204 Play – February 2020 Newsletter
Commodore’s Corner
Greetings to all. Warm wishes to all Hobie Sailors in Central New York. Actually, all this warmth might be overdoing it. This is not the regular winter weather we are used to. Skiers are getting by, and plow operators are struggling to get the snow they need. Meanwhile, we Hobie sailors are saying, “Just a couple degrees warmer and we can go sailing on Oneida!!”
Before sailing on water, we need to come together and get a great CNY Boat Show going. Darcie of South Bay Sails and Kayaks has a signup doc on Facebook for everyone to sign up. The signup was first up on Sat. 2/1. As of Feb 3, there was one name. Our website will direct you to the same doc as on Facebook. Rob and Darcie count on support and we should not let them down. Sign up today!
Looking at our calendar, we have the 44th Madcatter just around the corner in May. This is our premier event. We expect a big turnout of competitors, lots of fun, and great weather. (Well, two out of three ain’t bad.) A signup sheet for committees will be available at the February meeting. I am counting on those who helped last year to do the same this year. How you help is not in stone, changes are fine, but we need your support. Be sure to be a part of the experience!
In addition to Madcatter, there are more regattas in the Division area: Oswego, Saratoga, and Hooper’s Harbor. There are even more regattas in NJ, DE, CT and the 2020 Hobie 16 North American’s will be in September 14-18 in Michigan City, IN.
February meeting is 2/11/2020. Time is 7:30p. Place is Borio’s. Put it on your calendar and meet with your Hobie friends. It’ll make you feel closer to summer!
Sail on warm winds.
Commodore David
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204 Play – February 2020 Newsletter
Fleet 204 Meeting Minutes January 14, 2020 Submitted by Theresa White, Secretary
Commodore Dave Witmer opened the meeting at Borio’s Restaurant at 7:45 pm and welcomed the 16 members in attendance. Only two officers were in attendance: Our Vice-Commodore Tom was in a warm place somewhere and Treasurer Bill was at Bluster on the Bay or on a cruise or something.
We all had a moment of silence for Chuck Borio, a long time supporter of our Fleet who passed away suddenly January 6. We will all miss him.
Secretary Report – Fluffy said that last month’s minutes were included in the newsletter. People thought that they were mostly correct. Someone thought that there was a correction, but we couldn’t remember what it is. Rob moved that we accept the minutes and Katiee seconded the motion. We accepted the minutes.
Treasurer Report –Bill Whalen sent his report via Commodore Dave. Bill said that we still have money. You should pay your dues anyway; the 2020 dues are now due. Four people have already paid, so if you haven’t, you’re behind. The dues are only $50 per family. Membership is important; please make your check out to Hobie Cat Fleet 204, and mail it to the attention of Bill Whalen, Treasurer, 8254 Honeysuckle Dr., Liverpool, NY 13090. Rob moved that we accept the Treasurer’s report, and Darcie seconded the motion. The report was approved.
Division Update - No updates from either Div. 16 Chair, Ken Knapp or Robbin Mocarski – HCA Woman’s Rep, as neither could make the meeting. Both of them say (via their spouses), “Mark your calendar for upcoming events and go sailing”!
Old Business – Purchase of Electronic Race Starter, Regatta Box – To be ordered in the spring; we’re still waiting to purchase the timer. Bill Whalen will order so that we get the maximum warrantee. We circulated the pool again, because the ice is STILL not formed! The Ice ON the Lake pool went around for $1 for a day. Good for one month only, because who knows if the lake will freeze this year. Rob wanted to put $1 on the lake not freezing. We decided that the bets could only happen once a month.
New Business – Press release to announce Worlds results. Kevin Walma volunteered to write it to try to get people into the boat show. We’re all in favor. Fluff will check Kevin’s grammar. He’ll need pictures from the Worlds, so if you have them, send them to him.
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204 Play – February 2020 Newsletter
Madcatter 44 will be a lot like 43. So, Madcatter committee chairs: If you don’t want to do what you did last time, please let Dave know. Dave and Rob will work together to get the NOR posted - the sooner the better. We’ll work on the $ for 44, after we talk to Bill W, should he ever stop travelling long enough to tell us. Our costs are the same at the park (even after Burning Man), but we’re worried about the cost of the tent because the company that we had been using seems to have gone out of business. Bruce will look into it. Katie has been busy with the Sponsorship Committee. We have sponsor forms! With 2-3 more sponsors than last year, we could be in the gravy (helping the sheriff’s boat camp). Lynn wondered about the timing of last year’s responses. Katie said that she was beating the bushes and that there were possibilities with other sponsors. It’s worth noting that the sponsorship is no longer just for Madcatter, instead it’s for all of the regattas that we support. In essence, it’s an annual sponsorship with web presence. We were concerned about the fact that we don’t have a charitable status (despite acting like one) and we also wondered about whether the HCA now has a charitable status. Madcatter 45 - homecoming. Erika K. came up with the idea of trying to get the Fleet kids to come home to Madcatter next year. We would need to track them down and invite them by saying something like “Now that you’re legal - come back and enjoy Madcatter!” People were generally in favor of the idea. Facebook - Thanks to Hondo, Fleet 204 now has two groups: One closed group for members, and one for the general public. The closed group “Hobie Fleet 204 group” is private (or the group grope, as it was called at the meeting) for fleet members. The open “Hobie Fleet 204 center” is the welcome center (page) for new people and is available to all. We should post our NORs in the welcome center page, and she’d like the page to look inviting. Hondo will set it up while she’s watching the Jerry’s dogs this weekend. If you build it, they will come. Bruce will help her with pictures on smugmug. Bob also offered to share some pictures. The old ones are probably a little blurry - go figure. Hondo self-appointed herself social media person, and we heartily approved. So, if you’re wearing your gear, take a picture and send it to her. Boat Show Details - South Bay Sails and Kayaks needs your help in setting up the display on the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before the show, which is the 17th– 23rd, and the Fleet still needs your help to tell other people about the fun of Hobie sailing at the show that goes on during the 20th -23rd. It will be in the Expo Center, in the new building at the Fairgrounds. The 43 North booth is in a different building - the Toyota building exhibit center. The fleet should support both of these sponsors. To do that, Hondo set up a Boat Show signup in a google doc. It’s on the closed group Facebook page, with a link to sign up for slots. Get going and sign up to help out!
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204 Play – February 2020 Newsletter
Website management meeting will be held on Sat Jan 25 at 10 a.m. with a small select group of people at Bill Whalen’s house. We’ll evaluate software, and look at who has the ability to modify the website. Part of the conversation will be how to get the information to the people who can post it. Sheriff’s camp on Keuka Lake - They are pulling the boats out on June 13- Can we make June 20 – a help them day? We want to help them get the boats together for their campers on the 28th.
Rob motioned for adjournment, but he was declared out of order.
Wave North Americans? Mimi asked us to host a North Americans event for the Wave class. The last couple of years, it’s been about 15-19 boats. We could combine it with another class, but we should consider it. We have a bunch of active Wave sailors, and we could probably get a good group of people for it. We’re thinking about a 3-day (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) event with a clinic (Thursday) on Oneida Lake. Rob moved that we set up a committee to investigate it. Bruce seconded the motion. Motion carried and will look into it. Dave will form a committee to figure it out - especially where and when.
Safety Report - Safety Coordinator, Mimi The thunder and lightning on the lake a few weeks ago were incredible, but lightning and Hobie Cats don’t mix. So, know the weather when you sail, if you possibly can. Sometimes, on Oneida Lake, the Yacht Club will sound a horn to let you know that the storm is coming. Whether you hear the horn or not, when you see lightning, the most important thing to do is not to panic. Is the lightening really close to you or not? One option might be to try to out run the storm, to try to sail quickly to the nearest shore, and then get away from the boat. If you’re totally engulfed in the storm, flip the boat (not necessarily full turtle - even to lay it on the water will help), and stay with it. At least by doing that, the lightning rod won’t be in the air
Training Coordinator Update - Even though neither Tom or Herb were at the meeting, Bruce had an important topic. NYS now has laws on operating motor boats. You now have to have taken a safety training course if you are 26 or younger - and by 2025, everyone will need it. Kevin will be having training sessions at 43 North Marina, but there may also be ones online.
Past Regatta Updates / Reports – We didn’t go to any regattas last month! We’ll try to do better next time.
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204 Play – February 2020 Newsletter
Future Regattas and Important Dates 1/18 – 1/20 Bluster on the Bay (MLK weekend) – St. Petersburg, FL 1/30-2/2 Charlotte Harbor - Port Charlotte, FL 2/20-2/23 CNY Boat Show - Fairgrounds March 30-April 1 – No joke! It’s the H14 NACs in Ocean Springs, MS April 3-5 Hobie 14 NACs and Mid-Winters East Ocean Springs, MS May 2-3 - Gunpowder May 16-17 - Madcatter May 30-31 - Shore Acres June 6 – Come Sail with Us Day June 13 -14 - Spray Beach regatta & Wave NAs, 12-14 June 20 – Help the Sherriff’s Camp June 20-21 - Rock Hall (Multi-hull event, not Hobie regatta) July 4 - Statue of Liberty Race July 18-19 - Barnegat Breezer July 25-26 - Hooper's Aug 15-16 - Sandy Hook Atlantic Highlands Aug 22-23 - Oswego - not confirmed Aug 29-30 - Canandaigua, CMOR (Div 16) Aug 29-30 - Lewes (Div 11, conflicts with Canandaigua right now) Sept 14-18 - 16/20 NACs, Michigan City, MI Sept 26-27 Fall Classic RBSA, Dewey Beach - tentative Oct 3-4 Fall - Fall Classic RBSA, Dewey Beach - tentative
Social Updates – Christmas Party at Herb and Sharon’s was great! A good time was had by all. Many thanks to the James family for hosting. Superbowl/Groundhog’s Day Party – Feb 2, 2020 –the party will be at Fluff and Pat’s house [224 Ridgecrest Rd., Dewitt, NY 13214]. Standard fleet party – dish and drink. Hondo is trying to get a group of people up for Trivia at the Hot House Brewery on January 23rd. Why not come out and see how you do?
Rob motioned for adjournment at 8:52, and Ian seconded it. The Commodore declared the meeting closed.
Next Meeting is February 11th, 2020 at 7:30 p.m., at Borio’s.
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204 Play – February 2020 Newsletter
Hey! Where Ya Gonna Keep Your Sails? There is a sail tube available at Therre's Marina this year. #27 can be yours to own for only $200. Contact Bob Longo or Bruce Krupke ([email protected]) if you are interested in purchasing this spacious, clean sail tube. Make life easier! Store your sails securely this season.
Paid Your Dues Yet? Renew your membership in both Fleet 204 (pay at a meeting – or use the attached form) AND in HCANA (www.hcanamembers.com) for 2020! Thanks again for supporting the Hobie Class!
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204 Play – February 2020 Newsletter
Membership Information Form
Address Information
Last Name Home Phone
Address Home e-mail
Address
City, State, Zip (Country) His Hers
Name Name
Phone Phone
e-mail e-mail
Delivery options: e-mail (Please double check your e-mail addresses above)
[Send information to Theresa (Fluffy) White, 224 Ridgecrest Rd., Syracuse, NY 13214]
Membership Summary The membership statuses are: Complimentary or Regular. Regular ($50.00) says you and your immediate family have opted to take advantage of all that Fleet 204 has to offer, fleet races, newsletters, parties, the Labor Day Outing, etc. Each February, your membership status reverts to Complimentary until your dues are received. Please mail your dues (checks only please, payable to Hobie Cat Fleet 204) to us with your membership information. Contacts Commodore: Dave Witmer, [email protected], (315) 380-4230, 4782 Royal Meadow Dr., Liverpool, NY 13088 Vice-Commodore: Tom Korzeniewski, [email protected], 315-952-2040, 7192 Buckley Road, Liverpool, NY 13088 Secretary: Theresa White, [email protected], 224 Ridgecrest Rd.., Syracuse, NY 13214 Treasurer: Bill Whalen, [email protected], 315-622-0823, 8254 Honeysuckle Dr., Liverpool, NY 13090 Social Director: Mimi Appel, [email protected], 315-246-2441, 3357 Collins Road, Marcellus, NY 13108 Youth Membership: Trey James, [email protected], 6819 Yacht Club Rd., Cicero, NY 13039 Newsletter & Membership: Theresa (Fluffy) White, [email protected], 315-345-4303, 224 Ridgecrest Rd, Syracuse, NY 13214 Fleet Website: http://www.fleet204.com/ Where are we: During the sailing season (approximately late April through late August), we can be found on Thursday evenings sailing out of Therre’s Marina and the Caster residence, 6725 Lakeshore Road, Clay, NY 13041. Preparations usually start about 5:00pm with white flag at 6:00pm. Launching facilities may be found at Therre’s. Take South Bay road to Oneida Lake, turn left, and you’re there – first Caster’s, then Therrre’s Marina.
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204 Play Hobie Cat Fleet 204 224 Ridgecrest Rd. Syracuse, NY 13214
Address Service Requested
Next meeting is Feb. 11th at 7:30 pm at Borio’s Restaurant Lakeshore Road Cicero, NY