FROM THE HELM
Time marches on and the formal opening for 2023 is upon us. Many thanks to Josh James for stepping up to lead this venture. There will be the usual ceremony followed by dinner from Creekside Cafe. We are anticipating fun with the annual Derby event - with the suspense tempered by excellent mint juleps. Looking forward to seeing everyone there.
Congratulations to the “Jim” team - Woodward and Garrett who organized the annual work day. Club building/grounds and boat issues were addressed by a sizable number who showed up on a very windy day. Thanks to all!
The first wine tasting - held in collaboration with Nuttall Country Store was a remarkable success. It was very well attended. Food from Chef Win was excellent. A good time was had by all. I finally turned the lights off at the end to encourage departures. Many have asked about a repeat including suggestions that it be held monthly. That isn’t happening - but stay tuned - a repeat will happen - perhaps in the fall.
As a negative - this paragraph is your early warning system. The Board has been working to address issues with the bulkhead directly in front of the Club building. Take time to look at it at Flag Raising. More to come.
We would like to continue with activities in addition to the usual socials. Some ideas have come forth - if you have any thoughts - don’t hesitate to speak up.
VOLUNTEER for socials.
Quiz of the month:who said: “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity”?
Bob Davis - Commodore
The Latest Fleet Scuttlebutt ...................
First, I have this edition of Nautical Term of the month. Ever wonder where the expression “By and Large” comes from? Well, me too! By means into the wind, while large means with the wind. "By and large" is therefore used to indicate all possible sailing situations, e.g. "the ship handles well both by and large". Now you know.
As I mentioned in the previous Telltale, we had a good turnout for our spring fleet spruce up day April 1st, and during the month we managed to get the keel boat bottoms soda blasted, sanded, and fresh bottom paint applied. The boats will get launched sometime the first of May so they are ready for the season.
Now, its just a matter of waiting for the arrival of good weather to start the season. We are still planning on Adult sailing instruction as soon as we can get our instructors pulled together to organize a schedule, but the plan is to continue with our June start date for that program.
Thats it for this month. Until next time…………..
Fair winds and steady seas,
Jim Garrett - Fleet
Flag Raising, Derby Day, and more!
Hopefully you RSVP’d for our annual Flag Raising/Derby Day, hosted by our own Joshua James—this will be an event you will be sad to miss! Thanks to Joshua for stepping up and carrying on this wonderful tradition. If you would like to assist in set up or clean up, we are always looking for available hands to help keep our Club active.
We still need volunteers to assist in our July 4th celebration—many great ideas and feedback was given after last year’s event, so now is your chance to put them into action! Contact Autumn Taylor at bariautumn@gmail.com or WRYC wareriveryc@gmail.com to sign up as host or volunteer!
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