According to the great actor Peter Fonda, the sport of sailing is “involved with action, life and survival.” It carries with it a certain aesthetic and sophistication. Piloting a yacht, or even a small sailing dinghy, requires an intimate knowledge of knot tying, points of sail, rights of way and a feel for the tiller. And no one exemplifies this better than local power-pop outfit the Tranzmitors, making them the natural choice to headline the UBC Sailing Club’s first beach party of the season.

The band members were well aware before the show that they were not playing to their usual fan club, and took to the stage with a bit of apprehension. It took some coaxing from singer Jeff McCloy and bassist Mike Flintoff to get the crowd to tack and gybe their way to center stage, but the party did eventually make its way from the beach and into the sailboat repair hangar, where the band was set up. The surf-rock undertones and vocal harmonies that the Tranzmitors have gained notoriety for struck a chord with the audience, and the band soon had the prettiest girls and some of the jauntier fellows shaking in their summer attire.

Between sets the gang mingled with the crowd and enjoyed the open-air venue. A party of this sort was a welcome relief from the usual trip to the bar. The band seemed to enjoy the atmosphere as much as the other revelers did, and really drove the show home with their second set, complete with encore. If you missed this chance to see the Tranzmitors, not to worry—drummer Bryce Dunn [ed. and Riff Raff columnist!] assured me that the band aims to play about once a month this summer.