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It's the first long weekend of the season and the first ABYC cruise of more than 1 nm of the season too!

The Cruising Fleet is off to Lakeshore Yacht Club for a reciprocal cruise for the Victoria Day long weekend; three days and two nights.  LSYC is a self-help club and enjoys excellent member built facilities with floating docks, and is located in the Colonel Samuel Smith Park in Etobicoke.

Colonel Samuel Smith Park is located along a stretch of wooded shoreline in the Kipling and Lakeshore area and is home to a network of paths for walking, roller blading and biking.  The park also features a dog off-leash area and there is a children's play area by the club house.  Lots to do for a long weekend!

As is customary, ABYC will host a member gathering, including dinner on Saturday with the participants asked to help out with contributions of appetizers or desserts, plus your own beverages.

LSYC has no in-house F&B so it is bring your own for all other meals.  The communal clubhouse kitchen and BBQ areas are available for our use, as long as we leave them as we found them!  And while the outdoor BBQ patio is scenic and welcoming, and we hope to spend some quality time out there, LSYC has the added benefit of indoor eating space should the weather not co-operate. Anyone wishing to support the local businesses, Lake Shore Blvd. W. is not far away with a few small restaurants and a RABBA.

Reservations for the LSYC cruise are now open - see the notice in the Communications Room or call the office to reserve.

Looking forward to welcoming you!

Your LSYC cruise hosts

Carolyn & Ralph Weckesser, Latis

Sophie Soklaridis & John Scherlowski, Johnny's Cabana

Sailing School Seawall Repair Saturday May 2  

- The Home Stretch.

With the area levelled and packed during launch and the Sarah Shed replaced by the crane, we are left with the following tasks to complete.

This Saturday:

Continue to re-install the interlocking bricks at each end of the Sailing school area.

Fill the spaces between bricks with sand (and or screenings for big gaps) and tamping with the vibrator

(if delivered on time).   In the center section (between patios) install the sections of "Ecoraster" plastic grid ( a new product that supports weight of boats and racks etc but allows grass to grow up through for a park like area).

Once the grid is installed, spread the area with top soil and then plant grass seed.

Other tasks soon to be scheduled.

Fill the space between the old and new wall with lean concrete.

Install the SS wall metal cap, wooden rub rail & fender boards

See you Saturday,

Roger Marsh

Spring is here and the grass is starting to grow at Bay Belle Point.  The dinghy storage area has been

cleared of all winter cradles.

All of the dinghies need to be moved to the dinghy area over the next week.  Please move your own and a couple of others.

I will be coming out some nights this week after work to move some and could use help.

Also mark all equipment with your name and member number for identification.

The presentation from the In-Water Winter Lay-Up Committee is now on the ABYC Website.  All members are invited to review the information provided.  If you have any questions, comments or suggestions regarding implementation of this plan, please contact one of the committee members who are listed in the presentation, or alternatively contact the VC Marine Services who will pass on your comments.  Member's comments will be tabulated for Committee discussion and appropriate action.

It is that most wonderful time of year again, launch and the start of another Sailing Season.  The harbour ice moved many of the mooring tires around this winter and we had several chains break.  Prior to launch Irish Rose replaced any moorings that were lost, however, if you find you are missing a tire, please contact the office, we will prioritize you.  

If your tires are there, but in the wrong spot, please sign up on the Mooring Tire Adjustment sheet that will be on the board at the bottom of the stairs in the clubhouse after launch.

Please help us by completing the Adjustment Sheet and following Rose's Rules.

1. Provide both boat name & slip number (we don't know where every boat is and will not try to find it)

2. Indicate which tire you want moved and give us the direction and the distance (feet, we are old school) i.e. Port Tire - North East - 4ft.

3. Consider your neighbour's vessel when making your request, sometimes we will need to compromise between boats if they are not close in size

4. Please understand that we plan work in sections so we can be as efficient as possible and remember that we cannot take requests from you on the dock.. 

5. Please be patient, we will get to them as soon as possible and we will work until we are done but in the meantime please make do by tying to your winches, mid cleats or to your neighbour if appropriate. 

Please Note:  Irish Rose is a great vessel for lifting tires chained to 600lb concrete blocks, but precision and accuracy was not part of the design criteria so if we get close, we have succeeded.  

The Adjustment Sheets will be up until Victoria Day  weekend because after that, we want to enjoy our weekends too.

My little AM/FM clock radio disappeared from Casa Ballman (where it has been for many weeks) sometime last week.  If you come across it, please return it to its place on the shelf in Casa Ballman.

Thank you,

Gus

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In an effort to continue to provide a vibrant and competitive racing program to our members, your Sailing Committee is ready to create a 3rd spinnaker division on Tuesday nights for the racers/cruisers with smaller boats.  The division would sail a shorter course than Division 2, meaning it would require a smaller crew and would create an exciting and competitive evening for many skippers.   We have a small core of members with those boats that have expressed interest and we are looking for a few more participants to get the division growing.  If you have an interest in participating please talk with any member of the "Sailing Committee" or come and talk to us.  You can also send an email to shaun.carey@rogers.com.

- Sailing Committee

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If you have been thinking, this is the year to get your boat off the dock and on the race course the Sailing Committee has a solution for you.  We are introducing the ABYC Race Mentor Program for all those boat owners who are ready to enjoy a great evening of club racing and camaraderie.  We will match you with one of our experienced mentors for a race or two.  They will guide you through the race course, and impart some of the local knowledge that is so important to success.

If you would like to take advantage of this program or if you would like to apply to become a mentor, please talk to a member of the Sailing Committee or drop by the Race Registration desk at launch and have a conversation.  You can also send an email to shaun.carey@rogers.com.