FBYC History....
Jere Dennison
White researching my latest installment of junior sailing history at FBYC, I came across an article in the October 1982 issue of the Log that caused me to chuckle after reading the first couple of paragraphs. Then it dawned on me that the article about the Junior Championship Regatta that summer had actually been written by your Historian way back in the Stone Age when his offspring were involved in Junior Program. Now I also recalled that I wanted to put an unusual twist on the theme of the article whereby I would focus on the behavior of the parents, rather than actions on the racecourse. As proof that human nature does not change, readers might recognize the behavior of current Opti moms and dads in the anxieties and intrigues of parents some 30 years ago.
The Yacht Club stirs with the bustle of activity. Sails soar from the sandy shore and float lazily in the morning breeze. Tension mounts as last minute instructions are barked to participants. Excitement permeates the scene. Then there’s the rush to the most strategic locations on the course. Tissues are drawn to wipe beads of nervous sweat from sunburnt brows while some crack beers to soothe those nagging prerace jitters. Yes, the parents are finally ready for the 1982 Junior Championship Regatta on the weekend of August 28 and 29.
This was FBYC’s gala youth event of the season, for sure. And no one, but no one, enjoyed it more than those proud, and sometimes frustrated, parents with cameras in hand observing from the committee boat, club pier, and a handful of motorized support craft. It was truly heartening to note that the unwritten code prohibiting parental coaching was strictly observed by all concerned. (Please note the subtle sarcasm here)
Even this writer, as tempted as he was to the contrary, waited until lunch break to take his son (Historic Note: Clark Dennison, then age 10) secretly aside to cram 20 years of racing wisdom into his eager young mind. “What do you mean that you’re not interested in hearing what I have to say,” I muttered as he probed the belly of a dead fish on the beach. Walkie-talkies, that’s the answer. Equip him with a hidden receiver implanted in his ear, and I’ll transmit step by step instructions as he sails off to victory in the next race. No, too late for frantic last minute efforts. That’ll have to wait for next year.
And back on the committee boat with race committee chairman (and parent) Happy Hubard, things were running with fine tuned efficiency until the Mr. Roberts was holed right above the waterline by what was probably a homemade torpedo launched by a disgruntled parent. (Historic Exposé: this event actually occurred but the hull penetration was the result of a Laser careening out of control in heavy air and impacting a somewhat rotten plank on the first Mr. Roberts. The name of the junior skipper was not revealed in the article so as not to cause him unwelcome embarrassment. This was an unapologetic cover-up effort by the Club facilitated by a submissive journalist. To make amends, now I feel impelled to identify the name of the mystery perpetrator to set the historical record straight: long-time member Trip Davis)
A little duct tape and the gallant race committee members agreed to carry on at the risk of their lives until the conclusion of the final race. However most scurried to the relative safety of the flying bridge to view the race course from a spectacular vantage point.
It was here that one parent, who had read his daughter bedtime stories from One Design & Offshore Yachtsman the night before, begged a cigarette from me, even though he hadn’t smoked in ten years. It seems his daughter had just broken into a ten boatlength lead at the windward mark, and I had to hold his hand steady lighting the cigarette while he kept one eye on the flame and the other on the leeward mark. His daughter eventually took the gun, and he collapsed into a state of mental exhaustion for the rest of the day.
Then came Saturday night, the night of the Junior party and dance when parents could really let off all that steam accumulated during a full day of close competition. And party we did (Historic Note: naughty, naughty, we don’t do that anymore during Junior events, at least with adult beverages…but, hey, this was a different time with a different protocol), until we realized the kids weren’t dancing. We’ll resort to a little blackmail….no soft drinks and goodies until everybody dances. It worked, and the party became a raging success.
Topping off the event were the presentations of the Club’s junior perpetual trophies on Sunday to the following winners:
Reid Dunn Trophy – Richard Jones
Wood Bedell Trophy – Ross Hamilton
Roberts Bowl – Louise Jones
Our thanks to all those who contributed their time and effort to making the Junior program a huge success this year. Particular gratitude goes to Johnny Hawksworth and Kenzie Hubard who really pulled it all together and made it work. My personal thanks, also, to the many parents, who inspired this article, and to their enthusiastic offspring who gave us a heck of good display of sailing ability.