Commodore Chris Otorowski with Shawn and daughters Kirsten and Hilary

 

Vice Commodore Ben Cozadd and Shirley LaFollette

 

Rear Commodore Jack Sullivan, Marion and their daughter Louise Sportelli

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Dear SYC Member:

It was a week to remember. Tuesday night was the kickoff Candlelight Buffet Dinner and it played to a full house with some new menu items in the buffet along with the favorites. The Dickens Carolers did their usual great songs, along with a request from the Commodore's table "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer". Be careful of what you ask for you may just get it! On Thursday, the Powerboat Traditional Christmas Dinner was held with Dan Schwartz presiding over the powerboat gang. Seattle music legend Primo Kim did a wonderful job on the piano and the dinner was excellent!

Some great Christmas music during the Tuesday Candlelight Buffet.

Saturday brought the Commodore's Ball. In an effort to accommodate all who wanted to attend, the Heritage Room was opened for the first time. This allowed us to accommodate 40 more for the Ball and this was a real plus for everyone. Our staff was stretched and challenged to the max, but it all happened just the way it was supposed to turn out. Thanks to Carol Eldridge, Clint Prescott, Chef Tom Black, Joseph Huber and the dozens of staff who did a masterful job involving very complicated logistics to get a four star dinner served to about 340 members and guests. It was one for the record books and I want to especially thank my wife Shawn for all the energy she has put into the decorations for this holiday season and the arrangements for the Ball. It is a huge endeavor, but one that really gets everyone in the Christmas spirit. Thanks Shawn!

Jean and Stacey Wilson, Maureen Meslang and Lori Bieberstein	Just a few of the three-hundred plus crowd at the Commodore's Ball.

The Special People’s Cruise happened again, flawlessly, under the direction of Tim Abell, who is very experienced at this having done this for many years with the help of many, many of our dedicated members. This is an event that really warms the heart to give others the chance to enjoy the water, in a safe environment, see Santa out on the boat in Lake Washington and enjoy great refreshments. A job well done and we salute you Tim, along with your inspired committee, for all your hard work.

"Clowning around"	Santa posing for the camera.

Coming up, we have the second Candlelight Buffet on Tuesday. There may still be some seating for certain times so if you want to go, call the front desk. On Wednesday, the power/sail reception gift exchange happens. This is a very fun event which will keep everyone on the edge of their seat as gifts continue to be traded in and new ones opened. It is always a surprise in the end as to what you get! Sign up at the front desk.

On Saturday, the Children's Christmas Party will get underway. I hear that Frosty the Snowman will be back and posing for pictures with the kids. So bring your kids or grandkids down to the club for some good old fashioned Christmas fun. This is then followed by the Children's Holiday Cookie party on Sunday. If your kids have not been involved in this, call the front desk for details. This is a cookie making party, with limited sign ups but unlimited fun.

Remember that next week brings us the Holiday Men's Lunch, co-chaired by Gerry Johnson, Kim Lorenz, and Rob Sullivan. He has lots of surprises and some great gifts in store for you. This is usually a full house so come on down!

Only 19 more days until Christmas!

See you around the Club!

Chris Otorowski, Commodore

Sail & Power Christmas Party 2005!

Wednesday, December 7th

1800 – Fireside Lounge

Don’t miss this terrific event! This party has become a holiday favorite at SYC and we expect the Fireside Lounge will quickly fill to capacity with members of both the Power and Sail clans (no feuding allowed!). We’ll have a hosted hors d’oeuvre buffet, plenty of good cheer, and warm camaraderie for all! Once we have had a chance to warm up, our Fleet Captain Sail, Bruce Campbell, and Past Fleet Captain Power, Scott Strandjord will launch the evening’s festivities. The first order of business was the presentation of prizes for Best Christmas Tie (for the gentlemen), Best Christmas Sweater and Best Christmas Pin (for the ladies). The competition is always tough in every category! Last year’s winners included:

•Best Sweater - Janette Dunn

•Best Pin - Meg Lewis

•Best Tie - Dick Bell

Moving on, we’ll dive into the main event for the evening: THE GIFT EXCHANGE! We’ll review the rules (rules are really important for this event!) and we’ll launch into an evening filled with the joy of giving. (OK…so in the past there has also been a certain energy associated with the joy of getting as well!) Given the significant value of the gifts provided by the guests, it is no surprise that the annual gift exchange has frequently devolved into a tense struggle in the high stakes world of Sail/Power competitive gifting. Serious stuff. The evening will invariably extend on as the “hot” gifts are “stolen” and “re-stolen.” (The evening seems to confirm prior sociology experiments that indicate things are more appealing if they belong to someone else!)

So remember! 1) Call the SYC Front Desk for reservations! (206) 325-1000

(It’s a hosted event, but we need to know you are coming!)

•Wear your best Christmas sweater, pin, and/or tie!

•Bring a great wrapped gift (gag or not gag)!

•And brace yourself for a great evening!!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

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2006 SYC Boating Calendars Available!

The Historical Committee of Seattle Yacht Club has produced a 2006 boating calendar which includes SYC scheduled events of the month. The calendar has tide charts for each month. Above the chart for each month there is a large photo of an SYC yacht and below the photo is a description of the vessel. The boat photos for this year have been selected by the SYC Power, Sail and Historical committees, with four photos each.

The calendar starts with the Powerboat of the Year photo for January, followed by the sailboat of the Year photo for February. SYC Junior Race Team and SYC Sailing School activities are also included following the December tide chart.

Net proceeds from the sale of the calendar, will be given to the SYC Foundation for the support of the youth sailing activities in the Seattle area.

The calendar is now available to SYC members for $6.95 plus tax and can be purchased at the front desk.

The calendar will be a convenient Christmas gift, and also as a thoughtful gift to racing crew members who have dedicated so much to the boat’s performance. The boat photos and the tide charts for each month make it both a useful and practical gift, with reminders of SYC scheduled events for that month.

Rear Commodore Jack Sullivan gets his Christmas uniform.	Past Commodore Bill and Betty Stewart at the Ball.

 

Tyee Yacht Club Commodore Pam Christensen presenting the Grand 14 Plaque to Commodore Otorowski with all of the Grand 14 Commodores and spouses.

 

Past Commodore Dick Johnson and Marol and Past Commodore John Rasmussen and Dorothy at the Ball.	Shawn Otorowski receiving the traditional SYC pendant from Bonnie Foti at the Ball.

 

Past Commodore Dwight Shaw and Michele at the Ball.

 

Kennedy High School Choral Group sing christmas carols at the Special People's Cruise.

 

Santa and his Elves on station in Lake Washington aboard the "Odyssey" for the Special People's Cruise.	Special People's Cruise Chair Tim Abell, at the ready.

 

A few of the great smiles after the Special People's Cruise.

Lighted Boat Parade Schedule - December 9 & 10

Friday, December 9

6:00 pm - Lake Union (start)
6:10 pm - Chandler's Cove
6:45 pm - Portage Bay (South)
7:00 pm - Webster Point
7:25 pm - Leshchi Park
7:30 pm - I-90 Bridge (West)
8:00 pm - East Channel
8:20 pm - Meydenbauer Bay
8:35 pm - Medina
9:00 pm - Webster Point(end)

Saturday, December 10

6:00 pm - Lake Union (start)
6:10 pm - Chandler's Cove
6:45 pm - Portage Bay (South)
7:00 pm - Webster Point
7:25 pm - Fairweather Bay
7:40 pm - Cozy Cove
8:00 pm - Carillon Point
8:10 pm - Kirkland
8:25 pm - Juanita
8:40 pm - Mathews Beach
9:00 pm - Sand Point
9:30 pm - Webster Point(end)

Men’s Book Group

At the last meeting, Author Erik Larson proved to be not only interesting, but very entertaining as well. For those of you who were not there, he answered a lot of questions about writing non-fiction, signed some books, but would not give us even a hint about the book which he is currently writing. All in all, it was a very enjoyable evening - sorry if you missed it.

We are skipping the December meeting to avoid the holidays, so there are over two months to read the next book, Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson before the Wednesday, January 4th 2006 meeting.

Other books and dates scheduled for next year are:

February 1st – Wednesday, Freakonomics, by Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner

March 7th – Tuesday, On Bullshit, by Harry G. Frankfurt

April 5th – Wednesday, Blink: the Power of Thinking without thinking, by Malcolm Gladwell

May 17th – Wednesday, Fire Flight, by John J. Nance

Get your Amateur Radio License!

Announcing a One-Day Class & Exam at SYC

Saturday - January 7, 2006

Sign up ends on December 10th for the January 7th class and license test. This will be a class and test in one day. Perfect incentive to go over the test questions and obtain a license

Did you know that you do not need to know the Morse code to get an Amateur Radio License? Join over 80 of your fellow SYC members and get your license before next summer’s cruising season. With a two meter Amateur Radio transceiver you can keep in touch with other members, listen in on weather and boating gossip, be prepared for possible emergency communication, connect with other boaters when out of cell phone range, and learn more about basic electronics which is useful for a better understanding of marine VHF and your boat’s electronics.

The cost of the class is $45 which includes the course book “Now You’re Talking,” by the ARRL and the exam. Sign up at the Front Desk by December 10th. Questions? Email Day Chapin, chapin@activesoft.net.

Sailboat Dinner

Thursday, January 12, 2006

6:30 Cocktails * 7:00 Dinner * 8:00 Program

Come and hear Jennifer Mantz tell about her year-long circumnavigation of the world aboard the barque Picton-Castle. She has a great story to tell with a professional CD courtesy of the Canadian Broadcast Corporation. The Picton-Castle is registered in the Cook Islands , in the South Pacific, and is owned and operated by the Windward Isles Sailing Ship Comany, Ltd. The ship's mission is deep-ocean sail training and long-distance education. Also, she carries supplies and educational materials to far-flung islands in the South Pacific. Her North American home port is Lunenburg , Nova Scotia.

The ship is a completely refitted barque that observes the rigorous standards of Germanischer Lloyds for steel-hulled Cape Horners . She is 179 feet overall, with riveted steel hull, clear oiled-pine decks, steel masts, and wooden and steel yards. She carries 12,450 square feet of canvas sail. The ship also has a powerful 690 hp Burmeister &Wain alpha diesel engine for occasions when sailing is not feasible. The galley is on deck, and its 1893 cook stove is similar to those used on commercial sailing ships 100 years ago.

There are berths for 40 sail trainees and 12 professional crewmembers. (Usually about half our trainees are men and half women. Their ages range from 18 to 60+, with the majority under 35.) Sleeping accommodations are bunk room style, in two tiers of pilot bunks. Bunks have curtains for privacy and individual reading lights.

The Picton-Castle is a true working tall ship. Sail trainees participate fully in the ship's operation: handling sails, scrubbing the deck, taking a turn at the wheel, raising anchor, hauling on lines, helping in the galley, going aloft (optional), and keeping lookout. There are training classes in seamanship and navigation, plenty of opportunities to learn square-rig sailing and, on the world voyages, to explore exotic tropical ports and islands.

For much more info go to: http://www.picton-castle.com/

– Chris Warner

NEW YEAR'S EVE AT PORT MADISON

For years there has been a small but noticeable group of boaters converging at the Fo’c’s’le for New Years Eve. It is probably best described as another “Non-Event Event”. Yes, there will be a winter-version of GreenBox. Yes, there will be boat-hopping. Yes, kids (of all ages) are welcome. Yes, there will be a fire a-blazing in the clubhouse. Yes, some will cook dinner in the clubhouse and potluck it. Yes, the BBQ’s will be available. There are even rumors of eye-openers on New Year’s Day.

With no event at the main clubhouse this year, Port Madison might be a good alternative for you and your family. Our policy dictates that members cannot shoot off fireworks, but every year neighbors in the bay give us a great show. The commute home after midnight is very short!

Join your SYC friends (and make some new ones) New Years at Port Madison. Check with Sally & Bob Munn, Bobbi & Bruce Campbell , Mildred & Skip Foss or Sue & Dick Haugan for the latest details.

Mini Cruise Schedule For 2006

OK boaters, here is the POWER/SAIL Mini Cruise schedule for 2006. A-Is are encouraged to attend; kids are welcome. If there are small craft warnings the event is cancelled.

Please call or email Chris Warner, 206-782-1277, panther@seanet.com if you plan to attend for planning purposes. This is classified semi-official non-event event which means there is no charge for TONS of fun and adventure.

• January 7th - Port Madison

• January 28th - Eagle Harbor

• March 18th - Gig Harbor

• April 29th - Port Ludlow

• May 20th - Poulsbo Viking Fest

Announcing

The Sunshine Coast Cruise EAST!

Pam Murray and Chris Warner have put together a Dalmatian Coast Cruise in Croatia for next May. We have two boats committed, a third reserved and more available.

We plan to leave from Split on May 20, and cruise the Croatia Islands to Dubrovnik where we disembark on May 27.

If you would be interested in learning more please contact Pam Murray or Jack Sullivan.