What price victory?

Terry Phillips

Last Tuesday, Newport’s Chris Coffin was sailing around Chelsea.

No, not Chelsea, England--the chief’s Chelsea, you know, the Teflon

tycoon from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

El Presidente Clinton and daughter, Chelsea, attended the Asian

Pacific Economic Cooperation conference (APEC) in Auckland, New Zealand

and decided to visit the America True Syndicate compound.

Unfortunately, exceptionally high wind and inclement weather

conditions prohibited the Prez from taking a spin around the Hauraki

Gulf, but he did try operating one of the grinders.

“(Clinton) seemed like he was truly interested in the sport and we

were able to take some great shots of him at the wheel,” Coffin said.

Clinton took the time to shake hands of each of the U.S. crews and

asked a few questions. He asked Ken Read of the Stars and Stripes, Team

Dennis Conner Syndicate, “What’s the biggest obstacle for winning back

the America’s Cup?”

Read answered with “Fundraising.”

Clinton chuckled and said, “Yes, I know what you mean.” He should have

told Read to call his buddies in China as I understand they are more than

willing to assist Americans that are in a “race.”

On Wednesday, the weather cleared and Chelsea had the opportunity to

ride on AmericaTrue’s trial horse, the 1995 TAG boat.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce William Daley and several of his entourage

were also guests aboard AmericaTrue and expressed their gratitude for the

exciting ride.

A few days prior to the arrival of the Clintons, a couple of the crew

members called in sick with an intestinal flu. As of last Thursday, 16

crew members were flat on their backs saying, “I’ve never been so sick in

my life!” They, however, rallied for the President’s arrival.

Break out your wallet because the “Lido Yacht Expo” begins on

Thursday, Sept. 23-26 at the Lido Marina Village.

Duncan McIntosh, the producer of the Expo tells me, “This is a show

for larger-sized boats. We’ll be showing over 150 boats from 40-feet, up

to over 100-feet long.”

Yacht financing programs and representatives, boating gear and new

products will also be on display.

The show will run from noon to 7 p.m. on Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

on Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

This is a great show for both new and used boats and don’t forget that

boat owners are more willing to deal during the winter, off-season months

The Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club will host “J-Fest ‘99) on Oct. 9-10.

BCYC will conduct a competitors’ meeting at 9 a.m. on Oct. 9 with the

first of three races commencing at 11:30 a.m.

A party and raffle will begin after the races.

Two races are scheduled for Oct. 10, with a North Sails and Ullman

Sails reception and trophy presentation immediately following the fifth

and final race.

To register for the race, contact BCYC at (949) 644-9530.

Voyagers Yacht Club is making a move and joining up with Newport’s

newest Corinthian Yacht Club, the “Newport Beach Yacht Club,” formally

known as Shark Island YC.

The Voyager club has been in existence since 1941 and hosts the famous

“Humphrey Bogart Series.”

They also sponsor the “Hot Rum Series” which will begin on Oct. 17.

The four, Sunday race format is a lot of fun with hot run specials

being served after each event.

For registration and other information, contact race committee

chairman Fred Masino of the Newport Beach Yacht Club at (949) 723-5107.