Sandy Purdon

One of the largest July 4th Fireworks Show in the United States created to entertain over 500,000 people on July 4th to benefit the San Diego Armed Services YMCA charity. See amazing photos, video and sponsorship information at www.bigbayboom.com. This event is annually ranked in the top 5 July 4th fireworks shows nationally.

The initial responsibility as General Partner of Shelter Cove Marina was to raise $4 million to purchased and redevelop the leasehold on Shelter Island, San Diego. This evolved into the reconstruction and development of the entire site in 1992-94. Since then the marina has provided dock and slip facilities for the public and office spaces for a dozen small businesses.

Initially the firm was involved in general real estate activity as a brokerage, developer and investor. It evolved into other activities including event management, marina development and management.

Approving multi-million dollar state loans to public and private entities for marina improvements in California.

To create a new organization to address the issues around environmental challenges for California marinas facilities.

To lead the 400+ private businesses on the San Diego Port tidelands on issues that affected their relationship with the public and the Port of San Diego.

To build an effective method on attracting major sport events to San Diego in order to improve the economic impact of sports in San Diego.

San Diego Yacht Club has approximately 2,000 members including juniors, junior flag, flag, life, widowed and service. Commodore Purdon was on the board of directors from 1983 to 1992 service one year in 1991 as Commodore. He is currently a Staff Commodore as all former Commodores are considered. From 1988 - 1995 when the America's Cup was defended in San Diego, S/C Purdon spent time on the America's Cup Defense Committee (Chairman 1992) and the America's Cup Organizing Committee. The SDYC America's Cup Defense Committe successfully defended the Cup in 1988 and 1992. SDYC lost the Cup to New Zealand in 1995.

As the Executvie Direcctor of the Sail America Foundation, Sandy ran the business side of the San Diego Yacht Club's Challenge to the America's Cup with Dennis Conner's Stars & Stripes Challenge. The challenge was established in 1983 and engaged in training in San Diego, Hawaii and Fremantle, Western Australia. The challenge was successful in winning the America's Cup in February 1987 beating the Australia defender Kookaburra III from the Royal Perth Yacht Club 4-0.

Having enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1963 and going through boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, PFC Purdon became a code intercept operator. He was advanced in rank as he attended communication school in Pensacola, Florida, and then in early 1964 he was transferred to Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Air Station, Oahu, Hawaii, with the 1st Radio Company. In 1964, having been selected for the Navy Enlisted Scientific Education Program (NESEP), he attended Auburn University majoring in Aerospace Engineering. Making rank while in college to Sergeant (E-5), he was commissioned in December 1967 as a 2nd Lieutenant. After attending the Officer Basic School in Quantico, Virginia, in 1968, he was assigned to the Air Wing as an Air Defense Control Officer. He trained at Camp Pendleton, California, from the summer of 1968 to the summer of 1969. In August 1969, Purdon was issued orders to Vietnam's 1st Radio Company on Monkey Mountain outside of DaNang in I Corps. After 13 months in country he was ordered to Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station in North Carolina for his final 15 months. He was promoted to Captain and left the Marine Corps with an Honorable Discharge in December 1970.