AMYA Bulletin
Volume 3, Edition 15
October 25, 2010

Greetings!

 Ken Shaw and I had the pleasure of being the RD's this past weekend for the Laser regatta in Oxford, MD.  The only thing better than the group of sailors and volunteers was the food.  I don't remember any other regatta with filet mignon and crab cakes on the menu.  To give you an idea of how nice this regatta was, John Cleave came over from the Isle of Wight for the weekend!

 

A true friend of our hobby, George Dornis passed away.  Hugh Richards has a couple submissions regarding George in this edition.  Please take a look.

 

As always, thanks for reading.

David Brawner
Region 2 Director
 George Dornis Appreciation Day Regatta
By Hugh Richards

 

 

The Helmsmen MYC declared October 10th to be George Dornis Appreciation Day, and hosted a gathering at El Dorado Park in Long Beach, California, to honor George for his contributions to model yachting. George has been a member of the club and a true friend of the Helmsmen skippers for many years. In addition to the Helmsmen, a like number of skippers from the Orange County Model Sailing Club in Irvine, where George also sails, came up to participate.

 

After carefully preserving the secret from him for several weeks, George's wife Ruby and several of his relatives brought him to the pond, where he was surprised for find over two dozen skippers awaiting his arrival. Helmsmen Commodore Hugh Richards welcomed George and explained why the group was assembled. Past Commodore Don Dixon then presented George with a plaque expressing everyone's appreciation, and Vice Commodore Bill Herrera presented him with an embroidered jacket.

 

Following the presentations, a fun sail regatta was held featuring George's boats - Soling One Meters and V32s. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate to the extent desired, with high temperatures and light, shifting breezes, and the sailing was lackluster and slow, necessitating reducing the planned number of heats from six per class to four each. However, the sailing was secondary to the main reason for the event, and everyone was happy to be able to turn out to show our gratitude to George, and to wish him well.

 

Soling One Meter Results:

1             Bob Richmond              8.75 points

2             Eric Conn                      13.75

3             Mike Schachter            16.75

4             Bob Patterson              17

5             Don Broker                   21

6             Don Dixon                    24.75

7             Dennis Sharp                30

8             John McAleer               31

9 (tie)     John Brennan               36

9 (tie)     Don Marshall               36

10           Hugh Richards             40

11           Chris Hansen                42

12           Dean Maurry                50

13           Tom Watson                61

 

V32 Results:

1             Don Frakes                   7.5 points

2             Pete Kruse                     12

3             Bill Ostic                        24

4             Dave Endert                 25

5             Rick DeShane              28

6             Herb Trumpoldt           29

7             Don Richtenburg         31

8             Fred Bock                     34.75

9             Bert Hawkins               35

10 (tie)   Chris Hansen                37

10 (tie)   Larry Kroenig               37

11           David Radell                42.75

12           Glenn Krumbine          45

 

IN MEMORIUM

 

George had been in declining health for several months, and was obviously quite weak at the George Dornis Appreciation Day gathering. In the days following the regatta, his condition took a serious turn for the worse, and he passed away shortly after midnight on October 21st. He was at home with his wife Ruby when the end came.

 

George was a valued member of our hobby. A 2007 inductee into the AMYA  Hall of Fame, he became AMYA #297 in the early 1970s. He has actively assisted many clubs in the LA area, and at the end of his life was a member of Club #23, Helmsmen MYC, Long Beach, California, and Club #89, Orange County MSC, Irvine, California. Although given the opportunity, he never served as an AMYA officer, as he manufactured model yacht kits from the beginning, and wished to avoid conflicts of interest. He greatly served the growth of the AMYA and model yachting as a significant manufacturer of model yacht kits for over 30 years.

 

George worked very hard over the years to produce reasonably priced model yacht kits to the benefit of our members. He built his small business from a part-time garage operation to an efficient, small manufacturing facility. His effort to build a stable company dedicated to building reasonably priced model yachts and kits is a real testament to his dedication to our pastime of model yachting. His company, Victor Model Products, manufactures the Soling One Meter, the most popular class of model yacht sanctioned by the AMYA. The company also manufactures the V-32 and Footy.

 

George's consistent contribution of effort to manufacture kits for popular classes had significant impact on the growth of the AMYA. His Soling One Meter and V-32 boats have provided an entry into the hobby for thousands of new model yachters, as well as supplying dependable craft for many long-time enthusiasts. Without his efforts we would be far less of an organization, and wanting for such a dedicated manufacturer of reasonably priced and good sailing kits. He was an ever-encouraging force in the growth of model yachting in the United States.

 

George was quiet and friendly. He was always ready to offer help, whether to a friend, a stranger, or a customer, and conducted himself as a true gentleman, both in business and his personal life. Model yachting has lost a true and valuable friend, and he will be truly missed.


 Battle at the Alamo - 2010
 San Antonio, Texas - October 8-10,2010 - Woodlawn Sailing Club - AMYA #112

 


 
       Al Ross, a famed TEAM Katrina member from the New Orleans area, endured two days of battles at this years Victoria Alamo Classic in San Antonio,TX. Al Ross had to fight off the current Victoria Nationals Champion, crowned just weeks ago, Mr Ron Stephanz from TEAM Bama. Ron was even made to wear a target on his back by the other skippers as a Texas initiation as Champion. And if that wasn't hard enough Al also had to battle with TEAM Houston's Chris Macaluso, Victoria Nationals Champ for the two previous years before Ron. All this with the distractions of yet another picture perfect Regatta of Fun and Food, a typical Woodlawn Sailing Club Regatta! 

22 Skippers had perfect weather in the Lone Star State this years regatta hosted by the Woodlawn Sailing Club - AMYA #112.  With a calm wind on Saturday, and 5-10 mph winds all day Sunday. This year even had enough wind to send all 22 skippers on the annual Alamo Classica Intergalactica long distance race out to the lake's Lighthouse and back. Doesn't sound hard at all!....but consider that the Lighthouse is almost two football fields away, and the Victoria is only 30"long. Total concentration needed for this race! Al Ross added to his perfect weekend with the hel
p of all the planets being aligned on Sunday,10/10/10, with a win here also. Winning it in the last few feet when the 1st, 2nd, 3rd place boat at the leeward mark were in their own tacking duel battle, Al got an inside lift at the last seconds and feet before the finish and edged out all three of them to pull out the win. The crowd of spectators went wild for Al! Al was seen taken his bows on the dock after the race! He's lucky he didn't get pushed in the lake.....lol...As with all Woodlawn Regattas, the wifes, girlfriend, and even work freinds come out to help host this event. Again the food was abundant with skippers guaranteed not to go home hungry. With 15 total races completed, all skippers felt that they had had enough by mid-day Sunday. WSC is known for inivation and introducing something new every year. This has become a tradition and having all skippers hang out till the end of trophy presentation is a testimony to the great fun till the end.  This year was no different with the Trophies for the event even required electricity to complete the day! To top off the weekend all Skippers were treated to Mexican Ice Cream to close the Trophy Presentations! See ya next year, always on Columbus Day Weekend!......Ray Seta - Commodore WSC

 RC Laser Regional Championship
Tred Avon Yacht Club, Oxford, MD 
Laser start in Oxford


1st Ryan Lippincott West Jersey RC Laser Fleet
2nd John Cleave United Kingdom
3rd Rob Seidelmann West Jersey RC Laser Fleet
4th Roger Vaughn Oxford RC Laser Fleet
5th Jamie Betz West Jersey RC Laser Fleet

The complete write up will appear on the RC Laser website shortly.

AMYA Regatta Schedule

 


Oct 30Newport 12 RegattaIrvineCANewport 12M89
Oct 30Heart of DixieMeridanMSVictoria228GR

DateEventLocationStateClassClub Chev
Nov 5-7Annapolis EC-12 RegattaAnnapolisMDEast Coast 1211GR
Nov 5Annapolis J-boat RegattaAnnapolisMDJ11
Nov 6-7Region 5 ChampionshipLitchfield ParkAZSeaWind207RE
Nov 6-77th Annual Soling RegattaThe VillagesFLSoling 1M208GR
Nov 74-Hour EnduroNeedhamMAOpen25
Nov 12-14National ChampionshipAlbequerqueNMRG 65213GO
Nov 13-14National ChampionshipScottsdaleAZ36/60029GO
Nov 13-14Gator RegattaThe VillagesFLEast Coast 12220GR
Nov 13Fall RegattaSan DiegoCASoling 508
Nov 13Fall RegattaSan DiegoCASanta Barbara8
Nov 13Lone Star ShootoutTomball TXVictoria275GR
Nov 20-21SCRS #4San DiegoCAIOM8
Nov 20Soling 1M RegattaIrvineCASoling 1M89
Nov 20Region 3 ChampionshipSebringFLUS 12264RE
Nov 27Region 6 ChampionshipIrvineCAMicroMagic89RE

DateEventLocationStateClassClub Chev
Dec 4-5Punta Gorda RegattaPunta GordaFLEast Coast 12211GR
Dec 10-12National ChampionshipCharleston SCSoling 1M115GO