BOB CASHMAN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

              February 24^th

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