Commodore's Message
Dan Mooney
Another busy summer for the South Whidbey Yacht Club of cruising, sailing, paddling and social activities is coming to an end. Thanks again to all who participated and helped to make these events possible. We will be returning to our normal meeting cadence for September and October with General Club Meetings on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at Freeland Hall starting at 6:30 PM.
Our September meeting will feature Jim Pivarnic, Executive Director of the Port of South Whidbey speaking on the Port’s vision for the next 50 years and our October meeting will be preceded by a New Member Orientation/Social. The New Member Orientation is an opportunity to meet Board Members and fleet captains and learn more about all the Club has to offer. It will be held in the small conference room at Freeland Hall from 5:00 to 6:00 on Wednesday October 21 prior to the General Meeting. If you are a new member and have not had the opportunity to attend a New Member Orientation, please consider joining us for this one.
November is the month we install the new Board for the upcoming year at our Commodore’s Gala. That means we are looking now for people who are willing to serve on the Board. Mike Mroz is serving as this year’s Nominating Committee Chair and the committee is in the process of putting together the slate of candidates. If that is something you might be interested in doing, please let Mike or me or one of the other Board members to let us know.
Vice-Commodore's Report
John Porter
Coming Events
September General Meeting
Jim Pivarnik, Executive Director, Port of South Whidbey
Wednesday, September 16
Freeland Hall or Zoom
6 :30 pm – Sips ‘n Dips, Socializing
7:00 pm – Meeting & Speaker
Please join us for an update from Jim Pivarnik, Executive Director of the Port of South Whidbey, on the Port’s vision for the next 50 years.
The Port plays an important role in maintaining public access to South Whidbey’s waterfront—from South Whidbey Harbor and our boat ramps to Possession Beach, Clinton Beach and other community facilities. Jim will share what the Port is working on today, what’s coming next, and how planned investments will help preserve and improve the waterfront for boaters and the entire South Whidbey community.
The presentation will also highlight upcoming projects, capital improvements, and opportunities to strengthen our connection to the water for generations to come.
New Member Open House
&
Orientation
For any of our newer members who have not had the opportunity to participate in an orientation, you are invited to meet with club leaders 90 minutes before the October general membership.
Wednesday, October 21
Freeland Hall, Lower Conference Room
5 :00 pm – 6:00 pm
Kayaking by Co-Fleet Captains Nina Fitts and Diane Lagerstedt
August was filled with wonderful paddling opportunities for SWYC paddlers. It started off with the second Sinclair Island kayak/camping trip hosted by Barb and Pete Grimlund. We thank them profusely for sharing their beautiful property with our group. We did not have the picture perfect conditions of the July Sinclair trip but instead were challenged by wind and waves which we successfully navigated as a group. The wild fire smoke rolled in across the area and we also opted out of some would be paddles based upon conditions outside of our comfort zone. But we were rewarded with favorable and fun conditions for our return paddle to Guemes Island through the Cone Islands and everyone enjoyed the nature walks, salmon fishing from the shore, extra naps and delicious beachside dinners.
Our SWYC paddlers also spent time day paddling around Bowman Bay soaking in the splendor of high cliffs, kelp beds, dancing feeder fish and swanking pigeon guillemot’s. Delightful conditions made this a picture perfect day on the water. The following week we launched from Possession Point to check in on the kelp crabs we are so fond of seeing from the side of our kayaks. A little more wind heading out on this paddle made for a nice, wave surfing, return paddle from the kelp beds.
Early September paddles were canceled due to weather and safety concerns but we are all eagerly anticipating the annual West Beach Orcas trip.
Upcoming Events
(Please RSVP on the Group Me event calendar if you plan on attending any of these events.)
West Beach Orcas Island, Sep 17 – 20 : Enjoy daily kayaking paddles from West Beach Resort or other locations on or around Orcas Island, hiking, biking, potluck dinner, golden hour sips and dips, beach fires with S’mores, group dinner at a local restaurant, shopping and more! There is so much to do on Orcas Island. Be sure to book your reservation at West Beach quickly if you haven’t already reserved it. There are cabins, glamping tents, camping facilities and moorage for boats. There are also alternative accommodations in the area if West Beach is full. Others have stayed at neighboring Beach Haven or rented Air BnB’s and joined the group for group activities. Don’t forget to make your roundtrip ferry reservations. RSVP for the trip on the Kayaking Group Me chat or let Diane Lagerstedt or Nina Fitts know you’re coming to receive additional trip communications.
Witches and Warlocks kayak paddle in Coupeville, Oct 17 – 11am-2pm.
Don your best witchy/warlocky hat for a wickedly good time of “Practical Magic”.
Annual Kayaks, Kazoos and Caroling, Dec 12 : Decorate your kayak for a joyful and festive paddle around Deer Lake followed by hot chocolate and cider at Ann and Dale Christenson’s home.
Windward Women
by Fleet Co-Captains Ann Christensen, Gayle Austin and Mary Stewart
Recent Activities
On August 19th, the Windward Women hosted the annual August Summer Social at the Organic Farm School. All SWYC members were invited and the turn out passed our expectations. The farm provided delicious wood fired pizza for all. The socializing continued up until almost dark as everyone enjoyed the idyllic setting. An extra bonus was a trip to the sheep pasture and interesting talk about the project from our guide. A very relaxing, enjoyable time for all.
On Sept 11, Gwen Coughenour led a group of four WW on a hike around Heart Lake in the Anacortes Community Forest lands. After the four mile expedition, the group met for lunch at Anthony’s near the marina. By all reports, it was a very enjoyable outing.
Coming Activities
Our last event in September is a guided tour of the Keystone Farm and Forest Preserve on September 23. The Land Trust purchased this 228 acre preserve in 2023 and they are partnering with the Organic Farm School to develop sustainable farming along with other projects such as building trails and restoration of native plants and forests. It has incredible views and ⅔ of a mile of coastline. The property is significant for its contributions to salmon recovery and climate resilience. Attendance is limited so sign up soon!
Remember, you can always go on the SWYC website for the calendar of WW activities.
All women of the SWYC are invited to participate in Windward Women activities.
Sailing / Racing
Pelican Fleet
Our racing season has concluded. Check out the results at Sailwave.
We have one last big Pelican event scheduled for Saturday, October 10: Pelican Fall Regatta. Check the calendar entry for details (time and place) in the next several days. You can also directly query Bill Brown who is pulling the event together.
Dinghy Fever - A Tribute to Fred & Don Smith
by Jill Brown
Then
Twenty years ago, I sat at Fred Smith’s kitchen table on Samish Island and asked him why the Pelican is his favorite boat. He explained that it doesn’t need a mooring – just put it on a trailer and take it with you. Here is the history of the San Francisco Pelican and the Smith Boat Works as told by Fred Smith.
For 50 years, Fred and his brother Don were the Pacific Northwest’s builders of San Francisco Pelicans. Don died a few years ago and Fred is now the unofficial historian, construction expert and all-around guru to Pelicaneers the world over.
Fred still has a copy of the original plans and a logbook containing information about every one of the 600+ Pelicans that were built in the Smith Boat Shop on Samish Island. The Boat Shop, actually a large shed, is heated by a woodstove. The small space is crammed with hand tools, bits of hardware and cans of varnish. It looks as if nothing has been changed since 1961.
In 1963, Fred read an article in Rudder magazine about a guy in California who designed a wooden 12-foot racing and cruising sailboat. He paid Bill Short $35 for a set of plans and the Smiths built their first Pelican in two weeks. Don was left-handed and Fred is right-handed so they could both work on the boat at the same time.
Although they had done very little sailing and no racing at all, Fred and Don loaded the boat onto a trailer and entered the West Coast Pelican Championships in San Francisco Bay. They finished in First Place, sold the boat and went home to build more Pelicans. They won the Championships three years in a row and retired the George Ingram Perpetual Trophy. “It was a good way to sell boats.” says Fred.
Some people say that the Pelican looks like a floating bathtub. Sailors call it the safest
12-foot sailboat ever designed. Fred defends the stubby little boat. “The Pelican is sort of an ugly duckling, but it’s like our own child. You got to love it.
I asked Fred how to make the boat go faster. His suggestions: practice with other Pelican sailors, carry your weight forward and tune your sails. The more stuff you load into it, the more stable it becomes. Fred swears that four people and a dog can cruise for a week with what they pack into their little boat.
Fred and Don built their first El Toro in 1965. “We needed more work.” says Fred. The brothers added the 8-foot wooden pram to their inventory. At one point, the Smith Boat Shop was the largest El Toro builder in the country. “We stopped counting after the first thousand.” The little boat is still popular for use in youth sailing programs. Many students learn on the El Toro and then move up to the Pelican.
Pelican Beach on Cypress Island is a Department of Natural Resources campsite. Pelicaneers have been pulling their boats up on the sand and camping here for many years. In 1983, local members banded together with the DNR to build a picnic shelter. When Cypress island was turned into a marine park, the nickname was made official. Pelican Beach is one of Fred Smith’s most gratifying achievements. “I feel like I’ve left my mark on the earth.” he says proudly.
Now
Fred turned 99 years old in August of this year. Neighbors and Pelicaneers turned up to wish him a Happy Birthday and reminisce about the old days, when the Smiths backyard regattas drew as many as 100 Pelicans and El Toros to race during the day and eat barbequed salmon in the evening. Fred Smith is a happy man. He says that he’s had a good life. “Not a rich life, but a good one.” He’s retired now but he keeps busy. He’s famous for his smoked salmon dinners and looks forward to the annual Pelican Christmas party. He loves visitors and he enjoys telling stories about the history of the Smith Boat Shop. He’s proud of all the trophies and photographs that cover the shelves of his small house, but he’s most proud of the gorgeous handmade wooden boat that sits in his front yard.
Fred is very pleased that the Pelican is still popular. “I’d have felt like a failure if the Pelican died before I did” he says. Thanks to the Smith brothers, that’s not ever likely to happen.
Laser Fleet
The final race of the season is scheduled for Tuesday, September 15. Launching at 4:30 pm. at Freeland Park in Holmes Harbor.
Results of previous races can be found at Sailwave.
Cruising by Fleet Captains Jim and Kathy Rogers
The cruisers just completed a perfect 4-night Fall Cruise to wrap up the planned SWYC cruises for the summer. Sunny weather, great friends, welcoming ports – and even picked up a fellow cruising companion in Gig Harbor who joined the group for the rest of their cruise. Ports visited were Elliot Bay Seattle, Gig Harbor Marina, Poulsbo, and Kingston. Thanks Kathy and Jim Rogers for planning and leading this last cruise.
View the Cruising Photo Album
Reciprocal News by Bruce Morris, Commodore Emeritus
SWYC had two notable burgee exchanges during the Summer Cruise to the San Juan Islands and Gulf Islands. In Friday Harbor, Rear Commodore George Bivoino exchanged burgees with Commodore Lee Kirby during a dinner at the San Juan Island Yacht Club clubhouse. At Fisherman’s Bay Vice Commodore John Porter exchanged burgees with Commodore Suzie Jennings at a reception hosted by the Lopez Island Yacht Club.
Safety Matters #33: Kayak Trip Planning
Clayton Canfield, SWYC Safety Officer
&
Kayak Co-Fleet Captain Diane Lagerstedt
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 weather.
- Research or visit launch area for hazards at the same tide as the planned launch.
- 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.
– Clay Canfield with the help of Diane Lagerstedt
Youth Sailing Association
YSA meets on Wednesday mornings. The fall meeting schedule and locations are still being planned. Check back to the club calendar in the next few weeks if you’d like to join the group.
2026 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
SWYC Merchandise
SWYC BURGEE EARRINGS
We now have SWYC burgee earrings for pierced ears. Each earring is 1.5 cm x 1 cm. The posts are hypoallergenic. Each pair is $10. See Barb Grimlund if you are interested in a pair for yourself or as a gift.
As the summer boating season winds down, start to get outfitted in SWYC logo’d apparel and accessories for the chillier fall weather. Looking for a heavier jacket? A sweatshirt or heavier hoodie? A warm vest or hat? Or maybe even a blanket?
Our local provider right here on South Whidbey is Washington Design Company, located in Clinton. Washington Design offers a broad range of SWYC-branded apparel and a quick turnaround.
There are three ways to shop at Washington Design Company:
- You can stop in at their store, see the apparel and hat assortments in store, choose an item and have the SWYC logo applied, or in some cases, order the item in a different color or size.
- You can bring in your own clean personal apparel or item and have the logo applied to it, or
- You can visit their website, choose an item and logo you prefer, then have it shipped to your address or pick it up at their shop across from Ken’s Corner.
Washington Design Company
Or visit the shop at : 11247 WA-525 in Clinton (Across from Ken’s Corner)
Land’s End Online Store
Copyright © 2026 South Whidbey Yacht Club, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.
Our mailing address is:
South Whidbey Yacht Club
PO Box 316
Greenbank, WA 98253