2020 December

Christmas Ships cancelled!?! Yep, it’s still that year. It’s certainly been a challenging one. I know I’m looking forward to 2021. I hope that this pandemic starts to wind down and we see a return of at least some sort of normal. It will be so nice to see everyone again.

Speaking of seeing everyone, despite the need to cancel all of our events and gatherings, starting in March, we have managed to meet via Zoom at least once a month. This has enabled us to keep in touch with one another. If you joined us for one of these events – thanks – and it was great to see you and have you participate. If you haven’t joined us, what are you waiting for? The next one is scheduled for December 15. We have some Holiday Festivities planned as well as the hand-off to the new officers. In hopes of better reaching folks we will be sending out an Evite for this one. Hope to see you there.

We kicked off the Snowbird series last month and are hoping to continue the series into 2021. The next race is scheduled for December 12. See the Race Report from Ben Lobaugh for details.

The Board has been discussing and making plans for 2021 in hopes that we can once again meet in person and hold events. We have a new set of officers including some new faces and I’m excited to see what they have in store for us. Keep an eye on our events page for updates.

Lastly I’d like to thank everyone on the board and anyone who volunteered this year. I couldn’t have made it through this year without you. Many thanks for your support and encouragement!

AJ Mallory, Commodore

2020 SBYC Christmas Party

Ho! Ho! Ho!     

You can better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout because even in this age of Coronavirus, SBYC’s Christmas party is ON and it promises to be a winter winner. Just because we’re on Zoom doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate in the good old SBYC way!

So, get your eggnog, a glass of wine, prepare your favorite meal and join us on Zoom on Tuesday Dec. 15, for the last dinner meeting of 2020.  Even though 2020 may not have been the best year of your life, there’s no reason it can’t go out with good cheer and goodwill.

The North Pole elves have suggested that we get in a festive mood by dressing for the occasion; either in costume or your holiday finery, and showing up for the happy hour that begins at 6:30. A link to the Zoom meeting will magically appear in your inbox a couple of days earlier, so be on the lookout for it.

The first order of business will be the changing of the guard, with new officers receiving their flags, and appointees being acknowledged, plus a huge thanks to all who have served in this very unusual year.

Those elves referenced earlier have also whispered that they are trying to get an appearance by Santa if they can drag him away from his last-minute scramble preparing for Christmas Eve.

The second order of business will be a big Santa Welcome to all who are attending and a chance for each of us to relate a favorite Christmas anecdote, story, or just wish everyone peace and good will!

Thirdly, the board has voted to give a donation to Northwest Harvest to help those who could use a little extra this year. That is a gift from you, our members, to the community. Thank you!

This SBYC holiday party is a good opportunity for all of us to get together for one last (first?) celebration of the year and leave 2020 with the hopes and expectations of a much better 2021. Please join us!

See you there!

.

LAST CALL! RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP *NOW*

Tick tock, tick tock… time is running out!

If you’ve managed to procrastinate this far into the year, it’s now time to beat the clock by renewing your SBYC membership before December 15.

We can help make it almost painless for you. How?  Click on http://shilsholebayyachtclub.org/members/membership-renewal/ and you’ll find the renewal form itself near the bottom of the page.  And if it didn’t jump out at you, look a little closer and you’ll see you have the option to pay by check or credit card. If paying by check, simply fill out and then print the renewal form, add your check and mail it to SBYC at the address provided; if you prefer the “Bill Me” option, send the renewal form electronically, with the “Bill Me” box checked and an invoice will be sent to you via email.

Easy enough? Then please help us out by renewing immediately. The roster will still be coming out in January, but for you to be included, we must have your renewal by December 15. 

It looks like we are going to win out over Covid-19, and SBYC is ready for its usual fun, races, cruises and event when victory is finally ours! You don’t want to miss a minute of the on-the-water/docks fun, so RENEW TODAY!!!

This is the final revised text of the Bylaw change which was approved at the November Zoom Meeting of the Membership.

Revise Section 2 of the Bylaws, page 33.

The Board of Directors shall consist of the flag officers: Commodore, Vice Commodore,
Rear Commodore, and Immediate Past Commodore, who are to serve for a term of one
year, and six other elected members: Secretary, Treasurer, Cruise Chair, two Directors, and
and a Race Chair

The Directors, Secretary, Treasurer and Cruise Chair shall serve a term of two years.   One
director, and Secretary’s terms shall start on even years. The other Director, Treasurer
and Cruise Chair terms  shall start on odd years. Each person serving may serve a
second consecutive term. After two terms a member shall wait for four years before again
holding an office.

The Race Chair shall serve until a successor is elected.

The Board of Directors shall be responsible for the management of the club.

November 21, 2020 saw the kick off of the first race in our Snowbird series!

The first race typically has a light turn out, but this time 27 of the 29 boats registered turned out. That is a new record turn out!

We had to set our own start buoy, as the STYC buoy is out for repair. Jerry expertly maneuvered Olele to drop the buoy and set up a great line. 

With a decent ebb, and low winds forecast, I set a fairly short course, NMWN (Start, Meadow Point, West Point, Finish).

The race started with five knot winds, the weather was perfect, and the boats looked beautiful! It was a bit of a slog to get to the first mark at Meadow Point, however, shortly after the first boats rounded the marker the wind started building.  It built to a respectable 12 knots. What we expected to be a few hour race wound up lasting only 1.5 hours for most boats! That’s okay, the sailors still had loads of fun!

For this series we introduced the ability to pay online via an invoice. So far it has been a huge hit!

A big thank you to Jerry and Olele for captaining the committee boat, and to Harold Baldwin for support!

SBYC CRUISE CALENDAR 2021

Bell Harbor         Date Chosen, but no reservations under Covid restrictions.  Gathering is up to individual arrangements.

Yellow Fest          No reservations available; SBYC will make reservations if possible.  Gathering is up to individual arrangements.

Burger Burn       “Adopt a Cruise”. Contact SBYC Commodore, or Cruise Chair, if interested.

June Dinner Dance    Reservations are made; event will occur if Covid restrictions permit.  Brownsville Club House & Marina Reservations have been made.

Labor Day           “Adopt a Cruise”. Contact SBYC Commodore, or Cruise Chair, if interested

Salmon Bake     Poulsbo.  Verify Reservations for slips and activity float.

2020 Year is ending, and also, my years as Cruise Chair are ending.

SBYC cruises are a time to take a day or two to leave the drudgeries of the city, get the boat off the dock and spend some hours on the sparkling waters of Puget Sound.  After such days, there is the bonus of meeting at a marina or an anchorage with other good natured, generous, friendly mariners; times of sharing tales at happy hours, and enjoying mouthwatering potluck dinners .

I have very many favorite memories: Easter weekend celebrations, where approximately 30 gather at Blake Island to find, in an hour, small bottles of liquid sunshine buried in the sand; Summer Rendezvous in the San Juans, hiking the island beaches during the day, and for a little adventure, finding our boats in unlit anchorages after gathering on shore for an evening of conviviality; June Dance with dinner, live music by Malo Castro and his band, and dancing; Salmon Bake, the final event of the year, gathering at  a picturesque marina for a salmon barbecued by club members. I am mentioning three; SBYC suggests seven weekends for possible cruises together.

I loved my three years as Cruise Chair!  SBYC members have brightened my boating experience in ways too many to mention.  My sincere thanks to everyone who helped making these cruises welcoming and fun; I will always remember.

I am passing my Cruise Chair burgee to David Horn, and am excited to see his plans for 2021 SBYC cruises.   I am posting suggestions for a 2021 calendar in the Rudderpost, and David will be giving us more cruising plans during the months ahead.

The tsunami of COVID-19 swamped our cruise activities for last year, and possibly a few more coming months.  However, like corks, SBYC cruisers will pop up to the surface and resume the gatherings that make our club unique.

Join us as new member or renew your membership. “Adopt a Cruise” if you wish. It’s a great way to get to know the long-time club members and to welcome new cruisers.

Have a Peaceful Holiday.  Get the boat off the dock and enjoy the Puget Sound at a SBYC cruise event.     See you at the next anchorage.

Your Cruise Chair, Patricia Shannon-Garvey.