Hard to believe but the 21st century is really here and to usher it in an intrepid group of MMBA yachts and crews braved the elements on January 1st for the Chile & Tacky Trophy Exchange. As usual when the winds are light, that Southern California rocket Bolero made easy work of the fleet when they went east and picked up a vary favorable wind shift just past Alcatraz. In addition to those that sailed in, numerous vessels came by land yacht and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon on the upper deck of the Richmond Yacht Club. What a marvelous destination and group to share an afternoon with. I am already looking forward to our next event.

But, before looking forward it is most important to thank those individuals who helped so much during the past year. As you know, MMBA runs on a tremendous amount of volunteer effort. First of course are the members of the Board, without their tireless efforts things just would not get done. I would also like to pay special tribute to several who made 2000 such a successful year: to Mike Dougla$ our long time treasurer; Terry Klaus and Craig Swayne for making the Boat Show an annual success; Caleb and Barbi Whitbeck our T-shirt and wardrobe consultants; Robert Briscoe and Ariane Paul co-editors and editors of the Shellback; Jeff and Karen Stokes Spring Potluck; Pat Broderick and the Sausalito Yacht Club for 'Mercury' and Regatta Race Officer; Robert Griffiths, River Rat Cruise; Michael Freinberg, Frank Hobart and all the sponsors; Ken and Kristine Inouye, Labor Day Cruise & T-shirt sales; Pat and Gene Buck and the Ouessant crew, Drake's Bay Cruise; and of course to Peter English, our Past Commodore. I know I have left many other volunteers out and for that I apologize, you know who you are. Again, thank you all.

So what's in store for 2001? Looking forward, the Spring Potluck on March 24; the Sponsors Lunch on May 18; The Regatta on May 26; the Annual Meeting and Boat Show over June 23-24. The date of the River Rat Cruise is still open, any volunteers to help coordinate? Please contact me ASAP. The Labor Day event has also fallen on hard time. Those of us who went last year had a great time but the turn out was low. Does anyone have alternative ideas for this great weekend? Contact any Board member, we want your suggestions. Do you want an event over this holiday weekend or do you want this holiday off? Would you like something on one of the weekend before or after Labor Day?

In the last Shellback I advised that at the Annual Meeting in June the membership approved the expansion of the MMBA Board of Directors to nine. Unfortunately, during the balloting we did not receive any write in candidates to fill the new positions. Therefore, as prescribed in the By-laws, the Board nominated two candidates to fill the vacancies. I am please to announce that both accepted. Please welcome your new Directors, Ariane Paul (John T) and DeeDee Lozier (Stroma of Mey).

In addition, John Tucker (Duchess) has volunteered to fill the vacant secretary position. Thank you John.

So if you haven’t kept your scorecard up, here is the 2000-2001 Board:

As always, with the passing of Summer into fall many of MMBA’s fun events have also come and gone. I hope everyone had a chance to participate in at least one of the events. These events while loosely organized do take a considerable amount of work, so next time you see one of the event coordinators, please thank them for their efforts. The event coordinators were; Bob Griffiths (Eventide) – River Rat Cruise; Ken & Kristine Inouye (Makani Kai) – Coyotes Run Wild; and Gene & Pat Buck (Ouessant) – Drake’s Bay Cruise.

We saw a large drop off in participation on the River Rat Cruise and the Coyotes Run Wild (Labor Day) events. Do you want these events replaced, changed, or dropped from the calendar? Please contact a Board member with your suggestions.

Congratulations are in order for our Pacific Cup sailors, DeeDee Lozier, Steve, Ann and Patrick Lewis and Ian Rogers. And to Spirit for representing MMBA so well, second in class and they beat the time limit. Look for articles on their adventures elsewhere in this issue.

Looking ahead to next year, I hope to see everyone at our Season Opener on January 1st, 2001.

From the Quarterdeck

Hard to believe, but another MMBA fiscal year passed with the completion of the annual meeting in June. As always, the annual meeting also signifies changes on the Board of Directors. And this year those changes are even more noticeable with the addition of two new director positions. Please give the outgoing Board a hearty hip, HIP, HURRAH! for a job well done and welcome the New Board:

As you can see, there are currently three vacant positions on the Board, which will need to be filled by Board appointment. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact any Board member and throw your hat into the ring. Remember that for the MMBA to remain viable and strong, it needs your support. Help shape MMBA's future, joint the Board today.

As you're new Commodore, I would like to take a moment reflect upon all that has been accomplished under the watchful eye of now Junior Staff Commodore Peter English. I will not try to mention all of Peter's day to day accomplishment on behalf of MMBA, but I would like to acknowledge the following, which went way beyond his normal Commodore's duties. First and foremost without Peter's support, MMBA might not have rallied around the salvation of the Gold Rush Sail last year. Peter's efforts along with significant support from several other MMBA members accomplished the impossible and saved that great event we all enjoyed so much. And even today, he is still working on our behalf to complete the transition of the core MMBA Gold Rush Sail organization into another Tall Ship event scheduled for 2002. Second, as part of the work on the Gold Rush Sail, Peter, Mike Douglas and Ariane Paul reviewed and reorganized MMBA's Benevolent Foundation. Today, the Foundation is in a much better position to meet the needs of the MMBA. Third, Peter's work on the "Save the Dewaruci" project. As I am sure many of you know the tall ship Dewaruci is in need of a major refit and behind the scenes, our Benevolent Foundation is helping with that effort. Finally, just thank you Peter for all you have done, your shoes are going to be very hard to fill.

Looking ahead, the Board will review the surveys everyone participated in last year and incorporate your suggestions where we can. One immediate change will happen next month and that involves the Labor Day Weekend event, which has seen a major drop in attendance over the last few years. This year Vice Commodore Ken Inouye has proposed significant changes, which we hope you will enjoy. Please see the event article in this Shellback for details. I hope to see you all at the rendezvous.

Finally, one piece of unfinished business remains from the 2000 regatta, PROTESTS. Sailing has always been considered a Corinthian sport and generally most of us sail the regatta in that spirit. However, now and again on-the-water conflicts do arise. In the past, protests have been discouraged and more often than not just resolved by getting the parties together over a beer to discuss their disagreement. Unfortunately, this year was different, one of the parties felt strongly enough about his position to file a formal protest. When this happens, the awards presentation must be held up while a hearing is arranged. Is this what everyone wants? We have not thought so. So in the past, some hasty protest decisions have been made. This year that shot from the hip resulted in a request for redress, a formal protest Hearing and a lot of discussion at the subsequent Board meetings. Therefore, one of the first actions I will ask the Board to undertaking this fall will be to draft a formal protest protocol for future regattas. If any of you are US Sailing Race Officials or would like to be involved in drafting the protocol, please contact a Board member and volunteer.

I am looking forward to the challenges of the coming year and working with the elected Board of Directors. However, I am also looking for your input so the events we sponsor are the events you want to participate in. To that end please feel free to contact me at the phone number indicated on the back of the Shellback. I look forward to hearing from you.

• The Master Mariners of San Francisco Bay...occupy one planet, two continents, and about four countries,

• are the largest and possibly the oldest active classic sailing vessel group on earth,

• have been thrown out of more yacht clubs and restaurants than our peers,

• are not known for timidity on or off of the water,

• now maintain alliances with seven other yacht clubs which support our events,

• provided for 18 scholarships to young people this year and last, while managing the funding of six tallships visiting San Francisco last July,

• redefine the term 'potluck', with members providing one outstanding dish after another whenever called for,

• adore their own vessels, not coveting thy neighbors, and race against each other as if there is no tomorrow, then spend 364 days plotting the next Regatta.

• in the short space of a few years, now put on a terrific and popular wooden boat show, just preceding Summer and the run to the Delta,

• do all of this, and more, with no employees, just us as volunteers!

Take a bow dear members. I have been honored to be your commodore for 30 months, and I am now ready to pass on the chores knowing that we are blessed with good people all over doing good work. Thank you for your courtesies and support. They made the job worthwhile and fun. I will forever be grateful.