Happy New Year!

This is my first contribution to the Rudderpost as the new Commodore. I am excited to be working with you all this year to keep our great organization vibrant and growing. I am also looking forward to all the club events as Roger Newby takes the reins arranging the dinner meetings. We get to enjoy David Horn’s hard work as the outgoing Cruise Chair, setting up the 2023 cruise schedule, now to be managed by Julie Newby and David Rynning. Anne Girvin is already deep into the Snowbird series and has some great ideas to increase interest in the racing community as it relates to SBYC. With their help, and the rest of your board pitching in, it should be a great year.

I would like to thank our outgoing 2022 Board Members. David Horn’s willingness to take on both Commodore and a second year of Cruise Chair was greatly appreciated. Gene Laes and Katie Breitling toiled away as Rear Commidore and Secretary. Ben Lobaugh finished up several years as Race Chair, and Dennis Oelrich contributed often in his role of director at large. Rubie Johnson, Cory Williams, Barbara M. are staying on this year, although  not necessarily in the same roles.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to enjoy the boat much in the last few months. That is a bit ironic given that it is the activity that so much of the club revolves around. I have not been on the water in two months secondary to holiday obligations, really bad weather, a short trip to Oregon, and my general low energy during these short dark days. I checked on the boat this week and was happy not to discover any new leaks, although the lines are looking a bit moldy. Hopefully things will align in the near future and we can take advantage of a clear winter day for a sail. I am ok sailing in the cold, but draw the line at boating in the rain. To keep busy I am back to downhill skiing, and we have been spending time traveling locally, including the aforementioned road trip to Cannon Beach and weekends on Whidbey Island.

I often try to find a photo to include but there have been very few opportunities to capture a nautical subject this season. Julia and I have become occasional bird watchers and spent last weekend observing the short eared owls, eagles, and harrier hawks on Whidbey. Our wildlife photography skills are limited so I borrowed this shot from the Cornell University website. The owls are found near Crockett Lake and are unique in that they are active during the day and certainly worth seeking out if you are in the area.

Photo: Cornell University