Life Altering Experience

More than 200 boats and nearly 800 yachties went up to Tinsley Island in the Sacramento Delta this past weekend on the St. Francis Yacht Club’s 50th Annual Stag Cruise. While this amazing gathering included some of our sport’s biggest names, the high spot of this four-day outing for the Curmudgeon was the 20 minutes I spent talking with Tom Norris, retired US Navy SEAL, and a recipient of the Medal of Honor.

A day earlier, Norris and Dick Couch -- his colleague, his friend and also a retired US Navy SEAL -- held a standing room only audience absolutely captivated as they candidly and understatedly talked about some of their missions … and about the bravery and heroics of the warriors currently on duty with the United States armed forces. To hear their stories about insurgency -- then and now -- could only be described as an inspirational, life-altering experience for the attendees who listened in awed silence with enormous respect.

St. Francis Yacht Club Commodore Ray Lotto asked Cruise Chair Charlie Hart and the 28-person committee to make the 50th Anniversary Stag Cruise the best one ever. “Mission Accomplished” was the overwhelming consensus of the members and distinguished guests privileged to attend this event.

Where else in the world would you find a collection of speakers like Tom Ehman, Dyer Jones, Malin Burnham, Bill Ficker, and Kimball Livingston assembled together in one place? But it was much more than the gathering of these leaders that made the Stag Cruise so special -- it’s the informal environment that made it very easy to break bread with any these gentlemen … or gather candid insight over late evening libation.

Marvelous food? Oh Yea! Adult beverages? Plentiful! And all of this was intermixed with Laser races, Bocce Ball, horseshoe and domino tournaments, enthusiastically appreciated Las Vegas entertainment, and elements of patriotism that made you feel good about being an American. It’s a unique experience, that takes place in a unique setting -- StFYC’s private island -- miles away from outside disturbances. -- The Curmudgeon

Note: Photos not taken by the Curmudgeon