Sandy Bay Yacht Club. Greg Wilkinson, Commodore

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1 Sandy Bay Yacht Club PO Box 37 Rockport, MA Clubhouse: Office: Web: Sandy Bay Yacht Club 2018 Spring Newsletter By the time you're reading this newsletter, I hope it's feeling more like Spring - brrrrr! If you can believe it, the sailing season really is right around the corner. In fact, I've been coaching on the water in Boston Harbor for most of the month! Since we've yet to see air temps in the 50s it's been chilly out there. When not on the water, I've been working hard with the SBYC Board of Governors to plan for this summer season. My first few months as Commodore have reminded me that the success of our Club is built upon the volunteerism of our membership. While I can promise that the Board is serving you well, service on the Board is just one way of volunteering at SBYC. Please plan to volunteer yourself this season. There are so many opportunities from work day to Race Committee to hosting social events and getting involved is the best way to take advantage of the Club and your membership. Your Board works year round, so far focusing on staffing and fundraising. We conducted a most successful search this fall for a new Sailing Program Director and we eagerly await Tyler Colvin s return to SBYC this summer. He has gained valuable experience since he coached for the Program in , which you can read in the details of his introduction later in this newsletter. We are lucky to have Tyler back and he's really looking forward to returning to Rockport and the Club. In addition, we've created a new - well, old! - position on the Club staff. Max Lott will begin work in just a few weeks as the Club's Steward. In this role, Max will be Ron's right hand man. He ll work full time from April to October and help Ron commission and decommission the Club as well as driving the launch in-season, and helping Ron with scheduling and training the launch staff. The search for our Steward has taken over a year, but it was worth it and we're thrilled to have Max aboard. He comes to us from Hawaii where he has captained a dive boat. But if some of you are wondering where you know Max's name from, you guessed it he grew up in Rockport and learned to sail at Sandy Bay! He spent several seasons working at Eastern Point YC in capacities such as launch driver and Junior Sailing Director. Max is a Rockport High graduate and earned his Bachelor s degree at Mass Maritime Academy. We are excited to have found such a good fit for the Club. Do introduce yourself to Max and welcome him back to SBYC. It is also exciting to announce that in addition to new staff this summer, we'll have new boats! Thanks to your impressive and immediate response to our capital campaign, I placed an order last week for two new Ribcraft 5.8 meter coach boats. These hard-bottomed inflatable boats are purpose-built for coaching and working with sailboats. The open floor plan maximizes space for sailing equipment and marks. These boats are the perfect modern replacement for our Boston Whalers and they will serve the Program well for years. Thank you for your support. In just three months since we launched the campaign, we are within sight of our $70,000 goal. 78 families, representing nearly 15% of our adult membership, have supported the campaign, including 100% of the Board. A true highlight of the campaign is a $35,000 challenge pledge from one of our members that has served to double the value of each gift. If you haven't already contributed to the capital campaign, consider doing so. I look forward to seeing you at our Spring Dinner on April 21 and often at the club during the season. Greg Wilkinson, Commodore

2 PAST COMMODORE S MESSAGE Reflecting back on all the years I served on SBYC Boards and especially the past two as Commodore, my strongest feelings run to the great sense of community and dedication from the entire board, coupled with respect for the diverse talents of our very engaged membership. The members of SBYC feel like family to me and the level of support from everyone has been tremendous. This high level of mutual support is the essence of our strength and longevity. As we transition to our new Commodore, I know that Greg Wilkinson will be a great leader. The club is in excellent physical and financial condition and the current Board of Governors/Directors are highly motivated and working diligently to continue managing and growing our club. Sandy Bay Yacht Club has a long history and a bright future. Spring is nearly upon us. As we begin to uncover and commission our yachts, let's think about all the fun we have during racing, social events, and just hanging out at the club. It is a second home for many of us. I look forward to seeing you all at the Spring Kickoff dinner, at work day, and beating many of you out on the race course. Huzzah! Earl has been an SBYC member since 1999 and served the Board of Governors for 13 years. He loves racing his Rhodes 19, Huzzah, and cruising on his Tartan 30, Sarkin Iska. His vision for SBYC is to encourage young sailors and boaters to become more engaged with the club and knowledgeable about what makes it tick. Earl Meredith, Past Commodore TREASURER S REPORT 2017 proved another successful financial year for the club. A total of $39,218 in capital spending supported the following outlay: Upgrade of Waitless, a club Rhodes 19 ($959) and Emily Wick, the race committee boat ($22,035) Dock capital repair ($7,993) Motor replacement for the hoist ($4,612) New freezer ($925) and grill ($1,970) A generous donation allowed us to end the year with a Capital Fund balance of $45, $7,500 has initially been allocated to finance projects already approved for 2018 by the Board of Governors. The rest is held in reserve for long range capital program planning. In the past, capital programs have been constrained to modest yearly efforts, like 2016, augmented periodically by major initiatives funded through targeted capital fund drives. The Board now plans to transition to a multi-year capital program. This is based upon a thorough assessment of the cost and condition of our current infrastructure and equipment coupled with systematic growth in our reserves over the last few years making an orderly approach to capital planning possible. The original cost of our assets is well over $500,000, not counting the club house and locker structures. So maintaining and renewing our assets will require substantial annual capital expenditures. The membership has generously donated to our capital programs in the past and we hope to see continued support this year. Once again, there was a substantial operating budget surplus at year s end. The Board of Governors policy goal of showing 50% or more of the annual Operating Fund budget for year end club reserves was well satisfied. This year, Reserves (net of capital reserve) have risen from last year s 60.3% to 76.6% with adequate funds to meet the $50,000 to $75,000 necessary (for current budget levels) to start the new operating year until dues and fees are paid. We are in good shape going into the new year. Please consider adding your support to the Board s plans to improve the club s facilities and equipment. Frank Hassler, Treasurer

3 DATES TO RESERVE April 21, 6:00 PM: Spring Dinner Bass Rocks Golf Club May 12, 9:00 AM: Volunteer Work Day (Rain Date: May 19) May 26, right after racing Racing Kickoff Social May 27, 9:30-11:00 AM: First Sunday Coffee May 27, 11:00 AM: Annual Business Meeting June 2, 6:00-7:30 PM: Commodore s Reception June 8, 6:00-7:30 PM: Adult Sailing Info-Social June 13, following race First Wednesday Dinner July 4, noon: All American Cookout July 6, 6:00-7:30 PM: Casual Friday (new members) July 28, 6:00 PM, social; 7:00 PM, dinner: Lobster/Steak Dinner August 11, 6:00 PM, social; 7:00 PM, dinner; fireworks: Fire in the Sky August 25, 6:00-8:00 PM: Pizza and Craft Beer August 26, 11:00 AM: Annual Meeting Sept 22, 6:00-7:30 PM: End of Season Cocktail Party Dec 15, following local Pageant After Pageant Social Unless noted, all events occur at SBYC and are open to all. For full details check the Social Calendar on the SBYC web site. SOCIAL COMMITTEE Since outgrowing the SBYC sailing program, I coached racing for five years before directing the sailing program for another four years. In addition to coaching and working at SBYC, I coached the sailing team at Middlebury College for two years. Besides Sandy Bay activities, I am actively pursuing a Master s degree in secondary education at Lesley University in Boston, which I plan to complete this summer Though I still race in the Rhodes 19 fleet, I have continued to evolve my involvement with the club and after accepting a position on the Board of Governors I now serve as social chair. For the 2018 summer season we have over ten official social events hosted by SBYC and SBYC members. As Greg mentioned, our Club thrives on volunteer participation and we can t support this level of social activity without many hands pitching in. In all the years I have spent at SBYC, I have grown to really value our short summer months together and appreciate how much our social interactions have enriched my experiences and sense of connectedness. Have you enjoyed an event over the years, and feel that it is time to help out, in addition to enjoying the company of your fellow members? Past commodores Margot Hintlian and Earl Meredith will be hosting respectively the Steak and Lobster, and the Fire in the Sky events, but we continue to need additional volunteers to keep all of our favorite SBYC events running smoothly. For new members, this is a wonderful way to make new friends at the club. It is also a relatively comfortable way to begin your engagement. If you want an ongoing connection to the overall social fabric, reach out to Alex to help him with the committee things. If you would prefer a more tightly defined commitment, offer to help with a particular event. All the known social events appear on this page and also on the online social calendar. If you agree to host, Alex will provide you with a well-defined list of tasks and timeline. You can also ask to be paired with someone who has more experience hosting. I welcome volunteers and hope many of you will be eager to help host a specific event. To let me know how you can help out or if you have suggestions for events, do me at a.levinnn@gmail.com or call me at (508) Thinking warm thoughts. Alex Levin, Social Chair

4 MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP CMTE Jessica Lanier, Chair Rich Calnan Sherri Casey Debbie Hale Ellen Lidington Brian Rano Holly Yasaitis The Membership Committee s mission is to facilitate the election of new members to the club and to assist new members in accessing all the club has to offer. When I was a new member five years or so ago (it seems longer than that!), it was the membership committee that introduced me around at Sunday morning coffees. I learned to sail here at Sandy Bay and I now crew regularly on Tuxedo, a Rhodes 19 owned by Rob Paterson. If you are interested in hearing more about club opportunities for adults to learn to sail, plan to join the Membership Committee on Friday, June 8 th, for the Adult Sailing Informational Social. Mark your calendars and join us to meet the Fleet Captains and hear about SBYC s Learn to Sail and racing programs for adults. In July, we will host a Friday evening social for the 2017 and 2018 new members. In addition, we do outreach to the community to promote SBYC and its activities. In short, we are here for you! Please join us for Sunday Morning Coffee from Memorial Day to Labor Day and introduce yourself. We would love to help you get the most out of your membership, whether on the water or simply hanging out on the deck. If you have family or friends who are interested in joining SBYC, please bring them along. We are happy to give tours of our historic clubhouse and tell you more about the many social and sailing opportunities at Sandy Bay. And we have coffees every Sunday morning during the season (Memorial Day to Labor Day) from 9:30 to 11 that are open to the public; a great opportunity to get a flavor of the club, meet others and ask questions. Summer just can t come soon enough for me! Jessica Lanier, Membership Chair

5 DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE In my three years serving as Development Chair, I have worked on two capital campaigns including the current sailing program campaign that launched at the start of the year. The goal of this campaign is to raise $70,000 to immediately replace the two tired Boston Whaler coach boats in time for the 2018 season. After only three months, the campaign has already raised more than half, with a $35,000 challenge pledge allowing us to double each gift. 15% of the membership and 100% of the Board of Governors have contributed to date. My other primary responsibility is to organize the Thursday Night Talks that take place during the summer months at the club. Since our membership has a vast array of interests, there is no limit on the range of topics. We have not finalized the speakers yet, so step right up and offer your ideas, especially if you have suggested speakers. For those of you new to SBYC or those who have not had the opportunity to attend a talk, the format is relaxed and informal. The talks begin at 7pm with refreshments. Talks are generally hosted by one or two members who share the responsibility for refreshments. This is an excellent time for you to jump in and volunteer as you have been much encouraged to do. This is a one-night event, not a long-term commitment, as well as a low-key opportunity to meet a small group of people. If you would like to be involved with helping to host the Thursday Night Talks or have an idea for a speaker, please contact me at shelley.vassallo@gmail.com. Shelley has been an active volunteer in a variety of North Shore non-profit organizations and is committed to making a difference in the communities and institutions that are important to her and her family. She has worked in Development and fundraising for over 20 years. She is in her 13th year at Pingree School where she is the Director of Parent Engagement and Special Events. In her free time she enjoys boating, gardening, traveling, and spending time with her family. Shelley and her husband Rich and sons, Andrew, Dillon and James are long-time members of SBYC. All three boys have worked as launch operators and James is currently a launch operator and formerly coached sailing at the club. Don t wait for summer to catch up with your SBYC friends sign up for the Spring Dinner on April 21! FLEET CAPTAIN As the new fleet captain at the Sandy Bay Yacht Club I am responsible to serve as the liaison between the race committee and our four fleets. It is the Board s hope that all issues relating to racing at the club will flow through me to the race committee. So if you have any items you want to raise please pass them on to your fleet captain. I have been in touch with the various fleet captains and this season promises to be another active one out on Sandy Bay. The Star fleet is planning a spring Star Clinic in June and, of course, their annual Ned Hay Regatta. The Bullseye fleet has no special regattas planned for this season, but will be out there racing Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesday evenings. Their Nationals are in Marion, MA on August 3-5. The Rhodes 19 fleet does not have regattas planned at SBYC but fleet members are encouraged to sail in the East Coasts in New Bedford June and the Nationals Oct. 4-7 in New Orleans. You can find out what s going on with the Flying Scots and Cruising Class by contacting their fleet captains, listed below. Many of you know me from racing in my Rhodes 19 Elusive (the only red boat in the harbor) for the past 24 years. I have been very active with the Rhodes fleet during that of time. My boys, John and Andrew, went through the sailing program at the club and had great careers racing in the Optimist and 420 fleets. I will again be teaching adult sailing at the club a few times a week. I am a semi-retired photojournalist and now own Cape Ann Photo Tours. I teach digital photography at Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth, NH in the spring and hold photography workshops on a regular basis. Kirk Williamson, Fleet Captain FLEET CAPTAINS Bullseye Pam Prichard; pfjac@aol.com Cruising Bill Lee; oceanreporter@comcast.net Flying Scot Earl Kishida; kishidaek@gmail.com Rhodes 19 Rob Paterson; robert.paterson60@gmail.com Star Ken Woods; kenwoods@comcast.net Shelley Vassallo, Development Chair

6 CONSIDER JOINING THE RACE COMMITTEE... We have a great time and provide service to the yacht club. If you love being on the water and prefer not to be hiking out in a sailboat, think about signing up. We will train you. Reach out to me for more information or to put your name on the list: edmond.salas@gmail.com. Ed Salas, Race Committee ROCKPORT HARBOR DEPARTMENT 2018 started with a bang and a major snow storm with high tides and heavy winds. Rockport Harbor sustained substantial damage to the platform at the end of T Wharf and we will be assessing the rest of the damage as the wharf thaws out. Rockport s new breakwater stood the test and helped to limit the damage to the harbor. Pigeon Cove Harbor and Granite Pier were also victims of the high tides and time will tell us the story on damage as we uncover things in the spring. Mooring gear maintenance continues to be the responsibility of the mooring holder and should be inspected annually. Don t wait until the weather turns bad and something happens; it is a job to do in spring. Hurricane preparedness: fleets should continue to plan ahead for bad weather, ensuring members are familiar with hurricane/bad weather policies and drills to quickly get boats out of the water and secured on dry land, when necessary. Granite Pier is available for short term storage of vessels during a storm as well as taking boats in and out before and after the storm. Mooring Bills: mooring bills will be out by mid to late April. We look forward to a safe and active summer season see you on the water!! Contact us at or rockportharbormasters@rockportma.gov. Scott Story and Rosemary Lesch, Rockport Harbormasters Ron Petoff and Story Reed, Assistant Harbormasters

7 HOUSE COMMITTEE House Committee involves several subcommittees and enumerable members working hard to take care of the club house, fleet and store. My thanks to all members who have been working this winter to plan and manage a long list of projects. It s been a tough winter on the waterfront, but the clubhouse has survived multiple Nor easters with minor effects. Most of damage has been to the heavy wharf decking which the Town of Rockport maintains and is already working to repair. Spring Work Day is scheduled for Saturday, May 12 th. Mark your calendar and plan to be there. Not only does it kick off the season at the club, but it is a great opportunity to catch up with folks after the winter, get in the spirit of the club and make a difference in our facilities! The assigned tasks run the gamut, so everyone will have a job they can handle. The committee has already begun making improvements to the facilities and prior to the start of the season. New windows will be installed on the north and south walls and some new floats will be built to replace those that have exceeded their lifetime. As with the floats built last season these will incorporate the new sealed floatation system that removes all wood from the water. Also, the ship store falls under the House Committee. The ship store committee met earlier this winter to pick out new inventory, colors and designs, which they are eager to show you. We want to have the store open for some evening events in addition to Sunday mornings, but can t do it without a solid contingent of shopkeepers. Please consider volunteering to help out, so we can do this for everyone. Finally, we have a group working on updates to the web site, but aren t yet ready to announce the launch date. Just a few more weeks of winter fun and we ll be back to boating at Sandy Bay! Stan Patey, House Chair Spring Work Day Plan to be there. Come help with painting, varnishing, cleaning, minor carpentry, etc. Beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 12th. Lunch provided for all volunteers. Rain date: Saturday, May 19th.

8 SAILING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS Adult Learn to Sail Program I have been an active member of SBYC and the Flying Scot fleet since I started my sailing career at the club skippering a Flying Scot in the weekend fleet racing. I got involved in the Adult Learn To Sail Program in the early 90 s as an instructor teaching off and on until the present. Most recently I assumed responsibility for directing the adult program. I have grown the program significantly from just 5 years ago when we had at most 15 adults to last summer where had nearly 50 students. This growth was made possible through the combined efforts and support of the Membership Committee and the SBYC Board of Governors. We currently have 5 adult instructors using the 3 club R19s and 1 Bullesye. I look forward to the SBYC membership committee hosting the annual Info-Social on June 8 th, as this event has been the primary method for introducing the program to new and current non sailing members. The SBYC Board of Governors has also been supportive of the program as a key club sponsored activity that attracts new members. I also hold a USCG Masters license and run light tackle sport fishing charters from Newburyport and Rockport. Skip Montello, Program Director Adult Recreational Sailing Before I joined SBYC, I used to look out over Sandy Bay, and think to myself, how can I get out on that water in a boat? I had grown up sailing on the Jersey shore, but it had been decades since I had sailed more than once a year. I longed to go sailing. Eventually, I found my way to Sandy Bay Yacht Club, and to my amazement, passed the qualification test to take out the club boats on my first time out. Over the next few years I polished up my rusty skills, but as a new member had difficulty finding people to sail with me and I wasn t getting out on the water as much as I wanted to. So in 2014, I started a contact list of SBYC members who were not yet qualified to skipper the club boats but wanted to go sailing. These casual sails would become the recreational sailing program, Let s Go Sailing. As I evolved to a more confident skipper and observed the skills and anxieties of the people who went out with me, I focused on creating a relaxed environment for everyone in the boat. I made the goal to have fun sailing in beautiful Sandy Bay, without the pressure to win a race or perform well in a class situation. Gradually, I developed these more specific goals: For beginners: an introduction to the joys of sailing and encouragement to take adult sailing classes; For people enrolled in adult sailing classes: more time to practice; For experienced but rusty sailors: help in brushing up their skills; For sailors new to Sandy Bay: orientation and familiarization with local conditions and hazards; For newly qualified skippers: help in building confidence through practice under the guidance of an experienced skipper; For new club members: a chance to meet and get to know other members. Let s Go Sailing is not a substitute for SBYC s adult sailing classes. Although there is some basic sailing review, each participant chooses what to practice, or can decide to simply socialize and enjoy the sail. Since 2015, Laura Hallowell and I have worked together to increase awareness of the program among club members, as well as to enlist other skippers to take people out either in their own or in club-owned boats. We intentionally try to keep the cost of participating low: no charge when skippers use their own boats and when club boats are used, participants split the club s suggested donation of $25. Let s Go Sailing bolsters SBYC s core mission to promote interest in sailing and we work hard to connect people who want to go out with willing skippers. If you are an experienced skipper who would like to share your love of sailing, please consider volunteering for Let s Go Sailing. If a few more skippers volunteer to take people out just a few times over the summer, we could accommodate many more people who are eager to sail. Please get in touch with us: Abby Freedman abbyfree16@gmail.com Laura Hallowell laurahallowell37@gmail.com

9 JUNIOR SAILING PROGRAM This year we will offer four 2-week sessions for non racers rather than two 4-week sessions. Sessions for race classes will still be 4 weeks each. We will also offer discounts for selecting more than one session. The Program... OPTIMIST CLASSES - Designed for sailors weighing lbs and having a simple rig and a light, durable hull, the Optimist Dinghy (Opti) has become the world standard for introductory junior trainers. Opti Beginner An entry level, learn-to-sail class; no prior sailing required. Knowledge of boat rigging, basic sailing, water safety and points of sail are emphasized. Sailors must be at least 8 years old. Opti Intermediate For sailors who have successfully completed the beginner class and wish to spend some more time developing their skills in order to become more independent before moving to the next level. Opti Adventure For sailors who have successfully completed the intermediate class but do not wish to move into Intro to Race. This class focuses on developing independence in a sailboat and gives sailors and opportunity to sail a variety of boats, including larger cruising boats. The Opti Adventure class will use US Sailing s new REACH program to introduce STEM curriculum in fun and exciting ways. Sailors are exposed to basic racing rules in a non-competitive atmosphere. Opti Introduction to Race - Instructor approval required. The introduction to race class is for sailors who have successfully completed the Intermediate class or an equivalent class. Students will continue to improve their sailing skills while they learn basic racing skills through drills and actual racing. Racing rules, tactics, boating safety and fun are emphasized. Sailors will be encouraged to participate in a few local regattas. A full summer commitment is encouraged, session 1 required. Opti Racing Team - Instructor approval required. Sailors will work together as a team to develop boat handling and racing skills. Team members will be expected to participate in some selected regattas. Students expected to be rigged and ready to sail by the time the class starts. While not required, private boat ownership is encouraged. A full summer commitment is expected, session 1 required. If you are interested in the program, but worried about cost, ask us about the scholarship program. We want to help everyone interested learn to sail! The Schedule... Sessions for non racing classes: Session 1: June 25-July 6 Session 2: July 9-July 20 (no class July 4) Session 3: July 23-August 3 Session 4: August 6-August 17 Sessions for racing classes: Session 1: June 25-July 20 (no class July 4) Session 2: July 23-August 17 For more details on the program, plus full details on cost and registration, go to the Sandy Bay web site:

10 More Junior Program Details CLASSES - The 420 is a high-performance, double-handed racing dinghy that stands up to the rigors of club and collegiate programs. The Club 420 is manageable for sailors coming out of the Optimist class and enables young sailors to learn teamwork, trapeze, and spinnaker techniques. 420 Beginner For older beginners new to sailing and sailors new to the 420. Sailors must be at least 12 years old and/or weigh more than 100 lbs. The 420 provides older students and former Optimist the chance to learn skills in a double-handed boat. Students learn how to both crew and skipper. The focus of this class is sailing as a fun, social sport. 420 Intermediate For second-year 420 sailors. Sailors learn more advanced boat handling maneuvers and basic skills. The focus of this class will not be racing but improving skills. Sailors learn to use a spinnaker and trapeze harness. 420 Intro to Race Team - Instructor approval required. This is a prerequisite for the race team and is for the more advanced 420 sailor with a love for sailing who wants to focus skills on learning how to race a 420. Spinnakers and trapeze harnesses are used daily. A full summer commitment is encouraged, session 1 required. 420 Racing Team - Instructor approval required. For the advanced, dedicated racer who wants to fine tune his/her boat handling and racing skills. Team members will be expected to participate in some selected local regattas. Team members will be expected to be rigged and ready to sail by the time the class starts. A full summer commitment is expected, session 1 required. Meet the Program Director... I grew up sailing in Vermont and did my undergraduate work (and sailed) at the University of New Hampshire. I then attended grad school at UMass Amherst. Both degrees are in Environmental and Water Resource Engineering. I coached the 420 Race Team at Sandy Bay for two summers under Jen Doyle Lambertz and then Alex Levin. During this time, I also worked for our Commodore, Greg Wilkinson, as an assistant coach at Boston College. I left BC and Sandy Bay in 2016 and moved to Alameda, CA to run the Encinal Yacht Club junior sailing program full time year round. I coached the 420 Race Team and all high school race teams at EYC for two summers. In the two years since then I have been at Old Dominion University as the Assistant Sailing Coach coaching full time and competing in the Mid Atlantic conference. I am very excited to be coming back to Rockport, one of my favorite summer destinations. We have a great summer staff lined up with mostly returning coaches, plus a couple of new faces on the racing side. Summer sailing was a huge part of growing up for me and I am happy to once again be able to share that experience with all of you. Our objective this summer is for everyone to have as much fun (safely) as possible! I am a strong believer in fun sailing being the best way to foster a love for this lifelong sport and we are continually look to add to the ranks of Sandy Bay sailors. While I won t be in town until the beginning of June, please reach out by to me at tyler.colvin12@gmail.com, with any questions, comments or concerns and I will answer as best I can! Tyler Colvin, Program Director Junior Sailing