After a hard hit to start the year, the Santa Barbara Yacht Club is setting sail for 2023

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -  It was hit hard by winter waves, and lost some of its operating systems, but the Santa Barbara Yacht Club is getting a good head wind now as it prepares for its 2023 activities.

Commodore David Sadecki says a strengthening of the pilings is underway and that will give the structure about 40 years of extended durability.

The Yacht Club celebrated its 150th year in 2022.
The present structure near the breakwater wall is its second location after it was originally on Stearns Wharf.

Sadecki said the winter weather was a hard impact from the beginning when the sand berm protection was wiped out quickly. Then the storm surge took over. "It took out our utilities, our courtyard our boatyard, our parking lot and then it also revealed some damage to our pilings."

A company known to Santa Barbara has been involved in the strengthening work.
"We actually hired a company out of Los Angeles that actually  does some of the same repairs and provides expertise for  Stearns Wharf," said Sadecki.

Looking forward, events and activities set for earlier this year have been moved on the calendar.
"We were only open for two days in January and two days in February. So we opened at the end of February.  We had some events postponed, but not canceled," said Sadecki.

Opening day ceremonies will take place in April including a special blessing of the boats.

Sadecki said "the members are excited  we are ready to get our summer started and get our palapa open on the  beach and start having fun again.

The city is finishing off the rock wall work around the parking lot, then the area will get paved.