[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 57 (Tuesday, April 10, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E427]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE SANTA CRUZ YACHT CLUB

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. JIMMY PANETTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 10, 2018

  Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Santa Cruz 
Yacht Club as they celebrate their 90th anniversary. For 90 years, the 
Santa Cruz Yacht Club has dedicated itself to the enrichment of our 
community by supporting yachting and sailing.
  The Santa Cruz Yacht Club was established in 1928 by local 
businessmen Bruce Sharp, Charlie Towne, and Sam Leask Jr. Despite low 
membership and meager availability for meeting venues in the yacht's 
early years, the club persisted and soon held their first sponsored 
race from Long Beach to San Francisco.
  Over the next 20 years, the Santa Cruz Yacht Club grew into a 
community institution. In 1938, they began hosting the premier local 
sailing event, the Windjammers Race, which remains popular today. In 
the 1970s, the Santa Cruz Yacht Club was at the forefront of the ultra 
light displacement boat (ULDB) movement, which revolutionized yacht 
racing. In the late 1970s, Santa Cruz Yacht Club member Bill Lee's ULDB 
Merlin shattered the Trans Pacific Race record, signaling to the rest 
of the world that Santa Cruz ULDBs could compete at the highest level. 
Merlin held that record for 20 years.
  To this day, the Santa Cruz Yacht Club hosts numerous local, 
regional, national, and international regattas. The Santa Cruz Yacht 
Club also serves the community by providing a variety of sailing 
programs and scholastic programs for students of all ages. 
Additionally, the club offers educational materials on accident 
prevention and promotes environmentally friendly practices to ensure a 
clean environment for generations to come.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize the Santa Cruz Yacht Club 
for their service to the central coast of California.

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