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TRANSPACIFIC YACHT CLUB

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About the Transpac Race

The Transpacific Yacht Race, or "Transpac" as most sailors call it, vies with the Bermuda Race on the U.S. East Coast as one of the two most enduring long distance sailing contests in the world. However Transpac’s open ocean racecourse that measures some 2,225 nautical miles, far overshadows the 635-mile Bermuda Race that also began in 1906.

It should also be noted that Transpac’s historic first contest might have occurred nearly a decade sooner had San Francisco’s Pacific Yacht Club accepted Hawaii’s King David Kalakaua’s invitation to race to Hawaii for his 50th birthday celebration in 1886. Unfortunately, for reasons unrecorded, his royal offer was never acted upon.

Still, shortly after Hawaii became a U.S. Territory, Honolulu businessman and yachtsman Clarence Macfarlane discussed creating such a race with Los Angeles businessman and South Coast Yacht Club member Harry Sinclair. Macfarlane agreed to sail his 48-foot schooner to San Francisco, as much to show other yachtsmen it could be done as to meet them there for the start of a race back to Honolulu.

Unfortunately, Macfarlane sailed into San Francisco Bay on May 13, 1906 just 25 days after that city had been devastated by the great earthquake and fire. Still, he somehow managed to contact Sinclair and they agreed that Macfarlane should sail down to Los Angeles where they could organize a race to Honolulu from there.

The first Transpac race began off L.A.’s San Pedro breakwater at noon on June 11, 1906 between three yachts: Macfarlane’s La Paloma, Sinclair’s 86-foot schooner Lurline, and Charles Tutt’s 112-foot ketch Anemone flying the New York Yacht Club burgee. Anemone, under an earlier agreed upon handicap system, was the scratch boat and had to give Lurline and La Paloma 12 and 27 hours respectively.

Twelve days, nine hours, and 59 minutes after the start, on a passage so fast it was only eclipsed once in the next four decades, Lurline crossed the finish line off Oahu to become Transpac’s first elapsed- and corrected-time winner.

Transpac has been raced biennially with few exceptions since 1906, and after 50 contests, it has created its own colorful history.

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Yacht Club Burgees

On the following pages are the yacht club burgees historically enrolled with the Register.

It is generally accepted that any new burgee or change to an enrolled burgee will not be accepted by the Register if it too closely resembles another enrolled burgee.

Kindly contact us in the event of changes.

 D - L

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Latest STAR

  Mia Bernt

SeaGate Yacht Club

Burgee Exchange

The burgees are on display above the bar in our clubhouse.

It is traditional for yacht clubs to exchange burgees during the first visit by one yacht club to the other. It is the desire that our club continue this tradition. If you are planning to visit a yacht club with whom we have not yet exchanged burgees, be sure to take a SGYC burgee with you to exchange.

As we exchange with a club, we will post the photo of their burgee on these pages. Please review this list to be sure you are not exchanging with a club we have already visited. This list is in alphabetical order for easy review.

If you require a burgee to present, you can obtain one by contacting the Commodore or Shipstore. Please allow yourself plenty of time to schedule the pickup of your burgee.

When you visit a club, bring one of our burgees with you. Tell the person who greets you that you are interested in exchanging burgees with their club. They may perform the exchange at that time or they may put you in touch with one of their officers. If you are visiting the club during an event, they may even make the exchange as part of the presentations at the event. If you are calling ahead to advise them you are going to visit their club, it would be appropriate to mention at that time that your are interested in exchanging burgees.

Alameda, CA

Dennis & Peggy Huffman

American Legion YC

Newport Beach, CA

Staff Commodore Josef & Kim Davydovits

Staff Commodore Mike Courtway & Sharon

Bahia Corinthian YC

Staff Commodore Mike & Sharon Courtway

Benicia, CA

Vaughn & Pat Jenkes

Cabrillo Beach YC

San Pedro, CA

Staff Commodore Cliff & Sandy Meier

California YC

Marina del Rey, CA

Staff Commodore Mary Shebell & Merle McCormick

Catalina Island YC

Staff Commodore Cleve Sproule & Mark Arizmendi

Chicago, IL

Dan Torla & Pam Hays

Coronado Cays YC

Coronado, CA

Staff Commodore Ray & Jan Nagele

Coronado YC

Staff Commodore Cleve Sproule

Dana Point YC

Dana Point, CA

Larry & Carole Stelle

Dana West YC

Exchange by SGYC member

Marina Del Rey, CA

Golden Gate YC

San Francisco, CA

Huntington Harbour YC

Huntington Beach, CA

Staff Commodore Tom & Jan McKnew

Ithaca, New York

Ketchikan YC

Ketchikan, AK

King Harbor YC

Redondo Beach, CA

Kungl Svenska Segel Sallskapet

(Royal Swedish Sailing Association)

Curt & Sue Hermelin

La Mariana Sailing Club

Honolulu, HI

Lahaina, HA

Lake Gregory YC

Crestline, CA

Lake Havasu YC

Lake Havasu, AZ

Lerwick Boating Club

Lerwick, Shetland Isles, UK

Staff Commodore Les & Cathy Kelly

Lewes Yacht Club

Lighthouse Point YC

Lighthouse Point, FL

Jeff & Tina Haas

Loch Lomond YC

San Rafael, CA

Los Angeles YC

Marina Yacht Club

Long Beach, CA

Monaco Yacht Club

Mulberry Point Harbor YC

Stillwater, MN

Josef & Kim Davydovits

Nawiliwili YC

Nawiliwili, HA

Ron & Kay Nelson

Newport Beach YC

Fictitious YC (circa 2005) from the TV show "The OC”. The SGYC burgee hangs in the YC on the television set. Mary Shebell

Newport, RI

Oceanside YC

Oceanside, CA

Dennis and Peggy Huffman

Pacific Corinthian YC

Loretta Hollenbeck

Port Douglas YC

Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia

Staff Commodore Josef & Kim Davydovits and Jeff & Tina Haas

Royal Cork YC

Crosshaven, Co. Cork, Ireland

Gary & Sharon Young

Royal Jamaica YC

Kingston, Jamaica

Royal Swedish Motor YC

Stockholm, Sweden

Royal Vancouver YC

Vancouver, BC

Saint Barth YC

San Diego YC

San Diego, CA

Staff Commodore Jim & Jeannie Woods

San Francisco Yacht Club

San Luis YC

Avila Beach, CA

Santa Barbara YC

Santa Barbara, CA

Santa Cruz Yacht Club

Santa Cruz, CA

Exchange by Bob & Joanne McCormick

Sarasota YC

Sarasota, FL

Seal Beach YC

Tom & Jean Worden

Sheboygan YC

Sheboygan, WI

Diane Kaplan & Jack & Audrey Schulze

Sheridan Shore YC

Wilmette, Illinois

Caron & Guy Mount

South Milwaukee YC

South Milwaukee, WI

St. Petersburg YC

St. Petersburg, FL

Martha Baumel

Subic Bay YC

Transpacific Yacht Club

Vanuatu Cruising Yacht Club

Port Vila | Vanuatu

Cindy Shaw and Patrick Smith

Ventura, CA

Virgin Islands Charter Yacht League

St. Thomas, USVI

Staff Commodore Ed & Georgette Davis

Westlake YC

Westlake Village, CA

Newport Yacht Club

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• Tuesday, March 19 2024

March 2024 Burgee

Posted on March 18, 2024 - Burgee

DATES TO REMEMBER

13 April:  Dock Day! 8:30am

May 1:  Paddle Safety Class 6:30pm

May 4: Entry level Race Committee training

May 11: Cruise planning social gathering

May 18: Couples Cruising Safety Full Day Seminar 

May 21: Paddle Safety Class 6:30pm

COMMODORE’S CORNER

Happy March to all:

The St. Patrick’s day parade was be held on Saturday March 16th. Our kitchen staff prepared a delicious corned beef and cabbage dinner with all the fixings after the parade.

The search for a new general manager has been started. Advertising will begin appearing in local media outlets. If you have a referral, please direct to Vice Commodore F.J. Ritt [email protected]

As part of the club’s effort to control costs, a fee of 3% will soon be added to all payments when a credit card is used by a member for all club charges. This helps offset the fee charged by credit card companies. Members will be informed via blast email when the practice becomes effective for food and beverage in the lounge point of sale computer system.

On Sunday March 10th we all turned our clocks ahead one hour, providing us with longer daylight and the beginning of warmer sun. With that in mind, the club staff is getting ready for a great 2024 boating season. It was a mild winter so that should mean a hot summer!!! Our commissioning day is coming quickly, it will be held on Saturday June 1st, details to follow.

Wishing you and yours a happy spring!

All the best,

Bob and Rosalie

NEW FEATURE: DO YOU KNOW?

Question: What is the proper way to fly flags on a gaff-rigged pole?

That is probably the most frequently asked question received by the USPS Flag & Etiquette Committee. Gaff-rigged poles are used by navies, boaters and yacht clubs around the world. Onshore, the “yacht club style flagpole” with a gaff represents the mast of a ship. A gaff-rigged pole may, or may not, have a yardarm or crosstree.

Many people are confused about the proper way to fly the national ensign from a gaff-rigged pole. As depicted in the drawing on the left, the national ensign should be flown from the gaff and the club or organization burgee should be flown at the masthead.

The gaff-rigged pole had its origins at sea. Because of all the sail carried by the rigging of these vessels, the flag of a nation could not be clearly viewed if it was placed at the top of the mast. The stern of the vessel was the position of command and the captain’s quarters were located aft. Early boats also had the nobleman’s banner, king’s banner, or English ensign staff fixed to the stern rail. As sails changed, long booms sweep across the stern rail every time the ship tacked, so the ensign staff had to be removed when the ship was under way. Since the captain and other officers were still aft, the nearest position from which they found it practical to fly the ensign was the gaff. Over time, this became the place of honor to display the national flag. When the ship was moored, the ensign staff was set up again on the stern rail. 

This was the practice in the eighteenth century, when the U.S. Navy was created. Now that warships are made of steel and the signal mast no longer carries a boom, our navy still flies the ensign at the gaff peak when under way and at the ensign staff when not underway. There is no law specifying how a flag should fly on a gaff-rigged pole, instead it is based on long standing nautical tradition. 

The usual argument given by those that think it is wrong to fly the national ensign from the gaff is that the national ensign is flying below a club burgee or other flag contrary to the Flag Code. Notice that even when the national ensign is flown from the stern of a ship, it is lower in height than other flags flying on the ship. When the ensign is flown from a gaff-rigged pole, a flag flown at the top of the mast is not considered above the ensign because it is not being flown directly above the ensign on the same halyard.

The ensign should be flown from the highest point of honor, and over time, that has become the peak of the gaff. Flying the national ensign from the top of the mast while flying another flag at the gaff would be flying another flag in a position of superior honor since the peak of the gaff is the highest point of honor.

Sourced from United States Power Squadron

FLEET CAPTAIN

Congratulations to Dennis Ferreira on his appointment as Fleet Captain. His first message is a request. Please give him your thoughts. See below.

Get ready for some summer fun in and around the water!

As your fleet captain, I am looking for your input. Please take just a few minutes to click this link and RESPOND TO A SIMPLE SURVEY https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q7MLTJD to help me plan activities of interest to you. I am also organizing a social on May 11 to discuss potential cruise opportunities and have spoken with Adirondack about a Club sail in June…more details to follow. I’m looking forward to a great season of sailing and boating with my fellow club members.

Dennis Ferreira, Fleet Captain.

A SAIL RACING TRADITION

The Royal Western Yacht Club of England will run its major transatlantic races, the Original Single-handed Transatlantic Race ( OSTAR ) and the Two-handed Transatlantic Race ( TWOSTAR) , again in 2024. Once again the Newport Yacht Club will support this highly significant sailing event as it has for nearly a quarter century.

Per the Royal Western, the OSTAR represents the birth of transoceanic single handed oceanic sailing, noting “in 1956 Blondie Hasler became interested in the challenges of offshore singlehanded sailing – “one man, one boat, the ocean…”. Over the next few years he conceived of a transatlantic race against the prevailing winds and currents whose purpose was to develop the necessary seamanship, equipment and techniques.

One hundred sailors sent in letters of intent for this race, only eight started and five finished. “Self-steering gear was in its most basic homemade form, roller-reefing sails were just a dream and there were no satellite navigation systems or weather routing, just hand-held compasses and sextants. The five pioneer yachtsmen took very different options, with Blondie Hasler (Jester 25ft) opting for an extreme Northern route, Francis Chichester (Gipsy Moth III 40ft) and David Lewis (Cardinal Vertue 25ft) on the Great Circle route and Val Howells (Eira 25ft) and Jean Lacombe (Cap Horn 21.5ft) on the Azores route.”

The 2024 race will commence on 5 May.  Newport Yacht Club Past Commodore Norm Bailey, who also serves as assistant race director for the Royal Western Yacht Club will be on hand for the start in the U.K., returning to the U.S. on 7 May.

The Newport Yacht Club will once again host the finish of the race, with the first competitors expected to arrive twenty to twenty-one days after the start. This will coincide with our 1 June Commissioning Day for the Club and the Commodore of the Royal Western is expected to be here for the event.

All who finish the race will receive a medallion from the City of Newport.  Commodore Bob Antignano will award the OSTAR Line Honors winner the famous Around the World Alone trophy plate currently housed in our Club’s display cabinet. 

The Club is very active in single-handed sailing events with many devoted competitors and is pleased to support this time-honored sailing tradition.

JUNIOR SAILING COULD USE YOUR HELP

The goal is to keep the program affordable, so the fees charged do not cover the full cost of operating the program, requiring the raising of additional funds. Fortunately, through the generosity of donors, 15% of the campers who participated in the program last year received scholarships.  Scholarship donations are greatly appreciated; however, those donations are restricted specifically for scholarships and cannot be used for any other purpose. 

Unrestricted donations are needed to help cover other program costs such as fleet maintenance, fleet replacement and increased costs for wages, fuel and insurance.

 How can you help you ask? Easy, sponsor one of the Junior Sailing boats.  Simply decide on a name which could be your spouse, family, your pet, a favorite location. . . your choice and it will be placed on one of the boats in the Junior Sailing fleet.  Your generous $500 donation will go a long way to help keep the Newport Yacht Club Junior Sailing program one of the top programs on Narragansett Bay.

What will Sponsors Receive?

• Personal Name, Business name or an appropriate name / saying on forward quarter of a junior sailing dinghy. (4” X 36” max)
• Thank you note with picture of camper sailing in branded boat to be e-mailed to you.
• Recognition on the public-facing home page of the NYC website.
• Recognition in the NYC Burgee e-newsletter
• On-water exposure – June – August. Approximately 60% of time on water in Newport Harbor 40% in East passage / Narraganset Bay.

Please feel free to contact the Junior Sailing Committee to sponsor your boat:

Michael Barszcz             609-553-7258   [email protected]  

Albert Sgambato            401-230-8804   [email protected]  

Aedan Gleeson                              508-294-5383  [email protected]  

Steve Morin                      617-640-0589  [email protected]

FLOAT AND DOCK

Our spring 2024 dock day is on April 13 at 8:30 am. We need about a dozen volunteers to prepare our marina for the 2024 summer season. If you are interested in volunteering, please send an email to Andy Vouras at  [email protected] .

After all the marina contracts are finalized by the end of March, we plan to open the waiting lists for slips, corral spaces and dinghy and kayak rack spaces in April.  Space remains tight.  The first step is to get on the appropriate list if you are interested.  No action required yet, but please look for an announcement in early April regarding how to apply.

You may have noticed a new item in the Members-only section in the club website. Now all marina assignments are posted on-line in addition to the hallway bulletin board for everyone’s convenience.

Andy Vouras Chair, Float and Dock Committee

REGATTA COMMITTEE

Even at this early stage we’re getting ready for the start of the sailing season, and there are several new things worth letting you know about:

On May 4 th we’re hosting a free entry level training for those wanting to join the Race Committee Team and you can get the details from the notices that Jackie Dietrich has posted at the Club.   It’s meant to be fun and informative with a free sandwich lunch, and we’ll be backing up the training subsequently with several on-the-water race simulations using the Club regatta boat “Volunteer”.  Please go to the calendar of events on the Club website to register for this training.

On a more technical level, we’ve asked the Ensigns to conform to the two season racing format that other classes use on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, and they’ve graciously consented.  (Future race scorers will be grateful!)

We’re also working with Fleet Captain Dennis Ferreira to help encourage our members (both youth and not-so-youth members) to have a bit more fun with mainly self-directed races in July and August.  We also expect that racing might sometimes deteriorate to enjoyment of a sunset sail, as there aren’t any particular rules for these “races”.  We can use Sail Newport’s J22s and possibly also the Club’s 420s for this.  This is meant to be a fun and social mixing event for all ages and abilities.  To gauge your interest in this the Fleet Captain has initiated a survey and we’d be grateful for as much feedback as possible so that we can get our plans in motion.

Looking for a fun-filled racing season!

Alan Renfrew Chair, Regatta Committee

COMMUNITY SPIRIT-BLOOD DRIVE THANK YOU

Our Club started its 39th year of hosting blood drives with another successful effort on February 25th and met the goal of 15 successful donations with both reserved and walk-in donors participating.  Thank you to the lifesavers who gave a bit of themselves to help others in need.  

Congratulations and fair winds to Harry and Agnes Scott, stalwart blood donation coordinators for 34 years!  Their dedication saw the club surpass its 30th anniversary of blood donations in 2015 and has resulted in over 1,000 pints donated over their many years of service to the club and the (now) Rhode Island Blood Center.  Harry and Agnes were there for every yearly drive, and for the past 15 years twice a year welcoming donors and coordinating the specifics between the Blood Center and our Club.  The blood center staff have always fought for the chance to work our drives, Harry and Agnes made these drives possible.  

With Harry’s mentorship, Mary Jo Valdes and Dave Davis have stepped up in his and Agnes’ stead.  If you have any questions (or fears) of blood donation, don’t hesitate to contact either of us.  We hope you plan to donate at the next blood drive in early June.

OFFSHORE COMMITTEE

Registration for the Offshore 160 and the New England Solo/Twin is now open and they have started coming in.  New for this year will be trackers on all the boats similar to the trackers used for the Bermuda One-Two.