BOB CASHMAN
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
February 24th
Bob is one of PYC's outstanding volunteers: IT Chair
who for years, has kept PYC in and on-line! He is currently
PYC and PJSA BOG Member, he is the web-coordinator,
Co- Communications chair, PYC's ECSA representative etc.
and has an extensive background fulfilling PJSA leadership
roles in the 1970s & 80s
Let me set the stage for Bob's memory~
Last summer during one of our parties, Peter, Toby, Bob and I
were standing on the deck (next to the bar) and Bob told us
that the "small lockers " to the right of the deck (if you are
looking at the water) was at one time something like a
snack bar area. Intrigued, I asked him to share the story and
his memories that take place in the late 1970s-80s
PETTIPAUG MEMORIES 1970s
By Bob Cashman
What I can offer from my aging memory:
In the first year to two that I was a student at Pettipaug
(morning class first year) I remember at the end or shortly
after class the "doors" or "windows" that were the top half
of the north wall of the Race Committee room went up and
someone, or some people (I don't remember if instructors or
parents or others) served drinks and snacks from inside the
room. I don't think I participated in the consumption as I was
soon picked up, or when in the afternoon, second year, I was
dropped off when that activity was done. I don't really know
who it was for, as most students were only there for morning
OR afternoon sessions. But there was lingering and early
arrivals and junior instructors and instructors staying during
the midday break. It did not last long in my time as a student.
After it ended there was a soda machine in the race committee
room for years. Then that went away. Peter, Sandy, Toby will
likely have a better memory of what that was all about.
Snack-bar
The "doors" were hinged horizontally at the top, and swung in
and up. There was a 2x8 or similar that was the "serving area"
which was not much. The doors remained for years, I think until
the renovations that resulted in the Risseeuw room. But they
were never opened that I recall in later years, and by 1987 when
I have photos, they were covered on the outside by the small
Lockers that remain today. On the inside there was storage in
front of them. Officially that was always the "Race Committee
Room" - but became called the "Pump Room" by many. It had
the water pump when it was not a submersible pump in the river,
and also a refrigerator, spare parts for boats, club maintenance,
etc. I think that purpose was transferred to the shed on the north
property line. I don't recall if the shed arrived at the time of the
renovations or before, but they were close to being at the same
time.
Friday Series
Friday Series was a junior sailing race series. When I was a student
we only sailed Blue Jays. It was pretty serious competition. The
program Blue Jays were all stored overnight in a mooring field just
north of the main/north club floats. On Friday morning the racers
brought their boats to the ramp, or the beach south of the hoist and
flipped them on their side and scrubbed the bottoms/wet sanded
them to remove the scum to go fast. There we no Friday classes in
the days when I was a student. The racing happened every Friday,
results kept, and award given at graduation.
Over time Optis and the 420 arrived, and they took over. These fleets
were always dry sailed and the bottom scrubbing became a thing of
the past. But it was still pretty serious racing. Though there were classes
going on on Fridays by that time, sailors/students who wanted to race
were not "in class" they were racing. Infrequently but occasionally, there
were junior members that were not in class that showed up to compete
in Friday series. To my memory they were always past students. Awards
continued to be given at graduation through Paul Risseeuw's tenure. I am
not sure when it ended exactly, if immediately after Paul died or in ensuing
years. Graduation used to be a more formal and substantial event than
what I have seen in recent years. The Dance was held on a different night.
Graduation was always on the last day of class, or the day after that.
There was also always an annual student versus instructor team race. The
student racers picked their team and the instructors their team with
beginner students as crew. The somewhat dilapidated trophy board is still
in the commodore's room. At least I saw it last summer with a number of
missing or falling off plates. One fall out of losing was having to take a swim
after graduation. Sometime against the losing team's wishes.
Guy Herman, the program director before me, put an end to that tradition.
He was not well liked for ending that one at the time, but I think it was a
good move. He also ended the annual "crash" award, given to the sailor who
caused the most damage in a collision of boats. Also a good move to eliminate
that one I think. Though they were fun at the time I think probably not good
traditions overall.
That is what comes to mind at the moment. Not sure what to do with the
memories, but they are all good ones for me. I hope others will chip in with
more and better ones.
Bob
