CYC Seattle has three speakers lined up for the rest of February to provide fun, inspiring, and informative stories.
On Friday evenings in February, Seattle area boaters are invited to join fellow sailors at the Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle for talks by club members, who will share stories of their cruising or racing adventures. This is a fun way to spend a few winter evenings with food, drinks, and friends, and it is sure to inspire your own voyages near or far. Here’s what’s on tap for the rest of February, 2026.
Friday, February 13 – Engine Prep & Onboard Repair – Keeping Your Vessel Running Smoothly. Presented by Otto Loggers and Jeff Bennet. 6:00-8:30 p.m.
This is a facilitated discussion on getting to know your boat’s engine and what you can do to keep it running its best. You want to be able to count on your engine when you need it…and to troubleshoot issues when they arise. Learning to use a systems-approach to maintenance and troubleshooting has helps, and they hope is that you can join in the discussion to share your engine troubleshooting stories. RSVP HERE.
Friday, February 20 – Amnesty Away – Four Years of Preparation and Six Years in Mexico. Presented by Ralph De La O. 6:00-9:00 p.m.
A question I get quite often is – What was it like to finally cut the dock lines? Were you excited, scared, nervous? The answer to my surprise was….none of the above.
I bought Amnesty in December of 2012 with the intention of sailing the world some day. Planning finally started in earnest in 2016 and I departed in 2019. The reason I wasn’t excited or scared or nervous was because I had been living the dream in my head for many years before I departed. When the day finally came to make “The Big Left Turn” from Neah Bay and head down the coast…..it felt like an ordinary thing….like driving to Starbucks to get a cup of coffee. This is the story of getting myself and the boat ready, the voyage down the Washington / Oregon / California coast and the six years spent bouncing around Mexico. RSVP HERE.
Friday, February 27 – University of Washington Atmospheric Scientist Cliff Mass. 6:00-9:00 p.m.
For us sailors, weather prediction is literally a life skill. We approach it in various ways—from listening to marine forecasts to comparing models for wind, precipitation, and lightning. Sometimes, we even look at (and try to understand) the 500 hPa (mb) levels in the upper atmosphere. We need to know if it is safe to transit, when to leave, and where to find a sheltered bay.
Cliff Mass leads the University of Washington Mesoscale Analysis and Forecasting Group and is the chief scientist of the Northwest Modeling Consortium. He is currently working on high-resolution numerical weather prediction, regional climate simulation, and the meteorology of Western U.S. wildfires. His research also explores non-traditional weather observations—ranging from smartphones to Saildrones, and improving model microphysics.
Having authored numerous books and papers, Cliff has held many distinguished offices and earned high honors in his field. He is a seasoned public speaker who isn’t afraid to stand up for his scientific convictions. RSVP HERE.
