BOB CASHMAN HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! February 24th 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