“I zee by your outfit you must be a yachtsman,” said Moshe as he signed the guestbook at South Shore’s Opening Day. He was right. The directors and offices of the club were all dressed alike, with their blue blazers, white pants, blue ties, and various club patches. The visiting Commodores, Sub-Commodores, and other club members all looked the same. “I’m here from the Tel Aviv Yacht Club in Israel ,” Moshe said. “Just checking to see how you guys are doing.”
I was impressed we would be visited by member of a club half way across the world. He told me, “Vat’s so unusual? Va Den, ve invented da Yacht Club.” He continued, “Don’t you remember, Moses. Ve have opening day in the spring because ve remember Moses when led his people across the red sea. That vas da start of the first Yacht Cub.” “No,” I said to Moshe, “He ‘parted’ the sea.” Moshe laughed, “Yes, but that was for those who arrived on time. Mosses told his people, come at 2ish. Not 1400, not 1401, but 2ish. So naturally, many of our people came at 2:30, 3:00, vatever. That’s when they found the sea open, then closed, and they quickly gathered boats of all kinds, and, of course, started the first Yacht Club. This, they called the South Shore Flabluggeda (“Lost”) Club. One tribe traveled east and one vent vest, all in search of Moses who, himself, vas valking in circles for 40 years, not having the best sense of direction. Some called them the lost tribes, but we know they were the lost Yachtsmen. And that’s how the Vorld’s Yacht Clubs were formed - 40 years of lost sailors looking for Moses.”
After our opening day ceremony I asked Moshe what he thought of our rituals. He shrugged his shoulders and said, “So what’s so different? We all read the same basic script. We call it the ‘Hagayacht.’ That proves the vorld is a very small place or there must have been a bunch of flabluggada sailors looking for Moses.” “Ve also ask our youngest Commodore to ask this very important question: ‘Why is dis day different from all other days,’ and ve answer: ‘On other days we go out to our boats, set sail, and then we drink. On this day, we drink, and then go out to our boats.’ ” Moshe continued, “Also, just like you ve invite important people, Commodores, from surrounding clubs. So this year we had Osama Sama, commander of the Hamas Yacht Club, and Yasir Yamen from the PLO Yacht Club. Ven ve announced their names, Oy Vey, did ve have cannon fire. Da building shook and ve all ducked under our tables. That’s when ve all hugged. And then ve drank and went our for a day sail. Vat-a-day! So you see, the vorld is a very small place, and ve truly are a close brotherhood.”

He was dressed in a loose fitting bathing suit from the 1920’s, wore a floppy seaman’s cap and had ears that made Osma’s look small. I called him Captain Goofy. He could see by my swagger that I was a yachtsman, and with a grand wave of his hand, he pointed to an old castle-like building with a sign that read, “World’s Greatest Yacht Club.” I raised my eyebrows in a skeptical way, and then showed him my shiny new SSYC yacht club card. When he saw the card, he did a back flip, spun around, danced a jig, and with a smile and a wink, he offered me a tour.

The yacht club was in a large park surrounded by rivers and inlets that was protected by a large fence. As we approached, the guard recognized the Captain, gave him a salute, and let us in. The Captain led me to a large group of buildings which were not of the usual Cape Cod architecture, but were a hodgepodge of different styles ranging from futuristic to old western to fanciful. Along the waterway, he pointed out numerous boats used by the club, including a small submarine. He saw the surprised look on my face and so he took me aboard. We went below, and he pulled a lever. We slowly descended to ten fathoms, and as the bubbles cleared Capt’n Goofy showed me the amazing undersea world surrounding the club.

After our assent we returned to the dock and boarded an old Pirate Ship that the club had restored and named “Columbia.” Next, he took me onto an old Stern-Wheeler which looked like it dated from Mark Twain’s day. On it, we slowly traveled upriver while the two of us sipped mint juleps. When we returned, a Dixieland Band was playing at the dock. Now this was a yacht club.

Meanwhile, the club’s cruising committee had organized a trip into the nearby swamp. The Captain and I joined the cruise and boarded a boat named “Get Ahead.” It reminded me of Bogart’s small engine coughing boat, “African Queen.” As we snaked slowly through the bayou, Capt’n Goofy pointed out crocs, elephants, tigers, and other exotic wildlife. Wow, this yacht club had its own zoo!

Goofy pointed out boats of all types and sizes available to the club’s members. He showed me a a list of 14 cruises available each day, no matter what the weather. His big ear to ear smile told me that Capt’n Goofy was among the happiest of sailors.

As the day came to a close we jumped aboard a restored old runabout from the fifties. Capt’n Goofy gave me the helm. I will always remember the club’s children singing these words, over and over, as I steered the boat along a narrow canal, “It’s a small world after all, it’s a small world after all . . .it’s a small, small world.”

As you may have suspected, the World’s Greatest Yacht Club is none other than our own Disney Yacht Club, located just a few miles away. It is said to be the happiest yacht club on earth. I have asked our Commodore to add a Disneyland Cruise to next year’s calendar. Thank you Goofy, for a wonderful day.

The Month Ahead:
Friday Night, April 4. Party, Party, Party. If you like to party, don’t miss the “Crazy Tunes, Tune up Party. We have a DJ, great food, a raffle, and dancing. A prize to anyone who comes closest to guessing how many different types of boats you can ride at Disneyland. Please RSVP ASAP by calling me, Scott, or Lorena at 714-731-3283 (or my cell at 714-815-8557). The Crazy Tunes Party (being on the first Friday) replaces the second Friday dinner this Month.

Saturday Night, April 5. Dinner at Dana Point Yacht Club, for the racers, cruiser and bikers who end up at Dana Point after the Tune Up race. We dinner about 7:00 pm., drinks upstairs before.

Thursday Night, April 24. Ensenada Race Party. Starts at NBYC, then partygoers can join the party at BCYC and vice versa. Always a great and memorable night.
Saturday Night, April 26 in Ensenada. Join us at our Hospitality Suite at the Bahia Hotel then a night on the town in Ensenada. Book your hotel now, otherwise rooms will likely be sold out. Try Ensenada.com for hotel info and consider some of the smaller hotels.

The Month that was:
March’s Second Friday Dinner was a lot of fun with several new members in attendance. Steve presented a video on the BVI Trip it looks like they had a great time.