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 Fruend, 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 www.teamusa674.com.  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.