Commodore's Letter

Dear SYC Member:

Greetings from the Inner Harbour of Victoria. Its not exactly an outstation but Jack and Nadine Murray are here aboard Grace, a friend's sloop on the way to the Norpac Regatta. Jerry and Carol Hentschell are also here aboard Mas Tiempo.

Flying Eagle will be off to Barkley at O-dark-thirty tomorrow and if the weather cooperates we will go all the way in one day.

Next Thursday at Mens' Lunch the program will be given by David Dye of the Washington Department of Transportation. He will be talking about the 520 Project and I hope you will have lots of questions. Our friends from Queen City are coming over to join the fun. I'll still be out at Norpac so cannot be there but I urge all of you guys who are not out cruising to make a special effort to attend.

SYC Food & Beverage Director, Phil Hadler was last week's surprise speaker at Men's Lunch!

Last Saturday Marion and I had dinner on the Deck and greatly enjoyed the jazz playing in the background. It was first rate.

That's it for now.

All the best,

Jack Sullivan, Commodore

International Golf Cruise

Sunny and warm weather greeted thirty-two lucky golfers on eighteen boats when we began the golf cruise in Sidney, and, luckily, the sunny weather continued all week as we cruised north to Maple Bay and Nanaimo. The competition and camaraderie was fun & friendly with different formats (a Callaway, Calcutta & Scramble) for three great rounds of golf – with bragging rights being the main prizes.

We had Greenbox parties each evening, a wonderful potluck dinner in the gazebo at Maple Bay Marina, and an awesome gourmet dinner at Genoa Bay Café.  See all the photos on the club photo website at: www.seattleyachtclub.phanfare.com.  The password is  sycphotos.

As everyone departed Saturday to catch calm winds for crossing the Straits of Georgia, there were plenty of promises to do it all over again next summer. So mark your calendars for mid July 2009 for another great week of summer cruising with a little golf thrown in for fun!

Doug Lindal & Terry Skok
Chairs

Marine Fuel Tax Refund

When Washington Boaters go to the fuel dock and purchase gasoline for a boat, boaters pay a GAS TAX, which is included in the price of your marine fuel. The majority of this 28¢ per gallon gas tax is a road tax and intended to be paid by drivers of cars (– not boats!) to maintain highways, bridges, and ferries. Boats do not extend wear and tear on highways, bridges, and ferries, so a portion of the tax has been declared exempt from boat fuel. However, boaters must do the work to file a claim to get the refund for this gas tax. Click Here for more.

EPA Proposes Vessel Discharge Permits

(Washington, DC – June 16, 2008)The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing two general permits under the Clean Water Act that will cover discharges incidental to normal operation of commercial and recreational vessels. Based on agency estimates, as many as 91,000 commercial vessels and about 13 million recreational boats could be affected. Click here for the full story.

Army Corps Limiting Small Lock Use at Hiram Chittenden Locks in Ballard

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District News Release June 18, 2008

Vessel operators should be prepared to transit through the large lock this summer because of mechanical problems with the small lock.  The pintle bearings that support the four gates of the small lock are deteriorating at a rapid rate.  To reduce wear, the Corps is reducing use of the small lock.  "The soonest we can have new bearings fabricated is October" said Locks project manager Marian Valentine.  The small lock will continue to be used for emergency vessels, and for other commercial vessels at the discretion of the lockmaster.  The locks are still being operated "on demand" 24/7.  The Corps expects that most trips through the (large) locks will experience little impact.

"If water shortage becomes an issue later in the summer, the small locks may return to more frequent operation...We will maximize the use of the large lock by having recreation vessels follow commercial vessels into the chamber.  Vessels should allow for potential delays."

Editors' Note

We would like to publish photos and reports of our SYC  sponsored Summer activities in CompassNEWS and in the September Binnacle.  If you are an event chair,  please arrange to have photos and articles submitted to us. You can use these submission addresses for both publications:

compassnews@seatteyachtclub.org  or binnacle@lists.seattleyachtclub.org.  Items can also be left at the Front Desk or in our box.  You can contact Len Rothe at leniese@msn.com or Pam Lowry at Pamela.R.Lowry@comcast.net with questions or submissions. CompassNEWS information needs to be received as soon as the event is over, we try to keep that publication as current as possible.

Have a great summer, we want to hear about it!

Helmsmen Specials

SEAFAIR PIRATES ARE JOINING US
FOR OUR BIG SYC SEAFAIR LAWN BBQ PARTY!

The Seafair Pirates will liven things up on July 30 at the SYC Seafair lawn BBQ party.

The Seafair Pirates along with Unlimited Hydroplane owners, drivers and team members are special guests as Seattle Yacht Club celebrates our rich tradition with hydroplane racing and Seafair.

Bring family, friends and neighbors - enjoy this popularly-priced old-fashioned BBQ on the SYC lawn.

The date is Wednesday, July 30, starting at 5:30 p.m. Sign up at the Front Desk. Hamburgers and hot dogs with all the trimmings, baked beans, potato salad, fresh fruit, brownies and cookies plus ice tea and lemonade – all for $25 (adults), $12 (children 12 years and under).

Meet the owners, drivers and teams from top competitors such as the U-37, Miss Beacon Plumbing; owned by SYC Life Member Billy Schumacher and his wife, Jane, and driver Jean Theoret; the U-6, Oh Boy! Oberto and driver Steve David; the U-10, USA Racing Partners and driver David Bryant; and the U-5, FormulaBoats.com (formerly Miss Budweiser) and driver Jeff Bernard.

Get autographs and pictures (bring your camera) and collectibles.

There will be door prizes, raffle items, hydroplane pit tour packages, etc. But you have to be there to win!

Sunshine Coast Cruise 2008 

Cruising Captains: Chris Warner and Pam Murray, contact info, cell:  (206) 782-1277
email: Chris Warner or Skype: sailpanther

This is an EXTREMELY COOL semi official non-event event, meaning there is no charge billed to your SYC account.

This is a SAIL & 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 possible.

This Sunshine Coast Cruise begins at the Ganges Outstation on July 28 and ends on the doorstep to Desolation Sound at the SYC outstation on Cortez Island on August 4. The actual cruising schedule is weather dependent. For more information, click here.

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