Sandy Bay Yacht Club 2017 Spring Newsletter COMMODORE S MESSAGE Happy spring everyone! On behalf of the Board of Governors I want to welcome you to the 2017 Sandy Bay Yacht Club (SBYC), in its 132 nd year. This winter has been on-again, off-again, on-again! This makes us all thankful that spring is just around the corner and very soon we will all be enjoying summer life at SBYC specifically sailing, motor boating, and friendly camaraderie and fun at the end of T-Wharf. The Board of Governors and club manager (Ron Petoff) have been busy all fall and winter working on SBYC business, budgeting, organizing social events and managing the sailing program. Thanks to all the Board of Governors and Ron for their hard work and service to our great club! Highlights of things planned and coming include a suite of fun social events, a busy and productive Work Day, plus SBYC house improvements which include refitting the Emily Wick, our Race Committee Boat. Additionally, the Gift Shop/Ship Store will be stocked with many snazzy new fashions with SBYC logo. In the planning stages are training and scheduling for regattas, race management, and potential seminars on sailing racing rules and race management. Social committee chairs are organizing some great events like the spring kick-off dinner at Bass Rocks Golf Club on April 29 th in Gloucester. Back by popular demand, a mystery event by the Mah Jong team, and the Fire in the Sky a.k.a. Rockport Fireworks with a party at SBYC! Rumor has it that there may even be a seafood gumbo cook off. The Commodore makes a mean gumbo! The membership committee is gearing up to welcome many new members and there are special events planned for all the new faces that we expect to see around the club this summer. The Development Committee has several very interesting talks planned. We also would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members who have contributed to the Next Generation Capital Campaign (see Shelley s report below). Because of so many generous members, the Campaign has a great start. If you haven t sent in your donation, there s still time and we thank you in advance. Read the rest of the newsletter for the details provided by each committee. Finally, a big hail out and thank you to Steve Vavak! He donated a beautiful antique restored chart of Rockport and Cape Ann. This is a stunning framed chart that we plan to hang on the wall going up to the Junior Sailing Program loft. Check it out next time you re at the club. Thank you Steve Vavak.
COMMODORE S MESSAGE (CON T) The SBYC Junior Sailing Program is delighted to welcome Lee Lyon as its new Director. Last year s schedule modification to two-week sessions was well received by sailors and parents. This made it easier for families to coordinate with other family events and summer activities, so we will continue the same format this year. Have a great spring and we look forward to another great sailing/boating/partying season this year! See you all at the Spring Dinner on April 29th. Sign up early! Earl Meredith, Commodore Greg Wilkinson, Vice Commodore DEVELOPMENT AND THURSDAY TALKS Historically SBYC has looked to its members to make contributions beyond dues and fees to cover major capital projects. With a tradition of wonderful support from all of you we have been able to fund our major capital projects without member Capital call assessments while maintaining affordable dues and fees. This past fall we launched the Preserving SBYC for the Next Generation Capital Campaign. This campaign has raised over $66,000 and is still going strong! Funds raised will support vital upgrades, major renovations and safety improvements to the Race Committee Boat (EMILY WICK), replace damaged floating docks and build much needed capital reserves for future needs. Please consider a donation of any amount and be a part of this important campaign. We are working on lining up some great Thursday Talks for the coming season. SBYC member George Grimes, will present a late summer talk on sea stories, one not to be missed! We are also trying to arrange a presentation with the Landing School, including the story of the renovations to the Emily Wick. We welcome other suggestions for speakers, and the topics range widely. For those new SBYC members or members and guests who have not had the opportunity to attend one of the talks, the format is relaxed and informal. We usually host three or four throughout the summer. On the appointed Thursday, the talk begins at 7 p.m. with refreshments. The talks are 45 minutes to an hour and are not limited to boating. We look to appeal to a variety of interests. Talks are generally hosted by one or two members who share the responsibilities of the refreshments. If you would like to host, or have a suggestion for a speaker, or would like to help with fundraising, please email me at shelley.vassallo@gmail.com. Thanks! Shelley Vassallo
DATES TO RESERVE April 29 Spring Dinner Bass Rocks Golf Club May 13, 9:00AM: Volunteer Work Day (Rain Date: May 20) May 28, 11:00AM: Annual Business Meeting May 27, 6:30PM: Commodores Reception June 9, 6:00-8:00PM: Adult Sailing Info-Social July 1: All Club Party July 4 All American Cookout August 12: Fire in the Sky August 27: Annual Meeting for Members September 4: Labor Day Youth Activities SBYC Awards Ceremony December 16: Christmas Pageant Social Watch email, bulletin boards, web site for more details and more events! ROCKPORT HARBOR DEPARTMENT 2017 has started out on a quieter note with a milder winter and it appears we may slip right into spring without any major problems. Rockport Harbor and Granite Pier have survived the winter with the work done on the breakwaters in 2016. These new breakwaters has protected the wharfs, piers and mooring fields well. Pigeon Cove Harbor Breakwaters are complete with Classic Site Solutions, Inc. producing two more phenomenal breakwaters; one at the entrance to Pigeon Cove Harbor and the other protecting that harbor from the east. TREASURER S REPORT Hurricane preparedness: Fleets should continue to plan for bad weather, with hurricane/bad weather preparations planned ahead of time to quickly get boats out of the water and secured on dry land. Granite Pier is available for storage of vessels during a storm, short term storage in and out for duration of storm. Mooring Bills: The mooring bills will be out by mid to late April. Mooring gear maintenance continues to be the responsibility of the mooring holder. Mooring gear should be inspected annually. Don t wait until the weather turns bad and something happens-it is a job to do in spring. We look forward to a safe and active summer season See you on the water!! Rockport Harbormasters Scott Story, Rosemary Lesch Assistant Harbormasters Ron Petoff, Story Reed 2016 was a very successful financial year for the club. Capital spending for the year was very modest. We spent $838.34 to upgrade the Waitless and $430.00 to transport the Emily Wick to Maine for repairs. Donations to the Capital Fund totaled $21,301.00. Thanks once again to Ron s careful stewardship, there was a substantial operating budget surplus at year s end. In 2007 the Board of Governors adopted a policy goal of 50% or more of the annual Operating Fund budget for year end club Reserves. This year, Reserves have risen from last year s 51.9% to 61.7% (60.3% net of capital reserve), and we have 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 come in. We are in good shape going into the new year. However, please consider adding your support to the Board s plans to improve the club s facilities and equipment. Frank Hassler, Treasurer
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE Greetings! Allow me to introduce myself as the new chair of the Membership Committee and to extend a giant thank you to our previous chair, Suzanne Gosselin, for her years of stellar service. She has left me some BIG shoes to fill. As I write, another storm is barreling toward Rockport harbor. Despite this (or because of it!) my thoughts dwell not on snow but on the snap of snowy white sails, sunny days, and salty breezes! It won t be long till we reconvene at T-Wharf for another great season of sailing and social events at the Sandy Bay Yacht Club. We encourage members to take advantage of all SBYC has to offer and to introduce their friends, neighbors, and extended family to the club. The Membership Committee is on hand all season at Sunday Morning Coffee (9:30-11am from Memorial to Labor Day) to answer questions about membership and to show potential and new members around the club. We ll be wearing our Membership Committee name tags! We are here to help you enjoy the full benefits of your SBYC membership want to get more involved in the club? Talk to someone in the Membership Committee: we ll hook you up with sailing lessons, racing opportunities, volunteer tasks, or social events. In June we host the Adult Sailing Info- Social for both current and perspective members. Come hear about our adult sailing program: learn to sail or improve your skills and get out on the water in a club-owned boat. In July, we ll be hosting our popular Casual Friday for new members (2016-2017), where we hope to partner with Rockport High s music program to provide live Jazz. Stay tuned! Plan to shop for great new SBYC merch as the Ship s Store will now be open during Membership Committee social events. We ll keep you posted on the club bulletin board and online at www.sandybay.org. New members will receive the SBYC NEW MEMBER enews- LETTER with notices of events throughout the season. Here s to the start of another great season! SBYC Membership Committee MEMBERSHIP CMTE Jessica Lanier, Chair Rich Calnan Sherri Casey Deborah Hale Jo-Ann Lavigne Ellen Lidington Wanda Visnick
JUNIOR SAILING PROGRAM The Sandy Bay Sailing Program Board of Directors is happy to announce that Lee Lyon has been hired as the 2017 Program Director. Lee learned to sail in the Sandy Bay program and is a 14-year veteran instructor. Lee's long tenure will insure a smooth transition into the 2017 season. On-line registration for the program will open on March 27. The first day of this summer's program is June 26th and we will once again be offering four 2-week sessions for our beginner and intermediate classes, and two 4-week sessions for our racing sailors. Greg Wilkinson and Mike Trotsky RACE COMMITTEE Question: Why Volunteer for the Race Committee (RC)? Answer: To have lots of fun, get out on the water and see the race from a different perspective. To be part of a close-knit TEAM A lot of us have been together for years. And for the most part, still like each other. To learn about sailing Race Management (RM) The who, what, when, where, why and how to partake in a race or series as an RC member To make new friends To spend more time enjoying sun and water, while doing something very necessary RC service & being on the water is FUN! We are ALWAYS looking for new volunteer members to ensure sufficient RC coverage for all sailing races. On the job learning offered. If you are interested send me an e-mail at edmond.salas@gmail.com No prior racing or sailing experience is required. Ed Salas HOUSE COMMITTEE House Committee really comprises a lot of sub-committees and members working hard to take care of the club house, fleet and store. The club house survived the winter and despite a scare last week that sent us scurrying to secure the place, we escaped unscathed. Our Volunteer work day is scheduled for the Saturday before Mother s Day so mark May 13 th on your calendars to spend a few hours sprucing up the club. The Emily Wick has spent the winter at the Landing School in Arundel, Maine getting a serious refit including re-coring the hull, serious engine maintenance, a new deck, new plumbing and a new electronics package. We hope to bring her home a week or two prior to Memorial Day. If you re on Facebook, check out the pictures posted of her progress. My favorite is the refurbished diesel running. The ship s store committee has met several times over the winter and recently placed the order for some exciting new inventory including new canvas bags, a large selection of wicking shirts for men and women. There will be fresh fun colors for SBYC ball caps, women s scooped tee shirts, zippered hoodies and a new design for men s tees. We hope to have the store open at more special evening events this year, which means we will be looking for our faithful shopkeeper volunteers to sign up. Just a few more weeks of winter fun and we ll be back at good old Sandy Bay! Stan Patey
Sandy Bay Yacht Club PO Box 37 Rockport, MA 01966 Clubhouse: 978-546-9433 Office: 978-546-6240 Email: sbyc@sandybay.org Web: www.sandybay.org YOUR LOGO HERE ADULT SAILING PROGRAM Learn to Sail Adult Classes for beginners and those needing a refresher. Classes begin in July. Special Rates are available for private or two student classes. Sandy Bay's adult program is one of the oldest and strongest of all North Shore yacht clubs. Sailing occurs in Rhodes 19s and Bullseyes, students receive hands on instruction in small, personal classes. Adult instruction is available for all ability levels. Whether you're an older teen, young adult, or seasoned salt, a beginner or looking to hone some skills for racing, we offer something for everyone. SBYC is hosting an Info-Social event on Friday evening June 9th from 6:00-8:00pm at the club for all adults interested in our Learn to Sail program. Come meet our SBYC instructors and Membership Committee. Skip Montello, Adult Sailing Program Director Volunteer Work Day Plan to be there. Come help with painting, varnishing, cleaning, minor carpentry, etc. Beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 13th. Lunch provided for all volunteers. Rain date: Saturday, May 20th.