Day Brunch. Wednesday Night Racing OCEAN RNSYS REGATTA. wickwire creates new RNSYS. match racing team. Getting Ready to Win

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1 LIFELINE ROYAL NOVA SCOTIA YACHT SQUADRON Wednesday Night Racing Getting Ready to Win Stuart McCrea s Plan for Marblehead to Halifax 2017 OCEAN RNSYS REGATTA wickwire creates new RNSYS match racing team Mot her s Day Brunch May Edition 2017

2 contents privileged sailing programs crew in this issue Privileged Crew Membership Season Starts Now! 1 Commodore s Greetings 2 Film Night The Way with Guest Speakers 4 Reserve Now for Mother s Day Brunch Wednesday Night Racing is Back RNSYS Crew Tree Squadron Summer Hours of Operation Wickwire Creates New RNSYS Match Racing Team Ocean RNSYS Regatta Getting Ready to Win - Stuart McCrea s Plan for MHOR Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race 2017 Squadron Summer Luncheon & Fashion Show 2017 Canadian Optimist Championships Adult Learn to Sail Programs Start Now! An Artisitc Event - Paint Night Swimming & Sailing all Summer Long! - RNSYS Programs Privileged Crew Membership season begins May 1, 2017 Privileges of membership includes: *Six months of Member Status *Personal Member Account *Use of two Outdoor Pools & Tennis Court *Waterfront Dining Services *Save on Entrance Fees when you progress *The luxury of sailing with Club members PLUS - Propose a never before PC member for the 2017 season and receive $200 off your seasonal marina! May Calendar of Events 20 Download a complete copy of our Membership Package 1

3 commodore Greetings from Commodore David Stanfield A tradition unlike any other, CBS announcer, Jim Nantes begins coverage of the Masters Golf Tournament. I m excited. For me and millions of others, the Masters stands as one of the great sporting events. However, for me, it is more, much more, than the first major of the golf season, it s what the Augusta National Golf Club has created that draws me: the tradition, the picture perfect setting, connecting past to present, legends, amateurs, pine straw, amen corner, the stories, and the green jacket! It s marketing genius, it s uniqueness, it s celebrity... I m in awe... and guess what, the RNSYS shares the same DNA. We are both private clubs. That s right, the Masters is an invitational event. What is their special sauce? Why is the Masters such a success? Disney has it... Warren Buffet s, Berkshire Hathaway has it... If I was to make a guess, vision ( dream), values ( integrity), determination ( persistence), execution ( staying the course) are words that help describe it. All I know is it is special and difficult to capture, let alone sustain. Few even have the ingredients, let alone the recipe. RNSYS certainly has all the ingredients, a rich history, tradition abounds, beauty, legends (Alexander Keith, W.R. MacAskill, William Roue, Royalty). Amateurs ( Olympic medalists)... and stories, endless stories. One trick to a successful recipe is to celebrate and connect the past to the present. Thirty years ago the RNSYS was the Club of record for Canada s America s Cup campaign. Impressive and proud. The America s Cup is a match race, and the RNSYS Match Racing Team recently competed in Oyster Bay, NY, in a US Match Racing Championship qualifier, and the Club is beyond proud. Read more about the RNSYS Match Racing Team here. 2

4 commodore I apologize, I m rambling. What I am trying to convey, is this Club of ours is a very special institution worthy of our best. Whatever effort/resources put in will come back to you tenfold. Do not miss even the smallest opportunity to give. Even bending over to pick up litter counts. You will never regret it. A great place to focus is volunteering... just saying. Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race ( MHOR) starts July 9th off Tinkers Gong, boats will start arriving Tuesday the 11th and tired racers holy grail is a dock-side birth... please consider donating your birth for this event. Registration is higher this year which translates into the need for more spaces. Please contact Dock Master Wayne Blundell, the event needs your help. of the month will also have you tapping your toes to Music Night with Kitty and the Katz, and enjoy Taste of Nova Scotia Week features, in addition to the Club s regular menu offerings! Thank you for taking advantage of all the Squadron has to offer. And remember, you are the main ingredient in our special sauce David Stanfield Commodore share your love of your Club. MARINAS & MOORINGS AVILABLE Visitor experience is part of the secret sauce, every young golfer s dream is to play the Masters! Every young sailor s dream could be to Race in the MHOR. It s up to us to create the experience. Looking for an easy way to give back while meeting fellow members and making new friends? The Opti Canadian Championships are being hosted this August, and your involvement can be as simple as offering to take spectators out to watch the kids race! Now, that is fun! Summer hours of operation for the Club are almost here, which means your social calendar will be filling up with many events and in-house functions. Mother s Day Brunch is always a soldout event and a great way to celebrate with the family, so make your reservations today! Film Night is also just around the corner and will feature the film The Way, further highlighted by guest speakers who have completed the pilgrimage. The start contact Dock Master Wayne Blundell Ext 1 then 110 dockmaster@rnsys.com 3

5 film night Guest Speakers Guest speakers Liam Woodman, and Margaret Melanson will be introducing the film and providing commentary during a brief intermission. When the movie has ended, they will be happy to entertain questions from the audience. FILM NIGHT, MAY 5 7PM, CLUBHOUSE A man s life-changing experience as he undertakes and completes a Camino, an 800-kilometre pilgrimage. Liam Woodman At 26 years of age, Liam has been employed by the RNSYS for the past 10 years. He once aspired to become a professional soccer player, but because of serious injury was forced to retire early from the sport. Liam enjoys experiencing new foods, new cultures, and travelling. In 2013 Liam, along with his mother Catherine Mayo Woodman (who will be in attendance), and his sister, Maura Rita Woodman, completed a Camino of 790 km in 35 days. Their route was from St. Jean Pied de Port to Santiago. Liam enjoyed the people he met, friends he still has, and the experience of completing such a challenge alongside his family. Margaret Melanson In 2014, Margaret Melanson completed the Camino de Santiago (The Way of Saint James), an approximate 800-kilometre trek leaving St. Jean Pied de Port, France, ascending and descending the Pyrenees Mountains then continuing West through Northern Spain. Now considered a popular destination for Trekkers, Margaret completed her journey in 40 days and is excited to share her story as a pilgrim. "Sometimes you just can't describe the thrill and triumph of climbing mountains and finding your way." 4

6 mother s day MOTHER S DAY BRUNCH Sunday, May 14, 11am Saraguay House Celebrating the ladies we love, with our special Mother s Day Brunch MENU Salmon Wellington Herbed Chicken Breast with lemon cream sauce Hip of Beef Baby red Potatoes Vegetable Medley Assorted Salads Soup feature Omelette station Lobster Chowder Shortbread cookies Peanut Butter balls Cheesecake with fresh Strawberries $32++ per-person Reservations must be made through Function Manager Marriann Creelman Ext 1 then 102 or, click here to RSVP now 5

7 WEDNESDAY NIGHT RACING IS BACK wednesday night racing Whether a returning or new racer, we welcome you to join us on Wednesday evenings for our three-part racing series. Weekday night races are the cornerstone of club racing worldwide. Here at the RNSYS we race on Wednesday nights, starting on the first Wednesday in May and stretching right through until late September. We have more boats taking part in this weekly event than we do in any of our weekend regattas and many feel that it is the best racing in the area. So join us for our three-part series, starting Wednesday, May 3rd and continuing May 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st, 7th, 14th, and 21st. Cost is FREE Start time is 6:30pm Registration is online at rnsys.com Sailing Documents are online at rnsys.com So get your crew together or stop by the Crew Tree and get ready for another great season of racing! 6

8 crew tree summer hours S U M M E R H O U R S O F O P E R A T I O N Beginning Monday, May 15 MONDAYS Administration - 9am-5pm Dining - 11:30am-9pm Your Sailing Committee and Race Director have come up with the idea of a Crew Tree - a concept based on similar successful ideas from other yacht clubs. The idea is that crew looking for boats will hang around the tree between the decks on the water side of the Club, looking hopeful. Skippers that need crew would take a peek at the tree and connect with interested crew. The approach may seem casual, as the idea is quite simple, but at the RNSYS we re hopeful that this system will help connect sailors with sailors. Plus, we can boast that crew does indeed grow on trees. Sugguested meeting time for Wednesday Night Racing is between 5:30-6pm. TUESDAYS Administration - 9am-5pm Dining - 11:30am-9pm WEDNESDAYS Administration - 9am-5pm Dining - 11:30am-9pm THURSDAYS Administration - 9am-5pm Dining - 11:30am-9pm FRIDAYS Administration - 9am-5pm Dining - 11:30am-9pm SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS Administration - Closed Dining - 11:30am-9pm 7

9 match racing WICKWIRE CREATES NEW MATCH RACING TEAM photography by Ethan Johnson Skipper Peter Wickwire, accomplished sailor and finalist for Sail Canada s 2016 Rolex Sailor of the Year, is using his success as a platform for sailors to cross over the threshold to competitive racing, specifically Match Racing. I got my first taste of Match Racing as Canada s Cup training crew at RCYC in the early 2000 s, says Peter. But it was from the outside looking in. Wickwire s approach to building the new RNSYS Match Racing Team was simple he says, Find a crew that wasn t otherwise spoken for. And where better to start than 8

10 match racing with strong sailors who have more ability than perhaps even they recognized or were given credit for? Club members Evan Petley- Jones, Daniel MacMillan, Chris Veinot, and Devan Dube have become the dark horse of the Match Racing circuit, with Skipper Wickwire commending their skills and positive attitudes with every tack, gybe, set, and douse. You don t lose to equipment spending, says Wickwire. But you can lose to a better and more experienced team. We are going to put the effort into being the experienced team without the logistics or expense of another variable. In match racing regattas, two teams at a time race against each other in identical boats, which are provided and maintained by the race organizers. But that doesn t mean that competing at this level is without a steep price. Their full-on schedule is a glimpse of the trajectory for the team, with the end goal of representing the RNSYS at Seawanhaka Cup - an event to which the Squadron was invited and is now accepted. The United Match Racing Championships is still very much in play. If there is one sport where Nova Scotians should shine internationally, states Wickwire, it is sailing. And the RNSYS should be the Club to do it. Wickwire has been invited to multiple elite events that for him present the perfect opportunity to bring up the next generation of world-class sailors, a venture that the Squadron fully supports. The Squadron is beyond proud of the RNSYS Match Racing Team for what they have accomplished and for what they have yet to achieve, says Commodore Stanfield. Whether you are a racer, to Wickwire has been invited to photography by Ethan Johnson 9

11 match racing RNSYS Match Racing Team Schedule May 18th - 21st. May Grade 3 Invitational at Oakcliff Sailing in SM 40s, Oyster Bay NY. Entry to the Oakcliff International Grade 2, Aug 30th to Sept 3rd is contingent on i. winning the May Grade 3 Invitational or ii. receiving an invitation subsequent to the qualifier if a top finisher or iii. receiving an invitation via a Request for Invitation. August 30th - September 3rd. Oakcliff International Grade 2 Match Race at Oakcliff Sailing in SM 40s, Oyster Bay NY.. September 14th-17th. Seawanhaka International Challenge Cup at Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club in SM 40s, Oyster Bay NY. October 13th to 15th. US Match Racing Championships at Oakcliff Sailing in SM 40s, Oyster Bay NY. Coverage of the team will continue in Club communications over the next several months. click here to register online 10

12 racing GETTING READY TO WIN Stuart McCrea s Plan for MHOR 2017 Stuart McCrea and his crew on Deviation had a big year in And there was a lot of hardware to show for their efforts. The team won the trophy for the best results for a Canadian boat in the Newport-Bermuda Race, also winning the first ever J/120 class at Chester Race Week and the Prince of Wales trophy at RNSYS. And Stuart is recognized by both Sail NS and Sail Canada as Canada s 2016 offshore sailor of the year. So that will be a hard act to follow. But McCrea is taking the same approach as he did last year getting his boat and his crew ready to win by focusing on preparation. Your best performance is directly linked to the preparation of the yacht and its crew, according to McCrea. This is one aspect of our sport that is most taken for granted, as some boats and their crews believe just showing up will mean success. Deviation in race mode 11

13 racing Like the NFL, NBA, and other sports, time is spent practicing plays, scenarios, and strengthening team work to improve a team s success. And while most of the time, our sport has us sailing during the day, hopefully under a nice sea breeze and sunshine, ocean racing adds the complexities of sailing at night and or sailing in weather most wouldn t leave the dock for. McCrea s own preparation includes years of training and competing, starting when he joined the Squadron as a ten year old. He graduated from dinghies after competing in provincial and North American championships. His experience in keelboats includes at least a dozen Marblehead to Halifax races. This will be the second as a boat owner. Starting at the end of April, he plans to get the boat out and the crew together, and spend time practising tactics. Like the old chestnut about how a musician can get to Carnegie Hall, in McCrea s mind, winning at sailing means practise, practise and more practises. He will plan for 30 mile stints, using the time to test sails to find out which works best in which condition. Man overboard drills are also important to McCrea. I don t take it lightly. Everyone needs to practise this. Just think about trying to find a crew member in the dark when the boat is going 10 or 12 knots. It would be very hard. Stuart McCrea at the helm of Deviation 12

14 racing Deviation crew Wales - Deviation crew celebrates winning the Prince of Wales trophy at the RNSYS in September 2016 His regular crew includes Mathew Christie as tactician, Jason and India White, Geoff Dalzell, Robert Maclean, Cameron Fraser and Dr. Sean Christie. Others who regularly take part, depending on the race are Giles Oland, Jonathan Ladha, and Stewart MacIntosh. McCrea is not shy to look for expert help, either. Last year we were able to have Andreas Josenhans on board for a day. Josenhans is the decorated Nova Scotia sailor who is a world champion and America s Cup winner. We were learning to understand what the boat is capable of and how to shift gears. Things happen very quickly when you are racing. If you don t practise ahead of time, you won t be ready to handle the circumstances when they come up. Doing these drills well in advance of the race is simply good seamanship, providing an advantage over other boats that aren t prepared. I mean the last thing you want to do is be searching around below for a needed part as a fast approaching squall hits, or worst case trying to find the ditch bag as you and the boat are being tossed around, says McCrea. McCrea does focus on the safety requirements for ocean racing and makes a careful inventory and assessment of the gear needed to make sure the boat is safe. Plus he says it is crucial to review the rules and regulations of your rating organization. 13

15 racing Navigation and tactics come a bit later, when all the other things are tuned up. As the shakedown practises continue, McCrea starts thinking forward to the race and the tactics needed to win. There is a large debate about whether you should go inshore at night, stay east or west of the rhumb line or try to grab the thermolift along the coast of Nova Scotia. Most of my success has come from staying close to the rhumb line. We have also noticed out in the Gulf of Maine there is a pushing and settling of the current that can cause some trouble. Deviation has all the latest equipment to help make those tactical decisions satellite phone, a weather service that provides faxes and grib files plus the software that helps choose the optimum routing. McCrea breaks the Marblehead to Halifax race into three important segments. The first one is how to handle the start in Marblehead and that depends on the conditions that day. Then he says the next big strategy decision involves Brazil Rock (the shoal that sits off the southwestern tip of Nova Scotia). I have never gone inside the Rock but I have heard lots of stories of people doing this. Your arrival time at Brazil Rock will make or break your race. I am afraid a lot of people don t understand the Bay of Fundy tides. They are a lot bigger than what you have experienced anywhere else. It all comes down to timing. The Bay of Fundy tides are generally recognized as the most extreme in the world. In Southwestern Deviation Deviation won 1st place in the first ever J/120 class at Chester Race Week

16 ocean race racing This is your year to race the grand-daddy of ocean races! More than 56 vessels are registered for this year s Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race, beginning on July 9th from the Boston Yacht Club. Add your name to the list of enthusiastic skippers and their crew who are competing in the 360 nautical mile, Grand-Daddy of ocean races. Register today! Nova Scotia, the height of the tide is 3.5 metres (11 ft). Depending on the wind conditions, when the tide is flooding into the Bay, a boat can be sucked north or west towards the Bay of Fundy. Especially if there is little to no wind to power the boat, the crew will have no choice but to sit and wait for the tide to turn to get back into the race. There is one last part of the race that I have found can be decisive, says McCrea. There s a transition zone just inside Chebucto Head as you are approaching Halifax Harbour. I have seen the race won and lost there a number of times. Back in 2015, we came in on a tight close-hauled course running knots with 20 knots of apparent wind. Then we gybed at Halifax Bravo (a light buoy). And then we spent several hours and five separate sail changes trying to coax the boat in by Chebucto Head. When we finally got moving, we managed to overtake a couple of boats but we felt like we had lost our advantage. In the end, Deviation was 12th in line honours and if you look at the results, a large number of boats came in after us in the next three hours, so quite a few others went through that same scenario. Apart from race tactics, McCrea also emphasizes to be prepared for all kinds of possible weather conditions and temperatures. Most people expect cool temperatures and fog along the coast of Nova Scotia. But McCrea also recalls a period of hours that Deviation and many other boats were becalmed on a sunny day 15

17 racing in the Gulf of Maine during the last race. There was no way to escape the sun on a day like that. He also gives priority to planning for quality food and lots of smaller meals plus drinking lots of water. I have found it very important to help people deal with the mental fatigue that comes during a long race. A couple of other quick tips from McCrea: -Watch out for fishing boats while you are in the Yarmouth and south shore area. AIS is very important because there is a lot of commercial traffic in these waters and they don t always follow the rules gross tonnage is the rule they use! -Rest is paramount for the crew before the race. I have a curfew on Saturday in Marblehead the party is always great but I aim for me and my crew to be in bed by 10 pm. Especially if the weather gets bumpy, everyone needs that extra sleep. Written by Kathy Large Deviation spinnaker - Deviation with spinnaker flying. Photo credit: Tim Wilkes 16

18 luncheon & fashion show Squadron Summer Luncheon & Olsen Fashion Show June 21st, 12pm, Saraguay House FASHION At Olsen the focus is always on uncomplicated, easy-to-wear fashion for authentic and self-assured women. From casual to smart and from elegant to exciting. Join us for our Squadron Summer Luncheon, featuring a lovely sit-down meal, followed by an afternoon of shopping! LUNCHEON $20++ per person Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup with Cream Cheese Pecan Crusted Chicken Breast with a Strawberry, Raspberry, Red Onion, and Mixed Green Salad, and a light Balsamic Vinaigrette Ice Cream and Raspberry Crepe, plus Tea and Coffee RESERVATIONS (CLICK HERE) Please make reservations for you and your guests through Function Manager Marriann Creelman Ext 1 then 102 functionmanager@rnsys.com before June 14th! 17

19 opti champs adult sailing adult sailing at the yacht squadron May through September Six lesson program Members and Non-Members Perfect for individuals, friends, or partners Your Club is Hosting the 2017 Canadian Optimist Championships The 2017 Canadian Optimist Championship is a great opportunity for all levels of sailors, as well as for coaches and families, to enjoy a unique week of sailing while having fun together. The RNSYS has enthusiastic and experienced members who appreciate the value of hosting international events. It s location on the North West Arm provides outstanding ocean sailing conditions, topnotch club amenities and access to the historic city of Halifax. click here for details in our program guide Ready to register? We re happy to have you! Click here to Volunteer 18

20 social programs Paint Night June 1st, 7pm Saraguay House Register online for the Squadron s nautical Paint Night! explore and share our guide $45+tax 40 persons max for this event 19

21 MAY CALENDAR Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Prime Rib 5pm Mother s Day Brunch 11am Clubhouse is bar service only til 3pm Prime Rib 5pm RNSYS closed RNSYS Summer Hours Begin Book Club10:30am WNR 6:30pm Series I taste of nova scotia week WNR 6:30pm Series I WNR 6:30pm Series I Steak Night 5pm Steak Night 5pm Film Night The Way 7pm Live Music Night Kitty & the Katz! 7pm Prime Rib 5pm RNSYS Spring Dinghy Regatta Prime Rib 5pm WNR 6:30pm Series I WNR 6:30pm Series I 31 Steak Night 5pm Hors D oeuvres Night 6pm RNSYS Spring Dinghy Regatta Next month is our Squadron Summer Luncheon & Olsen Fashion Show