18.08.2015
AUGUST 2015 NEWSLETTER
Photo of the Month: Tuesday evening racers sail off the starting line backlit by the evening sun. Thirteen teams race on Tuesday and 12 teams race on Wednesday evenings. There are also 7 teams racing in the early summer Corporate Sailing League. Racing, cruising, education and community at the four cornerstones of Manhattan Yacht Club.
Update from Commodore Fortenbaugh
You can say whatever you want, but there is nothing better than an evening race at Manhattan Yacht Club to set everything straight in the world. After a busy spring of finding a new home and beginning our rebuilding process, I was fortunate to be inspired Luigi Galbiati (center in picture) to start racing again in the summer series. We formed a team with new members Eivind Karlsen and Malcolm Forbes and have been competing on Tuesday evenings on Boat #8. Once per week. When Eivind or Malcolm are out of town, Sam Breier, Jennifer Taylor or Will Fortenbaugh (left in picture) have filled in.
I'm sure its not just for me, but Tuesday evenings have been the happiest moment of every week! The camaraderie is great. Racing has been close and competitive. The harbor is spectacular. J/24s have a great feel at the helm. Our new docks are calm and protected.
The only thing better than messing around in boats is racing them around the buoys or cruising in a flotilla! Thanks to everyone who has been a member to help build Manhattan Yacht Club into our harbor's recreational leader. More thanks to every skipper and crew member who have been showing up on Tuesday & Wednesday evenings to participate in the races. It has been very rewarding. Special thanks also go to TJ Shea and his volunteers who anchor our Race Committee.
These are special days. Many people do not recognize special days until they pass. It is frequently only in hindsight that people see clearly. These are special days. Thank you to everyone and let's take things to the next level. Onward and upward. Full speed ahead.
- Commodore Michael Fortenbaugh
America's Cup 12 Meter America II Returns to Harbor. All Members Invited to Watch Her Sail and Hear More About the Program on August 25.
Have you dreamed of sailing on an America's Cup yacht? This is your chance to sail on the historic America's Cup contender, 12 Meter America II (US 46).
All members are invited and encouraged to come out to the Honorable William Wall on Tuesday, August 25. Get one of the early launches if you can. You will be able to hear about plans for 12 Meter America II this summer and next. Buy your launch tickets today at https://www.zerve.com/ManhattanYC/WWLaunch. And remember to bring your membership card so you get 1/2 price drinks!
What better way to spend an August evening than relaxing on our clubhouse in the harbor, watching America II gracefully sail by and chatting with your fellow members (the Women's Championship will also be this same evening as a triple bonus)!
Twelve Meters have a very special place in the history of American yachting. These exciting and graceful yachts have made an impressionable mark in America's Cup history. America II (US 46) is owned and operated by the NY Harbor Sailing Foundation. She is one of the most beautiful yachts in the harbor and offers an unmatched sailing experience. America II came to our city as part of our Club's 20th anniversary. A group of visionary members got together, formed the 12 Meter Syndicate and purchased her to honor the occasion. She then sailed and raced as the flagship of the club for several years before the Syndicate Members donated her to the NY Harbor Sailing Foundation.
The mission of the Foundation is to foster and promote amateur sailing of national and international importance in New York Harbor. As an icon of American sailing history, America II is an excellent vehicle to further this mission. In operating America II, the Foundation's goal is to cover costs and also have a little left over each year to invest in the care and maintenance of the 12 Meter. Please join us to hear about our Friends and Charter programs for the 2015 & 2016 seasons. If you can't attend the event in person and still would like to be involved, please follow up with Scott Curtis.
Hermione Parade Big Success on July 4th
The biggest harbor event of the summer was the Hermione Parade on July 4th. This was a great kick-off to the holiday weekend. Manhattan Yacht Club was well represented during the spectacular event. Six Club J/24s participated and another 6 powerboats also were involved. Several experienced Fleet Captain members also served as Safety Vessels helping to coordinate the parade from on water.
More than 120 total boats gathered south of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge to start the parade. Commodore Michael Fortenbaugh served as the Parade Commodore and Arabella was the Command and Control vessel. She escorted Hermione up the entire harbor with acommunication team of Club Members and US Coast Guard and Navy representatives who worked from the upper deck.
At 12 noon exactly, Hermione reached the Statue of Liberty and the flotilla sounded their horns of welcome. The French Ministers of Defense and Culture were onboard a US Coast Guard vessel observing the spectacle. At 12:05, two Navy fighter jets thundered over the Parade, culminating a crescendo of spirit and enthusiasm.
All in all, it was a great triumph of organization and naval skill. The vessels operated successfully in close quarters throughout the Parade. They fireboats Frefighter II and John J Harvey did their traditional salutes. The Flying Wedge, led by Pilot boat New Yorker kept the parade on schedule. The Spirit of Lafayette rang through the fleet. There was a huge outpouring of French pride and flags. The long standing relationship between France and the United States was once again reinforced and cemented as Hermione passed one of France's greatest gifts to our country, the Statue of Liberty.
Preparing for the US Sailing Adult Championships
On Columbus Day Weekend, our Club is privileged to be hosting the US Sailing Adult Championship which is known as the Mallory Cup. This is the first time a major championship will be competed for in New York Harbor. Winning this prestigious event for our harbor is a great testament to our Club and how we have helped to change the harbor for the better.
There will be 14 teams from all around the country. The Regatta will take place from Liberty Harbor Marina in Jersey City. Racing will be Saturday, Sunday & Monday. The warm-up race will be Friday followed by Jersey City Mayor Stephen Fulop presiding over a greeting of the sailors from around the nation.
All races will be sailed around the Honorable William Wall, our clubhouse in the harbor. There will be excellent viewing opportunities so you can come out and watch some of the best sailors in the nation go toe-to-toe in our own back yard. Tickets will be offered first to Club Members and then their guests and second to the public.
Now we need to build out volunteers committee to help organize this event. We need to clean and polish our boats and improved our equipment as much as possible before the big day. All members are encouraged to volunteer. Please express your interest in helping by sending an email to office@myc.org.
Thank you to these Members who have already volunteered:
Regatta Chairs - Kate Humphrey & Michael Fortenbaugh
MYC Principle Race Officer - TJ Shea
Regatta Volunteers Already Signed Up
Alison Verost, Andrew Zangle, Craig Hachemeister, Derek Treatman, Frank Sinks, James Burns, Kerry Gendron, Kristie Hepburn, Laura Zygas, Leah Gatt, Luigi Galbiati, Marc X. LoPresti, Michael J. von Bose, Michael Verost, Mike McCarty, Patricia Ensworth, Robyn Lange, Safayet Kajol, Sarah Gurka, Sonya M., Thomas Helck.
Women's & Shorthanded Championship Next Week
August is the month when special races are held at the Club. The two traditional events are the Women's Championship as well as the Short-Handed Championship.
The Women's Championship, will be Tuesday, August 25 and encourages as many women skippers and crew as possible to take to the water. Our Club already has great leadership among women sailors with both Katie Morgan and Danielle Gallo often beating the entire fleet on Wednesday evening (Katie will also be fielding a team in the Mallory Cup this October as the representative from CT and the only women skipper in the competition). Danielle has been sidelined this summer with a broken foot. But even with these top women sailors in the race, it is often an up-and-coming women skipper who has won in past years. You can find out more about this race and read the results dating back before 9/11 at https://myc.org/racing-home/j24/womens/. What great history!
The Short-Handed Championship will be Wed. Aug 26. Believe it or not, this event began many years ago as the Single-Handed Championship. It used to be the ultimate test of "macho" strength to see which skipper could sail the boat totally by themselves. In the past, some of the skippers even put up their spinnakers in an effort to win! After a few editions as a single-handed race, the Club felt this did not necessarily fit with our emphasis on safety. If any skipper fell overboard, who would go pick them up? So reason prevailed and the single-handed championship evolved into the current "Short-Handed Championship." Now there are two people on the boat. There is still ample opportunity to demonstrate who are the most "macho" sailors, capable of doing everything themselves, but if the skipper or crew falls over, there is still one person to stop the boat and sail back! This event is always a great time and considered one of the highlights of the year for our elite sailors. Read more of the history and see past winners at https://myc.org/racing-home/j24/shorthanded/
Arabella Doing the "Grand Tour"
This summer, Arabella has been doing the Grand Tour, sailing from Newport to Nantucket & Martha's Vineyard. At the beginning of August, she did a sold out trip with the American Sailing Association. This week, she is doing a second trip with a group of very luck Club Members. They started in Newport on Sunday and sailed to Martha's Vineyard on Monday. Tuesday, they visit Nantucket before returning to Martha's Vineyard on Wednesday. Thursday brings the cruise to Cuttyhunk for an evening Clam bake. Then they return to Newport on Friday.
You can see pictures of the cruise as it happens on the Club's new Facebook page.
After this second cruise, Arabella will return to Jersey City where she will be available for corporate charter in September. Then she will spend some time in the shipyard for her annual inspections. Plan then call for Arabella to head to the Caribbean for the winter charter season. Start planning now to join Arabella for the Club's Caribbean Regatta, Jan. 24-30.
Upcoming Events
Women's Championship - Aug 25
12 Meter America II Event on Clubhouse - Aug 25
Shorthanded Regatta - Aug 26
Maritime Services Regatta - Aug 27
Member Mixer on Clubhouse - Sept 15
US Sailing Adult Championships at MYC - Oct 9-12
Seen at the Club
Dave Simpson & Michael Connolly taking visiting sailors from the Nord Deutsche Regatta Verein for a sail in the harbor.
The ITG corporate spinnaker sailing in the harbor.
One of our sailing school boats teaching new adults how to sail.
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