Winter IYFR Cruise
                            Avalon Harbor, Catalina Island
                          November 30 - December 2, 2007

In past years I have been a member and former Commodore of the Newport Harbor Fleet of the International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians (Rotary Mariners).  It is one of over 90 Rotary fellowships.  Whereas, Rotary Clubs are focused on local community service, the fellowships bring Rotarians together with common interests, such as, Golfing, Morotcycling, Recreational Vehicles, International Hosting, Bridge, Accounting and, or course, the IYFR yachting fellowship.  As a result, I have sailed with Rotary Mariners the North Sea; the Juan de Fuca Strait between Seattle and Victoria Island, Canada, WA; Hawaiian Islands out of the Waikiki Yacht Club, Honolulu, HI; Lake Pontchartrain out of New Orleans and out of Houston, Galveston Bay, TX.

Several years ago we had boats from Newport, Alamitos Bay and San Diego converge on Catalina for Buccaneer's Day.  This year on November 30, 2007 the Holoholo, a Catalina 40 foot Sloop, cast off before dawn with overcast sky, rainstorm and winds, we sailed to Avalon Harbor at Catalina Island.  The crew was Ken Allen, Dale Cook and Larry LeDoux.  As we approached Avalon, overcase socked in the harbor.  Rains were so heavy that many of the store fronts had sand bagged their entryway.  It was cool, windy and wet.

We visited the Catalina Museum at the Casino twice.  Catalina has been visited regularly by many of the movie stars:  Clark Cable, Humphrey Bogart, Natalie Wood, Laurel and Hardy, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope.  The Casino hosted the big bands including Artie Shaw, Glenn Miller, Stan Kenton and many others.

We visited Ruth Mayer's Art Exhibit.  She is a prolific talen who has produced a diverse array of paintings.  Her son gave us a tour of the gallery.  It was an interesting exhibit, even for those not in the category of art lover.

One of the great benefits of sailing is the opportunity to get to know your fellow Rotarians.  That is the main idea of the fellowship program.  You can even learn to sail.  We chartered the boat out of the Lido Sailing Club.  For those who want to sail without having the commitment of owning a boat, a chartering club has a lot to say for it.

Ken, Dale and Larry had our share of laughs and some adventure.  If you spend 72 hours in the confines of a sailboat, you get to really know members of the crew.  You are invited to do it again next year, probably in warmer weather and Buccaneer's Days.

Article written by
Ken Allen
Member of IFYR and the
Tustin-Santa Ana Rotary Club