COMMODORE’S COMMENTS

                                                                                      March 14, 2024

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                                                 My mom’s father, Patrick Barry born on March 17th, died before I was born, but the celebration of his birthday

continued each year for a decade after his death. The Barrys, Sullivans, O’Briens, Doyles, Boyles, and Hanrahans

 would ascend on my grandmother’s home in preparation for St. Patrick’s and grandfather Patrick’s celebratory

 festivities. The keg hauled in, the constantias tuned, furniture moved aside for jigging, ginger ale tinted green for

the kids and most everything else in the house; one shade of green or another. And most assuredly there was an

abundance of Irish soda bread and of course, anything made with potatoes. The joyful spirit and collaboration of

  many people bringing this event together was equally as fun as St. Patrick’s Day itself.

                                       Top of the Morning to ALL Pettipaug Members!

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                                                                          SPRING WORK PARTIES ~ bringing the 2024 PYC Season together

                                                                                Access to the road leading to PYC is compromised due to high tides and flooding. Tentative

                                                                                     dates will be sent in next week’s “ News.” You will be kept informed of any changes.

                                                                          PYC PRIVATE PARTY MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT~ is listed on the PYC web-site.

Click here to access directly. I am curious if perhaps there might be questions with the new calendar.

                                                                                Please contact me directly with any questions, dates you would like to use the club or comments

                                                                                that you have. Thank you. Contact: priscilla.robinson04@gmail.com or commodore@pettipaug.org

                                                                               DOCKS WILL BE IN!

                                                                               Sandy Sanstrom’s dock crew with the aid of Toby and Jack Doyle’s crane truck, will install the north and

                                                                               south docks. Our NEW middle docks should also be delivered this week by Connecticut River Dock and

                                                                               Dredge. Once again, due to flooding, we cannot predict when personal boats may be brought to the

                                                                               PYC boatyard.

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  WANT TO TUNE-UP YOUR RACING SKILLS BEFORE HITTING THE WATER? Spring webinars

 from “the Dave’s” can help!

 Eastern Connecticut Sailing Association is sponsoring a free 4-part online seminar “

Winning Strategies and Tactics Around the Course” with Dave Perry in April. Dave is widely

well known as a champion sailor, rules expert and coach. His presentations are always fun

and engaging.

Dave Delinbaugh of Speed and Smart fame, also an excellent racer who grew up racing against

 “the other Dave” at Pequot Yacht Club has some upcoming online seminars:

Contrasting Priorities: how to adjust your tactical, strategic, and boat speed priorities across four

key racing dimensions.

50 Top Tips: 50 specific tips that will be especially valuable in helping you sail faster and smarter

                                                          around the race course this year.

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  WANTED: PYC 2024 WEEKEND ATTENDANT

PYC will be interviewing for a 2024 weekend attendant. This would be a good position for someone

retired, teacher, college student, etc. who has summers free. A CT Boating License and CPR certification

are required. Hours, pay and duties will be discussed with applicants. Preferably a PYC non-member.

Please contact: commodore@pettipaug.org  or wsanstrom@comcast.net

Priscilla Robinson or Sandy Sanstrom or leave message on 860.767.8893.

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2024 PETTIPAUG SAFE POWERBOATING COURSE

Two-day hands-on Power Boat Operator course (Saturday and Sunday):

 #1 April 20 & 21      #2 May 11 & 12      -#3 June 15 & 16

Sign up to learn and improve your powerboat skills! The course covers the requirements to earn

a Connecticut Safe Boating Certificate and provides hands-on power boat training. It is one of the few

hands-on courses available in Connecticut. Click here for full details.

For any questions, please reach out to Mischa van Berkel: pastcommodore@pettipaug.org

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                                                          FEBRUARY’S Trivia Question : A model of the sailboat, the TRUE LOVE was given as a wedding present in what film?

                                                           (1940) The Philadelphia Story with Kathryn Hepburn ,Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart and the later version

                                                           (1956) High Society with Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra’

                                                          Pat Kolosowski was first to answer with High Society followed by Doreen Joslow, Lisa Leonard, Steve Cassidy, Miriam

                                                          Morrissey, Ann Fitzgerald, Toby Doyle, Elizaberh Barlett and John Kennedy. John Kennedy and Elizabeth Barlett answered

                                                          with names of BOTH films. Awards in May!

                                                          MARCH ‘S Triva Question: Name me. This 625-nautical mile course begins near Cowes on the Isle of Wight, rounds a rock

                                                          off the Irish Coast and finishes in Normandy port of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin. GOOD LUCK !

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The Commodore’s Comments is not only for my comments to all of you but for you to share your comments, ideas,

  suggestions and memories. I received the following from Nancy Hines who has sent PYC awards that she won at PSA in

  the 1960s’ and has cherished for all these years. They will be given to the Commodore’s Room committee.

FROM: Nancy Hines, former Pettipaug Sailing Academy member

                                                      Priscilla—You are very welcome and I am so glad PYC is able to take and use these items. They have been wonderful reminders,

                                                      all these years, of my sailing days on  the Connecticut River and the lessons learned, both personally and about the sport of sailing.

                                                      I used my knowledge to navigate the waters of San Francisco Bay for many years, competitively and recreationally. I also took part in

   competitive ocean sailing, SF Bay around Farallon Islands, to Drakes Bay, and Half Moon Bay. Also  boat deliveries from Honolulu to

   SF Bay, Los Angeles to SF Bay and Victoria British Columbia to SF Bay. All have been wonderful experiences and to think it all started

   on The Connecticut River, Hamburg Cove and Pettipaug YC.  Nancy

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PYC Communication Team: Bob Cashman, Kathryn Ryan and Priscilla Robinson