SBYC Season Sets Sail

It was a sea of navy blue blazers and Nantucket red pants when the Santa Barbara Yacht Club marked its 148th opening day as the second oldest sailing mecca on the West Coast.

Executive chef Michael Blackwell laid on a culinary display of food, accompanied by gallons of mimosas, that would have made Belshazzar green with envy as Teen Star winner Andie Bronstad, 15, a San Marcos High student, sang the Star Spangled Banner, and runner up Madeline Thomas warbled God Bless America.

Twenty boats took part in the Parade of the Fleet and 29 commodores and local dignitaries from San Diego to San Francisco were welcomed by new commodore Garry Pawlitski.

Among the tidal wave of maritime mavens watching the Casper’s Trophy race, which wrapped up the wonderful day, were Jack and Karen Byers, Bud and Sigrid Toye, Bill and Shari Guilfoyle, John and Teresa Koontz, France Lufkin, Tony and Sabrina Papa, Roger and Sarah Chrisman, Peter and Sherry Churchill, Stan and Kathy Darrow, Pat and Ursula Nesbitt, and Patrick and Beverly Toole.