Merry Chrisman

Former Santa Barbara Yacht Club commodore Roger Chrisman took delivery of his new 78-foot cruiser Polaris II earlier this month and with his wife, Sarah, held a champagne-fueled launch party in the harbor.

The Taiwan-built cruiser, with a 2,400-gallon fuel tank, replaces his original vessel, Polaris, which had a length of 52 feet.

“There’s nothing you can’t do with a bigger boat!” joked Roger, who was the club’s head honcho in 2010.

The new cruiser features three en-suite staterooms, plus crew accommodation.

The Bear and Star restaurant in Los Olivos catered the nautical noshing while Opera Santa Barbara mezzo soprano Chelsea Melamed entertained, given the Chrismans are major donors to the organization.

Joining in the celebration were Bill and Trish Davis, Craig and Kirsten Springer, Kostis Protopapas, Fred and Nancy Golden, Geoff Rusack, Tom Daly, Doug and Rachel Thor, Mike Pyzel, and Bill Pertsvlakes.