Commodore�s Update � Mid-May 2023

 

With the commissioning of Pettipaug happening this weekend, please hereby find an intermediate commodore�s update. This update contains practical and important information, please take some time to read.

 

Mischa van Berkel

Commodore 

commodore@pettipaug.org

 

 

Commissioning

 

The Commissioning ceremony is the official and traditional opening of the Pettipaug season. This year�s Commissioning will be held on Saturday May 20th, starting at 5pm. We will celebrate our volunteers, the winners of the Commodore Race and obviously the traditions of our club.

 

Members are invited to bring food and snacks for the potluck. Pettipaug will facilitate an open bar. Costs are $5 per person; please bring cash or a check.

 

 

Commodore Race 

 

Attached, you find the Sailing Instructions of the Commodore Race. This opening race of the season is scheduled for Saturday, May 20th. Saturday�s weather forecasts are somewhat fluctuating. We have seen predictions with heavy winds and rain, but others are showing much better circumstances. We will continue to keep a close look on the forecasts and hope for good weather on Saturday.  

 

The Skippers meeting will be at noon at the PYC Clubhouse and the first start will be at 1pm.

 

All types of sailboats are encouraged and welcome to participate. This is a distance race scored using the Portsmouth handicap. The course is typically 3 - 4 miles long. Depending on the conditions, boats will normally sail around a buoy north of Essex Harbor, north of the club and back to the club. The definite course will be confirmed during the skippers meeting. The race can take anywhere between 1 - 3 hours based on your boat type and skill. There will be a separate start for the MC Scows, but the entire fleet will be scored as one. 

 

All participants are kindly requested to register by means of an email to Brian Donohue bpdonohue@gmail.com.

 

Any questions can be directed to Race Committee Chairs, Brian Donohue bpdonohue@gmail.com and Dick Hutchinson hutchria@rcn.com. Hope to see you on the water in a good racing spirit.

 

Pettipaug Club Rules

 

Pettipaug is here for the joy of all members. This means that everyone should feel at home, comfortable and safe while at the club. Therefore, a list of club rules has been put together. I would like to call out the most important ones:

  1. Driving speed: please adjust your speed while driving on Pettipaug grounds! Children are playing, members are walking on the yard, so the appropriate driving speed is walking speed! Sail fast, drive slow!
  2. Dogs: dogs must be leashed at all times. No dogs are allowed on club grounds during Sailing Academy hours. Dogs are not allowed in the clubhouse or on the clubhouse deck; even if they are leashed. Owners are responsible to pickup after their dogs.
  3. Boat stickers: All boats in the yard must have a PYC boat sticker. Stickers can be requested with Art Robbins via a.l.robbins@comcast.net.
  4. Donations: The Pettipaug yard is not a dumping ground! Unfortunately, but hopefully with the best intentions, people are leaving goods in the Pettipaug yard and at the clubhouse. If you consider a donation of goods, please first reach out to undersigned via commodore@pettipaug.com.
  5. Trailers: Boats must be stored on trailers or dollies (to allow grass cutting). No member trailers without boats are allowed for overnight storage in the Pettipaug yard.

 

20ft Boat Trailer

 

The person who left a 20ft boat trailer in the Pettipaug yard earlier this week, is kindly requested to remove this trailer. Pettipaug is not in need of any additional trailers. Leaving unwanted trailers is resulting in volunteers having to remove them from the yard, which leads to unnecessary costs for the club.

 

 

Pettipaug Sailing Academy (PSA) 

 

Pettipaug Sailing Academy is still accepting registrations for the summer. Our Academy is the perfect opportunity for beginning and experienced sailors! We sail in Optimists, O�pen Skiff�s and 420s. Be quick before it is too late! Information about the program and the link to the online registration page can be found on the Pettipaug website.

 

 

Pettipaug Safe Powerboating Course

 

This course is the perfect opportunity to get certified and to acquire the necessary skills to safely operate powerboats. Also, if your feel your boating skills are a bit rusty, then the Pettipaug Safe Powerboating course is a great choice.

 

Because of great interest, an extra course has been scheduled for the weekend of June 10/11. More information about the course and registration can be found on the Pettipaug website.