About Us

The Del Mar Yacht Club was formed in 1993, after at least a coupla years of soon-to-be Commodores
(also affectionately referred to as "Commode Doors") congregating during a few cold, soggy, and foggy
nights in the dead of winter; during rainy evenings other times; and viewing unsurpassed sunsets most of
the time at Jake's Del Mar - still our "unofficial" headquarters. Jake's is one of the many fine T.S.
Restaurants located in the US of A. Up and down the coast of California, from Del Mar to Malibu. And in
Hawaii...on darn near every island. Check out Duke's in the heart of Waikiki. And the Sunnyside in Tahoe.
And La Quinta.

Please note: The DMYC is not affiliated with Jake's. We are just abuncha of folks that gathered there
throughout the years and imbibed in good times and an occasional beverage, lunch, or dinner. Mostly
beverages. Purpose: To have fun with friends! Riders, anyone?

We are not a Yacht Club per se...to date. Currently, we are a social club. However, we do have a
collection of boats floating and sailing throughout the Seven Seas.

A cluster 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 professionals, property managers, entrepreneurs, investors, and airline pilots - as
diverse as this did this:

But, before you go any further, I want you to know right from the get-go, and in no uncertain terms, that I
mean no disrespect to yacht clubs, sailing clubs, sailors, or Commodores. These folks are highly skilled
and do what they do because they love doing it, and they have earned the right to do so. That being said,
here goes: Soon-to-be Commodore Jim (call sign "S urfer" - established 1973 at MCAS Kaneohe)
occasioned to purchase a nice little water-tight condo overlooking the Del Mar Race Track in July, 1979.
Them little white things on the hillside overlooking the track are condo's. One of them belongs to
Commodore Jim. The community association is known as "Saratoga West." Ninety units located on
three streets...aptly named Arcaro, Longden, and Shoemaker.

The view of the track is unsurpassed. Soon-to-be Commodore Jim was able to watch each race with his
bare hands. Without the aid of binoculars, telescopes (including the Mount Palomar Observatory),
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 tvg.com allowed for live viewing of races world-wide via the Internet and cable / satellite T.V.).
Can't make it to Del Mar during the season? Check out TVG! Wagering is not required. You may also be
interested in xpressbet.com.

Naturally, being the mild-mannered reporter that he is, soon-to-be Commodore 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 River
mouth. You do not even have to move your head!

Do ya suppose, he thunks, that some folks might want to assemble at his place on the morning of
Opening Day (Del Mar's equivalent to the Kentucky Derby), consume some omelets, crab, lobster, and
shrimp, and then amble to the track to our "reserved" seats? Uh...Duh!

He thunk correctly! These "pre-post time parties" soon evolved into an annual tradition (took about one
year...only because Opening Day only occurs once per year). 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 listened to
jack hammers, wrecking balls, pile-drivers, and dump trucks 24 hours per day for much of the time.

So...in early 1993, on a whim...and being in the right place at the right time (one of the few times in his life),
he 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),
says...hey...we gotta brand new SkyRoom here...and it is available on Opening Day. Do you think you
might want it?

Soon-to-be Commodore Jim digs into the bottom of his bag of tricks (located three levels deep in 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, then says that he
will let her know for sure within 24 hours, but in the meantime, reserve the SkyRoom for me.

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

Soon-to-be Commodore 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).

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, attractiveness, or talent. Unfortunately, most Commode Doors are Missing in Action.
1. Bud White: Retired banking executive. Current occupation unknown. Presumed to be residing in
Rancho Santa Fe, California. Click this too.
2. Chet Thompson: USCG licensed Captain and bill fishing tournament champ off the shores of Mexico
and Hawaii. Check Captain's Maritime Link. Wife Susan did a lot of sailing stuff. She worked with
Dennis Conner of America's Cup fame during the Cup races. Chet created Hot Chillys - then sold the
company. 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.
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. Smooth talker - check your
shorts. You won't feel a thing - now did you! Could be residing Deep in the Heart of Texas.
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. Thirty five years experience working for 4 major national and
international Insurance companies. Involved with all P&C "Lines" as well as surety. Resides in Encinita s
California with wife Nadine.
8. Whitney Todd: Real Estate wizard (together with 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.
9. Jim Armstrong: Callsign "Surfer." Retired airline captain (at age 56) - 28 years (Delta Air Lines).
Former U.S. Marine Corps Fighter Pilot (9 years): F-4 Phantom at VMFA-212 (MCAS Kaneohe :F4-J) and
VMFA-112 (NAS Dallas: F4-N); Instructor Pilot (2 years): TA4-J (VT-7, NAS Meridian); Topgun graduate
(NAS Miramar - July, 1980: F4-N). Jim has been a Saratoga West homeowner since July 1979 in Solana
Beach.
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 dog (those are separate critters). Residence address
unknown. Best bet: Rick Deputy - General Delivery, USA.