Welcome.....
Please welcome Kevin and Jamie Gormley and their children Finnegan and Kieran. They reside in Norfolk and look forward to participating in our sailing programs, socials and fleet maintenance.
Next welcome Edward Ould and his children Hays, Miriam and Teddy. They reside full time in Richmond and also look forward to participating in our fleet and grounds maintenance.
Lastly, please welcome Brian and Lynn Campbell. They also reside full time in Richmond and look forward to participating in social planning, grounds maintenance marketing and communication.
We look forward to meeting all of these families at a WRYC social soon!
Stories From History
In looking through newspaper articles that mention the area from the 18th-20th century, I occasionally run across some that are fun. This article was republished in The Telegraph and Messenger in Macon, Georgia on December 16, 1882. The article is titled “A Ghost in a Lighthouse” and is about Wolf Trap Lighthouse.
“Ghostly visitations have led to the resignation of A.F. Hudgins, assistant keeper of Wolf Trap Light, Chesapeake Bay. Mr. Hudgins declared that knocks and other noises were heard all over the house, and a young lady, lying in bed, received a slap in the face, and on a light being produced it was found the blow had left the print of a ghostly hand on the lady’s cheek. Matthews [sic] county is aroused over the matter, and watch parties have nightly tried to discover the cause of the visitations, but have failed.”
The lighthouse that is mentioned in the story is not the same one that is standing today. In January of 1893, an ice storm struck. Keeper John Thomas wrote that he “felt a dreadful foreboding” and an unseen voice told him to flag down a steamer that was stuck in the ice nearby and abandon the light. Shortly after he had left, the house was ripped from its screwpile foundation. Several days later the lighthouse was found partially submerged near Thimble Shoals with only the roof and the lantern above the water.
OlD wOLF tRAP lIGHT
$70,000 for the construction of the current lighthouse was approved by Congress on March 3, 1893 and the light was lit on September 20, 1894. Wolf Trap remained a manned light station until 1971 when it was automated, prior to that, it was one of the last non-automated lights on the Chesapeake. It was deactivated in 2017 when the Coast Guard declared that the structure was no longer safe for personnel to access and maintain the light. There is no mention whether the ghost is still there or not.
Current Wolf Trap Light
Classifieds
If anyone has a mast for a Sunfish that they no longer have a use for, Jay McGlohn is looking for one. Contact him at 804-815-4475
Boat stuff for sale/cheap and for free :
17' black aluminum mast and boom
12' aluminum mast and boom
Large anchor
Small anchor
Spinnaker hook pole
Centerboards- wooden and aluminum
Tillers with rudders
Wood kayak paddles
Net on pole
Heavy line
Many sail boat gadgets
Contact- Anita Bolger
804-832-2421 or asbolger@gmail.com
From The Helm
Just last month we were writing about winter changing - with some high temps. Now our vehicles are turning yellow - it heralds the arrival of spring-summer activities at the Club. Hopefully you were able to attend the work day - contributing to the Club and enjoying a free lunch from the famous 5 star Nuttall Store Ware Neck location. All efforts are appreciated.
Some change has happened. Mark Holthaus has resigned from the Board. Too many obligations with too little time. We wish him well in his other endeavors and hope to see him at the Club. Layne is handling Membership issues at this time. Jay McGlohn has rejoined the Board. Former commodore and long time frequent contributor to Club activities. We thank him for stepping up.
Thanks again to Jane, Kirby, Scott and Vetta for all their efforts on the St Patrick’s social. It was well attended, the food was great, and a fine time was had by all even in the absence of green beer.
As of the time of this writing the first Wine Tasting will soon be coming up. Plans came together nicely. Hopefully to be well attended. This is a collaborative effort with Nuttal Store which we hope will also become a tradition. Suggestions for it are quite welcome.
Quiz of the Month: who said “Only Irish Coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and fat”?
Bob Davis, Commodore
The Latest Fleet Scuttlebutt ...................
The kickoff meeting to our upcoming sailing season was held March 25th and our turnout ended up being fantastic. By my count we had 20 folks and a potential new member / sailor attend! Thanks to Scott and Veta Titus for helping to organize the event (along with Veta’s chicken chili), Layne Brown for her assistance, and Carolyn August and Bernie Tipton for the yummy desserts. Forgive me if I left anyone out. Everyone had such a great time socializing we forgot to watch the movie! Oh well, maybe next time!!
Next, I’m starting a new monthly Fleet Telltale tradition….” Glossary of Nautical Terms” word of the month. This month’s word is Afterbrow - On larger ships, it’s a secondary gangway rigged in the area aft of midship. On some military vessels, such as U.S. naval vessels, enlisted personnel below E-7 board the ship at the afterbrow; officers and CPO/SCPO/MCPO board the ship at the brow. Now you know!
Our all club workday and Fleet prep was held April 1st but the Fleet group still has more work to do on the Keel boats and moorings. I am targeting the end of April to complete the work so both keel boats are ready to splash the first of May in time for our Flag raising May 6th. Please let me know if you are interested / able to assist.
Lastly, the club was able to purchase a new (to us) Laser including (2) new sails, trailer, dolly and covers. This addition coupled with the new sails I’m having made and blade bags will really freshen up the Laser Fleet for our Junior sailing program. We will continue to upgrade this fleet of boats over the next few years as well.
Fair winds and steady seas,
Jim Garrett, Fleet
Socials....Rentals...rentals....socials
The Club has been put to great use so far in 2023. We have many more great events to come this year. All our WRYC Socials are put together by our Members, that is you! Please step up to help your fellow Members.
January- Annual Meeting; 1 Member Rental
February- Valentine Potluck Social
March- 1 Non-member Rental; Adult Sailing Meeting & Lunch; Wine Tasting
April-Work Day & Fleet Spruce Day 4/1; 3 Non-member Rentals
May- Flag Raising Social 5/6; 1 Non-member Rental; 1 Member Rental; 1 Non-profit Rental
June- 1 Member Rental; Jr Sailing Camp
July- July 4th Social 7/1 or 2; 1 Member Rental; Jr Sailing Camp
August- Jr Sailing Camp; Governor’s Cup 8/5 & 6
September- Labor Day Social 9/2 or 3; 1 Non-member Rental
October- 1 Non-profit; Authentic Oktoberfest Social 10/7; 1- Non-member Rental
November- Oyster Roast Social 11/11
December- Christmas/Holiday Party Social 12/9
From The Helm
As the Yacht Club winter marches on - there is irony in that it was just 80 degrees out and now winter seems back. Not sure what that means for our spring.
Yacht Club winter usually means 2 things - Valentines Day and St. Patricks day. Our thanks to Autumn for handling the Valentines event which went well and early thanks to the team of Jane Smith, Scott Titus and Vetta for taking on the St. Patricks event. The challenge is out for all with Irish in them and all the rest who wish they had Irish in them - all are welcome.
WINE TASTING. A new event is coming to the Club. In conjunction with Nuttall Country Store the next Ware Neck wine tasting will be held at the Yacht Club - currently scheduled for Friday 3/31. The format of the event will change from previous events at the Store particularly to comply with ABC regulations. Details are being worked out and will be sent out prior to the 31st. Looking forward to a fun time.
We hope that other events can be added to the schedule also. Suggestions are always welcome.
Quiz of the month: who said - “We could certainly slow the aging process if it had to work its way through congress”?
Bob Davis, Commodore
The Latest Fleet Scuttlebutt ...................
Ok, Spring arrives on March 20th at 5:24 EDT………that means we have 3 weeks, 0 days,3 hours and 19 minutes to get serious about this year’s sailing season. To that end, we will be having our fleet spruce up day the 1st Saturday in April. I will have a list of duties to perform, from organizing the sail loft and checking out our dollies and skiffs, to helping re-fit some of our Lasers and Albacores. We also have some work to do on the keel boats, primarily doing a bottom job.
The club will be sending out an eBlast soliciting support so please consider helping get these projects complete so we can be ready, especially as we depend on these boats to support our Junior Sailing Program.
We will also be hosting a gathering on Saturday March 25th to discuss this year’s plans for adult sailing, so be on the lookout for an invite to that as well. We plan to compliment the meeting with a potluck (soup) lunch and sailing documentary movie showing, courtesy of Scott Titus!!
Smooth tacks and safe jybes!
Jim Garrett - Fleet