Commodore's Message
With great sadness we share the news that SWYC lost long-time member Bob Boehm on March 27th. He was a leader, a mentor, a great friend to so many of us, and inevitably a welcoming face to many new members. His tireless efforts are evident in the many ways the club has expanded its role as the boating club on South Whidbey Island.
Bob served in many formal and informal roles in SWYC. He served as Vice Commodore, board member, and as Secretary. He also was a YSA Board Member for many years. One of his lasting legacies was his service as Nominating Committee Chairman, recruiting several of us in current leadership. He used his organizational knowledge to charter the YSA as a standalone 501(c) (3) organization. He led the effort to rejuvenate a derelict float into a useful dock for the YSA’s El Toro fleet during summer youth sailing lessons. He worked tirelessly to maintain the 14-boat El Toro fleet and helped build two trailers to transport those boats from storage to Deer Lake.
Beyond boating, Bob organized a fishing trip to the west coast of Vancouver Island for many years. We all have many wonderful memories of the incredible fishing experiences and wonderful companionship we all enjoyed. Not content with just boating and fishing, Bob organized at least 15 cruises in land yachts (motorhomes) to wine regions in British Columbia, eastern Washington, and Oregon.
Past Commodore Derek Pritchard’s assessment is very appropriate: “Bob was a good Samaritan for everybody. The rock. He couldn’t help but help everyone.”
Please join me in expressing our condolences to Penny Harger and our hope that she remains part of the supportive SWYC family.
Looking forward to the fair winds and sunny skies of spring…
Commodore Bruce
Kayaking by Fleet Captain Barb Grimlund
The Kayaking Fleet is already off to a busy start on the 2024 season. Last Thursday, 18 kayakers gathered at the Grimlund’s home for pizza and to take the USCG Approved Paddle Craft Course & VHF Radios taught by SWYC member and Coast Guard Auxiliary member Patty Maxfield. The presentation taught us new information and refreshed on points we may have forgotten or not considered. Reviewing this safety information is critical as we begin our summer season of paddling. THANK YOU, PATTY, for leading this informative session and providing specific first-hand examples to clarify the messages.
Paddling Events
Sadly, our trip from Cornet Bay to Skagit Island on April 6 was cancelled due to excessive wind, but that event has been rescheduled to Saturday, April 20. We’re hoping for a much better day to get out there and see those wildflowers.
May has two events planned thus far. First a Langley area paddle on Saturday, May 18 as part of the SWYC Aquapalooza at Langley Marina and Kayak Rescue Review and Practice sessions on May 25 and May 26 at Goss Lake led by SWYC members Jack and Ann Holton.
Don’t forget to make your camping reservations at Swift Creek Campground at Baker Lake for our June Kayaking/Camping trip. We invite all SWYC members who enjoy camping, boating, fishing and hiking to this event June 16 – 18. There’s lots to do up there with communal dinners, campfires and hanging out with friends. Let Barb Grimlund know you are coming so that we can add you to the group communications for the event.
To read all the details for these events and the rest of the planned 2024 events, click on this link and scroll to the bottom of the page. SWYC Kayaking
Contact Barb Grimlund to be added to the Kayaking Fleet email distribution list. See you on the water!
Windward Women by Fleet Captain Katy Shaner
Hello April. Bring on your rain. Bring on your sunshine. Blossoms abound. Greetings of spring welcome us!
And with spring and all it has to offer, comes Windward Women activities that will get us out and about to explore our island and enjoy each other’s company.
Our first hike of the season is Friday, April 19th. It will be at Whidbey Camano Land Trust’s Admiralty Inlet Preserve. We meet at 10:00 at the parking lot on Eagle Road across from the Preserve. www.wclt.org/projects/admiralty-inlet-natural-area-preserve/
After our hike we will have lunch at Callan’s Restaurant across from the Coupeville ferry landing – 12981 State Route 20
The first WW tour of the season is Wednesday, April 24th. It will be a tour of Nichol Brothers Boat Builders. We will meet at 10:00 at Matt Nichol’s office at 7777 E. Shoreview Dr. overlooking Holmes Harbor. https://www.nicholsboats.com/
“We’re a miniature Boeing of marine world construction,” said Matt Nichols, vice president of sales at Nichols Brothers.
See how their operations work, what kinds of boats they build and gain a greater appreciation for Freeland’s commerce and the role Nichols Brothers play.
We will have lunch following the tour at Fare Market – 1675 Main St Freeland.
Wednesday, May 1, will be another chance to hike in one of the treasured hiking areas of the island – South Whidbey State Park. Meet at 10:00 in Parking Lot.
This May hike (or stroll) will be through the old growth forest of South Whidbey State Park. We are fortunate to have Whidbey Island Environmentalist Ann Linnea come share her knowledge of the forest.
Lunch following the hike is at Old Spots Bistro – Greenbank Farm.
Throughout the summer we will have socials, hikes and tours with guest speakers. Check out the SWYC website https://swyachtclub.org/ under Windward Women and click on the event in which you would like to participate.
Here’s to a fun-filled Windward {sometimes wayward) Women summer!
All women of the SWYC are invited to join Windward Women. Questions? Suggestions? Interests? Contact Katy Shaner.
Racing
The 2024 schedules of both the Laser Racing (Fleet Captains Zak Malbin and Carol Rose Dean) and Pelican Racing (Fleet Captain Bill Brown) 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. 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
Shakedown Cruise – May 17 – 21+ Leaders: Pete & Barb Grimlund
Don’t own a boat? You can drive to many of our cruising destinations. Come join the cruisers for on-the-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. More 2024 cruises are being planned. These are the plans thus far. They will be finalized as we get closer to the dates. Keep an eye on the calendar: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 17 -18 – Langley Marina (as part of the SWYC Aquapalooza Langley)– May 19th – Everett Marina– May 20th – Fisherman’s Terminal/Salmon Bay after passing through the Ballard Locks. Explore Lake Union and Lake Washington– May 21st – Return home or continue on with possible extensions to Edmonds, Kingston or Port Townsend
Get details about this season’s cruises on our website.
Youth Sailing Association
Preparations are busily being made as another program of youth sailing is scheduled for July. Weekly planning sessions meet on Tuesdays at Crabby Coffee at WiFire in Freeland or at Bayview Cash Store-Front Room at Bayview at 9:00 AM. Check the SWYC Website Calendar for each week’s location.
This award winning program, recognized through the region for its excellence, needs volunteers. The actual instructors are young people who have typically come up through the ranks of sailing students. We need adults to provide a little guidance. Typically, this involves signing up for a couple of hours at a time.
Additionally, YSA encourages our community of members to consider getting involved in the upper level of the leadership ranks. At some point, Bob Rodgers will want to pass the torch as he becomes the YSA Admiral Emeritus.
Registration for Sailing Classes
Youth and Adult Sailing Classes
Online Registration
April 18
You will be able to register for Youth Classes starting April 18 for our 2024 classes online at South Whidbey Parks and Recreation. These popular classes fill quickly! The youth classes often fill the first day. Please plan ahead.
Registration for Adult Classes is now open.
Learn more about our programs at SWYC Sailing Programs.
Safety Matters #11: De-Winterizing Your Boat by Clay Canfield
You did winterize your boat, right? ! Well, it’s time to de-winterize it for the upcoming boating season. I assume you put fuel stabilizer in your fuel tank and put a trickle-charger on the battery, among other things. Well, it’s time to do some pre-season checks including checking to make sure the battery is still functional.
The battery can be checked with either a multi-meter or I have a small meter with an LED readout that simply plugs into the outlet for the batter tender itself. For a marine battery to be fully charged the meter should read 13.2 – 13.4 Volts DC. Here is a link to a battery maintenance article I found useful: If the battery voltage is below 12.2 volts, it is only 50% charged. Below 12.0 volts, it is essentially dead. Immediately after charging, the battery will indicate a higher, “surface” or “bulk” charge, so it is best to wait half an hour or so for the surface charge to dissipate and reveal what is sometimes called a “Float” voltage.
Your fuel is another potential issue, whether it is gasoline or diesel. Gasoline can accumulate condensation over the winter months which will obviously cause problems when trying to start in the spring. I recommend adding a product like Heet to the fuel tank prior to starting the engine to absorb any moisture that has accumulated in the tank. For diesels, there is always the potential for microbials to grow in the tank. This can begin to gum up your fuel injectors if not removed early. Since I have very little knowledge of diesel fuel systems, here is a link to one article that addresses some of the issues.
Beyond these two critical items, it comes down to cleaning the debris off the boat, leaving the heater inside until night-time temperatures are higher, and checking any other systems that may have been affected by lower temperatures and higher humidity.
Wishing you a safe boating season!
New Member: Michelle Connor
Michelle Connor retired not long ago as the head of a prominent Seattle-based land conservation trust. Enchanted by our island, she now lives in a cottage in Coupeville. Chatting with her revealed a lot of passion for the outdoors (backpacking, kayaking, and cycling).
Not long ago, Michelle purchased a Gig Harbor Boat Works Melonseed skiff. Not having experience with this type of craft, she luckily encountered Michael Scott on the beach at Holmes Harbor. She and Michael took a spin in the boat so that he could provide a bit of instruction.
New Members: Leslie Flohr & Greg Mackey
Although rooted in Seattle and beyond for the last several years, Leslie and Greg have just completed building a house on Whidbey. They are looking to meet others who share their interests in kayaking, canoeing, and motorboats. Greg seeks to expand his interests to sailing. He was very glad to learn about SWYC’s Adult Sailing class. He intends to enroll.
Leslie has retired from the art consultancy profession. Greg continues to work as a fisheries scientist.
New Member: Kerry Kurtz
Kerry told us a little about herself in her application:
“I am a Thai massage therapist who has resided on Whidbey island since 2009. After playing pickleball with several kayaking members of SWYC, I decided to purchase a kayak and join in on the water time fun.”
New Member: Judy Hucka
Judy supplied a very complete personal profile in her membership application:
“I am an experienced sailor (racing and cruising, big boats and small) and intermediate kayaker. My sailing days are pretty much behind me, but I want to do a lot of kayaking on Whidbey Island, primarily short day trips. I have talked to Barb Grimlund about my experience and my kayak type. For years, I owned a Santana 525 racing sailboat. Now I have an Eddyline Caribbean 12′ sit on top kayak. Mainly interested in fair weather kayaking.”
After a career in journalism in which she reported for various papers including The Seattle Times, Judy transitioned to work as a web site user experience expert.
New Member: Bill Tytus
Bill added this profile to his application:
“As a Sandy Hook Yacht Club Estates resident and former owner of Pocock Racing Shells I have spent my lifetime with boats. I have considerable experience rowing, sailing, motoring and cruising a large part of the NW area.”
If Bilgerat should ever found himself in a lifeboat, he hopes Bill will be aboard, manning the oars.
Monthly Membership Meeting
Speaker: Nigel Foster
Iceland by Kayak
6:30 pm on Wednesday, April 17
Greenbank Progressive Club (And Zoom)
Greenbank Progressive Club (And Zoom)
Nigel Foster set off in 1977, with his friend Geoff Hunter, to explore Iceland, a country of just 222,000 people, in kayaks of his own design. Hear Nigel tell his amusing stories from that, the first circumnavigation of Iceland by kayak.
Rewind to a time before dry suits, cellphones, home computers, or World Wide Web; twenty years before Google came onto the scene. With no hand-held waterproof VHF radios, or GPS, and no way to remotely access a weather forecast, who’s up for curried seagull?
Nigel’s presentation expands on some of the stories he tells in his newly released book, Iceland by Kayak.
About Nigel
Nigel Foster is an internationally renowned sea kayaker. He became hooked on surf kayaking as a teenager, soon adding whitewater, sea kayaking, and open canoe, but became known for his sea kayaking expeditions, including the first circumnavigation of Iceland.
A qualified teacher, Nigel taught in Outdoor Education Centers, including the National Watersports Center in Wales, before branching out to make his living instructing and guiding around the world. He also designs kayaks and kayaking equipment, most recently for Point65 Sweden.
He has published more than a dozen technical and travel books, in addition to countless magazine articles. His latest book is Iceland by Kayak.
Nigel lives in Seattle with his wife, ceramic artist Kristin Nelson. Otherwise, he enjoys spinning around in a little red canoe, and playing guitar, but not at the same time.
Check him out at Nigel Kayaks.
You can also learn a little more from his recent interview in Paddler Magazine.
Meeting ID: 859 4678 2578, Passcode: nfoster
April is Whidbey Earth and Ocean Month by Commodore Bruce Morris
We strongly encourage all members of SWYC to attend the WHIDBEY EARTH & OCEAN MONTH 2024 kickoff “fair” on April 20th, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Commons in Coupeville. We are hoping a number of you will volunteer to help at our table where we will provide information about all of our activities. Maybe come by at 9:00 am and help us set up? We will have some kayaks and hopefully a Laser or Pelican there. This will be a great opportunity to show the community our many social and boating opportunities. Learn more about the effort here.
In the News
Locally Constructed Viking Boat (sans Vikings)
Did you know that a world-famous shipwright on Fidaldo Island has just completed construction of a lapstrake Viking boat? Even better, one of our own members, Letty Curvers, assisted in the build. Pretty cool! You can admire the craftsmanship of Letty and the main builder, Jay Smith, at Anacortes Today. And you can read about Jay Smith on his website. More photos also available in a KOMO Facebook post.
Opening Day
Opening Day
Sunday, May 5
3:00 – 6:00
Pole Barn @ County Fairgrounds
Plan to join us for our Opening Day festivities. This event is a happy hour/social in which we will show off the SWYC Programs for this year. Sailors and Landlubbers are all invited. Booths will be set up with representatives from club sponsored activities so you can find out how to get involved with these programs. These activities include Cruising, Kayaking, Racing (Pelicans & Lasers), Youth Sailing, and Windward Women. Come find your bliss!
Each booth will feature some chili for tasting and voting. There will be a prize for the best chili. We will also have IPA on tap. Please help by bringing potluck items to add, such as cornbread, lasagna, salad, snacks, drinks & dessert. It is Cinco de Mayo so be creative! Bowls for the chili and cups for the beer will be provided but otherwise BYOE (bring your own everything).
Yes, you can dress as a pirate, and the big question is: Can our Commodore pull the sword from the stone?
Any questions please call Bob Shepard.
Aquapalooza
Rear Commodore Phil Simon’s First Annual Aquapalooza
Saturday, May 17
Langley Marina
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!
Go to Aquapalooza event details for more information.
All Things Nautical Garage Sale - July 6
Who doesn’t like a good garage sale (especially the ones with fishing and boating items) and Whidbey Island is home to lots of good ones! One of the best is the Lagoon Point community’s July 4 weekend garage sale. This year the SWYC is planning to hold a marine/boating related garage sale at Phil Simon’s Lagoon Point property in conjunction with the community garage sale on Saturday July 6. It should be a great opportunity to lighten your load and make a little coin by getting that unused or little used boating and fishing “stuff” out of your garage or shed (or boat.) We do need help though. Before fully committing we would like to make sure there is enough interest in participating and as well as enough volunteers to staff the sale. We will be following up with a survey to gauge your interest. Please contact Dan Mooney if you have any questions or comments.
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!
Looking for SWYC clothing, hats or gifts for the summer? Head to our Land’s End SWYC store for a wide selection of apparel and accessories. Two different SWYC logos plus Windward Women logos to choose from. Make your customized selection and order on line.
Click here: Land’s End Store
Or, you can choose a 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.
Visors from Savage Screen Printing and Embroidery
These are examples of some of the products that Savage Screen Printing and Embroidery, in Clinton, is able to create for you locally.
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