Happy Days are Here Again!
Warm weather is finally here and with the abundant sunshine comes gatherings and events at the WRYC. I am encouraged with the news of the Club hosting this year’s Albacore Nationals that not only are things starting to return to “normal” in general, but that our sailing and event season has begun. Regattas are large undertakings with many moving parts and to reiterate the sentiments of our Fleet Captain, I would like to see a robust showing from the membership to ensure the event goes smoothly. It would be great if the WRYC was consistently considered as an option for holding these types of events. Additionally, please consider this an amazing opportunity to bring the family down to the river if only to watch the boats and enjoy time spent outdoors. Lastly, we are planning our annual Flag Raising event and details will soon be sent out. As always, I look forward to seeing you all down at the WRYC.
Jonathan Matthews
Commodore
Spring is here, sailing is near!
Ok maybe that’s a bit “hokie” but I’m just glad we’re ready to get on the water this month. I guess the first newsworthy item to share is, we are ready to start the Albacore Sunday Series and are planning on a couple of general information and rigging/cleaning weekends starting the 15/16th. I’ll be sending out a notice (if I haven’t already by this printing) on what we’ll be doing. That will also be a work day for anything Fleet related as well.
The other big news item is we’ve published the registration for this years Albacore Nationals which will be held July 10th and 11th at Ware River. Details will be in the Club website sailing link along with registration, NOR and SI’s. As I mentioned before, we need to make a good showing and are looking for skippers/crew. In addition, these events don’t just happen on their own, we rely on our members to make them happen. Please don’t wait to be asked to participate. We have needs for social, grounds, signage, and race committee support so please reach out to me or any other board member with where you’d like to get plugged in. Shout out to Joel Morgan for getting the registration on the website and Joe Morgan and Layne Brown for their organizational skills.
Next, we have been approached by several members about using the club moorings to tie up their boats for the season and the board has decided to offer them on a first come first serve basis. If you have interest in using a club mooring for more than a week please let me know and I’ll get you a mooring agreement you will need to complete. We should have up to 3 mooring balls available by mid June. Once we see how much interest there is we’ll make changes as needed.
Lastly, it looks like all our Junior sailing classes are FULL for 2021 with over 50 kids signed up. ! Outstanding job to the JS. committee.
Calm seas,
Jim Garrett
Fleet
BYLAWS CHANGE - Ancient Mariner Status
THE BOARD HAS TAKEN A LOOK AT THE CURRENT WORDING OF THE ANCIENT MARINER STATUS.
THIS WORDING IS AS FOLLOWS: MEMBERS WHO ARE 70 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AND HAVE BEEN MEMBERS FOR 30 CONSECUTIVE YEARS. THESE MEMBERS PAY 1/2 OF THE ANNUAL DUES.
THE NEW PROPOSAL IS AS FOLLOWS: MEMBERS WHO WITH COMBINING THEIR AGE AND NUMBER OF CONSECUTIVE MEMBERSHIP YEARS ADD UP TO 95, WOULD QUALIFY AS “ANCIENT MARINERS”. THEIR DUES WOULD BE 1/2 OF THE ANNUAL DUES!
Hopefully we will be able to conduct this one piece of business at our Flag Raising and vote on the change. We will be going thru the roster to determine who will be coming into this category. If you have already paid your dues for this year and you qualify, you will be getting a refund! Thank you for your attention in his matter.
The Home Stretch
Spring has sprung at the Ware River Yacht Club, and our much anticipated sailing season gets closer with each passing day! I am eagerly awaiting gathering and taking full advantage of our beautiful grounds and waterways.
Jonathan Matthews
Commodore
An active month for the Club's Keel Boats........
………but not in the way you might think. We ended up doing a little sailing this month but only as part of the rescue efforts of our Irwin 25, Gabrielle ! If you visited the Club later in March you may have noticed only one keel boat on its mooring. At some point in early March during one our WNW blows, “Gabby” somehow managed to break from the mooring field and drifted out to the Mobjack Bay. Thanks to Scott Titus for notifying the USCG along with some local waterman and the Va. Marine Police who helped find her and tied her to a piling in Brown’s Bay. A big thanks Jay McGlohn and John Singleton for the use of their boats along with Bill Brown, as part of our search party to locate her, and for John S. and Clayton James’ help in getting her back to Holiday Marina. Amazingly she was unharmed and everything that should be working, still was. She is for sale and you can contact me for details. All’s well that ends well I guess.
The better news is that we did sell our Catalina 27 Snagglepuss and will be using those funds to get some much needed repair done to our Paceship 26, Wagtail (we’ve already put a solar panel on-board to keep the batteries charged) As the weather heats up I am also anticipating our interest in getting back on the water will as well. We have several events already planned besides our Sunday Albacore series, which include hosting the Albacore Class Nationals this summer in July ! This will require lots of member support and participation so if you aren’t sailing, PLEASE consider joining a committee. We want this event to be memorable, but we can’t do it without YOU. Look for details of the event in a separate correspondence or reach out to me or Joe Morgan ………more to come!
As we prepare for this years Jr. Sailing program we’re getting our skiff’s serviced and ready, adding a 3rd Club motor boat to the fleet, and our Walker Bay dinghy has a new set of oars. And finally, with the help of Scott Titus, I plan to re-set the mooring we lost and will most likely add a 5th mooring to the mooring field. The fun never ends !!
See you on the water.
Jim Garrett - Fleet Captain
Hoping for Reduced Restrictions
The venue rental industry has had a difficult time during Covid. With the restrictions it has been difficult for Brides and others to plan their special events. WRYC has been able to book additional rentals for 2021. However, there have still been cancellations and rental dates being pushed further out. Hopefully as more people are able to be vaccinated the restrictions will lighten and these special events can be held at our beautiful WRYC.
Hope to see you at WRYC soon!
Layne Brown, Manager
Better days ahead
With the few glimpses of spring-like weather we have seen these past few weeks, I’m reminded that good times at the WRYC are right around the corner. Time to get boats ready and make plans for spending time on the water and the grounds of the Club with friends and family. I for one am looking forward to warmer weather and brighter skies! Hang in there these next couple months and we will see you down at the Ware River Yacht Club.
Jonathan Matthews
Commodore
Gradually thawing out..........
It’s been Duck weather…….
I don’t know about you, but while February may be the shortest month of the year, it seems to take the longest to get thru. I was fortunate to travel to a warmer climate for part of the month which made it bearable though. I mentioned in the last Telltale some news about our larger keel boat fleet and it looks like we may take a step closer to right sizing that fleet as I believe I have a buyer for the Catalina 27, Snagglepuss. With the approach of spring and increased outdoor activity, I’m sure I’ll have more news on the keel boats, small boat sailing, sailing seminars and some general clean up before jumping in to the season. I’ve heard from a few folks about their interest in the Albacore sailing, and sailing in general, but I’d like to hear from more of you. Please shoot me an email and let me know your interest. I’m at jgarret1@gmx.com. Keep your fingers crossed for an early spring!!
Jim Garrett
Fleet Captain