Gold Country Yacht Club monthly Newsletter Call for more info: From the Commodore

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March 2015 Volume 37, Issue 3 Regular Columns: From the Commodore 1 Meeting Highlights 2 Teresa s Log 3 Club Notices 3 Classifieds 7 Individual Highlights: Dudley s Bucket List 5 Gold Country Yacht

It looks like it won't be a problem with having the regatta at Scotts Flat after all. Hugh Talman had a meeting with Peggy up at the lake, and she says there will be water for us.

1 March 2015 Volume 37, Issue 3 Regular Columns: From the Commodore 1 Meeting Highlights 2 Teresa s Log 3 Club Notices 3 Classifieds 7 Individual Highlights: Dudley s Bucket List 5 Gold Country Yacht Club monthly Newsletter Call for more info: From the Commodore Hi all, I hope you're getting a chance to enjoy all this good weather, it seems that spring has already sprung on us. Plans for the regatta in June are going forward, the board has accepted a design for the logo and it's on its way. Please remember to contact our Vice Commodore, Phil Easley, and let him know what you can do for the club during the regatta, I'm sure he'd love to hear from you. It looks like it won't be a problem with having the regatta at Scotts Flat after all. Hugh Talman had a meeting with Peggy up at the lake, and she says there will be water for us. For those of you who have mooring balls, she said you could launch as soon as April 1 since it looks like it's going to be a short year on the balls. If you missed the meeting Wednesday, Melinda Day has Agreed to coordinate NID's NO MOTOR DAY for the club. Every year, we've had club members offer rides to the general public on their boats. Donna and I have done it several times now. It's a blast! It's in April, the last weekend I believe (it's on the club calendar) If you can help out and give rides, please contact Melinda, she would love to hear from you too. Fair winds, Howard Hendrich Commodore, GCYC s/v s Bella Donna & Alice O Day 23 & Catalina 30

Page 2 of 7 At Our Helm Commodore Howard Hendrich 530-272-6969 commodore@gcyc.net February General Meeting Highlights Vice Commodore Phillip Easley 530-477-6806 vicecommodore@gcyc.

2 Page 2 of 7 At Our Helm Commodore Howard Hendrich commodore@gcyc.net February General Meeting Highlights Vice Commodore Phillip Easley vicecommodore@gcyc.net Secretary Debbie Mack secretary@gcyc.net Treasurer Stephanie Perry treasurer@gcyc.net Cruise Chairman Seth Schmerzler cruise@gcyc.net Publicity/Membership Teresa Gaman membership@gcyc.net Port Captain Bryant Cockcroft portcaptain@gcyc.net Race Chairman Jerry Lewis race@gcyc.net Newsletter Editor Rick Paulson newsletter@gcyc.net Sailing Education Hugh Talman education@gcyc.net Call to Order: 7:00 PM Officers Reports: March 11, 2015 at Alta Sierra Pizza and Grill Approval of Minutes: Mr. Hendrich requested approval of the minutes as stated in the newsletter from February. Mr. Cowell motioned to approve the minutes and Dr. Mack seconded. All approved unanimously. Commodore: Howard Hendrich announced Scott s Flat Lake is starting to rise slowly. Mr. Lewis has received a request from three dingy fleets to utilize our Lake. Mr. Hendrich discussed we would need to provide a race committee boat and a chase boat. There would be no need to utilize the clubhouse as they usually stay at a local campground (White Cloud). A short discussion ensued and there was no objection to the club hosting this event. The NOR has been posted for the June Regatta. Hugh Talman offered to monitor the dingy dock since Mr. Cockcroft has been in Washington. The Regatta logo has been approved and the Board is working on finalizing the color of the shirts. Some members requested a light blue shirt. Mrs. Gaman requested there be available French cut shirts for the women. Mr. Easley is requesting assistance with the Regatta activities, so if you have not signed up, please contact Mr. Easley. Vice Commodore: Philip Easley was absent. Secretary: Debbie Mack stated there are membership forms available this evening if you have not renewed. She verified all members in attendance are receiving the reminder s. Mrs. Mack announced Melinda Day has offered to coordinate the No Motor Day event. She will work with the NID as appropriate. Treasurer: Stephanie Perry reported that the current balance is ahead of prior year same time period. She is receiving monies for renewals and has paid the liability insurance bill. Mrs. Perry will be sending our club information to PICYA. She requested any changes of member sailboats or additional sailboats be reported to her. Membership: Teresa Gaman reported there were no new members, but welcomed back the Brannon s.

3 Page 3 of 7 Port Captain: Bryant Cockcroft was absent. Cruising: Seth Schmerzler reported not much is going on until we get some more water in the Lake. Melinda Day discussed an opportunity for cruising adventure the last weekend in March. Education: Hugh Talman announced there have been 10 youth registered for the sailing program. He will be happy to back up the Port Captain until he returns. Mr. Talman will be attending the Jr. Sailing Certification course for the next two weekends in the Bay Area. Race Chairman: Jerry Lewis was absent. Newsletter: Rick Paulson reported he appreciated the two nice articles he received for last month s newsletter. He is requesting any more articles for this month s newsletter which he will do in the next couple of weeks. Other Business Mr. Dave Cowell announced there will be a race, Swap meet, and Cinco de Mayo party at Owl Harbor the weekend of May 1-3 if anyone is interested. (Contact Mr. Cowell for more details.) Hugh s Head Count: 26 members Meeting Adjourned: 7:45 PM Debbie Mack GCYC Secretary s/v, between boats Teresa's Membership Log Ahoy! Well, here we are, getting ready for another sailing season at Scotts Flat Lake. There are, however, some interesting statistics and news that I'd like to share from NID's March 1st snow survey. This survey found an average snowpack water content of only 4.7 inches, which is 16% of the March 1st historical average of 28.8 inches. Club Notices Suggestion Box You can anonymously make recommendations to our board of directors with a mind to make this an even better yacht club! It can be found at or with this link: Free Sailing Magazines Latitude 38 and 48 North magazines can be picked up anytime at 148 Richardson Street in Grass Valley. They are in the driveway in the BLUE MAILBOX. Usually we get them between the 2nd and 4th of the month. They are also available at the general meeting. Club Meetings The March meeting was held Wednesday the 11th. The next General meeting will be held Wednesday, April 8 th at the Alta Sierra Pizza & Grill; dine from 6pm, Commodore s bell at 7pm to start the meeting. (The club meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month but December, and two Wednesdays before the Gold Country Regatta.) Bowman Reservoir's precipitation levels, at an elevation of 5,650 feet, is 79% of average. The winter storms have been warm and wet, and have produced more rain than snow. According to NID's General Manager, Rem Scherzinger, NID relies on the snowpack as an added reservoir. So, with the minimal snowpack runoff to replenish our reservoirs, we should expect NID's mountain reservoirs to drop rapidly this year. NID Water Operations Manager, Chip Close, said that NID is continuing with its dry year operating plan and being conservative with its water systems, and, holding as much water as possible in storage. It is what it is. We must conserve and appreciate the little water we have. Remember, you can check SFL's water levels by logging onto the website, or, better yet, check it out in person. Visit the lake!

Page 4 of 7 I say we enjoy the lake as much as possible. SFL is higher than it was in September.

The 3rd photo is of Donner Lake, taken on March 14th, 2015. You can see that there is very little snow. It was 65 degrees and people were wearing shorts and tee shirts.

Please attend the next general meeting on April 8th, at Alta Sierra Pizza & Grill, 6:00 EAT, 7:00 MEET.

4 Page 4 of 7 I say we enjoy the lake as much as possible. SFL is higher than it was in September. I've attached 3 photos Dudley took, one showing the level on September 28, 2014 and the other showing the higher level on March 14, The 3rd photo is of Donner Lake, taken on March 14th, You can see that there is very little snow. It was 65 degrees and people were wearing shorts and tee shirts. If you haven't renewed your membership, the time is now. After March 31st, the renewal fee will increase to $75. Thank you. Please attend the next general meeting on April 8th, at Alta Sierra Pizza & Grill, 6:00 EAT, 7:00 MEET. The 34th Annual Go for the Gold Regatta is June 6 & 7, and, before you know it, we're there! Please come to the meeting and sign up to help. It's a fun event that you don't want to miss! Also, check the Club's calendar because we have a lot of other exciting events coming up. I am hoping for rain, but, I think at this point we had better hope for SPRING SNOW! Teresa Gaman Membership/Publicity Kia Orana, Catalina 36 Blown Away, Capri 18 September 28, 2014 March 14, 2015

Page 5 of 7 Bucket List by Dudley I started writing about taking an offshore cruise to Pillar Point Harbor, but it started to sound like a how-to guide and there are plenty of them already out there.

Every boat should have a good bucket before going offshore, or even before leaving the dock. Relative to other safety equipment on your boat, the cost is only a drop in the bucket.

5 Page 5 of 7 Bucket List by Dudley I started writing about taking an offshore cruise to Pillar Point Harbor, but it started to sound like a how-to guide and there are plenty of them already out there. But certainly an offshore cruise is something everyone should have on their bucket list. This got me to thinking about the safety gear on a well-equipped cruising boat. Every boat should have a good bucket before going offshore, or even before leaving the dock. Relative to other safety equipment on your boat, the cost is only a drop in the bucket. Unfortunately, bucket advice is seldom given in the cruising guides. West Marine Advisor doesn't have any technical articles on buckets. Sail Magazine doesn't have any bucket reviews. To fill the information void, I can offer the following observations based on years of avoiding kicking the bucket. The first element is, as always, safety. You may wonder how a bucket could be dangerous, but then you haven't tried scooping up some water while moving through it at 7 knots. If you're lucky, it will just rip the handle off the bucket. If you're not lucky, you'll be yanked overboard. I was once told a story by a Pacific Cup sailor about taking a bath mid-way to Hawaii. This was done by tethering his harness to a pad eye, climbing onto the sugar scoop transom, and collecting a bucket of water to dump over his head. To avoid losing the bucket, he tied it to his harness. He then lost his grip on the handle, the bucket fell overboard and he was pulled off the transom and into the water. At this point he was in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with a sailboat trying to pull him in one direction while the water-filled bucket was trying to drag him under. Only the quick help of the crew saved him from disaster. There are several different types of buckets with varying uses. In almost all cases, you want to attach a line to the handle long enough to reach the water from deck level. The handle is potentially the weak link in the chain. There can be considerable drag on a bucket being pulled through the water. One of those $2 jobs with the wire handle they sell in hardware stores isn't up to the task. Some sailors like to use a 5-gallon plastic bucket you can find in construction sites. They replace the metal handle with a length of marine double-braid and a fender washer to reinforce the holes. Some horse supply stores sell rubber feed buckets with a flat side that makes it easier to retrieve than a round bucket. You have the added security of knowing the handle was designed to be stronger than the force exerted by a hungry horse's nose. For space saving purposes, a collapsible canvas military style bucket is perfect. And a couple of one gallon plastic utility pails or empty 12 pound drywall joint compound containers are always useful. This list of buckets may be applied to any number of tasks. One of the most important is the barf bucket. You can use one of the one gallon numbers with about 8 feet of line attached. The bucket is placed somewhere near the cockpit with the line draped across the deck for easy retrieval should the need suddenly arise. The barf bucket also makes a wonderful bon voyage gift for a friend heading out to sea. The suggestive factor of the contents of a can of Dinty Moore Beef Stew lining the bottom of the bucket may even give you a chance to see it in action, especially if they're vegetarian.

Some skippers will add the convenience and comfort of a removable toilet seat, significantly increasing the chances of your waste product making it into the bucket.

6 Page 6 of 7 Offshore, the bucket may be used in what cruisers colloquially refer to as the bucket and chuck-it process of waste elimination. You will need one of the five gallon buckets with a reinforced handle and 12-feet of line for this job. Some skippers will add the convenience and comfort of a removable toilet seat, significantly increasing the chances of your waste product making it into the bucket. This method should not be used on Scotts Flat Lake as it is a violation of federal law to soil our waterways and nobody wants to be thrown in the can for dumping a bucket. In an emergency, a bucket can be used as a drogue or sea anchor. I have a canvas bucket with internal wire rim and reinforced handle that I hope I never have to use for that purpose. If I needed both at the same time, I could also use my boatswain's chair. It couldn't be any more frightening than going up the mast in the thing while underway. And if you do have to go up the mast, a bucket attached to the boatswains chair makes a great place for your tools and parts. I've even seen specially designed tool pouches wrapped around a bucket. Every skipper wants their boat to look shipshape, and a bucket is the perfect device for washing down the topsides before you enter port. Dumping five gallons of water on the deck is an effective way to flush such things as anchor mud, red wine, seaweed, and blood into the drink. If you have forgotten to close the hatches, a sponge and bucket will be handy for drying up the puddles below deck. While it is always wise to keep water outside your boat, a bucket can serve as an effective bailing device when being handled by someone fearing for their life as their boat sinks. Should the worst happen, a bucket may be used as a lifeboat by anyone weighing less than the amount of water displaced by the bucket...perhaps a small dog? There is a technique for getting water aboard a moving boat. The first consideration is to avoid falling overboard. A five gallon bucket of sea water weighs about 40 pounds, which is why I prefer the smaller canvas bucket. Regardless of the size, the bucket should be dropped into the water upside down or it will float on the surface. The quicker you pull back on the line, the less water you will get. The drag on a full bucket can be considerably more than you are prepared to counter, which brings us back to the original consideration: don't fall overboard. When I do get around to writing about an offshore cruise, you can be sure my boat's bucket list will include: 1) 2 one gallon plastic pails with a six foot length line attached, 2) 1 five gallon construction bucket with reinforced handle and a twelve foot length of line attached, 3) 1 two and a half gallon collapsible canvas bucket with a twelve foot length of line attached. So remember, when it comes to equipping your boat with a bucket, you should never say f**k it. Dudley s/v s Kia Orana, Catalina 36 Blown Away, Capri 18

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a little dinghy From the Commodore Gold Country Yacht Club monthly Newsletter Call for more info:

a little dinghy From the Commodore Gold Country Yacht Club monthly Newsletter Call for more info: June 2015 Volume 37, Issue 6 Regular Columns: From the Commodore 1 Minutes 2 Club Notices 3 Classifieds 10 Individual Highlights: GFTG Regatta 3 Dudley s Thanks 7 Gold Country Yacht Club monthly Newsletter