Vice-Commodore Reports

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Vice Commodore's Corner: February 2022

Ahoy February Club Members!

Although we’re now in the dead of winter, it’s not too early to start preparing for our upcoming sailing season. You can do this in a number of ways. First you can lay out your sailing gear to see if anything needs replacing. Are those sailing gloves tattered from last year’s wear and tear? Does the canister in your PFD need replacing? Do you have an emergency whistle attached to your PFD? Is your foul-weather gear adequate for early or late season sailing? Do you have a knife with a marlin spike that you carry with you when sailing? You never know when that can come in really handy.

Secondly, review the rules of the road for sailing, and remember the most important rule of all: never assume that the other boat is familiar with the rules of the road.

Thirdly, now is a good time to start your pre-season exercises to be ready and fit for the sailing season.

Lastly, for you boat owners you should begin focusing attention to inspecting and addressing any deficiencies regarding the engine, electrics, rigging, deck gear, sails, safety equipment and steering gear.

I will be in Florida this February.  While down there I will be taking some offshore cruising courses.  I look forward to sharing my training experience when I return in March.

Tom Steider, 2022 Vice Commodore

Vice Commodore's Corner: July 2021

Happy July Club Members!

We have finally arrived at the point where we can resume general meetings. This month’s meeting will be a great time to reconnect and meet new friends. This month was a good month to spend time with fellow club members and other sailing friends. This year has had its share of growing pains, and I am sure that the season will pan out with some very nice sailing opportunities.

What makes this club great is participation from all the members and suggestions for enhancements to the club. If any of the membership would like to help with the inner workings of the club, please contact any Board member or myself. All member positions could use a fresh set of eyes or ideas, and assistance.

So PLEASE, if you want to Skipper, sign up. If you Crew, sign up. And if you would like to be a Cruise Captain for any of the sails that don’t already have one, please let Lorraine know. (Remember, you do not even need to attend a sail in order to be a Cruise Captain for any of the sails.)

-Wayne Smith, 2021 Vice Commodore

Vice Commodore's Corner: June 2021

Happy June Club Members!

It’s been a month of work for Gwen and I. We’re trying to do all the upgrades to our new boat and still trying to sell our old boat. I wonder if we will have any time to sail this year! I hope we can get back to meeting in person with all of you soon and enjoy each other’s company.

I hope everyone enjoyed Gareth Stamm’s presentation on Towboat US. His talk was very eye-opening when it comes to salvage, towing and damage to boats. $30 off the first year of the gold towing membership is a great deal, considering the cost of towing!! I hope there was some important information for the non-boat owners as well.

I hope to see all of you soon at a meeting or at a sail. Until then, please enjoy a sunset picture taken from our dock in Winthrop Harbor last weekend.

Have a great June!

-Wayne Smith, 2021 Vice Commodore

WH Sunset 2021

Vice Commodore's Corner: May 2021

Happy May Club Members!

It’s been nice to see you all on the Zoom chats. Before too long we will actually be able to hang out with each other. I found our speaker last month to be really interesting and he changed some of the ways that I approach safety. Gareth Stamm is the owner of TowboatUS for everything north of Chicago on Lake Michigan. If you have any more questions for him, or would like to discuss anything, feel free to contact him. His contact info is in the May 2021 Communique. If you were unable to attend the meeting this month, I highly suggest that you listen to the information via our Zoom recording.

I hope to see everyone soon either in person, at the meetings or on the water!

- Wayne Smith, 2021 Vice Commodore