DATES TO REMEMBER

Greetings to all,

Our annual Commissioning Day was held on Saturday June 1, 2024. This was an incredible event, from the gorgeous weather, great attendance, delicious food and a fabulous band to listen and dance to. Over 350 members, family and guest were in attendance. We again located the tent to the west end of the parking lot so we could hold the actual ceremony outside at the flagpole. The food prepared by our own Chef Tim and his staff was incredible and plentiful. My favorite was still the lobster bisque. Several Dignitaries were in attendance including Tom Gibson-President, the Seamen’s Church Institute, Jill Skeet-Vice Commodore Coaster’s Harbor Navy Yacht Club, Veronica Brown-Rear Commodore Ida Lewis Yacht Club and from across the “pond” Chris Arscott- Commodore Royal Western Yacht Club of Plymouth England. Chris is here to welcome and congratulate the Ostar, Twostar racers who sailed 3,000 miles from Plymouth England to Newport R.I..  Also in attendance was the majority of our Board of Directors and 12 Past Commodores. 

Many thanks to Rudy, Lynn, Laura Dargan, Diane Stewart, the Entertainment Committee and our entire staff for their hard work and enthusiasm. 

Our club is fully operational and is looking great Thanks again to our entire staff.

Wishing you a safe and enjoyable summer

Best to you and yours,

Bob & Rosalie 

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

Blood Drive Thank You!

The Rhode Island Blood Center thanks the Newport Yacht Club for supporting its blood drive. Thirteen donors have helped ensure that up to 39 lives may be saved!

FLEET CAPTAIN NEWS

Join us for an afternoon of camaraderie on the water at Dutch Harbor on Saturday June 29^th.

Meet up around 1:00 pm. Tow your dingy or other watercraft and go boat to boat to visit your fellow Club members. BYOB and hors d’oeuvres to share. Stay  for the day or overnight. Make arrangements with Dutch Harbor Boat Yard for moorings dutchharborboatyard.com 

Let me know you are coming!

Dennis Ferreira, Fleet Captain Email Gallop1958@gmail.com

MEMBER SURVEY- PLEASE TAKE NOW!

Members, your active participation in surveys really helps get your voice heard! It is time to recruit a new slate of Flag Officers (Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore). These are not ceremonial roles. Flag Officers are integral to Club governance. Whether or not you want to be considered, please complete a brief survey on Flag Officers. Remember, we are a volunteer run Club and need the active engagement of our members in all aspects of leadership. Here is the survey link:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GZ29PBY

JUNIOR SAILING KUDOS

There are many examples of the positive impact of our Junior Sailing Program. Here is one example, from an email I received last week from a person who had participated in the NYC Junior Sailing Program.  

“Hi there! I’d love to sponsor a scholarship for a junior. I’m guessing it may be too late to do it this year, but please let me know what I can do. NYC junior program changed my life and I’d love to pay it back to a kiddo who can’t afford it.”

Pretty powerful.  Our program can make a difference in young people’s lives providing life-long skills, confidence and sometimes a life changing experience. We are very proud to be able to provide a sailing experience to 128 kids each summer. Yes, there are challenges, hiring instructors, maintaining the fleet and soliciting donations so kids who can’t afford it, have an opportunity to experience the program. But in the end receiving an email like the one above makes it all worth it. 

We are happy to report that this year we’ve provided 14 scholarships!  A BIG thanks to those members who generously support our program.  We should all be proud of the good the NYC Junior Sailing Program can do.  

Junior Sailing Committee, Michael Barszcz Chair

GOLD STAR SAILING YOUTH PROGRAM RETURNS!

The Newport Yacht Club is once again welcoming the Gold Star Sailing Youth Program to the Club. Our members provide time, boats and more to help make this event a success. The camp begins the last week in July this year. On Monday, July 29th NYC Big Boat Captains will volunteer to host the annual afternoon sail in and around Newport Harbor. Then on Tuesday, July 30th, NYC will host a BBQ Dinner on the lower deck with the Club Flag Officers, the Mayor of Newport and Coast Guard Station Newport in attendance.

 Gold Star Sailing (GSS) is a 501-C-3  non-profit, volunteer-based organization  dedicated to providing unique opportunities and adventures to the  surviving children of fallen military service members in order to  instill self-confidence, build character, teach teamwork, develop  leadership, and promote healing in a positive environment of hope,  adventure and friendship.  

Additional details and the ability to make donations can be obtained via their website: https://goldstarsailing.org/

Please let me know if you have questions.

Sharon McGinnis  m: 401-662-3928

NOMINATING COMMITTEE CALL TO ACTION

Calling All Active Members! Newport Yacht Club Needs You!

The Newport Yacht Club thrives on the dedication of its members. To ensure another exciting season filled with vibrant events and seamless operations, we’re actively seeking volunteers to join our dedicated committees.

Whether your passion lies in organizing social gatherings, contributing to race management, or shaping the club’s future as a Flag Officer, there’s a committee perfectly suited for your talents and interests. By lending your expertise, you’ll directly contribute to a thriving club community and a memorable season for all. Here is a brief overview of our committees and the areas they cover:

Entertainment Committee:

The Entertainment Committee is seeking enthusiastic volunteers to help plan and execute exciting events for the upcoming season. Whether you have a knack for organizing socials, a passion for live music, or simply enjoy bringing people together, your talents are needed! By joining the committee, you’ll play a key role in creating a calendar of memorable events that will keep the yacht club buzzing with activity.

House Committee: Work with NYC staff to plan and contribute to the maintenance and improvement of our club’s facilities, ensuring they remain in top-notch condition.

Racing – Frostbite, Offshore, and Regatta Committees: Get involved in organizing and overseeing regattas, races, and other competitive sailing events, both within and beyond our club.

Membership Committee: Play a vital role in attracting and retaining members by developing innovative strategies, organizing open house events, and promoting the benefits of club membership.

Young Adult Committee: Join in the effort to promote programs and activities designed for young adult members and families.

Junior Activities Committee: Assist in the development and support of our young sailors, helping to nurture their skills, confidence, and love for the sport.

Float & Dock Committee: Help plan improvements and maintain our dockage and marina facilities. Work with our summer dock staff to ensure members and visitors receive top notch service.

Communication Committee: Get involved with the Club’s various communication channels, including e-news, website, social media and more. Technical skill as wells as ability to write, take photos and more are welcome. This is an important role for keeping members informed!

Flag Officers: The Newport Yacht Club is seeking passionate leaders to consider stepping up to serve as Flag Officers. Do you have a vision for the club’s future? Are you excited to contribute your skills and experience to guide us towards a vibrant and successful season? Flag Officers play a crucial role in shaping the club’s direction, overseeing operations, and fostering a strong sense of community. Please let us know if you’re ready to take the helm and make a difference!

Your participation will not only enrich your own Newport Yacht Club experience but also contribute to the vibrant and inclusive community we have built together. Let’s continue to make Newport Yacht Club the premier destination for sailing, camaraderie, and lifelong memories. Your passion and expertise are essential in shaping the future of our beloved club. We look forward to your involvement!

If you are interested in volunteering for a committee or would like more information, please reply to: nominations@newportyachtclub.org

REGATTA COMMITTEE

Our season started on May 18 with the 20hundred Club Three Bridge Fiasco race on a rather gloomy and rough morning.  After a 7:00am start, Volunteer ploughed her way to just south of Prudence Island, where we lurked in the gloom waiting for our initially non-existent clients.  One by one however they appeared for their timely starts, and with great enthusiasm headed one way or another over the start line.  One came so close to us that we could have actually touched the spinnaker.

The Mitchell race to Block Island was our next, started at a more civilized time and much closer to home and in very light winds, and now we’re in full swing with our Tuesday and Wednesday evening races.  There are about 45 boats registered for racing on both nights and we’ve been kept on our toes with unexpected events, such as a general recall of the J22 fleet start this week.  We did manage to find the correct flag just in time, blasted out the warning and radioed the recall, and it emphasized the need for quick reactions and thorough knowledge.  In support of this we’ll be providing on the water training sessions in all aspects of Race Committee work from boat handling to Principal Race Officer tasks and plan to send out an email with proposed training dates and times.    It would be helpful if you could let us know your interest in advance by dropping a line to our email at regatta@newportyachtclub.org.  Please also remember that on the job training is normal for us and we’ll be happy to show you how to wave flags or record results with the experts as the races actually happen, and there are still slots available for Race Committee crew.

Alan Renfrew Chair, Regatta Committee