WHALE? What are you waiting for?

This is my absolute favorite weekend in Dana Point.  I am a resident and attend the Annual Festival of the Whales events every year.  The FUN factor is high!  Grab your coffee and go to baby beach starting at 8am on Saturday, to watch the Cardboard Classic & Dinghy Dash - you'll probably spill your coffee laughing so hard at these fun competitions!  Our own Dee Carrol and Cherie Faulds are entered with a very creative, self-designed vessel. We need to show up in force to cheer them on!  And don't miss the Festival of the Whales parade on Saturday morning at 10am on March 5th - it's a classic small town event that will have you rolling!  A great day for everyone!

A few updates to share from the WSA-OC Board.  By now, you should have received an email from me announcing our membership streamline changes and a level membership dues rate for both new and renewing members. All of this takes effect on March 1 and will simplify the process for you and our TBD Membership Director to administer. The dues will be $100 for an annual new Regular membership or renewal.  Youth Associate rates remain at their existing rate of $55.

Board Members - We had two qualified volunteers who have raised their hand to be considered for the Rear Commodore role. This is an extremely important role as this is also your future Commodore in 2024.  Experience in the yachting world and leadership are key elements needed in this role, which we will vote on at the March general meeting.  

We still have a need to find a Membership Director. This is a very important role of course, because YOU, the members are the reason for the club!  Some things in the membership category are behind or a bit challenged due to this hole in our board function.  If you are willing to do this role - the rewards are many and it's pretty straight forward!  We need a people person who is familiar enough with technology to keep our member database clean and current; who is the 'face' of our club greeting our members at the General Meeting along with a few other admin tasks that are also streamlined with our new system. PLEASE contact me directly for more info or to throw your hat in the ring!  We want you, we need you!

March 1st - Mardi Gras

March 5th - 6th - Whale Festival

March 6th - Stand Up To Trash

March 9th - General Meeting

Zoom Link: Click Here

Code: 972 523 9535

Location: Aventura Dana Point

6:30 - Happy Hour

7:00 - General Meeting

March 14th - Pi Day - 3.141592~

March 17th - St. Patrick's Day

March 20th - Spring Equinox

March 26th -  Dockwalker Training

March 31st - N2E Seminar - DPYC

Ahoy Friends!

February 19^th was a glorious sunny day with great sailing conditions; 18 members participated in our first on the water event of the year. Wearing our pink and red to represent both WSA-OC and our Love of the Sea, we got our boat assignments, took some photos, grabbed our yummy sweets, and headed out.

There were hundreds of dolphins hanging around about ½ mile out from the headlands, and they stayed in the area for all of us to enjoy their charms! A special thanks to those Skippers who participated – Barbara Kelley (Bonnie Doon), Rose Henigman (Bella Rose) and Lisa Cullinane (Sails Lady)!

UPCOMING EVENT

Mark your calendars! Our April On the Water event will take place in Newport Beach on Saturday 4/9. Join us for a Spring Fling afternoon on the water!  Sign-ups and more details coming shortly.

Fair winds and following seas,

Tammy Rones - Vice Commodre

We are very excited to announce that during our February General meeting we had no less than 4 members place their names in the hat for our Rear Commodore position.  During March's general meeting we will hold our formal membership vote for your our Rear Commodore.

Check our Events page on our website for the General Membership Meeting Schedule for 2022:

Contact: rearcommodore@wsaoc.org

Ahoy WSAOC Members!

March 4th - 6th Dana Point's 51^st Annual Festival of Whales runs from Saturday, March 4^th through Sunday, March 6^th.  WSAOC is participating and looking for volunteers for 2 hour shifts at our booth. Plan on lots of fun while you share your enthusiasm for being on the water and quiz visitors about women’s sailing trivia. Stop by and say hello to your WSAOC sisters and enjoy opening day parade, Street Fair, art & craft shows and so much more!

Speaking of sharing enthusiasm, On Saturday, March 5th, Westwind Sailing is sponsoring the Annual Cardboard Dinghy Dash which is serious fun for competitors and spectators alike! This classic has become a favorite of the festival drawing hundreds of participants and even more spectators to Baby Beach each year.  Jr. Staff commodore KT Reiter is a former Dinghy Dash winner and this year members Dee Carroll & Cherie Faulds are entered in the Corporate Dinghy race! Come and cheer them on!

March 12^th Walking Tour of Newport Back Bay

Enjoy a free 90-minute guided walking tour of Upper Newport Bay. This tour provides an easily understandable overview of the ecology and history of the bay. All ages are welcome!

Tours depart from the lookout at approx 9:00, 9:15, and 9:30 AM.

https://www.visitnewportbeach.com/events/friends-tour-of-upper-newport-bay/

Stand Up To Trash

We had a beautiful weather and huge turnout for February Stand up to Trash at Doheny Beach. Gretchen, Dee and Colleen represented WSAOC who joined a stellar turnout of 330 volunteers in collecting 163.85 pounds of trash! There was a great focus on micro-plastics which are an incredible danger to our sea life.

The next Stand up to Trash event will be on March 6^th during the Festival of Whales. Come get trashy with your WSAOC sisters and keep our beaches beautiful.  

For questions regarding any of our community events, email Colleen Weeks at philanthropy@wsaoc.org

US Sailing 2022 Safety Equipment Requirements

Each year the US Sailing Safety Equipment Requirements committee, considers possible changes to the Requirements and proposes appropriate changes for final approval by the Safety at Sea Committee, the Offshore Committee, and the US Sailing Board of Directors. The 2022 changes are now available to the US Sailing community.  

The latest changes include additions to the monohull category. The monohull addition includes the requirement to stow a fire blanket adjacent to each stove (in the Ocean category). Click HERE for downloadable updates. 

Get Your WSA-OC On! - Literally!

Gear up with items from our store. We have new Winter Gear!!!

  Sweats /Scarfs/Jackets/ Headbands

Hats / Visors / Water Shirts

Sea you at the meeting  9th! ~~Or visit us at WSA-OC ShipStore Online

Race Calendar

Dawne Price * Sydney Smith

Mary Winnings * Julie Reynolds

Lindsay Steinmetz

William Johnson

Jamie Koogler

 Kathleen Miller

Jeanine McGuinness

Make sure to say

Happy Birthday to:

Maureen Vild

Please let us know if you are interested in being Membership Director for 2022. We are currently looking for someone to take over this role for our 2022 year.

commodore@wsaoc.org

WSA-OC Mission Statement