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34 | OHCC LIVING | APRIL 2026 | Sailing Beneath an Icon Few landmarks define San Diego Bay as dramatically as the sweeping blue arc of the San Diego–Coronado Bridge. For sailors leaving the harbor, passing beneath this graceful structure is almost a rite of passage — and a reminder of how engineering and maritime life intersect on our beautiful bay. Stretching 2.1 miles across San Diego Bay, the bridge connects downtown San Diego with Coronado and carries State Route 75 across the water. When it opened on August 3, 1969 — during San Diego's 200th anniversary celebration — it quickly became one of Southern California's most recognizable landmarks. The project had been debated for decades. Early proposals in the 1920s were rejected, and the U.S. Navy opposed the idea for years, worried a collapsed bridge could block the bay and trap naval ships. Eventually a compromise was reached: the bridge would provide 200 feet of clearance so vessels could safely pass beneath it. To achieve that height while keeping the roadway manageable for drivers, engineers designed the bridge with its famous sweeping curve — an elegant arc rather than a straight crossing. Construction began in 1967, and the finished structure stretches more than 11,000 feet across the bay. For sailors, however, the bridge offers something more than an engineering achievement. Approaching the main channel by boat, the towering supports and sweeping roadway create a dramatic gateway between the open bay and the San Diego skyline. If you've never experienced the thrill of gliding beneath the Coronado Bridge under sail, the Ocean Hills Sailing Club would love to introduce you to it. New friends, fresh air, open water, there's always room for one more aboard. Written by Patricia Melzer Sailing Club We are off and running or maybe I should say off and singing. Rehearsals are in full swing for our Spring Concert coming up on May 24 at 2 pm in Abravanel Hall. They are going very well and now we have a very talented new accompanist on the piano for our rehearsals. He is Brad Kaenel and he has extensive experience working with choral groups. It is so much more fun singing with an actual accompanist rather than with a recording. Brad has also upgraded our on-line practice music to make it much easier to sing along with, as part of our homework. Yes, that's right, there is a bit of homework involved with singing with our group. But even that is fun if you like to sing. We rehearse every Thursday, most often in Abravanel Hall from 10:15 am until noon. If you think you might be interested in joining us, please stop by a rehearsal and see if it might be something that you are drawn to. You will be delighted with how much fun it is to sing in a group and to learn some of the tricks of the trade, as you will from our brilliant director Beverly Taylor. She has challenged us with some awfully interesting music for our Spring Concert and will include some previously performed songs as well as some new pieces. The website for the Choral Society is http://ohchorale. wixsite.com/ohchorale. It is also available on the Ocean Hills Country Club website. You can also scan the QR code to get to the website. Written by Jack Shabel Choral Society

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