A new season

With the passing of another month our sailing season is drawing to a close. Despite the Pandemic the WRYC has found creative ways to responsibly gather as well as continue our great sailing tradition. In short, I’m glad to be a member of an awesome Club full of wonderful people. A big thank you to all who attended the workday where much needed maintenance was performed. If you weren’t able to attend please consider doing so in the future as our Club requires the efforts of its membership to stay in such great shape and many hands make light work. Looking forward to seeing you all around the Club or out on the water soon.

Sailing Friends / Adventure from the Potomac

Not much new on the fleet front this month. But, if you’ll allow me to indulge, I’d like to share some thoughts on sailing. This past weekend two club members, Jim and Chris, joined me on an epic journey. We picked up my new to us 1967 Alberg 30 from Quantico Marina and brought it (most of the way) home. For those that are unfamiliar with the Potomac River, Quantico is WAYYYYY up there. After a late arrival Friday night the crew set about preparing the unfamiliar boat for an early departure. We departed Quantico under cover of darkness at approximately 0415h. Navigating by chartplotter and spotlight we worked our way down river and were met by a glorious sunrise. Saturday provided light winds, but a glorious 80 degree late October day. Not too shabby as we lounged about in shorts and bare feet. The 71 mile trip took about 14 hours. Our scheduled arrival time to Point Lookout Marina in St. Mary’s County, Maryland was after closing time. With a phone call to the marina, the manager on duty, Shawn, stated “here’s my personal cell, call me when you get to the creek and I’ll meet you at the fuel dock”! His efforts were greatly appreciated as we topped off the tanks, filled the ice chest, and the super secret bath house code was revealed. Thank you, Shawn! After a good night’s rest, the crew awoke to very different weather on Sunday. The sky had turned cloudy, rain was on the horizon and winds were 16-18 knots from the northeast. The spectacular crew donned layers and foulies and set about the task of tackling the next leg. The team shared navigation and sail plan decisions. Each course change and sail arrangement was discussed and concurrence was reached on the safest path. The crew remained on deck through steady rain to ensure proper lookout was maintained in less than ideal visibility conditions. The boat performed splendidly and sped down the Bay at hull speed, managing the 3-5 foot beam seas with ease. Later that evening, we pulled in to the second stop in White Marsh. The boat secured for the weekend, we all headed home for some warm coffee and a hot shower. The weekend had a lot of things, and lacked one. The weekend had warm weather, sun, cold weather, rain, good visibility, bad visibility, good food, great conversation, fellowship, beautiful sunrise, plentiful clouds, ship traffic, fairly large waves, no wind, lots of wind, good music, and great sailing. What did the trip lack? The trip lacked a single complaint. No complaint with a 0330h Saturday wake up. No complaint when there was no wind on the first day. No complaint when when there was wind, rain, and cold weather on Sunday. No complaint when the apples got soggy with rainwater. No complaint when sail plan changes were needed. If you’ve made it this far in my discourse, thank you. I’m coming to the point. Aside from the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed the company of fine sailors sharing an epic journey, I was reminded that sailors are fine people. I for one am very grateful for my Ware River Yacht Club family. We are blessed with an absolutely fantastic location. And we are doubly blessed with the company of the finest group of people in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Proud to be associated with such a fine group of sailors and look forward to many, many more adventures.

See you on the water,

Scott

A Warm Welcome to...

We would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest junior member, Antenette, of Richmond, VA. Antenette is a Gloucester native and is currently a high school counselor and working on her PhD. She helped host her GHS Ten Year Class reunion at WRYC, which, is how she became acquainted with the Club. She is looking forward to helping out with socials and learning how to sail.

Beve

A quiet Fall on the WRYC

Happy Fall everyone! Well, we tried to get us all together and enjoy roasted oysters- the most popular Social we have, but it didn’t happen. Sadly, it had to be cancelled, but it is probably for the best, as Covid numbers are rising. We want everyone to participate in NEXT year’s Oyster Roast! So stay safe and party on- quietly!

Alice Bredin-Karny

Fall Work Day

A big thank you to the small but mighty group who showed up for work day. The weather was perfect. The exterior to-do list was long and daunting, but, by noon the trees were trimmed, the bushes were pruned, the deck and roof were power-washed and the swing-set was repaired. We finished the day with a well deserved and relaxing picnic on the deck. Thanks again to everyone who came out and helped!

Building & Grounds

Jr Sailing Series - Maia

Two years ago I didn’t know anything about sailing. When I first got on a Laser I was with my cousin, who also didn’t know much about sailing. We sailed back and forth, he would tell me “tacking!” and try to tack, but nothing would happen, so he’d say he guessed we were just going in this direction. By the middle of the second week we all knew what we were doing a little better. My partner and I worked fluidly, he did the tiller and I did the main sheet, and now I was able to see what needed to be done before he said anything. I’ll always remember this one day—it was so windy and we were literally flying over the water, the daggerboard was vibrating so loudly, and everyone was capsizing. When we hiked out we were pretty much parallel to the water. Whenever I think of sailing that’s what I think about, and that day made me really fall in love with sailing.

                This year I only needed one day before everything I’d learned the previous year came back. By the second week I was skippering a boat, sometimes even sailing completely on my own, when the week before I’d been too nervous. Whenever we weren’t doing drills, everyone always wanted to play pirate, and I learned so much playing that game. When you have to evade boats with crew that want to capsize you, it really causes you to think “how can I go faster??” Which you’d better figure out pretty quick. And the skills I learned playing pirate helped me when I sailed in the Regatta (which I did alone)—it was my first official sailing race ever. I capsized once, heading to the leeward buoy during the race, and I’d mastered the art of skillfully righting your boat thanks to pirating. I never even touched the water—the boat tipped and I immediately scrambled over the side and pulled it back over. Even I was surprised at how quickly I did it!

                I never thought I’d have a passion for sailing, and I think that having learned to sail at the Ware River Yacht Club made the experience even more memorable and happy. I’m pretty sure all my friends at home are tired of hearing about sailing I talk about it so much.  I’m never going to go a summer without being on a Laser, the things I’ve learned over the past two years have created a solid foundation that I’ll always think back to whenever I’m sailing.

Nearing the END of 2020

I dare say no one will be sad to see 2020 end. It has been a difficult year for us all. WRYC has managed to hold one Social since COVID hit. Unfortunately, the popular Oyster Roast on November 7 has been CANCELLED.

The WRYC rental calendar for 2020 should wrap up with a total of 6 rentals for 2020. This is a far cry from the typical 20-23 rentals per year. With several of the 2020 rentals moving to 2021 the 2021 calendar is filling up. WRYC is a wonderful spot for life’s celebrations.

Layne Brown, Manager

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Winding down

Fall is upon us and that means beautiful foliage cooler temps and sadly a slowing down of our time on the water. All things considered, we have had a great season of sailing and fellowship, and I am beyond proud to be a member of a Club where so much camaraderie is shown during challenging times. We still have a couple opportunities to get together before year end, namely a long overdue Club work day and our much anticipated annual Oyster Roast. Please consider coming out for both! I look forward to seeing you all in the near future.

Jonathan Matthews

Commodore