Dick McNish turned 80 and the Channel Islands Harbor’s McNish Classic boat regatta turned 30 this past weekend. I gather, posting big numbers, has been part of what defines Dick’s life and who could fault him for saying, th-th-that’s all folks, which he did at the conclusion of this years event. Is there anyone willing and capable of organizing and managing the event ? Or will it, like many great things, be left in the wake of progress ?

This is a pic I took of Junaita and Dick McNish’s beloved Cheerio II, which along with everything else that is great about the yacht, began her life in 1931, as one of the vessels owned by Errol Flynn during his colorful lifetime.

It would be sad to see this event conclude as it is one of very few classic sailing yacht gatherings on the West Coast. There are three bonafide yacht clubs in the Channel islands Harbor and any one of them is capable and qualified to pick up the torch and continue such a great tradition of sailing here in Southern California. The grand sailing journal of the West Coast, Latitude 38 gives a great epitath to the man and the boat race which meant so much to him. I couldn’t have said it any better. We’ll see you for another AYC Supper Dick, but we’ll really miss your event already, if someone doesn’t pick it up !

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