Vice-Commodore Reports

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Vice Commodore's Corner: September 2021

Happy September Club Members!

For this month’s meeting, we will be going over knots. I will bring some lengths of rope to the meeting, and if you are watching from home, gather a length before the meeting. Our own Robbie Leighton will be teaching the class and will go over the basic knots. I look forward to seeing you all at the meeting. Our group is great because of all the participation of the members and volunteers. I want to thank everyone for their help during these trying times and look forward to a better year next year.

Next month during our October meeting (on 10/18), we will have a Boating Garage Sale. So, gather all your excess sailing gear and bring it to the meeting to sell!! We will have tables set up around the room for you to display your boating items for sale. Come right at 7pm to grab a table and start selling!! Feel free to invite any non-member boaters to attend, as well.

October is also the month for our Annual Photo Contest, and it will coincide with the Boating Garage Sale. Submission & Voting will be done during our October 18th general meeting. Remember the categories are: Bloopers, Old Salt, Best Sunrise/Sunset, Under Sail, Best Boat Name, Scenic, and Best Group Shot. Amazon Gift Cards will be awarded to the winner of each category!

Please print & bring your photos to the 10/18 club meeting at the Arlington Heights Historical Society. Write your name and the category which you’d like to submit each picture for, on the back of each photo. Voting will start promptly at 7:30pm, so drop them off when you arrive at 7pm, and then start shopping at the garage sale!!

The winners will be announced at our November General Club Meeting. If you are unable to attend the meeting in person, you can email them to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by October 11^th, and I will bring them to the meeting for you. The winners will be announced in November. I can’t wait to see all your wonderful pictures from this season! Official rules can be found on our website here: PHOTO CONTEST RULES

As everybody begins putting their boats away for the winter, please keep in mind that there are some that could use assistance. Feel free to reach out to members that may need help, or if you’re a boat owner, please reach out to membership for assistance. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me and I will attempt to provide you with assistance.

-Wayne Smith, 2021 Vice Commodore

Vice Commodore's Corner: August 2021

Happy August, Club Members!

Seems like we are over halfway through the summer. We are still moving forward with our live NWSA club meetings. It was great to see everyone at our meeting last month and catch up!

We have been busy getting our boat ready for our annual lake crossing to Michigan. Radar and sail steer are new to us this year, and make for a safer, smoother sail for sure! We had a great time in Holland, and we did end up spending an extra 3 days in Muskegon because of the unpredictable lake. In the past, I used to like doing lake crossings overnight. But this year Gwen convinced me to wake up early and leave at 4 am instead, and 11 hours later we were in Holland. I have to say that it was way better; we still got a full night of sleep and were not exhausted on the other side!

I would like to thank all the volunteers that make this club possible, and all the skippers that offer their knowledge, and sailboats for the use of the club, without any reimbursement. Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you all soon!

-Wayne Smith, 2021 Vice Commodore

Crossing Wayne Gwen DockingFlowchart

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