Members!

Your Rear Commodore and VC Marine are talking to determine the best day for launch next year.

Some members have indicated that the earlier the better, as it gives more time for racing and cruising.

Others want another week to get their boats painted and polished.

What's your preference?  Please respond to the poll and let your Board know!  We'll be considering any responses received before midnight, Friday, and we will let you know the results in next week's S2S.

Send replies to:     rearcom@abyc.on.ca  (Click on link:) 

The subject line should state "Vote for ABYC Launch" 

Paul Brennan,  Rear Commodore

Erik Dullerud, Vice Commodore Marine Services

Yard Clean-up - East Fence Line

As mentioned already in this edition of S2S, the front entrance is now complete and it looks great!  The Seahorse, (I call her Sally... after Mustang Sally), was crafted by Mike Robertson and the light design by Harvey Harman really set it off.  The lights were a challenge, we had to order special outside LED's and a transformer to light it up.  When they arrived at the distributors warehouse they had no idea how to deal with them, but in good old fashioned ABYC way, we "got er done".  Again thanks to all who worked on this project, it was almost a year to the day from start to finish.

This past Saturday was a beehive of activity in the clubhouse during the all day work party.  Windows cleaned, trophies and brass polished and dusting of all the rafters has really made the club look good.  Thanks to all involved.  Now the clubhouse may have been cleaned up, but a mess was made in another club building.  Mike Robertson, John French, Kirk Cameron, Graham Toms, John Waller and I got a bit dirty doing the demolition of the men's washroom and part of the women's washroom in the Junior Sailing School.  These two washrooms have been neglected for a long time and the rot and damage we found behind the walls confirmed that.  The women's will get an opening window, new sinks and a paintjob. The men's will get new showers and a new floor.  They will be styled after the pool washrooms at Port Credit Yacht Club. Mike Robertson (again) will be the lead on this project.  If you have any renovation skills and would be interested in this project please let Mike or myself know.

In keeping with repairs and renovations, the roof trusses in the clubhouse; a beautiful architectural detail, are of course a structural part of the roof.  Last winter's snow load did some damage to them.  A few of them have shifted and started to pull from their plates. There is no immediate danger, but we will be having them repaired in the next month.  Erik Dullerud is in negotiations with a roof truss company to do the repairs before winter sets in.  There will be some minor disruptions in the clubhouse but the food and beverage operation will continue to operate during this work.

This past Sunday was the second annual Elizabeth Kimball Memorial Arts and Crafts Show.  I am amazed at the talent in the club.  Photography, pottery, knitting, stained glass and paintings were all on display.  I really enjoy events like this, something that brings all members together and give them a chance to socialize.  Although there was no judging or prizes awarded (as it should be at an event like this) for me personally one piece stood out.  Barb Baniuk's pencil drawing of a cactus did stop me in my tracks, the beauty of the drawing and the choice of matting and frame was stunning.  I look forward to next year and hope for more exhibitors.  There was one small disappointment; one piece of art went missing.  We hope it will show up soon.

Thanks all for this week, see ya at the club!

Mike Macdonald

Roger Marsh

Cruising Awards Dinner, Friday, January 16^th, 2015

This is a reminder to mark your calendars for the 2024 Cruising Awards to be held on Friday, January 16^th, 2015.

In order for us to prepare for the Cruising Awards Presentation, we ask that you please submit your miles navigated and the number of Ports and Harbours visited on Lake Ontario during 2014 and submit this information to me (luba11@sympatico.ca).  This information is required so we can purchase the required number of flags to be handed out.

During the evening, we will present the Distance Awards for those boats that have accumulated 1,000 and 500 nautical miles respectively on the Great Lakes as well as the Cruise participation flags.  We will award the following trophies: Hans Ballman, Harbour Master's Hat, Ports of Call, Jack Shirt, Ed Wilson, Ron Mitchell, Cruising Fleet Captain's Discretionary Award,  and the Day Sailing award.  

Bruce Hannah 

Photo - Bruce Hannah

TOONIE TALK THURSDAYS ARE BACK!!!!

Join us on the 2nd. Thursday of the month starting November 13, 2014 for ABYC's lecture series.

Kicking off our Toonie Talks are our own ABYC members who have ventured outside our local Lake Ontario Shores; down the Erie Canal, down the ICW to the inviting waters, sandy beaches and rum cocktails of Florida and the Bahamas!

Rick Itenson will kick off the evening, Phil Giddings and Krista Slack have put together a presentation of their trip down the ICW to Florida and we may even have Bruce Hannah available to answers questions on the pros & cons of trucking your boat down to Florida.

Once again, we ask that you donate a Toonie for our worthy ABYC Cause.  This year, your co-ordinators have chosen to support our Opti Program; the future of our sport.

Start Time: 7pm in the clubhouse.

See you there!

Next Month....December 11^th - Former Olympian John Curtis will present and narrate two videos. One on the preparation for the California Campaign for the Transpac and one on the race itself in which John was a crew member.

Program co-chairs 

Jim Allen & Petra Fischer