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OASIS SAILING CLUB HISTORY

Dr. Neil Buell, DDS, a very engaged citizen, active in many civic groups, was an early member of the Oasis Senior Center ---- which celebrated its 32nd anniversary recently. Ten years later ---- in springtime 1986, Neil offered his 25-foot American Mariner sloop to senior center members, start a sailing group. John Feeley and Abe Etingen were interested; then Ernie Neben and Ted Lund joined in. Since the sloop was moored to a harbor buoy off Little Balboa Island, two would paddle a skiff through the mud flats, bringing the sloop to the Marine Avenue public dock for added crew boarding

May 1988--- Stan Hauxhurst joined Sailing club, after a life of horse ranching in Montana, charter fishing in Catalina and real estate operations. June 1988 – Dr. Buell suffered back pains and orthopedic problems, forcing him to stop sailing and he sells his sloop. Miraculously, Stan decided to stop his twenty-year Catalina-based commercial fishing trips, sell his cruiser and buy a sailboat for club’s continued operations.

In July 1988, Stan bought Catalina-27, formerly named GOING BANANAS --- probably named by a man entering his own menopause. Stan immediately changed its name to OASIS, and moved it to a Balboa Yacht Club slip, at his own $500 monthly expense for mooring, insurance, hull cleaning and maintenance, for nearly four years. John Feeley (retired H.B. English teacher and Librarian) led the Club from the outset; John initiated $5 monthly dues, later supplemented by $10 sailing trip fees as well, to reimburse Stan for about 20% of his expenses. Staff Commodore John Kraus joined us in 1990, ushering in a long period of growth and progress.

1992 – Stan donated his sloop to Friends of Oasis. Irvine Company granted a favorable mooring rate and sloop OASIS was moved to a Balboa Marina slip, behind MAMMA GINA’S. Club had averaged 12 members during its first nine years, with OASIS sailing two or three times per week by 1995, with small crews.

1993 – Club began quarterly maritime-related tours, social events, museum trips, etc. March 31, 1999 - Kurt Topik purchased a Newport-30 sloop, renamed it OASIS II, and donated it to F.O.O. Summer of 2000, Sunset sailings began. August 2000, Club’s first Lady Skipper was certified --- Ann Krueger. By July 2001, club roster sustained at 44 member level. Our current club roster of about 130 active members includes nine persons who had joined OSC during its first ten years (1986-1996). Since our origin, more than 720 individuals have sailed aboard our OASIS sloops.

FAST FORWARD TO August 2006 – Mel and Ricky Richley purchased another Newport-30 sloop, named COOLER RUNNINGS, and donated it to the Friends of Oasis for the expanding needs of our Oasis Sailing Club. Renamed OASIS III, she was motor-sailed through the night, from San Diego to Newport Beach in September 2006.

Many, many achievements have continued through the past year, owing to the generous and coordinated energies of our Officers, Skippers, Mates and members. For example, Paul Perlow led a committee, to amend our 7-year old Club Constitution and its By-Laws; Membership growth accelerated under Paul Bjorkholm’s guidance; Public relations blossomed due to Mac MacAdam’s outreach efforts; both sloops were maintained and improved by continuing attention of Bayley and Byerlein, community services were extended beyond annual sailings for visually-impaired, to a weekly "sailing for developmentally-disabled" adults’ program, in which seven of our sailors serve as Skippers; Commodore Sharp successfully gained a new berth for OASIS III, saving the club about $6,000 annually; Rob Jason and Linda Boulton have managed a range of social events, bonding our members together further; member training and development has seen its most productive cycle ever, under Frank Reinhart’s enthusiastic leadership; and to Vice Commodore Stone, Secretary Stave and Treasurer Friese, whose diligent, constant efforts promote the club’s mission, and to each of you here ---

I salute you! As the truism goes: SAILORS LIVE AT LEAST SIX YEARS LONGER.