The 2010 Sailing Program is now accepting on- line registrations. Please go to http://www.hyc.cc/registration-info/ for all instructions and info.

Thaw those Winter thoughts and kick off the summer of 2010 with the annual Winter Party!

Wednesday March 17th at the Old Town Hall, Hilton Garden, in Freeport.

5:30pm to 8:00pm

At the end of last season, the Board of Directors decided to expand the role for the Youth Sailing Program Director. I am grateful to the Board and especially a dedicated group of members (read below) whose diligence in seeking a new Director will assure the continued success of the Program.
Due to their efforts, I am very excited to announce the appointment of Frank Pizzo as our new Youth Sailing Program Director for 2010. Frank is currently the Head Coach for the Bowdoin College Sailing Team.  His previous collegiate coaching experiences include serving at the assistant coach at Bowdoin in the spring of 2008 and as the head coach at Columbia University in the fall of 2007.  A graduate of Bowdoin in 2006, Frank earned four varsity letters and captained the team in both his junior and senior campaigns. He was voted the team’s Most Valuable Skipper on three occasions between 2004 and 2006, helping propel the team to new heights in both fleet and team racing.

More to the point though, Frank brings extensive background in running Junior Sailing Programs most recently at Larchmont Yacht Club and Pequot Yacht Club on Long Island Sound as well as Ida Lewis Yacht Club in Newport, RI.  Still an active racer, Frank has completed in two Newport-to-Bermuda Offshore Races but mostly enjoys racing dinghies.  He crews on Lightnings and frostbites in Inter Clubs.  Additionally, he is an active racer in the Vanguard 15 class.
My thanks to Rob Taisey, Cindy Drake, Tom Schwarm, John Karp and Louisa Price for all their help.
Presently, Frank and I are filling out the team of Instructors. We’ll need volunteers for many tasks to be done in preparation for this season, so don’t wait to be called- get involved NOW!
Thanks,
Henry Bliss

Just in time for the Christmas shopping list. You can now purchase HYC gear through the web site with a choice of two different Logo styles(calm and gale), please check out all the neat products you can purchase with the HYC logo. Click on the Store in the top right of the web site.

The 2009 Board of Directors wish to recognize the following individuals for their commitment to the success of HYC for the summer of 2009- Thank you!  

Sailing Program- Henry Bliss
Denley Poore
Tom Schwarm
Anne Fuehren
Louise Price
Spencer Drake

House – Randy Rice
Eileen Peterson
Julie Freund
Lev Davis
Elnel Browder

Race Committee – Stu Macdonald
Bill Foster
Peter Gerquest

General Board assistance
Ben Niles
Barney Baker
Chris Pinkham

Water Front – Paul Dunn - Dinghy Ties
Bob Santomenna
Ted Gribbell

John Karp dock building & repair
(We had so much help building floats that we will surely miss more than one.)
Steve Morrow
Tom Downing
Dave Knudsen
Jonathan St Mary
Ben MacDonald
Eric Oransky

Fleet Captain of Sail
Malcom Poole

Entertainment
Sue Hadlock
Stephanie Paine

2009 Awards presented at the Annual Meeting:

1. Commodore’s Award for Volunteerism –Randy Rice
Given to a member or members who have worked tirelessly in support of club activities and programs. –  5 years of dedicated work and retiring from the Board, Randy had so many projects one day he managed all three, roofs, crush stone, and curbing. I was there to take the pictures(see photos on web site). Randy spent so many nice days shingling the club house and so much more. He organized a wonderful group of club house volunteers this year. Randy has promised to keep contributing after retiring from the Board

2. Heritage Award.  – Sue Hadlock
Awarded to the member, who by good seamanship, an adventurous spirit, a willingness to share knowledge and an abiding love of the sea, has promoted boating in a way that honors the values that Bill Hadlock embodied in his life. – Rob Tasiey covered a number of Sue’s enthusastic trips on the bay, not to mention she “summered over” on her boat this year.  
3. Sportsmanship Award  -Nat Henshaw
Awarded to a member whose enthusiasm for the Club is demonstrated on and off the race course.
We all know Nat is a competitor. This award is not for flying spinnaker’s up side down or starboard tacking Bill Full appropriately, or for picking up so many crew members right off the dock and getting so many members and guest out sailing at the spur of the moment. It’s for all these reasons and Nat’s  “spirit” for sailing that his “crew” more than anyone  else can understand!
4. Offshore Trophy: Cameron Grillo
Awarded to the sailor or sailors with the best offshore race finish and/or who navigate blue water flying the HYC burgee.  - Who has heard of Auckland, NZ. up to Opua and or a sail over to New Caledonia, Vanuatu and, or finally across the Coral Sea to Cairns on to the Great Barrier reef in Australia. horizins were hugely expanded during his three months sailing with Nat and Betsy White. Nat White Stated “Cam is a fine sailor and was a great help aboard BAHATI during some challenging passages! He also learned to do some deep-sea trolling and filleted his first mahi-mahi almost as big and probably as old as he is!! Cam is comfortable up the rig, under the boat and under any sailing conditions. He is not afraid to handle sails in rough conditions and yet he is careful not to take unnecessary risks”. BAHATI and HYC members say cheers all round for Cameron!Cam’s.net/bahatihttp://www.

Life Membership: The Board has nominated and passed the following for Life Membership.

Dick Bowen: was a Board Member for several years, commodore 1979-1981. Dick was involved in areas of the club including a major force behind promoting the interclubs . Dick and his wife as being very involved in the sailing program for many years He was very involved with the building of the present clubhouse after the old shack was washed out. Back when he was racing his Ensign “Railroad”. His enthusiasm for the Club and his sportsmanship, on and off the water, has always been notable. I believe he is very deserving of this honor.

Widgery Thomas: The Thomas Family came to South Freeport in the summer of 1965 in Andiamo towing our turnabout “Snap”. That summer the family lived in the boathouse next to HYC. This started his involvement in all aspects of HYC. Widgery served on the board and was commodore in 1970. Widgery changed from power to sail as his love of sailing grew. Patience, Quickstep, and Cockle came and went. Cockle was his favorite and his only winning boat. He won the Friendship sloop regatta. Widgery shared his love of the Maine coast and sailing with the family spending one and two week cruises every summer.  He took great pleasure in having a good “white knuckle” sail.

Float out kicks off @ 8:00am sharp Saturday October 31st Rain or Shine!

The Tide is high @ 10am on and we really need a crew on hand by 8:00am so we can use the crane as soon as it arrives. In keeping with this annual event an assortment of the finest patisserie specialties, java and cocoa will be offered at 7:30am. Any questions please call Heidi Bishop 939-3601 cell or home 865-4108.

HYC yacht club members, Dan and Julie Fruend have shared great news about their son, Hugh’s, success in Sonar racing in Weymouth, England.  Please read the blog recently sent by Hugh and check out the Press Release and regatta results at the links below (sonar fleet)    Great job Hugh! 

http://sailingteams.ussailing.org/News/USSTAG_Wins_Two_Gold_Medals_at_Sail_for_Gold.htm

 http://www.sailracer.co.uk/events/18401/results.htm

You can follow Hugh in the future through the links below:

http://sailingteams.ussailing.org/Multimedia/Sail_for_Gold_Photo_Gallery.htm
http://sailingteams.ussailing.org/Home.htm

September 19, 2009; HYC, South Freeport, Maine

The Grub Tub World Championships were held here today on a beautiful, gusty September afternoon. The “Grub Tub”, a wonderful sailing dinghy designed and built by Henry “Grubby” Douglas, has a long history in this harbor and at HYC. This sailing event hasn’t been held for a quite a few years, but thanks to Stuart MacDonald, Cliff George and a few others, a small fleet of six “Tubs” entered the competition. Heidi Bishop, Jeff Whiting, Faith Baker, Henry Bliss, Ben Niles and Tim Baker launched their boats and braved a wild, gusty breeze generally (using the term mildly) from the Northwest. As most recalled from past GT Worlds, these conditions are the norm. The word “attrition” was heard quite often afterwards as three of the six Tubs had to retire due to multiple dunks in the drink. Regardless, everyone showed their skill and sportsmanship. Thanks to Ross Cudlitz for running the show, Cliff & Laura George and Susie Soule for the cheering section – as well as bailing a lot of water!

Final Results

1st   Ben Niles

2nd   Henry Bliss

3rd  Tim Baker

Photos have been posted (taken by Susie Soule)

Additional notes from the race committee (with additional photos posted):
 
Great race, congrats to all contestants for braving the NW gales of September.
Six boats started the first race and 5 finished (Whiting first in the drink)
Fifth race three boats started two finished, need I say more (more swimmers and drop outs).
Scoring: Ben Niles:      3/4, 2, 2, 2, 2    =  8.75
             Henry Bliss:    3, 3, 3, 3/4, 3/4 = 10.5
             Tim Baker:      2, 3/4, 3/4, 4, 4 = 11.5 (two penalty strokes for being out of the fairway).
 
I wanted to take a picture of Tim trying to right his craft 50 feet from the finish line, however his safety seemed more important at the moment.
Ben Niles learned that grub tubs do not carry any momentum when one tries to round up hard and tack over the finish line, Henry just cruised on by.
Oh by the way Henry, on that general recall you all started in the exact same positions and locations, creatures of habit.
Next year no horns necessary, just Cliff’s cheer leading voice (pom poms and saddle shoes optional).
Lets not forget to remember Grubby Douglass for making this possible.
 
Ross Cudlitz

HYC Member, Sarah Kent, recently competed in the Northeast Sailing Association’s Adams Cup for women over 18.   Ms. Kent and crew won the Northeast Finals in Portland sailing in Yinglings at Sail Maine. 

John Grillo forwarded the attached article recently appearing in the “Village Soup” about Woofie Parker – one of the founders of HYC.  The article will only be available to read online for a couple of weeks…so don’t delay.  It’s a wonderful article.  A Salute to Woofie Parker   by Tiffany Strong.

2009 State of Maine 420 Championships

2009 Opti- Championship Fleet Results

2009 Opti- Green Fleet Results

2009 Laser Results

Our 5 Annual HYC Youth Regatta was a huge success not for just the beautiful weather but the tremendous help and volunteer spirit that drives this event.

This year we hosted over 90 boats and somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 sailors along with coaches and parents, for two days of racing which included the State of Maine 420 Championships. Sailors competed from the following Yacht Clubs: Agamenticus, Boothbay Harbor, Bucks Harbor, Camden, Castine, HYC, Kollegewidgwok, Peaks Island, Portland, Southport and Sunapee (NH).

What a beautiful evening on the Bay!

(Click on the “Photos” button above; then click the tab called “Photosets”)

We’ve uploaded photos for the first Session, Big Boat Day 1 and from Sunapee YC’s Rig it Up Regatta that HYC Racers competed in last week.

Click on the “Photos” button at the top of this page. Then click on “Photosets”. We’ll be adding more as they come in.

Please remember to slow down when you head down to the club, we have a lot of activity going on now that summer seems to have arrived.  Thanks!

Big Boat Day for Session One was a huge success! Every Kid came off the boats with a smile. Big Boat day gives the kids a chance to see sailing as a lifelong activity and sailing beyond dinghys. Thank you to everyone who made first session’s Big Boat Day possible: Morris Hancock, Steve Morrow, David Kent, Peter Rice, Peter Quesada, and Ed Brainard.
-Amy

On behalf of all the Sailors and Instructors, many thanks to each of you for providing your vessels last Friday for a fun afternoon sail. We really appreciate your contribution to the Sailing Program.

If you’re so inclined to do it again, we’ll do it on Friday afternoon August 7th – the Club will be busy as it will be the second day of the HYC Youth Regatta/ State of Maine 420 Championships. I’m sure all the Recruits and Mates would love to be out on the Bay and catch some of the action. Spread the word and thanks again!

-Henry

Not only has the weather been difficult but our Wednesday Night Race on July 8th for the PHRF fleet had to thrown out due to an error in recording finish times. We apologize for the problem and will make every effort to correct the problem for the remaining races.

Just a quick note about this past weekend’s annual HYC Regatta.  We had 18 boats sign up, a little less than last year, but a great group nonetheless.  The weather was nice and after a short postponement, the wind came up in the 12-15 knot range and made for a great, close race (results linked below).  The post-race party was expertly done, and it seems that everyone had a great Saturday!

 As everyone knows, events like this don’t happen without the help of commited volunteers.  I appreciate all of their help tremendously and want to recognize them here.  This is what makes the club run so well.

Click here to see Results

Peter Gerquest / Bill & Mary Foster – Race Committee

Bill Ginn & Sandy Dickison – Post-race party

Faith Baker – Awards

Randy Rice & Peter Price – Misc. aid to nervous Race Chair

Stuart MacDonald

Under Randy Rice’s leadership several people got involved in upgrading the facilities at HYC last week including Whitney Martin, Mike Welcher, Chris Pope and Anne Niles leading the landscaping crew.  The club now has a new roof, improved parking lot, granite curbs and new landscaping near the porch.  This is what a volunteer club is all about!  Great job everyone!  See more images in the Photo Gallery.

HYC Club Improvements - 2009

Our kick-off picnic for the Youth Sailing Program is this Friday evening starting at 6:00 pm at the Club. The Instructors have everything ready to go for Session One, Monday morning and they’re excited to greet new and returning sailors.

In case you haven’t visited the Program’s web pages, please introduce yourselves to our team of Instructors when you’re down on the waterfront.

Get involved as well! We have a full schedule for the Program this summer and plenty of opportunities to be a part of it. We’ll be updating the calendar so stay tuned…..here’s a sampling

• Contact Mary Martin to participate in the Volunteer Parent Program
• Big Boat Days: July 10th and August 7th
• Thursday Night Races
• Sonars! We’d love to get Skippers and Mates out for a sail on these
• 5th Annual HYC Youth Regatta & 420 State of Maine Championships- August 6 & 7

This Program is made possible by an amazing group of volunteers….

Denley Poor & Matt Reynolds
Louisa Price
Tom Schwarm
Cindy & Spencer Drake
Anne & Rob Fuehrer
Mary Martin

….and of course, your support.    Thank you all!

Please visit the race results page to see the latest standings!

We are asking if anyone would please step up to take on any one or all three of the remaining waterfront mini-projects.  If you are able please contact John Karp or Heidi Bishop at 865-4108.

Face dock water hookup – installing the hose posts and hooking up the hoses – a small but necessary job!  Only tool needed is water pump pliers or vise
grips – call John Karp or Heidi Bishop at 865-4108

Dock Wash - Most of our floats have developed some growth on their tops- this is very slippery when wet, so…Peter Rice has kindly volunteered to bring his pressure washer and do the main float- however, all the face docks need this treatment.  We are looking for some volunteers to help with a few floats each.  This is a great rain out day opportunity since it really does need to be done while the docks remain damp- C’mon, you had the time planned for a boat day, now that its raining, why not knock off some hours?  Contact John Karp or Heidi Bishop to coordinate dates please- 865-4108.

“Aircraft carrier” deck board fastening – the up river double float used for sailing program boat storage has sprung a few deck planks- maybe a 1 hour job max with a good cordless drill. We have the screws and bits – call John Karp or Heidi Bishop at 865-4108.

The PHRF group had a good showing and a great first night of racing with strong steady wind.  The sonar fleet had a great time but was light in numbers…here’s hoping for a bigger turnout next week! 

The club is working to insure more reliable equipment for the race committee next week.   Rowing back from the race course isn’t in the job description the last anyone looked.  Thanks anyway, gang.   Below are the results (Thank you Tim Baker!) 

• Race Results – June 3rd
• Race Results Overall – 2009
• Sonar Race Results – 1st Series

JOIN US FOR THIS SUMMER’S HYC CRUISE
July 24th – 27th

This is the first cruise in many years – so let’s make it a big one!

• Friday, July 24th - Rendezvous at Quohog Bay
  Raft together for drinks and hors d’ oeuvres
• Saturday, July 25th  - Christmas Cove
  Cocktails on the Deck
  Dinner together at Coveside Restaurant 
  Mooring reservations should be made ahead by contacting Coveside         Marina  (Ch 9 or 644-8282)  www.covesiderestaurant.com 
• Sunday, July 26th  - Anchor on your own at Harbor Island
  Host Boats needed for cocktails and hors d’ oeuvres
• Monday July 27th – Here are some options:
  • Keep heading East
  • Rendevous at The Basin for another fun evening
  • Home to HYC

Cruise Captain:  Peter McCracken
Directoratlarge.hyc@gmail.com

Sign-up by emailing Peter McCracken at the address above or on the club bulletin board.  Visit the Cruise Blog to help build enthusiasm and ideas to make this trip fun and memorable!

THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 6:30PM at Maine Maritime Museum
Attend a special screening of Maine Built Boats and world class sailor Gary Jobson’s documentary about Maine’s 400-year boatbuilding tradition, expert workforce, and state-of-the art innovations at work today. “It is the skill and the pride that goes into each boat that makes a Maine built boat so special,” says Jobson. Weaving together interviews with boatbuilders, designers, journalists, and the Museum’s own Nathan Lipfert with footage of boats and Maine’s coast, Maine Built Boats: Art & Soul showcases the world-renowned qualities that are Maine’s boatbuilding industry today.

May 25th Update!

Both Recruits and Mates classes for Session 1, which kicks off June 22nd, are one or two openings away from being filled. We still have room in Session 2 for both these Classes, which starts July 20th. We still have room in the Skippers Class and 420 Team for both Sessions.

As I mentioned at the Opening Party, the HYC Youth Sailing Program Staff, with an eye to safety, would like to have a volunteer Parent or Member on the waterfront during the Recruits and Mates classes each day during both sessions.
This “Volunteer Parent/ Member Program” is an opportunity for Members to contribute to our Program, meet new people and get volunteer credit time.

Primarily, it will provide valuable assistance to the Instructors and Coaches. If a medical and/ or other concern arises ( perhaps when a Participant needs to return to shore), the Parent/ Member on duty can appropriately assist the Participant(s) and Instructor(s). There may be additional responsibilities on a day-to-day basis at the discretion of the Instructors and Coaches.

We encourage all Members to participate; Parents of the Participants are being asked to participate as well. Pair up with another parent or member!

Please contact Mary Martin via email at marymartin@suscom-maine.net or give her a call at (207) 865-0689 and she can tell you what is required and what dates & times are available. Please check the HYC website calendar for the dates of each Session. We really appreciate Mary’s help on this!

Thank you.

Henry Bliss
HYC Youth Sailing Program Coordinator.

 Maine’s sailing regatta season will get off to an early start on Saturday, June 6, when sailboats will race on courses outside Portland Harbor to raise funds for SailMaine, a local community sailing program. The Gulf of Maine Ocean Racing Association is teaming up with SailMaine to host the event, which will provide a wide range of benefits for SailMaine, its students, and the skippers and crews of the racing boats that participate.

Plan to join the club on Saturday May 16th for the Opening Party!  Everyone is encouraged to bring an appetizer to share and invite friends of HYC who are one the waiting list…especially if you are their sponsor.  We’ll see everyone there!

Hugh Freund, an HYC Sailing Program alumni and instructor has been named to the 2009 US Paralympic Sailing Team for 3 person class sailing Sonars.  The sailors will be working toward the 2012 Olympics.  For more information on the 2009 teams visit the US Sailing Website.  Congratulations Hugh!

Please visit the Volunteer Opportunities page and contact one of our dedicated board members to offer your assistance.  This is a great way to get involved, work with some great people and fulfill your volunteer commitment.

With great sadness and fond memories HYC club members honor and celebrate the life of Jan Newlin. Jan was a terrific club member, volunteer, Board Member and wonderful neighbor of the club. She will be greatly missed.  Memorial Donations can be made to Freeport Aspirations Partnership, 17 West St., Freeport, ME 04032 or the Ocean Classroom Foundation, 29 McKnown Street, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538

Thanks to Julie and Dan HYC has a wonderfully opportunity for the club to have a digital projector. This will be used to complement our sailing program instruction and certainly for membership meeting to display our website and collection of club photo’s. Thanks so much to Julie and Dan!

This Thursday is the Winter Party at the Hilton Garden Inn – Old Freeport Meeting House in Freeport.  Party starts at 5:30! Till 7:30.

Charlie Cook and Ben MacDonald have volunteered to build a case for our trophies and other memorabilia. We want our keepsakes, trophies and any other items of historical value on display. If you have something to loan or give the club for this purpose please be sure to contact Charlie!

We need to replace the northern docks that the sailing program uses. We need to replace at least one this year and the second one in 2010. We obtained several estimates from contractors to build these docks but the Board was determined to stick to the club’s volunteer mission and save money with YOUR VOLUNTEER EFFORTS!  The combination of PT lumber, galvanized hardware and foam filled plastic floats that we have been using to build our docks can be expected to last 30-40 years. It is also a type of construction that we are familiar with and can reconfigure easily. It is our club’s tradition to build our own docks. It will require working a couple of spring weekend days.  Dock building is an HYC experience through which members earn a sense of teamwork and ownership in the club that you don’t get by writing a check. We also need to finish the framing and replacement of the docks used along the boat ramp. All this needs to be completed by Float In Day on May 9th. Look for more information to follow until then be certain to contact Rob Taisey for details 846-6338.

We will be contracting for the installation of a new roof, refinishing the interior floors, replacing railroad ties, laying crushed rock in the parking lot and much more. Randy Rice needs your help so contact him for volunteer opportunities that support this portion of the club.

Our commitment to the Youth Sailing Program requires the continued retirement and replacement of the Sailing Program sailboats.  We may have some used boats for sale.  Please contact Stafford Soule if you are interested in purchasing.

Our sailing program desperately needs a 13 to 15-foot whaler type boat (hull only) as a coach’s boat for our sailing program. We need this boat before our sailing program begins for the and needed safety and coaching for our program please contact Board member Carter Becker if you know of a good used boat.

There will be a Pot Luck gathering at HYC with PYC on Saturday June 13th. This is PYC’s annual “Shakedown Cruise” event and we welcome them to our club. Bring a food item and join in the fun and camaraderie with our sister Casco Bay club.

My parents were members of the Harraseeket Yacht Club many years ago.  They kept their sailboat moored in the harbor.  I was able to enjoy many summers there with my family. They enjoyed their time there so much that their request was to have their ashes placed in the Bay.  In 1990, we deposited Mom’s ashes off Eagle Island.  Now, the time has come for Dad to rejoin her. My sister and I are looking for a boat, with captain, to assist us with this last request.  The complement can be as few as 2 and as many as 10.  There is no preference as to the type of boat, working, power, sail or other.  We would appreciate any information and assistance you might be able to provide. Thank you,  – Larry. Interested members contact Edward Brainard <brainard@gwi.net > 207-865-6623 if you can help with this request.

Save the date for the HYC’s 1st Annual Cruise, tentatively schedule for August 6-10. We hope all HYC cruising enthusiasts will join together for a 4-5 night cruise.