South Whidbey Yacht Club

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Commodore’s Message

 

Welcome to 2023, the 20th anniversary of the founding of the SWYC.  We are going to make this year extra special, weaving club history into our programs and events beginning with a trip down memory lane at our January General Meeting.  Be sure to join us – in person or via our Zoom broadcast for a sure to be fascinating presentation.

December is a fun time for social clubs of all persuasions.  Yacht clubs being no different – well perhaps a wee bit different.  We could have taken the traditional route and all of us decorated our boats, dinghy’s, kayak’s, etc. in lights and fanciful displays to parade around Holmes Harbor.  Yes, we could have – BUT, that just doesn’t seem to fit our personalities.  So instead, we decorated ourselves and made merry at the Holiday Party.  Read on in the newsletter and go to the Facebook page to see more photos.  A good time was had by all.

In January, you will be receiving your annual request to renew your membership in the SWYC.  This year’s renewal process will have a slight twist.  After you have completed the renewal process, you will be invited to complete a volunteer opportunity form.  We are requesting that each person look through all of the events, programs and activities in need of member volunteers and select at least two that you would be willing to help out with in the coming months.

It is a wonderful way to meet others in the club.  And you do not need to have experience to volunteer.  Last summer we had a number of folks sign up to help catch crab for the July CrabFest.  We welcomed a number of members onto our boats who had no experience crabbing but who had the desire to learn.  Each activity/program/event leader will contact those who indicated a willingness to serve when it comes time to begin planning.

Calm seas, fair winds and clear skies to you, (I am assured they will return)

Pete Grimlund
Commodore
South Whidbey Yacht Club

 


Vice Commodore’s Message
Notes from the Flying Bridge 

Reciprocity Progress

Stay tuned for more information of this new club benefit. The details of the slip contract are still being arranged.

Once finalized, the full explanation will be on our SWYC website.

Vice Commodore Bruce Morris


January Membership Meeting

Wednesday, January 18

Greenbank Progressive Club & Zoom

 

    • 6:30 Socializing/Sips & Dips to Share/ Zoom Opens
    • 7:00 Announcements
    • 7:15  Program

Guest Speaker – Pat Sasson and the SWYC Early Years Gang 

(Sounds like a Rock Band!  You won’t want to miss this one!)

*Remember to bring your own plates, silverware and glassware as part of SWYC’s goal to a cleaner environment by reducing waste.

 

 

     COMMODORE KEN
SASSON…
2003
 

COMMODORE PETE

GRIMLUND….

2023

 

HOW DID THIS

HAPPEN???

 

 

 

How is it possible that a casual conversation one evening during just another happy hour in a house in the Honeymoon Bay area spawned an idea of starting a Yacht Club — and that it actually  happened, let alone has lasted and thrived for 20 years?   Obstacles were many and on an island without any substantial marina and with very poor water access, and no hopes of a building to inherit or buy, the idea kept moving along – FOR TWENTY YEARS.
This month , we’ll dive in with the help of founding member Pat Sasson and learn just how this improbable Yacht Club came to be.
Pat will share her memories and stories, and we’ll have some pictures and there will be plenty of time for questions.(Bilgerat Barb’s note — the photos… I’ve seen them! Wow.  Things have changed so much but in many ways, not at all. Can’t wait to hear the stories behind them! )

 

Join Us In Person at the Progressive Club or via Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89805436776?pwd=aXlIZTZvMHpYNEo2ZmhaQmlWSGdsZz09

Meeting ID: 898 0543 6776
Passcode: 043852

For future SWYC monthly programs, see the event calendar on the SWYC website.  2023 is being planned now.  Got ideas for a speaker?  Get them to Rear Commodore Dan Mooney.

SWYC Monthly Meetings. 

 


Annual Holiday Party

Oh What Fun it Was – in a One-Horse Open Sleigh or Not!

A jolly holiday party was had by all who were able to attend.  Lots of socializing, sharing stories,  the BEST  shared dinner and treats – and of course lots of laughter and giggles with our Candy Cane Regatta competition (and a little rule bending too – haha).  Thanks to all who planned and participated to have such a joyful event.

The local not-for-profit SWYC selected to support this year is KidsFirst.  If you’d still like to make a donation, click  here to learn how.  Any amount would be much appreciated.    Thank you to our generous donors at the party.  Kids First received over $1,000 from our SWYC members that evening.  The Kids First organization has sent their heartfelt appreciation for our generosity.

 


Time to Renew!!

 

 

During the first week of January, a membership renewal notice with be emailed to all membership accounts.   The message will include a link that will allow you to renew on line.  If you do not receive the email notice, be sure to check your Junk or Spam folder, as sometimes these emails might end up there.

As Commodore Pete mentioned in his message, there’s something new included in this year’s renewal reminder.  There will be an additional link to an online Volunteer Survey form that we ask each of you to complete. It’s easy and will only take a minute of your time.  Our goal is to encourage more members to actively participate in our various events and special interest groups (Cruising, Kayaking, Racing, Windward Women, Youth  & Adult Sailing Programs).

If you have any questions, please contact Mark Conover, our Membership Chair, at membership@swyachtclub.org.


Kayaking News

2023 Kayaking with the SWYC

The kayakers have already started planning for day paddling trips for April – October 2023 and kayaking socials/speakers.  Reach out to Katy Shaner to be on the kayaking email list and to participate in the planning of these events.

Reminder – 2023 Planned Kayaking Trips

All Members Welcome to Join!

For those of you who are interested in participating in overnight trips with other members of the SWYC, the kayaking group has planned two trips for the 2023 summer season. All members of the club are welcome to join, not only the kayakers. 

Check out the information on our event calendar for both the Baker Lake Camping Trip June  25-27 and

the West Beach Resort – Orcas Island Trip

September 21-24.  Be sure to let Katy Shaner and Barb Grimlund know if you are planning to attend either or both trips.  We want to ensure you’re on the mailing list for new information and updates. Plus, if you’d like a spot in our group campsite at Baker Lake at the Swift Creek Campground, let Barb know.  There are still a few spots left.  There are a number of SWYC members already signed up!

For the Orcas Island Trip, there is still room in The Farmhouse for anyone who would like to share that cabin.  The cabins and other accommodations at West Beach reserve early so be sure to contact them directly if you want to reserve a cabin, glamping tent or camping spot.
Email bilgerat@swyachtclub.org.

We still have room in our reserved group campsite for more camping parties.  Let Barb at bilgerat@swyachtclub.org know if you are planning on coming and especially if you want to save a spot in the group campsite with other SWYC campers.

If you and your party prefer a more private individual campsite, those reservations will open soon. They will fill quickly so plan ahead.
Individual Campsite Reservations

More details to come in the spring.  Let Barb know of your interest so that we will be sure to keep you on that mailing list.
Baker Lake Trip Information

~~~~~~~

Baker Lake

 

West Beach Resort – Orcas Island

 

The Farmhouse

where our group gatherings take place.  3 bedrooms.  2 1/2 bath.  Two bedrooms are still available for a shared experience (and economical shared cost).  Let Katy Shaner know of your interest.


Windward Women

Windward, and ‘Wayward’, Women gather every other month, usually on the first Thursday of the month.  This is a change from the previous first Tuesday of each month.  The next get together is Thursday, February 2.   Email bilgerat@swyachtclub.org to get on the Windward Women mailing list and to receive notice with details of each of our outings.


Upcoming Social Events

You might want to get these on your 2023 calendar.  Please let Mark Conover, membership@swyachtclub.org,  know if you will volunteer to help with any of these events.  It’s a great way to meet other members – and you get to plan the party!

Boating Opening Day  – Saturday, May 6

Gotta Regatta – Being Planned, Stay Tuned

Crab Fest ’23  – Sunday, July 23

August Social – Wednesday, August 16

Commodore’s Ball – Saturday, November 11

SWYC Holiday Party – Wednesday, December 13

Keep track of all the club events and updates at:
https://swyachtclub.org/events/#!calendar


Members’ Tips and Training

Website Tip for January

The SWYC website https://swyachtclub.org is an ever-changing but very important tool to our club.  We need your help in keeping it current and useful to each one of us and to those outside of the club.

Tip –What if your Zoom link doesn’t work

Since we haven’t had a monthly general meeting since October, we thought we would repeat this tip for those of you who may need to  Zoom in to our January meeting.

If you are Zooming into one of our monthly meetings and clicking on the link doesn’t work, try going directly to Zoom.us. Just enter Zoom.us into your browser frame.   From that screen, click on “Join” in the upper right hand corner.  On the “Join Meeting” screen, enter the Meeting ID # and Passcode.  The Meeting ID and Passcode are always included in the Monthly Meeting Reminder and can also be found in the event description on the SWYC Website Calendar of Events.  

Another action to try is to open Zoom.us in a different browser.  For example, if Safari is your default internet browser and you are having trouble opening the link,  try opening Zoom.us in Chrome, or Edge.  Then follow the instructions to enter the Meeting ID and Passcode.

You can also try to reach Commodore Pete or Bilgerat Barb at the meeting, but with all the activity in the room, it is often difficult to see those messages and be able to respond quickly.  We’ll do the best we can to be responsive. In the meantime, please try the tip above if the link isn’t working for you.


*** If you know of any club member who is not receiving these newsletters or other club communications, please email bilgerat@swyachtclub.org.  We’ll help them get connected. ***

 

Thinking about the upcoming boating season? Need a vest, hat, shirt or other SWYC item to look spiffy out on the water or at our gatherings? Check out the new items at:

Click here: Land’s End Store


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South Whidbey Yacht Club

PO Box 316

Greenbank, WA 98253