OTRYC sets sail with new commodore

There’s a new commodore in town for the Over the Reef Yacht Club, and his name is Dr. Tony Stearns. The local legend of the sea was voted into the position when the club met last week at Hamilton’s Bar and Restaurant to discuss the details of the upcoming 2005 Laguna Regatta during their monthly gathering.

Stearns is no stranger to the art of navigation, as are his fellow newly elected board members—secretary Ron Smith, treasurer Mike Johnson, and youth sailing coordinator Linda Graf.

The drive for sponsors and volunteers continued last week, as the OTRYC met at Hamilton’s Bar and Restaurant in Gualo Rai to discuss preparations for the 30th edition of the open water race on Saturday, Feb. 26, and Sunday, Feb. 27.
While the details of some of the issues are yet to be released to the public, it is certain that in the coming days and weeks, volunteers and businesses throughout the community will be asked to lend a hand to help make the event the biggest and the best in the 30-year history of the race.

According to Smith, the club had a great turnout at their meeting, and they were able to work out many of the issues regarding the regatta; however they are still faced with the task of filling the available positions on the committee boat, chase boats, and the beach crew.

The good news is that the OTRYC received news that their search for a suitable committee boat for the regatta is over, thanks to the generosity of Judge David Wiseman. The list of volunteers later grew by two, as Ken Kramer and Cecilio Raiukinlipiy offered their crafts to the regatta fleet to act as chase boats.

As an incentive to all would-be participants, Smith offered a reminder that all volunteers receive free lunches, t-shirts and entry into the awards banquet.

The OTRYC has been in existence since 1972, and has sponsored catamaran events (Hobie and Prindle cats), monohull distance sailing and regattas, and public seminars about both traditional Carolinian sailing and modern sailing.
The Regatta pits the captains and crew of the 16-foot Hobie Cats against one another in the waters of the Tanapag Lagoon, between Tanapag and Managaha. In addition to being one of the most colorful events on the water, the Regatta is also the longest running sporting event in the Northern Mariana Islands. This year, the club expects somewhere between five 10-12 teams from Japan and Saipan.
For more information about the Over the Reef Yacht Club, or about becoming a sponsor or a volunteer for the 30th Annual Laguna Regatta, visit their web site online at www.otryc.org.