest part of the day was holding the front door open for 45 minutes while all the members walked through (he is sure he was the last one to see the new club house). After the ceremony, the members all explored the inside while our junior board gave provided assistance in navigating the clubhouse. In addition to the ribbon cutting, we celebrated our first Opening Day in the new club. Most Junior Officers were present and accounted for while other board members were out wreaking havoc on the race course.

MBYC hosted the ‘first ever Spring Sabot Showdown” and received a great attendance by the sabot fleet. Our own Jack McGraw 7th in A fleet and James Ziebarth 16th in C1. Thanks to coach Olin Paine and trailer drivers John McGraw and Bryan Buffaloe.

April 17-18 we were in San Francisco. Jesse O’Dell, instructor Alexa Calvarias and yours truly participated (actually I just went as the team captain for fun) in the Pacific Coast Interscholastic High School Sailing Championships. Hosted by St. Francis YC, the participants raced right in the City Front venue providing great viewing for all the spectators. Jesse’s Bishop Knights took 20th, Alexa’s Islanders grabbed 1st while my Point Loma Pointers took 2nd overall. The Pointers and the Islander’s will head on to the Mallory High School National Championship in Greenwich Connecticut in early May.

The Pacific Coast Baker Eliminators is the high school qualifiers for the National Team Racing Championships. This year the event was held on Mission Bay, at the Santa Clara Point. There was great wind and sunny skies for most of the weekend, providing a good time in Mission Bay. My team, the Pointers, took first over all after a very successful weekend with no losses. We will sail in mid-May in Seattle for the championship. This event was hosted by the San Diego Area Yacht Club’s and was in the planning process for over a year. Kudos’s to the SWYC teams of my dad Drew Bernet and Doug Paine for playing Beach master for the two days. Rachael Neal and Jana Odou who sat on the finish boat all weekend and helped with boat launching and retrieval. My mom Jeanette Novarina who was the hospitality hostess providing all the judges with lunch and breakfast (did I mention she was in charge of the Club Opening Ceremonies that same weekend ….you”re awesome mom!)

A special thank you goes out to Allen Shumate, Rick. Pluth, Chris O’Bryan, Mike Grill, Heidi Kelly, Bruce Harris and Drew Bernet for tackling the task of replacing and updating our trailer fleets (10 road trailers in all). Their volunteering will make our lives much easier and safer for all.

Our After School Sailing Classes have come to a close for the spring as we ready all the equipment for summer. Thanks to all the staff; Alexa, Olin, Caleb, Briana, Bryan, Jordon, Ross, Rachael and yes Jana even taught the Thurs. “Girls Diva” class for their high level of instruction and attention to detail. Applause to all the parents who faithfully brought down kids to sail on Thursday and Friday.

5 Double-Handed Luff-in MBYC 29er, CFJ, 420
6 Single-Handed Luff-in MBYC Lasers, Sabot
12 Juniors Work Party SWYC
12-13 Balboa Advanced Sabot Clinic BYC Sabots
19 All-Girl Sail Jam MBYC CFJ, 420, Sabot, Snipe
25 Summer Kick-Off BBQ SWYC