Opening Day 2008 Results

Nominating Committee Notice 2008

Smith Island / Double Bluff 2008

Come to Boating Safety Day and Become a Safer Boater

News from Michael and JoAnne Gray

SYC members Michael and JoAnne Gray are currently embarked on an extended cruise around the world on their sailboat "Destiny." You can read about their past year's travels, and their upcoming plans, by clicking this link for their
New Year's Letter

SYC Fleet Air Wing

The next meeting of Seattle Yacht Club’s Fleet Air Wing will be held on Thursday evening, January 24, at 6:00 p.m. in the Heritage Room. (Service Staff will be available to take drink/food orders.)

The discussion topic will be:
"Flying Into Canada, 2008: Cross-Border Operations, Destinations and Facilities."

Customs Procedures and required paperwork - both coming and going-and the differences from border crossing with our boats.... new U.S. Customs regulations on the horizon, including electronic pre-filed crew/passenger lists...dealing with Canadian ATC ... weather forecasting resources available to pilots on the web and through the Canadian FSS system ... Canadian charts, airfield diagrams, approach plates and different symbology ... other issues when operating "up north."

SYC Pilots: please be prepared to share your recent flight experiences up into Canada including:

... favorite (and least-favorite) places/destinations, and amenities ranging from loaner cars to friendly Fly Clubs (like Victoria), optimal places for float-plane operators to make entry, best places to fuel, and safe places to leave an airplane when joining up with your (or a friend's) boat.

We'll also discuss setting up an aviation part of the SYC website and development of an on-going catalog or members' blog to post flight information and opportunities for flight-sharing, training, or familiarization with the many different types of aircraft flown by our group. Also, please bring your suggestions for future activities, events and discussion topics.

Info/Questions: Dan Schwartz

Boating With Broadband Internet Access Class

Saturday January 26 2008

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon in the Heritage Room

Are you out on the waters in the Pacific Northwest and need fast broadband access to the internet? Do you need to know how to improve your WiFi access to the hotspots available in many marinas and SYC outstations? Do you want to know more about the widely available (and sometimes less difficult to use) broadband access based on 3G (Third Generation) cell phone networks?

If so, then come to this seminar offered by the Internet Committee and learn all you need to know about connecting your laptop or ship’s computer to Wi-Fi and 3G networks. This seminar focuses on a review of the equipment you need on-board to strengthen WiFi signals at marina hotspots and how to configure a shipboard network for optimum performance.

We will also discuss and demonstrate broadband access using EVDO and HSPDA 3G cell phone network technologies.These services, offered by Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and Telus, offer throughput speeds close to that of WiFi networks, but work over much larger areas.

Coffee will be served. This class is suitable for non-nerds, but assumes some experience with WiFi. Pre-registration is requested. For more details and to sign-up for the seminar, contact Bob Miller.

For those who are having problems with their laptops in utilizing WiFi in the clubhouse, bring in your equipment and we will have a hands-on debugging session between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. I would prefer to work on machines using Windows XP or Windows Vista. If you still are running Windows 98, then it is time to upgrade to new hardware.

Halloween Non-event Event Highlights

This event has developed legs of its own – and we did it again for the FIFTH annual Halloween Non-Event at Port Madison! Can you believe it’s been five years?!?! What’s a Non-Event you say? By popular demand, this is an informal, unbudgeted, no committee, bring-your-own-everything event. This event surpasses itself every year because EVERYONE throws in their energies and creative talents.

Spooks and goblins made another early appearance at Port Madison this weekend for the Halloween non-event event. The dock was near capacity with haunted vessels and spook sightings were rampant.

Pumpkins were carved on Saturday afternoon to decorate the dock and ghost ships. A potluck dinner filled the main hall, after which a group excursion was made to explore the haunted BBQ which had become the focal point of spectral activity through the day.

Ghouls young and old were entertained by the spooky graveyard, chamber of curiosities, hall of horrors and tunnel of doom. Fortunately no souls were lost and all proceeded down to the docks for the traditional boat to boat trick-or-treating. Tricks were in short supply but the treats flowed freely.

Thank you to all the volunteer specters in the haunted BBQ and to all who helped make the rest of the non-event work!

-Submitted by Dave & Ann Ferguson

Annual Powerboat Awards Banquet - Friday, November 1 at 6:00 p.m.

Join us for a terrific evening as we acknowlege those who worked so hard to make 2007 a great year for SYC powerboaters!

We're talking about event chairs, volunteers, exemplary predicted log competitors, great men and women of the sea, Wilson Trophy winners, those who want to be in the spotlight and some who work behind the scenes. And, of course, those who may have mastered the high seas, yet through some unexpected turn of events...had a red-face moment that the boating public somehow knows about.

Be sure to turn in your 8-Ball Nominees for this auspicious event.

Reserve your spot today! (206) 325-1000

Sailboat Dinner - November 14

Wednesday, November 14
6:30 p.m.
Fireside Lounge

Larry & Maxine Bailey will show pictures of their Summer trip to SE Alaska. A side trip to Lituya Bay in company with Mike & Linda Duffy, was among many highlights. After cruising the world for 14 1/2 years, they maintain that this trip, in our own backyard, is the best civilized cruising anywhere. Power boaters welcome.