Oceanside CA— The Oceanside Yacht Club celebrated “Opening Day” on Sunday, April 8, 2018 with a boat parade around the harbor followed by a champagne reception. This was the 55th annual “Opening Day” ceremony for the club that was founded at the Oceanside Harbor in 1963. In parts of the country where the boating season is short and boats are hauled out for the winter, the beginning of the new season each spring is cause for celebration. In attendance were representatives from yacht clubs around San Diego and Orange Counties along with Oceanside Mayor, Peter Weiss and Council-member Jack Feller.
During the invocation, Jonathan Hoover challenged members “to share their rich blessings. Get out there and have some fun. Not just with members of the club but grow your club. Reach out into your community and love each other. Invite people out. Teach them how to sail, how to get out on the water and enjoy what we have here.”
Boats in the parade were judged on their “dress”, the proper display of International Code of Signal flags and if the crews gave a proper salute among other things. The first place for Best Dressed Boat- Sailboat went to the “Abri” with honorable mention going to “Windansea”. Best Dressed Power Boat went to “Bad Habit”.
Senior Staff Commodore, Byron Jessup has attended all 55 “Opening Days” as an OYC member from the beginning, helping in the original construction of the building, handed out Members of the Year-2017 awards to; David Collins, Lisa Walker, Art Smith and George Bynam.
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Byron Jessup
Parade Judges Tracy Largent, Julie Orndorff and Becca Kinder
Sweet Adelines
Commodore 2018-Steve Ford
The Oceanside Yacht Club presents the annual Oceanside Harbor Parade of Lights each December, the Yankee Doodle Dinghy Parade July 4 and has raised almost $300,000 for the Elizabeth Hospice with the annual OYC Charity Regatta. On Thanksgiving, club members take Marines out on the water for a morning of sailing or aboard powerboats before giving them a taste of home with a full Thanksgiving dinner. The Commodore for 2018 is Steve Ford. Debbie Trusty is Vice-Commodore and Rear Commodore is Ken Roetzel.
For more information about OYC, the racing season schedule and special events, visit their website: http://www.oceansideyc.net