Commodore's Message
As has become our recent practice, the January Club meeting featured a report out from each our interest group fleet captains on the highlights from last year and the plans for 2025. If you were able to attend you would have seen the amazing amount and diversity of activities our little Yacht Club offers. I like to say we “punch above our weight”. It certainly made me want to go out and get involved in even more of the fun and cool activities and events planned for this year. So let me just encourage you to consider getting out of your lane and trying something new too. You will find all of the interest groups very welcoming of new participants. It’s also a great way to expand your network and get to know more Club members. If you haven’t already done so try attending one of our monthly Club meetings. It’s a chance to mingle during the potluck and enjoy an interesting talk afterwards. If you can’t make it in person attending by Zoom is a fine option too. I certainly hope to meet and get to know more of our members this year as well.
January is also the time to renew your membership for the year. We are pleased to announce the annual fee will remain the same for both individual and family memberships. Its got to be one of the best deals on a “Yacht Club” membership around!
Commodore Dan
Oak Harbor Marina News by Vice-Commodore John Porter
Oak Harbor Marina has a dredging project scheduled for 2025. It’s to be completed by June 1, 2026.
The marina was last dredged in 2010 and 2011. During the dredging operation, various structures will
be removed, pilings removed or replaced, and five sunk barges would be exhumed. It’s an expensive
proposition with estimates in the range of $8.7 million to $11.4 million. A separate project to dredge the
channel to the marina comes with a price tag of $50 million. We’re talking real money.
No one disputes the need to dredge. The discussion comes in how to fund it, how deep to dredge (14 ft is as deep as most equipment can dredge), and whether to do just the fairways or the complete bottom.
A Marine Advisory Council is working with the City of Oak Harbor to fine tune options.
Numerous funding ideas include becoming a Port District, B&O tax, grants, bonds, Navy, federal and
local funding, and marina slip rate increases. Generally, everyone agrees they want the Marina to
continue, it’s just how to get there. Every marina in the Puget Sound is over 50 years old and requires
substantial maintenance at much higher costs. Funny how older things need more attention.
Larger boats pay more towards a marina’s bottom line. The Marina is considering reconfiguring the
west side of “B” dock and the east side of “D” dock to side tie for larger boats. This would increase
revenue. Current slip prices are far below comparable slips throughout the region.
Having a viable Oak Harbor Marina is important to our Island, our Club, and the Oak Harbor Yacht Club
(OHYC). We’ll be reaching out to OHYC to combine our efforts in seeing the Marina improve. As
members of the South Whidbey Yacht Club, you’ll know how and when to get involved. Letters are
good, direct involvement in the seats at a City Council meeting are better! So Standby………….more
information is coming.
While important, I know dredging isn’t the most interesting topic. So, as this is my first official Vice
Commodore communique, I promise more exciting ones in the future! We have a full year of incredible
events ahead!
Vice-Commodore John Porter
Remembering Pat Sasson
With the recent death of Pat Sasson, the South Whidbey Yacht Club has lost an esteemed member. Pat’s husband, Ken, founded the Yacht Club and inspired his friends to join him in his dream of making boating accessible to all. Pat was committed to fulfilling Ken’s mission. After Ken died, Pat remained active in the Club as a Founding Member. The March Newsletter will feature an article about Pat, complete with photos and remembrances from friends and family.
SWYC Supports New Charity for 2025
This year the club will be helping to raise funds and awareness for the Whidbey Veterans Resource Center. Some of our members are already very involved with this esteemed organization. Here is more information on how to support WVRC.
According to their website:
Our mission is to connect, educate, and serve Veterans, their families and communities.
Programs and benefits are available to them through the Veterans Administration and our local volunteer organization.
We provide veterans and their families with van transportation to off island medical appointments.
We network with existing veteran services organizations, community groups and churches to reach out to veterans and their families in need.
In addition, by partnering with other non-profits, we provide opportunities for veterans to serve youth and other non-veterans in need in our community.
A non-profit, 501(c)3 volunteer organization dedicated to serving U.S. military veterans,
The Whidbey Veterans Resource Center is located at 723 Camano Ave, Room 403, Building C in Langley, WA.
Kayaking by Co-Fleet Captains Nina Fitts and Diane Lagerstedt
The kayak fleet kicked off the New Year with a bang, meeting on January 6 at Diane Lagerstedt’s home to map out our calendar for the upcoming year. We had a fantastic turn out of 30 people all eager to volunteer to organize monthly paddles and events for the 2025 kayak season. Sign-up sheets were passed around and we have the framework for filling up our annual calendar. We had a fun and productive evening with lots of good energy!
Check back in with us in early spring as we start to get back on the water with self rescue practice, plus training with marine VHF radios and apps to assess wind, tide and currents and a shake down paddle. Kayak events will be posted via the Group Me invitation and listed on the SWYC website calendar as they get planned.
Our two main calendar events are:
• Kayak camping/paddling trip at Fort Flagler State Park on Marrowstone Island, organized by member Barb Grimlund, June 22-24, 2025. This trip event invitation has already posted on Group Me so please check out the details and rsvp directly on Group Me.
• Orcas Island/West Beach Resort Kayaking Trip. September 18-21, 2025.
Windward Women by Fleet Captain Katy Shaner
Happy New Year Windward Women. Let’s get together and celebrate the coming year. 2024 was a very active year for the Windwards with hikes throughout the island, tours of local treasures, socials at Windward Women’s homes and even a book discussion.
Let’s plan for a continually active year in 2025 at our first social of the year. It is a sips and dips potluck at the home of Ann Christensen on Sunday, February 2 from 2:00 – 4:00.
All women of the SWYC are invited to participate. If you are interested in being involved in this planning social, contact Katy Shaner, Fleet Captain of the Windward Women.
Sailing / Racing
Laser and Pelican racing are on winter hiatus. Planning continues behind the scenes as our racing leads start to think about 2025. If you have ideas or wish to participate in the planning, reach out to Zak Malbin or Carol Dean for Lasers or Bill Brown for Pelicans
Cruising by Fleet Captains Jim and Kathy Rogers
Come join our Cruisers’ Zoom Meeting on Wednesday, January 29, at 5:00 PM PST to help us plan the 2025 SWYC CRUISES. We have a blank canvas to work with. We would love to hear your suggestions for cruises for this boating season, beginning with the annual “Shakedown Cruise” in May. Kathy and Jim will be coordinating the Cruise Schedule and are looking for volunteers to lead individual cruises to Salish Sea destinations of your choosing. Hope to “see” you on Jan. 29. Contact Jim or Kathy Rogers for the Zoom link.
In the meantime, if anyone is interested in any off-season cruising, reach out to our Group Me Cruising Group to find fellow cruisers. Not on the Group Me Cruising Group? Contact Jim or Kathy Rogers to get added.
Safety Matters #18: Why We Teach Sailing by Clay Canfield
Sailing, more than any other sport, teaches skills that are useful throughout one’s entire life. In order
to sail, one must learn safety skills, some geometry, situational awareness, some rudimentary principles
of physics, knots, hand-eye coordination, operation of a complex piece of equipment, balance, how one’s
movements affect the boat, and how to make the forces of nature work for you, among others. It is a very
good idea to be a proficient swimmer.
We are not interested in making yachtsmen or yachtswomen out of our sailors. Rather, we are
interested in giving them the experience and self-confidence that comes from simultaneously integrating a
number of variables, including wind direction, water hazards, nearby boats, tides, currents, sail trim,
rudder trim, boat balance, and weather, while maintaining an acute awareness of where they are and how
they are going to reach their destination.
Proficient sailing requires the participant to reach beyond previous limits, make decisions quickly, and
couple them with proper execution of complex actions. As sailors move from a one-person dinghy to a
two-person boat, and on up to a keelboat with a crew of several, they are also required to learn
teamwork, command protocol, mechanical systems such as engines, winches, and navigation, plus crew
overboard recovery, block and tackle systems, radio procedures, and a host of other related skills.
Once they start sailing on the sound, and if they go out into the ocean, they experience high
adventure, acquiring a sense of humility and respect by enduring the uncertainty, the power, the hazards,
and the grace of nature’s various forces.
Eventually, if they are interested, they may begin racing, which requires them to fine tune their sailing
skills, reach well beyond perceived limits, endure foul weather, test themselves alongside the skills of
other boat crews, and experience the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. Along the way, they
develop character, perseverance, endurance and self-confidence. As they reach each level, it becomes
clear that they have learned, experienced, and accomplished much more than their peers who remain
ashore.
Coming Events
2025 Membership Renewals
You should have received an email reminder to renew your membership for 2025. The email includes a link that will take you directly to the renewal screen. Alternatively, just point your web browser to the SWYC home page. Then navigate to the Current Members section (see pics, below). You will be prompted to log in. If you have trouble logging in, let Bilge Rat know via email.
Fort Flagler Camping and Kayaking – All Members Welcome!
Camping & Kayaking at Fort Flagler State Park on Marrowstone Island
Sunday, June 22 – Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Come join the SWYC kayakers for 2 nights and 3 days of kayaking and playing at Fort Flagler State Park. All SWYC members are invited, whether you are a kayaker or not. If you’re not a kayaker or if conditions aren’t great to be kayaking on the water, there is sailing, trails to hike, bike paths to ride, beaches to walk, and cideries, eateries, galleries and shopping to explore in nearby Chimicum and Port Townsend. If you are a boater, there is a boat launch and limited moorage. We’ll all share group dinners and camaraderie telling sea tales by the campfire. Something for everyone!
The Wagon Wheel group campsite has been reserved and has plenty of sites for our SWYC group, with a 25-vehicle limit. There’s a large covered picnic shelter, two BBQ’s, multiple fire rings, two vault toilets and potable water access. Campers and trailers are welcome, but there are no electric hook-ups. The group site is private and apart from the general campground. It’s ~3/4 mile from the boat launch, but we also have a single campsite site reserved near the boat launch where we can store our kayaks overnight, if preferred. We’ll split the cost of the campsites once we know how many are coming.
If you prefer a single campsite in the general campground, and then just joining the group for activities, be sure to make your campsite reservations now. The sites are reserving fast. Also, make your reservations for the Coupeville to Port Townsend ferry. The spring reservation schedule opens March 23. Mark your calendars.
Ready for some fun and adventure? Let Barb Grimlund know if you are interested in this trip to ensure you are on all future communications for this outing.
2025 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 snazzy SWYC clothes for the upcoming spring /summer boating season? Or maybe hats, canvas tote bags, aprons, towels or throws for the boat or home? 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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