PSYC 2023 - Issue #11
Port Sydney Yacht Club 2023 - Issue #11: Finally, wind!
To all trophy holders please bring your trophies to the year-end party. If unable to attend, please bring your trophy this week.
Commodore's Corner
Edward Gledhill, Co-commodore
Ahoy, members!
Welcome to this week's issue of the Port Sydney Yacht Club newsletter. The season is 80% over, but with two races left and lots of fierce competition to come, the PSYC 2023 is still going strong.
The upcoming Saturday is my last here in 2023, and last week was my last Saturday with some very important volunteers.
Firstly, we said thank you to Tom, Nancy, and the whole Laurie family for running this year's crash boat, racing, and their wonderful photography which features in these newsletters. They have been a wonderful addition to the club and look forward to seeing them next year.
Finally, to the Johnsons (who, don't panic, will be at the year-end party to officially pass on the role of Commodore to the next team). I'd like to thank Ted for his expert help and guidance as Meteorologist and Sharon Vance for running the Committee Boat with such skill and efficiency. And to Stephanie Johnson, my Co-commodore, for all her help and counsel as we have navigated this year. The considered chats about weather forecasts, help with the newsletter, art, speech-making and organising do not go unnoticed! We are all extremely grateful for the Johnsons' many years of service.
See you on Saturday!
--EG ⚓
This Week
⛵ Race #9 will be held on Saturday, 26th August at 2:15pm, and a race note will be sent to sailors on Saturday morning.
Due to absences, Paul Johnson is kindly covering the Committee Boat this week, alongside Race Committee Officer Mary Ann Hand, and the Crash Boats will be run by Royden Ritz and Larry Onisto. Thank you, as always, to all regular and stand-in volunteers.
See you out there!
🎉 The Sailing Party this week will be hosted by Sue Tovee and Bill Lobb at Hilarity Hall (now with washroom facilities 🙂). Address: 1398 Muskoka Road 10. Some boat docking is available, in addition to ample car parking.
Nautical News
The Club wishes a very happy birthday to Tom Laurie Sr, this Saturday. We wish them all the best for their travels in the British Isles over the next few weeks. Many happy returns!
Fall race series: in previous years, a fall race series has been held following the official end of the season, during the first few weeks of September. Sailors have an email thread, so anyone with interest in racing this fall, please use the thread to organise it!
We were pleased to see an excellent turnout of PSYC members and friends at the Town of Huntsville's public consultation meeting on Pitman's Bay on Wednesday evening. Some key points are:
- one of the councillors mentioned that it was the largest turnout for a public meeting that they had seen in at leat a decade
- there was a resounding sentiment (including a hands-up vote, courtesy of John Hogg) that Pitman's Bay should not be sold or developed. This is good news for the maintenance of the lake's natural beauty.
- there is a clear view that the property should continue to be used for youth camps and events, as provided for under the original trust agreement
Year-end party update
Mark Beadle, Party co-ordinator
All we still need are a couple more bartenders. We are nearly there! A full list of volunteer sign-ups is published at the end of this email, as a reminder of what you have signed up for.
Please email Mark to volunteer, and e-transfer your $25 ticket fee to Elspeth Hogg, Treasurer.
Race #8 (19.8.23): A View from the rear of the fleet
Edward Gledhill, Co-commodore
This week's race saw some of the most favourable all year: windy and warm. A sailor's dream.
A crowded start line included Adam Gledhill, making his PSYC debut by windsurfer. We also welcomed Delfina Onisto in her first PSYC race, sailing her Tanzer 16 Overnighter.
It was an exciting race for all those who took part, with jockeying for position in earnest from the get-go, throughout the fleet. Owing to favourable conditions - not to mention expert helmsmanship - the race was compact and quick, as the below results attest to, with first and seventh places separated by just under 5 minutes.
Perhaps the most dramatic moment for me was rounding the gybe mark for the first time (in Daffodil, the Lauries' family boat) with crew Andrew Laurie in the bow. On the gybe, a sudden gust caught us unawares and heeled us hard to leeward, causing us to take on a not insignificant weight of water, crushing our dreams of a mid-fleet placement. Having (gracefully, of course) avoided a capsize, we finished the race, jockeying with the Lobb boat for seventh place.
The fleet was led by Gledhill/Tovee boat who managed to extend their lead during the final leg in front of the Hall/Dibble and Hogg boats. In a hard-fought tacking duel between the Johnson/Peden and Beadle boats, the former won out with just over thirty seconds between them and fifth place.
Thanks to all who participated, and especially to Sharon Vance, Mary Ann Hand, and Tom & Nancy Laurie for running the Committee/Crash Boats in another excellent race.
Race Results - Race #8
Sharon Vance & Mary Ann Hand, Race Committee
30.59 Orlando Gledhill and Sue Tovee
31.36 Warren Hall and Brad Dibble
32.44 John and Laura Hogg
33.33 Ted Johnson and Elizabeth Peden
34.03 Mark Beadle and Uncle Dan
35.13 John Douglas and Brent Holden
35.55 Edward Gledhill and Andrew Laurie
37.34 Bill Lobb and Mark Tovee
65.22 Delfina Onisto
Current standings: 2 races to go!
Hall (9)
Gledhill, O (13)
Hogg, J (16)
MacMurtry (20)
Johnson (24)
Lobb (34)
Beadle (38)
Douglas (43)
Gledhill, E (45)
Laurie (47)
Morgan, J (48)
Hogg, G (50)
Onisto (53)
Thanks for reading!
Photos this week are courtesy of Nancy Laurie.
Year-end party sign-up list
Pot Luck Appy/Salad
Mary Ann Hand
Carol Johnson
Sharon Vance
Janet Sheridan
Delfina Onisto
Gail Tabbitt
Joan Douglas
Jacqui Hall
Sandy Bevan
Elspeth Hogg
Pot Luck Dessert
Katherine Elphick
Stephanie Beadle
Sharon Vance
Mark Tovee
Bill Lobb
Sue Tovee
Nancy Ritz
Linda Kangas
Sue MacMurtry
Greg Crawford but only if it's Key Lime pie
Food
Chips
Michell Reive
Hamburgers 60-70, hot dogs 25-30, condiments, etc
Katherine Sheridan/Brian Howell
Corn 70-80
Sharon Vance
Bar
Booze
Doug Golding
Pop
Bruce Hay
Lemon/Lime
Stephanie Beadle
Ice (5 bags)
Dean McMurtry
Bartenders (30 min shifts)
Brad Dibble
Katherine Elphick
Sue T.
Dean
Sharon Vance
(We Need More Bartenders!!!)
Ping Pong Tourney
Andrew Douglas
Cook Corn
John Douglas Jr.
BBQ masters
Larry Onisto
Peter Tabbit
Mark Beadle
***please bring your own flippers and tongs***
Ping Pong Tables
Warren Hall
Corn Pot
Paul Johnson
Burner
Doug Golding
Propane
Ted Johnson
Plates/cutlery/cups
Sharon Vance
Corn Shuckers
Defina Onisto
Nathan and Charlie Douglas
Stephanie Johnson
BBQ rental
Doug Golding
Hall Set up
Stephanie B
Katherine E
Steph Johnson
Royden Ritz
Hall Takedown
Anyone not on this list