Fall Is Here!
The days are getting shorter. Fall is right around the corner – I can smell it. But hopefully this finds everyone still glowing from a great summer. Although it wasn’t a truly hot one, I think most of us would agree that the weather was just fine. No smoke from wildfires and very little fog (at least during our 2-week cruise.)
We had to miss the Club Rendezvous this year, as a result of coordinating what turned out to be a very successful classical music house concert in Friday Harbor on August 14. Last year, after colliding with a submerged log approaching Sucia, we limped into Friday Harbor and stayed there for the remaining 8 days of our cruise, finally delivering our boat to the Jensen Boatyard at the south end of the harbor for repairs. Great work by that group, by the way. If you’re ever in need of real help while in the Islands, I strongly recommend Dennis and his team at the Jensen yard (now owned by the Port of Friday Harbor.)
Anyway, stranded in Friday Harbor last summer, we met Mr. Albert Hall and his wife, Margaret, who enjoy hosting classical music house concerts in their home, right in Friday Harbor. We attended a piano performance last summer while there and I suggested to Albert that I would love to get on his calendar next summer, featuring my 2 symphony friends John Weller (violin) and Walter Gray (cello), with me accompanying on the piano. We played this August 14 as a result to a crowd of roughly 45 people (his living room can accommodate up to 80 people) and we were very well received. Albert and Margaret suggested we do this regularly over the next few summers. Maybe not every summer, but don’t be surprised if you see an Evite in your inbox next summer for another concert there. We’d enjoy seeing our SBYC friends join us and I’m sure you would find it very enjoyable.
I hope to see as many club members as possible at this Fall’s monthly Dinner Meetings. Our September meeting is on Thursday, September 19, at Ivar’s Salmon House. AJ has a great program in place and with the schedule change from Tuesday to Thursday this month, perhaps some of you who can’t make a Tuesday night can join in on this special Thursday date.
We were all very saddened this summer with the passing of our friend Joe Bozick. The Club made a donation to Footloose Sailing in Joe’s name and a number of members were able to attend his Celebration of Life in mid-August. Joe has been a tireless supporter of Footloose Sailing’s efforts to get disabled people enabled to go sailing. And that was just one of his many contributions to the world. We wish Chris and other members of Joe’s family all the best in moving forward without Joe. He will be missed.
My wife Julie and I attended our first Husky game this last Saturday, embarking from Leschi Marina on the Newport 27 sloop Mary Ann with our longstanding Husky game ritual approach around “sail-gating” to Husky stadium for the game with our friends on Mary Ann. And you know what? I noticed just across the dock from the Mary Ann the Catalina 30 Scotch and Soda, owned by Ken McKenzie. Ken’s boat suffered a full sinking to the bottom some time back, so I’m thrilled to see that she’s once again floating and looking like a real sailboat. Next step is to get Ken to some of the cruise events skippering that fine craft. Stay alert folks for a McKenzie sighting.
Your Board of Directors will be meeting shortly, reviewing the summer together, planning for this Fall’s activities, and preparing for the election of some new Board members before the end of the year. If you have an interest in supporting the Club by participating on the Board, please give any of us a call. We’d love to hear from you.
All for now. Keep getting out on the water as long as possible – it ain’t winter yet. Raise a toast to our friend Joe Bozick and a life well lived. And let’s catch up together soon at a Dinner Meeting. Oh, and “Go Dawgs!”
