[cid:image001.png@01D9596C.77B4ADD0] Commodore's Update - March 2023 Dear Pettipaug members, March Madness does not only apply to college basketball, but also to all the clubs that are getting to get their summer seasons started. This is obviously the case for Pettipaug as well. In this March update, I am happy to inform you about the activities that are on the calendar for the next few weeks. So please take some time and make sure that you are informed. Work party This Saturday, March 25, at 9am all members are kindly invited to help during the spring work party. We will have a long list of activities that must be done in order to make our club ready for the summer. Bring your gardening tools, shovels, trimming tools, working gloves and make sure you are dressed to do some physical work at the club. I hope we can welcome you all for a task or two. As always, many hands make light work. We will take care of coffee and snacks! If you used to be part of the dock launching crew before, your help will be much appreciated again. We will start with the launching work at 8am on Saturday the 25th as well. Membership dues All members should have paid the 2023 PYC Membership dues by now. If this is not the case, I kindly request you to return the completed form and to pay your fees as soon as possible. Like previous years, it is possible to pay by means of a check as well as electronically via PayPal. Anything to make it easy for everyone. Members who have not paid their dues by April 1st 2023 will be delinquent and will be removed from the roster. According to the club policies, re-application, including payment of the initiation fee will then be applicable to be reinstated as a Pettipaug member. High School Sailing at Pettipaug For many years, Pettipaug has been committed to youth sailing. Also this year, Pettipaug will be hosting both Xavier and Daniel Hand High Schools this spring. This week, the school teams will be rigging their boats. Sailing will start as soon as the docks will be launched. Practice will take place during weekday afternoons. The club will be available for the membership, but please be mindful when the schools are in session. Pettipaug Sailing Academy Registration for the Pettipaug Sailing Academy (PSA) summer program has been open for a few weeks now and we already had to start a waiting list for some classes. So please, be quick if you would like to make sure your junior sailor can participate in the PSA program this summer. PSA classes are designed for junior sailors aged 8 to 18, regardless of previous sailing experience or Pettipaug membership. US Sailing Certified Instructors, trained in CPR and First Aid will stress basic sailing skills, seamanship, sportsmanship and the fun of sailing. More advanced students will learn the finer points of boat handling, racing tactics and may be offered the opportunity to participate in inter-club racing. The PSA program runs for two three-week sessions. The first session is from June 26 to July 14 and the second session is from July 17 to August 4. Classes are held Monday through Friday in two groups: Morning, 8:30-12:00 and Afternoon, 1:00-4:30. For more information about the PSA program and for registration, please visit the PSA Webpage<https://www.pettipaug.com/PYC-academyPage.html>. Registration is open to the public, so please feel free and spread the word! Mischa van Berkel, Commodore