Few if any other yachts clubs in the world have hosted as many top sailors over the years as Long Beach Yacht Club.

LBYC's Congressional Cup is widely regarded as the premier annual match racing regatta. It's the oldest and most prestigious of them all. Name a grand prix sailor -- skipper or crew, past or present (or top umpire for that matter) -- and he or she has probably participated in at least one Congressional Cup.

Each year 300 volunteers, mostly LBYC members, go the extra mile to make the regatta a success, and to be sure that each and every sailor competing has a great time. Teams are housed in private homes; the yachts are meticulously equalized and maintained; the racing is run right off the Belmont pier so the general public can take it all it; junior sailors vie to be assigned to the teams for local support and to be sure each evening the sailors can, well, relax; lifelong friendships are made all around.

So it was no surprise to our roadshow team that we were so warmly received and accommodated from the moment we arrived at the Club yesterday afternoon. Vice Commodore Conrad Banks and his effusive wife Katie, along with Board member Randy Smith, had nicely organized and promoted the event, and turned out a standing-room-only crowd. Club Manager Ron Bannaszak and his assistant Richard Ortega were on top of all the details.

And the enthusiastic and knowledgeable audience bid the auction items to the highest amount yet -- $14,400 -- all of which goes to the LBYC junior sailing program. Jane's story on our main website covers it well.

So Stop Five was another great evening, and a bit of a homecoming for Gary, Fresh and myself. Gary is a long-time LBYC member who has competed in the Congo Cup any number of times; indeed, the Club has named their junior sailing room in honor of Gary. Fresh has raced in Congo Cup as well, and I have had the pleasure of serving on Congo Cup juries and umpiring teams over the years; indeed it was at the '88 Congo Cup where umpiring was launched.

Most any sailor who has ever raced at LBYC would agree there is no friendlier, more hospitable club in the world. Vamos a la playa -- especially if it is la Playa Larga.


Grand prix sailing -- and hospitality.


Along with the seasonal decorations at the Club, there was an autumnal
nip in the otherwise stereotypically sunny Southern California weather.


Gary with long-time LBYC member Adra Kober at the Moet reception
prior to Thursday night's show. Adra was a key official in the 1984 Olympic
regatta conducted in Long Beach, and was the first female commodore at
a major yacht club in the United States. Her late husband, Chuck, was an
LBYC Commodore and President of US Sailing (then USYRU).


Design Coordinator and part-time sailing team member (navigator) Ian
"Fresh" Burns (AUS) caught up with us in Long Beach, even if his suitcase
didn't. Fresh's in-depth presentation on the design process generated
many questions from the SRO crowd.


Gary and Mirko auctioning off the Girard-Perregaux team watch.
Last night's auction set a new record -- a total of $14,400 raised for
the LBYC junior sailing program.


LBYC junior sailing program head Alex Uniac, outside the Club's
recently-dedicated "Jobson Junior Sailing Room." Needless to say Alex
was delighted that the BMW ORACLE Racing auction was so successful.


LBYC stalwart Dick Landis with Michel Mader (FRA). Michel has
participated in a number of Cup campaigns, including sailing on the
'92 winning defender America Cubed. Michel told us a very
funny story from the 1977 campaign about a certain Frenchman who
also happens to be our Operations Director; one never knows when
that story might come in handy.


Three generations of the Shadden family: Olympic medalist John
Shadden, son Thomas who is a keen junior sailor, and Grandpa Tom
Shadden. Tom is an LBYC staff commodore who has long been a key
supporter and organizer on behalf of junior and Olympic sailing in
Southern California.


A very happy Dan McCarry, double-winner in the auction, with
Jane going over the details of his 18th man ride next year.


AC mega-fan Diane Swintal is a regular and knowledgable
contributor to 2007AC forums, Diane emailed this morning to say,
"Thanks for a terrific presentation last night - it was especially
fascinating to get the nuts and bolts on design from Ian!"


Time to relax a bit after the show at the well-attended buffet
dinner. Vice Commodore and Mrs Banks (third and second from the
right) shared some hilarious stories about a number of current AC
sailors who have stayed with them during past Congo Cups -- Chis
Law and Jim Spithill, best be nice to The Blogster or you never know
when one of those stories might surface. ;-)


Last evening helped solidify support in the Long Beach area for
the "home team."