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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/09/2005 : 18:00:50

Congrats to Gary Bruner for being named "Sailor of the Year" by SYSCO. It was richly deserved - I saw how much effort he put into our Nationals on the Columbia River.
Derek

Derek Crawford
Chief Measurer C25-250 2008
Previous owner of "This Side UP"
1981 C-25 TR/FK #2262 Used to have an '89 C22 #9483, "Downsized"
San Antonio, Texas

Edited by - on

Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts

Response Posted - 02/09/2005 : 21:02:07

Cool. Congrats Gary. What's SYSCO?

Edited by - Lightnup on 02/09/2005 21:02:41

Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 02/10/2005 : 03:47:53

Thanks, Derek, my sailing crewman from the great state of Texas!

SYSCO is the acronym for Small Yacht Sailing Club of Oregon. They host the majority of races in the Portland area of the Columbia River. They promote one design and level fleet racing 2 nights a week most of the season, plus numerous regattas. It was SYSCO that provided the RC for our Nationals last summer. They did a great job....except they didn't find enough wind!

Actually, this award was given to me most likely because of the successful Nationals we ran last summer. I think the SYSCO folks were impressed with the management of the event. In NO WAY do I take credit for the success of this event; it should be shared by a large number of fellow Fleet 94 members who really shouldered a lot of work that I just could not do. I guess I was chief organizer, but it was hordes of other dedicated C25/250 owners and fleetmates who made it happen. I'd say "congrats" to the whole fleet, which now has nearly 20 on our email list and a growing number of those are doing at least some racing..kewl.

Gary B.
Fleet 94 Captain
s/v Encore! #685 SK/SR

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 02/10/2005 : 08:34:01

Good Goin', Gary!

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 02/10/2005 : 10:13:49

MOST IMPRESSIVE GARY...CONGRATULATIONS.

Val on the hard DAGNABIT

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/10/2005 : 11:06:11

Speaking of this, Gary, could you email me or list here the qualifications a yacht club or facility should have to put on a good Nationals? We need to start the search for the host of the 07 big dance.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 02/10/2005 : 12:06:25

Congratulations Gary!

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John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2005 : 14:00:23

Congrats Gary! And the rest of the Fleet 94 members! Well deserved!

Edited by - on

Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2005 : 02:45:59

Gosh, Jim, that's a bit of a tall order. I guess I would suggest that one have:

1. A good venue with wind! (we usually are good out here, but the afternoon breeze just didn't fill in for us in 2004).

2. Decent moorage/launching accommodations....hopefully at low or no cost. Airport nearby for the fly in folks is important; we had quite a few crew fly in in 2004.

3. We rented a clubhouse for gatherings in the mornings and evening meals, the awards banquet, etc. It was good weather so we didn't HAVE to be inside, but it was good insurance in case of rain.

4. I think I was fortunate to have a large enough and talented enough fleet that we could delegate responsibilities...and there are lots: sponsorships, awards (Terry Annis found a welder who I think made GREAT trophies for not too much money....), great help with electronic devices, ie.e we had a pretty great website or two with pictures of the course, ramps, facilities, etc., I had fleet members working on lots of jobs, including setting up wine tasting events, getting Coast Guard inspections, even organizing prizes and tickets for raffles, etc. I delegated the shirt design and printing, flier design and printing, etc.

I worked hard on sponsorships...pizza deals/kegs of beer for cheap, etc. getting door prizes, etc. and being the general liason, but I think this is a TON of work for only 1 or 2 people. I could NEVER have made it work as well as it did without a great fleet.

5. You need a good, organized race committee with flags, bouys, etc. We were VERY fortunate that SYSCO stepped up with very accomplished folks, a huge powerboat and a computer that generated quick results (since boats were handicapped with spinnakers, asyms, JAM, etc.) These guys and gals were HUGE.

6. Several of us even hosted folks at our houses, while others worked hard helping folks launch boats, raise masts, etc. I think our "hospitality" was pretty good, generally. We had one or two issues about rules (which I was in the middle of.....) and one hostile crew guy on a boat who accosted me about "fairness"; I invited him to shove off...which he did

Seriously, when I think back to how much work it was, I get tired all over again, but I met so many super people and saw my fleet members go to such great lengths to make the event fun for nearly everyone involved, it ends up being a special memory and worth every bit of it.

GOOD LUCK to whomever bids on it. Fleet 94 MIGHT be willing to host it again sometime out on our river, but we want to make sure other parts of the country get a chance to play. I think we would surely do evening races this time to be more sure of wind!!!!! There IS a section of the river about 20 miles down from where we raced where the wind usually always HOWLS...maybe we would try that next time.....

We now have 15 pretty active boats on our fleet email list and 6 more who are in contact with us but have not yet done much with us. A couple more are out of the immediate area but get our emails to stay informed of lengthy cruises, etc. Things are good on the Columbia!

What else do you need to know? How could I help?

Gary Bruner
Fleet 94 Captain
s/v Encore! #685 SK/SR

Edited by - Gary B. on 02/12/2005 02:52:40

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2005 : 08:21:54

It is good to be recognized and appreciated for your efforts, congrats.

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