2015 Commodore's Greeting
/Commodore’s Greeting
2015
The countdown to summer is on! Three short months to the start of programs!
The summer of 2014 was marked by increased demand for sailing and tennis instruction. The record number of Junior Sailors resulted in heavy use of our boats and we continue to replace aging boats with new ones, to ensure safety and competitiveness. We will be adding a new, intermediate double-handed boat, the "FEVA", to our fleet of 29ers, 420’s, Laser 2’s Optis and Echos. We hope this will expose those on the cusp of joining the Race Team to an easy-to-sail but competitive boat. An exciting new program for 2015 is Adult Learn-to-Sail, which will be taught by our Sail Canada certified instructors. SLYC will again host the Cottage Club Regatta this summer, and we anticipate participation by approximately 90 young sailors. The sight of nearly 50 boats competing will be soul stirring!
The SLYC golf tournament has been a crucial source of revenue for new boat purchases for nearly 15 years. David Newton has taken on the role of coordinating this event at a new venue-Wildfire. Volunteers are needed to form a committee which will be charged with organizing this critical event. A special appeal goes out to the parents of our Junior Sailors to step up and help make the tournament a success, either as a committee member and/or as a participant or sponsor. If you are willing to help, please contact me or David (mailto:dcnewton60@gmail.com).
The highlight of last summer’s tennis season was the opening of Court 3 in late July. The third court will ease demand created by strong participation in programs, and allow our members access to more free play. Look for a new plaque courtside to recognize the many donors who made construction of the court possible. We will continue to seek Canadian Head and Assistant Head pros.
Concerns about the deteriorating state of the Yacht Club docks, Clubhouse and the Juniper Island Store prompted discussions between SLYC and ASLC and resulted in a decision to approach infrastructure needs jointly. At the 2014 AGM the Board received a strong mandate to explore means of addressing these concerns. We are therefore proud to be mounting the "Juniper Island Next Generation" fundraising campaign with ASLC. The funds raised will ensure that our Island community, the heart of the Lake, remains a strong focal point for us and for generations to come, allowing continued participation in the many programs and community events that the Island hosts. Information regarding this vital project will be distributed in April and it is essential that the whole community supports this initiative. All contributions will be deeply appreciated.
Our social events continue to bring members together. Main events in 2015 will be the August long weekend Social and the blowout end-of-season Sailors Dinner/Dance which will again feature a lower price for young adult members. Please note that the date of the Dinner has been moved up to August 22, to be more inclusive of membership. We also hope to build on the success of last summer’s inaugural euchre afternoon – watch for the date.
Weekend racing is a long-standing tradition at SLYC. We would love to see sailors of all ages and abilities out on the race course. First gun is usually at 1:30 PM Saturdays and Sundays. Two adult learn-to-race clinics will again be held with the dates to be announced.
In an effort to remain responsive to the needs of our membership, and to guide future strategic direction for the Club, the Board will be distributing a survey in May. Please take 10 minutes to complete it and provide comments. All suggestions will be considered!
We are very proud of the strong ISAF results posted by two of our alumni, Tom Ramshaw and Matthew Ryder, as they compete with the Canadian National team. For up-to-date news, go to http://www.sailing.org/worldcup/results/ and click on “Laser Men”.
On-line registration and simplified membership categories have made access to programs easier for individuals and families. Check out the website http://www.slyc.ca for periodic newsletters keeping all abreast of new programs, important dates and upcoming events. In particular, note that the date of the AGM will be August 22, the same day as the Sailors’ Dinner. For further information or if you have questions, concerns or suggestions, feel free to contact me (heinej@shaw.ca) or any SLYC Director.
See you all out on the Lake!
John Heine
Commodore
Stony Lake Yacht Club
