February - Grand Traverse Yacht Club

Cultivating a Rich and
Proud Legacy of Boating
for Pleasure and Sport
ISSUE 56-02
FEBRUARY 2015
Waterlines
Editor
Kim Marian
Submissions due by the
4th Tuesday of the month
prior to publication - 500
words or less please.
waterlines@gtyc.org
In This Issue
Editor’s Notes
p1
Hound Dog in Aug!
p2
From the Helm
p3
Membershipp4
Race/Nan-C-Jayp5
Social Happenings
p6-7
Off the Water
p8
Misc. Ramblings
p9
Coming Events
p10
Heard ‘Round the Club p10
Editor’s Notes
“Changes are Afoot!”
This month we get into the groove with winter and off-season
activities. Bring on the cold weather and good ice so our ice
boaters can enjoy good rides. While us land-lubbers love a good
snow, ice boaters prefer the cold without the white-stuff. We all
have our weather wishes!
This month, we see a number of new submissions from throughout
the Club: Hound Dog moves to August, an update from the Membership Committee,
excitement for this year’s Nan-C-Jay (start early - everyone should participate!), teasers
from Social Committee and the Past Commodores Council, and Off-the-Water learning
opportunities both at GTYC and elsewhere. Our regular columns are back for another
issue: From the Helm and the mind of Commodore Jordan, Misc. Ramblings from
PC40, Coming Events, and quick hits Seen and Heard ‘Round the Club. Did you see,
say, or hear anything on the last page?
Happy Reading and, as always, your comments and suggestions are welcome!
Kim
Check the Club’s ONLINE CALENDAR for Up-to-date Event Info.
Refer to NORs and SIs for official racing dates, not the online calendar
1
HOUND DOG REGATTA MOVES TO AUGUST!
Taking advantage of a unique opportunity, GTYC’s annual regatta is moving to August 13-15! With this year’s
extra-long summer, the month of August has a fifth weekend, giving our Race Committee the chance to place the
Hound Dog Regatta on the calendar exactly between Little Traverse Yacht Club’s UGotta Regatta on July 25 & 26
and Charlevoix Yacht Club’s Red Fox Regatta on September 5 & 6.
Planning is already underway for our club’s signature event of the year. It’s the hope of Commodore Jordan Owen
that the move of dates will encourage more club members to participate both on the water and onshore: “The August
date means that everyone will have their boats up to speed, the kids are still on vacation, and the water is warm. With
that mix of ingredients, it should make for a fantastic weekend.” The Commodore also noted that participation in the
Hound Dog will earn GTYC boats a three seconds-per-mile credit towards their Nan-C-Jay rating.
Many time-worn traditions continue, including the Saturday evening Raingutter Regatta, Sunday afternoon’s postawards “apres-sail” on the lawn, a great band on Saturday night, and the return of the Mount Gay Rum sponsorship.
On Friday night, the Dog Park Derby for 420s will return benefiting our TACS High School Sailing teams. Also in
development are new aspects for the regatta, including a feeder race from Charlevoix to Traverse City for our visiting
yachts, and a “Grand Touring” division for sailors who may want to stretch out a bit with longer race legs.
we’re working to make sure that this event
is for all of our members, not just racers
“This year’s Hound Dog will be
the high point of our summer
-- we’re working to make sure
that this event is for all of our
members, not just racers,”
said the Commodore. The
regatta begins on Friday the
13th with the “Night Before”
party, continues on Saturday
with racing and the Mount Gay
Rum party, and concludes with
racing and awards on Sunday
the 15th.
Make plans now to participate in
our club’s annual invitational!
2
FROM
THE HELM
During the first Board of Directors
meeting of 2015, we reviewed
and approved the calendar of
club events for the year. With an
eye to what would lay ahead as
Commodore, I worked diligently
for well-over a year in “curating”
a wide-ranging schedule of
traditional and interesting events
that would encourage greater
participation of our members across the full range of our
interests. While not all of us race, and not all of us cruise,
knit, or garden, all of us do have a few common occasions
for which we come together as a club and a community.
On Saturday, August 15, the Mount Gay Rum Party
serves as the heart of the Hound Dog Regatta. This is OUR
annual regatta -- what should be the signature event on the
calendar for any yacht club. While the event that surrounds
the party is for racers, the party is for everyone -- and their
friends! To make this the best night of the year at the Yacht
Club, we need all of you.
Of these, I refer to the most important as “The Big Three”:
the Oyster Clambake, the Saturday night party of the
Hound Dog Regatta, and the Christmas parties. These are
the three events which are the tent-poles of our calendar.
Much like practicing members of the clergy use the term
“C & E’ers” to describe members of their congregations
that they see on Christmas and Easter, we’d like for all of
our Yacht Club members to commit to the “Big Three”.
We love to see you all throughout the year, but these events
are at the very heart of what binds us together as a club. We
hope to see you at all three.
The third occasion is the twin Christmas parties
-- the “grown-ups” party Friday, December 4 and the
children’s party the afternoon of Saturday, December 5.
Our Christmas parties help welcome the beginning of
the Christmas season as well as a chance to celebrate the
conclusion of another eventful year.
The Big Three:
May 1 - Oyster Clambake
Cheers,
Aug 15 - Saturday Night Party
JO
of Hound Dog
Jordan Owen
Dec 4 & 5 - Christmas Parties Commodore
The first of the three is the most storied — the Oyster
Clambake on May 1 has a long and colorful history as
what was once the traditional kick-off of the new club
season. Developed as “The Oyster Stag”, the party served
as a membership recruitment event. Prospective members
were lured with the promise that the cost of the evening’s
admission would be credited into their dues if they joined
the club that evening! Now, in an era of a very full club, the
Oyster Clambake is still an open-to-the-public event which
serves as an opportunity to meet and reacquaint ourselves
with potential new members. Also, as an event hosted &
manned by the Flag Officers & Board of Directors, it’s
an occasion that requires an old-fashioned “all hands on
deck” call.
commodore@gtyc.org
Early 1980s Oyster Stag/Clambake
3
MEMBERSHIP
Rob Lovell, 2015 Membership Chair
UPDATE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
By now you should have received your annual love letter
from the Membership Committee, otherwise known as
your Dues Statement. As always, your payment is
expected by March 1 to avoid the wrath of the Treasurer,
otherwise known as a late payment penalty. For your
convenience, you may pay by cash, check, money order,
online, or at the bar. Sorry, no Commodore Bucks are
accepted for the payment of your dues. To pay online,
visit the Members Only section at GTYC.org and select
the Miscellaneous Payments page. (Be sure to log in Webmaster, Jim Sorbie, can help with login details if
you’re stuck.)
In other news, now that your Membership Committee has
finished licking, sticking, and stuffing the dues statements,
we are turning our attention to a very healthy potential
new member waiting list. I’ve sent out an email to all that
remain our list from last year, with only one email address
failing to be delivered. I’ve asked those who remain
interested in joining our Club to answer a simple question:
“The last time you went boating, what did you do?”
The last time you went
boating, what did you do?
I’ve really enjoyed reading the responses, as it has been a
great insight into those who share our common interest. If
you have sponsored an applicant to our Club, please invite
them down on Wednesday or Friday nights or to other
events we have on our Club Calendar. See you at the Club!
THANKS TO PAST COMMODORE DIEHL
At the January meeting of the Board, Commodore Owen
offered his thanks and gratitude to Past Commodore,
Gregg Diehl. During PC Diehl’s term, we explored a real
estate investment, hosted a national championship with
our friends at TACS, paid ahead on the mortgage, paid
off a water assessment, ended the year ahead of budget,
and initiated a comprehensive review of the by-laws. (stay
tuned on the by-laws issue!)
As thanks for Gregg’s leadership, Jordan presented Gregg
with a framed print by Ken Scott. Many thanks for all your
efforts PC Diehl!
4
RACE COMMITTEE
THE RACE FOR NAN-C-JAY IS ON!
While the boats won’t hit the starting line for
seven months, Wednesday Night crews are
already jockeying for an advantage in
the race for the Nan-C-Jay!
For 2015, the question of who will win
GTYC’s oldest sailing trophy may be
determined throughout the year leading
up to the Wednesday, September 2
race date. Commodore Owen has
designated several events on the 2015
club calendar which will offer race crews
the opportunity to earn ratings credits with
their participation. While there are potential ratings
discounts totaling close to thirty seconds, the 2015
Nan-C-Jay Grand Champion won’t be determined until
things are settled on the water.
The long list of events and activities that qualify
for potential Nan-C-Jay credits include
participation in the Commodore’s Trivia
Nights, Spring Clean-Up Day, The Hound
Dog Regatta, and hosting a crew dinner.
Also, the Commodore is offering three
seconds a mile if you let him race with you
on a Wednesday night!
Even if you don’t race on Wednesday
nights, you’re more than welcome to
participate. The Nan-C-Jay Grand Reserve
award will be given to the crew that accumulates
the most ratings credits prior to the scoring of the race.
The full calendar of Nan-C-Jay points earning events can
be found at gtyc.org/Nan-C-Jay.
MISSING: BREECH OF THE SIGNAL CANNON
Missing from the Great Room of the club: one threaded
brass cannon breech – includes the inoperable firing pin and
is approximately the size of a baseball. This belongs to the
club’s signal cannon and without it, the cannon is unusable.
The Commodore and the Flagpole & Signal Commodore
would appreciate its return or any information about its
whereabouts
5
SOCIAL COMMITTEE +
PAST COMMODORES
COMMODORE’S TEAM TRIVIA NIGHT
Commodore Jordan Owen
Commodore’s Team Trivia Night #1 Results, top 5 of 11 teams
Commodore’s Team
Trivia Night #2
Wed, Feb 25, 6:30pm
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Knockout
Flying Toaster
Liberty
Social Member
Spyke
19 pts
19 pts
19 pts
17 pts
17 pts
OT 4 correct
OT 3 correct
OT 2 correct
Remember, there are Nan-C-Jay seconds-per-mile available for participating in 3 of 4
trivia nights. Bring your team and your thinking caps!
CRAFT NIGHT: 1ST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH!
Dannielle Higgins
This month’s craft night will be Wednesday, February 4 starting at 5:30pm. We’ll be meeting
upstairs and everyone is welcome to bring their portable crafts and join us. We’ve had a lot of
interest in meeting more than this so stay tuned to GTYC’s Facebook Page for extra Wednesdays.
Hope to see you at the club!
Craft Night
Wed, Feb 4,
5:30pm
PAST COMMODORES COUNCIL
Wes Schulz
Past Commodores
Council
Wed, Feb 18, 6:45pm
6
The next meeting of the Past Commodores Council will be held at GTYC on
Wednesday, February 18, 2015. All past commodores in good standing are invited to
attend the 6:30pm meeting in the Commodore’s Room. The proposed by-law changes
will be discussed. Your commodore’s experience and historical perspective is needed to
evaluate the new by-law proposals. Past Commodores Kraft and Sorbie are invited for
their initiation.
SOCIAL COMMITTEE
CREW DINNER SEASON IS UPON US!
Jed Mooney
Last month this column talked about “Crew Dinners”.
This month, I’d like to talk about . . . “Crew Dinners”!
The GTYC Social Committee has had a number of
inquiries from crews wanting to host a Friday night Crew
Dinner, and has begun to schedule these events.
To kick off the Crew Dinner season and to set the tone,
your Social Committee is planning to host a “Grateful
Dead-of-Winter @ Alice’s Restaurant” vintage Rock
’n’ Roll-themed Crew Dinner on the first or second
Friday in February (still negotiating scheduling issues)!
Look for further announcements and information,
including thematic menu items such as “Fleetwood Mac
‘n’ Cheese” in your GTYC info-emails, on posters around
the Clubhouse, on the GTYC Facebook page, and on the
new event-TV in the GTYC entryway.
The GTYC Cruisers Fleet has volunteered to sponsor
a Mardi Gras-themed Krewe (that’s how they spell
it in New Orleans) Dinner on February 20. They
are planning a raw bar (Oysters!) and other appetizers,
Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya, Seafood Gumbo, Salad,
French Bread, and a special Mardi Gras dessert, along
with drink specials (Hurricanes?!!) Get your beads on - do
you know the meanings of the official Mardi Gras colors
purple, green, and gold? - toss-and-catch dubloons and
other “throws” -- and cruise into the Lenten season with
a “Fat Tuesday” party courtesy of the GTYC Cruisers
Fleet. Closing out February, the crews of Knockout, Jesse
Marie, and possibly Big Red plan to team up for another
food drive event on Friday, February 27. (details
coming soon!)
March is filling up with Crew Dinner dates: On “lucky”
Friday the 13th, the O’llusion St. Paddy’s Party,
hosted by the crews of Illusion, Gotta Wanta, Spyke, &
assorted other leprechauns, will serve the traditional Irish
boiled dinner & accompaniments. The following Friday,
March 20, will showcase the culinary skills of the crew
of Liberty, assisted by the Traverse City High School
Sailing Team -- theme & menu to be announced. Also
in March, rumor has it that another Yooper Party crew
dinner is in the works! Always a hoot, with the ever-popular
pastie menu provided by Barb Hutchens an’ da usual
kitchen characters in their chuks ‘n’ swampers. No doubt
a few local Toivo & Eino types will dispense with Yooper
humor & trivia. Keep your owl eyes lookin’ fer more stuff
abou’ dis to come out soon, an’ plan on getting yer friends
to come wit’ - ya don’ wanna miss dis flannel-fest!
So now you’ve been brought up to date on some of the
Crew Dinners planned for the coming months - but there
are still some open Fridays for more crews to step up and
throw their own party. (Pirate? Luau? Caribbean? - be
creative!) The annual GTYC Culinary Award is at stake,
and host crews can earn participation credits toward
reductions in their ratings for the Nan-C-Jay race this
year. Have fun with it!
7
OFF-THE-WATER
LEARNING
AMERICA’S BOATING COURSE
GTBSPS
This spring, GTYC will host the Grand Traverse Bay Sail and Power Squadron’s
(GTBSPS) introductory boating course, America’s Boating Course, on two occasions,
both 8:30am - 12:30pm: March 21 & 28 and April 25 & May 2. Meetings will be held
in the Great Room or the Commodore’s Room as the numbers warrant. These 8-hour
courses will cover basic boating topics of interest to people who are beginning boaters or
people who want to pair coursework with what they have learned with experience. This
might include first mates who have less understanding of what the “captain” does than
they would like and some younger members of the club who are just entering boating.
Among the specific topics to be covered are: the rules of the road, types of boats,
required safety equipment, navigation aids, lights and sounds, anchoring, communications afloat, adverse conditions,
watersport safety, trailering, personal water craft, and knots and lines.
Those who wish to sign up for one of these two offerings should go to: usps.org/localusps/gtbay, click on “updated
courses and seminars”, and then click on the desired offering (March or April/May), and follow the directions. You
may also call David Terrell, at 231-938-2521.
GREAT LOOP IN 2 YEARS
GTBSPS & GTYC Cruisers
After spending two years on a 1979 Cal 27-2 with their dog and cat making the great loop trip, Jessica Zevalkink
and Katie Smith have returned to their starting point, Traverse City. Since their return, Jessica and Katie have been
making a number of presentations about their trip to groups in this area. The Grand Traverse Bay Sail and Power
Squadron was lucky enough to ask them to speak at a time when they were available. They are excited about this
opportunity and want to share their good fortune with members of the Grand Traverse Yacht Club.
Jessica and Katie will be speaking at the monthly meeting of the GTBSPS at the Elks
Club on February 5, 2015 at 8pm. All Grand Traverse Yacht Club members are invited
to attend this presentation. There is no charge. Please come about 15 minutes early. There
will be plenty of room. The presentation will last about 45 minutes and has been honed to
perfection. You can get an idea of what they have been doing by reading about their story
in the Fall and Winter 2014 issues of Cruising Outpost. Please come for their presentation
If you are unable join the GTBSPS on February 5, join the GTYC Cruiser’s Fleet for
the same presentation on Thursday, February 12 after 6pm at their monthly gathering!
8
MISC.
RAMBLINGS
PC40
BREAKING NEWS!!! — On Thursday, Jan 23,
TACS was named the Outstanding Community
Sailing Program of the Year by US Sailing at
their National Sailing Programs Symposium
in New Orleans. Yours truly was on hand to
proudly accept the award on behalf of all TACS
Board members, staff, volunteers, and the many
TACS sailors past and present. I’m sure that the
Chubb Regatta last summer was a big part of our
selection and all of us at TACS want to thank
everyone at GTYC for their help in making that
event a huge success. TACS has come a long
way from our humble beginnings 20 years ago
and we are still growing. This year we are adding
an Adventure Sailing Program and expanding
the Adult Program. Also in the works is a joint
effort with Disability Network to help grow our
Adaptive Program. Look for more info on our
website - tacsailing.com.
the Gunboat 55 which is built in the Carolinas
and our own Myles Cornwell recently did some
consulting work with them. Peter Johnstone
(son of Bob of J/Boats fame) is the principal
behind Gunboats and he sailed here in 2004
in the A-Class Catamaran North Americans.
Most of our membership slept through that
event as it was hosted by GTYC, but sailed
from the Bayshore Resort and the Senior Center
Beach (best kept secret in TC, don’t tell anyone
about it). The entry list read like a who’s who
of the sailing world with both Jan & Meade
Gougeon of West Systems Epoxy, Ben Hall of
Hall Spars, Pete Melvin of Melvin & Moretti,
and Peter Johnstone. It was a great regatta and
the organizer even had cooperation of the Senior
Center who let them set up a tent on the beach
and the Maritime Academy who let them use
their rigging lab for sail measurement.
The Leelanau County Sheriff ’s Marine Patrol
will again be offering free Boater Safety classes
this summer for boaters who will be 12 years of
age or older by the end of the boating season.
Classes will be held on:
June 16, 17, 18 at Leelanau County
Law Enforcement Center, EOC
July 7, 8, 9 at the Glen Lake Yacht Club
July 14, 15, 16 at the Leelanau County
Law Enforcement Center, EOC
All classes start at 9am and conclude at 12pm.
Participants must attend all three days in the course
sequence and pass a test to receive a certificate.
For more information go to leelanausheriff.
blogspot.com/p/new-patrol-vehicles-on-way.html
OK all of you gadget and techno-geeks, here are
the 2014 METS Award-winning new products
from the Annual DAME Marine Equipment
Trade Show. Some interesting new ideas here
which we will undoubtedly start seeing in the
near future. Check out the Marinco Pro Installer
Battery Switches which make for much easier
wiring installation and the Kenyon Induction
Cooktop with silicone cooking mat. For more
info go to metstrade.com/mets/innovation/
Pages/DAME-winners-2014.aspx.
Sail Magazine recently published their annual
list of Best Boats following the Annapolis Boat
Show. For more info go to sailmagazine.com/
bestboats. The Flagship Multihull winner is
As I write this, Dick & Julie, Bob Gray, and
Bill Cutting are in Kingston ONT competing
at the DN Worlds and North Americans. Stop
at the YC on Tuesday, Feb 3, around 7pm for
the GTIYC meeting and get a full report. Great
food, fun people, and lots of camaraderie!!
That’s about enough for this month. See you all
soon ... at the Club!!!
9
COMING EVENTS
February
Feb 1
Feb 3, 6p
Feb 4, 5:30p
Feb 11, 7p
Feb 12, 6p
Feb 14
Feb 17, 6p
Feb 20
Feb 24
Feb 25, 6:30p
Feb 27, 5:30p
March
Super Bowl Crockpot Classic
Ice Boat Meeting
Craft Night
Euchre Night
Cruising Fleet Meeting - Great Loop Pres.
St. Valentine’s Day
GTYC Board Meeting
Cruising Fleet Crew Dinner
Waterlines Submissions Due
Commodore’s Team Trivia Night #2
Knockout/Jessie Marie Crew Dinner
Mar 1
GTYC Ski Meet-up
Mar 3, 6p
Ice Boat Meeting
Mar 4, 5:30p Craft Night
Mar 11, 7p Euchre Night
Mar 12, 6p Cruising Fleet Meeting
Mar 13
O’llusion/Gotta Wanta/Spyke Crew Dinner
Mar 17, 6p GTYC Board Meeting
Mar 20
Liberty/TCHS Sailing Crew Dinner
Mar 24
Waterlines Submissions Due
:30
Mar 25, 6 p Commodore’s Team Trivia Night #3
Because a date/holiday is listed should not imply the Club is open for that holiday.
Check the Club’s ONLINE CALENDAR for Up-to-date Event Info.
Refer to NORs and SIs for official racing dates, not the online calendar
SEEN AND HEARD AROUND THE CLUB
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