Need some ideas for Christmas presents and stocking stuffers?  If so check out the regalia case in Duffy's.  We have lots of stock of the older items and are taking orders for the new items that are featured in the top half of the display case.  If you have any questions contact Linda DeRusha at regalia@abyc.on.ca

I am pleased to announce that Emile Trottier has taken over the helm of the Archive Committee.  A couple of months ago all of our archive material was sorted and stored off-site in a climate controlled storage unit.  Emile came up with the idea of contacting local universities' library programs to see if they could help us catalogue and digitize the material.  It looks as if we might get this done as a student project in one of the credit courses.  All work would be done at the club.  We would have to supply a laptop computer for the students to use, so if anyone has one they would like to "donate" to the cause, please let myself or Emile know.

The tree goes up this evening and the tree trimming party is this coming Friday.  If you plan on coming down please give the club a shout and reserve a table.  This is always a popular event so book soon.

The new front entrance is coming along nicely, hopefully we will be using that entrance by Christmas. Once finished we will have the floor polished and the lobby and washrooms painted... be forewarned, all you folks that put painting down as a skill, get your work hours in early for next year!

See ya at the club!

- Jim Allen, Chair, Safety Committee 

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This is the theme for the ABYC Safety Committee. The Safety Committee was formed 3 years ago by then Senior Vice Commodore Rick Humphrey and has been Chaired very admirably by Stan Gap for these past 3 years. Stan has stepped now down as Chair (but will stay on the committee) of the Committee and I have assumed the Chairmanship.

Over the past 3 years we have concentrated on making sure the grounds were inspected for safety issues before Launch and Haulout and for having a physical safety presence during Launch and Haulout.

Under the direction of Senior Vice Commodore, Elizabeth Sloss, the committee will be expanding its mandate to a year round Safety Committee that will focus on several areas of safety, not just the physical environment of the club and its buildings.

In the new year we plan to provide a weekend First Aid and CPR certification course. We also plan to have a session on the proper use of fire extinguishers and the proper use for different kinds of fires.

We will also be working with Stephen Trevitt and his crew that are rebuilding the Sea Wall reconstruction to ensure that safety is utmost in this very necessary winter project.

These are just a few of our new initiatives, but we can't fulfill our mandate without more committee members to share the workload.

To paraphrase an old saying "ABYC needs you for its Safety Committee"

I promise you that meetings will only be as needed and they will not run longer than 1 hour.  Most of the real work will be done between meetings.

If you would like to join me as part of the ABYC Safety Team you can contact me at safety@abyc.on.ca

I hope to hear back from you soon.  If you have any questions please contact me anytime

Thursday, December 12th - 7:00pm 

- Jim Allen & Petra Fischer, Co-Chairs, Winter Lecture Series

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 "Racing Around the World Alone" with the permission of Wind Athletes.

'Racing Around the World Alone' is the story of the 2008/2009 Vendee Globe race. 30 skippers embark on a quest to be the fastest to sail 27,000 miles around the world, non-stop, without assistance and alone on 60 foot sailboats.  This is one of the most extreme challenges a human being can face.  The sailors are alone at sea for months and physical and emotional strength are essential.  Growlers (Icebergs), sea mammals, and massive waves are a constant danger.  On any day the forces of nature can bring an end to the best sailor's well made plans.  They harness the wind, hope for safe passage over the sea and push hard to win. They are a testament to the audacity of the human spirit.

On their journey, they will see the world in a way that few ever have the chance to see it.  However, as many a sailor knows, the ocean, though beautiful, is powerful and unforgiving.  They set out to demonstrate that the human will is up to the greatest of challenges. This is their story.  Trailer can be reviewed at http://www.sailingaroundtheworld.tv/

The organizing committee for the sailing event at the 2015 Pan Am Games is beginning to recruit volunteers.  We are starting by filling six supervisor positions (the titles are standardized across all sports):

Supervisor, Measurement:  working closely with the International Chief Measurer, responsible for managing the boat measurement process

Supervisor, Sport Competition: working with the Principal Race Officer, responsible for recruiting and managing the race committee (effectively the PRO's local deputy)

Supervisor, Field of Play Services and Equipment - responsible for on-water safety, equipment, and communication

Supervisor, Venue - responsible for shore facilities, athlete services, VIP/officials services, and onsite first aid and doping control

Supervisor, Administration - responsible for managing to the event budget, providing IT support, etc.

Supervisor, Volunteers: responsible for recruitment, training, and coordination of volunteers (especially shore-side)

If you would like more information about any of these positions or you have any suggestions for possible candidates, please e-mail me at dave.steenbergen@rogers.com.  I don't have a lot of information yet about volunteering for race committee or shore-side jobs in general, but if you are interested I would be happy to share what I know.