PYC COMODORE’S COMMENTS
JULY 21, 2024
“It was a quiet morning, the town covered with darkness and
at ease in bed. Summer gathered in the weather, the wind
had the proper touch, the breathing of the world was long
and warm and slow. You had only to rise, lean from your window
and know that this indeed was the first real time of freedom and
living, this was the first morning of summer.”
Dandelion Wine,
Ray Bradbury
It was good to hear the slam of a screen door the other day, to me,
that signifies we’re in the throes of summer. The sounds and squeals
of excited children learning to sail at Pettipaug Junior Sailing Academy
brings a smile, the hum of the hoist if it works and #!?!#!* if it doesn’t .
Boats entering the water, others returning to the launch area, members
sailing and picnicking on the deck and lawn on a summer afternoon or
evening is the magic of PYC- the magic of summer. Enjoy!
JULY~
ALL PYC WOMEN~ this Wednesday!
-
Hydrangea Blue Summer 2024
All PYC WOMEN MEMBERS: DINING ON THE DECK
DATE: Wednesday, July 24th, 2024
TIME: 5:30 drinks,
followed by dinner
VENUE: PYC Deck
BRING: BYOB and a dish to share
RSVP:
commodore@pettipaug.org
MIDSUMMER RACE RESULTS:
The detailed version is the
last section of this email.
Thank you to PRO: Jeff Going, Administrator: Dick Hutchinson
and ALL RACE COMMITTEE!
MC Scows: First: Toby Doyle Second : John Walsh Third: John Kihm
OPEN Division: First: Daniel Charbonnier (Laser)
Second: Lucy Bowditch (Sunfish) Third: Linda Shemwell
(Hunter 140) crew: Mary Lee Schroeter and Sally Emch
MIDSUMMER PARTY RESULTS:
The detailed version is the last
section of this email
Thank you to all who helped and all of you who participated! Fabulous!
Top performers: GOLD: Charlotte Doyle SILVER: David Coller
Bronze: PYC Can-Can dance troupe
Musical Chair Competition: Gold: Charlotte Doyle
Silver: Toby Doyle Bronze: john Walsh
The PAUL RISSEEUW REGATTA was held today. Bravo to all who
worked so diligently to accomplish this amazing event and to all
who participated on this very warm Sunday.
- PYC PRIVATE PARTY MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT~ Gather
by the river!
Click here to access directly.
directly
with any questions, dates you would like to use
the club or comments that you have.
Contact: or
commodore@pettipaug.org
- PETTIPAUG SAFE POWER BOATING COURSE JULY 27 & 28
Two-day hands-on Power Boat Operator course
(Saturday and Sunday): On land & water! JULY 27 & 28 .
Click here for full details. Contact: Mischa van Berkel
WEEKLY~
Sailing on Tuesday evenings @ 5 p.m. all members,
all fleets, après sail BYOB and something to share. Questions:
Contact: Sarah Dubois:
sarahsails1@gmail.com
MC Scow sailing, contact: Amy Walsh
mcfleet99@gamil.com
MONTHLY~ Blue Jay Series #3: July 31- #4 : August 7- #5: August 21
One Design: AUGUST 3, Contact: Jeff Going:
jeffgoing47@gmail.com
CELEBRATIONS- Bill Dunbar celebrated his 89th birthday on July 6th.
Bill was president of Blue Jays International for many years. Bill’s wife,
Julie was both secretary and communications director. Our current
Blue Jay Series was founded by Bill and Julie Dunbar.
MIA:
WE MISS seeing the Dunbars, the Anninos, Lardners, Mary Risseeuw,
Scholes and
all of you who have consistently supported Pettipaug Yacht
Club but no longer visit. 2025 marks
PYC’s 75th Anniversary. We are forming
a committee with the hopes that many PYC Members and PSA Alumni will
participate to honor and celebrate our club.
KUDOS: Moving and mowing in the south boat yard, “the member’s yard.”
Kudos to the boat owners and volunteers: Lou Annino, Kathryn Ryan,
David Wemett, Mary Lee Schroeter, Marilou Griswold, Stepanie Taylor,
Sarah Dubois, Lucy Bowditch, Francine Cornaglia, Mark Borton, John Becker,
Jeff Going, Brian Dailey, Steve Hinchcliffe, Steve Dix, Robb White, our
attendant- Bob Jankiewicz, Chris Pace, Toby Doyle, Jon Joslow, Sandy and
anyone who I might have forgotten.
FOR SALE:
Cape Dory 25D . Built in 1983, yard maintained for over 20+ years. In the
water (Pilot’s Point), two suits of sails, spinnaker and spinnaker gear etc.
Ready to sail, price is negotiable. Lee Schacter
leeschacter@comcast.net
Summer is better to have most questions answered with “YES” than a list
starting with “CANNOT”. Summer is a holiday for everyone and we are
promoting this for PYC members: all ages, genders, boaters or spectators-
we want to share PYC with our members. We do have CLUB RULES, they
are listed and located on the inside back cover of the 2024 PYC Roster.
they were written and updated for ALL members to be conscientious of.
Thank you.
REMINDERS
No DOGS on the PYC Deck. However, a few us are repurposing the old middle
docks (south yard
facing the river) to become decks for a summer space to
enjoy the view. We’ll purchase a picnic table, umbrella and a few chairs. This
will be a great place to hang with friends- two and
four legged!
CHILDREN should not be in the boat launching area when boats (power or sail)
are being launched or races are being held. This is a
dangerous area for anyone
but especially your children! All children under 12 need to wear PFDs when on
the PYC docks. Thank you.
CLUB RESERVED
Friday July 26th . PYC and Blood Street Scullers - evening
Saturday July 27th Essex Ancient Order of Weeders- evening
TRIVIA~
JULY TRIVIA ~July 21, 1969, I was the first man in history to do this!
Who am I and what did I do?
The answer:
JUNE TRIVIA ~ who am I?
My father gave me a boat for my 15th birthday. A 25’ Wianno Senior
Sloop that I cherished and named her Victura.
The answer: President John Fitzgerald Kennedy
MAY TRIVIA ~
2 answers required.
May 9, 1914.
What was declared and who declared it?
The answer: Mother’s Day~ Woodrow Wilson
APRIL TRIVIA ~
April 14- April 15 Twelve years ago nearly 1.5 million dried rose petals were
laid at sea by the crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Jupiter. Why?
The answer: 100-year recognition of the sinking of the TITANIC
MARCH TRIVIA
~
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. (Vic Hoehnebart update this course has since
been
changed.)
The answer: The Fastnet Race/ *Fastnet Rock.
FEBRUARY TRIVIA ~
A model of the sailboat, the TRUE LOVE was given as a wedding present
in what film?
The answers: (1940) The Philadelphia Story with Kathryn Hepburn, Cary
Grant and Jimmy Stewart – OR (1956) High Society
with Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra’
PYC Communication Team: Bob Cashman, Kathryn Ryan and Priscilla Robinson
MIDSUMMER FULL VERSION:
This is a long one! Hopefully we can post videos for this. Joanna Roemhild
took a ton of photos and videos of much of the “action” that is described
here. We’ll try to provide a link later this week. THANK YOU Joanna!
THANK YOU to all RACE COMMITTEE ( in the heat of the day) and
ALL performers for the wonderful day and evening fun that was provided
for PYC members. Shout out to Stepahanie, Sandy, Bob , Jeff , Dick, Chris P.,
David & Roz, Joanna and all those behind the scene!
SUNDAY July 14th MIDSUMMER RACE & PARTY. Grab a drink and take a seat~
The threat of thunderstorms provoked the decision to move the race & party
from July 13 to July 14. Sunday the 14th, sunny, clear…no thunderstorms and
NO WIND! Race PRO Jeff Going and his devoted race committee members
persevered the heat, enabling the participants to sail a very short- very “hot”
course with the MC SCOW’S Toby Doyle placing first in that division, John Walsh,
second and John Kihm, third. The OPEN division was won by Daniel Charbonnier
on his Laser, second was Lucy Bowditch on a Sunfish and third, Linda Shemwell
and her crew: Sally Emch and Mary Lee Schroeter sailing on “Sailor’s Delight”
a Hunter 140.
In the interim, PYC’s main deck was transitioned to a stage with sails as curtains,
a 7’ Eiffel Tower and hanging lanterns. As usual, Dave and Roz Courant bustled
into the Commodore’s room, arms loaded with brew, bread, and an Olympic cake,
baked by David and worn by Roz! What lucky ducks PYC is to have two skilled,
enthusiastic members as Roz and David!
Bob Cashman set up speakers and a microphone while Sandy Sanstrom set the
tone of music and mischief to come. The deck became the platform for the PYC
version
of the 2024 PARIS OLYMPICS. Lead by Bell Becker, the judges: Brenda
Newbegin, John Scholes, Jane Syme and Dick Hutchinson took their seats and
the ceremonies began. Francine Cornaglia sang the French National Anthem
(acapella) followed by the introduction of the talented choreographer Stephanie
Taylor and her “PYC never ready for prime -time dance troupe”. Dancing the
Can-Can were Mark Borton, Sally Emch, Liza Caruso, Laura Nunno, Lucy Bowditch
and Jim Brunson. On deck in the Commodore’s room, all sporting black berets,
listening to Louis Armstrong’s saxophone rendition of
La Vie en Rose were the
musical chair challengers: Mary Lee Schroeter, Kathy David, John Walsh, Steve Dix,
Charlotte Doyle, Sarah Dubois, Chuck Poindexter, CJ Rizza, Toby Doyle and
John Beyhouth. Round and round until the music stopped and a chair and contestant
were removed! Charlotte Doyle scored the last seat, winning Gold, Toby Doyle took
home Silver and John Walsh, the Bronze. Sarah Dubois’ unique crabwalk earned
her 4th ! Sandy Sanstrom sang us into the “talent competition”.
Again, the talented Stephanie Taylor and Francine Cornaglia, backed by the “Fire Flies Trio”:
Sally Emch, Diane Chadkowski and Sharon Tracy sang and danced until Lucy Bowditch
commandeered the stage with her Captain Hook on hand and poison green cake by her side.
Diane Chadkowski played guitar and serenaded us with a “sad” ballad and David Coller wrote
and fabulously sang “We’re Sinking” winning him the Silver Medal. Andrew Griswold awed the
crowd with his “bird calls” but it was Charlotte Doyle’s, flips, splits and cartwheels to James
Taylor’s “I am a young Cowboy” that awarded her another Gold Medal. Stephanie Taylor and
the PYC Can-Can dancers took home Bronze and Francine Cornaglia was awarded a Gold Medal
for opening the ceremonies and Sharon Tracy closed the evening leading all to sing
GOD BLESS AMERICA.
HURRAH to all PARTICIPANTS and audience. Start rehearsing for 2025!
Thank you!
Priscilla Robinson
PYC Commodore
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