The last weekend in February we had the first cruise of 2021 to the Blake Island Marina. It was a nice weekend with moderate southerly winds for a beat down on Saturday and a nice run back to Shilshole on Sunday with some boats hoisting spinnakers. Six CYC boats with 14 people attended plus a family of three that were thinking of becoming members. They had a great time with us on Saturday and signed up to become members via the CYC website Sunday morning. The wonders of modern technology!! Welcome to Nathan, Vanessa and Evelyn!! We are excited to have you as some of our newest members.
The marina was full with 17 boats Saturday night. An additional 15 other boats had tried for spots without luck. The marina was a busy place on a nice winter weekend. All of the CYC boats managed to get a spot on the dock with Cruise Leader Morris Lowitz arriving last and having to wait on a mooring outside the marina until they could take the Load/Unload spot at dusk. A spot on the dock opened up first thing Sunday morning so they had a place on the dock instead of having to go back out to a mooring for breakfast. Morris brought his three person J-80 crew to help him sail his Jeanneau 44 Keala for the weekend. Thanks Morris for stepping up to lead this cruise. In fact this was not only Morris’ first time as Cruise Leader, but also his first CYC Cruise period. The other boats on the cruise were Solstice, Altair, Tula, Mara andMaggie May plus our new members on their Beneteau 393 Equilibrium.
Saturday we had informal socially distanced cocktails on the dock at 5:00 with some people sitting on their boats. Everyone then did their own dinner before meeting up ashore for a fire. The group at the fire was never more than ten as people came and left during the evening by chance. We had a second campfire going in the event the group was larger at any one time and we needed to split up into two groups. The Shelters that we usually use for a potluck dinner and fire are currently closed due to COVID Restrictions. We took hikes around the island or out to the West End in small groups, great exercise and the chance to visit with old friends or make new acquaintances, even if the trails were a bit muddy in places. A great start to the CYC Cruising Season and a wonderful group.
If you not able to attend the Racing Rules Changes of Note meeting, there's still an opportunity to hear what was discussed. Below is a Zoom link to the recording of the meeting, which starts at about the 2 minute mark (Passcode: c&4&1%V2) https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/4rVcNTtl8RyY911MlrapCfrozTleJuYVXJcdvEoizOZZk5U2QLDFiOaQwO1w_rfu.oGZAgYSZD34FKZz2
Hello members and CYC community at large,
The clubhouse is ready to return to Shilshole from Dyna. Unfortunately, "Mother Nature" is making it a bit difficult. Due to safety and insurance reasons, the club can not move in winds of 10 knots or higher. The plan was to move the club today (Monday) or Tuesday; however, it is now TENTATIVELY scheduled for this Wednesday, Feb 3. I am in the process of getting a better timeline from Fremont Tug (it will move in the morning, during daylight hours).
Thanks,
Cindy Barrett
Last week CYC had a fun social event with the Nordic Museum via zoom. We learned to make a new cocktail and how to make Swedish stars. If you missed this event, here is the link to the video - you can learn to make the cocktail and how to make a Swedish star just in time for Christmas. [LINK]
CYC Financial Situation (Remmert Wolters, Treasurer)
Those, who attended the membership meeting, did get an overview of the club’s finances. For those, who did not, I can make a long story short by stating that we held our own. Our income dropped substantially but we were able to cut expenses to a point that we will have a break-even year or slightly better. Considering the current times, that is a good result.
We do need to cover the clubhouse project and the fact that we had to take on some debt to do it. The rebuild is a one in twenty-five-year event that was unavoidable. It started out as a barge project but expanded to include windows and siding. The windows were in danger of falling out and the siding was toast. There were some other issues that needed to be taken care of and, what started out as a $200K project turned into a $600K project. We will get our clubhouse back later this month and, although we will be installing new carpet and re-finishing the floors in January, it will be as good as new by the time we can use it again.
Our membership was amazingly generous, and we can fund 85% of the project with donations. The last 15%, we had to borrow from the bank ($50K) and members ($50K). No-one was comfortable with the decision to borrow money, but the board had no choice to approve it and the project could not be completed without it. We take these financial obligations very seriously and we are committed to pay down these loans at the earliest opportunity.
To keep capital and operational activity separated, we have stand-alone accounts for “The Heart of CYC” and “The Jr. Capital Fund”. We will create a similar account for debt service. It will function as a reserve account to make sure that we can service our debts for the immediate future. Once enough reserves have been accumulated, we will start pre-paying back these loans as the funds allow. We are basically looking at five-year commitments but, if possible, we would like to see these loans go away in the next two years.
If you are in a position and inclined to help us with that, a donation would be appreciated. Mark the donation “Debt Service Relief” and Cindy (CYC's business manager) will make sure that it gets posted accordingly.
On Wednesday, Nov 18th – the CYC held its annual member meeting. Commodore David led the discussion with an overview of the club, and pictures and information on clubhouse renovations. Remmert (our Treasurer) next shared how we’ve managed to run a breakeven year. Each Program (Racing, Cruising, Social, Juniors) talked some highlights from the year, and we concluded with 2021 Commodore-to-be Shelagh discussing the club’s vision for 2021…which, due to COVID, is evolving. We also announced the election results, with all candidates running for office elected. Key takeaways included that the club has had so many volunteers step up this year (thank you!) and widespread financial support through donated registrations, membership dues, and Heart of CYC donations – goes to show how great our club members are!
View Presentation (member login required)
The 2020 sailing season is coming to an end, and it is time to consider the 2020 CYC outstanding performers. As Covid won almost all of the 2020 races, the Club will have fewer awards this year. But your input as to the awards that the Club will consider is even more important.
The Board will select the Award winners, who will be announced in January 2021.
If you have a suggestion for a 2020 CYC Award, please provide it (with a brief bit of background explaining the basis for the nomination) to Ken Johnson, by email (kenneth.johnson4@comcast.net) or by mail: 3706 So. Ridgeway Place, Seattle, WA 98144 Ken assembles the nominations and presents them to the Board for its decisions.
Honor Roll of Champions- CYC sailors who have won national or international championships or have achieved honors of an equivalent level. We are aware of the Tasar North Americans but if you know of other similar championships or regattas, let us know.
Hans Otto Giese Inspirational – one who has consistently provided leadership and inspiration to CYC and to the amateur sailing community. Recent winners include Dick Rose, Shauna Walgren, Catherine Weatbrook, Suzette Connolly and Jen Hobden.
Boating Family – an active family in racing, cruising, CYC activities, other sailing efforts. Recent winners include Geoff & Alison Pease & family, Al &Jane Johnson, Mike & Julie Cains, Erik & Karrie Sandersons and the Buchans.
Greig Memorial Cruising – cruising leadership and accomplishments, whether in local or blue waters. Recent winners include Cathy Sherwood & Kent Powley, Chris Young, Scott & Kristen Meilicke and Jon & Michelle Henderson.
Gary Horder Memorial – CYC Junior with active and successful racing program. Let us know about any CYC juniiors participating in other races, if any. Recent winners include Dieter Creitz, Abbie Carlson, Talia Toland and Owen Timms.
George Spalding Inspirational – most inspirational Junior sailor. Recent winners include Sam Airhart, Alyosha Strum-Palerm, Owen Timms, Jack Holbrook and Blake Bentzen.
Dog House – a sailor who handicaps him/her self by unseamanlike activity – usually some bad luck and hopefully with a bit of humor in it. Recent awardees include Mike Taft (cooking chili during a race with no stove fiddles), Robert Hodge (agrond on Marrowstone as all the CYC crusing boats sailed by) and David Gallimore (stepping off YC6 and taking 2 steps, with only 1 step worth of dock).
Dear Fellow CYC Member:
Please register for and attend the CYC Annual Membership Meeting on November 18, 2020. The meeting will be held using Zoom and instructions for participation will be provided after you register. [Read full letter from Commodore...]
Meeting Registration Closed Voting Closed
Electronic ballots must be completed by 7pm, Wednesday, November 18
Candidate for Commodore, Shelagh Hansen. Shelagh Hansen has been sailing in Seattle for 15 years, starting by working the bow on her father’s boats, KatFink and Absolutely. She has also been fortunate enough to be involved in other programs including Neptune’s Car, Flash, Smoke, J/80s, J/24s, Moore 24s and others. Her true passion is racing and ensuring that the sport continues to grow in the Seattle area for all boats. Shelagh is excited to continue to support Seattle sailing and continue driving a plan for long term sustainability of the club.
Candidate for Vice Commodore, Charlie Macaulay. Charlie Macaulay has been a member of CYC since 1981, shortly after moving to the Seattle area. He caught the sailboat racing bug while at the University of Florida, sailing in the Gator Sail Club in intercollegiate regattas. He has raced on boats from Sunfish to 420s and FJs in college to Lightnings, Thunderbirds, J/24s, Farr 30s, and a variety of IOR and other keel boats. His current boat is the Farr 39ML, Absolutely. In addition to racing, Charlie is a US Sailing Judge and Judge Instructor and supports the sport on protest committees around the NW, including umpiring high school and college team racing. He is a past Regional Administrative Judge for US Sailing. He was also CYC Fleet Captain Race in 1989 before resigning after being sent into exile in Houston, TX for a job offer he couldn’t refuse. He’s ready to again spend more time directly supporting CYC. Outside of sailing, Charlie is an avid skier. He is the Chief Engineer for a global property loss control consulting company.
Candidate for Rear Commodore, Wanda Creitz. Wanda grew up in Olympia, Washington above Budd Inlet watching sailboats from afar. Fleets of boats on a spinnaker run could catch her attention. The first time she stepped onto a sailboat was in high school at Camp Malibu in BC. The current of Sechelt Inlet swept her away and she had to be towed back to the dock. The next time Wanda stepped onto a sailboat was in her 20’s when she moved to Seattle and in time found her way into keelboat racing. Wanda met her husband Nate racing on the J/29 Here and Now. They fell in love at Whidbey Island Race Week and in time purchased their Olson 25, 3 Ring Circus. With her family, Wanda lives aboard a 40-foot Cruise-A-Home in the Lake Washington Ship Canal. Her son Dieter (a CYC summer sailing camp alumni) is an active sailor and racer for some time now of many different crafts. Wanda enjoys spending time at their cabin in the Gorge, paddle boarding and has worked in the legal field for over 19 years. She joined CYC in 2011. Wanda previously served on the Board as Secretary 2013-2014 and as a Director 2015-2016. Wanda is looking forward to guiding the club.
Candidate for Treasurer, Remmert Wolters. Remmert was born in the Netherlands and moved to the US in 1973 to settle in the Seattle area in 1979. There was a boat in the family (a converted sailing flat bottom fisherman) and his first boat in Seattle was a San Juan 24. Joining CYC in 1981, he raced on the Lake until 1989 when he purchased a C&C 40. For the next 10 years, he crewed on various boats on the Sound and returned to the San Juan 24 fleet in 2001. Bandit had a trailer accident and it was replaced with a J/24 Seepaert fifteen years ago. Remmert has been on the Board a couple of times and was Treasurer 10-12 years ago as well as this year. This past year has been interesting and full of financial challenges. The Board all hunkered down and the membership stepped up big time and allowed the Board to make significant investments in the future of our yacht club. Remmert enjoys being surrounded by people who are so committed to the sailing community in Seattle.
Candidate for Secretary, Christa Bassett Ross. Christa has been sailing most of her life, initially day trips and cruises with family and then after college met some friends who introduced her to Duck Dodge, and from there started racing. After each new racing experience, she would hear about the next adventure coming up on the calendar. Christa learned that you could sail all year long, and every night of the week in the summer, and then started to learn about longer distance races; Swiftsure, Southern Straits and Van Isle 360, not only could you sail for multiple days but there was this extra adventure of going somewhere new. She has done a VicMaui and a couple Pacific Cups, and hopes to add R2AK to the list. She is currently one of the J/24 Fleet Captains and has volunteered with other fleets over the years. She’s raced on a large variety of boats over the years and has owned a couple sailboats during that time. Currently she’s pared her sailing down toTeam Sail Like a Girl and the J/24 Tundra Rose.
Candidate for Fleet Captain Race, Matthew Wood. Matthew is nominated for a fifth year in this position. Matthew and his wife Kim have been active members of CYC since his move to Seattle in 1999. He has been active in both organizing and participating in racing since the mid 70's in Canada and the US. After living on Lake Union and helping his wife Kim DuBois organize Duck Dodge for a dozen years, they moved to Ballard near Shilshole Marina. He has over 30 Southern Straits, Swiftsure's and Whidbey Island Race Weeks under his keel, as well as several national and world championship regattas. He has served as the CYC PHRF Handicapper since 2000 and is excited to continue growing and improving the CYC Racing experience, especially bringing new people into the sport!
Candidate for Fleet Captain Cruise, Chris McMuldroch. Chris has enjoyed the communications and interactions of Fleet Captain Cruise these two years: e-mailing welcomes to new members, setting up ZOOM and potluck socials, meeting in person, and participating in rendezvous. He would like to pass the position to another enthusiastic cruiser, with his support and that of our cruising advisors and enthusiastic cruisers. It is important to offer as many members as possible volunteer positions, so they can engage, contribute, and be stakeholders in the group. Unfortunately, none of the cruisers we asked will be available in 2021. 2021 will be challenging as we navigate the next phases, vaccinations, and hopefully the end of Covid-19, providing activities for members, monitoring the finances of the club, while being affordable to a wide range of boat owners, non-boat owners, and crew - continuing Brian Watkins’ new club business model. Chris is willing to continue as Fleet Captain Cruise, with the support of our cruising advisors and all the other cruisers. He has two goals for 2021. The first is to find a new Fleet Captain for 2022 - hopefully someone who has been a participant at normal in-person activities, but for sure someone with enthusiasm and engaging people skills! The second is to build our cruising families with kids onboard into a larger vibrant network of families who enjoy meeting on cruises - an experience he had growing up boating. He hopes fun club cruising experiences for kids might lead them to become lifelong sailors, and hopefully club members.
Mark Bradner, Director. Mark has been a member of CYC for more than 25 years. After several years of crewing on other boats and racing a Coronado 15, he acquired a San Juan 24, Return, which he has been sailing and racing out of Leschi since 1998. Mark served as the Secretary of CYC for four years in the ‘00s and has done several stints as Fleet Captain for the SJ24s.
Mary Cronkhite-Johns, Director; Mary started her love for sailing in 2002 as a "rookie" with the J/24 fleet on RYLAH. Over the years, she has been honored to experience crewing for the Oregon Offshore, two Swiftsures, the Center Sound Series, Winter Vashon and a multitude of J/24 regatta racing on the West Coast.She would be honored to serve on the Board as a signal to her commitment to strengthen the sailing community through the voluntary actions of its members. Mary brings with her prior Food & Beverage experience at the leadership level from past roles held with Elk's Lodge memberships. She looks forward to working with the CYC Board and to keep the club moving forward.
Peter Nelson, Director. Peter has been sailing for 50+ years and has been a fixture around the Puget Sound racing scene for the past 20. He successfully campaigned his Beneteau First 375 Time Warp many years ago. He and his family then cruised the Mediterranean and Caribbean for two years before returning in 2011. He currently races on Different Drummer and is excited to have recently purchased a Farr 395 he expects to race next season. Above all else, most people know Peter as "the Hobie guy". His passion for Hobie Cat sailing is unbridled (and infectious, so be careful!). Peter competes at the national and world level in Hobies. His son, Will, and he won the Hobie 18 North Americans in 2018. As Executive Director of MY SAIL Foundation, Peter is excited to bring his multihull expertise to CYC's burgeoning junior program.
Mara Barckert, Director. M Mara began sailing as an infant on her parents Buchan 37 which she was named after. Growing up, Mara's boating experience included lots of CYC and Puget Sound racing and month-long expeditions to BC in the summers. Fast forward to more recent times when Mara took over the Mara from her parents, lived aboard for 2.5 years, married Greg (who's involved in the sailing community and was a mark setter for CYC), and they continue to enjoy sailing and cruising the Mara which has been extensively renovated. Before being a mom and running her own business, she got the chance to crew on some other local race boats as well. Mara is interested in helping out CYC on the board and imagines that her project experience, junior sailing interests, and passion for all types of boating adventures will fuel assisting the club on many fronts.
Cathy VanAntwerp, Director. Cathy is fairly new to the sailing community and she must say that she has met the most welcoming folks at CYC. She took up sailing two summers ago and racing last summer. She is completely hooked on the sport and looks forward to many years of improving her skills. Cathy is the owner of new to her J/111 Valkyrie. You might have seen them this past summer in the Salish 200, Northern Century, Women at the Helm regatta and STYC Ballard Cup. On a personal note, she lives in Ballard and has two amazing kids, Alex and Penny, who she hope to grow into sailors. Cathy is in the software industry working at Salesforce.com. She has served on many boards in the past, including Sports in Schools, and the Seattle chapter of Room to Read where she served as Co-Chair. Cathy is honored to be nominated to serve on the CYC Board of Directors. She looks forward to working with the Board to keep CYC moving forward.
David Barnes, Junior Staff Commodore. Current Commodore David Barnes becomes Junior Staff Commodore in 2021. He and his family have been CYC members for over twelve years. David grew up sailing and racing on Long Island Sound and raced in College only taking a break from racing when serving as a US Navy Officer. His involvement with the club started with J/24 racing back in 2002. David, Karen, and their three boys cruise their Hanse 415 Gratitude as often as possible, in summer 2019 making it as far north as Desolation Sound. In 2019 they also cruised with CYCers in the Commodore Gibson and Blakely Rock Cruises. David, and increasingly his boys, also race Gratitude in a number of distance races to include the Center Sound Series, Winter Vashon, and Swiftsure. Rounding out the family’s involvement in the Club, one of his High School teenagers is a member of the CYC Ballard High School Sailing Team.
Stuart Burnell, Director. Continue serving the second year of his 2020-2021 term. Having served on the board in various capacities beginning in 2001 as Treasurer and later as Commodore, Stuart feels it would be an honor and a privilege to serve once again as a Director on the CYC Seattle Board. With the 75th anniversary of CYC taking place this year, it makes it that much more special to be on the Board. Stuart actively races his J/109 Tantivy and previously owned and raced Thunderbirds and an Olson 30. He has competed in a number of Van Isle 360s, Swiftsures and several Vic-Maui Races.
CYC's premier fall event, Puget Sound Sailing Championships, were held under trying (!) conditions this past weekend off Shilshole Bay.
113 boats ranging in size from Optimists to 45 feet keelboats raced in 2 race circles. It was the largest single regatta ( participant wise ) in the Northwest in several years, made all the more remarkable by the COVID circumstances we are navigating. Set against the dramatic weather of the weekend was an accident that resulted in the inversion of our veteran whaler Lake 1. Fortunately, driver Jay Flaming was rescued safely due to the diligence and quick thinking of Racing Operations lead, Troy Childs. Full call out also goes to PRO's Geoff Pease and Egor Klevak, and their teams of volunteers and drivers to keep the event on track with limited resources. A virtual competitor briefing started the weekend off, courtesy of Office Manager Cindy Barrett.
PSSC this year was full of challenges, lessons, and losses, as well as occasional beauty ( rainbows, etc.) To all the participants, staff and volunteers, thank you for prevailing, and here's to better times in the season ahead.
Matt Wood
Apologies folks in our zeal to get as many of you sailing as possible we overstepped our bounds and exceeded the Governor’s guidelines of limiting gatherings to “5” as we have all season. Thankfully for Matthew & I we had a few Board Members hold us accountable. We are amending our crew limit guidance for PSSC to follow the UK + 2 model (as previously stated) with the change being a total crew limit of 5. Simply put, it's an evolution of our existing guidelines while increasing safety for our members and crew. We are committed to being fully compliant with Washington State Phase Two guidelines and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused skippers and crew. We’ll of course honor any refunds. That all said I look forward to seeing and competing with many of you out on the water during PSSC.
Best – Commodore Barnes
Boats 0-29.9 LOA 4 crew ( including skipper )
Boats 30-40 LOA 5 crew ( including skipper )
Boats 40-49 LOA 5 crew ( including skipper )
Boats 50-59 LOA 5 crew ( including skipper )
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Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle7755 Seaview Ave NW Seattle WA 98117(206) 789-1919 (Main line)
(206) 402-6870 (Juniors)
office@cycseattle.org
juniorsprogram@cycseattle.org
47° 41.14' N 122° 24.22' W
