From the Helm

Semper Parartus is the US Coast Guard motto that translates as Always Ready. A good idea for anyone going to sea or out on the Bay. Two weeks ago, Joe Morgan and I set out to sail on one of the club’s keel boats, Tranquility Bay. She is a very nice Island 30’ Bahamas. Joe had her moved from the boat yard at Severn River Marina and tied up at the marina’s inner pier. He texted me to get a battery jump box. Not a good sign. Short story long, it took us several attempts and a change of battery but we slipped the moorings about an hour and a half later into what looked like a nice day but promised gusts to 29. By the time we passed the mouth of Severn, about when I asked Joe about turning into the wind with 4 foot seas abeam, the weather turned sporty. We had all the safety equipment, redundant radios, foul weather gear and food. Joe is an excellent teacher and calm under sail. If you’re interested in learning to sail or getting better at sailing the keel boats, Joe, Jim Garrett, Scott Titus and Mike Mastracci run a great adult sailing program.

Semper Paratus is a good idea for the club. We have a wonderful facility but like all things near the water, the club requires constant maintenance. We had a good turnout for the work day in April and we look forward to showing off the club at Flag Raising on May 7. However, like the USCG, we have to be always ready to work on the club to maintain the pier, the bulkhead, ramp, club house, bath house, apartment, boats and sail loft. We need your hands and hearts to help and we need your money. The three big items are annually replacing sections of the pier, renovating the tennis court and the shoring up the bulkhead by the ramp. The pier is on budget and proceeding very nicely. Thank you Gary Hermanson, buildings and grounds. The tennis court will only work through a private fund raising operation similar to what Jim Garrett did for the keel boats. Jane Wilson and Pam Marthinson agreed to head up this committee. Please take their calls and give generously. The bulkhead will require careful budgeting. We may find it more expedient to borrow money for these projects but we should look to the membership before we look to a bank. We had debt in the past and managed it quite well. Outside of dues, apartment rental and club rental, we have very little additional income. Junior Sailing pays for itself but we do not end up with a surplus that can handle these capital projects.

Autumn Taylor is working on some extra projects for activities for everyone to enjoy at the Club. Look for emails in the near future for events.

March 26, 2022 Work Day

According to the Beaufort Wind scale at 22-27 knots of wind speed, large tree branches move, telephone wires begin to “whistle”, umbrellas are difficult to keep under control, larger waves form, whitecaps are prevalent as is spray. It was blowing hard straight out the west at the Club on Saturday March 26 but we got a lot of work completed.

Fleet Captain Jim Garrett mustered a hearty crew to clean out, inventory and repair the many spars, bits and pieces in the sail loft and in the boat yard. David Waldman and Erich “Mouse” Marse dove in head first sorting and marking equipment. Full sets of equipment for each boat are now in the sail loft and spare parts are in the Junior Sailing Office. New members Alyssa Adams and Jeanne Brooks, along with Beve Hermanson, Bill Brown and Dave Brown arrived early, stayed late and were a big help in the sail loft. Joe Morgan, Scott Titus, Mike Mastracci and Steve Humphrey made repairs to boats.

From the helm in the kitchen, Jane Smith got the team moving with Gerilynn Marse, Pam Marthinson and Jane Wilson cleaning and polishing the trophies, cases, kitchen cabinets and under counter cabinets and sorting all the chaffing dishes and pots and pans. Talk about shipshape! We kept Kirby Smith on the run fetching supplies. Gary Cuccia single handedly cleaned the grills and ceiling fans. Ian Palmer tackled the screened porch, shelves, tables, chairs and floors. Gary had such a good time, he helped in the boat yard. Matt Marthinson braved the gale winds, took to the roof and cleaned off all the tree and leaf debris with the help of Joe Morgan’s leaf blower, cleaned up the grounds and helped in the sail loft.

Now hear this. Good news from the helm. We will have more workdays.

Fair Winds and following seas.

John A. Singleton
Commodore
john@gibsonsingleton.com