thelog.com


U.S. Sailing’s training programs benefit local yacht clubs


By Rick Roberts


LONG BEACH — U.S. Sailing is the National Governing Body for the sport of sailing in the United States. Working closely with yacht clubs and sailing organizations they establish rules for racing, providing extensive training and support for the individuals to run these races and regattas in the safest possible way. Safety was discussed at every semi- nar and presentation, regardless of the topic, during the 2016 U.S. Sailing Leadership Conference in San Diego. Many of the seminars were specifically about on-the-water safety. The greatest concern for safety on the water involves youth sailing pro- grams. One of those skilled U.S. Sailing


trainers is Long Beach Yacht Club’s Sailing Director, Jess Gerry, who has 10 years of youth program director man- agement experience between Bahia


Corinthian Yacht Club and Long Beach Yacht Club. He recently completed his U.S.


Sailing Instructor Trainer Certification. “In essence, a qualified instructor


trainer is certified by US Sailing to run a 40 hour U.S. Sailing Level 1 Small Boat Instructor Course for those seek- ing to teach and instruct our sport using the US Sailing standards. Most, if not all, yacht clubs require this certifi- cation to obtain any coaching posi- tion,” Gerry said. When asked what motivated him to take the course, he said, “Our ongoing focus on safety and sailing education here at Long Beach YC was a major factor.” “Long Beach YC shows great sup-


port to their staff to pursue further education within the sport. Being up to date with the latest material from U.S. Sailing only strengthens our sail- ing community and Long Beach YC,” Gerry continued.


Sailing Spotlight: Vicki Callahan


Boat delivery cap- tain, yacht club member helps col- lect luggage for fos- ter children.


REDONDO BEACH — Vicki Callahan, a longtime mem- ber of King Harbor Yacht Club and an experienced boat captain, has brought her passion for philanthro- py to the club, collecting more than 300 suitcases for foster kids.


Vicki Callahan brings her pas- sion for philanthropy and boating to King Harbor YC.


project and mine was Foster Child Resource Program. I learned that when a foster child turns 18 that they are asked to leave their foster home. They often are handed a trash bag to put all their belongings in and leave the foster home. We began collect- ing luggage and backpacks to the kids will have something nicer than a plastic bag to transport their personal items. We started collecting gen- tly used suitcases and the


yacht club picked it up as a project.


What is your boating back- ground?


My husband, Byron Porter, and I have a mixed marriage: he’s a sailor and I’m a powerboater. We argue which one is the best mode of transportation If it’s smooth like glass it is my day and it’s his day when it’s windy. We are both licensed captains with


110-ton license and through our business, Callahan-Porter Yacht Management, we do consulting, deliveries and my husband teaches for a yacht broker when a cus- tomer buys a new yacht. I prefer doing deliveries. We’ve delivered boats to Santa Barbara


for a race or to Baja Naval for boat work, and as far as Seattle and Cabo San Lucas.


What is the Foster Child Resource Program and how did yacht club members get involved?


I am a third generation member of the Woman’s Club and each club chooses a


Have you collected several donations?


It’s an ongoing project. I’ve had members say ‘I’m going on a cruise, can I give you my old luggage?’ I’ve collected 300 suit- cases from the yacht club and they’ve been so generous donating jackets and gift cards. Some have written me checks. We need a lot of things for the foster kids.


How do you balance work with philanthropy?


At the club I am in charge of ordering and making sure trophies are available for each race and ordering trophies for the Twilight Series and Byron does the com- mittee boat. We have four to five deliveries a month and spend time on our own personal boat – a powerboat. It just seems to work. Without Byron’s help and his picking up some of the slack to do deliveries, I would not be able to do this; I’m very grateful. The project will be ongoing as long as


I’m around.


The Log • April 8 - 21, 2016 • 27


Long Beach Yacht Club Sailing Director Jess Gerry working with junior sailor Lily Morse during a club coach- ing session.


The rigorous four-day course held


at San Diego YC consisted of testing and presentation skills. On the water and rescue procedures were also part of the training. “There are currently 71 active


Instructor Trainers in the U.S. and I am


one of only four in California,” he said. Visit U.S. Sailing online at ussail-


ing.org, contact the organization by email at info@ussailing.org or call them at 800-877-2451 for more infor- mation about educational and certifi- cation seminars.


Newport Sea Base Youth Sailing Team competes in Islands Race


The Newport Sea Base Youth Sailing Team, sailing aboard Apprentice, an IMX- 38, experienced a storm front during the 80-mile race from Long Beach to San Diego. Catherine Reynolds, 16, served as helmswoman. The team’s skip-


per, Tom Hartmann, executive director of Newport Sea Base, said, “For the first six hours of the race, including the three-hour transit in the morning, I never put a finger on the helm. I was certainly ready to do so but I was con- fident Catherine would find her foot- ing. It was great to see her, and our team captain, Kitty, step up during the


SNAPSHOT ON THE RUN


whole race.” “The most challeng- ing part for me was handling the boat once night fell. Once it got dark, the only prior notice that a wave was about to hit was a shimmering, grey shadow welling up behind you, before it peaked up on the


transom to send you rocketing down the face,” Reynolds continued. The team finished just before mid- night and sailed into San Diego Harbor under blustery winds and rain. The Newport Sea Base Youth Sailing


Team is comprised of approximately 20 youth members and several adult advisors.


Cindy Bambam photo


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