SB Yacht Club’s 19th Annual Regatta for VNA Health
The Santa Barbara Yacht Club’s 19th Annual Regatta Fundraiser for VNA Health took place on Saturday, September 9, from 11 am to 7 pm. The upbeat event was sold out to 350 lucky attendees supporting the cause. Guests were greeted with sunglasses, baseball caps with both organizations’ logos, and a goodie bag with chocolates and a raffle ticket. Additional raffle tickets were sold as well. The silent auction saw a variety of wines, food items, local restaurants, Los Padres outfitters trail ride, a sailing class, artisan-made jewelry, and dinner for eight at the Yacht Club’s private dining room. The day-to-evening fundraiser featured a buffet lunch and dinner, with Fess Parker wines, iced tea, and lemonade.
The program commenced with emcee David Moorman, who led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by David Gonzales singing the “Star-Spangled Banner.”
SBYC Commodore David Sadecki talked about the history of the regatta which to date has raised $2.2 million for VNA Health. He quipped, “We at the SB Yacht Club want the community to know that we support the community we live in even though we have our own parking lot at the harbor! We believe in the mission of VNA Health and all the services it provides us.” President and CEO of VNA Health Kieran Shah, CHPCA thanked the SBYC, guests, his staff, and the 19 Celebrity Skippers who are palliative care professionals from Cottage Hospital, Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, Sansum Clinic, and VNA Health providing specialized medical care to those with a serious illness.
The ocean program started with a Memorial Boat Tribute on The Lady Jane powerboat with the racing sailboats and guests on private power boats circling it, as flowers were tossed in the ocean and loved ones’ names were read in remembrance.
The regatta then took off at 2:30 pm, with five start times for each boat class. The race was 7.2 nautical miles heading northwest and circling back around twice, winds were at 12 to 18 knots. Winners were calculated by a formula based on the sailboat class and specs, similar to a handicap in golf. The first prize overall and winner of the (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) PHRF-B class was Jon Bell and crew on sailboatMocos. First place winners per class were as follows: J/70 – Thomas Tunberg’s Namaste, PHRF-C – Nicolait and Stephanie Lander on CatNip; PHRF-A – Dr. Laura Schlessinger’s Trifecta; and an unexpected first place win in CHRF was Blue Tango manned by Captain Peter Candy, Vinny Arndt, Ben Falk,and Mark Wechsler, who were very stoked to win and credited it to, “It’s all about the surge! If you know, you know!”
The fun event concluded with dancing till sunset, hugs, and many iPhone photo ops.
Thanks to the SBYC Charity Regatta committee headed by SBYC CommodoreDavid Sadecki, with co-chairs Francie Lufkin and Nick Sebastian. Their committee members were Lauren Bell, Trish Davis, Vicki Deaton, Kim Ferrarin, Jodi Fishman-Osti, Christie Glanville, Shari Guilfoyle, Carol Kallman, Maggie Mabuchi, Lailan McGrath, Sofia Mendoza, Easter Moorman, and Suesan Pawlitski. Wines by Fess Parker Winery; SB Maritime Museum catering; and music by Davitt Felder & Band, Ross Harper, Michael Holland,and James Watson.
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