Celebrating 66 years 1943 – 2009

April 2009 www.ogyc.org

OGYC 2009 Launch Schedule

April 25 Mercury Prepare & Launch 9:00am First day of Launch Service 10:00am – 6:00pm April 26 - May 10 Commodore’s Saturdays & Sundays only 9:00am - 6:00pm May 11 & May 12 Mary Rappa Report 1:00pm - 6:00pm The Old Greenwich Yacht Club celebrates its 66th Annual Commissioning on Saturday, May 13 Wednesday May 2, 2009. All members are invited to attend the ceremony at 1:00pm sharp, and the Vespers Tune-up 1:00pm – 9:00pm cocktail reception immediately following at the clubhouse. This is the official opening of May 14 - May 15 the club for the Season. Guests include representatives from the State of Connecticut, 1:00pm – 6:00pm Town of Greenwich, local Yacht Clubs and many of our Past Commodores. Please join in the fun of this time-honored tradition and great celebration! May 16 & May 17 Saturday & Sunday 9:00am – 7:00pm The annual members work party is on Saturday, April 18 at 8:30 am. Everyone is encour- May 18 & May 19 aged to come down to prepare the clubhouse and fleet for the new season. Breakfast and hot coffee will be ready in the club beginning at 8:00am. With many hands, the necessary 1:00pm – 6:00pm tasks can be accomplished in a short period of time. It is also a great opportunity to enjoy May 20 the company of fellow members and make new friends. Vespers 1:00pm – 9:00pm Following the members work party is the Spring General Meeting, which begins at May 21 Noon. The Board of Directors will present the details of their plans for racing, , 1:00pm – 6:00pm cruising, and social events. This meeting is a forum for discussion on matters of general May 22 (Memorial Day) thru interest, and an opportunity for members to ask questions and make suggestions regard- September 7 (Labor Day) ing the future direction of the club. Monday thru Thursday 9:00am – 9:00pm Friday & Saturday 9:00am – 11:00pm Cruising Director Sheila Bennett has a Pot Luck Dinner scheduled for Sunday, April 19 at Sundays 9:00am – 10:00pm 5:00pm. Sailors who wish to chart itineraries for cruising Long Island Sound this summer Sept.8 – Oct.12 in the company of experienced club revelers should plan to attend. Sunday thru Thursday 9:00am – 7:00pm On Saturday, April 25 Launch Service begins. On that same day, the Ideal 18 and Mercury Fridays & Saturdays 9:00am – 8:00pm will be prepared and launched. In anticipation of another full season of sailing Oct. 14 – Oct. 31 and friendly competition on the water, Education Director Lou Casolo has scheduled Monday Thru Friday Noon – 6:00pm two mandatory Sailors Meetings in May for members who wish to participate in the Saturday & Sunday 9:00am – 6:00pm Ideal/Mercury program. Important details, plans, dates and events are outlined inside this newsletter. (continued on next page)

Commodore’s Report (continued) The 2009 Launch Schedule is on the previous page and an updated Calendar of Events is also included in this issue. For all of the up-to-the minute information about club events be sure to frequent the OGYC Website. Who’s Who at OGYC Welcome to the new Season!

Commodore Mary Rappa 637-5661 [email protected] Racing Corner Vice Commodore Will Morrison, Director, Race Committee Jim Green 637-9535 [email protected] Saturday, March 14, saw the first meeting of skippers and crews interested in competitive Rear Commodore sailing this summer. With a turnout of about forty, Lou Casolo, Karen Varabaro, Steve Gina McKinney Biship, Tom Hagan, and I went through the schedule of events. Benoit had the honor of 869-1786 [email protected] attending a ceremony upstate where his son received a science achievement award. All Secretary told twenty-two events will be managed from Glory's deck. Jennifer Pignataro There are several open positions, both for Principle Race Officer and supporting team 637-1728 [email protected] members. If you are competing in any of the summer's events, sign-up with Benoit or Treasurer myself. Please refer to the Racing section of the OGYC website for the latest in open Dan Dylewsky (203) 273-1758 [email protected] positions. We look to the skippers and crews to help us close the gap. Fleet Captain The club now has four PROs who are certified by US Sailing to manage events at a club Joe Stafford level. Tom O'Connell and Benoit Ansart took the eight-hour course March 21 and passed 622-6765 [email protected] the famously tricky test at the end of a long day. Tom and Benoit join Tom Hagan and Director - Race Committee myself as certified race officers. This group and other experienced PROs will participate Will Morrison in the hands on race management practice May 16 and 23 at the club. In preparation, we 698-2683 [email protected] ask that you review “Race Management Director - Cruising 101” in the Racing section of our web- Sheila Bennett site. It was prepared by US Sailing. 698-0443 [email protected] And finally, something to think about. Director - Membership Betsy Parker The Race Management team is consider- 637-8092 [email protected] ing the establishment of one or more Director - Education Programs permanent trophies to be given to those Lou Casolo who contribute the most to the program 637-6746 [email protected] and who are not on the management Newsletter Editor team. A permanent trophy is one where Ethel Churchill there is a plaque in the club house with 698-1344 [email protected] the winners' names engraved on it. If Newsletter Publisher you have any thoughts on this topic, Jon Gaines please forward them to any of us on the 637-3522 [email protected] Race Management team. Website Manager Casey Fignar [email protected] The Boathouse, the newsletter of the Old Greenwich Yacht Club, is published monthly, except Fleet Chaplain for bimonthly issues January/February and November/December. Please submit items for pub- Rev. Steve DeLuca 637-3661 lication to the Editor, c/o OGYC, PO Box 162, Old Greenwich, CT 06870 or by email to: [email protected]. Items must be received by the 15th of each month for publication Club Historian in the following month’s issue. To submit photographs, email to the newsletter publisher at: Joe Powers [email protected]. 637-0361 [email protected] Visit our website at: www.ogyc.org

2 • I encourage anyone who wants to take the low tide tour or Mercury/Ideal 18 Corner orientation as a refresher to do so. Lou Casolo, Education Programs Director This year's OGYC checkout classes are being offered on the fol- April Events lowing dates: The fleet requires that three work parties be held in April to prepare the boats in advance Sunday May 3 of the fleet launch. These work parties require 1:30pm Low tide tour followed by Mercury and/or Ideal many hands so please come to as many of these events as possi- Orientation and Checkout ride ble; the program will benefit from your participation. Bring your Instructors: Lou Casolo, Tom Hagan, and ChrisTella leatherman and some old rags. These events are scheduled for Saturday May 9 Saturday April 11, 18, and 25. All start at 9:00am. Second day of prep. and launch at 9:00am followed by the As the utilization of the Mercury fleet is decreasing while the costs 1st mandatory sailor meeting at 2pm followed by Mercury to haul, store, launch, and maintain them is going in the other and/or Ideal Orientation and checkout ride followed by a direction, the fleet size of Mercurys will be reduced this year. 6:15pm Low tide tour. This will be a busy Saturday. Retaining 5 Mercs will allow the club to service the demand seen Instructors: Lou Casolo, Chris Tella, and Kees VanMeel. in 2008 season. After completing an extensive condition survey of Sunday May 10, all 8 boats in the fleet by Chris Tella, we intend to sell or donate MOTHERS DAY - No classes on this day. the remaining boats, in the poorest condition, to a community Sunday May 17 sailing program in Long Island, but if any member wants to pur- 11:45am Low tide tour by Gene Fignar using General fol- chase one at a fair price, please contract me or the fleet captain lowed by Mercury and/or Ideal Orientation and Checkout ASAP. We intend to start the season with a trimmed down fleet. ride. Main Event - Prepare and Launch Ideal 18s on April 25 Instructors: Al Shehadi along with 2 other instructors (certi- As stated above, this event begins at 9:00 am and requires many fied people- contact me to volunteer). volunteers (a job for everyone), so please come out in numbers. Sunday May 24 High tide is at noon so the goal is to complete prep in the morn- 3:30pm Mercury and/or Ideal Orientation followed by ing and launch as close to noon as possible. I intend to send out Checkout ride and 5:45pm Low tide tour by Gerry Tighe in an email with job assignments closer to this date. his Grady White. May Events- Upcoming Instructors: Tom Hagan, and Kees VanMeel If you are interested in sailing a club Mercury or Ideal 18 Saturday May 30 and have not completed the checkout program, here's what you (Last day of classes for 2009) 2nd mandatory sailor meeting need to do: at 2pm (only for those that did not attend the one on May 9). • You are required to participate in one of this year's check- 10:45am Low tide tour followed by Mercury and/or Ideal 18 out classes if not already certified. My goal is to get as many Orientation and Checkout ride. interested members as possible certified prior to the start of Instructors: Tom Hagan, Lou Casolo, and Chris Tella the season. Your membership card will be stamped upon completion of the class to enable our launch driver to check I will be emailing out a copy of complete OGYC Ideal 18 racing your certification prior to boarding these boats during the event schedule for 2009 in April so mark-up your calendars upon season. To sign up for one of these classes please contact me receipt. If you're interested in racing in these events please come at [email protected]. down, but remember to complete the checkout requirements if you have not already done so. • As I previously indicated, the Ideal 18 certification require- ment further requires obtaining a CT Safe Boating Certificate If you're interested in taking part in the Mercury or Ideal 18 pro- BEFORE taking the Ideal 18 checkout rides. If you have not gram this year ALL SAILORS (even past year's trophy winners) taken the class, sign up for one and complete it. shall attend one of the following meetings offered at 2pm Saturday May 9th or 2pm Saturday May 30th.. • Our checkout classes are very low key and cover only the basics of the rigging, de-rigging, basic boat handling, moor- June Events- requiring action now ing, and identification of navigational hazards within sailing On June 2 the club is fortunate to host an on-the-water clinic by limits of the harbor. professional sailor/racer/author Dave Perry. This event is open (continued on page 6)

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OLD GREENWICH YACHT CLUB SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 2009

Note: For updates and a calendar suitable for printing, please see the website

APRIL Ideal 18/Mercury Prepare 8:30am Saturday, April 11 Ideal 18/Merucry Prepare 8:30am Saturday, April 18 All Members Spring Work Party 8:30am Saturday, April 18 General Members Meeting Noon Saturday, April 18 Cruisers Planning Session Pot Luck 5:00pm Sunday, April 19 Ideal 18/Mercury Fleet Prepare &Launch 9:00am Saturday, April 25 Launch Service Begins 10:00am Saturday, April, 25

MAY Commissioning Day 1:00pm Saturday, May 2 Ideal 18/Mercury Fleet Prepare & Launch 9:00am Saturday, May 9 Mercury & Ideal 18 Sailors Meeting (Mandatory) 2:00pm Saturday, May 9 Vespers -Tune up 7:00pm Wednesday, May 13 Vespers - Series I 7:00pm Wednesday, May 20, 27 Wednesday Night Chef's Dinner Wednesday, May 20, 27 Memorial Day Cruise (3 days) Friday, May 22 Memorial Day Parade - OGYC Float 9:00am Monday, May 25 Women's Ideal 18 Sailing Program Noon Thursday, May 28 Ideal 18/Mercury Sailors Meeting (Mandatory) 2:00pm Saturday, May 30 Welcome New Members Reception 5:00pm Sunday, May 31 YRA: , Lasers, Ideal 18's 2:00pm Sunday, May 31 (Ideal 18, Cutty Sark Beer Chaser Series)

JUNE Vespers - Series I (continued) 7:00pm Wednesday, June 3, 10, 17, 24 Wednesday Night Chef's Dinner Wednesday, June 3, 10, 17, 24 Women's Ideal 18 Sailing Program Noon Thursday, June 4, 11, 18, 25 Lobsterfest 7:00pm Friday, June 5 Etchells Blue Shoal Regatta Noon Sunday, June 7 YRA: Etchells, Lasers, Ideal 18's 2:00pm Sunday, June 7, 14, 21, 28 (Ideal 18, Cutty Sark Beer Chaser Series) Captain Harbor Friday Invitational Vespers Series - RYC 7:00pm Friday, June 12 Round The Island Russel K. Payea Trophy Chase Race 1:00pm Sunday, June 14 Payea Distance Race TBD Saturday, June 20 OGYC Solstice Regatta - Laser, Ideal 18, Flying Scots 12:30pm Saturday, June 20 (Flying Scott Founder's Cup) OGYC Solstice Party 7:00pm Saturday, June 20 OGYC Solstice Regatta - Laser, Ideal 18's 11:00am Sunday, June 21 Captain Harbor Friday Invitational Vespers Series - BHYC 7:00pm Friday, June 26 Parent/Child Ideal 18 Race Day TBD

JULY Vespers - Series I (continued) 7:00pm Wednesday, July 1 Wednesday Night Chef's Dinner Wednesday July 1, 8, 15, 22,29 Women's Ideal 18 Sailing Program Noon Thursday, July 2, 9, 16, 23 YRA: Etchells, Lasers, Ideal 18's 2:00pm Sunday, July 5, 12, 19, 26 (Ideal 18 Cutty Sark Beer Chaser Series) Vespers - Series I - Osbourne All Hands on Helm Race 7:00pm Wednesday, July 8 Lobsterfest 7:00pm Friday, July 10 Captain Harbor Friday Invitational Vesper Series - IHYC 7:00pm Friday, July 10 Vespers - Series II 7:00pm Wednesday, July 15, 22, 29 All Members Reception 5:00pm Sunday, July 19 Captain Harbor Friday Invitational Vesper Series - OGYC 7:00pm Friday July 24 Captain Harbor Invitational Party - OGYC 8:00pm Friday July 24 Women's Ideal 18 Sailing Program 6:00pm Thursday, July 30

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OLD GREENWICH YACHT CLUB SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 2009

Note: For updates and a calendar suitable for printing, please see the website

AUGUST YRA: Etchells, Lasers, Ideal 18's 2:00pm Sunday, August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 (Ideal 18 Cutty Sark Beer Chaser Series) Vespers - Series II (continued) 7:00pm Wednesday, August 5, 12, 19, 26 Wednesday Night Chef's Dinner Wednesday, August 5, 12, 19, 26 Women's Ideal 18 Sailing Program Noon Thursday, August 6, 13, 20, 27 Lobsterfest 7:00pm Friday, August 7 Island Beach Rendezvous 6:00pm Saturday, August 8 USS America Cup Trophy Race 12:30pm Saturday, August 29 Stanley Birdseye Cup Mercury Race 12:30pm Saturday, August 29 Annual Family Picnic 4:00pm Saturday, August 29

SEPTEMBER Vespers - Series II (continued) (Make-up) 7:00pm Wednesday, September 2 Wednesday Night Chef's Dinner Wednesday, September 2 Women's Ideal 18 Luncheon & Awards Noon Thursday September 3 Labor Day Cruise (3 days) Friday, September 4 YRA: Etchells, Lasers, Ideal 18's 2:00pm Sunday, September 6, 13, 20, 27 (Ideal 18 Cutty Sark Beer Chaser / Fall Series) Women's Ideal 18 Sailing Program Noon Thursday, September 10, 17, 24 OGYC Club Championships (Ideal 18's) 10:30am Saturday, September 12 General Member Meeting - Autumn 5:00pm Saturday, September, 19 Laser Invitational - RYC TBD Saturday, September 19 and TBD Sunday, September 20 Fall Work Party 8:30am Saturday, September, 26

OCTOBER Women's Ideal 18 Sailing Noon Thursday, October 1, 8, 15 Ideal 18 Cutty Sark / Beer Chaser / Fall Series 2pm Sunday, Oct 4, 11 Ideal 18 & Mercury Fleet Hauling and Work Party 9:00am Saturday, October 17 Last Day of Launch Service Noon Saturday, October 31

NOVEMBER Annual Meeting 1:00pm Sunday, November 15 Race Awards 1:00pm Saturday, November 21

DECEMBER Children's Holiday Party 1:00pm Saturday, December 5

See page 6 for details of the rebuild of the launch “General”.

5 Mercury/Ideal 18 Corner (continued from page 3) Special Committee on the to all OGYC members on a first come first served basis by email- ing me your interest to hold a spot. A small fee per person that Ideal 18/Mercury Program will be established once the numbers are known. The event is The Board of Directors has established a Special Committee of always well attended so sign up early by emailing me; many have the following five members to review the club's Ideal 18/Mercury already done so. The night's events will begin sharply at 6pm on Program: the dock. After sailing with Dave alongside on the chase boat, we'll retire to the club house for dinner and even more instruc- Patrice Anibal tion. Let's pray for a good breeze. This is a rain or shine event. Benoit Ansart Bill Bennett Dan Dylewsky Launch “General” Rebuild Susan Ryan Leo Baltazar, Waterfront Manager The purpose of the committee is to evaluate the Ideal 18/Mercury sailing program's benefits and costs to the club, and The underside of the General’s deck was shot, rotted for years. to understand these costs as they are in the current budget. As It is now being completely replaced with marine-grade plywood, part of their evaluation, the committee will talk to the program's poly resin/fiberglass, and gel-coat/nonskid. The console will be participants. A representative of the committee will give a status centered, and the fuel cell will be amidship. The boat will be report at each upcoming Board Meeting. The committee will usable for launch duties on days of high club activity. More per- give a presentation of their recommendations to the Board of manent seating will be introduced, doubling as stowage for RC Directors at the August Board Meeting and to the Membership at and lifejackets. the General Members Meeting in September.

— PRESS RELEASE — First Selectman Peter J. Tesei has announced the postpone- Boaters wishing to submit an application for an individual, ment of the adoption of proposed Draft Rules and non-commercial mooring permit may continue to use the orig- Procedures for Mooring and Anchoring Vessels in the inal form. The current Town boating regulations remain in Greenwich Harbor Area based on feedback received from the effect for all applicants. As noted previously, boaters are First Selectman's Coastal Resources Advisory Committee and exempt from the “clearly visible horizontal blue band and the public at the meeting held Wednesday, March 18, 2009 name of vessel” provisions contained in the “Note” section of 5:00 PM, in the Town Hall Meeting Room. Boaters and other the form. These provisions, originally developed for the State interested parties asked questions and submitted written and of Connecticut, Department of Transportation version of the verbal comments at that meeting. form are optional for Town of Greenwich boaters. The existing Town boating regulations will remain in effect, The new application process along with the new mooring fees including the Town Municipal Charter Section 307; Town as well as maintenance dredge funding requests recently sub- Municipal Code Section 7-89 dated 09/01/1978 regarding the mitted to Federal officials, represent an increased focus on the powers and duties of the Harbormaster; the 36 foot limitation management of the Town's waterways, which include 27 miles in the Department of Parks and Recreation Town managed of coastline, seven harbors, 3 federal navigation channels, 30 Marinas and the Superintendent of Marine and Facilities islands and hundreds of moorings. The First Selectman's Operations letter of 2/17/2009 regarding transfer of moor- Coastal Resources Advisory Committee will continue to work ings control from the Department of Parks and Recreation to toward the goal of developing a community based set of rules the Harbormaster. The mooring fees for the 2009 summer and procedures. boating season were established by the Board of Selectmen at First Selectman Tesei thanked Chairman John Craine and his their special meeting February 26, 2009: $35 one time applica- committee for their work efforts designed to enhance the safe- tion fee and $100 seasonal fee. The $35 fee used to establish a ty, environmental protection and enjoyment of this valued mooring and vessel data base is waived for organizations with asset that significantly contributes to the Town's quality of life. over 100 moorings filing electronically.

6 Anchoring and Mooring Joe Powers, Club Historian

In 1979, I wanted to put my 15 foot, center board O'Day into the was not considered a safe practice to casually drop an anchor in water at Greenwich Cove. I asked Tim Lane, the dockmaster, if I one of these neatly demarcated patches. could moor next to the 19 foot Mercurys. He said fine. After World War II the order outlined above shifted. Today, setting a mooring in the Cove is not so casual. Commercial fishing had declined during the 1930s. What has changed is the increased size and number Outboard and inboard motors appeared specifically of boats moored in the Cove. This change has engineered to withstand the ravages of salt water. [I resulted in increased regulation in order to have remember Buick and Packard engines in cabin cruis- as many boats moored in the Cove as can be ers just after World War II.] Low-cost plastic boats that safely accommodated. promised low maintenance became available. The Town, Before World War II, was a rich man's as the new owner, opened Greenwich Point for swim- recreation. J. Kennedy Tod had a 60 foot ming, boating, fishing and other aquatic activities. yacht that he tied up to a dock that was Nobody likes regulations; but they are the wiped out in the Great Hurricane of 1938. price we pay for living in society. Let's try to The dock was built over the line of rocks implement mooring and anchoring regula- that you can see from the club porch. tions that are as mild as is compatible with Boats on the local waters were working boats being effective. that harvested fish, oysters, lobsters and other shellfish. The sea harvest and the potatoes grown on local farms were trans- I will be presenting some of the Greenwich harbor history at the ported to the New York City market on boats such as the Palmer Greenwich Boat & Yacht Club at 7:30 pm on Wednesday April boat and the Clara B. Greenwich waters were neatly allotted 15th. Please contact Rose Claus at [email protected] for among different owners much as farm lands are demarcated. It details.

Ship Models as an Art Form Susan P. Ryan

Michael Wall, brother of new member Kathie Healy, owns The involved on the vessels they replicate. They often conduct original American Marine Model Gallery in Gloucester, MA. The gallery research and adhere to Mystic Seaport Museum's Ship Model represents many of the top professional marine model artists in Classification Guidelines. the world. These artists have developed unique styles and special- As marine model artist Rob Napier says, "a good ship model ties as well as knowledge of the routine principles and practices must give a compelling impression of the actual vessel." Experience and study of the three-dimensional elements of accu- rate models develops a strong impression of authentic naval architecture. Models speak a technical language - much like the written alphabet - based on scrupulous research. Nathaniel Herreshoff once said, "A poorly made ship model is nothing but a lie that deceives the eye." Currently the gallery is restoring models from the FDR Library in Hyde Park, NY. Roosevelt was not only an avid sailor and marine historian; he also had a great marine art collection. At a young age he enjoyed building sailing pond models and later constructed static full hull models. While President he displayed in the Oval Office a model of the USS Constitution that he personally rigged. Call Michael at (978) 281-1166 if you're in the area, and check out www.shipmodel.com.

7 Club Classifieds Mooring For Sale – The 350 lb. mooring is conveniently located This space and space on the club web site is available free of in the center of the mooring field and has been maintained annu- charge to club members. To place an advertisement here, email ally. $175. Call Bob at: 203 637-3083 or email to: [email protected]. To place an ad on line, email [email protected] [email protected]. Marine Radio: Humminbird VHF5 in original box with battery Fractional Sailing – two slots left for this season onboard a new pack, charger, etc. Purchased from West Marine, hardly ever 38' Catalina. All the pleasures of sailing with none of the hassles used. $75. Call Bob at 203 637-3083 or email any interest to: at a fraction of the cost. Located in Stamford Landing Marina. [email protected] For more info contact member Luke Wakeman at: For Sale or Partner Wanted: for "Turbulence" a ' [email protected] or call: 203-871-3132. swing on mooring at Greenwich Point. Two laid-back Valuta, Catalina 25 sailboat. Electric start o.b., North sails, partners seeking a third - occasional racing, some cruising and Harken roller furling, Loran, V.H.F., G.P.S., Depth Sounder, Knot some hanging out. Sale Price $5,000. Please call or email: Meter, Wind Indicator, Auto Helm, etc. Well maintained, well Heather (203-637-7343), [email protected] or Jules equipped boat in excellent condition. Asking $5,500. Call Dean (203-637-0167), [email protected] at 203-424-9657 or email [email protected]. Sweet Dream, Seidelmann S299 – 30 ft sailboat sloop. Excellent Galatea, '68 Classic Alberg 30. Atomic 4 Rebuilt 2000. Good condition for year. Harken Roller furling, dodger, new batteries family cruising. Dinghy included. Needs TLC. Asking $10,000. and Bimini. Yanmar 15 hp diesel engine. Fully winterized. Must Can be seen at Grass Island. Call Bill Bennett 698-0443. sell: $9750 or best offer. Contact Don McCulloch 203 869 2639 or email [email protected] Chickering upright piano: pristine condition, maple, $1,500. Contact Will Morrison 698-2683. Photo Credits: Lou Casolo; front cover. Vinny Rappa; page 2. Leo Baltazar; page 5.

Old Greenwich Yacht Club, Inc. PRSRT STD P.O. Box 162 U.S. POSTAGE Old Greenwich, CT 06870 PAID OLD GREENWICH, CT PERMIT NO. 196