What is the Del Mar Yacht Club?
The Del Mar Yacht Club (DMYC) was formed in 1993, during a time that the future Commodores (also
known as the  "commode doors" ) were frequently found clustered at
Jake's Del Mar.  Three deep across
the entire length of the bar (consisting of Commodores and friends - and an occasional interloper - with a
spillover to many surrounding tables) - was not an uncommon sight.

We are just abuncha of folks that gathered at Jake's throughout the years and imbibed in good times and
a beverage, lunch, or dinner.  Mostly beverages.

The purpose of the yacht club? To have fun with friends!
Riders, anyone?

Bulletin:
The DMYC may have a boat or two floating or sailing throughout the Seven Seas.  W
e are not sure -
because we don't keep track of  everyone...nor do we want to.  We don't have a marina, nor a flotilla of
ya-chits.  Not yet!  But we do have three pirate hideaways located in secret coves. The Northern fleet is in
Washington State.  The Central Fleet (DMYC Fleet Headquarters) is in Del Mar / Solana Beach.  The
Southern Fleet is in Cabo San Lucas.

Here is how it happened (The Short Version):

Part 1:
Commodore Jim, a.k.a "Surfer" (due to his surfing excursions in Southern California - before he knew he
would become a Commodore) purchased a condo on a hillside overlooking the Del Mar Racetrack in July,
1979.  The community association is known as
"Saratoga West."  Ninety units located on three
streets...aptly named
Arcaro, Longden, and Shoemaker (named in recognition of three of the great Hall of
Fame jockeys)
.  

Part 2:
Commodore Jim occasioned to meet new friends at Jake's in the late 80's...
And then, a cluster / gaggle of us deck-scrubbing, bilge-pumping, and barnacle-clad guys and gals (an
assortment of sailors, skippers, salesmen, surfers, captains, school teachers, school principals,
fishermen, fire fighters, business suits, property managers, entrepreneurs, investors, Marines, Navy, Air
Force, and airline pilots) as unique as
this formed the Del Mar Yacht Club at Jake's in June of '93.


Here is The "Paul Harvey Rest of the Story" (The Long Version):

The view of the track and beach from a select few of the units at Saratoga West is unsurpassed.  Jim was
a lucky buck winner when he bought his condo.  He did not know the first thing about horse racing.  Lately,
his bets prove him to be correct in that regard.  But, he is able to watch each race from darn near any room
(and both patios) with his bare hands - without the aid of binoculars, telescopes, microscopes,
magnifying glasses, sunglasses, bifocals, spectacles, contact lenses, or reading glasses.

Watching the races happened live and in color...from start to finish, without obstruction of view (many
years before
HRTV.com , tvg.com  or xpressbet.com).

So, in 1980, Jim quietly spreads the word that he has a great view of the track...within ten minutes
distance at a slow trot of the closest  wagering window.  Plus, if you rotate your eyeballs a mere 10 to 30
degrees to the right, ya got a great white-water view of a good stretch of  the Del Mar beach...from the
Powerhouse to the San Dieguito Rivermouth.  You do not even have to move your head!

Do ya suppose that some folks might want to assemble at his place on the morning of Opening Day to
consume some omelets, crab, lobster, and shrimp, and then amble to the track to our "reserved" seats?
Duh?

He was correct!  These "pre-post time parties" soon evolved into an annual tradition.  Problem was...the
folks are not able, because of the facilities available at the time, to reserve seats for 100 to 200 people to
all sit together in the Clubhouse section.  We were grouped in clusters of 10 or so...spread throughout the
Clubhouse section...some in sun, some in shade.  Close enough to yell at each other, but we could not
touch unless we met between races at the wagering windows (not that we wanted to touch, or
anything...we just were not clustered in a group).  That is how we did it from 1981 to 1992.

That all changed over a two year period in 1992 - 1993. The grandstands were completely demolished
and rebuilt in two phases.  Commodore Jim says that he knows that to be a fact...'cause he saw and
listened to jack hammers, wrecking balls, pile-drivers, and dump trucks 24 hours per day for much of the
time.  And he has photographs and videotapes to prove it.

In mid 1993...on a whim...and being in the right place at the right time (one of the few times in his life),
future Commode Door Jim  telephones the Group Sales Office at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.  
Amazingly, the Director of Group Sales ( the gorgeous Jacquelyn King...assisted by the fabulous and
equally lovely Cathy Arneel) answers and says...hey...we gotta brand new SkyRoom here...and it is
available on Opening Day.  Do you think you might want it?

Jim immediately digs into the bottom of his black velvet bag of tricks (located three levels deep within his
olive green U.S. Marine Corps issued footlocker) - looks at a few stale Tootsie Rolls (circa 1966) and a
buncha crumbs from Who Knows Where - dusts off a "How To" book by Zig Ziglar... peers inside the
footlocker... then says that he will let her know for sure within 24 hours after consulting with soon to be
Commodores; but in the meantime...reserve the SkyRoom for us.

Jackie says..."you are penciled in, bubba!"

Jim said he has never been penciled before, but it sounds to him that it could work.  (Question here...Jim
asks rhetorically: If he is only penciled in, does that mean he can get erased?  
Answer: Hasn't happened yet).

The Result?  Absolutely.  Positively!  Eleven of us said "Get the Starting Gates out of the way, we are
already running!"  The Del Mar Yacht Club was formed, flagged, and launched that night.  
Flank Speed.

Here are the names of the original Commode Doors of the Del Mar Yacht Club.
( in no particular order of age, weight, or talent).

1. Bud White: Retired banking executive (and he was not a shyster like the Goldman Gang).  Current
occupation unknown.  Presumed to be residing in
Rancho Santa Fe, California.  Click this too.
2. Chet Thompson: United Sates Coast Guard (USCG) licensed Captain and a bill fishing tournament
champ off the shores of Mexico and Hawaii.  His wife Susan did a lot of sailing stuff.  She worked with
Dennis Conner of America's Cup fame during the Cup races in San Diego.  Chet created Hot Chillys - a
favorite with ski dudes throughout the world.  Chet is the owner of Del Mar Embroidery, dba
Casa del Mar.
3. Simon Cottrail: From Liverpool, England.  Current occupation unknown, but undoubtedly in sales.
Assisted Chet Thompson with Hot Chilly's.  Smooth talker - natch.  Bill fishing champ teamed with Chet
Thompson.  Presumed to be residing in
San Diego, California.
4. Matt Cottrail: From Liverpool, England.  Last known to be a Locksmith.  Once sailed the briny main from
California to Hawaii solo in his sloop.  Presumed to be residing in San Diego.
5. Wiley Wisdom: Current occupation unknown, but presumed to be in sales (Bubba - he and Simon are
neck to neck as world-class salesmen).  Smooth talker, and fastest salesman in the West, and can talk
the clothes right off your back.  Check your dresses and shorts girls.  You won't feel a thing - now did you!  
He is probably residing Deep in the Heart of Texas - somewhere near the Yellow Rose.
6. Don Irby:  Previous Saratoga West homeowner.  Current occupation unknown.  Last known to have
business interests in Brazil, and is presumed to be residing there much of the year.
7. Charles "Chuck" Coune: Insurance Executive wizard - Currently based in Orange County, California
working for a Third Party Administrator. Forty years experience working for 4 major national and
international Insurance companies.  Involved with all P&C "Lines" as well as surety.  Resides in
Encinitas
California with his lovely wife Nadine.  
8. Whitney Todd: Real Estate wizard (together with his wife Elizabeth) at  Todd Coastal Properties  in
Rancho Santa Fe.  A putt away (via their sliding glass door patio entrance) from
Morgan Run.  Elizabeth
was a golf pro / instructor at
Torrey Pines.  And she does not whack Escalade windows with a 9-iron.
9. Jim Armstrong: Call sign "Surfer."   Surfed all over So.Cal (from Rincon to Mexico), the East Coast,
West Coast, Gulf Coast, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii.  Favorite CONUS surf break...Malibu...first point.  
Some Pilot stuff: Former airline pilot - Delta Air Lines - 28 years (1977 - 2005).  Flew the Big Bubba's to
China, India,  Russia, Turkey, and all over Europe.  To Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and of
course in and about the U.S.  And to his favorite spot of all time...The Islands. Hawaii. Oahu. Honolulu.
More specifically...Waikiki.  Some Surfer stuff: Two's, Three's, Kaiser's, and Ala Moana.
 Hang Ten..
Overhead on many days when the west swell was ripping. Rode the Bing Bonzer.  And had a Greg Liddle
(primary board at Malibu) as a backup. Many, many fine waves those boards surfed.  In fact, Surfer still has
some of them (Liddle and Bonzer)...dings and all.  First board 1963... when the Beach Boy's were just
getting started.  A 9'6'' long board.  Second board (5 years later - 1968), a Lime Green edged Dewey
Weber Performer 9'6" (with a cosmic rudder shaped fin, skeg, or skag...we called them skags.). In 1969,
switched to the Liddle short board, and in 1970 did the Bonzer.   Surfer participated in the Malibu Rock
Dance on more than one occasion while stretching the limits.  And those frapping Sea Urcihins.  Surfer
was a pin cushion for those sorry sap-suckers.  When he went diving off the coast of Mexico, California,
and Catalina then and now, he chopped up as many of those suckers as he could find.  And the fish loved
'em.  They were eating from his hand.  Pilot stuff:  Hawaii...249 degree track and 5:20 hour average time
from LAX 25 R...it is a straight shot from brake release...and a no-brainer.  New York City (get a rope...Pace
Picante Sauce), San Francisco, and Las Vegas are also in the favorites mix,,,as well as Hong Kong
(Victoria Peak) and Munich Germany (Englischer Garten. Gigantic Hot Soft Pretzels, German beer, and just
a short distance away...the Hoffbrau House...and more beer).  Surfer no longer imbibes in beer / wine or
cocktails...but he still imbibes in abuncha of fun.  And he will never miss the next Happy Hour.  U.S.
Marine: 15 years in uniform... always a Marine... in or out of the uniform / flight suit of the day...starting as a
freshman in college in the fall of 1966
(PLC),  Billy Bob Joe Bubba Clinton, Newt, Mitt, Obama, Karl Rove,
Dick Cheney, Rush Limpballs, Bill O' Really, and the punk Sean, ...where were you, the self proclaimed
patriots?
Surfer has more than a couple of stories to tell...including how he was canceled from the Marine Corps in
1969 due to a knee injury (Sunday pick up game - football), but rejoined after surgery within one year.  
From Draft Status 1A to 4F to 1A. Surfer jetted the
F-4 Phantom. F-4J driver with VMFA-212 at MCAS
Kaneohe Bay (resided in the Waipuna.  Fabulous views of the beach.  On the 33rd level.  An excellent surf  
spot locater).  An F-4N pilot with
VMFA-112 (NAS Dallas)  Also an Instructor Pilot (2 years): TA-4J (VT-7,
NAS Meridian).  A TopGun graduate (NAS Miramar): July, 1980 - (F-4N) - crewed with a top-notch RIO
(Radar Intercept Officer - aka
NFO) - Jim Bob Segars - call sign "Jim Bob" - a record setting solo nacho
eating champion (at a Marine Corps "hangout" Mexican restaurant -1970's - Chretin's - in Yuma, Arizona).  
Are you a "pepper flicker?" (Great food and service when I visited...every time! - sez Commodore Jim).
Next to  
MCAS Yuma.  Surfer has been a Saratoga West homeowner in Solana Beach since July 1979.  
And he has seen abuncha "stuff" at Saratoga West (saratogawesthoa.com).
And, oh, each one of the Commode Doors were given an opportunity to explain their history  There were
no takers..so I compiled sum biography stuff based on what I think I know and what they told me.
Surfer sez "Book him, Danno", and check out some Hawaii fun stuff.  Best MaTai in the world...at the
Moana Beach Bar at the Moana...Waikiki.  .And check the
IZ.
10. Steve Harris: Business owner - California Printing, Solana Beach California.  He does not print
counterfeit currency.  But he can counter your fit (girls)...at any time.
11. Rick Deputy: Retired Insurance sales expert - Travelers.  Presumed to be a vagabond in a motor
home, exploring the country with his wife Kerry and their vagabond dog.   Residence address unknown.  
Best bet: Rick Deputy - General Delivery, USA.
Del Mar Yacht Club
A coupla Del Mar Restaurants:
1.
Bully's - best prime rib available anywhere in the known
universe, according to Commodore Jim.  Don't forget the
sautéed mushrooms.
2. The
Poseidon.  What a great way to enjoy a killer
breakfast or lunch - outdoors - right on the sand...fantastic!
Blue Angels Kaci
Blue Angels Oceana
The Slot
Some Del Mar Links:    
Some Boating Links:
Some Beach and Surf Cam Links:
Some flying fun:
Star Clippers
(You can mute the sound so that you don't have to listen to the goofy music. Just enjoy the flying).
Pop Quiz:
How many times (bless her heart) does Kaci say "Oh, my God"?
1. A bazillion;
2. I stopped counting after sixty seconds;
3. Please pass the mashed potatoes, and click on an NFL game.
This has nothing to do with the DMYC, but it pretty much sums it up:
1. " Press One for English "   -  Ron and Kay Rivolf.
Vacations To Go
kayak
Some Cruise Links:
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                Future rants to come.