Happy Independence Day!

Dear SYC Member:

“One-hundred years is long enough to hold a grudge,” said Royal Vancouver Yacht Club Past Commodore David Jennings as the results of the Alexandra Cup race were announced. The series of six races, pitting 4-person crews from the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, Royal Victoria Yacht Club and Seattle Yacht Club in Martin 242’s, was held in beautiful Long Harbor just off the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club’s offshore station at Scott Point on Sunday, July 1. We gathered there with our Canadian friends to celebrate Canada Day, and these races, along with a chili cook-off competition, got everyone into the spirit of the day. As many know, this marked the centennial anniversary of the first Alexandra Cup competition between Royal Vancouver Yacht Club and SYC. During the third running of this race, a dispute arose and the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club fleet went home. The Seattle yacht finished the race and declared victory, but the Alexandra Cup has remained securely placed in the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club trophy case for these many years. Oh, yes, it will remain there, as the RVYC team, led by Commodore Brian O’Sullivan, soundly defeated the challenging Royal Victoria Yacht Club team, led by Commodore Russ Cozens, and the Seattle Yacht Club team, led by Staff Commodore Chris Otorowski - and a rotation of your Commodore, Vice Commodore and Rear Commodore. Thanks go to Fleet Captain Sail Bruce Campbell and Chris Otorowski for arranging the details of this Alexandra Cup challenge. All agree that this will be an annual event. Thanks, too, to Rear Commodore Fred and Karen Roed, for handling the details of our visit to Scott Point.

This weekly message is being posted from Henry Island, where the boats are arriving in impressive numbers. The Dockmaster, Past Commodore Tom Foti, is deftly managing the dock plan and finding shore power for nearly everyone. The weather is great, the outstation is in beautiful shape and we are looking forward to another “blowout” Fourth of July Party arranged by the Henry Island Outstation Committee and a number of energetic volunteers.

The Gourmet Cruise, the International Golf Cruise, the Commodore’s Cruise and the Sunshine Coast Cruise are coming up in July and August. If you’re up north, join us for the Ganges Outstation Grand Opening Party at Salt Spring Marina on Wednesday, July 25. If you are staying closer to home, join us for the Seafair Salmon BBQ on the clubhouse lawn on Wednesday, August 1.

So, have a great time! And be safe, courteous – and watch your wake!

Enjoy your club!

Ben Cozadd , Commodore

What I Did on My Summer Vacation!
Binnacle Photo Contest

Send us a photo of what you did on you summer vacation and you could win a gift certificate to the club.

The SYC account representatives from Sound Business Forms will be the judges. 

There will be 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.

Entries must be submitted no later than September 1 and winners will be published in an upcoming Binnacle.

Submit entries to: binnacle@lists.seattleyachtclub.org

Visit our SYC photo website.

Here is an opportunity for you to view all the photos taken by a variety of club photographers at various club activities.

You will find photos of the Commodores Ball, J.O. Ball, Children's Easter Brunch, Opening Day Photos, Potlatch, plus many more.

These photos can 8:15-9:15 pm
Happy Hour!
Leisure Pool & River
$2.00 per personbe downloaded, printed, and shared.

The site is: http://www.seattleyachtclub.phanfare.com/
This site is password protected, the viewing password is: sycphotos

If you have any questions contact Len Rothe.

All 2007 Opening Day Merchandise is on sale at the front desk!

Up to 50% off!

Canada Day/Independence Day Cruise

This cruise includes visiting two outstations--Royal Vancouver Yacht Club's outstation at Scott Point and Seattle Yacht Club's Henry Island outstation while we celebrate both Canada Day and Independence Day with our friends from RVYC. The schedule is as follows:

June 30: Greenbox at RVYC Outstation at Scott Point. (SYC Boats anchor out)

July 1: Chili Cook-Off. The basic ingredients and supplies available, just add your own special concoctions. Barbecues are available and beverages are hosted.

July 2: Cruise to Henry Island. Greenbox on shore, dinner on your own. (RVYC Boats anchor out)

July 3: Tour of English Camp. (optional hike up Young's hill)

July 4: Henry Island 4th of July Celebration. Please be sure to make your reservation at the front desk if you plan to stay for this even.

Elliott Bay Fourth of July Party

Games, music, good company

Green box 5:00 p.m.
Potluck Bar BQ 7:00 p.m.
Seattle’s Best Fireworks Show 10:00 p.m.

Sign up at the front desk or the door

This is an informal gathering at the Outstation to celebrate the 4th.

Potlatch Games Results

2007 INTERNATIONAL GOLF CRUISE

July 12-19, 2007
Sign up today at the front desk!

Join this year’s premier event, open to Sail and Power boaters who want to combine their enjoyment of yachting and golfing:

7/12-13 at Port Sidney Marina, golf @ Cordova Bay on 7/13
7/15-16 at Page Point Marina, golf @ Arbutus Ridge on 7/16
7/18-19 at Nanaimo (Cameron Island), golf @ Fairwinds on 7/19

Each of the 3 golf events will be a different format (Calcutta, scramble, etc.) Players of all handicap levels may participate. Typically there will be a green box at 5:30 on the evening before each round at which time the schedule for the next day’s bus departure (typically 9:00 a.m.) will be announced.

An “awards” reception or hosted green box will occur at the marina following each golf event. Each day following a round of golf will be a free day with no moorage reserved. Cost per golfer--$340 which includes everything (green fees, transportation to the course, and prizes) except moorage fees.

Chairman: Lee Hessler
For more information, see the May Binnacle or e-mail Lee at hardalee22@yahoo.com.

2007 Commodore’s Cruise

Monday July 23 - Friday July 27
Sailboats and Powerboats welcome!

This is all about fun; point to point racing, BBQs, visiting 3 outstations, shopping, eating, a star raft, more eating, green boxes, barbequed lead sinker pancakes, more green boxes and on and on….

Now in its 13th year, this biennial event has consistently been a great time for sailboats and powerboats alike. Come for the week or coordinate your trip north or south to join the Cruise. Here is the lineup:

Monday July 23, rendezvous at Henry Island for the kickoff greenbox and BBQ.

Tuesday July 24, Race over to Sidney Harbor , greenbox at the Sidney Marina

Wednesday July 25, Race to Ganges , greenbox at our new outstation

Thursday July 26, Layday in Ganges , then over to Montague Harbor for a star raft

Friday July 27, Race to Ovens Island for awards greenbox and BBQ

Saturday July 28, BBQ lead sinker pancake breakfast; begin Sunshine Coast Cruise

Some lucky skippers have six Commodore’s Cruise burgees; make this your year to fly one!

Sign up at the front desk or contact your Cruise Captains, Chris and Shawn Otorowski.

Ganges Outstation Grand Opening Party

We can’t wait to celebrate! On Wednesday evening, July 25, 2007 the Salt Spring Chamber of Commence and the SYC Ganges Outstation Committee are sponsoring a Grand Opening Party to show off our new outstation docks at the Salt Spring Marina. The party will begin at 5:30 p.m. in a roped off area on shore near the head of the main marina dock. Salt Spring Winery will be offering wine tasting by the glass and will sell wine at the end of the event by the bottle or case. Moby’s Pub will be catering a BBQ wild salmon and lamb dinner which will include salad, rolls and one glass of wine at a cost of $21.00. In addition, we hope to have local musical entertainment during the party and there will also be a special presentation made by the Commodores to the Chamber of Commerce.

Sunshine Coast Cruise 2007

Cruising Captains: Chris Warner and Pam Murray (206) 782-1277 cell or panther@seanet.com.

This is a Sail and Power event. Anchorages selected will be weather dependent and large enough to accommodate all boats safely. You should be prepared to anchor in 10 fathoms of water. We will raft as much as we can.

The Sunshine Coast Cruise starts after the Commodores Cruise at Ovens Island and ends on the doorstep to Desolation Sound at the SYC outstation on Cortez Island. Weather permitting we will visit places around the Straits of Georgia not usually seen by SYCers. They include Lasqueti Island, Hornby Island, Comox and Savary Island. If you have guests arriving or departing, locations with scheduled commercial air service are Nanaimo and Comox.

The actual cruising schedule is weather dependent. The cruise starts on July 29 more or less as follows:

Day One 7/29: The cruise will start at Ovens Island on Sunday July 29 departing Ovens in time to meet the slack to flood at Dodd Narrows at 10:13 a.m., so an early AM start. We will attempt to get some reciprocal moorage at the Nanaimo YC otherwise we will anchor in the harbor Sunday night. Greenbox on PANTHER.

Day Two 7/30: Depart Nanaimo for Lasqueti, anchor at False Bay or the NE side of the Island at Scottie Bay or in the lee of West Point in Tucker Bay. Explore Lasqueti. Green Box.

Day Three/Four 7/31 & 8/1: Depart Lasqueti for Tribune Bay on Hornby Island. Anchor, swim, hit the white sand beach a mile wide. Green Box. If the weather holds this is easily worth two days.

Day Five 8/2: Depart Hornby for Comox via Baynes Sound. Stay at the Comox Marina. This is a working fishing harbor. Reservations will be made for moorage and dinner in town at the Italian place near the marina. Great food reasonable prices. Explore Comox.

Day Six 8/3: Depart Comox for Savary Island. Anchor. Explore Savary. There is a great beach on the north west side of the island. This is an open anchorage so it is comfortable only in fair weather.

Day Seven 8/4: Depart Savary for the short trip to the SYC outstation at Cortez. Green Box for sure.

SEATTLE YACHT CLUB SEAFAIR BBQ
Reviving A Tradition

Wednesday, August 1 at 5:30 p.m. on the SYC Lawn

Have you ever wanted to meet the drivers and owners of the unlimited hydroplanes that race around Lake Washington? Seattle Yacht Club is reviving a tradition that gives members and guests the chance to meet and talk with drivers and owners of the hydroplanes.

You’ll have a chance to meet SYC Life member, and famous unlimited hydroplane driver/owner, Billy Schumacher, 2006 APBA Gold Cup champion, Unlimited Hydroplane Championship at Seafair and U.I.M. World Championship winner.

Get autographs, photos with drivers and chance to win a private tour of the hydroplane pits. There is also a raffle to win a radio controlled model of the U-37. Wow!! What a fun party!!

Call the SYC front desk and sign-up for this exciting opportunity to meet the Seafair hydroplane drivers!! Costs is $35 per adult, and $15 for children 10 years and under. Bring the family and friends - - don’t forget your camera!

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