The birthday of Ed Roberts, “the father of the disability rights movement,” was a perfect day to launch of the new-to-Long Beach RS Venture 16 sailboat in partnership with California Inclusive Sailing.
Sunday, Jan. 25, scouts, Long Beach YC members and California Inclusive Sailing officials gathered to celebrate the launch of a new addition to LBYC’s fleet — a sailboat that has been modified so that sailors with disabilities are able to get out on the water sailing.
The boat is on loan to LBYC for six months from Christian Buhl, founder of California Inclusive Sailing in Newport Beach. The CIS program has been helping to provide platforms to make sailing accessible to all sailors regardless of physical or mental disabilities.
The boat features an adaptive package with joystick steering.
Long Beach Yacht Club members and California Inclusive Sailing officials gathered on Jan. 25 to celebrate the launch of a new addition to LBYC’s fleet — a sailboat that has been modified to accommodate sailors with disabilities. (Photo by Jo Murray).
Long Beach Yacht Club members and California Inclusive Sailing officials gathered on Jan. 25 to celebrate the launch of a new addition to LBYC’s fleet — a sailboat that has been modified to accommodate sailors with disabilities. (Photo by Jo Murray).
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Long Beach Yacht Club members and California Inclusive Sailing officials gathered on Jan. 25 to celebrate the launch of a new addition to LBYC’s fleet — a sailboat that has been modified to accommodate sailors with disabilities. (Photo by Jo Murray).
The club is partnering with the Sea Scouts at Long Beach Sea Base and their director Jeb Price, who has organized a disability awareness day to coincide with the launch of this new boat. There were 30 Scouts who participated in a sold-out program focused on understanding and supporting people with disabilities
A stoke survivor, Eagle scout and LBYC Staff Commodore David Westerfield and his wife Lisa were the first Long Beach sailors to take the boat for a sail in Alamitos Bay.
RS Venture is a 16-foot fiberglass boat, one of six in use. LBYC leadership is currently looking for a club member to champion the use of the boat.
Youth Sailing
ABYC hosted the Southern California Youth Yacht Racing Association (SCYYRA) Perry Series #3 Regatta on Jan. 24-25.
Fifty-seven Club 420 youth teams came from all over California to sail on our ocean course. Eight races were held in winds in the six to ten knot range. The racing was extremely close with black flag starts for all but one race. over fifty volunteers on the water and on shore
These prizes were awarded:
–First place: Wyatt Kelly and Fiona Barbeito of SDYC and ABYC;
–Second: Gage Christopher and Madison Mansour of ABYC;
–Third: Charlotte Carmichael and Maddie Kirby of NHYC/One United;
–Fourth: Kevin Cason and Isabella Cason of SDYC; and
–Fifth place: Nickolas Lech and JP Panebianco of ABYC.
The top all-female teams:
–First: Charlotte Carmichael and Maddie Kirby of NHYC/One United;
–Second: Harper Swezea and Katherine Choi, ABYC; and
–Third: Vivi Lagutenko and Zoe Lindberg, DRYC/One United.
The top young skippers award went to Will Ramsay and Charley Stephenson of NHYC/ABYC.
8 Bells
Three local watermen recently left us.
–Marilyn “Mare Mare” Spencer’s celebration of life was held on Jan. 23.
She was Alamitos Bay YC’s piano player, ukulele band performer and outrigger canoe paddler. At every club event, she wore her signature cowboy hat and tutu. She was 81 years old and died after battling the effects of a stroke.
–John Caldwell served the yachting community with distinction, as Commodore of Marina Yacht Club of Long Beach (2017), Seal Beach Yacht Club (2019), and the Southern California Yachting Association (2023), as well as executive vice president of the Long Beach Marina Boat Owners Association.
He led with kindness and wit. He fought cancer for several years and was 65 years old when he died.
Caldwell’s viewing will be on Jan. 31 at 11 a.m. at the Fleur De Lis Chapel, 525 W 18th St. in Upland.
A celebration of life and burial at sea will be held in Seal Beach, on Feb. 15 at 10 a.m., with a reception to follow at Seal Beach YC.
–Bruce Vancil’s service on the Queen Mary was held Sunday Jan. 25. He was a tour guide on the ship in the 1970s. He was 67 years old.
In 2002 Bruce received the H. Graham Wood award for distinguished service to the Steamship Historical Society of America had a long and distinguished association with the society serving in various leadership roles over three decades.
He was chairman of the Southern California branch from 1996 until 2022. As chapter president he created and edited the newsletter The Ocean Times from 1997 through 2013.
He served as the Western Regional Vice President of the society and maintained the West Coast headquarters on board the Queen Mary.
He also held the position of Executive Director of the RMS Queen Mary foundation from 2006 until 2008. He continued to serve as president emeritus of the Southern California chapter where he lectured and remained an advisor.
Vancil was one of many ship fans that sailed on Queen Mary 2 when she made her first visit to California. when QM2 came alongside Queen Mary on February 23 of 2006.
Royal Rendezvous
The Queen Mary 2 will anchor within view of the Queen Mary on Monday Feb. 2, at 6:30 a.m.
At 7 a.m., the ships will share a whistle salute to celebrate their reunion. Queen Mary 2’s starboard funnel houses an iconic whistle, originally from the Queen Mary.
At 7:30 a.m., the Queen Mary 2 will continue on to the Port of Los Angeles.
There will be good viewing spots near the stern of the Queen Mary or you might want to take to the water for an early morning Harbor Cruise.
This guided cruise — with a 6 a.m. boarding time — provides an opportunity to see the two ships from the water with narration by Queen Mary Ship Officer Danny Rangel. Visit What’s On Deck for tickets, at $53 per person .