HMBYC’s Sail a Small Boat Day
Half Moon Bay Yacht Club’s second annual Sail a Small Boat Day on sunny Sunday, April 17, was as much a celebration of small boat sailing as a membership drive. “We are a sailing club that happens to own a bar, rather than a bar that happens to own sailboats,” said Scott Pyne, rear commodore of HMBYC and event organizer. “Sail a Small Boat Day has become our de-facto open house.” With 40-50 people signed up and three to five new member families, Pyne is “extremely pleased.”
His feelings were echoed by the new sailors. Linda Galindo of El Granada sailed on three different boats and loved it. “It was completely worth my time. I can’t wait to learn to sail and I’m especially looking forward to sailing with the HMBYC Women’s Sailing Group,” she said. “You think of yacht clubs and think of stuck up people, but this group is really friendly.”
Experienced sailor Sean Handel of Moss Beach brought daughter Natalie and son Tyler to try sailing for the first time. They went out on a Cal 20. “It’s fun!” exclaimed Tyler. “It’s a lot of work,” said Natalie, whose father explained that she paddled when the wind died. “When you’re sailing, sometimes you need to be patient,” said Tyler. Wise words from a new sailor.
