Spring approaches!
This year the spring equinox is March 20. As most of you know the equinox occurs when we have equal hours of daylight and night. This has always been an important part of the sailing season for me. The longer days allow afternoon sails, boat projects can be completed in a day, and the light at the end of the tunnel representing the summer sailing season grows every day. I will finally get to the boat to wash off the winter mildew, although waxing and woodwork will need to wait another month or two. Luckily my boat no longer requires any varnish work. One of the most important criteria for choosing the current boat was the complete lack of exterior wood. A friend of mine talks about his love of varnishing and the zen-like state it creates for him. I point out the need to see his doctor to get his medication adjusted.
I have decided to update some of the electronics on our boat, only to find the company that makes the parts I need has changed all the mounting points and wiring. Out of respect I will not name them, but it begins with “R’ and ends with “aymarine”. Why these corporations do this is beyond me, but perhaps it is related to the extra $200 in wiring and parts I needed to order to make it all work.
One thing to miss as spring approaches is the snowbird racing series. Anne will complete her series this month. It has been quite a success. Keep an eye on these pages in future months for news about the Transpuget and next season’s winter racing plans. Our dinner meetings will continue for the next few months under Roger Newby’s guidance. As always, I strongly urge all of us to attend since we do need a minimum participation to keep the events up and running. Finally, keep your eyes on the cruise schedule, some great events are not far off.
For those of you who did not attend the February meeting I have included a photo of myself in my new Commodore hat. This hat was sent to me by my sister-in-law who lives in Phoenix. She felt that with such an auspicious title I needed an appropriate symbol, and she likes making fun of me. My hope is it can be passed on to future Commodores, kind of a rubber chicken for board members to aspire to.
Dinner Meeting: Tuesday, March 21st
Place: Ivar’s Salmon House
Pre-Dinner drinks from 5:30pm
Dinner served at 6:45pm
Topic: Haulout Do’s and Don’ts
Speakers: Phil and Tiel Riise (Father/Son), Owners of SeaView West
Most everyone in the Club has experience with hauling their boat out at a local boatyard, with bottom paint needing done and typically driving a skipper to undertake this part of boating. If you’re lucky, you’ll have other work that’s been on your “to-do” list get accomplished in conjunction with the bottom paint haul-out. But, there are those important repairs that really can’t wait for long (thru-hulls failing, shaft alignment issues, running into a stray log with below-the-waterline damage, etc.) and then one must get it done NOW! Who will do the work? If you need professional help, is that something to rely on the boatyard staff to do, or should one enlist the services of a specific expert? What’s this going to cost?
These questions and challenges are, some might say, just the tip of the iceberg. Going through a haul-out can be a stressful, trying experience, perhaps similar to the dread we have for things like dental work, colonoscopies, visits to the car mechanic, and such. But planning ahead sure helps, as does getting solid advice from those who have gone before us.
Our speakers at this month’s Club dinner on March 21 are the father/son team who own the SeaView West boatyard at Shilshole. Phil Riise and his son Tiel have been doing this work for decades, and if they haven’t seen it all by now, they’re pretty close. In addition to their recommendations for “do’s and don’ts” at haul-out time, I’ve asked them to give us a few good stories of incidents they’ve observed that might make us remark “Well, at least I haven’t done anything that dumb!” Phil is a good story-teller, so I’m sure we’ll be able to laugh a bit around what we otherwise consider a challenging aspect of boat ownership.
So, please look for the Evite coming soon to an email Inbox near you and remember to identify which meal choice(s) you would like for dinner when you respond to the Evite. We have to get that information to IVAR’s the Friday before the event (March 17). If you have to cancel a reservation, that can best be done by sending me an email directly (rogernewb@gmail.com) or calling me at 206-261-3790, but do so prior to Friday, March 17. Cancellations after the 17th are generally not refundable. Same with no-shows on the evening of the 21st. Our agreement with IVAR’s calls for a no-show dinner to still be paid for, so the Club asks each member to understand that and take responsibility for payment. It doesn’t happen very often and we can sometimes get it handled outside that rule, but there are no guarantees on that.
Meet and talk with Club members over dinner and drinks. Get updated on upcoming cruise events. And hear some good stories from one of our local vendors, Phil and Tiel from SeaView West. See you on the 21st!
RACING SCHEDULE
Snowbird 2022-2023
November 19, 2022
December 10, 2022
January 14, 2023
February 11, 2023
March 18, 2023
The Snowbird racers have enjoyed good winds, no fog, and relatively warm sunny weather for our first four races. Hopefully our luck will hold out for our last race on Saturday, March 18. The racers have had good starts and finishes and lots of spinnaker action.
After the race on March 18, we are planning an informal award ceremony at Rays Boathouse upstairs bar. Everyone is invited.
Our next race, the Transpuget Benefit for Footloose, on September 30 is still in the planning stage. Your ideas and thoughts are welcome with the intent that we get as many boats and boaters out on the water as possible.
I would like to thank Ben Lobaugh, who has an amazing knowledge of racers and racing for his kind support and patience.
Anne Girvin,
Race Chair
SBYC WINTER CRUISE
A HUGE SUCCESS
A winter wonderland it wasn’t, but Bell Harbor held all the typical Seattle winter charm (cloudy skies, a bit of rain, and a gust or two of wind) as it beckoned 20-some members to a gathering at Seattle’s downtown marina for SBYC’s winter cruise.
The traditional winter get-together was well attended, most likely by those tired of being house bound through the darkest months of the Pacific Northwest’s chilly season.
Four boats (Turning Point, Kayak, Olele and Main Finale) cruised in on Friday when David Horn noted (with some pride) that only one of the four was a sailboat, while the rest were warmly-heated and sheltered-from-the-elements power boats.
Friday night’s group shared “happy appys” and maybe a glass or two of vino, or a snort of something stronger, and even later a tipple of a nightcap, (although whatever happened to Olele’s bottle of Fireball is anyone’s guess.)
Waterfront activities, a long walk along Myrtle Edwards Park, the Pike Place Market and countless other enticements called for playing tourist on Saturday, and the day was capped by the arrival of another dozen or so members primed for a dinner at Anthony’s.
Thus ends the winter season for SBYC, and it’s now onward to spring and the April 8-9 Yellowfest Cruise to Blake Island! See you there!
Invitation to A Celebration of Life.
Ahoy SBYCers,
