New commodore ready to serve the race

June Casagrande

Would-be commodores for the annual Newport to Ensenada race work

their way up through the ranks, looking forward to the day they are

honored with the title. After years of anticipation, they serve for a

single year. But stepping down is never a let-down because there’s

still something very exciting to look forward to.

“Two years later, once you’re all done, then you can get back in

the race,” said Fred Slocum, this year’s commodore. “We all look

forward to that.”

Like commodores before him, Slocum got involved in the race as a

volunteer for the Newport Ocean Sailing Assn., an association of

local yacht clubs that puts on the annual race to Ensenada. After

sailing in about six races in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the

Irvine resident and longtime member of the Balboa Yacht Club agreed

in 1997 to volunteer for the event. And though his initial commitment

was pretty casual, the race, the association and the people make

involvement addictive, he said.

“It’s about the people,” Slocum, 54, said. “When you share a dream

or a vision and you put in as many hours over as many years as we

have, the relationships you build are very strong.”

Among the invaluable friendships Slocum has formed in his years

with the sailing association are friendships with last year’s

Commodore Ron Masterson and this year’s Vice Commodore Tim Johnson.

But the job itself is not so easily summed up in a few words.

“In a word, the best way to describe what a commodore is

‘facilitator,’” Slocum said. “There are about 230 people all working

together -- it’s a lot of work -- and your role is really to act as

facilitator.”

Overseeing a vast force of volunteers is one of the more

challenging aspects of the job. On race day, more than 100 volunteers

are at the starting point off Corona del Mar State Beach. About 80

are stationed on start boats to help keep track of official race

starts. Still more volunteers are on escort boats that follow racers

to Ensenada and provide emergency assistance.

At the race’s destination, 125 miles away, volunteers eventually

take their positions in boats at the finish lines and staff the race

committee room in the Bahia Hotel. Here, volunteers work in

eight-hour shifts around the clock keeping track of and communicating

official race times.

And though he’s at the helm of it all, Slocum still thinks of

himself as just one of a team of volunteers working for the love of

the race and the relationships.

“We’re rewarded through personal involvement and enjoyment,” he

said. “When it hooks you it’s pretty powerful.”

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport. She

may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

june.casagrande@latimes.com.