From the Helm...
Now that the rain is gone and our weather has finally started to heat up, so has the interest in sailing and boating @ WRYC ! We just held our kickoff meeting for Adult sailing classes for both Dinghy sailing and Keel boats (the larger boats) and we had a terrific turnout. 16 out of the 25 folks who originally expressed interest were in attendance. As a result we will have a few sessions for the dinghy class and at least two session for the Keel boats. Classes will run on 4 week sessions beginning Saturday June 3rd at 9AM. More information will be sent directly to those participants who signed up. For those of you who still have interest please let me or Joe Morgan know.
We are still planning to have Sunday Albacore and Laser Sailing although there is no specific structure to the event. Anyone wishing to sail on Sunday that wants to use a club boat can simply go to the Club website calendar and reserve one. The Keel boat use is specific to those members who have been checked out and signed our liability waiver. Again, please check with me or Joe M for further details.
One of the other initiatives we’ve kicked off is our Cruising Group (We’re on Facebook / Ware River Yacht Club Sailing Fleet) and Scott Titus is taking the lead to organize some cruising trips around the Bay. If you’re interested in participating please let me or Scott know.
A shout out and thank you all the club members who’ve responded to our request to update our trailer and boat storage registrations as we received almost all the storage forms we were missing. I’ve spoken with a few of you that still have older damaged boats and/or trailers and would ask that they be removed or repaired in June so that we can make the space available for working trailers.
Lastly, don’t forget to check out our classifieds section if you’re looking for a pre-owned item. We currently have some member owned kayaks listed for $600 each……. like new!
Fair winds,
Jim Garrett Fleet Captain
Socials are HERE!
Social season has arrived, and we are already in full swing planning up some fun events! Our most recent event, Flag Raising and Derby Day, was a great time! Hosted by Bill and Layne, there were flags raised, juleps shaken, and money raised for club renovation via horse betting (dang it, Rich Strike!!). Thank you to Bill and Layne for stepping up to host, and all who volunteered their time to help keep the excitement flowing through OUR club!
See what you missed by clicking here for some photos.
I am excited to say we have not one, but TWO socials on deck for your enjoyment. Please remember to RSVP to both (Summer Kick-Off by June 6th, and July 4th celebration by June 10th!) at wareriveryc@gmail.com
The Summer Kick-Off will be a great opportunity to talk to our adult sailors if you are interested in learning how to sail, or just want some great company! The Sailing Ladies will be on hand to answer any and all inquiries!
The 4th of July event will be one you WILL NOT want to miss! Food, music, games, cocktails, and fireworks…a chance to make up for last year’s cancellation and make our club a lively venue! Remember, this has an earlier RSVP date of June 10th to solidify the catering, so get those emails in to wareriveryc@gmail.com, or our new member hostess Antenette at (804) 824-3990!
All the best,
Autumn
Welcome New Members!
WRYC would like to welcome back previous members, John and Holly Dudley and daughter, Christine of Gloucester and Winston-Salem, NC.
The Dudleys were members in the early 2000’s and their two older children participated in the Jr Sailing program at the time.
We look forward to seeing them at the socials as they will be spending more time in Gloucester this summer.
Beve Hermanson
Membership Chair
Beautiful Artwork
The next time you are at the Club, please take a moment and look at the painting by junior member, Maia Dieken. Maia’s Mom, Yolanda, graciously presented her daughter’s beautiful artwork to WRYC at the Annual Meeting last February.
Yolanda spoke so eloquently about how much their family has enjoyed being members. On behalf of the Board, I can assure you that the feeling is mutual. The four Dieken girls have been attending sailing camp for several years and Maia, having just attained her sailing instructor certification, will be an integral part of the counselor team this year. In addition, she has been asked to be one of the assistant instructors with the adult sailing program and has graciously accepted!
Thank you Maia for your service to the Club AND your remarkable gift!!
Beve Hermanson
Membership
Events, Events......FUN, FUN
Be sure to participate in all that’s going on at WRYC this summer. It is YOUR Club with lots of great events planned so don’t be left out of the FUN!
Summer Kick Off Party June 11 beginning at 5:30 PM
4th of July Celebration July 3rd beginning at 6:00 PM
From the Helm
Semper Parartus is the US Coast Guard motto that translates as Always Ready. A good idea for anyone going to sea or out on the Bay. Two weeks ago, Joe Morgan and I set out to sail on one of the club’s keel boats, Tranquility Bay. She is a very nice Island 30’ Bahamas. Joe had her moved from the boat yard at Severn River Marina and tied up at the marina’s inner pier. He texted me to get a battery jump box. Not a good sign. Short story long, it took us several attempts and a change of battery but we slipped the moorings about an hour and a half later into what looked like a nice day but promised gusts to 29. By the time we passed the mouth of Severn, about when I asked Joe about turning into the wind with 4 foot seas abeam, the weather turned sporty. We had all the safety equipment, redundant radios, foul weather gear and food. Joe is an excellent teacher and calm under sail. If you’re interested in learning to sail or getting better at sailing the keel boats, Joe, Jim Garrett, Scott Titus and Mike Mastracci run a great adult sailing program.
Semper Paratus is a good idea for the club. We have a wonderful facility but like all things near the water, the club requires constant maintenance. We had a good turnout for the work day in April and we look forward to showing off the club at Flag Raising on May 7. However, like the USCG, we have to be always ready to work on the club to maintain the pier, the bulkhead, ramp, club house, bath house, apartment, boats and sail loft. We need your hands and hearts to help and we need your money. The three big items are annually replacing sections of the pier, renovating the tennis court and the shoring up the bulkhead by the ramp. The pier is on budget and proceeding very nicely. Thank you Gary Hermanson, buildings and grounds. The tennis court will only work through a private fund raising operation similar to what Jim Garrett did for the keel boats. Jane Wilson and Pam Marthinson agreed to head up this committee. Please take their calls and give generously. The bulkhead will require careful budgeting. We may find it more expedient to borrow money for these projects but we should look to the membership before we look to a bank. We had debt in the past and managed it quite well. Outside of dues, apartment rental and club rental, we have very little additional income. Junior Sailing pays for itself but we do not end up with a surplus that can handle these capital projects.
Autumn Taylor is working on some extra projects for activities for everyone to enjoy at the Club. Look for emails in the near future for events.
March 26, 2022 Work Day
According to the Beaufort Wind scale at 22-27 knots of wind speed, large tree branches move, telephone wires begin to “whistle”, umbrellas are difficult to keep under control, larger waves form, whitecaps are prevalent as is spray. It was blowing hard straight out the west at the Club on Saturday March 26 but we got a lot of work completed.
Fleet Captain Jim Garrett mustered a hearty crew to clean out, inventory and repair the many spars, bits and pieces in the sail loft and in the boat yard. David Waldman and Erich “Mouse” Marse dove in head first sorting and marking equipment. Full sets of equipment for each boat are now in the sail loft and spare parts are in the Junior Sailing Office. New members Alyssa Adams and Jeanne Brooks, along with Beve Hermanson, Bill Brown and Dave Brown arrived early, stayed late and were a big help in the sail loft. Joe Morgan, Scott Titus, Mike Mastracci and Steve Humphrey made repairs to boats.
From the helm in the kitchen, Jane Smith got the team moving with Gerilynn Marse, Pam Marthinson and Jane Wilson cleaning and polishing the trophies, cases, kitchen cabinets and under counter cabinets and sorting all the chaffing dishes and pots and pans. Talk about shipshape! We kept Kirby Smith on the run fetching supplies. Gary Cuccia single handedly cleaned the grills and ceiling fans. Ian Palmer tackled the screened porch, shelves, tables, chairs and floors. Gary had such a good time, he helped in the boat yard. Matt Marthinson braved the gale winds, took to the roof and cleaned off all the tree and leaf debris with the help of Joe Morgan’s leaf blower, cleaned up the grounds and helped in the sail loft.
Now hear this. Good news from the helm. We will have more workdays.
Fair Winds and following seas.
John A. Singleton
Commodore
john@gibsonsingleton.com