About
The Pacific Single Handed Sailing Association (PSSA) was founded in 1980 to organize single and doublehanded sailing among Southern California sailors. It is the organizing authority for two five-race series: the Dan Byrne Series in the winter and spring seasons and the Dave Wall Series in the summer and fall seasons. These races range from 15 to 165 nautical miles in length and include single and doublehanded classes. Usually every other year it holds the Guadalupe Island Race that runs about 600 nautical miles down the coast of Southern California and Mexico and back. PSSA is a member of US Sailing, the Southern California Yachting Association, and Association of Santa Monica Bay Yacht Clubs. It does not own a clubhouse, Committee Boat, or other assets, but has had a friendship with the South Coast Corinthian Yacht Club for many years, who graciously lends PSSA space for skipper’s meetings and other events.
Below you can learn more about our history and past officers.
Association history
Dan Byrne and Chuck Kite didn't know they were going to start a singlehanded sailing organization when they met in early 1980 to discuss their mutual interest in entering the Singlehanded Transpac Race. What they wanted to do was organize a solo 300 mile race out of Marina del Rey that would serve as a qualifier for the Transpac. That race called the Marina del Rey 300, was started on April 4, 1980, with 18 entrants. The race course was: Start at Marina del Rey, sail to Bishop Rock then San Clemente Island (to port), Begg Rock (to starboard), Santa Barbara Island (to port), and finish at Marina del Rey.
Later that month, a group of 30 people gathered at the South Coast Corinthian Yacht Club to form a panel which included Byrne, Kite, David Sofaer, Peter Saltman, Gary Trump, Pierre Chanlande, David Lay, Gene Menzie, and Brad Avery. Suzanne Fischel-Kite and Stan Williams both were active in the early organizational efforts. The South Coast Corinthian YC, under commodore Virginia Atkinson was generous in allowing use of its club house for the early gatherings of the PSSA's founding membership.
In a series of meetings, the organizing committee decided to call the fledgling organization the Pacific Singlehanded Sailing Association. The name was deliberately intended to give the organization the broadest possible scope rather than limiting it to Marina del Rey. This decision was well taken as PSSA members and participants have ranged from San Francisco to San Diego. A constitution was hammered out that included this statement of purpose: "To advance the interests, skills and fitness of the singlehanded sailor by (a) education; (b) exchange of ideas and experience; (c) evaluation of techniques and equipment, and (d) conducting singlehanded sailing events and appropriate social activities." The committee made membership open to "any person interested in the objectives of the association and who is willing to assist in the achievement of those objectives."
Attorney Tom Lindholm incorporated the PSSA as a non profit educational organization. In October 1980, the PSSA's first slate of officers was elected and installed. They were Byrne, Commodore; Saltman, Vice Commodore; Sam Phillips, Fleet Captain; and Linda Carlson, Chalande, Kite, Sofaer, and Lay, Board Members. Shortly thereafter Carlson resigned and was replaced by Trump. The first order of business to come before the leadership of the new association was the organization of the first Guadalupe Island Race.
The PSSA was off and sailing.
CHARTER MEMBERS
Brad Avery Michael Kane
Dan Byrne Charles Kite
Patricia Byrne Suzanne Fischel-Kite
Bob Boyes David Lay
Brian Boylan Sue Mailander
Don Brydon Gene Menzie
Pierre Chalande Al Michael
Linda Carlson Peter Saltman
Jack Dawson Grace Sime
Bill Foster David Sofaer
Stephan Fouke Ray Tostado
Jim Gibson Gary Trump
Terry Harper David Wall
Bob Hammer Stan Williams
Jim Ingles
PAST OFFICERS
2023
Commodore Tom Wilson
Vice Commodore David Bew
2022
Commodore Sasha Zaripov
Vice Commodore Margie Woods
2021
Commodore Tom Wilson
Vice Commodore Sasha Zaripov
2020
Commodore Margie Woods
Vice Commodore Tom Wilson
2019
Commodore Bill Ziel
Vice Commodore Margie Woods
2018
Commodore Jerome Sammarcelli
Vice Commodore Bill Ziel
2017
Commodore Joe Barry
Vice Commodore Jerome Sammarcelli
2016
Commodore Whitall Stokes
Vice Commodore Joe Barry
2015
Commodore Mark Keller
Vice Commodore Whitall Stokes
2014
Commodore Cecille Schweddes
Vice Commodore Mark Keller
2013
Commodore Whitall Stokes
Vice Commodore Cecille Schweddes
2012
Commodore Brian Hobbin
Vice Commodore Whitall Stokes
2011
Commodore Rod Percival
Vice Commodore Brian Hobbin
2010
Commodore Mark Keller
Vice Commodore Rod Percival
2009
Commodore Eric Lambert
Vice Commodore Mark Keller
2008
Commodore Nancy Samovar
Vice Commodore Eric Lambert
2007
Commodore Jaime Cantu
Vice Commodore Nancy Samovar
2006
Commodore Chris Hardenbrook
Vice Commodore Jaime Cantu
2005
Commodore John Choi
Vice Commodore Chris Hardenbrook
2004
Commodore David Angers
Vice Commodore John Choi
2003
Commodore Chuck Spear
Vice Commodore David Angers
2002
Commodore Charles Ray
Vice Commodore Chuck Spear
2001
Commodore Carlos Sanchez
Vice Commodore Charles Ray
2000
Commodore John Hodgson
Vice Commodore Carlos Sanchez
1999
Commodore Joel Gober
Vice Commodore John Hodgson
Fleet Captain Frank Ross
Treasurer Rod Percival
1998
Commodore Chuck Woods
Vice Commodore Joel Gober
Fleet Captain Frank Ross
Treasurer Robbie McFarlane
1997
Commodore Frank Ross
Vice Commodore Andy Levant
Fleet Captain Rod Percival
Treasurer Robbie McFarlane
1996
CommodoreRod Percival
Vice Commodore Frank Ross
Fleet Captain Bob Mellen
Treasurer Robbie McFarlane
1995
Commodore Rudi Pel
Vice Commodore Rod Percival
Fleet Captain Frank Ross
Treasurer Tom O'Conor
1994
Commodore Dennis Carter
Vice Commodore Rudi Pel
Treasurer Tom O'Conor
Fleet Captain Rod Percival
Education Nick Barran
1993
Commodore Dennis Carter
Vice Commodore Curtis Woods
Treasurer Rudi Pel
1992
Commodore Kevin Buffington
Vice Commodore Curtis Woods
Secretary Jim Ingram
Treasurer Rudi Pel
1991
Commodore Horst Lechler
Vice Commodore Kevin Buffington
Treasurer Dan Stitzel
1990
Commodore John Martin
Vice Commodore Horst Lechler
Treasurer Dan Stitzel
1989
Commodore Phil Habegger
Vice Commodore John Martin
Treasurer Dan Stitzel
Fleet Captain Frank McKeown
1988
Commodore Chuck Kite
Vice Commodore Peter Rowe
Treasurer Dan Stitzel
Fleet Captain H. Lechler/R. Pel
1987
Commodore Steve Boothe
Vice Commodore Chuck Kite
Treasurer Dale Rudolph
Secretary Dan Stitzel
1986
Commodore Phil Habegger
Vice Commodore Steve Boothe
Treasurer Dale Rudolph
Fleet Captain Jim Provost
Secretary Ralph Markussen
1985
Commodore Jerry Huffman
Vice Commodore Phil Habegger
Fleet Captain Nick Barran
Treasurer L. Lindauer/D. Squire
Secretary Bill Dabs
1984
Commodore S. Phillips/M. Smith
Vice Commodore M. Smith/K. Frenger
Fleet Captain Jerry Huffman
Treasurer David Sofaer
1983
Commodore Dick Shier
Vice Commodore Jerry Pollack
Fleet Captain Gary Trump
Treasurer Jim Hunter
1982
Commodore Chuck Kite
Vice Commodore Gene Menzie
Fleet Captain David Lay
Treasurer Jim Hunter
1981
Commodore Dan Byrne
Vice Commodore Peter Saltman
Fleet Captain David Lay
1980
Commodore (interim) Dan Byrne
Vice Commodore (interim) Peter Saltman
Fleet Captain (interim) Sam Phillips