August 2009 MTHE NEWSLEAINTTER OFS THAMESHEET YACHT CLUB From the Commodore Congratulations to Justin Codner who was elected to the If you have an unauthorized craft at the club I encourage Executive Committee at the General Membership meeting you to remove it ASAP so the House Committee does not on July 19th. have to take additional action. Within this MainSheet is a copy of an email from Bevan Unauthorized craft may be declared abandoned property Crighton about his resignation as House Committee Chair. and disposed of accordingly. We are grateful for Bevan’s superior performance during Please join us for Members’ Day and the Oscar Ker- his tenure. The improved appearance of our facility is a man race on Saturday, August 15th. Additional infor- reflection of the pride and diligence that Bevan takes in mation is within the MainSheet. his work. Ron Reinhart has graciously volunteered to as- As the season begins to wind down for many of you sume the responsibility of House Committee Chair and we with children returning to school at the end of August look forward to working with him. please remove your lawn chairs, beach toys and personal Members who have more than 10 years of continuous watercraft from the property. Senior membership who will become 65 years of age next Walt Pratt, Commodore year may petition the Executive Committee for Master Mariner status. The application must be submitted by Sep- tember 1st. A simple letter, or email, to the Commodore Lost Pirate Treasure Hunt or Secretary will suffice. FLAT Thanks go to Bruce Meyers for refinishing the Thames HAMMOCK rose DESERT Yacht Club Life Ring. We hope to get it reinstalled in the Bush GraVe ISLAND near future. TYc lost Pirate Black Thank also go to Stephen and Kate Potter for donating BarT’’s an 8’ picnic table for use on the beach. It is a welcome loTreasureG hunt addition and has already been put to good use. red 11:00 am Beard- This is a friendly reminder that canoes, dinghies, kayaks, PrIson caPTaIn cell sunday,kI da’s ug 2 optimists, sailboards, and dry sailed boats and other per- BurnT MasT caFlatPTaIn hammock Island sonal water craft may only be stowed in assigned rented hook’s FInGer sites as approved by the Dinghy Rack Coordinator Claire BringloG yer young pirates for Gammo. buried treasure. In accordance with Article V, Section 14 of our bylaws a Beach Members is not permitted to have a small boats or and yer food to grill - dinghy on club property; that includes temporarily bring- sunk ands grog for loyeG crew ing them to the club to be used at the facility. BeWare oF end oF earTh A casual inspection earlier this week revealed that there are several violations. Unauthorized boats are being YE BEWARE THIS stowed in racks, on the beach or in the dinghy storage area HERE MAP IS which interferes with access to assigned spaces and gives OWNED BY CAPTAIN HOOK Black the area a cluttered appearance. Beard’s lone Bush MAINSHEET THE NEWSLETTER OF THAMES YACHT CLUB AUGUST 2009 From the Vice Commodore Rear Commodore’s Corner Hello Everyone! July has been a very active racing month for the club. We Thank you all for the great participation for the General held the Bradbury Memorial race on July 4th, The Second Membership Meeting. It was a very light hearted yet Annual New London Sailfest Race on July 12th, complet- productive meeting. There was plenty of delicious food ed the TYC Wednesday Night Spring Series on July 8th. brought by the members and enjoyed by all. I hope those The Summer Series began on July 15th. The Bradbury of you that attended had a good time. Please help to Memorial Long Distance Race, held on July 4th, featured spread the word and encourage your other fellow mem- good wind, sun and fun. The Governor’s Regatta which bers to come down and get involved. was held on Sunday, July 26th, featured foggy conditions The Governor’s Regatta came off as a huge success and with a decent breeze and followed by a great shore party it was due to all the volunteers that helped make life easy. after the race. Thank You Again to those members who came down to Speaking of July, I must admit that it has been a very represent their club and host the racers. The beach venue active and busy month for me as well. Mid-month, I moved always works when the thunderstorms hold off and to my family from West Hartford to East Greenwich, RI. top it off with great food made by the support crew was a To follow is my new address and contact information: winning combination. An enormous appreciation goes out Greg Reese to the Decorating efforts that put some real class in the 8 Apple Tree Ct TYC Act for us all to be proud of. East Greenwich, RI 02818 Again, Cheers to the Party Crew!! (401) 398-8594 [email protected] The next major event will be the Commodores Regatta and it would be excellent to see new faces serving the Upcoming events one can look forward to in August food and tending the bar. Please come down, many hands will be the Oscar Kerman to be held on Saturday August make light work and a good time. 15th during Members Day. All members are welcome to Don’t miss out, join the fun with the party crew for this friendly racing event or just show up to party with another excellent event this year, please contact me at friends and family. This year’s running of the Commo- [email protected] or phone (860) 443-1451. dore’s Trophy Race will be Sunday, September 6th. Tom Welsh, You’re Vice Commodore Skippers Night event will be held later than usual this year. The new date will be Saturday, November 7th where awards will be given out for this spring, summer and fall racing events. Greg Reese, TYC Rear Commodore Members Day Race - Oscar Kerman Notice of race and Sailing instructions are on the TYC web site. Please join us in this friendly race. Mooring Gear If you have mooring equipment on the beach or under the clubhouse remove it from the area as soon as possible. Some of the gear has been lying around longer than necessary and may be disposed of as General membership meeting, Sunday, July 19. Photo by Michael Passero abandoned property. MAINSHEET THE NEWSLETTER OF THAMES YACHT CLUB AUGUST 2009 Blue Jay Class Fleet 50 House Committee Work List Along about 1956 it became apparent that a follow on The House Committee Work List is posted as “House trainer was needed for our Club juniors to transition to Work List” within the TYC Calendar in the box for after sailing and racing the Wee Nip. Discussions among the 1st day of the current month. Clicking on it will parents, with other clubs and builders determined the boat bring up a pdf file listing open items. Feel free to needed was to be stable and have the capability of flying pitch in on a job if you have time. Notify the House a jib and a spinnaker. In 1957 the decision was made to Committee Chairman of completed jobs or items that select the International Blue Jay as the follow-on boat. need to be added. McKean Boat Builders were selected to build the initial fleet of 8 Blue Jays, numbers 1338 to 1345. Fifty years ago this month, Fleet 50 of Thames Yacht Club, held its first invitational regatta. The accompanying Directory photo shows the top 5 skippers and crews of that regatta. Several members have not picked up their Thames There would be many more invitationals over the years; Yacht Club 2009 Directory – it is available at the the Blue Jay would transition from plywood to fiberglass clubhouse. and Fleet 50 would exist as a racing class at the Club into the early 1990s. The top 5 skippers and crews of Blue Jay Fleet 50’s first invitational regatta are: (Kneeling) Sue Timken, Ron Brouwer, Mrs. Bill Graulty, Ann MacDougall and Gene Cushman. (Standing) Chet Kitchings, Bobby Lonergan, Bill Graulty, Steve Farrell and Rube Olsen. Photo by Clayton “Bud” Farrar. Trivia Question: Behind the group is the original mantle over the fireplace. Name the 2 trophies as well as the boats and skippers above the trophies. A break - the skipper of the boat on the far right is unknown. MAINSHEET THE NEWSLETTER OF THAMES YACHT CLUB AUGUST 2009 Fleet Captain where else, after all many of us are sailors and the voyage There are four cruises planned for this summer. I have is the destination. worked around TYC events not to interfere with any. The 4- October 9-11, Friday through Sunday calendar is a terrific resource. August was the most open Columbus Weekend Cruise to Hamburg Cove. and the warmest time and maybe we will get a break in Detail will be posted on Calendar and Mainsheet. the weather. Ted Paulsen, Fleet Captain 1- Sunday, August 2 Arrr, Pirates Cruise to Flat Hammock Island. Not never to be missed. We had as many as 25 ships a-joinin-in. From Bevan Crighton: Make sure you be in Swashbucklin rags (optional) and Hi Everybody, bring any young scallywag you can shanghai for Yo-ho- In case you haven’t heard, a few days ago I stepped ho and games and a real Pieces o’ eight hunt. A cookin down as Chairman of the House Committee. My decision fire will be provided so bring some meat or fancy meat was made for personal reasons, but it also seemed like the substitute along with you, and it is a BYO Grog party.