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Nachrichten 2013 aus dem Manhattan Sailing Club
www.myc.org/ - Übersicht
MAY 2013 NEWSLETTER
Greetings from the Commodore!
Photo of the Month: Our club organized its first sailing trip to Belize in March and the skippers were John Duber (a.k.a. the Admiral), Ben Kramer, Wayne Turett, Tracy Spinney, Gabriel Asaftei & Tricia Lynch. Most of the members on this trip were seasoned Caribbean sailors and team spirit and crew uniforms were among the best ever. Belize is much less developed that the BVIs or the Grenadines and our members improvised with a synchronized swimming competition. Next winter, the main Caribbean Regatta will be to the British Virgin Islands again and the second trip will be to St. Maarten, St. Barths & Anguilla.
Dear Members - I'm as excited as you are about the start of the sailing season! Just a few shorts days until our Commissioning Ceremony. Please come down to the docks and share this festive ceremony with your fellow members.
Then sailing will begin on Thursday, May 9. Dress warm because the water is still chilly. Over the last two weeks, I had the privilege of delivering Arabella to and from Newport for some yard work. At this time of year, it's much colder on the water than on land. But with each passing week, the water will get warmer and warmer.
For me, relief from the winter finally arrives on Tuesday, May 13. That's when I hop aboard #11 and compete in the first Tuesday evening race of the season. Sailing once per week changes my life for the better! I've been sailing with a great group of members for many years. It's one of the constants in my life. And all around our boat are many others teams and familiar faces year after year.
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Fotos: myc.org
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Together, we have shared the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. Good luck to all the racing teams this year.
It will also be great to see the first cruising sailors cast off form dock next Thursday. Cruising in the harbor is magical and everyone comes back to dock with big smiles and a relaxed spirit. This year, we have added four cruising-only boats to our fleet at North Cove. These boats will be available for cruising 7 days a week, including on Tuesday & Wednesday race nights for the first time. More sailing for everyone!
The Honorable William Wall will open in the harbor on Tuesday, May 21. See you there.
- Commodore Michael Fortenbaugh
How the Commissioning Ceremony Works - May 8
The Commissioning Ceremony will be Wednesday, May 8. All members are invited and encouraged to come down to the docks to celebrate the start of the new season. Blazer and tie or other nautical attire is encouraged. The Mermaid will be open on Dock G serving refreshments beginning at 5:30 p.m.
The actual Commissioning Ceremony will begin on the J/24 docks at 6:30 p.m. There will be a few speeches from some members. Then the first club burgee ever made (from 1987) will be unfurled and slowly raised to the top of the mast of J/24 #1. When the burgee reaches the top, the cannon will be fired, symbolizing the start of the sailing season!
This year, there will be a second part to the Commissioning Ceremony. After the cannon is fired, members will proceed over to Dock G where Arabella is berthed. The Captain of Arabella will be introduced and there will be more speeches. Then members will be invited to step onboard for the first time. No food or drink will be served on Arabella until her Official Opening later in May. But in the meantime, you can enjoy sitting onboard.
Don's miss this great first ceremony of the season.
Arabella Back at Dock and Set to Open May 8
Arabella traveled to Newport in April for a ten day yard period. A number of items were worked on to get her prepared for the upcoming season. Ryan Haver has been hired as the Captain of Arabella and he is now onboard and in command of our clubhouse. Arabella will open for members on the day of the Commissioning Ceremony. This will be a soft opening without a bar or food. The full opening for Arabella is expected to come later in May and promises to be spectacular! In the meantime, our old clubhouse Mermaid will be positioned on the same dock as Arabella to serve as the club's operational home. Arabella will also be open for members who wish to sit onboard.
New Membership Cards
2013 membership cards have been mailed out to all members. You should have already received yours. If you have not receieved your card, please check with liz@myc.org. If you have moved recently, the card might have been sent to an old address. This year, the membership card is needed to get aboard Arabella. Show the card and the gangway when you go aboard. You also need to present the card at the bar if you wish to charge drinks to your member account.
Spring Launching Was Big Success!
A huge crowd of over 100 members turned out for the Spring Launching this year. And they were rewarded with the best temperatures and sunshine anyone remembers. Over the course of the day, the fleet was painted, the BBQ was held and members had a chance to say hello and meet new friends.
Reservations now Open on the Website
Our new website also has a new reservation system. You can go to www.myc.org and click on "Cruising" and then "Make a Reservation." Club members can have one Skipper or Fleet Captain reservation on the books at any time. This ensures rotating use of the boats and that all members get equal access. When you finish a sail, you can make another reservation.
With the new system, reservations are grouped by dates. Over the course of the season, we will be experimenting with the reservation system to come up with the best process to serve members. If you have any thoughts or comments about the reservation system and how it could be improved, please contact Liz Bonomo in the office at liz@myc.org or 212-786-3323. Thanks for your help in creating a great system.
17th Annual Sailors Ball Set for Friday, June 7
The Sailors Ball is our annual black tie party which celebrates the start of the new sailing season. It is also an important fundraiser for the NY Harbor Sailing Foundation and raises money for the junior sailing programs including Operation Optimist.
Please support these junior sailing programs by purchasing a ticket to the Sailors Ball. It's always a great event. This year, the 17th Annual Sailors Ball will be Friday, June 7 at the Down Town Association on Pine Street in Lower Manhattan. Around 800 sailors usually attend. The Ball starts at 9 p.m. and runs to 1 a.m. Tickets are $95 in advance. There are also a limited number of VIP tickets which include a special Moet & Chandon Dinner with Dennis Conner starting at 7 p.m.
One of the things which makes the Sailors Ball unique is the theme-room format. Every room has its own sponsor and music. You can start in the vodka Martini Bar listening to Frank Sinatra. Then you can move to the Mt Gay Rum room for Caribbean music. The hottest room at the end of the night is the Heineken Boom Boom Room featuring club music. This year, there will be three DJs plus a live big band. You can buy tickets at http://nyhsf.org/sailors-ball/
Enter Your Company in the Corporate Sailing League
Photo: Merrill Lynch and Cravath Swaine & Moore are among the teams which race in the Corporate Sailing League.
The Corporate Sailing League kicks off the spring series in May. Racing is on Thursday evenings. Find out if there is interest within your company to field a team. You can request the 2013 brochure by sending an email to liz@myc.org. Then share the brochure internally within your company. The Corporate Sailing League features multiple short races every evening. Trophies are awarded at the social gathering after sailing. Companies can also bring spectators out to watch the action from the Honorable William Wall in the harbor. It's a blast, a great way to have fun and build company spirit.
Committee Reports
Skipper Certification Committee - Randy Lewis & Joe DiFranks
At the beginning of the sailing season it is important to decide what milestones you would like to achieve this year. It might include to take a Coastal Cruising Class, to learn new spinnaker handling skills, or to achieve 100 days on the water. For many members who have developed their sailing skills and their knowledge of J-24s and New York Harbor conditions it may be the year to become an MSC Certified Skipper. This is one of the most valued achievements that an MSC member can attain and can lead to a new level of appreciation of the NYC sailing experience!
Each season about 80 MSC members take this step and schedule a test with one of MSC's skipper certifiers. How do they know that they are ready? There are a couple of ways.
First, some members may join the club already possessing years of sailing experience, needing only to develop an understanding of the specific characteristics of sailing in the harbor with MSC. Second, a Fleet Captain may encourage a member based on his or her demonstration of knowledge and skills on the water. Third, a potential skipper may look through the description of the skipper test and think, "I'm ready! I can do this!"
It is important to keep in mind that the MSC skipper test is not a trivial matter. Preparation is required. The standard is set high to insure that MSC remains a safe place for sailors at all skill levels to experience the joys of navigating the harbor. It is likewise an important way to protect the MSC boats and equipment from damage. For this reason, when candidates feel they are ready to challenge the test, they are encouraged to take a few sails with MSC Sailing Mentors to assess their skills and put a final polish on their preparations.
Of those members who take the skipper certification test, about 70% pass on their first attempt. Crew Overboard maneuvers, docking, safely navigating harbor traffic and familiarization with local conditions, can prove daunting.
Almost all will be successful in the end. They can then go on to become Fleet Captains, form their own racing team and enjoy the feeling of having attained an important life achievement. Now is the time to ask yourself: "Is this the year I make the time and effort to step up my game and become a certified skipper?" We all hope so.
Fleet Captain - Peter Abelman
Michael has asked me to coordinate the Fleet Captain Program, I have found that the Fleet Captain Program is a great way for new members to meet other sailors at the club, and most important, a chance to get out on the water. We are weeks away from the start of another great season, the "Spring Launch" is Saturday April 6th, Join us is you can to help get the fleet in shape for the season. The Commissioning of the new season is Wednesday May 1st again join fellow members on the dock to celebrate the start of the season. To participate in the program, sign up each week early and be at the clubhouse before the start time. The dockmasters will assign members to the available boats. Members who have passed the skipper test are eligible to become Fleet Captains, contact Michael if you are interested. Would all Fleet Captains not listed on the club website please contact Liz Bonomo at the club with your information. I hope to see everyone on the dock ready to sail.
Mentor Program - Patty Bryan
So you want to become a skipper this year but you don't have a clue how to start the motors on the boats much less get the boats in or out of their slips, or you never get enough time at the helm, or you just need more confidence sailing our busy harbor? If so, join the mentor program. Last year over 30 people participated in the program and we hope to have as many if not more people this year.
News Briefs
Weston-Spinney Marriage
Club members Suzanne Weston & Tracy Spinney were married on April 27 at a beautiful ceremony at the Trinity Esposcopal Cathedral in Columbia, South Carolina. Many club members traveled south for the wedding which was capped by a terrific dinner at the nearby country club.
Keyport Yacht Club in NJ - The club recieved a letter from Keyport Yacht Club in New Jersey. They are having an Open House and were inviting anyne interested in saling to conider joining their club. The new membership chair used to live in Park Slope, Brooklyn and he invited anyone who lives in NJ or thinking of saling there to contact him at jess.gregory@gmail.com.
Volunteers Needed for Club Committees
Maybe you would like to get a little more involved in the club this season. The club is looking for volunteers to serve on the Membership Committee as well as the Race Committee. If you might be interested in helping with either of these, please send an email to Liz in the club office at liz@myc.org.
Photo: Every year, more and more sailors are applying for membership in our club. The club needs volunteers to help interview prospective members and welcome them onboard.
Manhattan Sailing Club | 385 South End Ave. #6H | New York | NY | 10280
03.05.2013 - Greetings from the Commodore!
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