February Newsletter

BilgeRat SWYC

2 years ago

Commodore's Message

Ahoy Mates! Barbara and I are already anticipating wonderful Northwest spring weather and we are excited about getting back out on the water. We are looking forward to all the boating season kick-off events in May: Opening Day, Gotta Regatta, and Aquapalooza. Something for everyone!

FLEET & PROGRAM PLANS
Many thanks to our Fleet Captains who presented their visions of 2024 SWYC activities at the January meeting. There is much more information below about the many opportunities for you to participate in the fun. We are still looking for a Pelican Fleet Captain, so if you are a Pelican racer, please think about stepping up to this vital role. Please reach out to one or more of the Fleet Captains if you have ideas for their activities, or just want to get aboard their group!

Thanks to Rear Commodore Phil for organizing our Monthly membership meeting presentations. As always he is looking for member recommendations on speakers for our Monthly meetings, and we are particularly interested in any boating adventure you would like to share with us.

MEMBERSHIP

By now everyone has received their annual request to renew membership in the SWYC. Thanks to all the members who have completed their renewal. As part of the renewal process, 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. This is a great way to meet others in the club, and no experience is needed. If you have already renewed but did not complete the member survey, you can still access it here: SWYC Member Survey 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 sunny skies are just ahead…

Commodore Bruce

Kayaking by Fleet Captain Barb Grimlund

Our SWYC Kayakers are getting excited and geared up for the 2024 season. Twenty members came to our Kayaking Winter Social/Planning evening on January 21. Good food, relaxing conversation and a welcome to our newest kayaking group members. Meeting topics included how we can best refresh on kayaking safety and types of events plus destinations for the 2024 season. Keep watching the SWYC website calendar for new additions as they are scheduled. Kayaking events Click on this link and scroll down the page for the list.

Just scheduled, our own SWYC member, Patty Maxfield, will be presenting the USCG-approved Paddle Craft Course to our paddling group on Thursday evening, April 11. If you are thinking about trying out kayaking, or just want to learn more about keeping kayakers safe while you are boating around them, please join us that evening.

In the meantime, watch your GroupMe app for last minute winter pick-up paddles. There’s still plenty of fun to be had on the water on a clear winter day.

Contact Barb Grimlund to learn more about the SWYC Kayaking Group and to be added to the email distribution list.

Windward Women by Fleet Captain Katy Shaner

The new Windward Women year has begun! Saturday, February 10^th, a group of us Windwards gathered at Debra Richardson’s to socialize and share ideas for the coming year. Sips and dips in abundance.

There were many suggestions of activities, not only scheduled planned activities but also spontaneous activities. Activities to be planned on various days of the week as well as some evening activities.

Here are some possibilities of what is being planned for the coming year. Do any especially interest you Windwards?

Tour local maritime museums – Anacortes Maritime Heritage Center and WT Preston, Museum of History & Industry/Seattle, Coast Guard Museum Northwest/Seattle, Port Townsend Marine Science Center, Northwest Maritime Center/Port Townsend.
Tours – Schooner SUVA tour and Penn Cove Mussels, Nichols Brothers Boat Building
Walking tours of the maritime history of historic Langley and Coupeville
Hiking – Ebey’s Landing, Trustland Trails, Whidbey Institute, Saratoga Woods, South Whidbey State Park, Admiralty Preserve, Fort Ebey State Park, Deception Pass State Park, Washington Park. Additional resource “24 Trails Off the Beaten Trail”
Volunteer as WW at SWYC and local Whidbey events – SWYC Opening Day/Gotta Regatta, Welcome the Whales, Whidbey Camano Land Trust, local beach cleanup
Book discussion – local and regional authors as guest speaker for discussion
Guest speakers – SWYC members and local/regional
Attend local and regional maritime events – “She Tells, Sea Tales”, NW Maritime Center
Connect with other women’s group at local/regional yacht clubs
Discussed setting up GroupMe for the Windward Women

Hope to see many of you at the upcoming activities. All women of the SWYC are invited to participate. Questions? Suggestions? Interests? Contact Katy Shaner.

Racing

Both the Laser Racing (Fleet Captains Zak Malbin and Carol Rose Dean) and Pelican Racing (Fleet Captain Bill Brown) 2024 Schedules are now on the SWYC Calendar. Be sure to add these to your own calendar for a summer of fun competition on the water.

NEW THIS YEAR: Casual Sail Fridays! Casual Sail Fridays will be a more informal “go have fun and sail however you want” opportunity to be out at the same time as others. Pelicans or Lasers, the Casual Sail Fridays will begin on June 7 at 4:00 on Holmes Harbor, launching from Freeland Park. On the last Friday of June, July and August following the sailing, we’ll be having a club cookout in Freeland Park. Whether you are a sailor or just want to come down and watch, join the group for some good picnic eats with friends. Reach out to Sean Cruz for more information.

Beginner Laser Clinic on Lone Lake: April 21 or 28, weather dependent. The focus is for people who know how to sail, but are new to Lasers. More information will be posted on the SWYC Website soon. Let Carol Rose Dean or Zak Malbin know of your interest.

May Racing Clinic on Holmes Harbor: Saturday, May 4. This clinic is for intermediate-advanced Laser sailors who want to learn some new skills and keep the learning going from last year.

Pelican Fleet Captain Needed. As Bruce mentioned in his message, we are still in need of a Pelican Fleet Captain for 2024. Please reach out to Bill Brown or Bruce if you are a Pelican sailor and can step up into this role.

Cruising by Fleet Captains Jim and Kathy Rogers

The Cruising group met on February 7 to start planning some exciting 2024 Cruises. Be sure to watch the SWYC website and calendar which will be updated as more plans are confirmed.

Don’t own a boat? You can drive to many of our destinations. Come join the cruisers for dock happy hours and dinners. Or, if lodging is available at our destinations, hop aboard one of the cruising boats and then stay in a comfortable bed at a hotel near the marina.

Be sure to let Jim and Kathy Rogers know if you are interested in learning more about the Cruising group at SWYC and to be added to the Cruising mailing list.

These are the 2024 Plans thus far. These will be finalized as we get closer to the dates. Keep an eye on the calendar:

Shakedown Cruise – May 17 – 21+ – Leaders: Pete & Barb Grimlund

Cruise Description: To follow Aquapalooza 5/17-5/19 at Langley Marina – Overnight 5/19 in Everett Marina and then head through the Ballard locks (small) to Fisherman’s Terminal in Salmon Bay. From there, we’ll pile on one boat and explore Lake Washington and Lake Union.
May 19th – Everett Marina (or stay at Langley Marina)
May 20th – Fisherman’s Terminal/Salmon Bay
May 21st – Head home or choose additional stops at Edmonds, Kingston or Port Townsend

June Cruise – Leaders: Jim & Melody Carney – Gulf Islands – Sydney, Ganges, Nanaimo
July Cruise – Leaders: Jim and Kathy Rogers – Edmonds, Bel Harbor, Dock St. Marina in Tacoma. Return destinations still to be determined
August Cruise – Leaders: Jim & Melody Carney – Port Townsend, Port Angeles, Clown Bay, Neah Bay, Barkley Sound, Tofino
September Cruise – Leaders: Bill & Jill Brown – San Juan Islands

Safety Matters #9: Planning a Kayak Paddle by Clay Canfield

South Whidbey Yacht Club now has a fairly large contingent of kayakers. The group has a wide range of experience, which allows the less experienced paddlers to learn from the more experienced ones. However it is incumbent upon the newer paddlers to learn and practice paddling and safety skills as much as possible prior to paddling with a group. The most effective way to learn is in a class, not on an unguided trip. Here are some pointers for kayakers in general who have already taken a class or know how to self-rescue and do a wet exit.:

Plan any paddle trip to be within the capabilities of the least experienced paddler.
Practice self-rescue and assisted rescue prior to the first trip of the year.
Plan to stay close to shore.
Stay away from areas popular with power boats.
Research local hazards and weather.
Plan the trip so that the last leg is downwind.
Create and share a float plan
Bring essential safety gear.
Bring hydration.
Bring a lunch, snacks or energy bars as appropriate.
Dress for immersion, not for the weather.
Do not paddle solo.

Monthly Membership Meeting

6:30 pm on Wednesday, February 21

Greenbank Progressive Club (And Zoom)

Topic: Jeff Madrigalli
World Class Sailor

Our speaker will be Jeff Madrigali, a world class sailor and a resident of Whidbey Island. Jeff’s distinguished sailing career includes two trips to the Olympics, 1996 and 2000 sailing in the Soling Class, bringing home a Bronze Medal in the 1996 Olympics.

In 2000 Jeff was the Soling World Champion. Jeff has completed 13 TransPac races with a First to finish 4 times and overall winner twice. Jeff sailed on the 1997 Maxi world champion yacht Sayonara. Jeff has eight Class Championships to his name including both keelboats such as the Farr 40, Santana 35 all the way down to the Laser.

Jeff and his wife Jana live in Langley.

Details of the February meeting are on our website.

Our March meeting is still being planned, but be sure to put the April meeting on your calendar. At our April 17 meeting, internationally renowned kayaker Nigel Foster will tell us about his circumnavigation of Iceland in the times prior to drysuits, GPS and cell phones. If you want a sneak-preview, pick up his book Iceland by Kayak.

SWYC Aquapalooza Langley

Inaugural Event!

Friday May 17 through Sunday May 19

Langley Marina

Rear Commodore Phil Simon had a terrific idea for a brand new event. Mark your calendars!

Come join your fellow SWYC members for a weekend of play on the water at Langley Marina. Bring your cruising boats, dinghy sailboats, kayaks, paddle boards, and smaller power boats to enjoy activities on the waters around Langley. Interest groups can plan activities for their own groups and enjoy sharing activities with other groups and members. Free sails, kayak paddles, ad hoc races, happy hour on the dock… It’s up to you! What an opportunity to enjoy and learn more about the various types of boating!

Reservations have been made for arrival on Friday, May 17 through Sunday night, May 19. This includes the longer outer breakwater float, up to six or so boats depending on length. Rafting is allowed for more. Plus an inside slip for several Lasers or other watercraft. Cruisers can pick their own arrival and departure dates and should make their own reservations.

Friday is included so that those who need to use the ramp to launch their boat could do so on Friday. The predicted tides for that weekend are that the ramp would only be useable for trailers in the midafternoons.

Parking, both cars and trailers, will be available at the edge of town ~ 3/4 mile from the marina. Walking or arranging to shuttle makes the marina accessible to all.

Aquapalooza Langley

2024 Calendar of Events

Check out our Calendar for the dates of all of our Annual Events. And be sure to get them on YOUR calendar!

All Annual Events

Looking for SWYC clothing, hats or gifts?

Click here: Land’s End Store

PLUS A NEW LOCAL ON-ISLAND OPTION

Savage Screen Printing & Embroidery in Clinton now has our burgee logo on file (Only the burgee. Not our other logos). SWYC members can stop in to Savage and have the logo applied to their own personal item, or select a hat from Savage’s selection. Stop by next time you’re in Clinton to better understand this alternative to Land’s End.

Land’s End still offers the greater variety of merchandise, more logo configurations and the ease of shopping from your home, but it’s nice to have a local alternative as well.

Our mailing address is:

South Whidbey Yacht Club

PO Box 316

Greenbank, WA 98253