Well Happy New Year to you all!  May it be a year of prosperity, good health and great sailing.  As always the Levee was well attended and it was great to see all the new faces and some members that I have not seen for a long time.

Although it's January and cold enough to freeze your keel off, there's lots of things going on at the club this month.  Every Wednesday is wings night, Thursday is pasta night.  

Upcoming events are:

January 16:  Cruising Awards Night, reservations recommended

January 24:  Celtic Night with our favorite Irish band Poor Angus, again reservations are recommended.

January 19:  Pre-budget meeting.  A chance to look at the proposed budget for 2015 and ask questions.

January 26:  General Meeting to vote on our budget and capital expenditures for the coming year.

February 1:  Super Bowl Sunday party with big screen in the main hall, great snacks and prize draws.

A new menu will roll out sometime in the next week, a combination of old favorites and some great new items.

Well that's all I got for this week, see ya at the club!  

Mike Macdonald

Don Ferguson Boat Deliveries  

(The Good, The Bad & The Ugly)

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Don Ferguson has been doing boat deliveries with Captain Dave Mathews for several years and recently completed a delivery to Panama as the Skipper when Dave had to step aside for health reasons.  Don will talk about his and Dave's adventures together delivering boats on the high seas for Owners who want their boats safely delivered to their final destinations.

Many of us know Don for his racing accomplishments over the years and then as Manager of Queen City Yacht Club from 2006-2014.

Don has more than 30 years of sailing experience, most of it focused on getting from A to B as quickly  as possible.  For most of the 90's he was heavily involved with the Canadian J24 Class. Don competed in numerous National and North American Championships.  In 1996, Don crewed for Dartmouth's Sean McDermott to win the Nationals hosted by RNSYS.

Don also has offshore racing experience including the 2000 King's Cup Regatta in Thailand and the 2005 Hong Kong to San Fernando, Philippines Race on Sam Chan's famous TP52, FreeFire.  Sam and crew were first-to-finish, first in class and first overall in the 568nm San Fernando Race. 

Don's cruising sailing has been limited to the occasional deliveries and transits including bringing the replica of Jacques Cartier's "Matthew" up the St. Lawrence Seaway with a group from Shellbacks. 

Don's experience as a racer and cruiser make him a good choice as crew or skipper on long deliveries. Come out and hear Don talk about his adventures delivering on the High Seas.

Jim Allen and Petra Fischer

Toonie Thursday- Co-Chairs

3 pair of Boat Show tickets will be raffled off at 1 for $2.00 or 3 for $5.  

2015 New Year's Levee

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Our annual New Year's Levee was held on January 1, 2015 and as part of the Levee, Contribution Awards were presented to members who made significant contributions to the club during 2014.  Most of the comments below were made by Rear Commodore Paul Brennan.  This year, the recipients were:

The Commodore's Award

Presented by the Commodore for best representing ABYC in any branch of yachting,
inside or outside the Club.

The Commodore's Award is presented to Roger Van Vlack

 

The club is very fortunate to have a number of sailors who are so passionate about racing at all levels that they bring their personal leadership to help the sport sustain itself and continue to evolve with the times. This year Roger Van Vlack distinguished himself through his personal interest in fostering the sport and our club hosting the 2014 LYRA. We are fortunate to have a number of passionate and successful sailors. Thank you Roger. 

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Al Clinker Memorial Award

The Al Clinker Memorial Award is presented annually to the individual who was always cheerfully helping out for the benefit of ABYC and fellow members.  All club members are eligible.     

  We are pleased to present the Al Clinker Memorial Award to  

 

Senior Member Yves Lemieux

 

"Yves is always willing to help out on the various Club projects and often stays on the job late into the afternoon to ensure completion. Yves has been particularly helpful applying his carpentry skills to the ongoing repairs of the old fixed docks and the seawall repairs."   

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Leo Cotey Trophy

Presented to the woman who has contributed most to ABYC during the year.

  

Senior Member Michelle Wolfson    

This year's committee has selected a woman who has contributed in many areas of our club over the years, including as Chair of the Food and Beverage Committee and the Work Management Committee.

 

For those who were members in 1999-2000, you may remember the amazing Millennium New Year's Eve Gala with the scrumptious menu that she devised and implemented, by organizing a small army of members who came out to the club every day for a week before New Year's Eve to prep, and then cook and serve the feast on the night.

 

A recent addition to ABYC is the initiation and development of the Job Jar software. Michelle's attitude and dedication to making the Job Jar work is exemplary. She has repeatedly taken it upon herself to be available for everyone who needs help using it. She has gone above and beyond to be available to our members at all times. Even if Michelle is out of town for work, or on vacation at her cottage or her Florida condo, she has responded to every inquiry promptly and efficiently.

 

With the wall repair project getting underway Michelle has stepped up significantly. The Job Jar is a year round requirement and Michelle's commitment to teach members how to use it and to "make it work" has been enthusiastic and unflagging.

 

.As past recipients of the Leo Cotey, Alison and I are pleased to present the 2014 Leo Cotey award to Michelle Wolfson  (Presented by Alison Booz and Alison Liddell) 

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Cradle Crew Award 

Awarded for meritorious service by a member of the cradle crew at launch
and haulout.  (Named by the Vice-Commodore, Marine Services) 

  

Senior Member Anthony Mirvish 

This year the member to be recognized has contributed countless hours for many years. He spends a great deal of time over a CAD layout of our yards planning the cradle-boat layouts which this year seemed to switch numerous times as the Sea Wall plans came together (Mast up yes/no, White Wall no North Wall). He takes direction from several people but most noticeably he takes everything in stride and is always courteous to everyone. This job is high stress - plans change, and mistakes can cost the club thousands. While the rest of us show up at launch just before 8, Anthony would be meeting the big crane before 6. And of course we are lifting boats up to 27000 pounds and if they aren't lifted right, they could come down again, suddenly. For his efforts and coolness under fire ...

 

Congratulations Anthony.   

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Rolly McKillop Trophy 

For volunteer services rendered to the club (Volunteer Service in the Yard.   

(Awarded by the Vice-Commodore, Marine Services)

Presented to 

Senior Member Tom Jones  

According to former Vice Commodore Marine Bruce Morrison, Tom has been a mainstay in the rail yard, helping with building and maintaining the wooden cradles, and in the ongoing repairs for the ways.

 

Thank you Tom for keeping our railway running smoothly!

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Stacy Trophy 

Presented annually to the member(s) who makes the greatest contribution to developing a lifelong love of sailing in young sailors, whether through keelboat or dinghies.

 

Presented to  

 

Michael Goldfarb

 

When it was first deeded, I don't think that it was anticipated that one of our sailing school instructors would ever win this award, but it happened this year.  In addition to the joy and excitement that we see in Michael Goldfarb's students when he's out coaching them, his completely over-the-top efforts to raise funds for an extra coach boat to further our junior program and the support our youngest sailors get on the water has been outstanding.

 

In the words of Jeff DeJean:
"He's been very influential with our sailors, and has a special aptitude for the youngest kids to  learn to race, the Green fleet, which starts at age 7.  Some of these young kids have become our first White fleet kids - who race in the championship fleet at age of 10 or under.  Often clubs don't have any white fleet kids as they don't learn fast enough to move up before they're over the age of 10.  Mike also instills a real love for the sport in the kids he coaches, which is reflected in their keenness.  In addition to being great with kids, Mike has excellent organizational skills, which peaked this year with our 5 year fund raising program, where he set up a charitable contribution account with CYA, and through various events including t-shirt and hat sales and the silent auction raised over $6000.  He's been a great asset to our program and has been scooped up on graduation by an accounting firm.  We wish him well in the business world and look forward to working with him in the future."

 

Congratulations to Michael!  

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Hartley Trophy

To the family that contributes the most to club activities.

Senior Members Linda & Mike Robertson 

Linda has done an amazing job on our patios.  Mike, despite having attempted to retire numerous times from the job of House Chair, finished first our foyer, and is now taking the lead on the junior sailing school washrooms.  Both members are regularly seen around the club, actively helping, or providing others constructive guidance.

We are pleased to present the Hartley Award to Mike and Linda Robertson.

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Otto Van Dam Shorewall Trophy

For volunteer services rendered to the club.  (Presented by Harbourmaster)

Senior Member Alfie Nonnewitz   

Alfie is highly respected for his club racing and knowledge of everything about ABYC Marine and Yard.  He is the undisputed leader of the "Bubbler Team".  He has taken on this task willingly for a long, long time.  He is very skilled technically, he plans and leads the execution of the bubbler set up every fall and he ensures the system is maintained throughout the winter.  With Alfie in charge, the job gets done year after year without, seemingly, anybody else worrying much about it.  Congratulations Alfie.  

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Don Davis Trophy

For measurable and recognized contribution to the advancement of ABYC 

Presented to  

 

Senior Member Jeff Dejean     

Awarded annually to the ABYC dinghy sailor who, in the opinion of the Commodore, Rear Commodore, and Dinghy Fleet Captain, made a measurable and recognized contribution to the advancement of ABYC.  Contribution may be in the area of cruising, racing, or club improvement.

  

The Don Davis trophy is awarded to the dinghy sailor who makes the greatest contribution to the club. In 2014, Jeff Dejean somehow managed to find time to race his dinghy.  Most of you know that Jeff is the Director of our Sailing School, and as such his contribution to the planning and execution of our school and racing team activities is most significant and incredibly important to ABYC.    

Congratulations Jeff.

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The Alice Patterson Memorial Trophy

In recognition of services to boat racing.  

Presented to  

 

Senior Member Stan Gap

 

We have a number of long-standing contributors to race committee putting over a hundred hours in some years, and that's just on the ABYC and reciprocal events they participate in. This year, we'd like to award Stan Gap, for going from zero to more than 80 hours in his first year on Race Committee, on both the Sarah and mark boat, here and afar, weeknights and weekends. In 2015 we anticipate him breaking 100 hours!

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For over 50 years, ABYC has been visited by a very special person.  Rain or shine, sleet or snow and sometimes very choppy waves could not prevent this man from is yearly jaunt.  His dedication and commitment has brought joy and happiness to many generations of  ABYC children and adults.

Please join me in expressing our gratitude to the man who will continue to bring a smile to everyone he meets.

The man in red   " Santa"    

   Harry Eckley