Soundings June 2015 - Eagle Harbour Yacht Club

EAGLE HARBOUR YACHT CLUB
Soundings
JUNE 2015
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EAGLE HARBOUR YACHT CLUB
5750 Eagle Harbour Road, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V7W 1P5
Telephone: (604) 921-7636
Fax: 921-7631 office email: [email protected]
this SOUNDINGS is created by volunteers…
Contributing articles are welcomed on topics of general interest to members
Derwyn Lea… Executive responsible for Soundings
Margaret Campbell… editor
Diane Roberts… design and layout
Photo: Karen Savage
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Commodore’s Message
Thank you to all who attended Safety Day in late April.
We had beautiful weather and lots of well-attended
activities. Hear more about Safety Day in an article later in
this edition of Soundings.
Early in May, the event not to miss was Sailpast. Again we
had great weather and an excellent turnout. Work parties
had the Clubhouse and grounds all spruced up for what
is considered to be opening day of the sailing and boating
season. As Commodore, I had the privilege of seeing a large
contingent of members decked out in their navy and white
attire sailing and boating by Aqua Libra. It was an excellent
opportunity to connect members with their boats and it was
great fun. Afterwards the Social Director, Vickie Hottes,
organized a wonderful lunch and entertainment with The
Millionaires Big Band. An enjoyable time was had by all.
barbecue night at the Club. Stay tuned and plan to attend.
Don’t miss the fun!
The EHYC racing season began with the Invitational on
April 26th. More is planned at EHYC, WVYC, and other
locations. See the web site to learn more about them.
Consider volunteering for the committee boat or trying
your hand at racing.
We are soliciting interest in having EHYC host VHF
training and examinations leading to a VHF operator’s
certificate at the Clubhouse. Look for the communication
and let us know if you would be interested in attending.
Word is that the Supercruise on the May long weekend was
a resounding success. Thank you to Brian and Jenny Elliott
for putting together a great weekend for all who attended.
Sadly, Aqua Libra’s engine was too unreliable to make the
trip to Nanaimo.
With the sailing and boating season underway, let’s take
safety into the season and not have it be just a one-day
focus. Whether on the docks or on the water, keep yourself
and others safe. Tides, currents, winds, and waves have
an impact on our dock systems. Everyone should be alert
to potential hazards and notify Collen or an Executive
member of any hazards that can be addressed. On the
water, keep life vests on and safety equipment at hand.
Along with all of these bigger events, the new liquor
license is providing us with opportunities for more
informal events. These events may include informational
talks, pizza and beer, or bring-your-own barbecue events.
Friday nights through the summer will become a regular
Marg Latham
Aqua Libra
Here’s to a safe and fun sailing, boating, and social season
for all!
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VICE COMMODORE’S REPORT
When you go into the Clubhouse you will notice some new
signs. These signs are required by the Liquor Distribution
Board as we have our new liquor license. Now that we
have this license, we do not have to get Special Occasion
Licenses but are able to serve alcohol between 11 am and 11
pm. However only members who having a current Serving
It Right license are able to serve alcohol. If you have one of
these licenses, you are able to pour drinks between the above
hours as long as you ensure that you sign a chit. Of course
you must abide by all the regulations and especially must
not serve underage persons or anybody suspected of having
consumed too much alcohol. We ask that if you are looking
to buy a glass of wine, please purchase the whole bottle and
share it with your friends. We cannot have wastage by having
half empty bottles of wine deteriorating in the bar.
When one is down at Eagle Harbour one notices a lot of
paddle boards and kayaks being launched from the beach.
It is important that the Club attracts new members and
especially young members. For this reason we have reached
out to these boaters as to whether there would be interest in
joining our yacht club and storing their boat in our facility.
The response we received was very favourable. For this
reason we have purchased a paddleboard rack that will be
installed in the middle of June. The rack will be located in
the southeast corner of the parking lot, and will be lockable.
There will initially be 14 spaces, each available for an annual
fee of $100. Allocation of these spaces will of course be on
a seniority basis to members in good standing, and renewal
will be based on the use of the board. We should try and
avoid storing unused boats in this location. The rack will pay
for itself in two years. Of course, if we attract new members
it will be paid off much sooner. The next stage is to find a
suitable location for storage of kayaks and other eco-boats.
•Please do not bring any garbage to the Club for
recycling.
•When returning from boat trips, please take as much
recycling material home as possible.
•Please ensure that all compostable material is disposed
of in the appropriate bin.
•There is now a locked compostable waste bin in the
parking lot and also a bin for organic waste in the
kitchen. These bins are only for food waste! There is
a key above the kitchen bin that opens the parking lot
bin. Please return the key after use.
•Please do not put any general garbage into recycling
bins.
While it is going to increase disposal costs, the Club
supports recycling and hopes that our membership will
engage in this process.
The Clubhouse now has an automatic defibrillator and
many will have had this demonstrated during Safety Day.
We encourage members to become familiar with this device
and to take additional training. Hopefully we never need
it, but we do have an aging membership and it is good
reassurance. It is another example of how the Club is
focusing on safety for the members.
Tim Lepard
Pegasus VI
We are hoping to use the Clubhouse more for members
and therefore have opted to reduce renting out the
Clubhouse by stating that it can only be rented to Active
Members. If you are an Active Member and would like to
rent the Clubhouse you do have the option of using our
liquor license. Details of this can be obtained from myself
or Nancy. Members are encouraged to hold their events in
our Clubhouse and Nancy and I will do whatever can do to
make it easier for the members.
Changes to garbage disposal at Eagle Harbour Yacht Club.
Metro Vancouver has mandated that no compostable or food
waste is allowed to be disposed of with general garbage.
This means that we will be required to obtain a compostable
bin in addition to our regular garbage bin. This is an
additional expense for the Club but is unavoidable. In order
to avoid a tripling of garbage disposal expenses, we would
like to ask members to do the following:
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SOCIAL DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Anniversary Dinner - March 28, 2015
Guest Speaker Bernie Hanby
The Anniversary Dinner was attended by
approximately 50 members. The night started off with
drinks from the bar and great conversations amongst
the members. Once members were seated, they
enjoyed a basket full of fresh baguettes, cold cuts and
top-notch cheeses, and were then invited to the buffet,
which included honey-glazed pork tenderloin, grilled
chicken breast in a cream sauce, and numerous sides.
It ended with everyone’s favorite black forest cake and
coffee or tea.
A special thanks to Bernie Hanby for speaking on the
history of the Club, which was very informative. Of
course, thanks to the many volunteers who make
it possible to put on such an event: Mark & Judith
Powell, Burke Corbet, Danny & Ann Keeble, Sue and
Dave Slater, and many more.
Members enjoyed lively conversation,
good wine and good friends.
Behind the scenes, members of the Junior Club
helped serve and clean up.
Commodore Marg Latham welcomed members to the
Anniversary Dinner on 28 March.
After the buffet dinner had been enjoyed, Chefs Clark and Rory
came out to take a bow to warm applause from the crowd.
Honorary Life Member Bernie Hanby entertained everyone with
his tales of the first years of EHYC.
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EHYC ANNIVERSARY DINNER 2015
The Little Yacht Club That Could – the story of our first years
At this year’s Anniversary Dinner, long-time member Bernie Hanby gave us a brief overview of the first years of EHYC.
In November 1968, a small group of enthusiasts started
working towards the formation of a yacht club in Eagle
Harbour. They put together a plan: they would purchase
the existing marina, Eagle Harbour Marina Ltd., and arrange
the conversion of the zoning from “commercial M3” to
“yacht club.” Membership would be limited to 200, with 150
“mooring” members and 50 “non-mooring” members allowed
(including Juniors and Intermediates). The initiation fee of
$500 included a returnable debenture of $450 on resignation,
not the soundest financial foundation for the club. Annual
dues of $100, and moorage rates of 70 cents per foot per month
were established. E.H. Marina customers and local residents
would be given priority.
At first, the plan met with a warm reception in the community,
but at the April 1969 election of the Eagle Harbour Ratepayers
Association, there was a change of personnel and the new
committee opposed the idea. They sent a petition to West Van
Municipality and the Parks Board proposing that the cove
become a park instead. However, the advocacy of founding
members Rob Hafey, Alec Orr, and Frank Hoover won the day
and on May 22, 1969, the Club was granted its Certificate of
Incorporation. Robert Hafey became the first Commodore.
The first challenge was to establish a breakwater to provide
better shelter. In the Fall of ’69, a WW II landing craft was
towed into place, its superstructure having been removed.
More objections from our neighbours. Now the boats could
begin moving in. Some of them were on mooring buoys, but
there were also tired docks, oriented east to west.
1970 was an exhilarating year. The tug of war with West Van
Yacht Club was launched, and on January 31, 1970, the Club
held its first celebratory Wine and Cheese Night – at $5 per
couple! (Those were the days.) Betty Whitfield organized a
Ladies’ Sailing group, with Barbara Miller as the first Skipper
and Sue Hanby as her First Mate. The Club had its first
Sailpast, a CNIB party, a family picnic, Christmas and New
Year parties. EHYC was on its way.
In August 1971, then-Commodore Rod Whitfield advised
members of a major crack on the breakwater. Storm damage!
The breakwater had to be repaired at a cost of $25,000.
Members faced a $60 debenture for each of the next three years
to cover the cost, but it came with the assurance that it would
last 40 years for sure.
But worse was to come. On January 19, 1973, a huge storm
hit the area. There were winds up to 60 km an hour and the
breakwater simply disappeared. Deck hatches failed as a result
of the violence of the wave action, the water got in, and it sank.
So, incidentally, did Manukan, the ferro-cement boat of Dr. Sam
Sydneysmith. Members came together for an Extraordinary
General Meeting on February 12 to decide what to do now.
Duncan Hay of the Western Canada Hydraulics Lab proposed
a “Baggy Breakwater” that would use old tires in a net slung
from steel pipes crafted with keels. It would move with the
ocean swells but provide protection for the boats sheltering
behind it. He estimated it would last 15 years.
The Executive held meetings every few days for several
months, looking at options, and trying to decide what to do.
Would a Baggy Breakwater work? How could they finance
it? Finally, on June 25, 1973, they called another Extraordinary
General Meeting and were granted authority to borrow up to
$100,000 at prime plus 2-1/2%. Another assessment, $12 per
month per members for two years. Eagle Steel Fabricators
built the pipes with keels (two of them 48” x 122” and two
more 48” x 98”) and in November the two longest pipes were
launched with the help of a 125-ton crane, with the shorter
ones launched the following January.
1974 was a very busy year at the Club. 38,000 tires were
brought in and stuffed into the nets slung between the
floating pipes. This required 43 dry-land work parties and
46 underwater work parties. The divers – Floyd Garner,
Dai Roberts, Fred Fraser and Jon Strom – spent 231 hours
underwater. By that time, they were almost on their knees
and asked if members of the Club would volunteer to take
a diving course to help out with the task. I was one of
those who volunteered – and I have been a keen diver ever
since. As you know, I recently published Marine Life of the
Pacific Northwest: A Photographic Encyclopedia of Invertebrates,
Seaweeds and Selected Fishes, and it all started with those
darned tires.
In 1975, I became Commodore – and wouldn’t you know it, on
September 29th, the breakwater sank again! Luckily we were
insured, thanks to Ron Defieux, and CanDive raised the pipes
for us for a mere $20,000. This time, we also had spilled tires to
contend with and my newly acquired diving skills were put to
extensive use. To double our trouble, we had severe storms on
November 6, 8 and 15: the tires sank again, all but seven boats
had to be removed from Eagle Harbour, and our then-manager
Dave Watson resigned.
At the AGM on December 1, we considered our options.
Should we 1) rebuild 2) revert to buoy moorings or 3)
disband. As you know, we decided on option #1 and have
gone on with great success ever since to create “the friendliest
little yacht club in the west.” But as you can appreciate from
this account of our early struggles, it was touch and go for the
first few years!
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Lobster Boil
Bev Dicks and Andrew Crane hosted their 10th Annual Lobster Boil on June 12, 2015, with help from lots of eager
volunteers. Lobster wranglers, barbeque chefs, table setters, drink servers, dish washers, many hands on deck to
make sure the event was as much fun (and as delicious) as usual.
This one’s for you, says Bev.
So many good things, the plate could hardly hold it all. Zdenka Schier looks pretty pleased with her haul.
The baked potatoes were done to perfection. Thanks, Enrique.
Here’s a toast to a delicious dinner.
Now down to the serious business of eating those lobsters.
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MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY
Welcome Our New Members
The next time you are at one of the EHYC social activities
or down at the docks, keep an eye out for our new
members and introduce yourselves. Several people have
joined since January.
New full members include Nick Miller (620), John
MacRae (621), Elizabeth (and Bill) MacFarlane (622) and,
this month, Timothy (and Gabriela) Grady (623).
We have quite a roster of new Associate members. David
Mathieson has moved from Active to Associate. George
MacRae, (John’s father), Martin Dawes, Ryan Leeson and
Gavin Froome have joined as Associates.
Our Junior ranks are swelling as well. Max Moore, Yasin
Ladha and Roos Nijzink are our newest Junior members
(and future Commodores).
Long-time member Bob Johnston (R276) has moved from
active to retired, as has Sheldon Goldberg (R451).
Please take a few moments to make our new members
welcome. We’ve had several more inquiries and expect
we’ll have more new members before the end of this year,
especially with the addition of the paddle-board rack,
Tim’s brilliant idea aimed at attracting a slightly younger
crowd to the Club from the neighbourhood! Of course, the
BBQs and liquor licence may have also contributed a bit ...
but we’re boaters first, eh?
Jonn Braman
Griffin
REAR COMMODORE’S REPORT
Storing Dinghies on the Dock
Now that cruising season has started, please note dinghies
are not to be stored on the docks or tied up behind or
in front of your vessel. Kayaks and paddle boards if not
stored on your boat, can be stored on the breakwater or
you can apply for a spot on the new paddle board rack –
speak to Collen.
Dock Lines
What size dock line?
General guide (use larger size for exposed conditions):
Boat length:
Line diameter:
Up to 20’ (6m)
21 – 30’ (6 – 9m)
31 – 36’ (9 – 11m)
37 – 45’ (11 – 13m)
3/8” (10mm)
1/2” (13mm)
5/8” (16mm)
3/4” (19mm)
The Club has a roll of 5/8” three strand nylon line
available to members at $0.80 / foot.
Fenders are available from the Club at the
following costs:
DescriptionPrice
A-3 58.5” circ.
$75
A-4 68” circ
$95
A-5 86.5” circ
$200
A-1 36” circ Red
$45
F-3 9x30
$88
HTM2$60
HTM3$95
Glen Blake
Balaena
Retired fire hose is available to use as chaffing gear
(no cost).
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EAGLE HARBOUR YACHT CLUB
Dock
Lines
Dock
Lines
Bow Line
(loose)
Bow Line
(loose)
After Spring Forward Spring
(tight)
(tight)
Forward Spring
(tight)
After Spring
(tight)
Stern Line
(loose)
Stern Line
(loose)
Spring lines should equal the length of the boat (longer is better)
Lines should be tied within assigned moorrage space
SAFETY DAY 2015
The “new and improved” Safety Day this year included
fair weather and lively attendees. Jerry plus sidekick
from Canadian Power and Sail Squadron inspected nearly
30 vessels (most passed). Rachel from Link2Life gave a
really thorough presentation on the effective use of our
brand new Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) – this
was particularly well attended. You know where the AED
is located – at the bar in the Clubhouse, right?
DNA (Andre) was on hand as always to inspect/refill
our fire extinguishers and West Van Fire Department
The defibrillator demonstration was very detailed
members put on a demonstration of how to use them (the
Commodore was keen to show her abilities). Now we all
know what the acronym PASS stands for.
Thunderbird Marine made sure safety goodies were
available, and last but not least, the Collen-orchestrated
smokies and social hour were the hit of the day.
Derwyn Lea
Barcarolle
… and was watched with rapt attention by EHYC members.
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Many new fire extinguishers made their way onto EHYC boats on Safety Day.
Now we all know how to deal with fires!
The Courtesy Checks gave EHYC boats
a careful going over.
And after it was all over, it was great
to relax on the patio and enjoy the sunshine.
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JUNIOR COORDINATOR’S REPORT
Since the last report, we have had the annual boat wash,
Sailpast, and supervised sailing is well underway.
The boat wash was very successful, with eight Juniors
showing up plus two adults (thanks to Tom Duguid and
Cheralyn Mitton). We got six boats washed, although some
were pretty clean to start with.
Sailpast went well, with Juniors setting sail in their dinghies
to salute the Commodore. They returned to dock to enjoy
the fantastic lunch. It was a great social event for junior and
senior members alike.
We have been offering supervised sailing from noon to 3 every
Saturday in May. The sessions are continuing through June. Hopefully this lovely weather will encourage more members
to come out for these sessions. Supervised sailing is open to
all Junior members (you don’t need a specific level of Cansail
to take part) and senior members and their families are
welcome to drop by and come out at the same time. Juniors
can bring along a sibling or mom or dad. There is no charge
for this, so come along for one session or all of them. We have
a coach in place who can help you rig the boats and keep an
eye on you on the water. Coaches are there to help, but won’t
do any formal coaching although they can give a few pointers. Sessions will run in June and possibly July, subject to demand,
and will then resume again in late August/September. We
use a range of boats depending on your level of experience. Try our fast and colourful Fevas or set the spinnaker on a 420. We have plenty so please let us know if you are interested in
taking part. Juniors should watch out for regular emails and
let me know if they are planning on coming along. Senior
members should email me ([email protected]) if they are
interested.
Sailing School starts on June 29. Plans are well underway
to get everything ready for the first day. Our replacement
engines (for the stolen ones) are on the way and a new coach
boat has been ordered. We recently took delivery of two
used 420s from Deep Cove Yacht Club. This year we will be
offering Cansail 5 lessons and this course is fully booked. As
usual, we will be offering lessons for ages 7 to 16 in a range of
boats – Optimists for the younger kids, Pirates for beginners,
Fevas, FJs and 420s for the more advanced students. Unfortunately, our registrations are disappointing this year. I would like to ask members a favour. Please send a link to
our website (www.ehyc.org/sailing-school) to as many people
you think may be interested in our lessons (for their kids,
grandkids, friends of the family, etc). We need to get the word
more about our great programs. Please consider helping. It is
very important that we maintain our numbers so we can offer
excellent programs with quality equipment.
Thank you very much and I wish you a great summer on the
water.
Callum Beveridge
Junior Club/Sailing School
Juniors take part in Sailpast
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STAFF CAPTAIN’S REPORT
Sailpast
The weather was lovely and that encouraged many members
to participate. Some were so eager they were out of the
starting blocks before the twelve o’clock gun was fired and
the Commodore had a chance to cast off. (Tut! Tut! Such a
breach of protocol!) As ever, it took a while for the sail boats
to form a line, but thanks to the fact that West Vancouver
Yacht Club held their Sailpast an hour earlier than usual
we did not have quite the confusion that has marked some
previous events. No EHYC boaters joined the West Van line
and saluted the other club’s Commodore!
The power boaters were scattered over a wide area when the
parade began, but they formed a pretty close line behind the
Staff Captain when the moment came to head towards the
boat on which this year’s Commodore, Marg Latham, was
waiting to acknowledge their displays of respect.
Back at the Clubhouse we enjoyed an excellent buffet lunch
prepared, as it has been in several of the last few years,
by Cindy Cutts, a Club member who has done this as her
“work-party” contribution to EHYC. It involves a very great
deal of work and Cindy deserves hearty thanks from all of us
who attend this event.
Supercruise
The Victoria Day weekend cruise was held at Nanaimo
Yacht Club this year. Initially we had planned to return one
more time to Otter Bay Marina, which had provided such an
excellent venue for two previous cruises. Unfortunately, in
early February when we e-mailed Charlene and Jess Mansley,
who manage the marina, they gave us the sad news that they
would be unable to accommodate us. Most of their dock
space is now take up with year-long rentals, leaving only a
few slips for transient moorage. And to make matters worse,
they no longer had the services of Stephan, the chef who had
fed us so well on previous trips.
Jenny and I immediately began the search for an alternative
venue. Nanaimo Yacht Club came to our rescue, offering
sufficient moorage for our boats and the rental of their large
function room in which we could hold dinners on both
Saturday and Sunday evenings. Over a period of two and a
half months Rob Weibe, their Rear Commodore, Carol Shaw,
the club Secretary and Rusty Kostka, the club manager, were
immensely helpful …and generous. They charged us only
half the normal rental fee for their function room.
As the weekend of the Supercruise drew near, we were
hoping that the weather would be kind to us. And it was.
We had lots of sunshine and even some wind to allow us
to sail over. Once there, Rusty went to great length to help
us not only finding slots for our boats but also answering
innumerable questions about club facilities.
On the Saturday evening we held a barbecue/pot-luck
supper – cooking our chosen meats on the barbecue and
sharing numerous delicious cold dishes and desserts.
After the eating we opened a large envelope given to us
by Margaret Campbell (who sadly was unable to be there)
and conducted a quiz that tested peoples’ knowledge of
the province in which we live. It was rather like an English
quiz-night at the pub. We had five tables of half a dozen
members each, locked in fierce competition. Much laughter
and only a little cheating! In the end prizes were awarded to
eight people. One table had mysteriously gained two new
members!
Nanaimo Yacht Club did not provide the open spaces for
the playing of bocce and other games or an appropriate spot
for the Blind Dinghy Race that we have had at other places,
but it did offer immediate access to a very attractive sea-wall
path right into the heart of the town, and close-by ferries
across to Newcastle Island with its excellent camping sites,
tables, and trails. There is also a ferry to Protection Island
with its Dinghy Dock Pub and roadways and shore paths.
Some of our members chose to anchor or pick up a mooring
buoy just off Newcastle Island or take their boat right into the
municipal marina.
On the Sunday evening we had arranged a catered meal
in the club’s room. We had taken the advice offered by
Rob Weibe, Carol, and Rusty and hired a company that has
provided meals for the yacht club on many occasions. Cheryl
Nixon’s ‘Spice of Life Caterin’ did a great job ... excellent
service and generous helpings of very good food.
On the Monday morning some folks headed home, but a
good many took advantage of the sunshine and breezes
to extend their stay at Nanaimo or to set off for favourite
anchorages or mooring spots further down the Vancouver
Island coast.
All in all, it made for a very fine start to a boater’s cruising
season.
Thanks to all of you who participated.
Photo Competition
This will undoubtedly be held again this year. Preliminary
discussions have been taking place. Details will be provided
shortly.
Fishing Competition
This competition has not been held for several years. It will
be revived this year.
Brian and Jenny Elliott
Bohemian
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Sailpast – May 9, 2015
13
Supercruise – May 16/17, 2015
The Nanaimo Yacht Club gave EHYC a warm welcome.
The NYC’s deck proved to be
the perfect spot for Happy Hour.
Picnic on Newcastle Island
anyone?
The buffet provided by
Spice of Life Caterin’
was a delicious success...
... in a clubhouse
bedecked with flags.
14
FLEET CAPTAIN’S REPORT
The BIYC Spring Quartet Series picked up where we left off
in our last Soundings report.
I’m not aware of any EHYC yachts that participated in
Swiftsure this year, so apologies if I’ve missed anyone!
EHYC was represented by Dave Wilson and crew on
Merlin, and Bruce Winfield and crew on Nunnehi.
June 6th & 7th saw the annual RNSA Single Handed
Race from Point Grey, to Cape Roger Curtis, to Nanaimo
on Saturday, with a straight shot back to Point Grey on
Sunday. Our Club was well represented again by Andrew
Crane on Moonshadow III (4th in Div 2), Ken Kufta on
Elysium (6th in Div 2), Dave Horton on Grey Goose (2nd in
Div 3),and Bernie Walker on Pavlova (3rd in Div 3). Good
weather and good wind prevailed for the weekend, with
the outbound leg taking between six and eight hours, and
the return leg about ½ that time! Many thanks due to
Len Brownlie on Knotty Girl for carrying out EHYC’s race
day responsibilities of setting the turning mark near Cape
Roger Curtis!
Merlin had a very good series, finishing with a four-race
record of 2-1-1-3, and the overall series win! Nunnehi did
very well too, following a non-start in race 1, with a threerace finish of 4-6-4.
April 26th marked the last race in this series, which
doubles as our EHYC Invitational Race. Unfortunately no
additional yachts from EHYC or any other clubs registered
for this race, hosted by EHYC, so the race participants
remained the same as those that competed in the entire
Spring Quartet series. Twice around Passage and Bird
Rock, with the finish line a big experiment this year! At
the urging and sage advice from Collen, your Fleet Captain
set the finish line as the imaginary line sighted from the
Club deck, over the rock just north of the breakwater to the
first point of land to the south of Eagle Harbour. Merlin
took line honours with a thankfully self-reported time,
with BIYC’s Wingaway correcting to 1st overall. Your
Fleet Captain came to quickly realize that the anticipated
excitement of a finish observed from the Club deck would
be very short lived indeed with a clockwise course - it’s
impossible to see the approaching yachts around the corner
of Eagle Island until a few seconds before they cross the
finish line in a moderate breeze! One can’t be distracted
by chit-chat and BBQ watching when there are finish
line duties to be done! The rest of the finish went well
after that, and I believe consensus was that a finish line
close to the breakwater provides for ample observation
opportunities by those on the deck, and yachts in the race
as well. A good time was had by all on the Club deck with
Collen’s usual BBQ fare and trophy presentations. Many
thanks to Junior Members Olivia and James for handling
the committee boat duties, and staying available on the
water until all had finished; and to Vickie Hottes and David
Conn for all their help with the onshore hosting functions.
Next up for some of us was the Club Supercruise to NYC
this year, which was organized and is reported on by our
Staff Captain Brian Elliott elsewhere in this issue. For
others, it was Round Saltspring on the May long weekend.
Andre Wojcieszek and crew , back on Andre’s Radical
Departure this year, took 6th overall, while Bruce Winfield
and crew on Nunnehi finished closer to the end of the pack,
but in some very competitive company! Radical Departure
at time of writing this article was in Ucluelet Harbour,
taking part in the grueling VanIsle 360, and sitting 10th
overall in Div 1 after six legs reported.
Just for interest in other events around the PNW, June 7th
also saw the start of Stage 2 of the R2AK (Race to Alaska)
from Victoria Harbour, BC to Ketchikan, AK – about 750
nautical miles. First to finish was Team Elsie Piddock, in five
days (all upwind!)! Elsie Piddock is a 25’ kit-built Trimaran
with a crew of three and a PHRF Rating of -20! Check out
the R2AK website for more details on this interesting race!
The longest start line in the Northwest saw almost 100
registered yachts circumnavigating Bowen Island on June
13th in the ever-popular BIYC ‘Round Bowen Race. Results
just in – looks like Bruce Winfield and crew on Nunnehi
were the only EHYC participants this year, finishing 42nd
overall out of the 98 starters.
The WVYC popular mid-week Wednesday Evening Series
continues through mid-September. The race format is
divided into five series of roughly four weeks each. Series
1 is now complete with Merlin finishing 3rd overall in Div
2, and Nunnehi finishing 6th in Div 3. Grey Erik is back on
the racing scene after three months of too much traveling,
and will compete in Series 2.
The next two traditional Club races, the Single- and
Double-Handed races remain unscheduled. The turnout
last year for these races was very discouraging, in fact no
one from our Club registered for the Double-Handed race.
If anyone has any thoughts about this, or an idea of what
better dates might be selected, please shoot me an email or
call.
Good sailing,
Kent Brownlow
Grey Erik
15
EHYC Invitational Race
April 26, 2015
16
Doug Close observes:
Racers need to know a sharp mind can help win races ....
A new study from Saarland University in Germany, suggests that brief sleep or short naps during the
day can significantly improve memory retention and potentially boost brain power. The researchers
found that even sleeping for short periods lasting from 45 to 60 minutes produces a five-fold
improvement in information retention and retrieval from memory.