DATES TO REMEMBER

Greetings Fellow Yacht Club Members,

March is Irish Heritage Month.  The St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held on Saturday the 12^th after skipping two years due to the pandemic.  The Galley served a traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner with Pea Soup and Irish Soda Bread and members came to warm up after the parade.

As part of this month-long celebration, Delegates from our Sister City, Kinsale, enjoyed camaraderie, good food and spirits, as guests of Mayor Napolitano on our Main Deck March 3^rd.  Rear Commodore, Mike O’Reilly, was on hand to welcome them and exchanged gifts with Commodore Helstern of the Kinsale Yacht Club.  Thanks Mike!

The Club is busy getting ready for the 2022 boating season and has lots in store for our members.  Easter Brunch and Opening Day are well into the planning stages.  Racing, Boating Safety Classes and inspections, are just a few of the upcoming events so stay tuned. 

Have a great Spring!  Hope to see you at the Club.

Betsy Green

Commodore

Newport Yacht Club 

COMMUNITY SPIRIT: OUR SEASON OF SAFETY

Each year, we see more and more new boaters on the water. And, more boating traffic than ever. Along with that has unfortunately come more mishaps involving both boats and paddlecraft. The Newport Yacht Club can serve as a beacon of safety. Our 2022 Season of Safety activities will include:

• Boating and paddlecraft safety classes/certifications
• Coast Guard Vessel Safety Checks
• Educational Events and Media
• Expired Flare Collection Day

Many of these activities will be open to the community. Special thanks to General Manager Rudy Borgueta and Dockmaster Dani Janas for their support. We appreciate the collaboration with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, DEM, the Newport Harbormaster and the Better Bay Alliance and others in the promotion of boating safety. We thank our members who belong to these organizations, and all who volunteer! Each and every member can set the example of boating safety when they are out on the water. Thank you for leading the way to a safer season!

SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS

The Club is very grateful for those who choose to advertise in the Burgee. Many of our advertisers are Club members. The fee they pay to advertise supports your Club’s mission. Please thank them with your patronage.

• Automotive Profit Builders
• Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage/Janet Bottiglieri
• Crystal Spring Water
• Gustave White/Sotheby’s Christina West, Paul Leys
• Keller Williams Newport/Debra Torres
• Maritime Solutions
• Newport Nautical Supply
• Phil’s Propane
• Teri Degnan Real Estate

FLOAT AND DOCK

The season is here. Please note the following dates of interest.

Dates of Interest

March, second Thursday:  Limited transient slips opens.

March, third week:  Electric hoist in service.

April 1:  Final payment for all slips, dinghy and kayak/PB rack and small boat corral due.

Advanced member transient slip reservations period begins.

April 9:  Dock Day, marina prepared for summer season.

April 30:      Winter slips terminate.All dinghies and paddle boards not staying in leased rack spaces must       be removed.

May 1:        Summer slips open. Limited launch service begins.

May, third Saturday:  Regular launch service begins.

Friday before Memorial Day:  Transient rate increase to summer rates.

June 30:  Dead line for 50% refund of slip fee and slip termination.

September, third Monday:  Transient rates decrease from summer rates.

October, second Tuesday:  Launch service reduced.

October 31:  End of Summer slip season, launch service terminates.

OFFSHORE COMMITTEE

We held the Bermuda One-Two Skippers’ Forum/Party on 5 March. Julianna Barbieri from 11^th Hour Racing mentioned that this year’s Atlantic Cup will include a PHRF class in the last leg Newport to Portland, ME.  Joe Cooper announced that he and Quantum are sponsors for this and next year for the Newport Yacht Club offshore races.  Roy Guay announced that the New England ShortHanded Ocean Racing Trophy will be awarded this year to the skipper/boat that does the best in the combination of the Offshore 160 (which is singlehanded) and doublehanded in the New England Solo/Twin races. 

After introductions by all which included NYC members Kristen Wenzel and David Wilson (who hopes to do the Offshore 160 this year in his new boat), Fred Cosandey (a Bermuda One-Two skipper who has done many of the races) gave a well-accepted talk on Lithium-ion batteries since they are getting more popular in the marine world and have received plenty of publicity with respect to fires.  Anyone interested in potentially using Lithium-ion batteries on their boat may want to take a look at his notes for this talk.

About twenty people participated and Caryn Cummings and crew Jody Sullivan and Jim Oblinger provided more than enough great food for the crowd.  Plenty of gabbing was held both before and after the meeting.  These meetings are a wonderful opportunity for anyone interested in shorthanded sailing to get information from experienced skippers and make contacts. The next one is scheduled for 5 November.

Offshore Committee,

Roy Guay Chair, Ted Singsen, Kristen Wenzel

REGATTA COMMITTEE

The Mitchell Race Notice of Race and online registration are posted on the Club website. 

The Race will be held during the Memorial Day weekend with racers starting off of Rose Island arriving off New Harbor Block Island. 

The Tuesday Night One Design Series and Wednesday Night PHRF Series begins 30 May and 31 May respectively. Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions will be available by the end of the month. 

The Regatta Committee will hold two “Best Practices “ discussion nights for Race Committee volunteers to review and discuss NYC race committee and Southern Narragansett Bay operations. The dates are Thursday April 21 and Thursday May 12 at 6:00pm on the Main Deck of the club. IF YOU WISH TO VOLUNTEER OR PARTICIPATE THIS SEASON, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ATTEND. 

F.J. Ritt Chair, Regatta Committee

ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE

Sorry you missed it!! 42 members attended the Mardi Gras Party that was held on a sunny February afternoon. There was live music by Paula Clare, Pour Judgement’s famous jambalaya, and King Cakes donated by club member/owner of the “French Confection.” Add to this Melissa’s specialty “Hurricane” drinks…that put us all in high spirits! A swinging time was enjoyed all around.

Entertainment Events Coming Up

March: Spring Raffle filled with delightful goodies

May 12:  BYO Grill Night and DJ music

June 4: Opening Day Gala

Summer Ideas in the Works:

• Food Truck Treats
• Raw Bar Cocktail Party

Happy Easter!!

Yvonne Ferreira, Chip Swanson and Linda Lupo