Vernon Yacht Club Tiller Topics

Pub. Mail Agreement No.40650589

Return Undeliverable Canadian Mail to: Vernon Yacht Club 7919 Okanagan Landing Road Vernon, BC V1H 1H1 Delivery Address:

February 2013 Left: Okanagan Dive Club’s Winter Dive INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Below: Protected from winter elements.  Executive Reports Page 3-6  Messing about in Boats Page 8  Members’ Classified Page 9  VYC Security Team Page 10  Four More Months Page 11  VYC Store Page 12  Vernon Power & Squadron Page 13  Why We Race Page 14-16

 Okanagan Dive Club’s Winter Dive Page 17  Minutes Summary Page 18

 History Page Page 19 Do you have ideas for Tiller Topics? Do you  VYC 2013 Boat Show Page 20 have an opinion you would like published?  E-mail addresses; Gang Plank Page 21,22 Tiller Topics gratefully accepts your submis- sions. Please drop them off at the club or e-  Go With The Wind Page 23 mail them to  February 2013 Calendar Page 24 [email protected] Page 1

VYC 2012 — 2013 Executive 7919 Okanagan Landing Road, Vernon, BC V1H 1H Name: Position: Home: Work: Cell:

Mike Thomas Commodore 545-8501 545-8501 549-0320 Lawrence Johnson Vice Commodore 260-8003

Ed Kinnear Rear Commodore 542-7551 307-7120 Val Harvey Staff Captain 542-5339 309-7379 Jerry Spelchan Fleet Captain 545-4564 549-0051

Patrick Lett Treasurer 545-9115 545-7117 938-3113 Pamela Miller Secretary 206-0253 Tim Amy Past Commodore 542-6322 833-2444 833-2444

Ron Human Director 1 year David Atkins (By-laws) Director 1 year Craig Williams (Publicity) Director 1 year 503-8993 558-1111 503-8993 Jaron Chasea (Membership) Director 2 Year 542-0800 550-9859 Barry Stack (House & Grounds) Director 2 Year 545-8345 309-7738 Gerald Gustafson Director 2 Year

Contact Information Phone 545-5518 Tiller Topics’ Team to date: Fax 545-0388 Hanny Kooyman E-mail address [email protected] -Layout & Design Rebecca Phillips -Proof Reading Website www.vernonyachtclub.com Frances Warner -Proof Reading Cees Kooyman -Mailing Office Hours Monday and Thursday 8:30am till 2:30pm Terry Rudersdorfer -Website Office Manager Marnie Williamson Allen Dubeski -Advertisement

Bar Manager Jay Langton Kitchen Manager Corinne Kirton Regular Contributors: Dave Atkins -Messing about in Boats Housekeeping Mary Jean Watson Carol Craske -Valley Girls -Racing Ron Heuman -Security Team Rebecca Phillips -VYC Store Submissions for Tiller Topics : [email protected] Patricia Rud- -Humorous View ersdorfer Deadline for submissions: the second week of each month. Doug Stewart -CPS News

Important Notice to All Members: If you access the clubhouse with your key card Executive members and many occasional and are confronted with the alarm going off while you are inside, please follow this writers and photographers.

procedure: Re-swipe your card at either entrance. Then call the security company and identify yourself and have them cancel the alarm. The phone number is posted at both entrances. If you fail to do this, the club can be billed up to $150. Your coop- eration is greatly appreciated. Page 2

February 2013 COMMODORE’S REPORT

Mike Thomas

members will give you specific details the rest of the docks as we get closer in their individual reports. I should to Spring. belated Happy New Year mention however, that Ken Smith, Val Harvey, our Staff Captain as well to every one. our Maintenance Supervisor, has as Jay and Corinne have some inter- been very busy installing water res- esting events and meals lined up as It is my pleasure to an- cue ladders and life preservers on D the number of our members increas- A and E docks just in case someone nounce that on January 21st. we es as we get into warmer weather, so elected our new Executive and I con- should happen to fall in the lake be sure to check their email bulletins gratulate our new board members while they are cleaning the snow off and our web-site for up-dates. and look forward to working with their boats. It won't be a pleasant See you at the Club. experience but at least you will be them this year. We have already dis- Mike cussed some of the projects we have able to get yourself out of the water. planned for 2013 and my Executive Ken will add more rescue stations to

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REAR COMMODORE’S REPORT

Ed Kinnear

would like to welcome all new members to the Vernon Yacht Club as well as 3 new directors that have joined the VYC execu- Itive for 2013.

We want to thank the members that came out to the recent general meetings as well as the members that allowed their names to stand for election. I look forward to working with the executive for the next year. MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR We have a few projects being worked on. Jaron Chasca

I expect we will see the lower wash- rooms and shower renovated and updated to match the upstairs wash- room improvements. This will hap- pen before the boat show.

There are some new emergency lad- ders, life rings, and fire extinguishers installed or to be installed on D and E docks. That program will be expand- ed to cover the remainder of the docks this year. appy New Year!... or family looking to join forward Look for announcements for the Hope 2013 is starting their information to the office or spring cleanup which is always held off good for every- to myself. I would be happy to just before the boat show. one. 2012 was a talk to them about the Club and Hgreat year for new members. its benefits. I look forward to Get out and enjoy winter, it only We had a lot of Full Members seeing you all at the Club this comes once a year. join as well as Associate Mem- year! bers, and we hope 2013 will Take care, bring in a lot of new members to Jaron Chasca Ed Kinnear the Club. If you have any friends

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VICE COMMODORE’S REPORT

Lawrence Johnson

ope you all had a wonder- ful holiday season. With the new season upon us we have a number of Hevents coming up. Hope to see you all at the 'Open Mike' night on Fri- day the 15th of February. As well don't forget to register for the dance lessons being offered. A big thank-you to Ed Kinnear for his work in renovating the bathrooms, the place is looking great! Hope to see you at the Club.

DIRECTOR AT LARGE

Dave Atkins

am the new “old member” on this year's Executive. I have served on the Executive over the years more times than I can re- Imember. I think I was conscripted this time to take advantage of my Knowledge of the Rules and Proce- dures that govern the process. I also have some ideas of my own for im- provements that hopefully overcome some of the problems that have been presented to the Club in the recent past. The least I can offer is the expe- rience and wisdom of the ages.

Dave Atkins

Page 5

FLEET CAPTAIN’S REPORT

Jerry Spelchan

one should take note that we added and please let us know as soon as reetings everyone for a safety ladders and life rings on 'D' possible if you are not taking your slip new year of boating. and 'E' docks at strategic locations. this year, this helps Marnie and I Thank you for your ongo- Notices have been posted on the ea- greatly. ing support at the last sel in lower hall as well as on line, All moorage and move requests will Gelection, I hope to serve you well please become familiar with these be dealt with by the end March so over the next year. I am looking for locations before an emergency oc- please be patient and I'm sure we can volunteers to assist me with some of curs. You might one day help save a accommodate everyone. my duties this year as the work load life! Please be safe if you are on the docks is quite heavy so anyone interested All is looking well for a full marina in this weather and have a safe please call me to inquire cell 250-549- again this year with lots of inquiries boating season. 0051. from potential new members regard- Jerry Spelchan Not a lot of action on the docks this ing slip availability for 2013. Let all time of year and no icing problems your friends know we do have slips even with our little cold spell. Every- available for most sizes at this time

Page 6

Celebrating over 50 years as Western Canada’s premier Boat Show, the Vancouver Internation- al Boat Show returns as BC’s largest showcase for the recreational boating industry, running through the Family Day long weekend from Thursday, February 7 to Monday, February 11, 2013. With extended hours, brand new dates, and two great locations, including an in-water venue at the Granville Island Maritime Market and Marina, and an indoor venue at BC Place, this year’s Show offers the season’s hottest new boats and boating products at the best deals of the year.

From fishing boats to sporting yachts, celebrity speakers to family-friendly entertainment, there’s something for everyone – no matter your age, lifestyle, or budget. Start off your Family Day weekend in style with five full days of expert advice, accessories, and products from over 250 of the industry’s top exhibitors. Compare makes and models, secure insurance and financing, and gear up with the latest equipment all at one time. Visit www.vancouverboatshow.ca for more information.

Sent in by the media relations team for the Vancouver International Boat Show

Page 7

Messing About in Boats up across the shop floor of a dealer, suspect that it is more a question of by all with cracked blocks caused by not personality than sail maintenance. Dave Atkins having the correct anti-freeze in the system. Smaller outboard engines When all else fails one can always go mostly use 'fresh water' cooling and to a Boat Show. I used to go every they drain automatically when they year, spend a weekend in Vancouver are removed from the water, but be and enjoy the sights but I don't think t this time of year boating sure that the lower end is out of the I will make it this year. Last year we is mostly an armchair ac- water, I know the Club does not ap- were a little disappointed in that the tivity and the more cata- prove of tilting the outboard, so you scene has changed. Most of the logs and boating maga- may have to remove it from the boat boats at the Stadium were power Azines available the better. There are to get the necessary clearance. Do and the cruising boats were trawlers. still boats in the water at the Club, you take the home from the We did try to imagine what it would mostly sailboats, but they are well boat and carefully lay them out and be like to cruise the Coast in a trawl- secured and covered up waiting for fold in the prescribed fashion, or are er rather than a sailboat. The sales- next season. This is the time of year they roughly bundled and stuffed in a man told us that a lot of older sailors when you plan for all those jobs that sail bag, there seems to be two were going to 'the dark side' and buy- you found during last boating season schools of thought on stowing sails, ing trawlers!! and didn't have time to do, or it was- the net types lay them out carefully n't convenient to haul the boat out of and fold in an orderly manner, The sailboats at the 'in the water' the water in order to do it. The pow- whereas the others tend to grab show seem to have grown over the er boats are mostly out of the water hand fulls of canvas and stuff it into years and there are no longer many and stored on dry land, this makes the sail bag in no order at all. The less than 30ft. And most are well doing routine maintenance a little neat people tend to get more perma- over that. Times have changed and easier. One task that is long over due nent creases in their sails over time , people's expectations have changed. is the draining of coolant and or re- and the 'stuffers' have to go a They expect more for their recreation placing anti freeze. I recall one winter couple of times to let the wind blow dollars. Maybe that is why I can't sell when we had a rather early cold out the jumble of smaller creases my 25 ft. sailboat, it is too small!! snap, seeing about 6 V8 engines lined that have formed over the winter. I Dave

Page 8

Members Classified Ads - Free Classified Ads.

Drop your ad off at the club or e-mail to [email protected] Ads will be posted for the duration of four months. (Inform the editor if you would like to renew.)

“Stolen Time” is for sale. Your AD could have been here! Capri 25 Racer/Cruiser Fixed keel, Sloop 7.5h.p. long-leg Evinrude (2cycle), dodger, fixed boarding ladder, UHF, porta-potti. Over three hundred people are Near-new dacron genoa & main (w. cover), like-new blade & storm jibs, 2 spinnakers w. pole. watching, guaranteed! PHRF 182 Freshwater club raced only. Asking $9500

Ph. Phil Nielsen @ 250-545-1178 Funny

by Al Dubeski Gandalf is ready to go! Corner

32' Bruce Roberts Cutter. New main sail, revamped motor and electrical this ODD AND SIMPLE REASONING!! Summer. Mast with perco spreader lights ss sail track, lines and rigging, anchor light fully replaced A mechanic was removing a cylinder-head from the mo- 2002. tor of a Harley motorcycle when he spotted a well-known

The layout of the salon is perfect for entertaining or cardiologist in his shop. The cardiologist was there wait- just relaxing on the hook. Price drop. Moving, must ing for the service manager to come take a look at his sell, make me an offer. Offered at $22,000 OBO bike when the mechanic shouted across the garage, 'Hey Doc, want to take a look at this?' Call Michelle @250 540 9770 or email [email protected] The cardiologist, a bit surprised, walked over to where the mechanic was working on the motorcycle. The me- chanic straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag and asked, 'So Doc, look at this engine. I open its heart, take the valves out, repair any damage, and then put them back in; and when I finish, it works just like new.

So, how come I make $39,675 a year and you get a $mil- lion - when you and I are doing basically the same work?'

The cardiologist paused, smiled and leaned over, then whispered to the mechanic...

'Try doing it with the engine running

Page 9

February…… one last month of Okanagan Winter blahs….

By Ron Heuman

irst I must congratulate Com- ter Security Team welcomes Claire bubbling water has sprayed an icy modore Mike in setting a Kooistra who did his first shift during visual. Otherwise all is good on the new VYC record of three the second Ex-Ord AGM. To date the Security Program. February is the last AGM’s to finally get a 2013 team has recorded 100 shifts for 200 month for Winter Security posture. In FVYC Executive body elected. Having hours of vigilance. We also set a March we move on to Summer Secu- put my name forward for the position 100% attendance record in Decem- rity, longer shifts with some early of Director I was most pleased to re- ber. Well done team! Regrettably our mornings. ceive enough votes to be elected. record is short lived as a couple of Thank you to everyone who ran for January shifts could not be complet- Doing security shifts is an excellent the Director positions, especially Al ed for various reasons. way to contribute to the safety of our Cutriss who came forward after only Club. The commitment is not encum- a year tenure at the VYC. While un- Happily no reported wrong-doings bering yet the effect of the Program successful this time I am sure he will have been observed or reported to has been significant over the past 3 step up to the plate in the future. date. Many tracks in the snow, both years. And, the benefits to those on Maybe Al would like to learn about human and animal (the deer seem to the team are immeasurable. The best some VYC happenings on the Security like to wander the boats on the one being the security of Club and Team! Now I look forward to hard). One leg was noticed missing Members’ property. Interested? Con- “learning the VYC ropes (or lines if however it was determined that the tact Marnie in the Office or Ron Heu- you are a sailor)” as Director-at- member removed it for repair. If you man. Large. are brave enough to navigate the icy Vigilance aye Vigilance!! docks, you may like to see the spec- Ron Speaking of new members the Win- tacular ice sculpture at slip D32. The Mortgage Solutions

 Equity Loans Do what you want to do ….  Construction Loans  Best Rates  Home Reno’s  Debt Consultation Dominion Lending Centres Solutions 250-558-1111 Craig Williams

We’ll take care of the rest!

Page 10

Four More Months I have to go back to work in my studio

have decided that I will be your editor for VYC’s News- letter for four more months in 2013. During this time I

hope that another person can be found to take on the For all interested task of communication towards the members of our Yacht businesses I Club. Paid Advertisement So here it is: Wanted in Tiller Topics A creative person who thinks that communication to and from the members is important enough to Price per month: spend an average of 20 – 30 hours per month to $60 for a full page ad make this happen. $20 for 1/3 of a page It is not at all important that you do it the way I have done it. Feel free to develop your own way - invent different forms that may work better than what has been done before. The world is forever changing and we may want to change with it. Send your thoughts to [email protected] Note: Though we trust our advertisers’ integrity - VYC does not take any responsibility for ser- Hanny Kooyman vices delivered or goods sold by our advertisers.

Page 11

Spring has Sprung!

Birds chirpin’, flowers bloomin’… tank top and sunglass wearin’ , beer drinkin’ weather!

No, Wait…. that’s next months issue, guess we’re still going to need these...

All this and more at your Vernon Yacht Club Store!

Support your Vernon Yacht Club! Page 12

CPS News

February 2013 Vernon Power & Sail

Watch for CPS Courses in late Winter-Spring, 2013: Boating Essentials (formerly the Boating Course), VHF Marine Radio, and Navigating with GPS

Page 13

By Tod Bassham Why We Race > 01/15/2013, Portland Oregon

he wife sobbed quietly into board layline. The bow of his boat a slight change in pronouns, the a kleenex. "It started out so edged past the stern of the boat above divorce-court story would still innocently," she confessed ahead. "Overlap!" he screamed, try- ring true. But this brings us no closer to the divorce lawyer. "At ing to squeeze between the mark to answering the question: why do Tfirst, it was once a week, but then he and the line of boats trying to round we race? For mysterious reasons, started wanting more." The lawyer it. Grudgingly, the outside boat made some people like to race sailboats, clucked sympathetically, covertly room. "Hoist the thing-a-ma-jiggy!" and some people (ok, the vast major- checking her watch and wondering he screamed at his crew as they ity of the seven billion people on how many times she had heard the rounded the mark. The spinnaker planet earth) do not. How can nearly same story, of men behaving badly. flew out of its bag and promptly seven billion people be so wrong? Or "Soon it was twice a week, some- wrapped itself around the forestay, --now, here's a crazy thought--maybe times three," the wife continued. "He leaving the boat bobbing helplessly. sailboat racers have got it wrong. began subscribing to magazines with The rest of the fleet popped their Maybe people who race sailboats are pictures of beautiful . . ." She choked chutes and headed downwind for like the mastodon: hairy, dim-witted back a sob. "And then--he found her the finish. "Aaaaaah!" screamed the and doomed to extinction. in a Craigslist ad." The lawyer shook skipper to no one in particular, "Last

her head with secret satisfaction, place, again!" mentally adding an extra zero to the Let's try to examine sailboat racing * * * * * * * * * usual retainer. "Let me guess," the objectively, rationally, without the lawyer asked sarcastically, "He It's an all-too-familiar story. The man accumulated glamour and sentiment, starting buying her expensive items." -boy who loves to race, the woman and try to understand whether sail- The wife looked startled. "How did who doesn't understand, and the boat racers are truly mental defec- you know? Yes, he tried to hide it, boat that comes between them. And tives, or merely thundering idiots. it begs the question: Why do we but every month the credit card Possession of a sailboat is, of course, race? To many sailors of the male statement had hundreds of dollars in the sine qua non of sailboat racing. persuasion, this is not a serious ques- charges at West Marine." She Right out of the box we've stumbled tion. Their answer, to the extent they plunged on. "But the worst part is on the crux of the problem. Sailboats think about it, is a simple syllogism: when he would come home from a are concave vessels of fiberglass and night out with her, stinking of beer (1) our manly forebears hunted steel, into which the hapless owner and bilge water, and boast that he mastodon during the ice-ages; pours money until the boat sinks or had . . . spliced her mainbrace." She the owner goes bankrupt, whichever (2) there are no more mastodon shuddered. "I don't know what that comes first. Owning a racing sailboat for us to hunt; means, and I don't want to know. He is even more fiscally insane, because kept urging me to go out with them (3) therefore, we race sailboats. to stay competitive the owner must together to... to...wherever they go Logical as this argument seems, most hire NASA engineers to construct on Tuesday and Thursday space-age carbon spars and high nights." ("That's disgusting," the law- academic scholars find it unpersua- sive. For one thing, it fails to ac- tech sails. Due to a nationwide short- yer murmured.) "He wanted me to age of useful idiots willing to buy rac- do things I'm sure no self-respecting count for the established fact that many sailors of the female persua- ing sailboats, entire social ecosys- woman would do, to 'trim the jib' as tems evolve around those few indi- he put it. At last I told him he had to sion also like to race, despite no known connection to mastodon viduals deep-pocketed and/or clue- choose between his family and her, less enough to buy one. As soon as and now . . . here I am." The long- hunting. Indeed, these days the racer in the family is often the female part- the proud new owner docks his car- suffering wife buried her face in her bon-fiber beauty, a cloud of parasites hands. At that precise moment her ner, with the male partner sitting at home watching NASCAR or whatever will descend, parasites who know it is husband was at the helm of his be- far better to sail OPB (Other People's loved sailboat, approaching the it is that men who don't race sail- boats do with their spare time. With windward mark, tight on the star- Cont. page 15 Page 14

Cont. from page 14 Boats) than to commit the financial against the wind, which requires slow course, this presumes that sailboat suicide of raceboat ownership. Each and laborious back and forth. racing has spectators, which it week these smiling leeches show up, It is actually considered good form doesn't outside the America's Cup, beer in hand, ready to line the rail or for race committees to set the course because it is too damn slow and bor- heave on a halyard in a pathetic square to the wind, which means at ing to watch. attempt to live the sailing life without some point a direct downwind run, At long, long last, the leader will actually owning a sailboat. And each the slowest possible . round the leeward mark and cross week, the desperate owner--on he What kind of crazy sport organizes the finish line, while the rest of the verge of bankruptcy and a mental itself around the concept of going as fleet, deeply humiliated, engages in breakdown--abuses the crew in a slow as possible? a bitter Darwinian struggle to avoid spectacular tirade of invective, audi- And going where, exactly? Mostly in being the boat that is DFL (dead ble on both banks of the Columbia arbitrary circles. The race course is frickin last). Then all teams head back River. This sick, co-dependent rela- divided into several legs by marks, or to the docks, the euphoric winner to tionship is considered the norm in orange balloons floating on the wa- collect a little plastic trophy, the envi- the game of sailboat racing. ter, which the boats must round in a ous losers to applaud with gritted But what exactly is the "game" of certain order. Fundamentally, a sail- teeth. And then both winners and sailboat racing? Let's observe it step boat race consists of following the losers proceed to consume massive by step. Every race begins the same, leader around a series of orange bal- quantities of beer. with a bunch of sailboats milling ran- loons, while trying to avoid reposses- And here, maybe, is one answer to domly around behind the start line-- sion of your boat by sheriff's depu- why we race. After consuming like paramecium in a petri dish-- ties. Except for the threat of repos- enough beer, it is possible to forget trying not to crash into each other. A session, this is the essentially same the miserable race performance, the five-minute clock is running. Just sec- game of follow-the-leader that six- pending boat foreclosure, the spouse onds before the five-minute horn year olds play in the school yard. at home checking his/her watch, the sounds, the racers charge the start But at least going upwind seems fast, cubicle waiting for you at work to- line. One boat crosses the start line in due to the mystery of apparent wind. morrow. By the end of the night, we the lead. Aaannd ... that's it. The After rounding the first or windward racers have piled into the winner's race is over, for all practical purpos- mark the boats deploy their spinna- cockpit, and are sitting with arms es. The winner of 99.9% of all sail- kers--large, temperamental, difficult- around each other's shoulders, sing- boat races is the boat that first cross- to-control downwind sails--and begin ing songs, and telling outrageous lies es the start line. The rest of the race the downwind run (usually accompa- about what great sailors we are. The consists of simply chasing the leader, nied by renewed streams of invective differences that divide us--owners/ hoping against hope that the sheriff's from the skipper, discussing the an- OPBs, women/men, winners/losers, deputies will repossess the leader's cestors of the OPB that just botched republicans/democrats/libertarians/ heavily mortgaged boat before it the spinnaker launch). Because most rastafarians--all seem to disappear. crosses the finish line. downwind runs on the river are We are simply sailors. And for rea- At this point, on the first windward against the current, the progress sons that defy rational explanation, leg, the unbiased observer will rec- upstream is excruciatingly slow, de- this simple fact makes us very happy. ognize a glaring flaw in the game of spite the extra sail area and the occa- Tomorrow will come, with its bills to sailboat racing. Namely, sailboats are sional excitement of a death roll as a pay, bosses to placate, diapers to powered by the wind. Wind is a noto- gust comes through. Even the most change, marriages to save. Someday, riously unreliable element, constantly geriatric spectator could walk faster even all that will be gone, and we will shifting direction and velocity, and over the ground than most non- exist only in memories and fading frequently disappearing entirely, or keelboats can sail upstream trophies on the wall. But tonight we blowing precisely from the direction against the current. Actually, a geriat- toward which one wishes to go. In- ric spectator would probably expire of old age before the first boat deed, it seems as if race committees Cont. page 16 go out of their way to set courses reached the leeward mark. Of

Page 15

Cont. from page 15

are with our friends and competitors, schoolyard, with trusted friends and "Good race?" he asks. sailors all, drinking a last beer and the bitter enemies of the moment. She smiles happily in the dark. "Is singing a last song. The entire world feels bright and there any other kind? glowing with promise, the wind is at To summarize our observations: sail- our backs, and we know that we are ********************************* boat racing is a fiscally ruinous, sado- beginning a long voyage with our ********************************* masochistic exercise in prolonged friends toward unknown shores. As tedium, punctuated at long intervals The article above is reprinted with the adults, is there anything that we author's permission and along with oth- by death rolls, t-bonings, and other won't do to keep that feeling alive in er essays can be found at his blog: moments of extreme terror. It causes our hearts? In sailboat racing, we grown men and women to regress http://www.sailblogs.com/member/ remember that feeling. We feel it as into six- year-olds, playing a slightly ditchracer/ the boats charge the start line, in a more complex version of follow-the- Life in the Ditch well-executed , in a crowded leader around the buoys. And yet-- mark rounding, in a critical spinnaker A factually challenged chronicle of cruis- despite all that--sailboat racers re- gybe, in a tight finish, in the camara- ing and racing on the Columbia River turn week after week, month after derie of the cockpit. We are intensely month, year and year, devoting About the author: The author races a alive in the moment, and we ask for enormous amounts of time, money, Merit 25, Nausicaa, in a one- design fleet nothing more. on the Columbia River in Oregon. He is energy and passion to the sport we co-author of a chapter in Sailing-- love. It makes no sense, and yet in * * * * * * * * Philosophy for Everyone: Catching the this crazy world nothing else seems The sailor returns home from the Drift of Why We Sail , Wiley-Blackwell to make as much sense. race, and tiptoes upstairs to check on (Patrick Goold, ed.) 2012. So why do we race? Perhaps there is the children. Her six-year-old is still Contributed by David Simpson awake, and asks sleepily, "Mommy, no universally satisfying answer, but here is a plausible one: We love sail- when can I go racing with you?" An

boat racing because it makes us re- answer is murmured, and the blanket gress into six-year olds. At that age, re-tucked. Her husband is reading in we are keenly alive, possessed of a bed, and he places a bookmark into sense of wonder, and utterly fearless. a well-thumbed copy of Racing Tac- Nothing seems more important than tics, as his wife turns out the light those games we play in the and slips into bed.

Page 16

Okanagan Dive Club’s Winter Dive

n Thursday, December 27, 2012 three members of the Okana- gan Dive Club (ODC) (Claudio Furlan, Allan Hesketh and Rich- ard Wood) were given supervised access to our docks for the purpose of performing their annual winter dive. In the past Othe ODC have performed their winter dive at Ellison Park on Okanagan Lake but for the past two years have requested they be able to dive in our basin, giving them a change of environment and the opportunity to do a community service by recovering garbage and other items that has fallen off the docks or boats within the basin.

As reported by Claudio, the weather their dive. The battery was delivered that day was overcast and calm with by the ODC dive team to Vernon an air temperature of a chilly minus 1 Battery for proper recycling after- celsius and the water temperature ward. was a balmy 5 degrees with good visibility to 20 feet. They were under- The dive team members then contin- water for a full 45 minutes during ued with their dive under “D” dock their one dive of the day. towards shore, going about halfway before turning west to turn their Entering the water off the far end of attention to “C” dock collecting de- “D” dock they reached a maximum bris off the bottom until their bags depth of 39 feet and began immedi- were full. ately looking for a full size battery they had actually discovered near the Treasure the dive team recovered end of this dock on their dive the pre- from the bottom consisted mostly of vious December but did not have the bottles, cans, crocs, pieces of tarpau- equipment to recover it at that time. lins, a large sun umbrella, a rectangu- On behalf of the members of the This year they were able to locate the lar sheet metal box and a garden ODC Claudio asked me to express battery after only about a half minute hose. All of the bottles and cans re- their sincere thanks for allowing into their dive. trieved were placed into our recycle them the opportunity to conduct This year they brought with them a bins inside the front gate (which un- their winter dive in our basin for the lift bag, solely for the purpose of be- fortunately during boating season far second year running and which they ing able to retrieve this sunken too many of us also seem to use as a hope to do again next year. battery, tied it to the battery then garbage can for some reason) and used their spare air tank to fill the lift the rest of the items were disposed Craig Williams bag and raise this sunken treasure to of in our large, proper garbage bin the surface and removed it from the located just outside the gate. water onto the dock at the end of Page 17

Minutes Summary

By Pamela Miller November 27, 2012 AGM

Call to order time: 7:25pm ward to the VYC Executive in advance of the AGM, were not put on the agenda nor were they handed out as new Mike Thomas asks the Sergeant at Arms, Craig Williams motions and addendums. Mike Thomas and David Atkins for confirmation of a quorum of 65 members (20% of VYC mentioned that in order to address David Lane’s motions membership in good standing). A quorum is confirmed by there needs to be a By-law change and that a By-law Craig. change needs a minimum 75% of membership votes to Commodore’s Report: Mike Thomas pass. The motions put forward by David Lane could not On my preliminary agenda, I stated that there would be a be addressed before changing the By-law and those mo- motion to amend our By-laws to permit Proxy voting and tions were therefore not added to the agenda. also to consider a proposal to credit eleven members for Awards and Presentations: 50% of the $6000.00 initiation fee which they paid be- Mike Thomas announces that the Commodore’s Member tween the years of 2007 and 2009. I was recently advised of the Year Award goes to Ms. Hanny Kooyman. Hanny that these two items are not legally permitted to be on and her team are responsible for the publication of the the agenda. According to the B.C. Societies Act, the mem- VYC’s monthly Tiller Topics and the many photographs of bership should have been advised in writing of the Notice VYC activities and events. Mike extends his congratula- of Motion for both Motions, at least fourteen days before tions to Hanny as VYC’s 2012 Commodore's Member of the AGM. I am sorry to disappoint the members who are the Year. New members included in the 'Taking the Dip affected by this decision but we do plan to hold an Ex- th Club' were announced. This award is for members who traordinary Meeting on January 14 at which time we can went for an involuntary swim during the last boating sea- revisit these motions. The additional meeting is now nec- son. For 2012 there were two lucky nominees: M.J. Wat- essary in order to comply with By-Law 19 of the Vernon son and Patricia Rudersdorfer. Yacht Club By-Laws which outlines the procedure for Our volunteers are extremely important to the operation amending any of our By-Laws. of our Club. These folks generously donate their time and Rear Commodore’s Report: Ed Kinnear expertise which we would normally have to pay for and Kitchen renovations were underway when I joined the this would result in increased moorage fees. Rather than Executive and I believe that these improvements have choose one volunteer for this award we have decided to made the facility more functional as well as allowed us to draw 2 names from the following list of nominees: John comply with request from the inspecting authorities. Halper, Larry Gilchuk, Ken Smith, M.J. Watson, Tom and There have been some concerns expressed about the ab- Janet McKenzie, Terry Rudersdorfer, Vic and Annette Ro- sence of ladders and life rings on our docks to assist maszewski, Rob Mathews, Fred Haight, Ron Paziuk, Ron someone after they have fallen into the water. We have Heuman, Norm Enns, Craig Williams, Maureen Soichuk, placed an order and you should begin to see this safety Chuck O’Grady, Bob Montguire and Annie and Gerald equipment installed this winter. Gustafson. We will now choose 2 names at random: Selection of Executive officers and Directors for 2013: Craig Williams draws 2 names for Volunteer of the Year As we did not follow the correct nomination procedure, Awards. we will be holding an Extraordinary Meeting on Jan 14, Rob Matthews and Vic and Annette Romaszewski 2013 at which time we will elect the new Executive. In the Mike Thomas then announces the VYC Employee of the meantime, we need to form a Nomination Committee Year Award. The recipient is Corrine Kirton. which consists of a past commodore plus 2 members in Craig Williams draws for the 2013 Free Membership good standing. Prize. The free membership goes to Valerie Harvey. General Discussion: Mike invited David Lane to speak about the motions he put forward. David said that the 2 motions he put for- Full executive meeting minutes are available in the office.

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Ken Peters has given us a folder full of material he gleaned from the archives of the Vernon Museum; it’s all about the Vernon Yacht Club. We are allowed to use it History Page with permission from the museum. In the next few months you will find parts and pieces from Ken’s historical detective by Ken Peters work in our newsletter. Thank you so much, Ken.

SS Sicamous leaving, going past the end of the TRANSFER WHARF. The pilings from this wharf go right through the Yacht Club area. Photo from circa 1926. (Vernon Museum #13725)

Vernon News Feb 6, 1955 Among other business is elec- will be available for spring launch- tion of officers for 1956; annual com- ings. It will be built at the end of the Yacht Club mittee reports will be heard and films road within the new Yacht Club site shown. and will extend approximately 100 May Build feet out into the lake. It will be

available to all boat enthusiasts. New Ramp Vernon News Feb. 3rd, 1956 The clubhouse, which at the Construction of a new club present time is located next to the house and launching ramp at Okana- Yacht Club embankment on the club property, gan Landing are prime points for dis- will be moved closer to the edge of cussion at the annual meeting of the Will Build the lake and set up on a new concrete foundation. The clubhouse in time Vernon Yacht Club scheduled for New Ramp will be renovated to more pleasantly Wednesday night, February 8. Vernon Yacht Club, which held meet the eye of the public. The meeting will take place in its annual meeting January 28, is go- Although an enthusiastic num- former Women’s Institute Hall at 8 ing ahead with a plan which will be ber of members attended the meeting, o’clock, with 1955 Commodore John of interest to all boating enthusiasts – the club would like to see more yacht- ing enthusiasts out to the meetings Dedora in the chair. Amos Baker is a launching ramp for all sizes of craft. and entering into the discussions. vice -commodore. The ramp will be completed within the next two or three months so it Page 19

VYC 2013 Boat Show

W e have agreed on the date as May 4/5 2013.

A new feature this year will be an attempt at increased participation with the inclusion of water sports demonstrations, which we hope will include wake boarding, diving, paddle boarding, kayaks and fly fishing. (Any other ideas??)

We will be looking for volunteers to help in a number of these events, as well as the usual help (A sign up sheet will be posted at with everything else involved in the Club Jan.1st 2013) Thanks for your help, let me know if you need any other information. getting this off the ground. So any- I can be reached at 250-308-8633 (Cell) or [email protected] one interested can help by signing regards, up now, and giving us a few hours Rob Mathews of time to get this show on the road.

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E-mail addresses requested by our office manager

Have you ever wondered why you never receive any of the notices Marnie, our office manager, sends out to VYC members by e-mail?

There are several problems that cause this to happen, says Marnie:

1) Some members have never given me their email address. 2) Some members ask to be removed from my broadcast list for the winter but then do not tell me to add them back on in the spring. I depend on the members to inform me to put their e-mail address back on the list. 3) Some people change their email addresses and forget to let me know.

So…..if you wish to keep informed on what is happening at VYC, would you please let our office manager know and give her your current e-mail address.

For exceptional real estate service Send to: with commitment to all your [email protected]

Cell-250-306-0505

off-250-545-5371 fax-250-542-3381 1-800-434-9122 [email protected] Page 21

The Gang Plank WINTER FOOD SERVICE

Thursday: Appetizers 5:00-7:00 PM Select Appetizers $ 11.25 Friday: Steak or Salmon 5:30-8:30 PM Steak or Salmon $ 14.50 Or Weekly Buffet as per Dec 14 Saturday: Soup & Bun 12:00-3:00 PM Soup & Bun $ 4.50 Soup & Sandwich $ 7.95 Sunday: Brunch 10:00-1:00 PM Brunch $ 11.25

HST included

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Tale of the Cat's Ass

By Al Cotton

n 1996 at the Kelowna Boat stuck in the head). salesper- Show I saw my first MacGregor The large cockpit compared to son 26X. It was love at first sight and a lot of pricier boats was a natural for beating a "gotta have it". Shortly after doing cruises and it was easy to make on them. Ithat I lost my job after 26 years; so I sailing look simple to the novices; as I When I had to get creative in order to afford single handed for the first seven first got the Cat's Ass I was told by it. Thus, Go With the Wind Cruises years. It was a learn as you go busi- one purist (?) that the interior looked began. I bought the boat on my line ness; but each cruise got easier and I "like the inside of a fridge". True, but of credit and simply paid the interest found many of my guests were inter- a little windex and 20 minutes and it each month, writing it off on my in- ested in buying a Mac so I was able gleams. Having no woodwork is a come taxes. The same thing applied to tell them about options they may bonus; because after a few years a to my moorage fees at the KYC. My or may not use. (Drink holders were labor of love turns into a chore. first year doing the cruises was pretty high on the list.) I spent many nights Now 15 years later my "great slow but it allowed me to spend a lot on the boat both in my slip as well as mate" Jo and I still love doing what of quality time on the Cat's Ass rather gunk holing on the lake. we're doing and now have a "C" (for than working. I found it was easy to I wasted a lot of money in ad- Cotton) dog, Shadow, who loves be- single hand and all I had to do each vertising until I realized what worked ing on board. We've also met hun- day when I didn't have a cruise was and what didn't. I also got a lot of dreds of people from all over the fill the cooler. This sure beat sitting business for the dealership in Van- world and the Cat's Ass is paid for behind a desk every day; and I even couver where I had bought the Cat's and the Credit Union is happy. It's looked forward to getting up every Ass in 1998. Gerry Berg, the dealer been loads of laughs and fun and we day to "go to work". and I had a great relationship and he look forward to many more to Each year business picked up repeatedly sent me stuff I needed come... and I began to learn the ropes (lines). prepaid and at no charge. My link to I found I enjoyed meeting new peo- his website was also a bonus as Al Cotton ple which was the only thing that I guests who were considering a Mac missed from my old job, and my spiel would go out with me as opposed to "There are tall ships and small ships, on the cruises expanded. I was soon going to Vancouver. Obviously I was but the best ships are friendships." able to relate amusing anecdotes of pro Mac and gave the straight goods previous cruises (like the fat lady to guests as opposed to having a Page 23

February 2013

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 Lounge Hrs. Lounge Hrs. 4:00—11:00PM 12:00—8:00PM

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Lounge Hrs. Lounge Hrs. Lounge Hrs. Lounge Hrs. Lounge Hrs. 10:00—6:00PM 4:00—8:00PM 4:00—8:00PM 4:00—11:00PM 12:00—8:00PM Super Bowl Dance Lessons 7-8PM

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Lounge Hrs. Lounge Hrs. Lounge Hrs. Lounge Hrs. Lounge Hrs. 10:00—6:00PM 4:00—8:00PM 4:00—8:00PM 4:00—11:00PM 12:00—8:00PM Dance Lessons Open jam 7-8PM night

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Lounge Hrs. Lounge Hrs. Lounge Hrs. Lounge Hrs. Lounge Hrs. 10:00—6:00PM 4:00—8:00PM 4:00—8:00PM 4:00—11:00PM 12:00—8:00PM Dance Lessons 7-8PM

24 25 26 27 28 Lounge Hrs. Lounge Hrs. Lounge Hrs. 10:00—6:00PM 4:00—8:00PM 4:00—8:00PM Dance Lessons 7-8PM

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