High Tidings April 2025

Upcoming Events

• 4/12 Saturday, 9:00 AM - Spring Work Day, Grounds and Clubhouse cleanup

• 4/19 Saturday, 9:00 AM - Rain Date, Spring Work Day

• 4/19 Saturday, 4:00-6:00 PM - Cruise planning meeting at the Clubhouse

• 5/10 Saturday, 4:00 PM - Annual Spring Meeting

• 5/10 Saturday, 5:00 PM - Commissioning

• 5/16 Friday, 6:00 PM - Cinco de Mayo

• 5/24-26, Memorial Day Mini-Cruise

• 5/31 Saturday, 10:00 AM - New Member Event

Commodore Remarks

Spring is the time of the year when it is summer in the sun and winter in the shade.

Charles Dickens 

It is that time of year again where we spend time getting the club ready for the season. Please consider volunteering your time and talents on Saturday morning, April 12th, for our Club Cleanup Day.  You can find a link to the signup at the end of these remarks. There are tasks for everyone! Whether you like to work inside or outside, we have something for you!  Please sign up for a task or two! The clean up day is scheduled from 9-12, and everyone will tell you that it is a lot of fun

While one group has been preparing for the club opening and commissioning, the activities committee has been busy putting together events to fill the season. Some old and some new activities are on the calendar, with one or two major events each month. Volunteers are always needed for set-up and for clean-up which is another great way to give back to the club. Please talk to Activities Chair, Melissa Clark about volunteering for one of these tasks.

Chris Griffin, our fleet captain, will be hosting a meeting interested boaters on April 19th  at the clubhouse to plan several mini cruises and to plan the longer August club cruise. Everyone is welcome to attend the meetings. As an aside, the casual means of communication among the boaters is through the Discord app. Talk with Chris or anyone who is already on the club Discord channel to receive an invitation to join. Impromptu gatherings popped up this winter and it was fun to see who showed up. Chris is looking for ideas for summer trips and is open to suggestions.

A reminder-please get your mooring ready to launch. If it is tagged by Scott Mitchell, NCYC Harbormaster, it means you have work to do before it can go in the water.

The junior sailing committee is still searching for a coach boat. Please let them know if you have any leads. Junior sailing signups are coming in and the instructor slate has been filled. Amy Vinciguerra is also working on the Outer Light Race and dinner which has been moved up from July to June this year.

Our club calendar is online and up to date. Jon Mason has done a fantastic job with dates, times, accessibility, and ease of downloading.

As always, I’m looking forward to being back at the club,

Linda Tuzzio, Commodore

Vice Commodore Remarks

While I’m not much of a gardener, for the last decade, my son Ian and I have marked the arrival of spring with the blooming of our small patch of crocuses. These flowers signify the start of lacrosse season (huge in our house) and boat prep season (received slightly less enthusiastically.) This tradition continued through his college years and beyond. I've already shared my annual crocus-blooming photo with him, which means SPRING IS HERE!

With spring upon us, we’re eagerly looking forward to officially opening the club for the season and seeing everyone back at the club. 

Club Spring Workday - April 12: Our next event is the Club Spring Workday. This year, we don’t have any major indoor projects planned, but we need your help readying the inside and grounds of the club for the season. Your participation is invaluable in ensuring everything runs smoothly. Sign up on the link, or just show up! 

Spring Meeting and Commissioning - May 10: Mark your calendars for our Spring Meeting and Commissioning on May 10. This is a special event to kick off the new boating season. Also, the NCYC website calendar has been updated for the 2025 season, so you can check it to find out what is happening when.

Junior Sailing Program Sign-Ups: Act quickly if you haven’t signed up your child, grandchild, or other relative yet. There are still a few spots available. Cathy Murphy, Kathy Reddington, Jennie Enman, or Amy Vinciguerra are on hand to answer any questions. 

Membership Photo Board: Our new Membership Photo Board is getting ready for its debut. If you haven’t already had your picture taken, please send a 4x6 photo of you/your family to Nicole Bouvier (npilon@binsurance.com) at your earliest convenience. This will help us create a great visual display of our club community.

Thank you all for your continued support and enthusiasm. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the upcoming events and for another exciting season on the water!

Happy Spring!

Melissa Mason, Vice Commodore

Rear Commodore Remarks

I hope everyone enjoyed the April Fools issue of High Tidings! A huge thank you to everyone who made it such a great issue and such fun to work on!

Outside work on the club will jump start on Spring Work Day, April 12 (rain date April 19) when we will bring all the boats that were stored in the clubhouse outside, paint the bottoms of the club boats, rake and generally tidy up the grounds, haul out the gas grills, clear out the trench on the north side to keep our parking lot from flooding, etc. Please sign up for a job on the link provided after the Commodore Remarks, or just show up!

Some work has already begun: David Chan has graded the existing gravel on the parking lot with one of his many motorized machines and new gravel has been delivered and spread around the parking lot by Lou Vinciguerra, David Miller, and David Chan. Our parking lot will look fabulous for this new season. Thank you, guys!

Two other jobs that it would be nice to get done–preferably before Commissioning on May 10–are scraping and painting the kitchen entryway steps, and putting another coat of stain on the front stairway leading up to the entrance of the club. If anyone is interested, please contact me at debrasachs247@gmail.com. Thank you!

A reminder to members who are getting their moorings in order: please be vigilant about NOT leaving any seizing wire on the gravel. Jr. sailors (and members) are sometimes barefoot in the bulkhead area and bits of seizing wire could cause injuries.

I’m looking forward to another fun season at the club filled with comraderie and fine boating!

Deb Paulson, Rear Commodore

Membership

Membership

Please welcome to NCYC Membership Greg Toto; and Ryan and Marissa Downey and their children Rouke (10 years) and Finn (8 Years).

As the days get a little longer and the weather a bit warmer, we all start thinking about the water and boats! If you know anyone interested in NCYC Membership, send me their email and I will reach out to them.   The Membership Committee will be holding events during the Spring Cleanup and the Commissioning. 

Caroline Miller, Membership Chair

Jr. Sailing

The North Cove Yacht Club Junior Sailing Program is gearing up for another fantastic summer on the water. Under the leadership of Amy Vinciguerra, Program Director, and Alex Beauchene, Head Instructor, our team of talented and experienced instructors is ready to welcome a new wave of young sailors.

This year, we are especially excited to welcome Felix Zapf as our newest junior sailing instructor. Felix is a true North Cove success story—he sailed in our junior program from 2016 to 2022, served as a junior instructor in 2023 and 2024, and has been a varsity sailor at his local high school since his freshman year, now leading his team as captain. With his deep experience and enthusiasm for the sport, Felix will be a fantastic addition to our instructional team.

If you’re thinking about enrolling a family member or know someone who might be interested in junior sailing, don’t wait—spots are filling up fast. We still have openings in our Opti and 420 class. You can enroll on the club web page under Junior Sailing.

We Need Your Help!

•      Boat Search Underway – Our dedicated members are actively looking for a committee coach boat that will best suit our needs for the season. If you have any leads or suggestions, please reach out to Kathy Reddington or Amy Vinciguerra.

•      Be a Duty Officer – Want to get involved and support the next generation of sailors? Sign up to be a Duty Officer! These are half-day or full-day positions, and you’ll be on hand to assist students who need support. It’s a fun and rewarding way to contribute to the program and be part of the action. Look for the sign up in future emails.

•      Calling Future Junior Instructors! – Are you a young sailor interested in gaining leadership experience and helping others learn the sport you love? We are looking for volunteers to join our Junior Instructor program! To apply, you must be at least 14 years old and have achieved the rank of Skipper 1 or have equivalent experience. Applications are available on the club website under Junior Sailing.

We can’t wait for another fun, action-packed summer at North Cove. Thank you for your support in making our Junior Sailing Program a success. See you on the water! ⛵

Grounds

Spring is here, and the Grounds Committee has been hard at work preparing the club for another great year. David Chan, David Miller, and Lou Vinciguerra have been grading and enhancing our parking lot with fresh stone, making it more welcoming and easier to navigate.

As the days grow warmer, the gardens are beginning to wake up. Our perennials are making their return, and we’re getting ready to add vibrant annuals to bring even more color to the club.

One significant change you may notice is the absence of the cherry tree in front of the clubhouse. Last fall, during our annual cleanup, we made the difficult decision to remove it. The tree had been slowly declining for years, losing limbs and showing signs of distress. After consulting with experienced gardeners and an arborist, it became clear that it was time to take it down. While we will miss its presence, we are looking at options for a new feature in its place—something that will enhance the garden and create a warm welcome at the club’s entrance.

With all these exciting changes, we need your help! Maintaining our beautiful grounds is a team effort, and we invite all members to join us. Cleanup Day is scheduled for April 12 and we’ll be tackling garden beds, clipping bushes, and spreading fresh mulch. It’s a great way to get outside, enjoy the company of fellow members, and take pride in our club’s appearance.

We hope to see many of you there—bring your gloves, pruners, and enthusiasm for a little gardening fun!

Thursday Night Racing

Some thoughts by High Tidings Cub Reporter, Joe Carroll

Today is Sunday March 30, 2025. Here in Old Saybrook it is a cold, raw, and overcast day with a drizzle spitting down on all creatures big and small, including me. Since it is a day off from work, I traveled to Cove Landing Boatyard on Hamburg Cove to visit my boat Madaket and also to visit my friend Sharon who lives next door to the boatyard. 

Madaket has been “on the hard” over the winter in Cove Landing Boat Yard. I climbed onto the boat for the first time since October, and found that a piece of wood supporting the shrink wrap over the cabin top had collapsed. The shrink wrap was formed into a big bowl where a pond of water had collected. There was probably 100 gallons of water in this shrink wrap bowl, and the cover was not budging because of the 700-800 lbs of water weight. So, I took a pair of scissors, and pierced the cover to allow the water to drain out of the shrink wrap, and eventually onto the ground. However, I got caught in the river streaming off the cabin top, and was soaked.

This did not deter me from entering the cabin of the boat, and photographing the projects that I want to plan for in support of summer sailing. After all, there was an ongoing sale at Defender Marine, and I needed to get over there with my list of items to purchase at a 5% discount. But first, Sharon insisted on putting my wet clothes in her clothes dryer so that I was not slogging around her house and Defender all wet. Plus, the drying time would give her a chance to prepare lunch for me, which she did, clad in a way-oversized Brooks Brothers shirt that I believe once occupied space in my bedroom closet (back in Old Saybrook).  

While waiting for my clothes to dry I looked down into the boatyard from Sharon’s heated porch. I reflected on sailing. Although it was a “raw” day, the boatyard was busy, and several yachtsmen were in the small yard working on their boats. They are an industrious bunch of people. Also they are very helpful to each other.

What is it about sailing that encourages this “do it yourself” way of maintaining one’s boat? Boatyard fees?

Perhaps, but I believe that sailing encourages resourcefulness, a sense of balance, endurance, sharp powers of observation, courage, and independence. All of the above are needed in order to get one’s boat ready for launching, and to keep it operating.

The thrill of having the responsibility for managing a boat is a real one, and is taken seriously by sailors and motor boaters alike.

What are the rewards of sailing? How about meeting fascinating people with genuine affection for their yacht clubs, for their fleets, for their sailing companions, and rivals, and, most of all, for their sport and hobby-sailing.

Also, the reward of fleeing desks, conference tables, and easy chairs to grasp a tiller or wheel, and hoisting a sail in an effort to make personal history on Long Island Sound.

Sailors experience a comparatively noiseless world where one listens for the wind, and concentrates on keeping the sail full of wind, and the hull swiftly moving in a favorable tide.

At the NCYC Thursday night starting line, other freshly groomed scraped, wet sanded, and painted hulls make their cannon salutes to one another, and await the starting gun. 

Normally, the NCYC racers have a steady sea breeze out of the southwest, with temperature differentials between the land and the water affecting the wind and currents. Some old salts are experts in reading the wind and current, and it is great to have them on your boat-even for just one night.

Last summer I had a highly experienced racer: 90-year-old Jack Lombard crewing for me. On Saturday March 29, his family had a birthday party for Jack. At the well-attended party, Jack regaled us with sea stories of racing with Arthur Knapp Jr., Cornelius Shields, Jr & Sr; Bus Mosbacher, Buddy Melges, Clinton Bell, and NCYC Past Commodore, the late Ron Sternicki–all great sailors. Jack also talked about sailing on the J-boat “Ranger” as a young lad. Even though he had a lot of great sailing experiences, Jack spoke at length of his sadness witnessing the sinking of Dorian last summer in the Cross Sound Challenge. Also, he spoke about the excitement of the race itself, and how we, on Madaket were on our way to glory–had Dorian not sunk.

Listening to Jack, it became obvious that we sailors fill our lives with great memories; sailing memories that we can discuss at length with others when we get to be old, really old rum-sipping sailors.

It’s time for me to get to the Defender sale. I need a new halyard, new parts for my anemometer, a new pump for my marine toilet, new rubber parts for my cockpit mounted manual bilge pump, new fittings for my sanitary tank. All to be charged on my Visa card.

I hope that everyone is getting excited about this summer’s NCYC and boating activities.

See you soon at the club, and on the water.

Outer Light Regatta

The dates for NCYC’s Regatta have changed! The race is being held Sunday, June 22 in order to keep it on the same weekend as the Essex Rum Challenge.

Activities

Winter Events Recap

Thank you to all who turned out for our first event of the year, Post New Year Eve party at High Nine Brewery.  Didn’t I tell you this place was adorable?!?  And with the bonus of games and dancing to a LIVE BAND, everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves.  We had a great turnout from long-time members to potentially new members.  And even with the limited table space we had way more food than we could all eat!  I enjoy these winter gatherings to refresh friendships that get sort of “set aside” during the holiday season when the focus is on family.  And for me, it’s so nice to talk boats again with like-minded people. 

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves!  We still have a few months yet.  That being said, our next event was at Hamburg Cove Yacht Club.  Sharon Tracy graciously offered to host a Sadie Hawkins Day Sock Hop Mingle with the members of both clubs Feb 7th.  I know this was out of some of your comfort zones, but it was fun to try something a little different!  It was a small gathering from both clubs but once again, the smaller events seem to make faster friends, so thank you to those who made it!  And I learned that Peter & Nancy Jenkins are great dancers!!  I enjoyed watching them!  HCYC has a beautiful spot.  The clubhouse has just recently been redone. There is a beautiful fireplace and a spectacular view of the cove from the large windows across the whole back of the clubhouse.  If you have a chance this summer, stop in.  Everyone was very welcoming.   Thanks again to Sharon Tracy for helping plan and execute this event.

At the end of February, the Events Committee met.   We have a nice variety of events planned, including the return of yoga, Movie Night, Fajita Night and OCTOBERFEST!!  There was a healthy discussion of each event, and they will be ready to run smoothly.

On March 9th we sprung forward into daylight savings time with a nice brunch at The Hideaway in Old Lyme.   Again, a little lighter sign up than I would have liked to see, but those who attended really enjoyed a nice time together.  Good food, great conversations and a beautiful sunny day (although breezy) with a gorgeous view of the marsh!

I think we will take a breather for April as it’s time to get serious about getting the boats ready for the season, the gardens cleaned at the club and the summer cruise planned.

May 10th is the Annual Meeting/Commissioning followed by our first of the year BYOB cocktail/heavy apps party at the club!

FINALLY, PLEASE VOLUNTEER!!  Working an event is actually a lot of fun, and the more volunteers the less work.  If you are a new member, I strongly encourage you to volunteer!  It’s a great way to feel more connected to the club!  But just remember, WE NEED YOU!!  So, when the sign-ups come around, please sign up for a small task to help out.  I am really looking forward to a great summer!  

SEE YOU AT THE CLUB!!

Melissa Clark, Activities Committee Chair

Cruising News

Anyone even remotely thinking about joining the club cruises this season should try to attend the 4/19 club cruise meeting at the NCYC club house at 4pm. We need to discuss the club cruise in August, plus the ones for Independence Day weekend, Labor Day, Columbus Day, and whatever other dates we choose. Also please check the club Discord channels to read and post ideas. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone there!

The Ship’s Store

From the Ship’s Store…

Welcome Spring!

Thank you all for supporting the Ship’s Store last year. It was a successful year and we hope this year will be the same or even better.

We recently placed an order for NCYC hats. The order includes several colors including; light pink, stone, navy, royal and white which all sold quickly last year. They should be arriving before the start of the season.

As always, we welcome and appreciate any feedback on purchased items as well as ideas for merchandise you would like to see this coming season.

See you around the club and on the water! 

Tom & Julie Tydeman

tjtydeman@gmail.com

Tom’s cell: 860-877-3343

Julie’s cell: 860-877-3344

Women on the River

Women on the River is back for another fun season, and we’d love for you to join us. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or have never stepped foot on a boat, Women on the River is the perfect way to get out on the water, build confidence, and connect with a friendly group of women hailing from Essex, Corinthian, Pettipaug, Hamburg Cove, and North Cove Yacht Clubs. You don’t need to have any sailing experience; there will be experienced skippers on each boat.

Women on the River is all about sailing, camaraderie, and a splash of fun! We sail the beautiful Connecticut River on Ideal 18s, a perfect boat for learning and enjoying the water. Our sails begin at 5 PM and end around 7PM, followed by a relaxing dinner and drinks at Essex Yacht Club with your fellow sailors. Women on the River is more than just a sailing group—it’s a community of adventurous, supportive, and fun-loving women who share a love for the water. Whether you want to improve your sailing skills, make new friends, or simply enjoy an evening on the river, this is the perfect opportunity.

This season’s schedule:

• May 21 at Corinthian Yacht Club: Potluck & Introduction to Rigging/Sailing the Ideal 18

• May 28, June 4, June 11: Sailing & Dinner at Essex Yacht Club

On June 18, we meet at Hamburg Cove Yacht Club for a potluck dinner.

Sailing is free. The cost for dinner at Essex Yacht Club is $25 per night.  (A cash bar is available.) We kindly ask that you pay in advance when you sign up for the program.

We understand that plans can change so refunds are available if you notify us by email the Sunday before any of the Essex Yacht Club events.

•To sign up, contact Cathy Murphy at cjhmurphy@gmail.com call or text at 860-227-7122 by May 1.

Safety at Sea

practicing shooting flares

I am giving a pitch for the International Safety At Sea course put on by the Cruising Club of America I recently completed along with members RJ Lavallee and Elio Betty.  Before the hands-on portion, there was a prerequisite of fifteen online units that could be completed at the student’s own pace. The online units covered the full range of safety equipment, emergency communication, marine weather, rig inspection, damage control, firefighting, hypothermia, lessons learned from recent sinkings and rescues among other topics. I have to say the instructors for each section had very impressive sailing experience.  To complete the certification required for offshore races like the Wetherill, and Newport or Bermuda there was a hands-on day which the three of us attended at the US Sailing training center at Roger Williams University in Bristol RI.  There we were arranged into small groups where we participated in hands-on use of emergency flares, fighting fires, and damage control with a “section of a boat” simulator that could produce failing hoses, hull impact damage and where we could practice various repair techniques. 

Then a trip to the pool where we jumped in with full foul weather gear, boots and wearing our inflatable PFD.  We went through techniques to conserve body heat while in the water and saw the use of life sling and rope throw bags. Then we climbed into the two types of life rafts they had in the pool.  I like to think that my gym routine keeps me in pretty good shape but climbing into a life raft with soaking wet foul weather gear was not easy.  

I’ve been sailing and racing since I was seven years old; have raced dinghies and the offshore yachts at US Coast Guard Academy, which I attended, but I have to say I learned some new valuable and up-to- date knowledge on how to properly prepare your vessel and respond to emergency situations.   Below is a link to the full course.  Through US Sailing you can do just the online portion or I believe they have a “Coastal” version as well.

Happy Sailing/Boating and hope that none of us every need to use any of this training but it will give you a comfortable feeling knowing your boat is properly prepared and you know how to respond in an emergency.

Lou Vinciguerra

Railroad Bridge Construction Update

Click on this link to learn the latest in the Railroad bridge construction. [Spoiler alert: there will be no dyke.]

Of Time and Tides

Recently I (Deb Paulson) took a Celestial Navigation in the Age of Sail weekend course at Mystic Seaport. We studied the navigational calculations that the Charles W. Morgan used on its 1896 whaling voyage to the Sea of Japan. It was a fascinating exercise (noon sights for latitude I got fairly well, calculations for longitude not so much…) Anything to do with the stars, the sun, and the astronomy of the the heavens brings us, as boaters, closer to the watery world we enjoy.

I was reminded of that class when member Karl Frost sent an article along to me, thinking others may be interested in how the tides behave as the earth rotates. It also explains tidal current, which we all experience from the Connecticut River and–speaking for myself–trying to get up the river on an adverse tidal current when the astronomical tide is supposed to be receding is now something I understand. Aarrgh.

Anybody Want to Sail East This Season?

Walt Gayeski has a yearning to sail east on Long Island Sound this season. He has drafted up a preliminary schedule and he wonders if there are any members who would be interested in this trip. Branford, Huntington Harbor Oyster Bay, and Manhasset Bay are just some of the stops he is planning. If this cruise idea tickles your fancy, please contact Walt at waltere.gayeski@gmail.com

From the Chaplain’s Quiet Corner of the Cove

Dear friends,

As we emerge from the darkness of winter, may you find joy in the returning light…

 Even a wounded world is feeding us. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy. I choose joy over despair. Not because I have my head in the sand, but because joy is what the earth gives me daily and I must return the gift.

― Robin Wall Kimmerer
Excerpt from Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants

Jean Golicz, Club Chaplain

From the Editor

The winter break is over, and monthly High Tidings issues have begun! Please send me any content that you think may be interesting to club membership for inclusion in the May issue. I hope to see many of you at the Spring Work Day. Thank you to all who contributed to this issue!

Photos by: Ann Chan, Melissa Clark, Walt Gayeski, Melissa Mason, David Miller, Deb Paulson, Lou Vinciguerra

High Tidings April 1, 2025

A preview of our planned “Commodore Statues Garden.”

Commodore Remarks

Greetings fellow NCYC members! I have…interesting news. Many of you already know that the railroad bridge just upriver from our cove is undergoing replacement. It is a huge multi-year project and will (hopefully) not impact river marine traffic too much.

Now for the interesting news. Due to the anticipated extra volume of silt stirred up by the construction as well as the tendency of the cove to silt up, The DEP has decided it would be more cost effective to forego dredging the cove in favor of building a dyke across its channel.

The operable dike/wall will function much like the lock station system along the Rideau Canal in Canada. Their canal has 47 locks and 24 lock stations that span from Ottawa to Kingston, a distance of 202 kilometers (125 miles). Its history dates back to 1832. Many of the locks are small and narrow, much like the mouth of North Cove. Unlike the Rideau locks, though, this dyke will have set hours of operation. It will be opened at 8:00 AM and closed at 6:00 PM weekdays, and opened at 7:00 AM and closed at 7:00 PM weekends.

We know this will be a big adjustment, and to make the transition smoother for our members, the club has engaged the services of two consultants:

Pierre LeClaire is the chief operator of the canal lock station located near Manotick, a town on the Rideau River not far from Ottawa, and Jack Clouseau is a lock inspector stationed in Ottawa. Together, they have years of experience maintaining and operating the locks along the Ottawa and Rideau Rivers and will be available to answer any questions members may have. Inspector Clouseau and Mr. LeClaire will be staying with the Vinciguerras. If anyone is interested in hosting the consultants for the two weeks the Vinciguerras are on vacation in August, please contact Lou or Janet.

As always, we will extend a warm welcome to our visitors–and we look forward to the opportunities this new development brings to our club.  

 Linda Tuzzio, Commodore

Vice Commodore Remarks

As Vice Commodore, I am thrilled to introduce some new “Great Wall of Cove” (GWC) related initiatives to improve our NCYC member experience:

•         Clubhouse Reservations: We now offer booking slots synchronized with the opening and closing times of the dyke. Don't miss your window!    

•         Finance & Investment: Funds previously earmarked for dredging will now be allocated to our UberBoat service and boat-sitting program. Investing in fun, one knot at a time!

• Insurance: Exclusive 'Openable Dyke' insurance policies are now available. Protect your vessel from unexpected closures. (See member Nicole B. for rates.)

•         Membership Photo Board: Featuring heroic members who braved the closed dyke and made it back against all odds. Legends of the cove!

•         Offshore Race Committee: New race formats that include strategic dyke navigation. May the odds be ever in your favor!

•         Sailing Program - Juniors: Special training programs on navigating the dyke for our junior sailors. Let's groom the next generation of ace navigators!

•         Sailing Program - Adult: "Dyke Drills" – fun and educational drills to master the art of timely dyke crossing.

•         Ships Store: Exclusive "I Survived the Dyke" merchandise. Caps, tees, and more!

Yours in nautical mischief,

Melissa Mason, Vice Commodore

Membership

Change is in the air, and as Membership Chair and participating member of the Bluetits cold water swimming club, I am happy to introduce a new membership process beginning immediately:  Namely, we will not be accepting any more new members in 2025, and going forward, the open enrollment period for new member applications will begin again on January 1, 2026. In order to be considered for Club membership all prospective members must demonstrate their ability to swim a pre-determined course around the Cove when the water temperature is 35 degrees Fahrenheit or less.  We firmly believe this additional requirement will help keep out the non-committed riff-raff.  For now, existing members will be exempt from this new requirement.

Caroline Miller, Membership Chair

Junior Sailing

North Cove Junior Sailing Curriculum: Sails & STEM

This season, we’re revolutionizing the Junior Sailing curriculum. It’s time to combine the art of sailing with the rigor of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education. Our Jr. Sailing students will now spend half their time learning to sail and the other half… in the lab. That’s right – they will be learning how to build their own sails and tillers using 3D printers. No longer will we need to find old golf clubs to replace broken tillers or patch old sails; our junior sailors will create their own parts!

The kids will also learn the fundamentals of sailing larger boats–which is often repairing things. Classes will include subjects like Sanitary Lines 101, Electrical Engineering Basics,  Small Motor Repair 101, 102, 103, 104, 105; Bilge Basics (not for the squeamish.) Immediate Past Commodore Lou V. is thrilled at our new program and has offered to supervise the program with the help of our esteemed member and inventor genius Walter G. (of North Cove Mud™ fame.)

We will also introduce a variety of other inventive programs such as Drone Flying & Programming supervised by Len V. and Tom T. , our resident pilots. The drones will deliver snacks for a nominal fee and Tom .T will be stocking snacks in The Ships Store for our drontastic program.  The kids will learn valuable skills studying the aerodynamics of wind as they deliver mid-day snacks. We anticipate this will be a significant cash flow opportunity for the club.

Kathy and Cathy (our fearless Junior Sailing Co-Chairs) are thrilled to introduce this new curriculum. And Amy (our ever-dedicated Junior Sailing Director) assures us that “nothing could possibly go wrong as kids navigate the reality of modern sailing and technology.”

What could be more fun for eight to eighteen-year-olds than combining sailing with 3 D printers, drones, and learning basic repair skills. We expect to have a funtastic summer!

Kathy and Cathy, Jr. Sailing Co-chairs

Grounds and Garden

The Grand Transformation of North Cove Yacht Club: Statues, Gardens, and a Dyke!

Greetings, fellow yachtsman! We're thrilled to bring you the most astonishing news from the Grounds and Garden Committee of the North Cove Yacht Club. Prepare yourselves for an extraordinary evolution—nay, revolution—that is about to sweep our beloved club! 

Entering the New Era: A Green Gateway

Picture this: you drive up to the entrance of the North Cove Yacht Club and instead of the charming though unremarkable entryway we're so used to, you are greeted by a lush green privacy screen. Yes, that's right! Our team of eccentric gardeners ( Cathy and Kathy) has outdone themselves by planning  an exquisite living artwork—a coastal garden scape that aims to refresh both the air and your senses as you step into the wonderland that awaits.

concept of the new entrance

Commodore Statue Garden 

Forget the old tired parking lot and embrace the Commodores’ Garden!  Not only will your trek to the Clubhouse be a scenic stroll through native plantings, but you’ll soon be welcomed by a host of new larger-than-life statues celebrating our esteemed Commodores. These larger-than-life monuments will be impeccably crafted in genuine ResinRock™ to capture the wisdom, courage, and slight bewilderment with which they governed our nautical kingdom. They bravely will guide you towards the heart of the Clubhouse, reminding us of the legacy we cherish.  Preliminary mockups have been started using the images below.

Dyke Lawn

As part of our luxurious renovations, we will be replacing our waterfront area with a stunning lawn punctuated by vibrant Adirondack chairs. Each chair sporting a splash of color more radiant than a yachtie's trophy jacket or Joe Caroll’s vibrant slacks, and angled to showcase impeccable views of our North Cove Dyke.  An array of lawn games and toys will be available for your enjoyment.  Anyone for Sailboat Croquet? Melissa, our Activities Chair will be busy whipping up exciting lawn events and signature cocktails for our summer enjoyment.

concept of new adirondack chairs on deck facing the dynamic dyke

The Dynamic Dyke

Last but not least!  Shoaling has decided to make itself right at home. But fear not, because coming soon a brilliantly bonkers solution: a dynamic DYKE!  Yes, you heard it right—a magnificent dyke engineered to heroically hold back Mother Nature's sandy shenanigans. But this dyke isn't just about keeping the shoaling at bay. Oh no, it’s here to give our cove the makeover of a lifetime and the garden committee has this covered!

Welcome to the Dyke Gardens!

concept of dyke gardens

By day, this fabulous dyke will double as a delightful garden! The centerpiece of the garden with be a larger-than-life statue of our current Commodore Linda Tuzzio.  Facing out toward the beautiful Connecticut River, arms stretch to welcome seamen as a guiding light to all who visit our cove. Our plans include a paradise of native pollinator plants, making it not only a dyke but also a botanical bonanza! But that’s not all—this garden will also be a new hangout for our feathery friends, the ospreys. We've planned to set up cozy platforms for them to perch. No longer shall your sturdy masts be the location of an osprey reality TV show!  We trust our feathered friends will find the comfortable new platforms viable, leaving your yachts un-perched, poop-free zones.

Astronomical Theater by Night!

concept of what one might see in the astronomical spectaculars

At night, prepare for a star-studded spectacular! The dyke garden transforms into an astronomical theater, where you'll witness the wonders of the Universe. Get ready to sit back under the stars as our very own Astronomer Extraordinaire, Amy Vinciguerra, takes us on a mystical journey across the night sky. Trust us, her star narrations are nothing short of a cosmic comedy show. 

So, whether you're aiming to enjoy a carefree day on the water or a stroll down memory lane in our Commodores Garden, enjoying a cocktail and a leisurely nap on Dyke Lawn, or a stellar night under the cosmos at Dyke Garden, the North Cove Yacht Club has you covered. Come join us, and let's embrace the wonders of our newly designed landscape.

Activities

The dyke across the entrance of our cove may be the best solution for the DEP, but not so great for us to essentially have a curfew!!  As Events Coordinator I have racked my brain to turn this vinegar into sparkling wine.

As I envisioned a giant wall traversing the mouth of our beautiful little cove, it came to me–our first ever “graffiti” party!  So, bring your brushes and rollers and let your inner gangsta’ artist loose!  We will use all the Opti’s, paddle boards, and dinghies to get up close.  I will supply the paint from the returns bin at Kellogg. As with every act of civil disobedience, we will need to work under the cover of darkness so we don’t get caught!  Night-vision glasses will be very helpful–please bring if you have them. We will start with a happy hour on the deck at 1700 to loosen us up and get those creative juices flowing!   After two or three hours, we set sail and hit the wall, LITERALLY!   

concept for wall graffiti

There will be prizes in the following categories: Most Difficult Placement, Most Colors Used, Most Original Design, Most Inspirational Theme.

Who will win the coveted Golden Spray Can? Let’s see how creative you can be!  

Melissa Clark, Events Chair 

Cruising News

Because of the new dyke, the cruising committee had to make hard choices due to the lack of flexibility of the dyke open/close schedule. In order to allow flexibility in our comings and goings, the cruise this year will be accomplished using dinghies and tents instead of our usual sailing vessels. We will be moving the small crane from the waterfront area at the club to the dyke so that outside of operation hours (modest they are) we will be able to lift the dinghies up on the Cove side and use our soon-to-be-completed slide to move them down to the river side.

Although using dinghies will negatively effect our range, it will allow us to visit beaches from Old Lyme to Westbrook! Members without a dinghy will be issued up to three Opti sailboats per family. Joe Carroll has generously offered to haul everyone’s booze with his giant dinghy. Cruise members will take shifts keeping a watch on him so he can’t run off.

Others with large dinghies may want to volunteer for other hauling duties to help out the group at large. We will need a Fuel Tanker Dinghy, a Workshop Dinghy (to carry tools, repair kits, and air pumps), plus a Party Dinghy on which to have cocktail hours. (“At four we pour”-states Past Commodore Joe Milke) Due to the expected reduction in average cargo capacity, ladies will not be required to wear a different cocktail dress to each cocktail party this cruise.

Since the cruise won’t be going far enough to get to any actual ports, we ask that past Port Captains offer to run various beach activities each evening where we stop. Suggested games include:

• Tent set up closest to the water without getting wet overnight.

• Tent set up closest to a beach mansion without getting arrested.

• Hiding from the police.

• Getting chased by the most police at one time.

• Highest and lowest bail amounts.

  Additionally, there will be trophies awarded at the end of the second week for the following categories:

• Most creative matching outfits per couple

• Least amount of bailing required

• Best tent camouflage

• Best disposition

• Worst sunburn

• Spouses still actually speaking, or if no winners, most days into the cruise while still speaking.

All suggestions for matching outfits should be submitted in triplicate to Elio Betty by Memorial Day.

concept for matching outfits

Thank you all for making me Fleet Captain! I’m sure this will be a club cruise to remember!

Chris Griffin, Fleet Captain

Women on the River

The DEP’s plan to construct a dyke at the entrance of the cove to combat shoaling has been enthusiastically endorsed by the club—as long as the club has a say in it.

 To ensure proper execution, the club has enlisted the expertise of Women on the River, a group widely recognized for their graceful tacks, fearless sailing, and dedication to post-race cocktails. Given their intimate knowledge of the cove (mostly from trying to avoid running aground), they will lead the effort by testing how the 420’s handle the new current shifts.

“This is a natural extension of our skills,” said one Women on the River sailor. “We’ve navigated sandbars, dodged moored boats, and gracefully recovered from the occasional capsize. How hard can a little hydrodynamic analysis be?”

To prepare, the women have been seen sketching diagrams on cocktail napkins, debating the best building materials, and Googling “how to build a dyke without heavy machinery.”

Not to be left out, the club’s Bluetits cold water dipping group has bravely volunteered to test the dyke’s impact on water circulation. Since they’re already known for swimming in temperatures that would make a polar bear shiver, they will serve as live test subjects to assess how water movement changes with the new barrier. 

“The club assured us this would be a ‘mildly scientific’ endeavor,” said one Blue Tit while wringing out her frozen swim cap. “But given that we’re now apparently measuring ‘flow dynamics with our bodies,’ we have some questions.”

As compensation, the Bluetits have negotiated an all-you-can-drink supply of hot tea, plus an emergency stash of something stronger—which Richie and Deb have selflessly offered to sample first, you know, for safety.

concept for “something stronger”

Project Timeline: TBD (Probably Never)

The dyke project is currently scheduled to begin “sometime in the near future,” which, according to North Cove Yacht Club tradition, means “whenever we can actually get enough volunteers.” Until then, Women on the River will continue refining their nautical engineering theories over dinner and drinks, while the Bluetits have vowed to keep swimming—because honestly, a little construction isn’t going to stop them.

Stay tuned for updates.

From the Chaplain’s Quiet Corner of the Cove

As the NCYC Chaplain, when I heard that the DEP had decided to build a dyke across the channel of the cove, it acutely brought to mind the flood motif that occurs in many religions, including the Manvantara-Sandhya in Hinduism, the Genesis flood narrative in the Judeo-Christian tradition, as well as similar stories in Greek, Mesopotamian, Cheyenne and Pueblo religious narratives.

And of course there is the "Peter and the Dyke" story, popularized by Mary Mapes Dodge's novel "Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates," that tells of a Dutch boy who plugs a leaking dyke with his finger to prevent a flood. This national hero was given the formal name Peter in the poem crafted by Phoebe Cary. Due to my fascination with apocalyptic events, I pondered, “Who would be our Peter?” if all goes south with our dyke? And then I realized, well of course, our own Peter Stump. He lives close to the future dyke, and he works cheap. As long as we feed him cookies, he will keep his finger in the dyke and heroically save the cove. Problem solved, prayers answered!

Concept for…oh wait, that really is Pete

The Ship’s Store

concept for Thursday night racing

Hello everyone! You all have heard by now the DEP will be building a wall/dyke across the channel which will be closing promptly at 6pm weekdays. This sadly means there will be no Thursday Night Racing this season, no sharing stories and beers and no amazing meals from Linda. Devastating news!

BUT WAIT!

We are excited to announce that North Cove Yacht Club has invested in a large fleet of remote-controlled sailboats for members to purchase at the The Ship’s Store, turning lemons into lemonade! Boats are available NOW so you can hone your skills before the first race on June 5.

It is required to personalize your vessel with tiny little letters and numbers with your boat’s name, registration, and sail number. We will also have a big spinnaker for Osprey and a huge mainsail for Madaket. PHRF’s will be adjusted accordingly. And don’t count out pokey Kewalo this time around–the smaller size may just suit her! There’s also a tiny remote controlled committee boat for Karl and Rob! 

To stay true to the big boat Thursday Night Racing, the rounding buoy mark will be so small as to be nearly invisible so that the boats will sail right past it before they realize where it is.

Awards will be presented at the end of the season. We encourage crews to grab a dinghy and follow the race close-up to cheer their boat to victory. Beers will remain full size, of course! 

It will be just like the good old days!!! Right???

Contact us to purchase a sailboat. See you all in spring!

The Ship’s Store

Tom & Julie Tydeman 

From the Editor

I am thrilled, thrilled! to announce that High Tidings has been nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature!! I kid you not.

While many people may think that a lowly zine couldn’t possibly be a contender for this prestigious prize, the awarding of it to Bob Dylan in 2016 opened the dyke gate, so to speak.

In the nominating committee’s missive to me, as editor, they wrote: “The unassuming joie de vivre of your publication, with its elevating of the culinary arts (as seen in the images of the buffets at your Club—we especially enjoyed the various permutations on deviled eggs) the sense of community exhibited around the bar area, the sartorial sophistication of your membership, as well as High Tidings’ straightforward, succinct narrative delivery impressed us to no end. It is, therefore, our honor to nominate you for this most august prize. We wish you the best of luck.”

I would like to thank everyone who made this honor possible. Here’s hoping we win, and all get to go to Sweden to accept our prize. Tack så mycket!

Deb Paulson, Editor, High Tidings Magazine

High Tidings Winter 2025

Our north cove float heads out to the torchlight parade!

Upcoming Events

• January 10, 6:00-9:00 - Pot Luck, High Nine Brewery, Deep River

• January 22, 6:00, Myrcene Brewery–Outer Light Planning Committee meeting

• April 12–Grounds and Clubhouse Spring Cleanup

• April 19–Rain date for Spring Cleanup

Dean McChesney

In Memoriam

Our beloved Dean McChesney has passed away. A NCYC member along with his wife Pam, for thirty years, Dean actively participated in Club activities and was in charge of compiling and printing our annual Yearbook–a vital task he did superbly. We remember his generous spirit and engaging personality with great fondness, and we send our deepest condolences to the family.

Commodore Remarks

As you can see from the photos, an NCYC float was in the Old Saybrook Torchlight Parade in December! It has been many years since the club has had a float in the parade. I would like to thank Jean Golicz and Melissa Mason for bringing the idea forward, Chris Griffin for providing the boat and trailer, and Stefan Golicz for driving the truck. I would also like to thank the many volunteers who came out to decorate the boat and rode or walked in the parade with us. We were told that there were a record number of marchers and floats this year. The Penny Lane Pub was packed and we thank Melissa Clark for making a reservation for twenty NCYC members in advance.

Waterfront De-icing

Although the weather was very cold the night of the parade, we have had milder weather in general this season which means the de-icing circulators don’t have to be stressed trying to keep the water at our docks from freezing. We have had a couple of high tides during heavy rainstorms that brought water above the stones and flooded the areas under and around the clubhouse, but that is not unusual.

Lou Vinciguerra, Tim Matson, and David Miller setting up the bubblers

2025 Club Calendar

We have been working on the 2025 calendar and it will be full of fun activities and events. Chris Griffin, our new Fleet Captain, will be holding a cruising meeting in the spring to plan our mini cruises as well as the annual club cruises. Melissa Clark and Debbie Matson will be hosting an activities committee meeting in February to firm up the event details. All are welcome to attend. Keep an eye out for the email announcing the day and time.

Committee Chairs

The majority of the committee chair positions have been filled. We are looking for a yearbook editor with publishing experience. There are chair positions open from time to time and there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer at the club. Feel free to contact a committee chair and offer to help.

Linda Tuzzio, Commodore

Vice Commodore Remarks

I hope you all had a fantastic holiday season filled with family, friends, and endless fun! Even though our clubhouse is cozily buttoned up for the winter, there has been no shortage of informal, yet spirited, club activities! From our dynamic brewery trivia nights to an engaging game night (huge thanks to Eautha—even though we sadly missed it) to our triumphant return to the Old Saybrook Torchlight parade with the NCYC float, there have been plenty of fabulous opportunities for us to gather and enjoy each other's company.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who contributed to decorating and marching with the NCYC float. Your spirit and energy truly made the event memorable. Special kudos to Jean & Stefan Golicz for not only hosting the float decorating but also treating us to scrumptious cookies and cider—your hospitality is deeply appreciated!

Inside our clubhouse, I'm thrilled to share that work has commenced on a new membership photo board. Nicole Bouvier has taken the helm of managing this project and will ensure new 4x6 photos of ALL our members are proudly displayed come spring. If Eddie Addeo or Nicole hasn't already captured your radiant smile, please do send Nicole (npilon@binsurance.com)  a photo (digital or 4 x 6 printed.) Remember, Nicole is a new member so be sure to include your names and boat name (if applicable) when you submit your photo.

As you receive your dues invoice, you’ll also find a sign-up sheet detailing various types of volunteer work. Our diligent committee chairpeople greatly benefit from your willingness to assist, and having a list of potential helpers is invaluable. This is a wonderful way to contribute to the vibrant community spirit that makes our club so special. Please take a moment to consider how you can pitch in and check off any areas where you’d be interested in lending a hand.

I look forward to seeing many of our non-snow bird members at our upcoming offseason gatherings. Be sure to check and share in the NCYC Discord channel to keep folks posted on things that are happening. Let’s keep the camaraderie alive and continue to share in the joy of being part of this incredible yacht club.

Warm regards,

Melissa Mason, Vice Commodore

masonahoy@gmail.com

Rear Commodore Remarks

While the clubhouse is closed, various hardworking members have been making improvements to our grounds. Lou Vinciguerra and Rich Peters designed and built a rack for storage of off-season grill propane tanks, in-season fuel containers for launch, skiffs, and junior sailing boats, and…stroke of genius…a top rack for members’ fuel containers. It’s all tucked away within the new fence that surrounds the dumpster and large propane tanks, and so even our storage is now shipshape and bristol fashion. Thank you!

building the storage rack

the new storage space built by Lou and rich

The launch is under her winter cover, and come March, she will go to the canvas maker and get herself a brand new canvas cover for the upcoming season. No more struggling with old zippers and snaps, stewards. This one should be a breeze to put on and off.

The Bluetits (of which I am a participant) have been dipping since October. It’s getting chilly, but that does not stop our hardy cold-plungers. The coldest water temperature recorded so far is 34 degrees. And yes, it feels cold. If anyone is interested in joining these lunatics amazing women (men are welcome also) go onto the channel on Discord, which is where we set up our next torture session invigorating dip.

I wish you a restful winter and I hope to see you at some of our informal events as well as planning meetings throughout the winter months.

Warmly,

Deb Paulson, Rear Commodore

Membership

Potential Members – Posted 12/11/2024

Ryan and Marissa Downey

Old Saybrook, CT

Ryan: Project Manager

Marissa: Lead Investigator

Children:  Rourke (10 Years), Finn (8 Years)

Proposed by:  Melissa Mason

Support letters:  Pavlos, Redding, Chan

Boating:  Ryan has a boating license. Marissa frequently uses her parent’s motorboat Their primary reason for wanting to join is the youth sailing program. Rourke did a session last year and loved it.  He intends on signing up for two sessions this coming summer.  His brother Finn is planning to do one. Ryan has always wanted to learn to sail.

Skills/interests:   We are an active young family, looking to make new friends and plan to be very active in the club. We understand that clubs need volunteers to function well and do not mind putting in the time.  

Jr. Sailing Update

Junior Sailing has been planning for Summer 2025! From hiring instructors to opening registration, the Junior Sailing Committee is hard at work. We have a crew of volunteers actively looking to purchase a new-to-us coach boat to meet US Sailing’s youth program recommendations. We are looking for a Boston Whaler Montauk with a 60 hp engine. Anyone who sees any similar listings should send them to louvinci@gmail.com 

Tuition for NCYC members for the 2025 season is $580 (20% discount off the non-member $725 fee) and registration for club members opens in January. Last summer we filled up by mid-March and we anticipate another full season. 

2025 Sessions dates are:

·       Session 1: June 23 – July 3 (no class July 4th)

·       Session 2: July 7 – July 18

·       Session 3: July 21 – August 1

Check out the junior sailing page on our club website for all the details.

Stay tuned for an email announcing that registration is open! Looking forward to the 2025 sailing season!

Cathy Murphy & Kathy Reddington

Junior Sailing Co- Chairs

Amy Vinciguerra

Program Director Junior Sailing

Activities

The torchlight parade was a lot of fun!!   For those of us who were not up for the challenge of standing in the cold for hours, the dinner upstairs at the Penny Lane Pub was really fun, and dare I say it, WARM!!  We had a great view overlooking the parade and we were all at the window cheering on our fabulous NCYC float! It looked fantastic!  The table was full the whole time as we had “floaters” (pardon the pun but I couldn’t resist!) come up and say hello and get warm.  Thank you to all the brave souls who were out there “taking one for the team!”  And thank you to Eddie Addeo for coming up and taking pictures.

Next year’s events planning has already begun!  My new co-chair, Debbie Matson and I have some great ideas, some new and some old, that we are excited to present to the club!  No moss is growing under our feet, so we will start the year January 10th.  I just found this little brewery and I hope you all love it as much as I do!  They do serve local wines too.  Greg said the beer is good and from my THOROUGH research, I can say that the wines are too!! 😉

WHAT:                   POST NEW YEAR’S EVE POTLUCK PARTY!   Set ups required

WHERE:              HIGH NINE BREWERY

16 Winter Ave, Unit 7

Deep River, CT

WHEN:                 Friday January 10th

TIME:                      6 – 9

FUTURE EVENTS

February 7th, Sharon Tracy has graciously offered to co-host something a little different and exciting with us at the Hamburg Cove Yacht Club!  It’s a VALENTINES SOCK HOP!!  We are inviting both clubs to attend!  This will also be a heavy apps/pot luck! 

So get your saddle shoes buffed and your leather jackets ready for some fun!  More details coming.   

Still working on March and then it’s April and we are almost back to sailing again!!

I want to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year!

Melissa Clark, Activities co-chair

Cold Weather Match Racing

   A few hearty members just couldn’t accept the end of the sailing season this year and had to get in some additional sailing.  You may have heard or seen that the club has had two O’Day Daysailors donated to us.  After some clean-up and a few repairs we had the boats ready to sail.  On two chilly windy Saturdays we setup a course using the William T as a committee boat / safety boat, and did some fun round-the-buoys match racing. When the wind puffs hit we quickly learned you need to be very quick to ease the mainsheet and hike out before the boat heels too much and scoops cold water over the stern quarter splashboard. What follows is nervous bailing and pumping out the water. The second Saturday was even more fun with all the moorings hauled out and we had the open cove available for racing.

  Our plans are to make a some additional maintenance and upgrade repairs in the off season and try for some more match racing in the Spring before the moorings go in. We will send the word out if additional members want to join in as skippers or crew and can take turns rotating through the boats or just sit on the deck to watch the action. Bring your cold weather foul weather gear and boots!!!  
   Later in the season when the days are longer, we hope to do some more weeknight match racing as well as provide teaching opportunities for members on how to rig the boats and sail them. Stay tuned to High Tidings [Ed. note: …and the crowd goes wild!] and we may start a Discord channel for this as well.  I also have a Laser and acquired a second laser ( Yes… as you might expect, with help from Elio, we saved it from a dumpster.  But, after cleaning off years of moss and dirt, she cleaned up well–bit of fiberglass repair, acquired missing parts, and now she looks better than my original.)   So if there is interest, we could have singlehanded laser match racing class as well.

Sail Fast, Keep Warm!

Lou Vinciguerra
NCYC Immediate Past Commodore  
   

Club Racing

The 2025 season is filling out with many opportunities for racing in Long Island Sound. A skippers meeting for Thursday Night racing will be hosted in early May.  

The annual Outer Light Classic is in the works with the date selection process through ECSA currently underway. 

The Outer Light Planning Committee will have its first meeting for the 2025 season on January 22nd 6pm at Myrcene Brewery. Anyone willing to share ideas are welcome to join. 

The Anne Troy Belle 8 race will be held on September 7th, more details to come. 

For those dreaming of warmer weather and sunny days on the water, email Amy Vinciguerra to see how you can get involved this year amyvinci94@gmail.com

Cruising News

Hello fellow NCYC members! I’m the new Fleet Captain and I’m looking forward to working with my fellow club members to organize some interesting cruises for this coming season!

My personal cruising style includes some destination-based boating but I’m also a believer in letting the wind decide which way I can go and how far. Two years ago, I introduced the phone app “Discord” to the club with the hope that it would help facilitate communications between members, especially in the cruising department. To that end, I would say it has been a huge success. What with the challenging weather this past season during the cruise, members were able to keep in touch via discord and to set up impromptu meeting points with each other.

This season, with the help of Discord, I am interested in exploring the idea of adding some flexibility to the cruise itinerary: my idea would be to have a few fixed destinations punctuated with suggestions in between that we finalize with an eye to wind and weather, using Discord to communicate.
Discord also works on tablets and PCs and for those of you who have not yet joined, I would encourage you to. Think of it as our own private social media app.

Use this link to install:  https://discord.gg/699czePA   Discord invitation links are only good for seven days, but anyone currently using the club's Discord can provide a fresh link-just reach out and ask!

There will be a cruising meeting April 19th at 4pm at the club.  I am eager to hear your ideas, and as a group we can explore our cruising destinations and the extent of the flexibility we want. 
See y'all soon!

Chris Griffin, Fleet Captain

NCYC Members Honored

On December 7, Essex Corinthian Yacht Club honored NCYC members Elio Betty (Gumdrop) and Joe Carroll (Madaket) as well as DIYC member Mark Salerno (Fusion) for their participation in the rescue of the crew of Dorian–the 39 foot yawl that sank during this year’s Cross Sound Challenge. In a heartfelt ceremony, Dorian’s owner Chris Morano personally thanked each captain and presented them with a pewter bowl as the recipients of the inaugural “Dorian Good Seamanship Award.” Elio and Joe each spoke and thanked their own crew: on Gumdrop, Charlotte Freeland and Riley Anderson; and on Madaket, Deb Paulson.

Earlier that day, in another ceremony, Essex Yacht Club presented Elio Betty with their Good Seamanship Award for “exhibiting the skill, courage, and determination which are among the highest traditions of seamanship” for his rescue of two of Dorian’s crew members. The Good Seamanship Award is awarded on merit, not yearly, and this has been only the fourth time in the past 30 years that it has been awarded. Interestingly, the person awarded the trophy previously, in 2017, was our very own NCYC member, Chris Griffin!

Frostbite Racing Series

The Frostbite Yacht Club regatta began in the early 1930’s as a way to race dinghies on the Connecticut River during the colder months. Essex was picked as the location because it was halfway between Boston and New York. From this beginning, the Essex Yacht Club was formed, and the Frostbite winter and spring racing series continues to this day. Racing JY15’s, Etchelles, Ideal 18’s and others, hardy crews race off EYC and ECYC from September through December and then March through May. Some NCYC members, who can’t seem to get enough time on the water are regular competitors. This season, the Etchelles Class 2nd place award went to Bill Robinson with his stellar crew–NCYC’s Lou Vinciguerra and Tom Russel.

Kudos to Amy Vinciguerra (seeing a theme here) who, with Diane Stark won the Virginia Binanger Award for Top Female Skipper in the series!

Also representing NCYC in this winter series was junior sailor Robert Basset in the Etchelles class, Junior sailor Cord Enman in the JY15 fleet, and Charles Tremayne in the Ideal 18 fleet.

Check out Frostbite Yacht Club on Facebook for lots of pictures and to volunteer for crew or race committee. It’s cold, but it’s lots and lots of fun!

Diane stark (left) and Amy Vinciguerra accepting the top female skipper award

From Joe Carroll

VENICE FLORIDA REPORT

Happy New Year everyone. This is Joe, and I am currently in Venice, Florida (81 deg. F) relaxing beachside for a few days before I return to Old Saybrook. As you may recall, Venice got slammed by Hurricane Milton on October 9th of 2024 which made landfall nearby from where I am typing. The landfall recreated a cut in the sandy beach between the Gulf of Mexico and the Inter Coastal Waterway called the Mid Night Pass. The Mid Night Pass had been closed for decades from sand deposited by another hurricane. So before Milton came along the Casey Key and Siesta Key were contiguous all the way (15 miles) south to Venice.

Luckily, my house was not damaged. However, there was devastating damage to many nearby homes and structures. Roofs were blown off buildings, other buildings collapsed, and generally the Venice populace was frightened–a fright that is still shown on their faces when they discuss the hurricane.  The 120+ mph wind, the tornados hammering some neighborhoods but not others, the 15-foot tidal surge that wiped out shore line areas, placed much of Venice under water and damaged the boulder breakwaters in Casey pass (which allows boats and ships to transit at Venice between the ICW and the Gulf of Mexico) was truly awesome and scary for those who witnessed it.

I rode my bike around the town, and passed a junkyard filled with housing debris and many junk yard employees and junkyard dogs were busily sorting out metal, glass, wood, smashed tile roofing materials, air conditioners and refrigerators, flooded cars and etc. for disposal. I talked to a foreman at the junkyard, and he told me that even the junkyard had been flooded, and that a large metal building there had blown down. His accompanying 130lb Bullmastiff dog barred his teeth and growled ferociously at me as the foreman recounted his and his dog’s hurricane experience. “Don’t worry about “Crazy” (the dog) the foreman told me, “Crazy” is friendly and loves little children”.

Remarkably, Venice is now up and running. While there is a lot of reconstruction going on, the supermarkets are full, and people with leaky roofs have tarps in place until the roofers can fix/replace their home’s roof. Dehumidifiers have dried out many buildings so that at least temporarily they can be used for shelter. There is a lot that I didn’t see, but downtown which had been flooded was packed with people shopping, and Venice beach, which now has about 5-feet more sand on it, was full of swimmers and beach goers.  Although many boats were severely damaged, the Venice Yacht Club docks, and nearby marinas were packed with boats, and the docks for the most part are fixed up, and usable.  Boats were in the mooring field ready to be used.

During my visit here, I drove down to Ft. Myers and explored the Okeechobee waterway that connects the east coast of Florida to the west coast. I did this by car, and visited the five different locks between Ft. Myers on the west coast and Stuart on the east coast. The waterway is 156 miles long and from the East coast starts at the St. Lucie Canal, transverses Lake Okeechobee and runs west via the Caloosahatchee River to Ft. Myers. There is an eight-foot operational depth and the lowest bridge clearance is 49-ft at Port Mayaca Rail Road lift bridge. Lake Okeechobee, however, is shallow, and has some areas that are around five-foot deep in its channel. Boats need to transit Lake Okeechobee for about 25 miles and one has to be very careful to follow a designated channel because the lake bottom can be hard and rocky, and one does not want to be stuck miles from nowhere out of sight of land on a lake that can get rough, especially if there is wind blowing out of the north or south. The navigation markers on Lake Okeechobee are many miles apart and not in sight for the most part. I talked to a Boat US towboat captain and he said to stay on course in the middle of the channel (use Navionics) and a boat like mine (30’ Nonsuch with a 45-foot high mast drawing 4’7”) could make it through the passage. It takes 3-4 days to transit the waterway, and once the boat is in the canal there are places along the way to anchor, and tie up for overnight stays.

The waterway is picturesque since it passes through the heart of Florida, and there are many cattle ranches and big commercial farms and much moss-hung wilderness along the way while bustling boom towns coexist alongside sleepy villages that are older than Miami. You’ll find that the local folk speak with a southern accent verses a New York/Northeast accent because guess what? Florida is the deep south, and the natives are proud southerners. Plus, there are alligators and Manatees along the way welcoming you to the Florida waterway. The waterway offers a chance to see rural Florida with small towns preserved much as they were early in the last century.

Sailors need to know that the water levels of the waterway can vary and this affects the bridge heights. The benefit of using the waterway is that it saves an east or west coast boat from rounding the lower part of Florida to get across Florida. In fact, an east coast boat can safely shorten a trip to Key West and the west coast of Florida by many days. The canal is a good option for those of you who wish to bring a power boat or a sail boat with a mast less than 49-foot drawing 5-feet or less from the Atlantic to the Gulf of Mexico or vice-versa. See the below aerial view of the Okeechobee waterway.

It’s midnight-January 1, 2025 as I type to meet my December 31st deadline. Wishing you all a happy New Year and a heathy and prosperous 2025.

Joe Carroll, Venice, Florida Correspondent to High Tidings Magazine.

The Ship’s Store

We are looking into purchasing some new items over the winter months. If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to share your ideas. 

Even though the club is closed for the winter months, the Ship’s Store is always open! Just contact us and we are happy to meet you at your convenience.  

We have a few knit hats left in blue or grey to help keep you warm over the next few months.

Thank you for your support!

Tom & Julie Tydeman 

tjtydeman@gmail.com

Tom: 860-877-3343

Julie: 860-877-3344

Railroad Bridge Project

This is an update from O&G/Tutor Perini, the contractor for the Amtrak CT River Bridge Replacement Project in Old Saybrook / Old Lyme CT.

Looking ahead at the next few weeks for marine work at the bridge site we will be performing confirmatory borings from barges at three locations adjacent to the existing Amtrak bridge. In Haddam, CT at Eagle Landing State Park we will begin the replacement of the dilapidated fishing pier, starting with the demolition of the existing fishing pier.

Working hours are still Monday - Friday from 7:00 AM - 4:30 PM. 

We will be pausing marine construction operations at the Amtrak bridge site and at Eagle Landing for the holidays from 12/20/2024 to 1/6/2025.

Use the link to access an interesting pdf slide show about the scope and construction of the new railroad bridge.

Lou Vinciguerra

From the Chaplain’s Quiet Corner of the Cove

Cold air, bare branches, blankets and shawls,
the growing quiet calls us to our own retreat. 
Then a bell rings out across the hemisphere,
the diminishment pauses, then slowly shifts
and we imagine our ancestors standing
in the heart of winter’s cold darkness
with faces upward in awe each year 
as your brilliance begins 
to brighten the sky for longer each day, 
gold beams tumbling like treasure.  
We know on this day the light will grow again,
a tiny seed at first, then a shy blooming. 
Help us to see our own inner seasons 
of darkness and light as the necessary gifts 
they are of rest and illumination. 
May we become this light for others,
to be a promise of radiance emerging
from every place that feels cold and dark. 

-Christine Valters Paintner, A Solstice Blessing

May you feel the returning light,

Peace

Jean

For Sale

Seacant for Sale! 

seacant

Often seen in the first row of boats in North Cove and seen scooting around the race course on Thursdays, Seacant is for sale! 

The perfect starter boat for anyone looking to enter into the boating world. She comes with many amenities perfect for day trips, or overnights. The swing keel makes it easy to anchor very close to shore (or to sail very close to the shore when racing). 

To see the boat, text or email Amy Vinciguerra 860-395-7625 amyvinci94@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/975568587717875/?mibextid=6ojiHh

From the Editor

The next High Tidings will come out in April. Please email me if you have anything you’d like to include in the next issue. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this issue! Photos are by: Eddie Addeo, Ann Chan, Eautha M., Dan Ferrier, Chris Griffin, Kathi Mitchell, Deb Paulson, Linda Tuzzio, Amy Vinciguerra, and some people from EYC and ECYC that I don’t know.

Have a lovely winter season!

Deb Paulson, High Tidings Editor

debrasachs247@gmail.com

High Tidings November/December 2024

outgoing commodore Lou Vinciguerra addresses the membership

Upcoming Events

• Sunday 11/10 – Club closes for the season

• Saturday 12/14 5:30 – Old Saybrook Torchlight Parade/get together at Penny Lane Pub

Commodore Remarks

welcome Linda Tuzzio, commodore

We had another great turnout at our recent Friendsgiving Dinner.  The clubhouse smelled like turkey and apple crisp when I arrived and the food was plentiful and delicious.  There were four or five homemade stuffings, several yam and sweet potato casseroles, a variety of cranberry sauces, plenty of turkey, and many other tasty side dishes as well as desserts.  Many thanks to the Activities Committee for putting on this event.

The fall Annual Meeting was well attended. We honored Lou Vinciguerra as he completed his two years as Commodore and now takes on the role of Immediate Past Commodore. We thanked Len van Vliet for his thoughtful and competent service to the club as Rear Commodore these last two years, and we welcomed in the new Vice Commodore, Melissa Mason (in absentia) and Rear Commodore, Deb Paulson. We thanked Joe Carroll for his continuing service as Club Secretary, and Jon Waanders for his continued service as Club Treasurer, and our Barrister, Dwight Merriam, for his excellent attention to our legal matters. I look forward to working with all of you as we continue to keep our Club thriving.  

After the meeting, the appetizers and social hour lasted well into the evening.  Warm weather and a beautiful sunset kept us lingering just a while longer.

Congratulations to Deb Paulson, recipient of the Commodore’s Trophy!

This past season, Deb worked on the launch brightwork; sewed new cushions and pillows for the club–along with Suzanne Miller and Cathy Murphy (and with Rich Peters’ decorating eye)  attended and photographed at most Club events, participated in Thursday Night Racing, helped with our Outer Light regatta, and of course, she edits and puts together our NCYC magazine, High Tidings. Thank you for your contributions, Deb!

Many boats are off their moorings for the season with a few still in the cove.  Please remember to put an orange streamer on your mooring before you vacate it for the season. This tells the contractor who removes the moorings to put your mooring on the club property, not the town dock. All boats must be off their mooring by the end of the day November 17. The contractor is coming on the 18th to pull moorings. Also, please take your dinghy, motor, and gasoline home. They do not winter over well at the club with the high tides flooding the bulkhead and parking lot and the understorage of the club. NCYC will keep one of the small boats in the water for member use until November 17.

Soon you will be receiving your invoice for club dues along with a checklist for activities you are willing to assist or participate in. Keep in mind that we are able to keep the rate of our dues down due to the volunteer efforts of the membership. Our committee chair persons use this list to reach out for support in each of their areas. There are many options to choose from: Activities committee and help with an event; Junior Sailing and help repair boats or fill a duty officer time slot during the sailing school; Grounds committee and help keep our landscape flower beds looking top notch or volunteer to be a weed whacker or mow the lawn. Spring and Fall, we have work parties to prepare the club for the boating season and to store things away for the off-season. These are all opportunities to get involved, meet other members, and be a part our NCYC crew! There is also the option to make a contribution in lieu of volunteer time. This is much appreciated and helps the NCYC stay on even keel.

Speaking of the fall cleanup, thank you to all who volunteered at our fall cleanup event on Saturday. The boats are pulled with the smaller ones stored in the house.  Grills are cleaned, grounds and gardens were tended to, and the clubhouse is spotless.

We will be gathering after the Torchlight Parade at Penny Lane Pub.  There is talk of putting a float in the parade. It is something we did years ago and hope to do again. More information to come in emails. Check your emails and the club calendar for other winter events. I hope to see you all this winter!

Linda Tuzzio, Commodore

Vice Commodore Remarks

My trip to Denver this week made it very clear that winter is coming soon.  We received 7” of snow on Thursday! Back in CT, I am excited to support the club in my new job as Vice Commodore and to celebrate the volunteer efforts of our club members.

A few things I want to highlight:

·       Membership Photo Board – Thank you to Nicole Bouvier, who has taken on the chair role, and will be keeping the board up to date as we get new members and to Eddie Addeo who is photographing. We are working to revitalize our membership photo board over the winter. The new board will be slightly bigger and allow us to use regular 4x6 photos. Thanks to Eddie Addeo for getting us started and sharing his photography services at the annual meeting. If you were not able to get a new photo done by Eddie, please send a recent digital photo of you/your family to Nicole at npilon@binsurance.com. Everyone will need to have an updated photo for the board!

·       Torchlight Parade (December 14th) – After a several year hiatus, we’ve decided to have a float again for the parade. Anyone interested in planning or decorating or marching, please let me know (masonahoy@gmail.com). All ages are encouraged!!

·       Ships Store (formerly the chandlery) – Thanks to Julie and Tom Tydeman for the revitalization of our NCYC swag. Just reach out to the Tydemans for your holiday gift shopping!

Thanks to everyone who pitched in to get the inside of the club house ready for winter during the work day on Saturday. The inside of the clubhouse has taken on its winter form of boat/outside furniture/grill storage facility.

For those of you who stay north (like me), I hope to see you at one of the winter gatherings that will be planned. For those who winter in warmer climates, fair winds!

Melissa Mason, Vice Commodore

Rear Commodore Remarks

What a turn out we had for the Fall clean up! So many members showed up and pitched in with such good cheer! By noon, everything had been accomplished–including the very last task: Finishing the keg of beer. As with every other task, this one was set-to with vigor and determination and in no time at all, the keg was empty!

The Optis, teak tables and benches, picnic tables and benches, paddle boards, kayaks, and gas grills (propane tanks are in the outside enclosure) are stored inside the clubhouse for the winter, the bubblers are on the bulkhead waiting to be installed when the weather cools. The 420’s are stored in the back of the parking lot, the launch is on its trailer, gravel has been put down in the new enclosure, and the pot hole in the driveway has been filled in. The gardens have been cut back, and the flower containers emptied. It’s all shipshape! A huge thank you to everyone who pitched in to make this essential project such a fun and cheerful morning.

Deb Paulson, Rear Commodore

Thank you!

As everyone knows, NCYC is a volunteer club. It is our volunteer members who keep the club running smoothly. We have transitioned to the new officer slate, and in addition, there are new Board members and new Flag Officers.

A huge thank you to David Chan for his four years as Fleet Captain. Throughout his tenure, he oversaw early spring planning meetings to discuss ideas for the club cruises and turned the ideas into reality. Club members went to various ports during the annual August cruises and weekend cruises saw us at Mystic Seaport, Mattituck, Shelter Island, Cuttihunk, and Stonington, among others. Our intrepid cruisers weathered interesting weather including a hurricane and a low pressure system that seemed to want to follow the cruise around Long Island. The club would like to thank you, David, for your dedicated work on our behalf. Thank you!

Thank you to our new members of the Board: Al Ebstein, Skip Haskins, Chris Griffin, Mindy Hill, and Dan Ferrier. We are grateful for your service to NCYC!

A heartfelt thank you to our outgoing Board members for their three years of service: Elio Betty, Dan O’Malley, Tom Tydeman. Your ideas and thoughtful communication contributed to the smooth running of NCYC.

Thank you also to Nicole Bouvier for agreeing to update our membership board and to Eddie Addeo for taking such stunning portraits of us for this.

With the stepping down of David Chan as Fleet Captain, we welcome Chris Griffin as our new Fleet Captain. It is Chris who implemented “Discord,” our membership social media app. Discord has made it possible for members to keep in touch while out cruising or just hanging out. Members have connected with each other at harbors, posted amazing photos, and arranged rendevous. Chris will be a wonderful Fleet Captain as he ushers us into a new cruising world! Thank you Chris! If you are not on Discord yet, please pick up one of the flyers in the Club to join or contact any member who is currently on Discord to get an invite from them. You don’t know what you’re missing!

And last but certainly not least, we thank Caroline Miller who is finally allowed to become a laid back member of the club (although she still works her magic with Membership Committee and we doubt she will be laid back ;)) after eight years of Flag Officer service. Thank you so much, Caroline!

Activities

DATE NIGHT POT LUCK AND MOVIE                  

We had a small but fun group for our dinner and a movie activitiy. Our club members are like onions.  So many interesting layers to you all!  I really enjoy the intimate parties. The food was really good, and the conversations were even better.  

Then, with the assistance of Eautha and company helping me set up the night before and fiddling with the DVD player (yes! They DO still exist) we all settled in for some popcorn and the movie, Pirates of the Caribbean.  I have to say we may have had some super-fans of this movie (OTHER than me!)  We all had so many connections to it and everyone seemed to really enjoy kicking up their feet in our always surprisingly comfortable sofas and chairs, and eating popcorn.  A real movie experience!  

I would like to do another movie night in the future, so always looking for good movie suggestions.   

“Now, bring me that horizon, Yo ho me hardies, yo ho!!”  Cpt. Jack Sparrow.

 FRIENDSGIVING 2024

What a great way to end the season!  With about 70 in attendance, we had a wonderful turkey FEAST with all the fixing.  Once again, you all don’t disappoint when it comes to cooking!  Leave your diets aside and let grazing begin!  There were a few different kinds of cranberry sauces, some with a little “kick,” others very traditional. The array of breads were beautiful and bountiful.  Plenty of vegetables from roasted brussels sprouts to the green bean casserole!  Again, too many tasty items to mention but hopefully the pictures will tell a thousand words. The evening would have been a disaster without Elio Betty and Eautha Munkelwitz stepping up to cook a couple of the birds. Thank you also to the master carvers Skip Haskins and Tom Tydeman showing up early with extra sharp knives and who certainly know their way around a bird!  COULD NOT have done it without you all! 

Wanted to say a special thank you to my team who helped me set up the tables and decorated the night before. It was a lot of fun and now we have a few crafty people who, after a short tutorial, know how to do Origami Napkin folding!  So, thank you to Lois LeSieur, Mary Jane Peterson, Riley, and of course my rock Greg.   

The kitchen team kicked #$&!  The best compliment I got was on Saturday morning when the BlueTits came in for their morning swim and I overheard Ann say it didn’t look like anything had happened the night before!!  BRAVO CLEAN UP TEAM!!! 

I also wanted to say a VERY SPECIAL thank you to everyone who picked up the slack on the other events this summer in my absence. You are the glue that kept everyone going and I really appreciate the support.

Our last event of the year is the Torch Light Parade on December 14th.  I have a reservation upstairs at the Penny Lane at 5:30, parade starts at 6:00(ish).   I will be sending a sign-up just so I can confirm the number to them.

I would like to welcome and give a huge THANK YOU to Debbie and Tim Matson who have stepped up to be my right hand assistants for this coming season. I am SO looking forward to working with you!! As you must know by now, I am a PARTY girl! I LOVE throwing events and enjoy the club! When you fill out your Volunteer form, please consider being on the Activities Committee and helping us plan more exciting events for the coming season!

Thanks again for a great season!  Looking forward to next year!

Melissa Clark, Activities

My Summer Vacation, Part 2

by Joe Carroll

 August 16 – 24, 2024

Gentle Reader,

September’s “High Tidings” published part 1 of “My Summer Vacation” which discussed the trip of my sailing vessel Madaket to faraway enchanted Nantucket Island from North Cove. Now I will tell you about the return trip of Madaket from Nantucket to North Cove.

Madaket’s crew consisted of my college roommate John Z from Annapolis, Md- a retired 40-year US Naval Academy professor, and Tony Stanco from Oyster Bay, NY-an attorney who works a side job as a carpenter to make ends meet. John, Tony, and I have known each other since we started college in 1972. I am Joe- the guy who is your North Cove Yacht Club special High Tidings correspondent.

On Wednesday, August 21, we awoke to a beautiful day with blue skies and eleven knots of South by Southwest wind. We were anchored in upper Nantucket Harbor off Coskata Creek, which overlooks the 1117-acre Coatue wildlife refuge. Cactus, 100+ year-old dwarf cedar trees, wild peas, rosemary bushes, sea grass, lady slippers, bear berries, and other plants keep the sands of Coatue from blowing away. Also running around the sandy expanse were deer. Many rare nesting bird species such as American oystercatchers, piping plovers, least terns, saltmarsh sparrow, ground-nesting northern harriers, herons, egrets, and bald eagles were feeding and gliding effortlessly above us screeching out their objections to our presence. Hares and jack rabbits played lovingly together on the beach near us. Madaket was the only boat anchored out in this beautiful Fiji-like place. Similar to the HMS Bounty except there were no female natives paddling out to welcome us. Just dive-bombing terns.

man with oar

At 9AM we weighed anchor with a low tide starting to flood to head back to Old Saybrook. As we motored out of the upper harbor to the main harbor we went up on a hump of sand in the low water between Bass Point and Pocomo Head. Madaket draws 4-foot 7-inches and ran hard aground. We used Madaket’s sail to heal the boat over and slid off the shoal into deeper water, but we needed to use the depth sounder, a weighted line, the feel of the keel touching the bottom, and the “reverse” and “forward” gear of the motor to slowly find our way out of jail. Once over the shoal, we took Madaket into the buoy marked approach to Polpis Harbor (a harbor off Nantucket Harbor) and then threaded Madaket through the serpentine channel back to the main portion of Nantucket Harbor where the town is.

In town we tied up at Nantucket Town dock. It was here that we learned from the uniformed dock attendant that no sailboats are welcomed at town dock. I slipped the kid $20 and he let us tie-up for an hour to do food shopping at the near-by Stop and Shop supermarket, and to allow us to pump out Madaket’s holding tank. Done with chores, we put Madaket’s sail up to the accompaniment of a dock attendant growling, “you can’t sail off the dock!” and sailed off the dock.

We left Nantucket Harbor in a fresh 15 knot SSW breeze, and turned left in a westerly direction toward Vineyard Haven. We sailed over Tuckernuck shoals, and kept an eye on the depth finder and charts so that we didn’t bounce hard off the bottom and break something miles from nowhere. The wind increased steadily to about 30 knots and the wave heights significantly increased as we passed the unprotected area known as Muskeget Channel. There, we had North Atlantic swells breaking and blowing water into the cockpit. Our speed was about 10 knots with an occasional jump to 11 knots. Chappaquiddick Island appeared fast, and we passed about one mile north of the island and continued to East Chop/ West Chop on Martha’s Vineyard. The tide was tricky off West Chop as Nantucket Sound and Vineyard Sound meet each other in a great confluence there, and we started beating our way into the wind in Vineyard Sound toward Cuttyhunk Island. But it was getting dark and we pulled Madaket into Tarpaulin Cove at Naushon Island for the night.

heading to tarpaulin cove

We anchored off the rocky beach not too far from the Tarpaulin Cove lighthouse. There were three boats anchored in the sheltered cove with us overnight. One of the boats was a mega yacht, and the other a 50-foot sailboat, so 30-foot Madaket felt happy that it was in a peer group. Tony cooked a sumptuous swordfish  meal on Madaket’s gas stove, with baked potatoes and a cake in the oven. Although the wind howled in Vineyard Sound all night, Tarpaulin Cove was calm, and we slept soundly, awaking around 9AM. We had breakfast, made phone calls to our loved ones and waited for the wind to calm down, which it didn’t.

Tarpaulin Cove

We decided to reef Madaket’s mainsail and sail out of Tarpaulin Cove toward Cuttyhunk Island in a fair tide, and then onto Block Island. The wind stayed pretty steady from 18 to 30 knots and we had to beat against it to get out of Vineyard Sound and travel along the Massachusetts/Rhode Island Coast. The reefed Madaket leveled off and behaved very well traveling at about 6-7 knots to windward bucking the seas and pointing high as we tacked along the coast. We travelled through the wind mills off Newport and Narraganset bay. Eventually, we zigzagged against the wind to pass Point Judith, and then along the Rhode Island coast beyond Mattunuck. At this point, we tacked and took Madaket South out to Block Island arriving at the Great Salt Pond Harbor at dusk. We found the NCYC mooring in the dark, however, somebody was on it, so we chose to anchor in the anchorage to the East of the entrance to the Great Salt Pond. Luckily, I have two good anchors sized for a 75-foot boat and about 300+feet of nylon rope. We had no dragging problems. Tony cooked up spaghetti and meatballs with baked garlic bread and a tossed salad with homemade garlic vinaigrette dressing.  It had been a long day of sailing, and we all crashed and slept until 9AM the next morning (Friday August 23). We awoke to a beautiful blue sky morning and saw the boats anchored around us that we hadn’t seen in the dark.

A guy named Aldo VII came by in a boat and sold us pastries and bread which we ate for breakfast with omelets and sausages. No Dinty Moore or Chef Boyardee on Madaket!. After breakfast we hailed a launch going by us and “Louie”-a very senior citizen from Clinton, Ct came over and took us to the dock. Only $4.00/person which is half the price of the $8.00 Nantucket Taxi ride. The water taxi lands in front of the “Oar” restaurant, and we walked into town by walking left, then right, then left, and left again to the beach. We walked along the beach toward “The National Hotel” which overlooks Block Island’s Old Harbor. We met new friends on the porch as we hoisted up and consumed a couple of rounds of Narraganset Beer.

Next, we walked to Abrams exotic animal zoo and visited with the animals. There were turtles, bulls, Billy goats, a camel, and several other species.  A goat repeatedly butted his horns against the fence that I was leaning on so I think he had taken a fancy to me.

In the little store on the premises, we purchased some fresh vegetables and eggs for dinner and breakfast. Afterwards, we walked over to nearby Aldo’s restaurant and had a late lunch. The wind was kicking up about 10-15 knots and we decided to start our trek home, stopping on the way to the water taxi to buy some gifts for loved ones.  

We taxied out to the Madaket, weighed anchor, and sailed out Great Salt Pond in 13 knots of wind. We headed for Stonington and arrived at Wicopesset Passage with 3 knots of tide against us, and Madaket  sailed through the dangerous passage (off the East end of Fisher’s Island) to avoid the long haul of bucking winds and foul current in Fishers Island Sound. After safely emerging from Wicopesset passage, we sailed across Fishers Island Sound to Stonington following a fleet of Friday night sail boat racers. We anchored north of the outermost jetty near a 100 foot yacht. We had dinner, and went to bed. After breakfast, we weighed anchor, and were underway to North Cove Yacht Club by 8am.

Unfortunately, after days of lots of wind, this day the wind was 0-5 knots from the west (where we were headed), so we had to motor and we  reached North Cove Yacht Club dock around noon. After cleaning up the boat, the three of us went to my house for showers and lunch, and John and Tony headed home to Annapolis, Md and Oyster Bay, Long Island respectively. 

We had a great trip, and made a lot of memories. We were able to meet challenges of the sea, and we appreciated the natural beauty, and sleeping out in the spacious cockpit of Madaket under the clear starry nights in remote areas of  Nantucket, and Block Island. I also got a chance to take Nantucket family members and friends out on my boat for sailboat rides around upper Nantucket Harbor. Miss Paulson: It was a great summer vacation.  [What a delightful account, Joe. A+  Miss Paulson.]

The Ship’s Store

From the Ship’s Store…  

Thank you to everyone who supported the Ship’s Store this season!

Christmas is right around the corner… if you are looking for the perfect Christmas gift we have you covered with NCYC polo shirts, long sleeve sun shield shirts and t-shirts in several sizes. There are also a variety of hats including; white bucket hats, visors, baseball caps and a few knit hats are left as well. The wine/drink tumblers with a bottle of his or hers favorite wine or drink choice would make a great gift too! NCYC coozies, stickers, and floatable key chains are perfect for stocking stuffers!

If you are interested in purchasing any items or just taking a closer look, please feel free to contact us and we are happy to meet you at the club.

We welcome and appreciate any feedback on purchased items as well as ideas for merchandise you would like to see next season.

Tom & Julie Tydeman  

tjtydeman@gmail.com

Tom Cell: 860-877-3343

Julie Cell: 860-877-3344

Our Stewards

If there was an occasion where you received exceptional service, perhaps just help on a foul weather day, balancing gear, or assistance docking from any of our Stewards, feel free to send them a little something with some kind words. While gratuities are not a necessity here at North Cove, members are free to consider it at the close of the season for our regular operators.

Our regular Launch Operators:

Tatiana Anderson

32 River Road

Old Saybrook, CT. 06475

Stefan Golicz

536 Main Street

Old Saybrook, CT. 06475

Steven Lee

2 Maynard Circle

Old Saybrook, CT. 06475

Jack Cardello
2 Deerfield Road
Old Saybrook, CT 06475

My NCYC Shower Antics

by Melissa Clark

[Ed. note: Yes, this story is G rated.]

This weekend I FINALLY got to spend an overnight on the boat!  Sunday morning was a cool, brisk morning. I took our dog out for a short walk and got a little chill.  So, I decided “Hmm!  What a great day to use our fantastic new club shower room!” Upon entry, LOVELY!!  Loved all the little details and the hair dryer, INSPIRED!!! 

I set up all my little potions, lotions and bags on every table, hook, and stool available (didn’t want to leave any surface unused!) and began to examine the shower. Someone taller than me must have been the last to use the shower so I needed to adjust the head. No biggie! Seems pretty straightforward, move the head down a little with the three articulating arms and start her up!  That’s where it all went wrong!  I turned the shower on full blast, and the pressure shot the head up and immediately saturated my entire fleece clad left side with pretty cold water!! BUT that wasn’t the worst of it! Of course, my first instinct was to shut the curtain door to stop getting wet. Because I didn’t notice all the tensioning screws on the LEFT side of every joint, I must have loosened the top joint because water started shooting out OVER the top of the shower and (thankfully) into the SINK ON THE OTHER SIDE!!! And not just a trickle! I mean a full-on stream of water!! So, back into the deluge I go and shut everything off! Dripping wet and now even colder than when I first started this adventure, I tighten EVERYTHING up and started over.  MUCH BETTER!!

What a glorious, hot shower!  But a word about the pressure.  No need for a luffa or any exfoliating scrubs as that water pressure will remove layers of salt even from an old crusty sailor who had been out at sea for weeks!  I think my hair even came out a shade lighter!! (BTW, that too is adjustable I later discovered.)

So, to conclude, if I were to tell anyone about our fabulous shower, I would say, examine it closely BEFORE you turn on the water, tall people, please remember us shorties, but mostly, ENJOY the fantastic benefit of a clean, hot shower that we have at our disposal!!!   

Melissa C

Railroad Bridge Construction Update

This is an update from O&G/Tutor Perini, the contractor for the Amtrak CT River Bridge Replacement Project in Old Saybrook / Old Lyme CT.

Looking ahead at the next few weeks for marine work at the bridge site we will be conducting surveys, confirmatory borings from barges, and continuing our submarine cable location. No wake zones are appreciated, as we will have divers in the water directly at the bridge site.

Working hours are still Monday - Friday from 7:00 AM - 4:30 PM.

Lou Vinciguerra, Immediate Past Commodore

survey boat

geotech borings

From the Chaplain’s Quiet Corner of the Cove

The first sentence in North Cove Yacht Club’s mission statement reads “The object of this club shall be to encourage the sport of yachting, to promote the science of seamanship and navigation.” A brief review of the history of seamanship revealed the following: 

According to the U.S. Naval Institute as early as 1833 an American sailing vessel was held liable for a collision with another sailing vessel having the right of way because she was navigating at sea, in daylight in clear weather, with no watch on deck but the man at the wheel. In July of 1935, the Supreme Court clearly stated the first rule of seamanship is “the duty of the lookout…Upon nothing else does the safety of those concerned so much depend”.  

Forever mindful of our stated mission, shall we not place as our first priority that of looking out for each other? To look out for the danger of potential hazards. To look out for the delight of pure beauty. To look out for the devotion of present friendship. May we always be vigilant and look out for each other.

Peace,

Jean

From the Editor

Thank you to all of you who have contributed to this issue! The next issue will come out in January and will encompass January, February, and March. Beginning in April, High Tidings will again be monthly.

I particularly wish to thank member Eddie Addeo–a professional photographer–for taking the superb photos of the Fall clean up! Due to my becoming Rear Commodore and having other duties that day, Eddie stepped in and volunteered to take photos. They are so amazing, he’s now the official photographer of High Tidings! (This is probably news to him ;)

Of course, Eddie isn’t the only amazing photographer we have in the club. Thank you also to: Joe Carroll, Ann Chan, Melissa Clark, Jean Golicz, Kathy Reddington, Linda Tuzzio, Lou Vinciguerra

If you have anything you’d like to put in High Tidings, please email me at debrasachs247@gmail.com

High Tidings October 2024

thanks to cathy murphy and kathy reddington for our gorgeous gardens this year

Upcoming Events

• Informal Grill Night, ongoing Wednesdays

• Tuesdays until 10/8, 5:30-6:30 – Restorative Yoga at the Club

• Friday 10/11, 6:00 – Pot Luck Movie Night at the Club

• Friday 10/25, 6:00-9:00 – Friendsgiving

• Saturday 11/2, 4:00 – Annual Meeting at the Club

• Saturday 11/9 – Club Cleanup & Boat Storage

Commodore Remarks

past commodores at the past commodores dinner in september

Avast members …  Our boating season is not at its Bitter End yet and if you haven’t been watching your email, the Town Harbor Management Commission has given an extension to the mooring haul date until November 17th.  Woe betide any mariner who has their boat on a mooring after that date.  NCYC will keep the whalers and skiff in the water until that date for member use along with the blue rowboat, “Sea Legs” to access their boats.

A few reminders.  Members must tie an orange ribbon on their mooring ball when they vacate the mooring for the season to signal the contractor that hauls the moorings to store the mooring on the yacht club property.  Otherwise it will end up at the town dock and need to be relocated. If you are a snowbird on you way South or forgot,  just ask a friend or launch driver to tie one on for you.  There is a basket of them by the steward’s office.
Next, it’s a good idea to remove your pick-up buoys prior to the moorings being pulled out. They tend to get tangled, damaged, or lost in the process of hauling moorings onto the barge then lifted again on land and relocated to the storage spot.

 I have noted a significant desire for members to keep dinghies in the water and as you can see in the photo the dinghy dock is chock-a-block with boats. This is a topic your BOG will be looking at regarding ways to make this work better. One thing we ask now is that when you tie your dinghy up, please do not tie it tight to the dock. Leave a good 4 feet or so of slack in your dinghy painter so that other members can separate boats and get theirs up next to the dock to unload then they will put slack in theirs to allow others to squeeze in. Also, please keep the end of the ramp dock clear so members with dinghies on racks, under clubhouse, or on their cars can launch and retrieve them utilizing the ramp.
I’ll pipe down now on this topic.

[ed. note] oops, there's mine...

  I’m sure you will hear details about this later in this issue, but I am so proud of our NCYC racers, Gumdrop and Madaket, who, during the rough conditions of the Cross Sound Challenge race responded to the Mayday call of a fellow racer.   
  There are few changes in the upcoming social calendar such as a “Friendsgiving” event and a pot luck movie night! Maintain a sharp lookout on the NCYC website calendar to stay abreast of happenings at the club.
   This is one of my favorite times of year with the cooler temps, nice sailing breezes.  Trips up river to see the beautiful turning of the leaves.  Watching the Swallows murmurating at sunset to bed down for the night in the marsh at Goose Island on their southern migration.
Or just enjoying the view and great company on the back deck of the clubhouse!
Hope you all get out and enjoy!

Best!

Lou Vinciguerra, Commodore

Vice Commodore Remarks

Another summer has come and gone. Rob and I didn't make it on the club cruise but managed to join up with the club boats at Coecles Harbor. With our limited time boating this year, I would say we had the most fun at club events. It is such a great place to have a large gathering. The kitchen is well designed, the food is delicious, but it is the people that make the party! 

As we wind down another season, I'd like to thank the informal 'beer club' that donated $125 to purchase special tourniquets for emergencies. One is kept in the first aid drawer in the steward's office and one is in the AED box on the wall. These tourniquets are instrumental in stopping bleeding from a limb.  

As you go through your summer reading pile, consider dropping off a few novels for our bookcase. I picked up CUTTING FOR STONE but haven't read much yet. The beginning is heavy and I'm not sure where the story is going. Looks like it will be a cold weather book for me.

Shout out to the Thursday night racers! A fun bunch of people who love to sail. Thanks for a eegreat season!

[Ed. note: And thank you, Linda, for all dinners you provided!]

Belle 8 Race Results

the top three finishers in the belle 8. From left to right: Sharon Tracy on Madaket, 3rd place; Charlotte Freeland on Gumdrop, 1st place; Sarah Ferrier on Osprey, 2nd place. Congratulations!

Mayday!

Report of The Cross Sound Challenge Rescue, Saturday September 21, 2024

By Joe Carroll

Saturday September 21, 2024 Essex Corinthian Yacht Club held their Cross Sound Challenge. Two North Cove Yacht Club boats participated in the race: Madaket and Gumdrop. 

Madaket’s crew consisted of tactician 90-year-old Jack Lombard-a world class Star champion sailor who is prone to “yelling” out “guidance,”  Deb Paulson-a navigator with a dolphin-like sonar sense to get Madaket where it had to go, a guy named “Joe” on the wheel, and 24-year-old Tyler Clinton-a brawny eager/beaver lad who yearns to crank Madaket’s Lewmar #58 winch to bring in the mainsheet. Especially when it is tensioned by 32+ knot winds as it was during the Cross Sound Challenge. Each and every one of Madaket’s crew makes up a winning team.    

Gumdrop Skipper Elio Betty had North Cove Yacht Club’s Riley Anderson and Charlotte Freeland on board, as well as boating industry work associates of Elio, Michael and Anastasia, who came from New York and Maine respectively for an exhilarating weekend of Fastnet style sailing.

While waiting for the Race Committee to set up the course and radio instructions, Madaket joined the other boats careening along the Fenwick and Knollwood Beach shoreline. The wind was accelerating and running through a nozzle of mansions, trees, and land masses. Madaket’s wind meter was flashing gusts up to 29 knots. Sometimes the wind would temporarily back off to 18 only to intensely blast and knock the boat over on its side with sudden gusts. The Race Committee had problems setting up the starting line. Their Mark boat accidentally ran over the pin, and got the rope wrapped around its prop. The Mark boat could not free themselves of the pin, and so the Race Committee boat had to set the pin and call Sea Tow to tow the Mark boat. After an hour delay, Race Committee announced the course. We were being sent over to Red Bell Buoy #2PG on the east side of the approach to Plum Gut after passing East of Bell 8. We’d have to round the buoy to port, and return to finish at our starting position via sailing east of Bell 8 to about 3/4 mile off of Katharine Hepburn’s house in Fenwick. I didn’t favor this course because we’d have a huge wind with us and a big wind against us on the way back. Also, the intelligence coming back to me from off-shore seamen was about the adverse tide. There was surging water coming into Long Island Sound from the Atlantic, and it was causing the strong tidal currents running at 4-5 knots from the east. This coupled with a high NNE wind spells TROUBLE.

Despite my apprehensions, we got started. We had an okay start, and we were barreling along to Bell 8 with Gumdrop slightly ahead, and then slightly behind Madaket. We were trading places with Gumdrop all the way across to the Bell buoy #2PG. It got very rough, and the wind meter was registering over 30knots at times. This video shows the start. Afterwards, it got too rough to film.

 Nearing Plum Island, the waves became as tall as rogue waves arriving with great frequency and they were breaking. With the help of Jack’s instruction, I was often able to position Madaket on the crest of these waves and surf the boat down the wave face. We were moving just like the whale boats on a Nantucket Sleigh ride. I don’t believe that Madaket ever went so fast. Rounding the buoy was difficult since we had to get the highly tensioned mainsheet in and tack all while trying to keep from slamming into the buoy. We took the buoy wide, and slowly but surely got the main in with Tyler cranking away as Jack yelled at him to go faster. Once we trimmed the main, Madaket accelerated to 6-7 knots. Meanwhile, Gumdrop had quickly rounded and within minutes went ahead of us as we bucked north close-hauled through the waves. The goal was to bring Madaket to a point where we could fall off and reach to Old Saybrook and surf back at great catboat speed. The strategy worked coming across the Sound.

We had travelled probably two miles or so from the Plum Island Bell Buoy #2PG mark on our way across to Old Saybrook when Madaket’s radio and our hand-held radio in the cockpit issued a “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday Madaket this is Dorian, we are sinking.”  It was hard to process this immediately but when we saw Dorian just ahead of us and clearly taking on water, we realized it was all for real. We radioed back that we heard them and were coming. We dropped the sail, started the engine, and reached Dorian. It was an ugly scene. Dorian was truly sinking, and its crew of six were topside shouting for help. Seconds later Gumdrop arrived. 

It was clear that a rescue would have to be executed with a boat going in on the windward side (eastern) because Dorian’s boom and other rigging was hanging off its port side. Gumdrop went in and got her bow close to Dorian’s starboard stern quarter in the rough seas. One of Dorian’s crew jumped across the gap between the boats instead of waiting for Gumdrop to get closer. The person was caught by Elio-a strong guy who caught the jumper as he hit the stern pulpit. The next person got off Dorian and onto Gumdrop more gracefully. Due to the rough seas pushing the boats apart, Gumdrop needed to go back around to get into position again. There was little time to lose at this point. Madaket was positioning to go in when Fathom, a 42-foot sailboat with a powerful engine and bow thrusters skippered by owner Tim Brewer came up out of nowhere it seemed, paused alongside Dorian and within seconds the remaining four people were off Dorian and safely onto Fathom.

Fathom rescues the remaining crew from dorian

the view from madaket as dorian goes under

Moments later, Dorian went down. We watched that beautiful vessel-a Pearson yawl that was loved and cared for and which had graced the Essex waterfront over many decades, slip below the surface of Long Island Sound, a mere ten minutes after the Mayday call. Dorian went down bow first with her stern in the air just like a torpedoed war ship, leveled out under water, and then descended. A very sad scene.

We motored home with Gumdrop and Fathom. We were all saddened by the event, and grateful that everyone got off. We didn’t have much time for Hail Mary’s during the actual event, but I believe that we were being looked after by the Almighty during the sinking-which could have gone very south.

No one yet knows what happened to Dorian, and perhaps never will as she sank in 150 feet of water. Deb and I had a discussion about thru-hull fittings. Deb said that she closes her head and other thru-hull valves while sailing and only temporarily opens the ball valve for the head if it is being used. I think that we should all practice this, or set up a method where the head can be used without the need of an open thru-hull. Like not using seawater for the head. There was a lot of pressure on the hulls of the boats racing in the Cross Sound Challenge, especially while traversing the rough surf waves while approaching the Plumb Island buoy #2PG.

Don’t assume that because there are a few boats tending to an emergency that everything is in hand. It was great to see Fusion, with NCYC member Al Ebstein as part of the crew, show up in the middle of the rescue. They were a mile ahead and turned around when they heard the Mayday call. It added comfort to us because if Dorian’s mast had become intertwined with another boat, or ropes got caught in propellers or any number of abnormalities happened there is safety in numbers. Also, don’t assume that a rescue boat has an agile crew to pluck people out of the water, if it comes to that. Many dangerous things could have happened during this rescue that would require multiple hands helping.

It is my belief that Elio Betty and Tim Brewer should be recognized for what they did. They both put themselves at extreme risk, and they coolly and successfully pulled off the rescue. Elio showed us the way in and how to approach the boat, and that people can be taken off using Dorian as a platform, versus plucking people out of rough water. All of the above was nightmarish, and people need to reflect on this rescue to lessen the chance that you end up needing to be saved in adverse sea conditions and to know what to do if it does happen to you. A good place to start is the Safety at Sea courses, offered both in-person and on-line.

Joe Carroll

2024 Launch Operations

It’s been a great season apart from a few rainy weekends. However, those rainy days don’t deter our NCYC salty sailors. I hope everyone made it an enjoyable season. Tanya will be closing our launch operations at 5pm on Monday, October 14th, 2024 (Columbus Day).

If you have decided to extend your season on the mooring to 11/17/24 with the new Harbor Commission’s season extension, you will be using your own mode of transportation or the NCYC work boats. Please consider wearing your life vest when out on the water especially when you’re alone. With the season winding down, there are less of us on our boats and around the club to keep an eye out for one another.

As always during the month of October, I’d like to take note of this past season and give thanks to our Club Stewards / Launch Captains. This has been an exemplary year for our team. Every shift was filled by our regular launch operators and backed up by various qualified club members–keeping the launch going without a gap. Thanks to Dave Miller, Len van Vliet, Tom Tydeman, Dave Chan, Walter Gayeski, and RJ Lavalee for filling those open spots.  A special thanks to Elio Betty for keeping our NCYC Launch running with quick mid-season repairs. Our launch crew had a busy season this year where it seemed more folks were using their boats more often than ever before.

If there was an occasion where you received exceptional service, perhaps just help on a foul weather day, balancing gear, or assistance docking from any of our Stewards, feel free to send them a little something with some kind words. While gratuities are not a necessity here at North Cove, members are free to consider it at the close of the season for our regular operators.

On behalf of all our launch operators, we thank you for making our launch trips an enjoyable experience. Meeting your guests, hearty conversations of recent get-aways, and who kicked whose butts on race night will no doubt carry us through to next season with fond memories and laughs.  We appreciate your patience on those busy days, and we thank you for making the launch the start and end of each of your trips throughout our NCYC boating season. I wish you and your families a safe and enjoyable winter.

All the best!

Bill Porter / Launch Operations

Our regular Launch Operators:

Tatiana Anderson

32 River Road

Old Saybrook, CT. 06475

Stefan Golicz

536 Main Street

Old Saybrook, CT. 06475

Steven Lee

2 Maynard Circle

Old Saybrook, CT. 06475

Jack Cardello
2 Deerfield Road
Old Saybrook, CT 06475

 Activities

Hello North Cove Members! Bet you thought I fell of the face of the earth!  Well, I didn’t and I’M BACK!  So, let’s make the last month of the season memorable!

We are starting the first Friday, October 11th at 6:00 with a potluck dinner and a movie!  Dust off your crockpots and casserole dishes and let’s share dinner together and then watch a good movie. Should we do a sailing related movie or watch something a little more “in the mood of October” with a thriller?   I have a few movies in mind but would love some suggestions.  Feel free to email me with your ideas

I am sorry if anyone is disappointed, but Octoberfest will not be held this year. I know some will be missing it, but as they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder, so we will skip it this year and maybe bring it back next year. 

Back by popular demand, FRIENDSGIVING!  It will be on Friday, October 25th at 6:00.  We will finish the year with a huge turkey dinner and give thanks for the friendships, new and old, that we have made at the club, a great summer of sailing, and toast the next year.  Last year we had an abundance of incredibly good food!  Looking forward to what you all cook up this time.  This year I will need turkey roasters (the club will provide the turkeys) and carvers again.  So please look for the signup and volunteer.  Set up and clean up people are also a necessity!

So that’s it for the activities for the year.  Again, I apologize for not being available this summer.  I hope everyone enjoyed the events that were held, and I look forward to being more present next year!

Thanks for all your support!

Melissa Clark, Activities Chair

Pizza and Bingo Night!

Great to see everyone that turned out for Pizza And Bingo night. We had a lot of fun!  All the different varieties of pizza to sample were fantastic.

And then the Bingo!  It got pretty funny with the cacophony of sounds that began to rise as the numbers were called and players realized they had that number on their cards.  It was pretty easy to tell when they were getting close to BINGO!  

A great night all in all!  Thank you for playing!

Cruising News

The weather has been kind to the northeast with little adverse conditions as compared to the rest of the country. There were numerous impromptu cruises throughout the summer and thanks to our harbor commission, we have an extended sailing season into November. To all a continued and extended sailing season and many safe sorties.

 David Chan, Fleet Captain

The Ship’s Store

From the Ship’s Store…

 New lightweight, summer Port & Company baseball hats with an adjustable velcro back in Khaki and Navy with our NCYC Logo arrived a couple of weeks ago. Please stop by the store and check them out!

We are not planning on adding new merchandise until the start of next season unless we have interest in anything specific. One item we considered are knit hats with our logo. These hats can be useful to keep on board for the chilly days ahead on the water. Please send us a text or email if you would consider buying one. If we have enough interest in the knit hats or any other specific item, we are happy to place an order. We look forward to hearing from you!

If you are interested in purchasing anything or just getting a closer look, please contact us directly or see the steward on duty. 

As always, each and every purchase is appreciated, thank you for supporting NCYC!

Tom & Julie Tydeman

tjtydeman@gmail.com

Tom Cell: 860-877-3343

Julie Cell: 860-877-3344

From the Chaplain’s Quiet Corner of the Cove

Dear Friends,

Perhaps you have noticed it is becoming quieter here in town. Many of you will embark on journeys this month to secure your boats before the winter. I wish you a safe voyage and leave you with this poem, Bilbo's Last Song by J.R.R. Tolkien. 

Day is ended, dim my eyes, 

But journey long before me lies. 

Farewell, friends! 

I hear the call. 

The ship's beside the stony wall.

Foam is white and waves are grey;

beyond the sunset leads my way. 

Foam is salt, the wind is free; 

I hear the rising of the sea. 

Farewell, friends! The sails are set,

The wind is east, the moorings fret.

Shadows long before me lie, 

beneath the ever-bending sky, 

but islands lie behind the Sun 

that I shall raise ere all is done;

lands there are to west of West, 

where night is quiet and sleep is rest. 

Guided by the Lonely Star, 

beyond the utmost harbour-bar, 

I'll find the heavens fair and free, 

and beaches of the Starlit Sea.

Ship my ship! I seek the West,

and fields and mountains ever blest. 

Farewell to Middle-earth at last.

 I see the star above my mast!     

Peace,

Jean

From the Editor

As always, many thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue. On a personal note, it was very emotional for me to watch Dorian sink and I’m unbelievably grateful to be part of a club that puts safety and service ahead of personal gain. Responding to the Mayday call, the yachts “retired” (officially dropped out) of the race to help, thereby forfeiting top race results. I think I speak for the entire club when I say thank you to Joe Carroll on Madaket; Elio Betty, Riley Anderson and Charlotte Freeland on Gumdrop; and Al Ebstein on Fusion.

Deb Paulson, Editor High Tidings

debrasachs247@gmail.com

Photos in this issue by: Craig and Lisa Elliott, Stefan Golicz, Bob Murphy, Deb Paulson, Linda Tuzzio, Tom Tydeman, and Lou Vinciguerra

High Tidings September 2024

Pau hana gets the pot of gold!

Upcoming Events

• Informal Grill Night: Ongoing Wednesdays

• 9/3, Tuesdays until 10/6, 5:30-6:30 – Yoga at the Club

• 9/4, Wednesday 6:30 PM – Monthly Activities Meeting at the Club

• 9/8, Sunday 10:00 AM – Belle 8 Race

• 9/9, Monday 4:00 PM – Past Commodore’s Dinner

• 9/27, Friday 6:00 PM – Pizza and Bingo Social

Commodore Remarks

With August now in our wake, we look to September for some cooler weather sailing days.  Tropical Storm Debbie dropped a wrench into the plans for the first week of our club cruise.  Serenity made it to Block Island and we just stayed there most of the week and made the best of the on-off rain events and toured a lot of the island.  Not a bad place to be stuck on the club mooring.

The second week saw more boats out meeting up in various harbors with a finale at Coecles Harbor. I think the count was eight boats attending.  We all had a fun dinghy adventure ride and walk to the town center to visit a brewery next to an excellent Mexican restaurant.  The Discord app on our phones turned out to be a great way to stay in touch with boats’ locations and plans, as well as sharing some great photos: videos of sunsets, dolphins, people swimming with their dorys, cocktail parties in various boats, etc. If you want to install it and get connected you’ll need to talk to one of my daughters or NCYC member Chris Griffin, who originally set it up for the club.  I’m no help there.

New at the club is our fencing around the dumpster and septic and propane area which was completed last week.  Looks great!  Next with member manpower we plan to level the interior, place pavers or concrete and then install some storage racks for grill propane tanks and whaler fuel cans.  Stay tuned for emails looking for help with this. Stayed tuned also for emails about our annual fall clean-up day–a day where we typically have a good turnout and lots of fun. The Ice Cream Social had a good turnout with several rounds of competitive Bingo!

Coming up Sept 8th is the annual Belle 8 regatta where a women must be at the helm.  Find a female to drive your boat or volunteer to crew or be on race committee.

Enjoy your September on the water!

Best!

Lou Vinciguerra, Commodore

Vice Commodore Remarks

Reciprocal Yacht Clubs

What are reciprocal yacht club privileges? Many yacht clubs offer us moorings, the use of their facilities, and the launch for a reasonable fee. Some yacht clubs require proof of yacht club membership. NCYC provides business sized cards signed by the club secretary to indicate active membership. If you need a membership card, please see Joe Carroll, NCYC Secretary.

Recently, we stayed on a Shelter Island Yacht Club mooring in Dering Harbor. The launch picked us up and we had a spectacular dinner at the club. There is a bar and bar menu as well as an outside patio. The shower rooms are in a separate building. It is a lovely place to visit and is in close proximity to the ferry over to Greenport. The island is great for walks and hikes, restaurants, and a few shops.

Reciprocal privileges are one of the benefits of NCYC membership that make traveling by boat a pleasure. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Linda Tuzzio, Vice Commodore

Block Island Mooring

As many (most) of you know, NCYC has a mooring at Block Island for member use. One of the requirements to hold this mooring is to verify to the Block Island Harbor Master that our club has indeed made use of this mooring. If you used the mooring this season, PLEASE contact Caroline Miller or John Waanders and tell them the dates (approximate is ok) so they can put this info together to submit. We are working on a more structured solution for next season, but for now, this is what we have.

Thank you so much for your cooperation. We don’t want to lose our BI mooring!

Jon Waanders, john@waanders.net 860-661-4395

Caroline Miller, c.d.miller@comcast.net. 860-391-9144

Junior Sailing

Junior sailing wrapped up an excellent season with some of our sailors doing some extra sailing during the month of August. Some may be surprised to know the program only runs for 6 weeks and ends at the beginning of August, but the instructor team greatly enjoyed the vacation time.

The season was filled with fun days in the sun (not a single stormy day!) which allowed sailors to spend each and every day on the water. Some highlights were the Friday event of North Cove Olympics, consisting of various nautical and sailing competitions, plus a compete for best team dance! The 420 class enjoyed time sailing on the river and by the end of the summer, built up skills to sail across to poverty beach. Regatta day was a favorite amongst sailors competing every other Thursday against their peers, and enjoying lunch on the water rafted up together in the flats, plus some fun swim time.

In addition to our regular program, we had many sailors who participated in racing this season. We continued our Monday Night Racing tradition and added in Wednesday night practices for those who would be competing and traveling to many regattas across the region. We had a record number of Optis compete each Monday night averaging 8 to 10 Optis each week! 16 sailors attended on our last evening for our cumulative season awards.

Sailors who joined our official race team had some unforgettable experiences traveling to many different clubs across CT and RI! North Cove was represented by our sailors at 10 different events this year!

In the 420 class, Robert Bassett (3 events), Kory Wells (3 events), Daniel Maura (2 events), Luca DeAngelo (2 events), and Maddie Muratori (2 events).

In the Opti Class, Cordsen Enman (7 events), Hudson Lentnek (8 events), Charlotte Skidmore (4 events), Wyatt Kruse (5 events), and joining for one event at Pettipaug in Essex: Hayden Hand, Jack Scierka, Delia Becker, Harlan Marchaj, Hayden Arlaud, Henry Arlaud.

We continue to bring a great crowd of sailors to the Pettipaug regatta in Essex. Many of our sailors experienced their first travel regatta and got a taste of some strong river currents. NCYC brought 14 sailors, our biggest regatta crowd ever!

Our North Cove Sailors also took home awards for the overall season from the Eastern Connecticut Sailing Association.

Hudson Lentnek was the first NCYC sailor to win the Iron Sailor Award for her participation in 8 events this summer! Notable finishes were Fifth place in Blue Fleet at the Mason’s Island Regatta and a very exciting First Place at the Pine Orchard Regatta!

Cordsen Enman participated in 6 events across ECSA, achieving top 3 at every event and a First Place at the Pettipaug regatta. This placed Cord at Third in Red Fleet for all of Eastern CT! Cord went on to participate in three days of racing at Opti New Englands at Newport where he sailed against top sailors from Annapolis, Canada, and more! Proudly waving the NCYC burgee for all to see.

Cord and Hudson both continue their training during the off season through the Mudratz program to keep their skills sharp for next year.

None of these great accomplishments are possible without the support of the NCYC parents and members. It takes a team to transport boats to each of these events day after day.

One last thank you to all those who attended, donated, and volunteered for the Pasta Dinner Fundraiser. If you’d like to help aid the search for the new coach boat, please reach out to Amyvinci94@gmail.com

Cheers to another great season!

Program Director, Amy Vinciguerra

Belle 8 Race

Sunday, September 8th is the Annual Belle 8 Race. This race features the women, and a woman has to be at the helm. This race encourages women sailors to show off their skills and decision making, so preferably there is not a man standing eight inches away from her, giving orders. Let the guys do the winching and grunt work and follow your orders!

Women at the Helm!

Belle 8 on September 8th 

Join us for North Cove Yacht Club’s Belle 8 regatta featuring women at the helm!  Boats with a crew of all women will receive a credit towards their PHRF! 

To register, contact Amy Vinciguerra amyvinci94@gmail.com

Registration is $20 per boat (checks payable to North Cove Yacht Club) 

Skippers meeting at 10am with a noon start. 

Awards and food hosted after racing at approximately 3pm 

Amy Vinciguerra, North Cove Yacht Club Program Director

Thursday Night Racing

Thursday, September 5 is the last official Thursday Night Race. After a more than three month long season, Madaket and Acamar are in close contention for third place overall. Kewalo and Resilience have only a three-point difference for an, erm, lower place standing. Looks like Osprey has clinched first place overall, and Gumdrop second. Congratulations to everyone!

One of the perks of racing in the Thursday Night Series (beyond the wonderful grill supper provided by Linda Tuzzio) are the sunsets.

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

by Joe Carroll

My Summer Vacation

August 16 – 24, 2024

Recently, Miss Paulson asked the class to write a report about our summer vacations. Normally, I spend the summer running around the neighborhood, smoking corn silk, playing baseball in the factory parking lot, and getting chased by the police. However, this summer I packed up the Madaket and sailed off with my school chums Tony and John to Nantucket Island.

My vacation started on Friday afternoon, August 16. My friends John and Tony arrived at the North Cove Yacht Club around 5pm. John drove from Annapolis, Md where he was Known as “Professor” at the US Naval Academy. He retired from there after 42 years of service. Tony arrived from Seacliff NY where he works as a lawyer and landlord. John and Tony are the same age as I am. They wanted to leave North  Cove immediately Friday night. However, since I don’t use Madaket at night unless I’m returning from a Thursday night race, the running lights needed to be rewired, and working. John and Tony went to work right away getting the boat ready for a night voyage. I purchased the hardware from “West Marine”, and by 7:30pm the boat’s running and anchor lights were working.

There was an outgoing tide from North Cove and the Connecticut River that was due to start at around 9pm. Naturally, that would mean that we’d have to get going in the dark. Something that I don’t like to do, but John and Tony love sailing at night under the stars. So, we strapped Tony’s dirty/greasy dinghy to Madaket’s cabin top and left around 10pm on Friday night, a very dark night.

Leaving North Cove is very difficult when it is pitch black. The channel angles to the right, and if one goes instinctively straight out perpendicular from North Cove into the river the boat will run aground. I found myself nearing the north side of the red buoys mainly because I couldn’t see much-even with a search light.  So, I motored very slowly until I got to the river’s channel, and headed out. Even in the river it was difficult to see the buoys. Eventually, we did get into Long Island Sound, and I raised Madakets big sail, and set a course for Bell 8. We had a South East wind blowing 12 knots, and that put us on a direct course to Plum Gut at about 6 to 7 knots. We arrived near the approach to the “Gut” about midnight.

Tony suggested that we sail through the “Gut” and anchor in the lee of Gardiner’s Island. Tony had read a book once about Joshua Slocum, and he fancied himself as Joshua. However, I suggested that we tack, and sail Eastward with the tide to Fisher’s Island and anchor out in West Harbor for the rest of the night. Which is what we did. We arrived at Fisher’s Island. The entrance to West Harbor seemed to me to be difficult because it was pitch black when we got there. Some of the buoys are lit, however, one has to be very careful traversing this area because there are rocks. I didn’t want to go up on a reef at 3AM. Or, anytime for that matter. We anchored in the lee of Fisher’s Island just outside of the harbor anchorage. We could see all the mast lights in the harbor of the sail boats safely tucked away. We were in an OK spot for anchoring unless the wind changed. I have two very large Fortress Anchors-one for a 75 foot boat, and one for a 50+ foot boat. I had 300-foot of 5/8” nylon rope on the largest anchor, and 150-foot on the next largest anchor and we were in 20’ of water and paid out something like 8 to 1 ratio. The next morning (Saturday), we awoke and there were several yachts around us that I did not see when we anchored. We were not interfering with anyone, but at the time I anchored I didn’t see anyone. Maybe they anchored after I did.

We hauled up the anchor at 9AM and caught the tide towards Narragansett Bay. The wind was blowing out of the South East lightly, and we intermittently needed to motor to keep the boat going. We arrived at the “X” marks the spot area off of Narragansett Bay. “X” marks the spot off Narragansett Bay is an area where the outgoing tide from Narragansett Bay turns both left towards Nantucket, or Right towards Long Island Sound. So, if one arrives at the “X” marks the spot area at the ebb tide, then they can get another 6 hours of fair tide going toward and in Vineyard Sound and into Nantucket Sound.  Which is what we did.

We Sailed from Narragansett Bay along the coast, past Cuttyhunk Island, the length of Vineyard Sound with a fair tide. Meanwhile, Tony was cooking great meals on Madaket’s gas stove and oven. Luckily, it is a gimbled stove because the wind intensified, and we had Madaket moving at 7 to 8 knots in choppy seas.

At 7pm Saturday we arrived at Vineyard Haven harbor. We had a difficult time getting into the harbor because the tide switched against us, and was driving me into the danger zone beneath West Chop. A rocky area. It was about a 3 knot tide and intensifying as Nantucket Sound was emptying out into Vineyard Sound and through Woods Hole to Buzzards Bay. So, I tacked and headed over to East Chop, and sailed into Vineyard Harbor. We arrived in the Dark again, and we anchored off the beach near the draw bridge over the entrance to the “Lagoon” in the lee of the land near there. The next day Sunday, we awoke, and there were big wooden schooners moored near us that I had not seen when we anchored. After breakfast, we brought the boat into the gas dock since I only had about 4 gallons of fuel in my tank, and filled up. We paid the kid at the gas dock to let us tie up there for about 4 hours, and we went to Tony’s Vineyard Haven home which was nearby. Tony had no tenants in the home, so he checked up on some business, and we went out to a late lunch at a nearby fish restaurant called “The Net Result”. After lunch, we got on Madaket, and headed for Nantucket on Sunday afternoon.

 The Vineyard Haven to Nantucket trip had us sailing in 20 knots of wind from the South East, and we went across Tuckernuck Shoal and eventually beat into Nantucket Harbor about 7pm with a fair tide. We were greeted by the ferry boat passengers who were about 10 foot from my mast when the car ferry passed to port. We scoped out the harbor to see where we wanted to moor, and decided to anchor out in the Nantucket Harbor anchorage. The anchorage is located where the worst tide currents are in Nantucket Harbor (to the left of Brant Point not too far from Coatue) and it was very dark making it difficult to figure out the anchor placement. The anchors were immediately whisked away under the boat by the tide. I had to put Madaket in reverse to ensure that the big anchor set. I was worried about backing over the line since the current moved the anchor under the boat. We set another anchor, and everything seemed to be holding very well. We spent two nights at that location on the anchors.

Monday morning we awoke to see large yachts anchored near us and we had a launch take us into downtown Nantucket. Next, we went to my home in Madaket. My Twin Brother and my niece cooked a great dinner, and I had a chance to nap for about 4 hours in my bed, and get cleaned up. Which was great since several times during the sail waves had broken over the bow and got everyone wet in the cockpit.  My other crew mates also napped in real beds for a change, and showered and did laundry.

We returned that evening to sleep on the boat, and the next day (Tuesday) we went to the “Head of the Harbor” (Wauwinet) to explore. The trip to the head of the harbor is difficult since there is a 4-ft hump around Pocomo Head which creates a gateway to the upper harbor (which has sufficient depth). We satisfactorily crossed the bar, but I did see 5-foot depths on my depth sounder in several areas. We “crossed the bar” and got into the upper harbor. We sailed all around there with no other boat near us. We were kind of like Henry Hudson’s Half-Moon.

I went over to the Wauwinet House dock to pick up some relatives for a sail around the upper harbor. Guess what? There was a curmudgeon there who was most unfriendly to our request to temporarily tie up to pick people up, or even to do a “touch and go”. Most unfriendly indeed. So, we had to row into the beach, and ferry my relatives to Madaket. Of course, somebody had to come out of the Hotel to tell us it was a private beach, and asked if we have reservations at the hotel. We got everyone transferred to the Madaket, and a very brisk wind formed. We had a great sail for about 3-hours around the upper Harbor and enjoyed the scenery and large vacant land areas of Coskata creek and pond. I let everyone have a try at the helm, and finally I had to get them back to the Wauwinet House where they were parked. On my return, the Curmudgeon wasn’t there, and I transferred everyone into the shore with the row boat. Everyone got home with no one trying to kick them off the beach, which I later learned is owned by the town of Nantucket.

We anchored out in the upper harbor off of Coskata Creek, and had a great time looking at the stars, moon and other planets. It was a very clear night and there was absolutely no one around us. The next morning we went swimming, looked for clams, and prepared to leave for Nantucket Town. A 4-wheel drive police vehicle drove up on the beach near where we were just short of Coskata creek. Not sure why, but the officer was suspiciously studying us and Madaket. Luckily, Tony listened to me and did not start a beach fire-which is very much frowned upon on Nantucket. No Beach fires!

The return trip from Nantucket will be written about in next month’s “High Tidings”.

Launch News

Greetings and Salutations All, 

It’s been a great summer so far, and I hope everyone got the most out of their time at the club or out on the water. Here’s just a quick reminder to our membership that the NCYC launch begins limited operations in September through October.  With exception to Labor Day, beginning Tuesday, September 3rd, 2024, we will not be operating the NCYC launch Monday-Thursday.  Limited launch service will be available Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays going forward.

Questions about the launch hours? Checkout the club website under the “calendar tab”. Our hours of operation are listed in yellow. There will also be a copy of the launch schedule posted in the clubhouse on the whiteboard just outside the steward’s office.

Wishing you all fair winds as we enter the final leg of our boating season.

Stay safe out there!    

Bill Porter

Women on the River

Calling All Ladies

Wednesday September 11 at 5 pm NCYC is hosting a gathering of Women On The River. Join in on the fun and come meet some of the ladies from Essex Yacht Club, Corinthian, Pettipaug and Hamburg Cove. We are hosting an old fashion picnic. Bring an appetizer, salad or dessert to share. There will be hot dogs and hamburgers. The event is byob and a donation of $5 for hot dogs and hamburgers is suggested. We hope to get a fun group together to show off our club house. This is a great way of meeting other ladies from our neighbor yacht clubs. If you’re interested in joining please drop me a quick email so I can get a count for attendance. Cathy cjhmurphy@gmail.com

Yoga is back at NCYC!

Join club member and certified yoga instructor Cheryl Miller on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 PM for a restorative yoga class beginning on Sept. 3 through Oct. 8. Through mindful movement, participants will expand their self-awareness and explore the connection between breath, body and mind in a positive and supportive environment.

Each class will start with a brief meditation and pranayama (breath) exercises, incorporate mindful movement, and conclude with an extended Savasana (relaxation pose). Participants will have an opportunity to slow down, fully experience each pose, and release tension from their body and mind.

Classes are free. Donations to NCYC are welcome ($5 per class suggested). Club members and their guests are welcome. Just drop in with a yoga mat, and beach towel or lightweight blanket. Yoga blocks are helpful if you have them (Cheryl will also have some to share). If you have questions, contact Cheryl at clmiller509@gmail.com.

Trees in the Rigging

From the Chaplains Quiet Corner of the Cove

As we approach the autumnal equinox, the season calls us to reflect on the balance between dreams planted and realities harvested. Seeds planted long ago can create a fullness in our lives beyond expectations. The poet Rilke writes of autumn: “Command the last fruits to be full; / give them just two more southern days, / urge them on to completion and chase / the last sweetness into the heavy wine.” 

As you move toward your own ripening, let go of what no longer serves you so that you may enter into this season of abundance with gratitude.

Peace,

Jean

Dog Paddle Club

From the Editor

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this issue of High Tidings!

Featured in this month’s Dog Paddle Club are Enzo Forella, a labradoodle of Bella Vita, Mainship Pilot 34, Sherman Williams of Pyrat Perfect, Stevie Paulson-Sachs modeling her first PFD, and Mr. Tumnus of Akvavit.

If you’d like your nautical pet to be in High Tidings, please send a photo and brief caption to me at debrasachs247@gmail.com

Fabulous photos in this issue by: Eddie Addeo, Alex Beauchene, Elio Betty, Joe Carroll, Ann Chan, Craig and Lisa Elliot, Tom and Melinda Forella, Walt Gayeski, Jean Golicz, Chris Griffin, Peter Jenkin, Bob Murphy, Deb Paulson, John and Laurie Pavlos, Kathy Reddington, Carolyn Turner, Linda Tuzzio, Amy Vinciguerra, Janet Vinciguerra, and Alex Yuknat

High Tidings August 2024

The (mostly) Picture Issue

Upcoming Events

• August 3-18 Annual Club Cruise. See schedule in this issue of High Tidings

• Ongoing Wednesdays, 6:00: Informal Grill Night.

• Ongoing Thursdays, 4:30: Thursday Night Racing. See Discord for updates

• Friday, August 23, 6:00: Ice Cream Social at the Club

• Friday August 30, 6:00: Informal Social/BYOB and appetizers

• Saturday August 31- Monday Sept. 2: Labor Day Mini Cruise

Commodore Remarks

It’s wonderful to see so many members out using their boats. North Cove hosted another great Outer Light Classic Regatta event with 22 boats participating in four different classes.  We were lucky to have wind–unlike the previous day’s Essex Yacht Club Rum Challenge which did not race due to lack of wind.  Our post-race party was a hit and received many accolades from the participants. Credit goes to my daughter Amy for all the advance planning and running the event, and member volunteers serving on race committee and all those involved in the party setup and take down.

amy vinciguerra announcing awards at the outer light after party

  Junior Sailing is having a great season and the final session has just completed.  I had the privilege of chaperoning eight of our sailors to the annual Invitational Ideal 18 Regatta sponsored by Essex Yacht Club and Essex Corinthian Yacht Club. The clubs graciously allow use of their boats, provide race committee, and host a post-race lunch and awards ceremony.  Fun day for our Junior sailors to compete against sailors from Pettipaug Yacht Club and Essex Yacht Club in the full-keel Ideal 18 boats, which handle much differently than the 420s used in the sailing school.

North cove Junior sailors at the ideal 18 race

  If you haven’t heard, AMTRAK will be replacing the train bridge over the Connecticut River. Yes, it’s a huge project and will take several years and is currently in the permitting/design phase.  A new bridge will be constructed just south of the existing bridge and upon completion the existing bridge will be demolished. The bridge sections will be brought in by barge and lifted into place.  AMTRAK has met with the Old Saybrook and Old Lyme Harbor Management Commissions and is well aware of our busy boating season. When river closure is required to install the center lifting span, it will be scheduled during the off-boating season.  Barges will be clearly marked day and night for safe navigation.  AMTRAK advises they will have in place an active communication network to the towns and public to keep everyone advised of the schedule and major movements of barges, cranes and bridge sections. Stay tuned as this will be an exciting project to watch.

  If you have a dinghy storage spot under the clubhouse, please do NOT store fuel in your boat or under the clubhouse, as this creates a fire/safety hazard.  Fuel can be stored under the outboard motor racks.
  Your BOG has approved a contractor to replace the fencing at the dumpsters.  The new fencing will be white vinyl with footprint expanded to encompass the two round concrete septic system risers.   Gates will be installed to hide the dumpster and well as gates to access the propane and small boat fuel storage. Work should commence in the coming weeks. Once the fencing is up we will be looking for some volunteers to level the interior for pavers and also construct covered racks for storing grill propane bottles and small boat fuel tanks above the winter storm water levels. In years past these have gotten underway during storm tides and scattered around the parking lot. 

bringing the errant propane tanks back after a flood tide in 2023

On the social calendar side, we have boats heading out on the annual cruise August 3rd, Wednesday Grill Nights are happening, the last Friday-of-the-month Informal Social Gatherings, and an Ice Cream Social on Aug 23rd.    
Keep a sharp lookout on the club website calendar. See link below Upcoming Events. The calendar is the best place to see upcoming events and launch service schedule.

Happy Sailing, Fishing, Cruising or just being on the water!

Best!

Lou Vinciguerra, Commodore

Vice Commodore Remarks

The Outer Light Race was another exciting and enjoyable event on the water and at the Club. Under the direction of Amt Vinciguerra, everything fell into place on the day of the race. Many thanks to Amy and her committee!

We are looking forward to another great month on the water!

Linda Tuzzio, Vice Commodore

Cruising News

The annual cruise has two departure dates - 8/2 & 8/10 and meeting up in Block. The tides are kind for our eastward treks and we are hoping that the weather will also be kind to our fleet.

We do look forward to our Labor Day cruise to Mystic Seaport where we will enjoy the new docks and cruising facilities. There are still slips available.

The Wine cruise is scheduled for 9/6 to Mattituck with a flood tide starting at 0700 from Saybrook. More details to follow.

Our three remaining cruises are not confined to sea passages. We look forward to meeting up with our land cruisers to share some grub & grog.

The latest cruise itineracy is on our web site, on Discord, and posted here.

Come one, come all and we will share tales of adventure & creativity as we extend our social activities beyond our clubhouse.

Safe sailing,

David Chan, Fleet Captain

A Serendipitous Gathering

Recently, Lisa and I headed to Block Island in our Mainship 34, “Serendipity.” The Turners (Bill and Carolyn) and Tydemans (Tom and Julie) were already on BI. We arrived to NCYC’s club mooring and the Lentnek’s (Ian and Raquel) arrived with their two girls and rafted up to us. (We met the Lentnek’s and their girls Hudson and Dakota in Stonington Harbor– the first time we’d met them. They were eating at the SYC and we were too. Ian had on a NCYC baseball cap and we introduced ourselves. Their daughter raced in a regatta in Stonington through the Sailing Center. Both boats left from Stonington to Block). Then Terri Sullivan and Rod Cross arrived with their son Shawn and a couple of his friends and rafted up to the Lentnek’s that night. The Lentnek’s left Saturday afternoon so they missed the impromptu get together on Serendipity. Everyone did BYOB and each of us brought an appetizer to share. The fun began at 6:30. Beautiful sunset too. A good time was had by all!

Craig Elliott, Serendipity

Jr. Sailing

Taking the Last Boat out for the season. Tradition is every sailor has a finger on it.

Jr. Sailing Pasta Dinner Fundraiser–A Resounding Success!

Watch the awesome video by Katie Porter here:

NCYC Outer Light Classic Regatta

a beautiful day for a regatta

What is it like to race in the Outer Light Regatta?

The view from Shearwater, Ericson 38 sloop

Shearwater had a poor start, crossing nearly last, but we had a good view of a boat tangling on the start pin and sailing in circles.  Thankfully it wasn’t us.  The first upwind leg was a bit slow; I made the wrong decision to tack close to the land where the wind was much reduced.  After rounding the windward mark and heading downwind, we did have enough wind to keep the sails full, but just.  We picked up one position then rounded the downwind mark very close since I like to show off when the wind is light and there is no actual risk.  On the second upwind leg we made better decisions and gained a little ground on the boats ahead of us but it was no where near enough to pick up a position.  After rounding the upwind mark we had a pleasant broad-reach down-current run which was executed flawlessly by my crew while I ate lunch.  The crew allowed us to keep our position of 7th place out of nine.  A good time was had by all.

Skipper Chris Griffin, Shearwater

The view from Osprey, J Boat 24

This is always a fun and challenging race where everyone wants to place in the money.  We were in class 3 spinnaker competing against four other boats. The race course was windward/leeward three times around that gave us plenty of sail changes. We did hit the windward mark at the last turn but did exonerate ourselves with a 360. [racing rules state that if a boat touches the mark (the orange inflated thing that the racing boats go around) that it must execute a 360 degree turn before continuing the race.]  The PHRF difference between Osprey and the other boats was significant where they gave us time, but not enough.  [ PHRF stands for Performance Racing Handicap Fleet and is is a handicapping system that allows dissimilar classes of sailboats to be raced against each other.] We have a great crew always critiquing ourselves on how we can do better.  Maybe next year will be our money year.

Skipper Dan Ferrier, Osprey

The view from Madaket, Nonsuch 30 catboat

There was a full moon, 88-degreesF with a humidity of 93% and intense sun light. There was about 4.2 knots to 12 knots of wind coming out of the West/Southwest. I can assure you that Madaket never saw a 12 knot gust of wind all day. I pointed my Nonsuch into a small mostly westerly breeze that barely propelled the boat forward at 2 knots/hr bucking a 3-knot tide running West to East. I tried to race windward near the beach against a lessor tide (than racing farther out in LI Sound against a stronger tide), but Blue Heron, another Nonsuch made better speed against the tide with a little more off shore wind. After rounding the mark behind Blue Heron, which was difficult to get to since I had to sail out to the mark about a mile from my near-shore position with the tide flushing me back to the starting line, I couldn’t catch up to Blue Heron. And, Madaket, so desperately, longingly, rapturously yearningly wanted to beat Blue Heron. Well, Madaket placed 3rd, and Blue Heron got 2nd in our division. A guy in a racing sloop from out of state won, and we never saw him again. During the race an unusual splash happened behind me. A huge animal came up and out of the water, and landed near our boat with an enormous caboom and a weighty splash. A bigger splash than a 500lb man could make. We saw a seal following us while racing. He seemed to be interested in my crewmate Doug McDonald, but the creature who made the splash-if it was a seal-didn’t reappear after making the huge splash. Another crewmate Diane Stark had a Go-Pro camera running during the race time and that film will be analyzed as soon as it is developed to figure out what the creature is, and why the sail didn’t seem to have the proper roach all day. James (the guy who jumped off the boat on Saturday) reported the previous day that he saw barnacles on my boat’s bottom when he was in the water, so, I learned that the bottom needs cleaning to obtain improved speed in future races.  

After the long, and arduous race, Madaket returned to its North Cove mooring and I and my crew took the NCYC launch into the party in the NCYC clubhouse. Doug, Diane, myself, & Capt. Sharon Tracy and her Blue Heron female crew and girlfriends from the Essex Corinthian YC participated in the great party. There was lots of food and drink, and people talking about the racing in the hot sun, light wind, and the full moon force on the tide we fought. After a small period of time, and after consuming some bar refreshments served up by volunteers the racing became a distant memory. My saturated shirt had dried up, and I had purchased new Outer Light clothing that made me feel cooler and better. There was lots of food from Walt’s Market-enough for two parties-and everyone was satiated. A good time was had by all, and I can’t wait until next year’s Outer Light Classic to go through the experience again.  

I am sure that everybody had a great time, and hat’s off to Amy and all of the NCYC volunteers that made the Outer Light Classic and party the success that it was.

Skipper Joe Carroll, Madaket.

The Race!

The After Party!

Musings on the Racing Weekend by Joe Carroll

The long awaited North Cove Yacht Club’s Outer Light Classic was successfully held on Sunday July 21, 2024. The planning for this event started about a year ago, with Amy Vinciguerra leading the way in planning the regatta, and the party afterwards. During Fall 2023 and winter, spring and early summer of 2024 weekly meetings were held by the Outer Light Classic Committee. There was lots of work that went into the Outer Light Classic. Sponsors needed to be engaged. Trophies needed to be purchased. The party after the race needed to be planned, and budgeted for, and race officials needed to be hired. The race and party afterwards were flawlessly executed because of Amy’s management of this event. Amy is a very capable young woman, and the racing and party were very fun. NCYC looked very attractive and NCYC members and visitors were  impressed and happy with the whole event and the hospitality of our club.

Sunday’s Outer Light Classic came the day after Saturday’s Essex Yacht Club’s Rum Challenge. The Rum Challenge was held on an 88 Degree F & 90%+ humid day with almost no wind and a full moon. My catboat Madaket drifted all day in a very heavy outgoing tide. After about 2 hours of bobbing around, drifting towards Nantucket, and motoring in circles I threw out my anchor and shut off Madaket’s motor. The current whipped around my anchor line and the stationary boat such that whirlpools formed off the stern of the boat. There was a huge tidal current. It seemed like a 3+ knot/hr tide. The sun was very intense, and my clothes were saturated with perspiration. My crew and myself drank many dozen 16oz bottles of Stop & Shop water. Water that originated as charcoal filtered Hudson River effluent water. What the hay? The bottled water was discounted 50%. A defiant & disobedient crew member-James-maddened by the heat and the forced consumption of the yellow-tinged bottled water dove overboard to cool himself off. I threw out 100 foot of 3/4-inch diameter braided dyneema line with a life jacket tied to the end of the rope towards James submerged head. James just barely grabbed onto the life jacket before the tide carried him past it. James appeared to be drinking the LI Sound salt water so I commanded “Don’t drink the salt water”! Where was James headed for? Davey Jones Locker??-Maybe with luck he’d wash-a-shore at Fishers Island. We hauled him back onto the boat after James realized that he never learned to swim-and couldn’t doggie paddle against a 3knots/hr tide. At 3pm The Rum Challenge was called off because there was no wind. Later, at the party at Essex YC I did win a bottle of Goslings Rum which I turned over to crewmate Amy for safe keeping. I believe that the bottle got raffled off.

Thursday Night Racing

From the Chaplain’s Quiet Corner of the Cove

It is said that before entering the sea a river trembles with fear.
She looks back at the path she has traveled, from the peaks of the mountains, the long winding road crossing forests and villages.
And in front of her, she sees an ocean so vast, that to enter there seems nothing more than to disappear forever.
But there is no other way.
The river cannot go back. Nobody can go back. To go back is impossible in existence. 

The river needs to take the risk of entering the ocean because only then will fear disappear, because that's where the river will know it's not about disappearing into the ocean, but of becoming the ocean

–Khalil Gibran

Wishing you the mystery and beauty of where the river meets the sound.

Peace,

Jean

The Ship’s Store

Hello from The Ship’s Store,

First, we would like to thank the many members who have supported NCYC by purchasing merchandise! We are very happy to hear such positive feedback regarding the new store front as well as the new merchandise. 

If you haven’t had the opportunity, please stop by and take a look at “The Ship’s Store” located in the white cabinet near the Steward’s office.  To make a purchase, see the steward on duty or contact us anytime. We accept cash, check or just add your name and email to the receipt and our treasurer, John Waanders, is happy to send you an invoice via email.

The men’s and women’s polo shirts, long sleeve SPF shirts, baseball hats and visors have been selling well. We added a hook on the wall outside the cabinet to hang several shirts and hats so you can get a closer look and check out the sizes. Members are also  enjoying the insulated wine tumblers, which can be used for any drink, have a rubber non slip bottom and a sipper slide top. They are great to have on board to prevent spills and help keep your wine or other beverages cold. Also, think about upgrading your older floatable keychain with a floatable NCYC keychain for only $5.00! 

There are still Outer Light Classic yellow cotton t-shirts designed by Jon Mason available for only $15.00! Whether you participated in the race or not, it’s a wonderful way to show support for a great race sponsored by our club.

For a list of available items and prices, please click the link below. Thank you to Jon Mason for our newly designed web page for The Ship’s Store as well as help with logo designs.

Please let us know if you have any suggestions or input, we appreciate your support!

The Ship’s Store

Tom & Julie Tydeman

Julie: 860-877-3344

Tom: 860-877-3343

tjtydeman@gmail.com

Gardening News

Calling all gardeners!

The flower beds and pots around the club require regular attention. This includes weeding, watering, feeding , insect management and occasional replacement of plants. With the help of Kathy Reddington, Frank Borzinski and Bob Murphy we have been managing but we need more helpers. Please contact me if you have an interest in helping. I can be reached by email at cjhmurphy@gmail.com or by phone at 860-227-7122. Please consider helping out.

Thank you!

Cathy Murphy

Dinghy for sale and all proceeds donated to NCYC Jr. Sailing Program

From the Editor

Anyone want to join the “Dog Paddle Club”? Send me your nautical-themed dog (or other pet) photos for inclusion in the next issue of High Tidings. (Thanks to Tanya for this idea!)

Stevie and Abbey checking out the sights in newport

Thank you to everyone who took the photos for this issue. I hope I got everyone’s name, but I may have omitted someone and if I did I apologize (new member David-with-son-Max, I don’t know your last name, so you’re just listed as “David.”

Without further ado, photos by: Eddie Addeo, Elio Betty, Frank Borzenski, David, Craig Elliott, Karl Frost, Walt Gayeski, Jean Golicz, Chris Griffin, Kelley Griffin, Suzanne Miller, Dan O’Malley, Deb Paulson, Nicol Pilon, Katie Porter, Kathy Reddington, Stephen Sheehan, Linda Tuzzio, Amy Vinciguerra, Lou Vinciguerra

High Tidings July 2024

spinnakers bloom in the spring off-soundings race around block island

Upcoming Events

• On-going Wednesdays, 6:00 – Informal Grill Night. Join for a drink or dinner

• On-going Thursdays – Thursday Night Racing. Be at the dock by 4:30 if you want to join in

• July 3, 6:30 Activities meeting at the Club

• July 4 -7, July Fourth Mini Cruise, “Free and Easy” Use Discord to coordinate

• July 12, 6:00, Pasta Dinner Fundraiser at the Club

• July 17, 6:00, Cruising Club meeting at the Club

• July 21, Outer Light Classic Regatta hosted by NCYC

Commodore Remarks

    Hope everyone’s boating season is now going well! I know a few folks (including myself) who had a bit of a rough start but that’s all behind us and it’s smooth sailing ahead! The Commodores’ Cookout was a well-attended, fun event and raised money for our very own Old Saybrook Outer Light Classic Regatta via the silent auction of gift baskets. This regatta is NCYC’s big annual event for racers of Eastern Connecticut Sailing Association (ECSA) and will be held Sunday July 21st.  A few of our members have joined after attending that event and seeing what our club has to offer!  Volunteers are needed in the clubhouse to support the “post race” party which is a favorite among the ECSA circuit of summer races. Volunteers are also needed on the water supporting the race committee boat and the two mark boats.  Amy Vinciguerra is our event chairperson-please contact her if you want to volunteer. I believe she is also looking for a club member with a small seaworthy center console boat to be the second mark boat. Prior to and during the races, the wind often shifts around and inflatable marks need to be set and sometimes re-set for the optimized race course.   

  Junior Sailing session I is off to a great start and it’s great to see those first-time little sailors steering around the marks after just a few days on the water–as well as seeing the bigger kids learning advanced skills and racing tactics. These kids are where the future members of yacht clubs are born keeping “living the dream!” alive.  Check the sign-up list on here and on the web site if you want to help out as a duty officer for half a day and be part of the action. 

Another cool happening at the club is the testing of an electric outboard on the Carolina Skiff.  Some of us were a bit skeptic that the battery would last for a full day of Junior Sailing but as it turns out “especially for the beginner class” the motor is most of the time idling, then a short burst to catch up and come along side an OPTI, then back to idle.  For electric, idle = off vs. the Tohatsu 6HP which is showing its age, and idling for long periods clogs spark plugs and carburetors. Thanks to member Alex Yuknat for loaning us a “demo” motor to test out. Timing couldn’t have been better; the day he dropped it off, the Tohatsu broke its pull cord from repetitive pulling because it was stalling and had trouble starting. 

Our evaluation with junior sailing is underway to see if an electric motor could be the right choice, as the club does need to replace the skiff motor in the near future which also seems burning oil lately.  Alex has a company selling and installing electric motors of several brands and all sizes on boats. Contact him if you have interest in considering one.   

 On the social calendar side, the fourth of July mini-cruise is a “free and easy” self-directed one,  Wednesday grill nights are happening, and the last Friday of June casual social had a significant turnout, with great appetizers.

Remember to sign up for the Outer Light Classic post-race party, you don’t have to race to come down to the party!
And also remember the club website calendar is the best place to see upcoming events and the launch service schedule.

See you on the water!

Best!

Lou Vinciguerra

Commodore, North Cove Yacht Club

Vice Commodore Remarks

Boats, Books, and Bites

Lou, Len, and I were happy to serve club members at the successful Commodore’s cookout! The food was great, the silent auction made a profit, and The Ship’s Store was up and running. All great summer fun!  Thanks to all who helped out.

The next big event is the pasta dinner on July 12th to raise money for a coach boat for Junior Sailing. Junior sailors and their families will be attending and helping out. There will be some silent auction items and a dessert raffle which is always a lot of fun.

Our boat, Sea Horse, is on the hard, awaiting a survey required by the insurance company. Apparently, they want the boat surveyed every once in a while, which is a good thing. A sound boat is a pleasure to use.

A club member recommended the book, Cutting for Stone. I heard it is a good book to read while traveling but I was unable to get a copy before leaving for Arizona. We drove to the Phoenix library in 120-degree weather to see if they had a copy. They had 20 copies, all checked out, with 97 people on the waiting list! Must be a great book. Time for a drive to R.J. Julia Bookstore in Madison.

I heard good things about the new brewery in Old Saybrook but have not been to it yet. We try to support local businesses and I am glad to hear this large space is occupied, up and running.  Speaking of local spots, Mirsina’s Restaruant on Main Street has great breakfasts and lunches. Try it out.

Linda Tuzzio

Vice Commodore

Membership

Membership

The following prospective Members have been posted:

James and Emily Steinhardt

New Milford, CT

James: Registered Nurse

Emily:  Medical Office

Children:  Jameson (1997), Rachel (2000)

Proposed by:  Caroline Miller

Support letters:  Tuzzio, Chan and Mason

Boat: Parker Sport Cabin

Boating: James has been operating power boats for approximately 35 years.      

Skills/interests:   They are passionate about boating as well as spending their free time near the water.  Upon visiting the Club, they were made to feel very welcome and enjoyed the people they met.  Additionally they look forward to participating in club events, as well as promoting the clubs culture of preserving and enjoying the sea.

Jameson Steinhardt and Kayla Sisk

(Posted for Associated Member)

New Milford, CT

Jameson: Registered Nurse

Kayla:  Registered Nurse

Proposed by:  Caroline Miller

Support letters:  Tuzzio, Miller, Mason

Boat: Hunter 1 Center Console 22’

Boating: Jameson has been boating for around 10 years.  

Skills/interests:   Jameson has his USCG OUPV Captain’s License.  He is interested in joining the Club due to the Club’s and his passion for boating.  He looks forward to the comradery as well as learning from members about their boating experience.  He is also looking forward to helping maintain the Club and help with club activities and fundraising that will benefit the Club and its members. 

Michael Kenney

Old Saybrook, CT

Michael: Patent Attorney

Children:  John (2011), Mary Katherine (2005)

Proposed by:  Caroline Miller

Support letters:  Chan, Mason, Pavlos

Boating: Basic Sailing skills.      

Skills/interests:   Michael is look forward to learning to sail.  He hopes to be able to enjoy the kayaks and paddleboards.  John is enrolled in the Jr. Sailing program.  Michael is very handy and can fix most things.  He also is skilled in woodworking and has the tools for that. 

Jr. Sailing

Junior Sailing is off to an excellent start! Registration is full, with an ever growing wait list!  Monday Night racing and Wednesday race practices have begun as well, with the goal of having our sailors and coaches travel to 5 different events across the state. 

Junior sailing will run through August 2nd. Remember to please drive slowly when at the club!

Duty Officers Wanted!

We still have slots open for Duty Officers. Sign-up for this fun volunteer activity!

(One of these is not like the other…)

 Junior Sailing Program Fundraiser July 12

The Junior Sailing Program is holding a Pasta Dinner and Auctions fundraiser on July 12! The goal is to raise funds to purchase a coach boat that meets ECSA safety recommendations for our highly regarded Junior Sailing program, and to expand our community scholarship program.

The objective of the Junior Sailing Program is to provide an engaging learning environment to promote the sport of sailing in a safe and structured environment to any interested youth and to give students the best learning opportunity possible. We develop sportsmanship, seamanship, integrity, and interpersonal skills. We instill responsibility for boats, equipment, and facilities. To meet these goals, the Junior Sailing Program has expanded to teach classes for the 420 group in the Connecticut River, which allows the class to sail regardless of tides (the flats are too shallow for these boats at low tide) and to practice racing tactics. The Jr. Sailing program is also reviving our race team, which will require a trailerable coach boat which is adequate for use in the Long Island Sound.

 Pasta Dinner and Auctions - Join us July 12 at 6pm for an evening of pasta, fresh salad and garlic bread served by our own sailing instructors!

There will be a silent auction with some amazing items to bid on: A sunset cruise, Sea Bags filled with fun items, a coffee basket, and more! And to top off the evening there will be a live dessert auction [Ed. note: no, the desserts aren’t alive] with some incredible sweets. Get ready to bid on your favorite sweets and enjoy a slice of something spectacular!

This is a BYOB event and there will be Pellegrino for sale.  Cost: $25/adults or $12/kids age 12 & under.

Why You Should Attend: Your participation helps us chart a course for success! Funds raised will go towards purchasing a new-to-us instructor/coach boat that meets ECSA safety recommendations and towards expanding scholarship opportunities for young sailors in our community. Your support ensures that more kids can experience the joy and skills that sailing offers.

·      

Skip the sauce: We also gratefully accept donations! Help us reach our goal faster. Options to give a little or slightly more.

Thanks to everyone in our club community for your support with these activities!

Melissa Mason, Jr. Sailing Chair

Amy Vinciguerra, Program Director

Saybrook Outer Light Classic

Come and participate in this year’s biggest event! Race your boat in the Outer Light Classic OR just come and party! Enjoy catering from Walt’s in Old Saybrook, music, drinks, and the trophy ceremony. 

The Outer Light is Sunday July 21st, party tickets will be sold at the door. 

We’re encouraging community involvement this year and here’s how you can help. If you have a business, professional practice, or just anything you’d like to say, you can be featured as a sponsor in the SOLC Program. It’s a great way to signal your support of your club and community by highlighting your message amongst your friends and neighbors.  Sponsorship includes tickets to the party and if past is prologue, you will not be disappointed.

Your message can be all about your business or just a simple statement of support. You can even put in a picture of your dog!

stevie sachs is rooting for the NCYC fleet in outer light

We offer design help, or you can send us existing marketing materials, and we’ll format them for you. Just click the link to purchase, and we’ll take care of the rest. You'll be doing something useful, helpful, and fun!

As many of you already know, our club sponsors several scholarships to our junior sailing program for those who may not be able to attend otherwise. With the sale of SOLC sponsorships, we hope to add two positions to this scholarship program. Our junior program has become the premier sailing experience for kids in our area and something we can all be very proud of. Sailing instruction introduces a whole new generation to the passion we share and builds confidence and teamwork in young minds as well as boating skills and safety. Help us make that experience available to more kids by becoming a SOLC sponsor!

Spread the Word

We also ask that you reach out to anyone who might be interested in sponsoring. Maybe your dentist, transmission shop, or psychic? How about that realtor who keeps emailing you? Send them the flyer below or copy any of the language in your email to them–or print it out and drop it off in person. Thank you for being an NCYC ambassador.

Regardless of your level of support, please come to the party and help cheer on your fellow club members and meet some our sailing friends from other clubs on the Eastern Sound. See you there!

Activities

Whoa, June is OVER?!?  

As you know, this has been a whirlwind of a month for me so I was only able to attend our first pot luck of the year. Sign ups started slow as usual, but rallied toward the day of the event.  We had a great crowd with lots of new members and fantastic food. Great job to all who attended.  

Unfortunately, I had to postpone the Luau, but hope to have it later on. However, I could really use some volunteers.  PLEASE, when event sign-ups come out, volunteer for a task. We always have fantastic food (thank you all so much!) but never enough help. I will also be contacting those of you who volunteered to be on the Activities Committee on the sign-up sheet at the beginning of the season. I have so many fun event ideas and look forward to having them at the club.  But I can’t do it all alone, so please come to the Activities Committee meetings, which are held the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 at the club, and volunteer.  The next one is July 3. I think things will get back to normal for me shortly so I will be able to attend the rest of this summers events. 

Here we go, into July!  Everyone have a safe and happy Fourth of July! 

Melissa Clark, Activities Chair

Cruising News

From the Fleet Captain’s Desk:

We had our May cruise meeting with Falmouth added back to the itinerary for our annual cruise. Nancy Jenkins did some research and has found slips & moorings availability at Falmouth. We may have a split itinerary after Hadley. It is a very extensive & exciting cruise itinerary and we hope to confirm and line up the shore activities at our July Cruise meeting on July 17.

The July 4th cruise is ‘Free & Easy’ and whoever is heading out please use Discord to notify the fleet. The festivities stretch from New London to 3-Mile to Duck Island.

Safe sailing & cruising and we will catch up on July 17 at our clubhouse and on Discord.

Sincerely,

David Chan, Fleet Captain

Women on the River

north cove members rigging the ideal 18

Another successful year of Women on the River has come to an end. This was our 6th year participating in this collaboration of yacht clubs. I cannot remember a year like this were we were blessed with beautiful weather for every evening that we met. The sailing was a total pleasure. Eight of our club members signed up to participate and sail the Ideal 18s from Essex and Corinthian Yacht Clubs. Most of the sailing included just enjoying an evening on water. The last day however there was a sailing competition in which NCYC won thanks to the participation of Lauren Peters and Jennie Enman. Thanks to all NCYC women that participated this year– It has been a lot of fun spending time together. For any women who have not participated, please consider joining next year.

We will be hosting a gathering of Women on the River at our club on September 11 at 5:00 pm. The event is a pot luck and is open to any of our female club members. Its a wonderful way of meeting women from the neighboring yacht clubs: Essex, Corinthian, Pettipaug and Hamburg Cove. We welcome all lovers of boating. Please consider attending.

Hope to see you September 11!

 Cathy Murphy

Volunteers are needed!

Remember, this is a volunteer club–your help is needed! Especially now in the growing season, we need volunteers to help the club look nice and well-kept.  

Lawn mowing or weed whacking –contact Rear Commodore Len Vanvliet (vanvliet.leendert@gmail.com) with questions.

Weeding the flowers beds – contact Cathy Murphy with questions (cathy249@icloud.com)

Nominating Committee

From the NCYC Bylaws:

Article VII.  Standing Committees

VII.11. Nominating Committee.  Membership of the Nominating Committee includes the most recent Past Commodore not standing for reelection and four others.  No members shall serve for more than two consecutive years.  The Nominating Committee shall elect a chair from among its members.  The Nominating Committee shall submit for election by the membership at the annual meeting a slate of nominees as Officer and elected Governors.

On June 22nd the Nominating Committee comprised of John Pavlos, Cathy Murphy, Kathy Reddington, Walter Gayeski, and Caroline Miller met and elected Immediate Past Commodore Caroline Miller as the Chair.  The Nominating Committee will be working this summer to provide a slate of candidates to the Board of Governors prior to the November Annual Meeting .  The Committee is looking for candidates for Vice Commodore and Board of Governors.  The Vice Commodore commitment is two years Vice Commodore, two years Commodore and two years Immediate Past Commodore.  The Board of Governors commitment is three years on the Board.

If you are interested in either of these positions, you can reach out to any member of the Nominating committee or send an email to c.d.miller@comcast.net.

The Ships Store

A few updates from the Chandlery, starting with our name change to the “The Ships Store”!

Most of our new products have arrived and on display in the trophy case. We have more Baseball hats coming shortly in several colors.

Products include: 

• Blue NCYC Floatable Keychains, 

• 12oz Insulated Stainless Steel Wine Tumblers which have a non slip rubber bottom and a slide sipper top (these tumblers are not just for wine!)

• Short Sleeve Polo Shirts made with Performance fabric, moisture wicking, wrinkle & stain resistant both Men’s & Women’s available in a variety of sizes.

• Visors in white, stone and periwinkle blue.

• Long sleeve SPF moisture wicking unisex shirts recently arrived in a variety of sizes and with a color choice of white & light yellow.

We are continuing to try and find useful, quality merchandise at a reasonable cost to you and a small percentage going back to our Club. If there is something you would like added please let us know, your feedback is welcome!

Soon we will be moving The Ships Store from the trophy case to the white glass cabinet near the stewards office. Thank you to Greg Clark for making shelves to display merchandise! 

If you are interested in purchasing anything or just getting a closer look, please contact us directly or see the steward on duty.

Your support is greatly appreciated! 

Tom & Julie Tydeman

tjtydeman@gmail.com

Tom Cell: 860-877-3343

Julie Cell: 860-877-3344

Who owns this dinghy? Is it abandoned?

It is on the dinghy rack at NCYC. Contact Walter Gayeski (waltere.gayeski@gmail.com) if you know anything about it.

From the Chaplain’s Quiet Corner of the Cove

“Just As the Calendar Began to Say Summer"

I went out of the schoolhouse fast 
and through the gardens and to the woods,
and spent all summer forgetting what I’d been taught—

two times two, and diligence, and so forth,
how to be modest and useful, and how to succeed and so forth,
machines and oil and plastic and money and so forth.

By fall I had healed somewhat, but was summoned back  
to the chalky rooms and the desk, to sit and remember

the way the river kept rolling its pebbles,
the way the wild wrens sang though they hadn’t a penny in the bank,
the way the flowers were dressed in nothing but light.

                                 ~Mary Oliver  
from Long Life 

Wishing you a summer Sabbath (Sabbatical?) of forgetting “machines and oil and plastic and money”, and instead a time for savoring memories of the rolling river and beyond.

From the Editor

Many thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue. If you have anything you’d like in the August issue, please contact me! Thanks– Deb Paulson.

Photos by: Melissa Clark, Walter Gayeski, Jean Golicz, Kelley Griffin, Cathy Murphy, Deb Paulson, Richard Sachs, Carolyn Turner, Julie Tydeman, Amy Vinciguerra, Lou Vinciguerra

On the downwind leg of last Thursday's race–before things went severely south (or as Alex says "northwest, really.")

High Tidings June 2024

Upcoming Events

• Wednesdays at 8:30 AM – Yoga with Cheryl Miller at the Club

• On-going Wednesdays, 6:00 – Informal Grill Night. Join for a drink or dinner

• Thursday June 6 and on-going Thursdays – Thursday Night Racing. Be at the dock by 4:30 if you want to join in

• Friday June 14 – Full Launch Service Begins. Check the Club Calendar for hours

• Saturday June 15, 4:00 – Commodores’ Cookout and Silent Auction

• Monday June 17 - Friday June 21 – Junior Sailing Prep Week

• Monday June 24 – Junior Sailing Sessions begin

• Friday June 28, 6:00 – Luau Social at the Club

Commodore Remarks

Boating season is here!  

I enjoyed seeing many of you at our first combined Spring Meeting/Club Commissioning event, which was a short meeting followed by the formal commissioning event and fun food and beverages afterward. I received a good amount of positive feedback that the format seemed to work well. We could make a couple more tweaks in the script for next year so the events don’t have any repetition–but that’s on me.

The sign-up genius for volunteers pitching in where needed to support the club seems to be working well. I encourage our Committee Chairpersons to identify tasks to be posted, because the next thing you know, someone signs up and gets it done!  As we all know, weed whacking and lawn mowing are ongoing activites throughout the season. The more we accomplish with member volunteers means less contractors we need to hire and that helps our annual budget and Club dues.

Thanks to an enthusiastic team of members and our Clubhouse Chair, Craig Elliott, we have renovated outdoor shower. It looks great and will be a welcome upgrade for visiting transients that pay for use of our facilities as well as members staying on their boats for an extended period. And, thanks to Karl Frost, we have an outdoor deep sink installed on the north side of the clubhouse. Please use this sink versus the inside bathroom sinks when your boat or mooring tackle jobs cause you to have dirty paws. The parking lot was graded and potholes filled again this year by our Fleet Captain, David Chan and his tractors.

 Remember to keep checking the club calendar on our website (see link above) for the current Launch Service schedule and for upcoming activities. Our next big event, on Saturday June 15,  is the Commodores’ Cookout. In days of old, the three Commodores manned the grills to cook all the meat for the attendees,  but I’m glad we transformed into a catered cookout. (Thanks Caroline Miller!)

It is wonderful that we have quite a few new members joining (thanks again to Caroline!)  Please introduce yourselves at club events and make them feel welcome and part of our crew.

That’s all the news I’ve got.  Back to minding the Helm!   

Best!

Lou Vinciguerra, Commodore

Vice Commodore Remarks

Did the season creep up on us really fast? It's June and we are not ready for it!

There are lots of activities at the club this month when you are not out on the water. Many thanks to our activities chair, Melissa Clark.  She does the behind-the-scenes work to make things happen. Please assist her by signing up for tasks such as set-up, serving, and cleanup. 

Amy Vinciguerra will be running our silent auction in June at the Commodore's Cookout. I saw the items last night and I am impressed with the selection. Hope you can attend this fun event. The proceeds will support NCYC’s very own Saybrook Outer Light Classic Regatta, in July. Even if you don't race, buy a ticket and attend after party! There will be boats from other yacht clubs competing and you can meet racer/sailors from all around the area.

For those of us who are at the club to unwind, there are books and games at the club. Please feel free to take a book or two and donate whatever you may have.

Thursday night racing starts this week. You are welcome to join the race by racing, by coming out on the committee boat, or by attending the grill dinner afterwards.  

I look forward to seeing all of you at the club,

Linda Tuzzio, Vice Commodore

Membership

The Membership Committee has been working hard this year!  We have quite a few new members and still have more in the pipeline.  The next event will be the May 31st Potluck and we will host at least three prospective members.  Please be sure to take a minute and say hello.

Potential Members – Posted 05/25/2024

Leif Nilsson and Laura Reynolds

Chester, CT

Lief: Artist

Laura:  Physical Therapist

Children:  Meredith Reynolds (1999)

Proposed by:  Caroline Miller

Support letters:  Carrol, Pavlos, Chan

Boat: AC24 Sailboat and Dyer

Boating: Lief has been on the water his whole life: Sunfish, Hobie Cat, outboard motorboats, canoe, sailing dinghies. Not a lot of open ocean, mostly coastal and CT river.

Skills/interests:   Everyone said get on the list for a mooring, so I did and now they are asking me to join the club and here I am! I seem to know quite a few members and am familiar with the cove. I am an artist and will be out there painting the cove and the world around it. Some people may get some joy from seeing me working.

David and Karen Madacsi

Old Saybrook, CT

David: Product Manager

Laura:  TV Producer

Children:  Max (2012)

Proposed by:  Caroline Miller

Support letters:  Carrol, Pavlos, Chan

Boat: BW 130 Sport

Boating:  David grew up around boats and marinas. His family had many different boats over the years. This year is the first time he has owned my own boat. After being away from the coast for a long time I decided to start off small. Excited to get on the water.

Skills/interests:   David really likes the ethos of this club and the fact that everyone pitches in. The event we attended was excellent and everyone was very friendly and interesting. They hope that they can contribute to making the club fun for everyone and pitch in where needed. One day maybe hold an office.

Jr. Sailing

The Junior Sailing team is so excited for the season to begin. Prep week starts soon (June 17) and Session 1 begins June 24th. Thank you in advance to everyone as we have 27 young sailors and 5 instructors around the club each week. A few reminders:

·       Duty Officers: Sign-up for this fun volunteer activity is now open. Feel free to sign up for one or more sessions throughout the summer. 

·       Junior Sailing Pasta Dinner Fundraiser: Save the date for our Junior Sailing Pasta Dinner Fundraiser on July 12! This fundraiser is geared towards raising funds for a new, safe coach boat for our Junior Sailing program, as well as contributing to an expansion of our community scholarship program. More information coming soon!

·       Slow speed: Please drive slowly especially if you are pulling around to the waterfront! This is for the safety of our sailors and instructors.

·       Ed Godfrey Monday Night Junior Racing series: Begins June 24 and runs each Monday evening through July 29th. All returning 420 sailors and Junior Instructors are eligible. If any club Opti sailors are interested, please let Amy Vinciguerra or I know.

·       Junior Race Team Practices: Beginning June 26, we will be holding practice for our junior race team on Wednesday evenings. This practice will team racing tactics and prepare our team for ECSA junior regattas across the shoreline and into Rhode Island.

Thanks to everyone in our club community for your support. If you want to join our team, please reach out!

Happy sailing,
Melissa Mason, Jr. Sailing Chair

Thursday Night Racing

You’ve heard the rumors. You’ve listened to the stories. You’ve felt that longing. And maybe a twinge of FOMO. Pine no more–Thursday Night Racing is back!

June 6th is the evening of the first Thursday Night Race!!! Seacant is not ready yet, but other vessels are! Hoping for calm seas and strong breeze for our first race. 

Click the button link to sign up for this super fun activity. You can sign up for the full series or for a single day.

Please note that the per diem registration has no date attached. For example, register for three nights of racing and join us on any three Thursdays all summer long! 

Once you’ve signed up, get yourself on Discord, our easy communication program that runs on phones, tablets, and personal computers. It’s where all the racing updates will be (will there be a race tonight, what’s the weather, who is racing that evening, etc.) under the “Thursday Night Racing” channel.

To join Discord, click on the button and you will be directed to the site and your log in. This link is good until June 9.

More ways to get involved in Thursday Night Racing

It’s easy! To crew on a boat, come to the club deck on any Thursday at 4:30pm. Many of our experienced skippers are happy to take on an extra hand. Or, learn the ropes and the rules of racing by volunteering for the Race Committee by showing up on any Thursday at 4:30pm. Or, help to feed the hungry sailors as they come off the water. Reach out to Linda Tuzzio if you are interested in hosting an after-race dinner. On that note, anyone is welcome to join our dinners for a suggested donation of $5 per person. Dinner times will vary depending on the length of race and wind conditions. Come and see and hear all the fun sea stories! 

Saybrook Outer Light Classic

This year’s Saybrook Outer Light Classic Regatta will take place Sunday July 21st. You are hereby formally invited! Even if you’re not up to racing this year, you can still win the party! [Ed. note: winning the party is actually quite competitive…] Please come and enjoy a celebration of our maritime community.

We’re encouraging community involvement this year and here’s how you can help. If you have a business, professional practice, or just anything you’d like to say, you can be featured as a sponsor in the SOLC Program. It’s a great way to signal your support of your club and community by highlighting your message amongst your friends and neighbors.  Sponsorship includes tickets to the party and if past is prologue, you will not be disappointed.

Your message can be all about your business or just a simple statement of support. Feel free to include a picture of your dog if you want! [Ed. note: that’s what I’m going to do] We offer design help, or you can send us existing marketing materials, and we’ll format them for you. Just click the link to purchase, and we’ll take care of the rest. You'll be doing something useful, helpful, and fun!

As many of you already know, our club sponsors several scholarships to our junior sailing program for those who may not be able to attend otherwise. With the sale of SOLC sponsorships, we hope to add two positions to this scholarship program. Our junior program has become the premier sailing experience for kids in our area and something we can all be very proud of. Sailing instruction introduces a whole new generation to the passion we share and builds confidence and teamwork in young minds as well as boating skills and safety. Help us make that experience available to more kids by becoming a SOLC sponsor!

Spread the Word

We also ask that you reach out to anyone who might be interested in sponsoring. Maybe your dentist, transmission shop, or psychic? How about that realtor who keeps emailing you? Send them the flyer below or copy any of the language in your email to them–or print it out and drop it off in person. Thank you for being an NCYC ambassador.

Regardless of your level of support, please come to the party and help cheer on your fellow club members and meet some our sailing friends from other clubs on the Eastern Sound. See you there!

Activities

OFF TO THE RACES!!

We had an enthusiastic group for one of the most exciting and close Kentucky Derby finishes ever!  I think the judges were counting whiskers to determine the outcome! The mint juleps were flowing (a little too sweet though for my taste and I made them! LOL) The appetizers were very appetizing as usual, but I think we may have to have a Deviled Egg contest to see who makes the best ones.  I think people were eating them for a while at home after the party.  To prevent duplicate items, although all slightly different and just as tasty, please note what you are bringing and check what others are bringing so we have a good variety and fewer leftover! 

Our next BIG event is the Commodores Cookout June 15th at 1600.  DON’T MISS THIS!!  You are in for some really good cookout food! AND, thanks to the generous donations from members and local businesses, the activities committee is pleased to bring back the Basket Silent Auction at the Commodore’s Cookout. Fifteen beautiful baskets will be out for our silent auction. These baskets range from 30-200 dollar values and starting bids can start as low as 15 dollars (basket dependent). See some previews of the Martinis for Two basket, Dark and Stormy Basket, Fun and Games Basket, and Margarita Basket! 

All proceeds go towards helping the club run and organize the Saybrook Outer Light Classic Regatta, which in turn is helping to raise money for our Junior Sailing Program.

On June 28th we are having a luau!  Flowered shirts and some Hawaiian leis.  Heavy apps, think pineapple and coconut?  Maybe a signature drink at the bar?  STAY TUNED!

Cruising News

From the Fleet Captain’s Desk:

2024 Hurricane season:

Multiple forecasting models indicate that the eastern seaboard is predicted to experience an increase in hurricane activity due to the return of La Nina and the exit of El Nino that produces the high altitude wind shear that takes the edge off the winds of Atlantic hurricanes. Furthermore, significantly warming waters off the west coast of Africa, the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf waters all point to a potentially record-breaking 2024 hurricane season. [Ed. note: you’re really selling the cruise this year, David ;)]

We continue to make incremental improvements in our sailing plans and will be paying close attention to any Hurricane Center announcements.

We had our May cruise meeting and found out that Falmouth doesn’t have adequate mooring facilities and therefore have made the necessary cruise destination changes. Of course, we will have our June and July cruise meetings to fine tune the itinerary and we welcome all suggestions.

Please joing us on June 12 and 1800 hours at the Club to further finetune our 2024 cruise itinerary.

David Chan, Fleet Captain

And here’s a bit more info about the hurricane season from Phil Klotzbach, Senior Research Scientist, Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University

“We’re very confident this year we’re going to see well above normal hurricane activity,” Klotzbach said. “It’s not just the temperatures on the surface of the ocean that are rising. New data show that even deep down, the heat content of waters is rising–and rising faster than in previous years,” he noted.

“We’re going to have one of the warmest years on record in the Atlantic,” he said. “Basically, the die is already cast. We’re so far ahead of schedule.”

Klotzbach said that some data now posits a 62% chance of a major hurricane on the East Coast in the next few months. For eastern Florica, the probability is up to 75%.

For insurance, the dice are loaded for a big impact this year,” he said.

From the House Chair

And if, after reading the Cruising report you’ve decided to stay on your boat in the cove for summer, we have this in from the House Chair, Craig Elliot:

The Shower Shed has a new look and is open for the season. Please check it out. I want to thank Chris Bazinet for consulting with Dan Ferrier and me regarding the electrical work. Dan completed the electrical updates to the shower and tool shed. I adjusted the shower head with a new extension to prevent the water from shooting out onto the floor. I also hung a full-length mirror to the right of the door after I completed painting the shower shed. I want to thank my wife, Lisa, for selecting the paint colors to coordinate with the sink and shower skirts that Deb Paulson made. Also, a big thank you to Linda Tuzzio, our Vice Commodore, for decorating the shower area with a new shower curtain, a bench and table, a mirror over the sink, and a couple of hanging pictures. I mean, I think we are finally in competition with the New York Yacht Club…lol.

And please double-check when leaving the shower shed that you have all your personal gear and shower items when you are finished.

Craig Elliott, House Chair

From the Chandlery

Check it out! We have a new Chandlery page on the NCYC website.

We’ve product photos of current items available at the club and we are working on the ability to purchase items directly from our website. Also, new NCYC Low Profile Baseball Hats are coming soon in a variety of colors including navy, light pink, nautical red and more. 

We hope to have products available for sale at most of our events. Outside of events, please ask the steward on duty or contact us directly if you’d like to purchase any items. 

Everyone loves a sale! We have several products that are being phased out or there are only a few available which we will be offering at a discount.

Please let us know if there is anything specific you would like us to add to the Chandlery, we would love your input! 

Your new Chandlery Chairpersons,

Tom & Julie Tydeman

tjtydeman@gmail.com

Tom - 860-877-3343

Julie - 860-877-3344

Fourth of July Boat Parade Opportunity Fun

Dear North Cove Yacht Club members,

Previously organized by Essex Corinthian Yacht Club for the past 10+ years, the 4th of July boat parade will be organized by CT River Museum this year for the first time with aspirations of drawing even bigger turnout both by land (parade goers) and sea (participating boats).  We'd love for members of North Cove Yacht Club to be among those joining us on the water!

Here's high-level info about the 4th of July boat parade (note that this will be a daytime parade):

+ Date and Time:  Thursday, July 4th (Arrive @ 1:30 PM in Essex Harbor; Parade Starts @ 2:00 PM)
+ Duration:  ~30-40 minutes
+ Location:  Essex Harbor in a clockwise loop passing in front of the CT River Museum

Please feel free to let interested members know that they can e-mail me, Bradford Galiette, bgaliette@gmail.com or our july4thboats@gmail.com alias to RSVP.  For those who decide to join, we'll share details about how to get a boat ready for parade day, including tips for how to get a boat ready to impress with as little as two hours prep time, and for how to quickly return a boat to its original condition after the parade to enjoy boating the rest of the Independence Day long weekend.  Ultimately, we're striving to make this a fun and fairly low-lift way for boaters and residents of our towns alike to celebrate the 4th of July together with their families. 

Thank you! Capt. Brad,

Aurora – Essex, CT

A NEW WAY TO GET ASHORE FROM THE MOORING?

We all have our favorite means of getting from our moored and anchored boats to nearby docks and beaches – usually a dinghy (of many varied types and sizes) but sometimes it can be a kayak or paddle board too. If you're anchored in close and heading to the beach anyway, sometimes just swimming in is also an option. But French company SeaStar's Seabike Pro is presenting another possible “going ashore” option – biking!!

Adjust the length, strap the belt around your waist, start petaling and whooooosh – now you're “swimming” at warp speed! 

According to SeaStar's website, the bike weighs about 5 lbs. and is easy enough for a child to assemble.  The adjustment bolts are captive so no worry of losing one along the way, and the prop has a quick disconnect which helps make bike storage more convenient too  More information is available at https://movesea.us/products/water-bike-pro-seabike.

From the Chaplain’s Quiet Corner of the Cove

“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days”

Psalm 90:14

Be inspired to make the most of these long days and shine like the sun!

Canoeing the Connecticut River From Canada to North Cove

by Emily Benning

[Editor’s note: On a stormy evening this past May as the Cruising Club was meeting in the cozy clubhouse, a laden canoe pulled up to the dock and two wet and exhausted people got out. I asked Emily if she would write up a piece for our magazine, and she generously complied with this fabulous account.

Our families tell us on a regular basis that we're wired wrong for thinking a month in a canoe sounds like a jolly holiday, especially in the early spring when we're treated to intermittent snow and a hearty black fly population simultaneously. They've slowly warmed up to the idea, but I suspect it's primarily because five source-to-sea paddling trips later they now have folks up and down the eastern seaboard who share their opinion that we're both a little nuts. As we dragged ourselves and our canoe up onto the dock of the North Cove Yacht Club in a heavy downpour, battered by wind and looking more than a little bedraggled after fighting the weather and the tides for nearly forty miles, I can only imagine that one or two of your members watching through the window would have agreed with our parents. 

My partner Steven and I met while we were both working for Stowe Mountain Resort, and our first "date" was a 30-day canoe trip down the length of the Delaware River. Since ski resorts don't tend to have a lot going on in May, it was the only time of year our bosses would approve a multi-week absence. Overall, the trip was delightful. There was some mild flooding, a freak snowstorm, and an incident with an incredibly confused Coast Guard vessel after we crossed into the Chesapeake Bay via the D&C Canal and accidentally slipped inside a safety perimeter during a live ammunition test at the Aberdeen Proving Ground. There were also a few genuinely beautiful sunny days where we did very little actual paddling and mostly sat in the boat drinking cold beverages drifting sideways down the river, but those stories aren't as interesting. 

We've both moved on (sort of) from the ski bum life, but as the demands of my job as a paramedic in Stowe fluctuate with the tourist population our best bet is still vacationing during the slow days of "stick season". Since previous trips have involved a flood that evacuated most of a Canadian province and forced us to camp in a snowbank for two weeks waiting for the water to go down (St John River 2018), a near-miss with a hurricane that trapped us in the National Air and Space Museum during a hailstorm and made us pull off the river four days early (Potomac River 2019), the aforementioned explosives, and tornadoes encroaching on the Chesapeake Bay as we attempted to hit our Baltimore Harbor target resulting in an emergency landing on the same Sparrows Point lawn on two separate trips (Delaware River 2017 and Susquehanna 2022 respectively), we opted for an adventure a little closer to home this year. Since our home base is in northern Vermont, the Connecticut River seemed like an achievable goal. 

The river itself clocks in at a little over 400 miles from headwaters to the Atlantic and starts in a swamp on the Canadian border known as Fourth Connecticut Lake. For roughly the first 20 miles, it's an ankle-deep stream running between a series of dammed lakes (Third, Second, and First Connecticut Lakes followed by Lake Francis). For another ten miles beyond that, it's an intermittently navigable boulder field that vaguely resembles a river when the water level is high enough. Reasonable people generally start a through paddle in Canaan, Vermont around river mile 370. Aware that we are not, in fact, reasonable people, Steven and I decided that this would be cheating and figured that the multi-mile portages between lakes would be good training for the dozen or so dam portages we'd need to undertake further down the river. The weather cooperated and generously alternated between pouring rain and light snowfall to ensure we didn't overheat while lake hopping. Disappointingly, the total rainfall wasn't quite enough to bring the water up over the rocks, so after a bumpy attempt at a Pittsburg launch we were forced to take the canoe for a ten-mile road walk down to the Canaan access to launch like the respectable paddlers we aren't. 

After our dabble in boat-based backpacking, the middle section of the trip could only be described as "quite lovely". The river meandered through farmland and small towns in between an endless series of dams. The campsites maintained along the river by organizations like the AMC, SCA, and various River Conservancies offered a curated selection of sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and a fascinating variety of backcountry waste management options. (My personal favorite was a "chum", or "outhouse without the house", that consisted of a toilet seat bolted onto a 50 gallon recycling bin with granite steps leading up to the throne and a spectacular 360 degree view.)

After taking a zero day to wait out a thunderstorm and a mild flood we were treated to high water levels and a swift current that allowed us to make up the time lost during our hike to Canaan by averaging 30 or more miles per day. Some dam portages were clearly marked and easy to navigate (Moore Dam) and others were nightmares with a spectacular view (Comerford Dam). We saw moose, bear, innumerable birds, and met countless interested (and interesting) humans along the way who offered directions, suggestions for diner food, rides, and permission to portage across their land so we didn't get sucked into rapids swollen with storm runoff. On the northern portion of the trip we were close enough to home that most folks we crossed paths with only had one or two degrees of social separation and thus regarded us with the friendly skepticism reserved for oddball neighbors. It was reassuring to find that even in today's tumultuous sociopolitical climate, this was still the case as we continued south out of familiar territory. Teenagers fishing under a bridge flagged us down to direct us to a better takeout for a portage. Construction workers helped heave the boat across the gap left by a missing bridge section while going around a dam. A bicyclist nursing a tall boy of PBR on a boat ramp offered excellent advice both on how to navigate around an old wing dam and a cheerful warning that local law enforcement was combing the river for a corpse that was likely traveling downriver at roughly the same rate Steven and I were. There seems to be something about an attitude of "this looks objectively terrible but we are clearly having a good time" that brings out the good in people.

We had initially hoped to paddle out into open(ish) waters in the Sound at Old Saybrook on May 16th, and planned to spend the previous evening camping upriver at Selden Neck State Park after a relatively short 25 mile day. Unfortunately, a constant eye on the weather report revealed that the winds, waves, and general unpleasantness factor would all be increasing through the night and into the following day and threatened to leave us stranded- missing our ride back to Vermont. We made a midafternoon decision to continue on into Old Saybrook that same day and spend our final night in the Saybrook Point Resort instead of the tent. Fighting the incoming tide for the next ten miles in the pouring rain and growing headwind seemed like a fair trade for a hot shower and a dry bed, and there was a chance we'd be able to paddle straight into their marina before the storm hit.

The wind had other plans, however, and as we fought our way through building waves along the edges of the marsh bordering the harbor it became clear that crossing the mouth of North Cove and turning out around the point in an open boat would be a questionable decision at best. Rather than giving local news channels a headline about the Coast Guard rescuing two paddlers from a swamped canoe, we turned into North Cove and sought out your yacht club as a (literal) safe harbor. The river map describes NCYC as "friendly to paddlers" and we figured we might be able to talk you into letting us land so we could portage the rest of the way to our final destination. You did us even better, and generously offered not just a safe place to leave the canoe overnight but a ride to our hotel. Your kindness (and utter nonchalance at two soggy river rats climbing into the back of a very clean, very white SUV–(thank you Kathy Reddington!) was unbelievable, and if the rest of your membership is as welcoming as the few with whom we crossed paths you are quite the lucky bunch to be part of such a community. 

Steven and I thank you again for the small acts of kindness that made a huge impact on the end of our vacation, and if we ever decide to upgrade from the canoe (and move to Connecticut) we certainly know where to start looking for friends. Neither of us has ever actually been sailing, but we've clearly had dumber ideas about what constitutes a good time.

From the Editor

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this (rather large) issue. I’d especially like to thank Jon Mason for all the help (usually texted to him in a panic) he calmly provides me whiile I’m putting these issues together. Photo credits go to: Emily Benning, Craig Elliot, Jean Golitz, Deb Paulson,Joe Radojevic, Julie and Tom Tydeman, Amy Vinciguerra.

If you have anything you’d like to put in High Tidings for next month, please email me at debrasachs247@gmail.com

High Tidings May 2024

Upcoming Events

• Saturday May 4, 3:00-7:00 – Kentucky Derby Event at the Club (BYOB and Appetizers)

• Wednesday May 8, 6:30 – Outer Light Planning Meeting at Myrcene Brewery Old Saybrook

• Saturday May 11, 4:00-6:00 – Annual Meeting and 55th Commissioning

• Saturday May 25 – Monday May 27, Memorial Day Mini-Cruise

• Friday May 31 6:00 – Friday Informal Social (BYOB and Appetizers)

Commodore Remarks

    Greetings from the pilot house of NCYC.  I’m forecasting fair winds and following seas for our 2024 season.  We had a robust turnout of hands for the Spring club clean-up.  Plantings and flower beds are looking great, whalers are ready for launching, and the Club interior is spic and span.  The harbor master is launching moorings, so a reminder–if you have yellow paint on your mooring there is an issue that needs to be corrected prior to launching.
  The Launch is being brought into an even higher state of bristol condition with fresh coats of varnish on the bright work (Thanks Deb Paulson) [Ed. note: Awwww, you’re welcome!] I lost count how many times I’ve see her down there applying coat number what?? [Ed. note: three-hundred and fifty seven. Just kidding.]

Also, fresh coats of paint on topsides and bootstripe by Elio Betty. I am amazed how he can achieve a finish like that without having the launch in a boat yard paint booth with spray equipment. I know there are others working on the launch as well (like Web Moore varnishing the bench seats ) thanks all for your efforts!
Throughout the year we will communicate more opportunities to help out, for example Junior Sailing duty officers and weed whacking, and I do hope you sign up.

We have plans for a dumpster area fencing replacement to extend around and hide the septic system concrete risers and also provide storage racks inside for the fuel used for the whalers and launch, as well as the propane cylinders for the gas grills. 

Next contact on the horizon is our Activities committee Kentucky Derby Event on Saturday May 4th.  Wear your hats and break out the Mint Julips while we cheer on the three-year-old Thoroughbreds!
It may have little to do with yachting but it’s fun !!!

After that we have the combined the Club Commissioning Event and Spring Meeting on May 11th. The Spring Meeting will be held first, at 1600.  We expect it to last approximately 30 minutes, then have a recess as we assemble for the NCYC Commissioning Ceremony at 1700. Any non-member guest should be directed to walk around to the back of the club until we finish the Spring Meeting. We will post a sign at the front entrance while the meeting is in progress.

In this issue you will see an invite for our Club members to attend a fund raising event at Essex Yacht Club to support the Old Saybrook High School and Valley Regional High School crew teams.  If you haven’t been, they have a very nice facility and I’m sure it will be a nice event.

That’s all the news that’s fit to report, I need to mind the Helm!

Best!

Lou Vinciguerra, Commodore

Vice Commodore Remarks

I'd like to thank all of you who helped open the clubhouse on cleanup day. It looks great and is ready for Commissioning. We welcome Craig Elliott as the NCYC House Manager this year. 

I look forward to seeing you at the combined Commissioning and Annual Meeting. May the weather be fair and the skies blue!

Linda Tuzzio, Vice Commodore

Membership

The next membership event will be at the Commissioning. If you know of anyone interested in hearing about what NCYC has to offer, please invite them. Be sure to tell them that we welcome them to join us for the Commissioning which begins at 5 pm.  Only members are allowed to attend the Spring Meeting.  It is also nice to let them know that some of our members actually dress up for this event. I once forgot to let a potential member know and they said it was our form of hazing!

Caroline Miller, Membership

Posted 04/21/2024

Marykay and Don Fontaine

Mansfield, CT

Don: Retired sales manager

Marykay:  Retired RN

Children:  Over 26

Proposed by:  Lisa and Craig Elliott

Support letters:  Miller, Pavlos, Chan

Boat: Cutwater 29

Boating:  They have many years of boating experience and have been in North Cove for over 25 years.

Skills/interests:   The Fontaines are looking forward to the camaraderie of the club experience and meeting new people.  As they get older, they look forward to the ease of getting back and forth to their boat.   Don and Marykay are fun people and willing to pitch in to help when needed.

Potential Members – Posted 04/29/2024

Riley Anderson and Charlotte Freeland

Glastonbury, CT

Riley: Data Scientist

Charlotte:  Research Scientist

Proposed by:  Miller

Support letters:  Frost, Pavlos, Murphy

Boat: C&C 38

Boating:  They have five years experience cruising Long Island Sound

Skills/interests:   They have known about the club for years and are friends with many members. They both have a wealth of knowledge about boats, cruising, and maintenance and can help maintain the NCYC fleet of boats. They look forward to actively participating in club events, especially the summer cruises!

Jr. Sailing

It's smooth sailing on the Junior Sailing front. The Opti classes for all three sessions are full and we have a healthy waitlist. Our 420 classes are close to full! Our senior instructors are hired with just a few junior instructor (volunteer) positions remaining. The committee is planning a fundraiser (stay tuned) and working to prep boats and supplies needed for another successful season. If you are interested in lending a hand to get the small boat fleet ready, please let me know (masonahoy@gmail.com) or contact Commodore Lou Vinciguerra.

The last thing to fill is our Duty Officer slots. For each and every Junior Sailing program day, we have a club member watching over the sailors from the comfort of the club house. Duty Officers are the go-to resource for nervous sailors or those not quite ready to get back on the water. The position requires no medical training (our instructors all hold first aid certifications) just a willingness to offer a comforting smile and chat with a young sailor. Simply kick back, keep an ear open for an instructor or sailor needing assistance, and enjoy the tranquility of North Cove on a weekday. 

With gratitude,
Melissa Mason, Jr. Sailing Chair

Off Shore Racing

We had a successful skippers meeting and are looking forward to some racing this summer! Reminder to skippers to register BEFORE heading out to the race course. Boats can now register for the whole summer series, or per diem at:  https://www.northcoveyc.com/clubracing 

Want to join the Thursday fun?

We are looking for more volunteers to join the Race Committee! This is a great opportunity to get acquainted with sailboat racing, especially if you don't have a boat of your own. We are looking specifically for volunteers to record times and lift marks.

There are also ways to get onto a sailboat if you are looking for more action. Many of our experienced skippers would love to have an extra crew member. This is a great way to learn the rules of racing or to gain more experience sailing in Long Island Sound. 

The first Thursday night race is June 6th. Arrive at the club house by 4:30 PM if you are looking to join and send an email to amyvinci94@gmail.comto let us know you're interested.

Outer Light Classic Update

The next planning meeting will be Wednesday May 8th. The committee is currently working on fundraising and sponsorships. If you would like to donate to our basket raffle held during the Commodore's Cookout, email amyvinci94@gmail.com. We are looking for fun items, gift cards, or empty baskets.

Look forward to the chance to win these lovely baskets on Saturday June 15th. 

Activities

There was no time for fun and games in April as the serious work of opening the club was front and center of all activity!!  Well, you know, all work and no play…

So we did have a LITTLE fun while everyone was scrubbing and dusting, doing heavy lifting and digging in the dirt!!  But now that the club has been all fluffed and buffed, IT’S TIME TO PARTY!!!

MAY 4th is the first social event of the season!!  Please join us for a fun night of food and friendship (and maybe a little wager?) at the Kentucky Derby Party! Please read through the sign up and volunteer!

See you all soon!!  

Melissa Clark, Activities Chair

Cruising News

Launch Operations

Greetings & Salutations Fellow NCYC Members,

We held our annual launch operators meeting at NCYC on Saturday morning, April 27, 2024. The waterfront was a buzz of activity with our Harbormaster, Scott Mitchell and his crew hard at work laying out the North Cove mooring field.

Elio Betty and Deb Paulson were on hand to discuss the work done to the launch during the off-season. The launch looks spectacular, so special thanks is to Elio, Deb, and all those behind the scenes who spiffed up our old reliable North Cove gal. There are still a few more prep items for the launch along with the annual Coast Guard inspection which we anticipate will go swimmingly. -Pun intended. We’ll then be off and running for the season.

Launch operations will begin on Saturday, May 11, 2024.  We are excited to announce the return of our crew of familiar faces: Tanya Anderson, Stefan Golicz, and Jack Cardello.  You will also be seeing NCYC members filling in occasionally. All of whom hold a US Coast Guard endorsement of varying degrees to operate an inspected vessel with passengers. Thank you to Len van Vliet, Dave Miller, Dave Chan, Walter Gayeski, Tom Tydeman, and RJ Lavallee for taking-on a few shifts this season.

If you have not visited the North Cove website lately, I encourage you to take a look. Melissa and John Mason keep our launch hours posted on the club website. This allows members to check hours of operation for the launch right from their cell phone, tablet, or computer. Check out the calendar section.

Here’s my usual cheap recruitment pitch… We always plan to fill the schedule to the end of the marine season, however, there are always a few open dates and unanticipated crew-member absences.  If there are any club members or if you know someone outside our club who holds a current and valid US Coast Guard Captains or Launch License and seeking part-time work, please give me a call.

On behalf of all the Launch Captains, welcome back, we’re looking forward to seeing you at the club and on the water.  I wish you all clear skies, fair winds, and following seas wherever you may travel this year.  Know that when you depart and return to North Cove our launch crew will be at the ready on 78A to get you to and from your boat.  Have a safe and enjoyable season!

Sincerely,

Bill Porter, Launch Operations

New NCYC Severe Weather Policy

Our NCYC Launch will endeavor to run during scheduled time frames, however on a few occasions severe weather may threaten North Cove.  For the safety of our launch crew, members, and guests we have adopted the following severe weather policy.

Launch Operations will be suspended when severe weather is threatening North Cove. Severe weather is not limited to but is inclusive of high winds of 25kts or winds gusting to 30kts in the North Cove, thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy rain.

Potential severe weather will be monitored with all available means by the launch operator such as radar, lightning strike data, and NOAA weather warnings. Lightning producing storms that are approaching North Cove must be closely monitored and considered dangerous. During these conditions launch services will be suspended until the conditions are deemed safe by the launch operator. 

We will be using the current NCYC Discord app to keep members informed of any launch service interruptions. If you don’t have the app yet, reach out to me or Bill Porter and we can help you set it up on your cell phone or tablet.

Len van Vliet, Rear Commodore

A Nantucket Sailing Childhood

by Joe Carroll

This morning I went to the boatyard and took the cover off my boat. The atmosphere was spitting rain drops, and the boat’s deck surfaces were wet. However, I carried on since there are only so many days that boat preparations can be carried out, and then it is summer. Climbing the ladder onto the boat was a little difficult since my new hip joints were being flexed in ways that my physical therapist hadn’t anticipated in my exercises, but none-the-less I got the job done.

Nearby, there was a guy working on his fishing boat, and he showed me where I can plug in my extension cord in case I needed electricity. We got to talking, he saw that I had my North Cove Yacht Club hat on and he mentioned that his son had learned to sail at NCYC, and that Amy Vinciguerra and Matt Faneli were his sailing instructors. His son was having a great time sailing, and he was very happy with his sailing ability.

After the conversation, I continued removing my boat’s cover, which was a challenge since it was affixed to the boat in many places. Despite the boat being thoroughly covered I noticed that the bilge was filled with water. Back in late August 2023 when I put the boat up for the winter I pumped the bilge dry, and soon afterwards the cover was installed. So, now I have to figure out where the water came from that filled the bilge during a period when the whole boat was covered and sealed.

While contemplating the above, I also got to thinking about my childhood Nantucket sailing instructors, and how different they are from our NCYC instructors and the boats that Nantucket children learned to sail in. Below is a picture of my intermediate sailing instructor “Brownie.” Brownie, who was born in an 1888 blizzard, was the grandson of Owen Chase, a Nantucket whaleman whose whale ship was stoved-in and sunk by a whale. However, the crew got into three whaleboats in order to save their lives, and tried to sail a course to the nearest land. The whaleboats separated, and while sailing some 3,300 miles toward Chile, Owen, who captained one of the whale boat-turned-life-boats, killed and devoured his cousin, who was also in the whale boat with several other crewmen. What can I say? The corpulent victim drew the short straw, and everybody else was thirsty and hungry.

Brownie

In any case, back in the early 1960’s Brownie still lived in grandfather Owen’s Nantucket house with his sister, Lucrecia.  Brownie used to drink–drink a lot as a matter of fact. He carried a flask of this favorite booze and he used to light it on fire to show his students how inflammable it was. Brownie was like that, mixing sailing with his Professor Science act. Brownie also had an odor about him. His scent could best be described as “sulfurous sea scent”.  In any case, Brownie used to row around in a double ended dory with a little brown nosed guy named “Star” which was short for “Starbuck”. Star had a megaphone which he used to yell commands/instructions at the sailing students. Star considered himself a member of the quahog aristocracy–which through extensive inbreeding creates an individual with royal Nantucket Island blood. Kind of like English royalty. Not sure whatever happened to Star. I haven’t seen him in fifty years or so. Maybe Brownie devoured him.

Brownie taught sailing using  Beetle Catboats. My twin brother and I used the same boat that Brownie taught my father to sail in back in Nineteen-aught-nine.

nantucket bettle catboats

I can still remember our sailing instructions. Brownie would say:

·      “The windward side gives you the clearest view of where you are heading and what is happening on your boat”. Or, Brownie would teach that

·      “A sail acts much like the wing of an airplane. As air flows over the two surfaces of the sail, lift develops, just like the lift on an airplane’s wing. This lift pulls the sail forward and with it the boat”.

·      “The sail needs to be properly trimmed. As long as the sail’s angle relative to the wind is correct smooth airflow over the sail will be maintained and a strong lift will result. If for some reason the sail is pointing too close to the wind or too far away from it, the flow of air on the sail will be turbulent, destroying the lift effect.”  “Pull the sail to the point where it stops luffing” Brownie would command. Also, Brownie taught us weather forecasting such as:

·      “Dew in the morning means an early strong southerly wind…”

·      “Cob webs in the rigging means a northwester in the near future”

·      “ Wind from the northeast generally brings rain to Nantucket”,

·      “Wind before rain, set sail again”..”Rain before wind, take her in…”

Also, Brownie taught sailing rules of the road:

·      “Windward boat stay clear of the leeward boat on same tack”

·      “Boat on port tack stay clear of boat on starboard tack”.

Brownie used to work out of a shed, and his main source of income was OTB, cleaning fish, scallops, & clams. If it was too windy to sail, Brownie would put his students to work cleaning fish to help pay for their tuition. One could work for 50 cents a day for Brownie. Maybe, he’d show you how to plot a course or read a compass.  

brownie’s shed

Occasionally, Brownie’s bewhiskered, girlfriend Madaket Millie would stop by the shed and bring seaweed laced brownies for the children. A lot has changed since then, and guys like Brownie, and gals like Madaket Millie are not around anymore–at least not on Nantucket.

Wishing you all a great May, and see you on the water..

Joe Carroll, High Tidings Correspondent

From the Chaplain’s Quiet Corner of the Cove

Dear friends,

Take time this season to sit on the deck, to watch the moon rise, and “to ponder heaven”…

pink flower full moon,

“It's full tonight. So we go and the moon rises, so beautiful it makes me shudder, makes me think about time and space, makes me take measure of myself: one iota pondering heaven. Thus we sit, myself thinking how grateful I am for the moon's perfect beauty and also, oh! how rich it is to love the world.”

Mary Oliver

From the Editor

Thanks to everyone for their contributions to this issue of High Tidings. If you have any information you’d like to include in the June High Tidings, please email me at debrasachs247@gmail.com. Photos thanks to: Joe Carroll, Walt (“Mud”) Gayeski, Kathleen LeGeyt, Deb Paulson, Laurie Pavlos, Linda Tuzzio, Amy Vinciguerra, Lou Vinciguerra.

High Tidings April, 2024

Vernal Equinox sunrise at north cove

Upcoming Events

• Saturday April 13, 9:00 AM – Annual Spring Clean Up at the Club

• Saturday April 13, 10:00 – Membership Event at the Club

• Wednesday April 17, 6:30– Outer Light Planning Committee at Myrcene Brewery

• Saturday April 20, 9:00 AM – Rain Date for Spring Clean Up

• Saturday April 20, 2:30 – Cruising Club Meeting, Acton Library

• Saturday April 20, 5:00 – Happy Hour (Post Cruising Meeting) at Penny Lane Pub, Old Saybrook

• Thursday April 25, 6:00 – Thursday Night Racing Skippers Meeting at the Club

Commodore Remarks

Wow, we have some creative spirit in this club with that April Fool’s edition!  Hope you all enjoyed it and no worries…none of it is true. 
Well…. as a native of Hyde Park, New York maybe singing Old Blue Eye’s famous song at sunset as I finish out my second year at the helm could be something  ????

Kudos to our highly talented magazine editor Debra Paulson.

Spring is here!!!  Flowers are blooming and birds chirping as we wake up our cherished vessels, gently pulling back the covers and start prepping and anticipating our launch dates!!!

If you have a cove mooring don’t forget to have your mooring tackle rigged and ready for inspection by the Old Saybrook harbor master no later than April 7th.   If you haven’t touched your tackle since it’s been hauled, you really need to untangle it, inspect that your chain links are not rusted and necked down such that they are no longer sufficient to hold in a storm, check that your shackles have stainless steel wire seizing in place and your buoy bottom has a fresh coat of anti-fouling paint.  When the harbor master inspects tackle he will hit your mushroom anchor with green paint if it’s good to go; and if not, he will try to paint the parts that do not pass with yellow paint, alerting you to what needs to be corrected.

Thanks to our Activities Committee and Chair Melissa Clark, we had a very well attended event at the Highliner tavern in Westbrook.  What a neat place with train memorabilia all around and close to the tracks as the trains rolled by. They allowed us to bring in our own apps to a table and have a semi private event.

Next up on the calendar is Saturday 0900 April 13th where we have work parties to:

•   Clean up the club grounds from the debris of winter storms

• Put bottom paint on the whalers, skiff, launch, and William T

• Remove all the boats, paddle boards, and kayaks out of the clubhouse

•   Bring out the gas grills and deck furniture

• Do a general clean-up of the inside of the clubhouse

• Store the winter dock ice propellers,

•   Clean and spruce up the landscaping plantings

•   Clean out the drainage swale on north side of our property that helps keep our parking lot dry

• Dust and polish trophies  

I know I’m missing a bunch of other tasks but there is a lot to do and many hands make it easy. Thanks in advance to our various chair persons that plan and direct the efforts.

Mark your calendar– this year we have combined the Club Commissioning event on May 11th with the Spring Meeting. The Spring Meeting in recent years “thankfully” has been a very easy event with no controversy or voting on changes, so the Board thought to combine them on the same Saturday. The Spring Meeting will be held first at 1600 (4:00 PM.)  We expect it to last approximately 30 min, then have a recess as we assemble for the NCYC Commissioning ceremony at 1700.  Any non-member guest should be directed to walk around to the back of the club until we finish our Spring Meeting.  We will post a sign at the front entrance while the meeting is in progress.

Let me call out thanks to the efforts of Rich Peters and Chris Bazinet for constructing four new box seats, to Deb Paulson and Cathy Murphy for sewing the new cushions for these seats, and to Suzanne Miller for sewing the pillows.  Inside these boxes we are able to store “out of sight” the parts and pieces necessary to run our very popular junior sailing school. They look great and also add more seating for club events.

Thanks also to Launch Chair Elio Betty who has the open cover set up to continue launch restorations and keep her in top condition. Reach out to him if you want to assist.

Also thanks to Tom and Julie Tydeman who have been fixing up the Club’s O’Day daysailor. Our plan is to have it moored at the dock, shoulder seasons, and on a flats mooring during the season, for member use (after some initial instruction for new sailors) and also as a platform for adult sailing lessons.

That’s the all I can muster for this month’s addition.

See you in at the boat yard or at the Club on April 13th !!

Best,

Lou Vinciguerra, Commodore

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;

And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying

Sea-Fever

John Masefield

Astronomical News

This is your resident Astrophysicist Amy Vinciguerra with NCYC Hightidings Magazine. In the words of my Physics class "Warning! On Monday April 8th the sun will disappear! The moon will block 90% of the sun causing a solar eclipse! View the maximum coverage at 3:27 pm with a cool pair of eclipse glasses! Be safe, do not look directly at the sun, not even with sunglasses."

If you haven't heard yet, North America is about to be treated to a very special Solar Eclipse! Yes we just experienced one in 2017, but this time it will be different. There are two things to notice about the map below: 

#1 the path of Totality for the 2024 eclipse is much wider, meaning that a larger number of towns will be in view of the Totality.

 #2 the 2017 path was very far south of Connecticut causing only a 30% partial solar eclipse visible for us, compared to the proximity of 2024 where we will experience a 90% partial eclipse! 

You might be wondering, "What does a 90% partial eclipse look like?" Well it is much more exciting than it sounds! Beginning at about 2:30 in the afternoon, the moon will begin to travel in front of the sun. Over the course of the next hour (2:30-3:30) the moon will block more and more sunlight from the sky. Sunlight will return as the moon leaves the path of the sun (3:30-4:30). The peak coverage in CT will be at about 3:30 which is when you'll definitely want to be viewing. In the image below, 90% coverage of the sun will look like the top right and bottom left corners. The only parts of this image that you won't be able to see in CT are the images of the sun in the middle row. The beautiful starburst (the sun's Corona) is only visible to those who take the trip to the path of totality (see map above). Even at 90% we will experience very cool phenomena special to a solar eclipse. The sky will darken similar to dusk, which can cause street lights and other automated lights to turn on early. The loss of sunlight also confuses wildlife, birds will start to sing as if the sun is setting, and deer can be seen moving to their nightly routes. All of nature will pause to witness this event. 

You won't be able to see anything without proper eye protection. Looking directly at the sun can cause lasting retinal damage on any day. The best way to view the eclipse is to spend a few bucks on some eclipse glasses, but if you can't find a pair then there are some homemade options! Build an eclipse viewer with a cardboard box and a pair of binoculars or a mirror. With this method you should only be looking at the reflection of the sun which is much less bright. 

The late Frank and Louisa Vinciguerra viewing the 2017 eclipse

Even though we have had the treat of two eclipses in the past 7 years, the next one visible in the US won't be until the year 2044! 

More resources on the upcoming Astronomical Event: 

Get exact timing info for your area on April 8th 

How Scientists are Preparing

Information from NASA

Get eclipse glasses 

Vice Commodore Remarks

I received a letter from the Essex Yacht Club inviting us to compete for the Sam Wetherill Club Trophy. It is a trophy given to the yacht club that has a combined best performance of its top three boats on the 140 mile race course. The race starts on May 17, sailing to Gay Head (Aquinnah) and returning to Old Saybrook.
It may be too late to put together a team on such short notice, maybe not! However, you may be interested in racing on another sailboat. If so, I encourage you to contact Essex Yacht Club.

I’ve been taking out library books to cut back on the piles of books I’ve collected but not yet read! I switch off every week, reading a library book and one I own. It’s also a nice walk to the library from our house. Recently, I’ve been reading about the history of our local towns. Fascinating! The libraries have local authors, historical documents, and history books. Old Saybrook is next on my list. Feel free to drop off any books you have for the club bookshelf.

Cleanup day is coming and we need all hands on deck to get the clubhouse ready for the season. I appreciate your time and efforts in advance.

I am looking forward to a great season at the cove. See you soon!

Linda Tuzzio, Vice Commodore

Membership

Can you believe boating season is just around the bend? This is the time of year things pick up for the Membership Committee. The first Membership Event held this season will be during the April Club Cleanup- April 13th @ 10 am. If you know anyone who is interested in NCYC membership, send me an email and I will reach out to them.

Also, Badges – If anyone needs a new Badge printed, send an email to Caroline Miller.

Caroline Miller, Membership Chair (c.d.miller@comcast.net)

Junior Sailing

(sung to the tune of “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas)

It's beginning to feel a lot like summer,

At our sailing camp, we're all abuzz.

Amy's at the helm, with Alex by her side,

As registrations overflow, our spirits rise.

It's beginning to look a lot like sailing,

Everywhere you go;

With instructors hired, and boats inspired,

In our cove, they will gleam and glow.

Kids laugh and learn, the winds at their back,

Sails billow and hearts are all intact.

Optis and 420s, a picturesque sight,

As they glide through the water, everything feels just right.

It's beginning to look a lot like sailing,

Everywhere you go;

With instructors hired, and boats inspired,

In our cove, they will gleam and glow. 

This tune has been stuck in my head all morning, so as I sat down to write my update I had to embrace it! The team has been hard at work planning another great summer for the junior sailors at North Cove. We have waitlists for the Opti classes in all three sessions, T-shirt designs for our limited-edition 2024 shirts are being finalized, and we’re reviving our Race Team program (including NCYC pinnies for the racers.) I am so extremely grateful for the dedication of our team especially Amy Vinciguerra (Program Director) and Alex Beauchene (Head Instructor) who donate their time in the off-season to plan, interview instructors, and brainstorm ways to grow and improve the program.

For anyone interested in joining the Junior Sailing Committee, keep an eye out for an email about a planning meeting in late April/early May.

Fair seas,

Melissa Mason

NCYC Junior Sailing Chair

And from Amy Vinciguerra:

Spots are filling up at NCYC for our 2024 season! Already we have a full list of Opti sailors ready to take lessons this summer. We have remaining spots in the 420 classes for our sailors who are 12-16 years old. With a full team of Instructors, next we are looking for our team of Junior Instructors. Any sailors age 14-18 who are looking for volunteer hours are welcome to join the team! 

Last year we experienced a very exciting return to the travel racing scene. This season we are re-introducing the NCYC Junior Racing Team! This will be our team of sailors participating in travel regattas all across CT and RI! They will be participating in our Monday Night Racing series, as well as attending Wednesday evening skills practices to get ready for events. 

The club is very proud to be teaching the next generation of sailors and competitors. 

Activities

ALL ABOARD!

We had a great turn out once again for our March meet up at the Highliner III in Westbrook.  It was nice fostering new friendships with new, old and returning club members, as well as renew old friendships.   Isn’t the Highliner III a great little hidden trackside gem, with its train themed decor!?  A fun place to sip a cocktail, watch the trains whiz past and imagine days gone by of train travel.  

In my opinion, those bartenders make the BEST rum punch on the Shorline.  If you didn’t try one, next time you swing through, get one!  You won’t be disappointed.  They are sweet, tropical and go down fast.  BUT, JUST REMEMBER, they are a bar ONLY and those drinks creep up on you QUICK!!   That’s why it was so nice that we could do our own snack set up!  As usual, we outdid ourselves with all kinds of tasty treats.  We had so much food that we offered it to the other patrons and received rave reviews!  I hope everyone enjoyed themselves and is looking forward to opening the club up again!   

I think we have a good mix of events for this season starting with the Derby May 4th.  Again this year, please wear your hats!  You were all so creative I’m looking forward to this years masterpieces! Please bring Kentucky inspired apps. (don’t worry I will share a website of Derby food ideas if you get stumped!)

May 4th is also know as Star Wars Day.  (May the 4th be with you) Let’s see how many fans we have out there!  If you have any memorabilia from the trilogy, extra points if you can incorporate it into your outfit.  

See y’all soon!

Melissa Clark, Activities Chair

Off Shore Racing

Thursday Night Racing

Sailors get ready, Thursday Night Racing will start up again in June! It's time to sand, paint, and repair all those laundry list items to get your vessel in tip-top shape for the season! 

A skippers meeting will be held on Thursday April 25th, 1800 at NCYC to relay all competitors' information. After party at the Rabbit Hole for casual discussion of the rules of racing. 

All who are interested in joining the racing scene are welcome to attend! This includes any first time crew members, interested race committee volunteers, first time captains, or those who are just curious about what happens at these Thursday events! 

Have any thoughts on this year's season? Contact Amy Vinciguerra amyvinci94@gmail.com or share your thoughts on the Discord server.  

Old Saybrook Outer Light Classic

Registration is open and we have our first boat registered! The race is on! It takes a boat load of volunteers to put this event together and you can be involved in this rewarding event! The next meeting for the Outer Light Planning Committee will be held on April 17th, 6:30 PM at Myrcene Brewery in Old Saybrook. We look forward to seeing you there! 

Clubhouse Rentals

I just thought I would give a few guidelines into what to do when you want to rent the clubhouse for a private social event. Many people know this, but many of the new members or members who have never thought about renting the clubhouse have any idea where to begin. 

All the information I am going to mention here is also on the club website. I know that can be a challenge for some people, but I think most anyone can access a website and there is tons of great information on our website and the website master (Jon Mason and team) are always tweaking and adding to it. So feel free to check it out.

So, the club website is : northcoveyc.com

After you get that page, you go to the tab with the “Password Protected Page” in the dropdown menu under “Member Area”

This will lead you to putting in the Password which is : shh, it’s only for members.

Are you ready? The password is: YachtClub. [Ed. note: oooh, tricky…although It is case-sensitive.] Have your computer save it, so you don’t have to remember it.

Then scroll three-quarters of the way down the page, or you can read the whole thing, until you see-

Use of NCYC Clubhouse Facilities.

This has the fee breakdown and the necessary forms you need. Here you will also find my email, or whoever is in charge of reservations. You should get in touch with them first before you make any other plans and see if the clubhouse is free. You can often tell this if you first look at the club calendar. But just to be safe, check with the reservation chairperson, as sometimes events get added and are not always put on the website calendar right away.

If the day and time you want are free, you can send in your rental form to the chairperson and your cleaning deposit to our treasurer at the clubhouse P.O. Box address. The rental form has been streamlined, so you can fill it out online and just email it to the chairperson as well.

Then I email the treasurer and the website master, Jon and tell them to add the private event to the club calendar and the treasurer keeps the cleaning deposit check until after the event takes place.

Make sure you read the rental form in its entirety as it has many rules that must be adhered to. If you will have more than 20 people at the event, we ask you to include your fee with the rental form you send to me. If you think you will only have 19 people and 23 show up, you can leave a check in the clubhouse mailbox for the treasurer, on the day of the event.

The clubhouse is only supposed to be used for social gatherings such as; birthdays, anniversaries, or graduations and the like, not for an organization meeting of a club, group, or civic assemblage. And all members always have access to the club even during private events, although most members try to be discreet, when there is a party going on.

I hope this helps a bit and you are always free to text or call me if you are still unclear, but email is preferred. 

Ann Chan, Clubhouse Rentals

Women on the River

It’s time for another season of Women on the River! Please consider joining this fun group. We start sailing end of May! Below is a brief description and dates that we hope to be sailing. Contact Cathy Murphy at cjhmurphy@gmail.com or call 860-227-7122 for sign up or additional information or questions.

Women On The River consists of women from North Cove, Essex, Corinthian, Pettipaug, and Hamburg Cove Yacht Clubs. We meet four times, on a Wednesday at 5:00, and sail the Ideal 18s provided by Essex and Corinthian Yacht Clubs. It’s an opportunity for women to get away from the old ball-and-chain share their love and excitement for sailing. The fleet consists of 12 boats, three women per boat. Women of all sailing abilities are welcome. There are enough skilled sailors from Essex and Corinthian to skipper the boats but if you are interested in being a skipper, that is encouraged also.  After each session, we have a social hour. The events are rain or shine. We have fun activities and games planned if weather does not cooperate for sailing.The schedule for events is as follows:

1 st meeting May 22 at Essex Corinthian. This is a pot luck and BYOB. This will be a review of the Ideal 18’s. Weather permitting, we hope to sail.

June 5, 12, 19 will be at Essex Yacht Club. Sailing followed by dinner. The cost for dinner is $30 

There is no cost to join this group. We ask only that you pay in advance if you plan on staying for dinner.

Please contact me by May 1 if you’re interested in joining:  cjhmurphy@gmail.com or call 860-227-7122 for sign up or additional information or questions.

Cruising News

It is April 2024 & the warming trend continues as we enjoy earlier sunrises and later sunset.

Our first cruise planning meeting will be Saturday April 20 from 2:30pm to 4:45pm at the Acton Library in Old Saybrook followed by our traditional happy hour at the Penny Lane Pub.

April 22 is Earth Day and prior to our cruise meeting there will be an Earth Day event at the Acton Library. 

Barry Souza of Boat Wise will be holding a Limited Masters License class at the Shennecossett Yacht Club on 4/20 & 4/21. Please contact Boat Wise at 603-394-0412 for details.

Look forward to all our cruising ideas and praying for good cruising weather for our 2024 cruises.

See you soon,

David Chan, Fleet Captain

Grounds Committee

Calling all gardeners. Please join us for the April cleanup 4/13. We could use some skilled hands to prune , rake and get the planters ready for the season. Bring your clippers and any ideas you want to share for the club gardens. 

Thank you!

Cathy Murphy, Grounds Chair

Reminiscences

by Joe Carroll

For most of us at NCYC sailing the Long Island and Connecticut coastlines has always been fascinating.

As a little shaver I motorboated and sailed to almost all the ports between Lake Champlain and Nantucket. My father would put all us seven kids and my mother into our boat and travel via the Hudson River to Long Island Sound, Block Island Sound, Elizabeth Islands, Marthas Vineyard, and Nantucket.  As a lad I knew all of the buoys, shoals, lighthouses and ports along our cruising path. Ports like City Island, NYC, Southport, Darien, Glen Cove, Mt. Sinai harbor, Fishers Island, Gardner’s Bay, Block Island, Stonington, Cape Cod and the Islands. In those days (almost 60 years ago)  weather forecasts were not so good. We navigated using dead reckoning by compass & charts, and our radio usually didn’t work. In heavy fog my father always told me to “trust the compass”. Usually because when I was at the helm we were five miles off course based on a bell buoy or some other navigational aid that we accidently come upon, and whose number we’d look up on a chart.

I have always had a great time on the water. However, many times our boat would set out on a beautiful morning, only to have the day turn really nasty and ugly with high winds, big waves, and torrential downpours and fog. It was during these times that my mother would gather the little kids down below, and break out the rosary beads as waves broke over the boat, and the boat broached onto its side in the middle of nowhere, but eventually righted and kept on going.  In port, we seemed to find every sandbar on which to ground, and occasionally a rock which caused bent shafts, props, worn out cutlass bearings. We’d anchor and a 70 mph squall would hit us and cause us to drag up on a breakwater, or collide with other anchored boats. Or, other boats would drag into us, and carry us onto a shoal, or the beach. It was a lot of fun listening to my sisters cry and scream for their lives.

Unfortunately, based on these experiences, most of my brothers and sisters don’t sail or enjoy time on the water today. If I take them out for a sail on Madaket, and the wind builds up to 12 knots or so, I am requested to take them  back to North Cove while they hide out in the cabin.

In college, I was on the sailing team, and we would race mostly on Long Island Sound near Manhasset Bay, Larchmont  Yacht Club, Port Washington or other western LI Sound yacht clubs-an easy sail for our colleges’ 42’ Christ-craft Comanche, and Shield sloops from the NY Maritime College where I went to college. In college, many times we would get caught in high winds, lightening storms, squalls. We’d get knocked down. We’d tear sails. Ruin rigging. We’d get lost. However, many times we’d win. In the winter we raced in frostbite races with nearby yacht clubs. We would interact with sailors like Cornelius Shields Sr. and Jr, Harry Anderson, Arthur Knapp, Clinton Bell, and guys with nick-names like  Ace, Spider, Corny, Buss, Ceb, & Chappie. All great sailors who were consumed with year-round sailing and racing and members of Larchmont, American, Stamford yacht clubs to name a few. Many of my fellow sailing team members were also trained at Long Island Sound yacht clubs which had great Junior Sailing programs. So, many of us were used to dealing with adverse unpredictable situations on the water. Today, it seems like North Cove Yacht Club sailors don’t get ourselves into too many bad weather situations. Maybe because of the use of modern instruments, radios and cell phones that have instantaneous weather-radar reports reporting an incoming squalls or other imminent dangerous weather situations.  Also, perhaps the weather isn’t as ferocious as it was when I was a lad. We had a couple of foggy races last summer, and I was able to follow my chart plotter to the marks. Fifty years ago we’d have to listen for gongs, or horns, or people talking on their boats in order to get a handle on where we were. For me, it’s a lot less stressful sailing today than it was decades ago. Of course, on LI Sound that could all change in an instant.   

I believe that all of us at North Cove Yacht Club find our boats more than insurable pleasure. Our boats are a beloved companion with a soul and a personality and a name. The competition at our club does not make us become a slave to a sailmaker, or a boatyard. NCYC competition is not a boat and dollars match. It is fun and we normally don’t find ourselves in the middle of an unanticipated squall or tornado that can be physically taxing, and a risk to our sailing companions, including our boat. If sudden bad weather is forecasted we are normally about 3-miles from the Connecticut River and can make a quick trip into port.  

Soon, I will be in the midst of making preparations for launching Madaket. This year I hope that my new hips cooperate, and that I have progressed in my healing enough to get my boat ready for launch, and racing. Although my hips and legs are still a little sore, I am progressing well with my physical therapy. So, I hope to see you all out on the water this June on Thursday nights. Any one who wishes to participate in Thursday night racing but don’t have a boat can crew for a skipper. There is a lot of opportunity for crewing on a boat, and now is a good time to read about sailboat racing if you want to actively participate this summer.

I hope all of you had a great winter, and are anxiously awaiting a summer full of boating.

Joe Carroll

Everglades Challenge

Everglades Challenge 2025 - Update!

[If that phrase above rings no bells at all, please refer to the March High Tidings (near the bottom) where it is introduced]

We’ve just begun adding reef points to the sails to make them compliant for the event; every sail needs two reef points.  There are many more little jobs to do on the boat such as wiring, adding a manual and electric bilge pump, adding oarlocks and oars, sanding/painting, more painting, shut-off valves on the cockpit drains through-hull fittings, re-bedding deck hardware, building a small sprit, etc..  We are also still looking for a more centrally located location to work on the boat and trailer.  Once the basic work is done we’ll be testing (sailing) and refining the boat/system as our ideas improve.  Anyone is welcome to join in at any point.  Input is welcome from all.

There is a list in the club Discord under the ‘swap meet’ section of items we need to get for the boat, hopefully second hand.  If you have a basement full of old boat stuff, take a look at the list and maybe we can make a deal.

Watch the Discord for when our next conference call will be, all interested parties are welcome.

From the Chaplain’s Quiet Corner of the Cove

I was looking out the window this evening and noticed the Ospreys have returned to North Cove. Their faithful arrival every spring around the time of the vernal equinox reminds me of this poem by T. A. Conrad.

Soon as the sun, great ruler of the year,

Bends to our northern clime his bright career,

And from the caves of ocean calls from sleep

The finny shoals and myriads of the deep;

When freezing tempests back to Greenland ride,

And day and night the equal hours divide;

True to season, o’er our sea-beat shore,

The sailing osprey high is seen to soar…

A warm welcome to all the creatures returning to the cove this season, including the sailors and fishermen who “welcome the season with a song.”

And now some parting words from past Commodore Hugh Hunsinger

From the Editor

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this, the second High Tidings in three days! I really appreciate you all stepping up to the plate. If you have news, info, etc. you’d like to put in May High Tidings, please email me at debrasachs247@gmail.com and put “May High Tidings” in the subject header. Thanks so much!

Deb Paulson

High Tidings April 1, 2024

Commodore Remarks

Start spreading the news……  I want to be a part of it ….  New York… New York  …

If you haven’t yet heard the news, North Cove Yacht Club has been acquired by the prestigious New York Yacht Club.  Similar to how marinas are being conglomerated into a monopoly, yacht clubs are next. It’s exciting news, but there are a few changes to our business as usual and as Commodore, I am pleased to be the first to announce a few of them:   

• The NYYC burgee will be flown above the NCYC Burgee on our flagstaff and also on any yachts hoisting the burgee.  

• Proper attire will be required at the club including blue blazers, tie, and Nantucket red slacks “or shorts” after sunset. 

•  Ladies are expected to wear their pearls, and skirts must extend two inches below the knee.  

• At sunset, members will assemble in formation on the back deck as the canon is fired and we retire the colors to Frank Sinatra’s New York, New York.

  I know you will all join me in embracing our new identity as a subsidiary of the most prestigious Yacht Club in the country!

Also, in the interest of transparency, I have included a letter to me as Commodore, from the Chairman of the Merger Committee of the New York Yacht Club, Commodore Baltus van Cleat, which I hope you will find as welcoming and informative as I did.

Commodore Louis van Rensselaer de Patroon Vinciguerra

NCYC

111 Sheffield St, Old Saybrook, CT 06475

My Dear Commodore:

The NYYC Merging Committee is reaching out to you in order to outline our requirements/rules/expectations regarding your merger with us.

First, let me explain that we are very happy that you understand the honor conferred to you by merging with NYYC-a very distinguished yacht club that was founded July 30, 1844 by the most foremost robber-barons and human exploiters in US/World History.

We believe that our merger will help NYYC members become closer to the working-class yachtsmen and yachtswomen, represented by NCYC, who would rather change their own engine oil, clean out their own yacht’s holding tank(s), personally dock and tie-up their yacht, and personally sail/operate their own sailing/motor yachts. Additionally, several of our members have requested access to a “fun” club (I admit to being puzzled; I can be quite jocular when the occasion calls for it.)

We believe this merger will help both of our clubs:  NCYC membership dues will help subsidize the overtaxed, legacy families of NYYC–families who are currently stressed because of high inflation, high interest rates, high cost of liquor and illicit drugs, and increased difficulty making easy “bank” by receiving large biweekly checks from depleted trust funds. Simply put, we find it wonderful that NCYC members understand the privilege of merging with NYYC. Our yacht club has within its ranks the finest group of Yachtsmen with affected transatlantic accents and NYYC membership will train your members to speak with the requisite transatlantic accent-a rule at NYYC. (Which I personally think is fun, but opinions differ, apparently, on the nature of “fun.”)

The following are some of the rules that we will demand that NCYC members memorize and recite to NYYC members who may/will spontaneously subject you to gratuitous hazing:

•      NYYC Yachts are to be saluted by cannon when entering North Cove or the Connecticut River. The saluted yacht is to return the salute.

•      All NYYC flag officers are to be piped onto NCYC property, and their flags hoisted on the flag pole by the club’s attendants. The cannon is to be used to salute the Commodore when he arrives on club property.

•      The “Order of the Boor” award will be presented annually to the yachtsmen considered most representative of NYYC ideals and values.

•       A DNA test of all NCYC members will be necessary prior to the merger-–for no particular reason.

•      The NYYC race committee will govern all sailboat racing. The basic precept of the NYYC race committee will be to hamper and confuse the racing NCYC sailors in hopes that they lose most races.

•      The Moose Head Award will be presented to the yachtsmen with the most groundings, or navigational errors, or other displays of poor seamanship. This award is given in the spirit of fun and to embarrass the sailor into becoming a better yachtsmen.

•   All other yacht club rules will be published in the year book. The book must be memorized, and readily recited by arbitrarily picked NCYC members.  

Thank you for merging with the NYYC. You and your family’s status in life will change for the better, and it is hoped that you will reap the rewards of being elevated to the ruling class in your community.

Yours truly,

Commodore Baltus van Cleat, Chairman of the NYYC Merging Committee, 1 Carroll Street, City Island, NY

From the Editor

To illustrate “proper attire” I have gone through past photos and marked them with a green check (acceptable/desirable attire) or a black circle and slash (definitely not appropriate attire) in the hope that this helps with any questions or confusion.

Vice Commodore Remarks

We are pleased to announce that we will be serving lunch and dinner, Wednesday through Sunday each week, starting in June. We have hired an excellent chef and are fully staffed!

Club Etiquette for Lunch and Dinner

Appropriate dress is required in the dining area. No bare feet, bare torsos, or bathing suits allowed. Hats should be removed. Children are not allowed to sit or stand at the bar.

The use of cellphones is discouraged.

Men are required to wear collared shirts and suit jackets for Saturday and Sunday dinners. Women are required to dress business casual (See Commodore Remarks for further elucidation on this.) Denim is acceptable* only in the bar area. *ahem, please bear in mind that “acceptable” is used as an euphemism here. “Barely tolerable” is more to the point.

After racing, racing attire is acceptable** in the dining area. ** In this case “acceptable” is given a nod of approval, as racers do not have the time or energy to change after a vigorous race.

Bar: 1800 to 2200 hours
Lunch: 1200 to 1500 hours
Dinner: 1800 to 2100 hours

Enjoy the beautiful cove views and congenial atmosphere of the Club!

Rear Commodore Remarks

From the wheel house of rear commodore NCYC:

I would like to bring to the attention of the membership what may become a dramatic change to the North Cove Yacht Club. 
Last fall shortly after de commissioning the commodores were approached by the New York Yacht Club. The purpose for reaching out to us was a possible partnership or outright sale of the NCYC.  At first we thought someone was pulling at our jib sheet, but after some verifying phone calls we came to realized they were serious.
In subsequent conversations the NYYC commodore and their lawyers, explained that they are trying to expand their satellite locations and that NCYC had an excellent location beween the New York and Newport club houses. They are also looking at clubs to the south, around Annapolis.
The two proposals talked about were an outright sale of the club, or an equity position in the club. The club as you know is owned by the members and the original bond holders. The second proposal was a cash infusion to the existing club to bring it up to NYYC standards. This would include a second story on the club for an expanded bar and restaurant venue. In addition to a remodeled clubhouse the parking lot and docks will be updated. We have seen the drawings and they are impressive. 
The sale of the club is also being considered. I may add at this point that nothing is going to be done without the full vote of membership, as stated in the by-laws. We hope to have proposals ready for membership review prior commissioning so a vote can be taken at commissioning/spring meeting, so attendance is imperative. The cash offers for the club are also impressive and will be detailed at our upcoming meeting. I will peak your interest by saying that if I divide the total number of members by thier first offer, individually we could each realize a six figure payout.
The board of finance of the NYYC will be attending the spring meeting to answer any questions. They will also be assessing whether to extend membership to the NCYC whose dues are fully paid up on April 1, 2024. The cash payouts will also only be extended to fully paid up members. So with that in mind please act accordingly. I also highly recommend we dress for the occasion and bring something other than box wine and PBR beer.

PS -we are also working a side deal to sell off our spa quality North Cove silt, stay tuned $$$

Len (LV2)

Membership

Since being acquired by the New York Yacht Club, ‘exclusivity’ is the new watchword. Old money is preferred, but new money will be given consideration, although it may take several interviews to determine if the new money is quite “right” for our enhanced membership requirements. Membership fees will be increasing a little.   Initiation fees are now $26,000 and dues are now $12,000 per year.  We are happy to announce the new Intermediate membership class that is being offered to those between the ages of 21 and 39 years old with initiation at $7,500 and dues of $6,000 per year.  

After hearing about the NCYC acquisition, we have been told that interest in membership in the NYYC has dramatically increased.  The word on the street is that it is now the place to join.  Once again, Beyoncé, Jay-Z and their three children (Blue Ivy and twins Rumi and Sir) have applied to membership.  Beyonce and Jay Z hope to moor their $70 million yacht 213-ft Galactica Star yacht in North Cove.  Jay Z says they may have to dredge a little to get their yacht into the cove but they are looking for something quiet and out of the way of the paparazzi.   They agree with the current NCYC members that it is the place to be.  

Junior Sailing

With the new partnership between North Cove and New York Yacht Club, we have been able to make some great changes to junior Sailing for the 2024 season! 

We have been able to add four more instructors to the staff, creating much smaller class sizes to cater to our sailors’ needs. Like many clubs in the City, these four instructors are coming from Ireland for the summer and will be provided housing thanks to NYYC. Get excited to see some new faces around the club! 

We have also acquired a new fleet to add to our program: Moths! These cool, high tech, foiling boats will be for our most advanced sailors who are looking to take on the world of hydro-foiling racing!  

We are looking forward to a fun new year of Junior Sailing! 

Activities

ATTENTION ALL NCYC MEMBERS!

As you have heard, our little club has caught the eye of the New York Yacht Club and we have been acquired by it.  Many changes are underway, but the most impactful will be our events, starting with our dress code. While our Commodore briefly mentioned this and our Editor helpfully provided “acceptable” and “unacceptable” photos of members attire, I feel I should go into a bit more detail.  

Going forward, ALL events will require formal attire.  Gents you know the uniform; blue blazer, khaki or “Nantucket red} slacks, button-down shirt and club ascot.  If you are a smoker, a pipe clenched tightly by your teeth to one side of your mouth while speaking will be permitted as part of the ensemble.

Ladies, pearls and white gloves MUST be worn at all events.  Smokers must use the longest cigarette holder possible.   

The New York Yacht Club Fashion Police Committee of Buffy & Chad Worthington III and their children, Westley, Poppy and  baby Basil, will be in attendance at the first couple events to ensure we dress appropriately, so please wear all designer labels on the outside.   

Next, we will no longer need to bring our own set-ups. We now have “more money than God,” so the Events Committee is going to spend, spend, spend!  We will be purchasing all silver services, sterling chaffing dishes, and crystal glassware.  Any pot luck items brought to the club must be tastefully presented on either Bone China (24kt Gold or Platinum rimmed only) or sterling silver dishes.  Otherwise, it will be re-plated to meet Club standards.

So say goodbye to casual club events!  We will be making EVERYTHING as pretentious as possible!  I for one am looking forward to tilting my head to the sky and looking like I smell something bad at our next event!

Pip pip and Cheerio!!

Cruising News

The members of the NYYC are very excited to see their Club houses go from two to three Club houses:

• 44th Street Clubhouse, New York City

• North Cove Yacht Club on Sheffield Street

• Harbour Court, Newport

For this year’s Annual Cruise, we are excited to announce that NCYC/NYYC members have two choices. For those members who do not want to cruise in their own boats, either because they don’t feel their lil’ yachts quite measure up anymore, or because they just want to shower daily and eat off china dishes, we offer the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Cruise. See below.

NCYC/NYYC/RITZ-CARLTON

Annual Cruise Itinerary Option

For those intrepid members who still want to rough it on a cruise, we will be planning a cruise to the Newport Clubhouse from July 13 to July 20. This cruise option has been designed to coincide with the NYYC Hosted 2024 Race Week At Newport Presented by Rolex. If interested in racing, the entry documents may be found:  https://nyyc.org/2024-race-week-at-newport-presented-by-rolex.

NCYC Club boats may pick up NYYC moorings.  In addition, all Club members will be able to book rooms at Harbour House.  Reservations start at $1025 per night.

While all the details of the club cruise have not been hammered out, we do know the opening night reception will be held on the grounds of the Clubhouse.

Off Shore Racing

The 2024 season will be the 170th anniversary of NYYC’s annual regatta which features three days of separately scored races. This year, the Outer Light Classic will be scored as one of these races! We will be renting lots of tents to accommodate the influx of racers looking to participate in this historic event! Racers who are expecting high stakes and competitive environments will be treated to our very special Long Sand Shoal course! They can expect extremely light and shifty winds, variable current that few can predict, and the occasional pop up thunderstorm! It will be an exciting chance to show the larger world of racing that Long Island Sound is not for the faint of heart! The Outer Light Planning committee welcomes any new members to join the festive planning! 

From the Board of Governors

New Facebook Profile Page!!

NCYC Members Facebook Profile Photo

We are excited to be affiliated with the New York Yacht Club and look forward to the many enhancements and changes in the future. One of the changes we will be initiating is the requirement for formal profile photos for members in our Facebook group. Please post new photos as soon as possible. Each one will be reviewed by the new administrator for approval. We’ve included a sample of a few NYYC members who are properly dressed for your convenience.

Click here to join and show us your ascots!  

https://www.facebook.com/groups/674559057251079

Thank you,

Tom Tydeman, BOG

And now a few words from the new administrator, Judge Smails:

“It’s easy to grin

when your ship comes in

and you’ve got the stock market beat,

but the man worthwhile

is the man who can smile

when his shorts are too tight in the seat.”

From the Chaplain’s Quiet Corner of the Cove

“Mann Tracht, Un Gott Lacht” is an old Yiddish adage meaning, “Man Plans and God Laughs.”  As we navigate the unpredictable course of life, may we always have good friends to laugh with when it's not smooth sailing.

I hope you enjoyed this April Fool’s issue of High Tidings! Thank you to everyone who contributed:

• Jon Von Mason

• Louis van Rensselaer de Patroon Vinciguerra

• Linda Tuzzio-Hathaway von Whitney

• Len Van Vliet

• Caroline Miller-Smythe von Stratford

• Melissa Clarke-Fotheringill

• David Chan-Beaufort on Hastings

• Amy van Rensselaer Vinciguerra

• Tom Tydeman Aster-Brooke

• Jean (Bunny) Golicz von Vanderbilt

• Joe Jerry Carroll-Wooster

I’m looking forward to seeing you all at the club this season,

Deb Paulson, Editor High Tidings

High Tidings March 2024

Upcoming Events

• Sunday March 3, 4:00 to 7:00 – NCYC Social at Highliner III, Westbrook

• Wednesday March 6, 6:30 – Outer Light Planning Meeting, Myrcene Brewery, Old Saybrook

• Saturday April 13, 9:00 AM – Spring Clean Up Day at the Club

• Saturday April 20, 2:30 to 4:45 – Cruising Club Planning Meeting, Acton Library, Old Saybrook to be followed by get-together at Penny Lane Pub

Commodore Remarks

     I hope many of you are enjoying this mild winter. So far this winter, we have only run the dock ice-away propellers for about 10 days.  I, for one, am disappointed with the lack of fresh real snow for skiing in Vermont and New Hampshire.  I’ve had had my fill of man-made  machine groomed packed powder.  Still holding out for some March surprise powder days.  
     We had some super high tide storms at the club these past months. One was high enough that our ice machine floated and experienced a knock down.  I recruited some help at our very fun, well attended gathering at Coastline Brewing in Westbrook. The box is back on its keel and up higher on an additional set of concrete blocks.  We are hoping she still works.
    Lots of brush and debris is spread around the club property to be cleared out at our spring all hands clean-up event Saturday, April 13th. One request for those that have a dinghy storage spot under the clubhouse and keep a sheet of plywood there to protect your boat’s bottom: Those sheets of plywood get underway during these extreme high tides events and are scattered around the parking lot.  Please drill some holes on the corners of the plywood and use line to secure it to the foundation piles under the clubhouse so your plywood will remain in place for the next season and out of the parking lot.

  Most of you know that we re-keyed the front door and have a combo lock on the side door at the kitchen set to the founding year of North Cove YC.  We have passed out new front door key at our annual meeting and events. If you have not received a new key and need one, send me an email to louvinci@gmail.com and I’ll get you one.

  Hope to see many of you at out next gathering at the Highliner III in Westbrook Sunday, March 3rd.  Remember, the best place to find current information on upcoming NCYC events is the NorthCoveyc.com website calendar. See the link at the beginning of this issue of High Tidings.

The days are getting longer and soon we can strip the tarps off our boats and begin that labor of love, waxing hulls, painting bottoms, commissioning engines and onboard systems.       

Best!

Lou Vinciguerra

Commodore, NCYC

Membership

Please join the Membership Committee in welcoming the following new members to the Club:

·       Nicole and David Pilon

·       Dave and Dolores Taricani

·       Scott Richard and Maureen Auger

As always, if you have any friends that would like to join the Club, send Caroline Miller (c.d.miller@comcast.net) their email. 

Jr. Sailing

The registration for the 2024 season is filling up! Registration is open to all, and some classes are already completely full! 

Session 1: 83% full

Session 2: 83% full

Session 3: 80% full 

We are already busy getting boats and supplies ready for the next generation of junior sailors. The program will run 6 weeks June 24th-August 2nd. 

The Jr. Sailing committee is pleased to announce the instructors for this year: 

Returning: Alex Beauchene- Head Instructor 

Returning: Nadia Goodman- 420 Instructor 

Returning: Scott Soukup- Intermediate Opti 2 Instructor 

Welcoming: Lucy Soukup- Beginner Opti 1 Instructor 

We are looking forward to a great season! 

Amy Vinciguerra, Director of Sailing

Activities

February Meet Up at the Coastline Brewery.

Who knew this little hole in the wall was so popular?!  This is a pretty small space for a brewery so when club members started to arrive I was surprised how full it already was.  But I suppose after almost two weeks of gloomy weather, everyone was itching to get out on the first sunny day!  

Coastline Brewery is a really cute spot!  If you didn’t make it to the meet up I encourage you to check it out!  Outdoor space in the summer too! We had a really good turnout, about 25 people! There were a few old members that haven’t been around much, but also a couple “newbies!”  I didn’t get to sample any of the food but it looked really good and those that did seemed to be very happy with their selections!  

As the sun was setting and shining brightly through the large glass door, it was warm and cheery as a guitarist started playing!

All in all a fun time.  

Looking forward to our next meet up March 3rd at the Highliner III in Westbrook!  

Melissa Clark, Activities Chair

Get ready for the next

March Meetup POT LUCK! 

Sunday, March 3rd,1600-1900

we are meeting at the

Highliner III in Westbrook.   

For the few that haven’t  been there before, it’s another smallish pub but with a train theme.  It’s super cozy and cute with a big, pot belly, black caste iron wood stove and KILLER drinks!!  My favorite there is the rum punch!  ( bar tenders know how to pour a good one.)  

There is no kitchen, so will bring our own food! 

Please bring a Heavy Appetizer to share!  

Cruising News

From the desk of the Fleet Captain: 

We shall meet again for the 2024 NCYC Cruise Planning/Working Meeting:

Saturday April 20 from 2:30pm to 4:45pm at the Acton Public Library in Old Saybrook.

Please bring your tide tables, favorite port-of-calls, thoughts and plans for the 2024 sailing season. As you well know, for the last two years the ports of call have been filling up pretty fast. We will have to make a few modifications and changes.

Look forward to our discussions and a get together at The Penny Lane Pub right after.

Best regards,

David Chan

Outer Light Classic

It's that time of year again! 

We have our date set, July 21st, 2024 will be the Outer Light Classic! NCYC needs YOUR help to run this event successfully. We are looking for the following volunteers:

•  Race Committee Coordinator, 

• Fundraising Chair, and 

• Party Master!! 

For all those interested in helping, we will be meeting at the Acton Library in Old Saybrook at 6:30 pm on Wednesday March 6th. 

Action Items for this first meeting of the year: 

• Revise NOR

• Hire new PROs

• Schedule first fundraising events

• Review the 2024 budget 

I look forward to seeing everyone there! 

 Amy Vinciguerra,

 Director of Sailing

From the Chaplain’s Quiet Corner of the Cove

I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it.

Alice Walker, The Color Purple

I hope you take time this coming season to notice the changing colors, particularly the purple found so often in spring. 

Jean

Anybody feel like a Challenge?

For those not satisfied with just sailing in the summertime…

Target: The Everglades Challenge 2025

The “Everglades Challenge 300” (EC) is an expedition-style race that happens in Florida every March. Last fall, a few members in our club started to explore the idea of doing this event in March of 2025 and there has been enough interest to continue the effort.

This event includes six classes of vessel. The class we are interested in currently is Class 4, monohull sailboats. There is also a class for multi-hull boats. The other classes are for types of human-powered craft, such as canoes, rowboats, paddleboards, kayaks, and sailing kayaks. There is a size requirement and it is: You have to be able to launch your craft starting about the high-water mark on the beach when fully loaded. 

The entry planned by this interested group is Chris Griffin’s new (1975) Mariner 19 monohull. Each participating boat can have from one to three crew on board. The course is a three-hundred mile run from Tampa to Key Largo with three intermediate check-in points along the way. To learn more details for this event, visit :

Some people have expressed interest in helping while stating in no uncertainterms that they are not racing. Others are taking more of a “wait and see” approach, and two (so far) people stated that they are definitely going.

If you are interested in learning more, keep an eye on our club Discord channel labeled “everglades-challenge”. Here, the discussion continues and the occasional video conference call is scheduled. You can also ask Chris Griffin about it and he’ll be happy to fill you in, the problem is getting him to stop.

Skiing to Help Others

by Rod Cross, NCYC Member

Wow! Hard to believe this journey sometimes. 

Thirteen years ago an anonymous man gave me the gift of life. That’s why every day I stand on top of life’s podium feeling so grateful to him, my friends, and my wonderful family. So many of you have shown support in ways I never would have been able to imagine. I am fortunate to have you all in my life. Please be a donor and give blood. It really does make a difference. Going again to the World Transplant Winter Games and will be heading to Bormio, Italy for the competition. I’m ready to bring home some hardware to the USA.  I will be skiing in four events.

Click this link to learn more about the Games:  https://wtgf.org/wintergames/

 Check out this GoFundMe to help raise money for Rod Cross’s trip and the World Transplant Winter Games. 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/join-rod-for-the-2024-world-transplant-winter-game

Photo taken at World Transplant Winter Games receiving a silver medal for skiing.

From the Editor

Welcome back to High Tidings–I hope you all had a great winter! Please send me your ideas, articles and photos for future issues!

Photos thanks to: Chris Bazinet, Ann Chan, Rod Cross, Walt Gayeski, Jean Golicz, Deb Paulson, Amy Vinciguerra, Janet Vinciguerra.,

Oh, and this is Stevie. Our new rescue puppy. She will be at the club this summer (obeying all the rules of course) and hopefully will become a Boat Dog.

High Tidings Winter 2023-2024

Commodore Remarks

We had a good turnout for the club Annual Meeting in November. As usual, the appetizers brought by members for the after-meeting happy hour were superb. Congratulations to Elio Betty, recipient of the Commodore’s Trophy, for his meticulous work on our beautifully restored launch!

What fun to “Splice the Main Brace” with members at the post Old Saybrook Torch Light Parade event at Myrcene brewery. They were an excellent host with a great beer selection (and other beverages) to sample, plus they provided an area for NCYC to spread out with pizzas and appetizers to share. Keep your ears and emails open for a similar event after the holidays in the off-season.

At the waterfront, we have OS town floating docks secured between ours and the ice propellers deployed waiting for temperatures to drop. They are controlled using the breakers at the power pedestals. We shut them down when our infamous Bluetits swimmers arrive for a breathtaking plunge each week. 
   In case you’re wondering, the town sends a check to the club each year for winter storage of their docks. 

some, but not all, of the bluetits enjoying a warming nosh after their latest plunge.

Our fall clean-up day was well attended completing all necessary activities to secure the club and small boats for the off-season. Rich Peters added a timber dinghy outboard storage rack along the south bulkhead so we can move the rack that was up against the deck and clear that area of engines and fuel tanks.

Soon you will be receiving your invoice for club dues along with a check list for activities you are willing to assist or participate in. Keep in mind that we are able to keep the rate of our dues down due to the volunteer efforts of the membership. Our committee chair persons use this list to reach out for support in each of their areas. There are many options to choose from: Activities committee and help with an event; Junior Sailing and help repair boats or fill a duty officer time slot during the sailing school; Grounds committee and help keep our landscape flower beds looking top notch or volunteer to be a weed whacker. Spring and Fall, we have the work parties to prepare the club for the boating season and to store things away for the off-season. These are all opportunities to get involved, meet other members, and be a part our NCYC crew! There is also the option to make a contribution in lieu of volunteer time. This is much appreciated and helps the NCYC stay on even keel.

Keep warm, read some good sailing stories and soon we will be back on the water! 

   And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.
 - John Masefield

Lou Vinciguerra

Commodore, NCYC

Vice Commodore Remarks

Many thanks to all of the volunteers who did a thorough cleaning of the clubhouse. It will make light work in the spring.

As a Club, we are doing more local shopping and supporting our restaurants. Big box stores and online are great but local shopping helps the community. I heard that a brewery is coming to Main Street in Old Saybrook. Maybe it will be open by the spring.

It was good to see so many of you after the Old Saybrook Parade. Take a drive to Ivoryton to see the lights on the town green when you have a chance.

Just a note that the clubhouse is closed for the winter. Feel free to walk the grounds and see the change in seasons. It varies with the weather but always very pretty.

Wishing you an enjoyable holiday season and winter. And a Happy New Year!

Linda Tuzzio

Vice Commodore

Membership

Potential Members – Posted 12/12/2023 

Nicole and David Pilon

Old Saybrook, CT

Nicole: Owner Bouvier Insurance

David:  Sales Bouvier Insurance

Children:  Bethany (1999), Adam (2003)

Proposed by: Caroline Miller

Support letters:  Chan, Paulson, Pavlos

Boat: Owned 23’ Pearson and Beneteau 44’

Boating: They have owned several sailboats as well as chartered in the Abaco Islands, BVI and Thailand.  They have had some racing experience out of the Thames YC.    

Skills/interests:   They are very excited to join to learn from our more experienced sailors.  They look forward to helping around the Club.

Dave and Delores Taricani

Old Saybrook, CT

Delores: retired

Dave:  Fraud Advisor

Proposed by: Tom Tydeman

Support letters:  Miller, Peters, Tuzzio

Boating: David races on Airbus on Thursday evenings, they have experience sailing with friends and fishing.   

Skills/interests:   They have joined Julie and Tom for some Club events and have really appreciated how welcoming our members are.  They were happy to see that the Club included a donation table for the local food bank.  NCYC seems like a club they would like to be a part of.  Dave has enjoyed racing with Tom on Thursday evenings.  Dave and Delores hope to introduce their son to sailing through the Jr. Sailing Program.  

Scott Richard and Maureen Auger

Old Saybrook, CT

Maureen: Social Worker/Trainer

Scott:  Engineering Project Manager

Proposed by:  Jean Golicz

Support letters:  Miller, Reddington, Pavlos

Boating: Scott grew up on the Thames River and has had several fishing boats.  They had a 25’ Owens Express Cabin Cruiser and five years ago bought a 28’ Southern Cross Cutter

Skills/interests:   They now live in Old Saybrook and are available to help around the Club particular helping in technical capacity to utilize his engineering skills, help with the mooring fields, and assisting on race nights.  

Jr. Sailing

Winter means planning for Summer 2024! From hiring instructors to opening registration, the Junior Sailing Committee is hard at work. As you start to think of ways to get involved at NCYC, the junior sailing committee is always happy to have new members. Join the fun!

Tuition for NCYC members is $548 (20% discount off of the non-member $685 fee) and registration for club members opens in January. Last summer we filled up by mid-March and we anticipate another full season. 

2024 Sessions dates are:

·       Session 1: June 24 – July 5 (no class July 4th)

·       Session 2: July 8 – July 19

·       Session 3: July 22 – August 2

Check out the junior sailing page on our club website for all the details. Questions? Email me using the button below.

Stay tuned for an email announcing that registration is open!

Melissa Mason

Junior Sailing Chair

Thursday Night Racing

The racing is over for this season, the results are tallied, and the trophies were awarded at the Fall Annual Meeting and Social. Congratulations to Osprey “smallest boat with the largest crew” for the overall win; to Shearwater for second place overall; and to Airbus, third place overall.

[Ed. note- Not to brag or anything, but my boat, Kewalo (aka Lil’ Pokey) finished a respectable sixth overall, thanks to Jr. Sailing instructors Amy V. and Alex B. who delivered Kewalo’s best results (third and second) when they were on board.] [And when you become newsletter editor, you can brag about your boat, too.]

Moby Dick’s Ishmael states, “Whenever I get grim and spleenful; Whenever I feel like knocking hats off people’s heads in the street; Whenever it is a damp and snowy December in my soul; I choose any path and ten to one it follows water. Water that flows down hills, in creeks, streams and rivers to the sea. The sea, where each man or woman as in a mirror finds themselves.”

The appearance and voice of the sea is a tangible heritage to all of us, weaving its mystifying way toward that original source of life, the great oceans of the earth. Some portion of the salt seas moves in the blood stream of us all, and although we may have been lulled into temporary apathy by a period of ancestral absence from the maritime scene, our sensatory faculties are aroused by the magic of an encounter with the sea, its ships, sailboats, and sailors.

Ships! Those mistresses of the sea which people have built and served since time immemorial. From the earliest coracle made of skins stretched on a wicker frame, or a crude hull hewn from a solid log, through the infinite transition of wooden vessels conceived and made in every shape, size and rig imaginable, and thence down to our own time of steam, steel, and fiberglass; the romance of ships and men and women who sail them is undiminished.

At North Cove Yacht Club, we are very fortunate to have both the Junior Sailing program and our Thursday Night Racing series.

One of the best things about junior sailing is the open-minded approach that young people have. Exposing them (and adults new to sailing) to competition teaches them more than any amount of instruction could. Such competition encourages a young person’s development, and coaches like Amy Vinciguerra, Alex Beauchene, and their team refine this development into valuable skills.

But perhaps the most important asset gained from being around the water at an early age is that, like Ishmael, children develop a love of the atmosphere of boats and the sea that will stay with them always. Most girls and boys are entranced by the water anyway, so it is not hard to channel this natural inclination. Investing time and money in teaching youngsters about yachting is not a one-sided proposition, for youngsters bring an immense amount of talent and enthusiasm to yachting. If we who love sailboat racing want to see it prosper, we simply have to take pains to interest young people in participation. Most of the sailboat racing champions in the United States and international competitions are the product of organized junior sailing programs such as ours.

In our Thursday Night Racing sailing boats, there is a high degree of sophistication. There are fantastic sail developments, modern winches, slotted head stays, sophisticated travelers, deck sweeper jibs, spinnakers of every shape and material weight, rod rigging and a plethora of gadgets to help sailing boats go fast. Necessity is still the mother of inventions, however, and good ideas for making a boat sail faster are often pioneered by the ordinary sailor out on the racecourse. Thursday night racing is a great way to improve your sailing skills and we embrace all new participants in a non-judgmental, helpful way.  

It has been another great year at NCYC, and for me, I hope that next year will be even greater with my newly rebuilt hips.

May all of you have a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, fair winds, following seas, and a favorable tide.

Joe Carroll

Activities

Happy Holidays everyone!

Just wanted to say thanks again for a great first year of events planning!  As you know, Lucy Armstrong is moving on to be a very busy grandmother and LOVING every minute!  But this leaves an opening for an Events Co-leader.  If you are interested I’m looking for two people to co and co-co lead!  This also means we will be asking for more volunteers. Think about it, and we will revisit at the March Events Meeting brunch!  As you can tell, I have already been working on a calendar of events for next year!!  But, I would like the whole club membership’s feedback. I have created a brief ten question survey to get your opinions.  PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO REPLY!! Comments are in encouraged and welcome.  Here is the link.

I wish everyone the Happiest of Holidays and a safe and healthy New Year!!

Melissa Clark, Activities Chair

From the Chaplain’s Quiet Corner of the Cove

At The End Of The Year

By John O’Donohue

As this year draws to its end,
We give thanks for the gifts it brought
And how they became inlaid within
Where neither time nor tide can touch them.

The days when the veil lifted
And the soul could see delight;
When a quiver caressed the heart
In the sheer exuberance of being here.

Surprises that came awake
In forgotten corners of old fields
Where expectation seemed to have quenched.

The slow, brooding times
When all was awkward
And the wave in the mind
Pierced every sore with salt.

The darkened days that stopped
The confidence of the dawn.

Days when beloved faces shone brighter
With light from beyond themselves;
And from the granite of some secret sorrow
A stream of buried tears loosened.

We bless this year for all we learned,
For all we loved and lost
And for the quiet way it brought us
Nearer to our invisible destination.

May the memories of the past year gently wash over you like an incoming tide and the promises of a new year be moored in your heart...

Peace, Jean

Plum Island : The Lab

This piece is excerpted from a Bloomberg News article and used with permission. To read the entire article, follow the link at the end of the article. Many thanks to Chris Bazinet and John Waanders for their invaluable assistance in getting this article to the Club.

A Mysterious Lab is Shutting Down. It’s the End of an Era for Biosecurity.

by Madison Muller

About a mile off the tip of Long Island’s North Fork, past a patch of rough sea and a long, sharp reef, there’s a wild, sequestered place known as Plum Island. Some may have heard of it: It’s been rumored to be the origin point of Lyme disease and the Montauk Monster, and made a cameo in The Silence of the Lambs. Some call it the Area 51 of the East Coast.  

That’s because on Plum Island, scientists study some of the most infectious pathogens known to man—rinderpest and the foot-and-mouth disease virus, two of the most feared animal contagions of all time. A single detection of foot-and-mouth disease in the wild could wipe out entire herds of livestock and completely halt international agricultural trade. It’s the reason why travelers must declare if they’ve been on a farm, ranch, or pasture when entering the United States. Plum Island is currently the only place in the country where the live virus can even be studied.

Plum Island Animal Disease Center will soon be decommissioned, to be replaced by a new, billion-dollar facility in the middle of the country. As Plum Island’s facilities have aged, battered by time and the salty sea air, we’ve developed things like HEPA filters, airlocks, and moonsuits that allow us to build these labs anywhere. That’s made it hard to justify the exorbitant expenses of an island operation that requires its own power grid, fire department and over a million gallons of diesel every year. Government officials have decided that it’d be easier, cheaper, and more efficient to do this work elsewhere. Somewhere less remote.

The new facility will open in the next couple of years in Manhattan, Kansas-a small city of about 50,000. It is one of 69 so-called Biosafety Level 4, or BSL-4 facilities in operation, under construction, or planned worldwide. Increasingly, like Plum Island’s replacement, they are located in places where if a pathogen escaped, it could spread quickly with catastrophic results. It’s a trade-off between cost and safety. Because there will always be risks. No matter how safe and secure a lab is.

Getting to Plum Island is only possible via ferry, after an extensive background check by the US Department of Homeland Security, which owns and operates the facility. Aged blue school buses transport the some 400 island employees, while ospreys keep watch of their comings and goings from nests atop retired power lines. Curious locals have tried, and failed, to sneak onto Plum Island’s pristine beaches over the past, lured by myths about its checkered past, like a rumor that scientists at Plum Island created Lyme disease as a biological weapon. (The first cases of the tick-borne illness were identified just 17 miles northwest of the island in Lyme, Connecticut. There is no evidence Lyme was created in a lab.)

There’s been some trial-and-error [in lab biocontainment] over the years – the fact that it was on an island was always a good buffer. In 1978, for example, foot-and-mouth disease accidentally escaped from the lab. Fortunately, it never left the island. In an investigative report following the incident, Plum Island’s director at the time said that the water barrier was instrumental in containing the spread of the disease, according to a Congressional hearing. When Plum Island lost power for three hours in 2002, there were fears that containment could have been compromised. Inspectors said at the time that here was no breach and no animals showed any signs of illness.

Nowadays, all the research at Plum Island happens in newer labs where ultra-contagious pathogens are kept behind strict lock-and-key. The high-containment labs, known as BSL-3-Ag are only accessible via floor-to-ceiling turnstiles manned by guards at all times. Scientists working in those labs must swap their street clothes – including earrings, watches, and even wedding rings – for scrubs and cotton socks. Full-body white Tyvek suits are worn when studying the most infectious pathogens. To go to the cafeteria or even other labs, scientists have to take a five minute shower. Nothing is allowed to be taken out of containment. If scientists worked with infected animals, they must quarantine themselves from livestock for a minimum of five days.

High-containment labs have layers upon layers of protection for scientists, the environment and the public. Machinery inside the labs keeps tainted air from being recirculated and thermal waste decontamination systems ensure that there’s no pathogens lurking in scientists’ trash. And though it may sound more like one of the Plum Island myths, it’s true that wild animals found on the island – such as the deer that sometimes swim there – are killed on-site by a sharp-shooter employee that some call Grandma Deadeye.

But while Plum Island’s location gives it an advantage by keeping it far away from people and animals, it’s also become an increasingly burdensome and some say unnecessary way to conduct this research. Upkeep alone costs the government $50 to $60 million per year.

“With the advent of new containment technologies, it is now safe to build high containment facilities on the mainland,” said Chris Schutta, the head of biorisk management at Plum Island.

Most of the staff at Plum Island will not be moving to Kansas. Those who do plan to move are mostly USDA scientists. A public sale of Plum Island was supposed to help blunt the costs of building [the Kansas facility.] But those plans were scrapped in 2020, after years of advocacy from environmental groups and some local lawmakers, who wanted to protect the island’s thriving ecological diversity and unique history.

[Tod] Companion, Plum Island’s director, doesn’t want it to be forgotten once it shutters. “I’m really hoping we can capture the legacy,” he said from his office overlooking the Long Island Sound.

one of the fresh water ponds on plum island

-Our NCYC Club Stewards / Launch Captains-

Tatiana Anderson

32 River Road

Old Saybrook, CT. 06475

Stefan Golicz

536 Main Street

Old Saybrook, CT. 06457

Steven Lee

2 Maynard Circle

Old Saybrook, CT. 06475

Jack Cardello
2 Deerfield Road
Old Saybrook, CT. 06475

From the Editor

A big thank you to everyone who contributed to this Winter Issue! Photos by: Eddie Addeo, Chris Bazinet, Elio Betty, Ann Chan, Dan Ferrier, Avy Kaufman, Jon Mason, Caroline Miller, Deb Paulson, Lauren Peters, Kathy Reddington, Pete Stump, Amy Vinciguerra.

The next issue will be March 2024. Enjoy the winter and Happy Holidays!

High Tidings November 2023

Upcoming Events

• November 4, 4:00 – Fall Annual Meeting and Social

• November 5 – Club closed for the season

• November 11, – Club cleanup and boat storage

• November 21, 6:30 – Board of Governors Meeting

Commodore Remarks

      What a great turn out at NCYC’s first FriendsGiving event last Saturday. I can attest that no one walked away hungry.  The turkeys were slow cooking all day and the clubhouse smelled like a Thanksgiving morning. Attendees showed up with a large assortment of side dishes, corn breads, and desserts to try. Many requests to exchange recipes. Not bragging but my 9x13 corn casserole was a hit and have responded to no less six requests. Thanks to our activities committee for putting on this fun event.

   So by the time you read this, if you’re a mooring holder your boat is somewhere on the hard ready for a snowy winter (Sorry, I’m itching to get on my skies so hoping for snow : ). Time to winterize and tuck them in with love and covers till next spring.  Maybe a few winter projects? 
 

I hope to see many of you at our Fall Annual Meeting on Saturday November 4th at 4pm followed by a BYOB social and bring an appetizer to share.

After that is our Fall annual NCYC clean-up event on Saturday November 11th. Lots of projects: pulling the whalers out of the water, storing the small boats, cleaning the grounds and the clubhouse interior. And we will have some targeted projects lined up for those with tools, and skills, and interest.  More word on that coming out soon.

I’m hearing some interest in having a gathering at the club following the Torch Light Parade in Old Saybrook.  If you haven’t been, it’s quite a show with many fife and drum corps from around the region plus holiday season floats. The club will be winterized at that time meaning no running water but maybe a small bonfire to gather around and keep warm? Stay tuned for more details. Look for emails and I always encourage members to check the club calendar on the website northcoveyc.com for the latest information.    

Vice Commodore Remarks

Books, Bites, and Beaches

Most of us have had our boats hauled for the year. How quickly the season passes! So I’d like to talk about two great books that take place by the water. Both books are on the bookshelf at the club. 

The Mermaid’s Chair, by Susan Monk Kidd, is set on Egret Island off the coast of South Carolina. The main character, Jessie, is called back to her childhood home to care for her mother. Jessie’s life gets complicated quickly. There is a Benedictine Monastery on the island which plays a prominent role in the story.

Bad Summer People, by Emma Rosenblum, is a book I picked up on the club cruise this summer. I finally got around to reading it and couldn’t put it down. It is Rosenblum’s first novel, a story about a summer on Fire Island and the secrets of the returning summer crowd. I can’t help but wonder if she modeled the characters after people she has known on the island. They probably are not speaking to her if she did! 

Lou, Len, and I had lunch recently at 745 Osteria, a relatively new Italian restaurant on Boston Post Road in Old Saybrook. The soups are delicious and the pizza is fantastic. Lou’s favorite appetizer is focaccia bread served with four different toppings. We highly recommend a trip! 

Mystic is a lovely day trip off-season. On the club cruise to Mystic Seaport on Labor Day weekend, Peter Stump, Rob, and I went into town and ate at the Mariner Restaurant located near the drawbridge. All of the soups and entrees are made in house and worth the wait. We had the chowders and the specials. Everything was delicious.

Just a note that the beaches in Connecticut and Rhode Island are open at no charge off-season and are a great place to fill that urge to go down to the sea. Charlestown, Napatree, and Misquamicut are my favorite Rhode Island beaches. Everyone knows Hammonasset Beach in Madison but do you know about the grounds at Mercy by the Sea? Located off Neck Road in Madison, it is waterfront property with beautiful grounds to walk, sit, and spend some quiet time. The grounds are open to the public during the day. They ask that you check in at the front desk and let them know you are there. No dogs allowed. They offer meals in the dining room overlooking the water at a nominal fee. I stayed overnight for a conference and was impressed with the hotel-like accommodations and spectacular views. It is another great and local place to go for a walk by the sea. 

Mercy by the sea

Two Open Positions for next year: 

1.    We are looking for a person to run the Chandlery, our club’s store. The position involves checking inventory, ordering stock online, and selling items at events during the summer. The purpose of the Chandlery is twofold. Wearing the club logo is a way to promote our club off grounds, and we make a small profit. It is a seasonal position and great if you are at the club during the summer. Please let me know if you are interested.

1.    We are looking for a Chairperson to manage the clubhouse next year. The position requires the person to check the clubhouse weekly, to order paper goods and cleaning supplies, and most importantly, to perform or designate someone to perform routine maintenance and repairs. Contact me if interested.

Launch Operations Report

Well, here we are again at the end of another boating season with the cooler weather setting in and morning fog rolling over the Connecticut River and our North Cove. There are still a few chores ahead in closing-up, winterizing our boats for the cold season ahead, and enjoying a few more days and evenings of camaraderie and fellowship at NCYC.

The past summer brought us rain and coastal storms that seemed to haunt every weekend in some way. The mid-season flooding and heavy river debris kept us on our moorings for a spell, but I hope you all got those trips within the weather windows and made the best of it. In true North Cove fashion, I think we all did alright.

As we look back on the summer and your boating season, take some time to remember your voyages starting off and returning to the shelter of NCYC.  Please stand with me and extend a heartfelt thank you to our crew of Launch Captains for their hard work, reliability, and loyalty to the stewardship of the club throughout the season.

I would also like to thank our crew of credentialed club members that filled open schedule slots on occasion and ensured a seamless launch operation for the club. Thank you to Dave Miller, Len van Vliet, Dave Chan, Water Gayeski, and RJ Lavallee.

I’m going to recycle a few words from my past report for our newer members because I think it’s important that everyone is aware:  Our core group of Launch Captains not only get us to and from our boats safely but serve a dual role as Club Stewards ensuring that the club is open and a welcoming and relaxing place for our members and guests.  At the day’s end they are responsible for closing the club and ensuring that all is secured for the night.  I want to take this opportunity to offer our Steward’s home addresses noted below. There may have been an occasion where you received exceptional service or perhaps there were several trips to and from your boats with guests, gear, and baggage in good and poor weather. There certainly was a good share of poor weather this past season. Our Stewards may also have assisted you with docking on the waterfront. Here’s an opportunity to say we didn’t forget, and thanks for being there when we needed you.  Gratuities are not required here at North Cove, however it’s always nice to offer a note with some kind-words and a little something extra to close out the season.

On behalf of all the Stewards, I thank you for the kindness and patience you showed through the season. North Cove Yacht Club members remain a great group of Old Salts! Cheers to another enjoyable and rewarding season at our stern. Our memories on the water, good times, and the friendships we’ve made along the way will surely last a lifetime. I wish you and your families a very safe and enjoyable winter. I look forward to seeing you all at our next gathering.

Cheers,

Bill Porter / Launch Operations

Our NCYC Club Stewards / Launch Captains

Tatiana Anderson (Tanya)

32 River Road

Old Saybrook, CT. 06475

Stefan Golicz

536 Main Street

Old Saybrook, CT. 06457

Steven Lee

2 Maynard Circle

Old Saybrook, CT. 06475

Jack Cardello
2 Deerfield Road
Old Saybrook, CT. 06475

Activities

Friendsgiving 2023

What a perfect way to close our season at the club by breaking bread together and sharing a Friendsgiving meal! It was a beautiful, warm evening and the almost full moon rose over the cove and gave it a magical sheen. Lucy had that kitchen hopping as she roasted three turkeys in the ovens. The aroma of roasting turkey greeted you as you entered the club and it immediately made you hungry! And it’s a good thing too, because there was so much food!  And wow, what incredibly good food it was! It was all so good I couldn’t possibly call out any one recipe as a favorite. 

Our turkey carvers Len Van Vliet and Tom Tydeman must have eaten their Wheaties that day because not only did they have the three turkeys at the club to carve, there was another 30lb bird and 2 hotel breasts that were roasted off site.  Kudos gents!!  You did a great job! 

It was also so special to have Jean Golicz bless our meal. 

 It was wonderful to meet new members, potential new members, and reconnect with club members and old friends.

And in the spirit of giving, everyone was very generous with the donations to the food bank.  I was able to drop off six bags of food to the Old Saybrook Food Bank!!  

Finally, I would like to say thank you for this year! There were a few challenges but we had a lot of fun! I would also like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to my co-chair and friend Lucy Armstrong. She made everything look so beautiful and worked extra hard to make each event special. Sadly, this was her last event as co-chair.  Life happens and she is now a VERY busy grandmother of four!! So, I am extra grateful for the success of her final event.

Stay warm and safe this winter with dreams of warm breezes and sunny days on the sound and we will all be together next Spring!  

From the Fleet Captain’s Desk

The cold weather is upon us and daylight is getting shorter as we contemplate the winter chores for a brighter summer of 2024. Here’s one that will possibly make our summer access to our moorings a little more pleasant:

We are working on the logistics to get our clubhouse USCG approved to conduct USCG certified classes by a certified vendor. Of interest is the 2-day USCG Launch Tender Course. Other possibilities are the Master 100T and the OUPV 100T Upgrade. 

Please drop me an email at david-chan@comcast.net if you have any interest in taking the 2-day USCG Launch Tender Course. We look forward to more licensed and certified members who may be available to supplement our regular launch captains. We found out this year that shorter shifts were pleasantly welcomed and the emergency vacant slots were filled up quite easily. Most members did not even notice the different & shorter shifts. Launch disruptions were noticeably less frequent and a few races were serviced by the launch instead of the William T. The launch is quite a bit safer & more comfortable than using the skiff, whaler or RIB. Not to mention, the greater passenger capacity of the launch. If we do get a handful of certified launch captains, we will look into the possibility of expanding our present launch schedule. That is our hope & plan for the 2024 NCYC Fleet. As usual, the Homeland Security administered TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) card is required as well as the customary drug and health/fitness screening. [Ed. Note. Oops, just had a poppy seed muffin.]

Look forward to hearing from our fleet and more importantly, many thanks to our launch captains for the pleasant rides to and from our moorings.

Sincerely,

David

The Restoration of the 160 Year Old Plum Island Lighthouse

 by Dr. Tod Companion, Director of the Plum Island Animal Disease Center 

The Plum island lighthouse as it looks today

In late 2022 and early 2023, the historic Plum Island Lighthouse was restored and stabilized to preserve its historical significance as a symbol of maritime heritage in the region. This restoration was coordinated by the Plum Island Animal Disease Center, the Department of Homeland Security, the New York State Historic Preservation Office, and the Federal Field Services. The actual restoration work was undertaken by an experienced team of subcontractors, including International Chimney Corporation, Renaissance Cornice, and NTM Enterprises. A third party, GNCB Consulting Engineers, was used to confirm that the stabilization work conformed to historic preservation standards and guidelines as laid out by the Department of the Interior.

While strictly speaking, the project was a stabilization project, every effort was made to ensure that the materials used were consistent with the historic fabric of the lighthouse, matching as closely as possible the materials used during its construction in the 1860’s. This included ensuring that the length of copper nails, the size of nail heads, and the thickness of slate shingles were correct. Local sources were identified, when possible, but to ensure historic integrity, the slate and cedar shingles came from as far as Vermont and Alaska. We’ve also learned a thing or two about structural engineering in the last 160 years. While adhering closely to the original construction, variances were granted to ensure the longevity of materials. This included coating copper nails with lead to prevent chemical reactions and protect the cedar shake and adding drain holes to the iron work to prevent rust.

Onsite work was completed in two phases between September–December 2022, and March–May 2023. During the winter months, the site was winterized with a temporary cap placed on the roof. The iron tower, gallery, deck, and copula–the combination of which is three stories tall and weighs more than 35,000 pounds–was removed, disassembled, inventoried, metal tagged, crated, and shipped to Robinson Iron in Alabama. While there, the lead paint was removed and pieces of the tower were inspected, repaired if possible, and recast if necessary. Upon return to the island, the iron pieces were reinstalled using a 127-foot rotator or crane.

The whole Plum Island community rallied around this project, with each individual and department involved working to identify efficiencies for the improvement and betterment of the lighthouse. The time savings achieved through these efficiencies enabled the team to increase the scope of the project–including updates to the rakes that improved the integrity of the slate roof–adding value at no additional cost. With stabilization work complete, these repairs to the Plum Island lighthouse are expected to last for 75–100 years, preserving a regional cultural asset and ensuring this symbol of the island survives for the neighboring communities.

[Ed. Note: The editor wishes to extend a big thank you to Chris Bazinet for his role in bringing this article to High Tidings.]

the lighthouse before restoration

ANd after restoration

And For Those Cold Dark Days, Let’s Learn a New Skill!

Make Mine a Double

Mooring warps, halyards, sheets, and plenty of other lines aboard all use double braid. Learn the DIY trick of creating an eye splice to avoid weak knots while saving money

Article & Photos by Mark Corke

Knots in lines are fine for occasional use, but a splice is better for more permanent use. A splice looks more seamanlike and doesn’t affect the strength of the line nearly as much as a knot. Many lines these days are what are known as double braid – essentially an inner core with a cover on the outside. The core and cover share the load equally. Here’s how to put an eye splice in double-braid line.

Difficulty

Moderate to high

Materials

Double-braid line

Tools

Double braid splicing fids

Scissors

Knife

Masking tape

Permanent marker

Time

About 30 mins, but you will get faster with practice

Cost

Nothing, if you already have the tools and materials. A set of five good quality fids is around $50

Step 1. Tie a slipknot about 15 feet from the end of the line, and loop it over a winch or cleat to hold it. Make a mark on the line one fid-length from the end.

Step 2. Form a loop or eye to the desired size then place a second mark opposite the first.

Step 3. Using a small fid, separate the strands of the cover at the second mark and pull out the core. (If the end of the line was melted when it was originally cut to length, trim this off with a sharp knife so the core moves freely.) Lay the cord and the cover alongside each other.

Step 4. Mark the core where it comes out of the cover (your third mark), then pull out a couple feet more and place a fourth mark on the core two-thirds of a fid length from the one you just made. That’s where you will be inserting the cover into the core.

Step 5. Wedge the end of the core into the hollow end of a fid that matches the diameter of your line, then push the fid into the cover at the first mark. Work the fid down so that it exits the cover 1 to 2 inches past where the core exits.

Step 6. Pull about 6 inches of the core out of the hole. This begins to form your loop. Make sure that both sections of core are not snagged on one another and freely move within the core.

Step 7. Now, wedge the end of the cover into the fid, then feed it into the core at the second mark. Work it down one complete fid length before pulling it out of the core.

Step 8. Starting about 4 inches from the end, use a small fid to pull out alternate strands from the cover before trimming them off with scissors. This creates a neat splice with a taper.

Step 9. Pull on the end of the exposed core as you massage the junction of the core to cover the joint.

Step 10. To finish off the splice, work the cover back up the line until the exposed core with the cover inside pops back into the line. Pull a little on the core still hanging outside the line, trim with scissors, then tug on the eye to set the end back inside the core.

This article was reprinted with permission from BoatU.S. Magazine, flagship publication of the membership organization Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS). For more expert articles and videos to make your boating, sailing, or fishing better, visit Boatus.com.

[Ed. Note. There, that was easy, wasn’t it? Yikes. I’m going to try this this winter-it’s a challenge now.]

Thanks, as always, to everyone who contributed to this issue of High Tidings. Photos are by: ASRC Federal (Plum Island lighthouse photos) Melissa Clark, Walt Gayeski, Jean Golicz, Chris Griffin, Dan O’Malley, Linda Tuzzio.

High Tidings October 2023

Upcoming Events

• Mondays 6:00 until October 16 – Yoga at the Club

• October 7 - 9 – Columbus Day Mini-Cruise to Mattituck

• October 9, 9:00-5:00 – Last Day of Launch Service

• October 17, 6:30 – Board of Governors Meeting

• October 27, 6:00 – Friday Night Social, “Friendsgiving”

• November 4, 4:00 – Annual Meeting

• November 5 – Club Closed for the Season

Sign up for Discord – NCYC’s Communication App

Discord is a communication program that runs on phones, tablets, and personal computers. It’s free and allows users to post messages, direct messages, photos, and videos within the discussion topics (called channels) that have been set up.  We’ve been using it since July and it’s made a huge difference in being able to communicate efficiently with other NCYC members about cruising, racing, items for sale or swap, and other topics. This month, we’ll be using it to organize the rescheduled Mattituck Wine and Bike Cruise.

To get access to NCYC Discord, please send an email to Caroline Miller, Deb Paulson, Chris Griffin, or to anyone who is already on Discord, to get an invitation link. After clicking the link, you will be asked to create a user name (best to pick a user name that people will associate with you—your boat’s name is a good one) and install the software. Depending on whether you are installing Discord on your phone, tablet, or computer, the directions to install will vary. It may seem intimidating at first but becomes natural to use with a little practice.

After you log in, you can set your own notification levels. Don’t be alarmed by the wavy, cartoony characters in the “Lobby” area—the area that gets you in. They go away in the other channels. 

Commodore Remarks

harbor master Scott mitchell showing his moves!

Man the Bilge Pumps!  
Wow, that was a whole lot of rain this September.  That ole Tropical Storm Ophelia called “All Stop” on our Mattituck wine cruise and even canceled the infamous Fall Off Soundings race. 

Oh well, sailing season is not over just yet. A few of us die-hards are still hoping to make it to Mattituck Columbus Day weekend. Sign on to Discord (instructions above) to find out the latest about this trip. It will be under the topic channel “Cruising-Official.” Bring the sleeping bags as it’s getting chilly at night. Also, it’s migration season for the swallows and I know a few of you have been making trips upriver to Goose Island at sunset to watch them do their murmurations, and then bed down into the marsh for the night. It’s quite a show and very well attended by boats and a couple tour boats, as well as kayaks and even hearty paddle boarders.

Remember that boats must be off their moorings by October 31, and when you are departing your mooring for winter storage, you need to tie an orange ribbon on your mooring ball (available int the basket by the Steward’s office.) That way the contractor that hauls the moorings knows to bring it to NCYC for storage vs. the town dock. It’s best to remove any pickup stick buoys you have, also, as they tend to get tangled and damaged or lost during the hauling process.

The front door lock has been re-keyed to match the key on the kitchen door.  Remember the kitchen door also has a push button combination lock and the combination is the year NCYC was founded (page 34 of the yearbook.) To lock the door when exiting, just push the button with a lock symbol while holding the door shut.  We tried installing this lock on the front door but had difficulty with it being a double door and hardware alignment. I have been handing out hard keys at events trying to get one key out per member. We will also have keys available at the Fall Annual Meeting on November 4th.  Funds are a bit tight this time of year so trying to avoid the expense and trouble of mailing out a hundred keys. 

Enjoy the cool temperatures and our last weeks of boating season

Lou Vinciguerra, Commodore

Vice Commodore Remarks

As we wind down the 2023 season, we can’t help but notice the number of rainy weekends this year. For those who can go boating any day of the week, the summer was great. Those who work Monday through Friday were limited and probably did less boating. A couple of planned cruises were canceled too. However, the weekend activities made up for the dreariness. Most recently, the fabulous Oktoberfest with live music made up for the previous two days of rain. Coming together with boating friends is always enjoyable!

On the business side of things at the Club, we are looking for a person to run the Chandlery next year. This entails keeping inventory, purchasing, and selling merchandise at club events.
We also need an In-House Chairperson. This person manages the clubhouse on a day-to-day basis, oversees repairs, orders supplies, and does general maintenance.
Both positions fall under the Vice Commodore, so please contact me if you’re interested.

Do you have any novels to donate to our corner bookshelf? Drop them off anytime. There is another copy of Where the Crawdads Sing, which is an excellent read.

The cruise to Mattituck is next weekend and the updates for this trip will be on Discord, under the channel “cruising-official.”

I met someone who took the ferry from New London with their car and drove to the wineries and the quaint little town of Mattituck. That sounds like a nice day trip, if you’re not up to boating there.

May your end of the season chores go quickly, your haul-out go smoothly, and your summer memories carry you through the winter,

Linda Tuzzio, Vice Commodore

Membership

Please welcome into the Club the following new Members:

Michael and Kathleen LeGeyt

At this time a year we start looking for volunteers for the standing committees.

The Membership Committee is looking for someone who is willing to attend impromptu events throughout the summer. These events are scheduled around the prospective members’ schedule.  During these events, Members highlight the benefits of the Club and try to get to know the prospective members.  After meeting the individuals, three members write a quick support letter/email.  If anyone has an interest in joining the Membership Committee, please email Caroline Miller (c.d.miller@comcast.net). 

Belle 8

NCYC’s signature race featuring women at the helm was held on Sunday, September 10 and it turned out to be a…strategic race. Involving anchors. There was no wind. Nada. But there was a hefty ebbing current and some serious looking clouds complete with thunder. The women of North Cove Yacht Club are not easily intimidated however, and the race started as planned. Lighter boats managed to make some headway towards the mark, but Kewalo, with her full keel, went sideways instead of forward and her captain and first mate, realizing the inevitability of their situation, made the strategic plan to drift until they reached the mouth of the Connecticut River (keeping open the option of drifting to Fishers if they felt like it) whereupon they would reluctantly withdraw, start the engine and motor back to the cove.

Meanwhile, back at the race, the other boats, Osprey, Seacant, Bianca, and Resilience, continued vaguely heading for the mark, but really just going mostly sideways, when Amy V. on Seacant made the strategic decision to drop anchor. Other boats followed suit and the fleet stayed stationary until a tiny bit of wind came up. Pulling up anchor, they rounded the mark and made a “dash” for the finish line. Corrected time gave Osprey, with Sara Ferrier at the helm, the win; second place went to Arden Rand on Bianca; and Amy Vinciguerra, on Seacant took third. Congratulations to all!

Many thanks to Karl Frost, Diane Stark, and Alex Beauchene on the committee boat, and to David Chan for being the intrepid launch driver, working in the pouring rain to get everyone back to the club for the party. A special thanks to Suzanne Miller for taking the helm of Resilience in her first race and showing her first mate, Walt, how it’s done.

We hope to see many more North Cove women show off their sailing skills at the Belle 8 race next season!

Thursday Night Racing

And The Winner Is….

Amazing cookies at the party after the last race. Baked by Lorina Ferrier, and decorated by Melissa maura.

Congratulations Osprey!

As an added bonus, Osprey crew member, jr. sailing camp alum, and Junior Instructor-bound Brooke celebrated her 10th birthday at the last race. You go, girl!

Activities

As we are nearing the end the sailing season and all the Fall activities have started, the only event in September–the pizza palooza, was canceled.  Maybe we can revisit a pizza party next year!

Oktoberfest was a rousing success! Thanks to Immediate Past Commodore Caroline Miller and former Events Chair Ann Chan for hosting one of the club’s all-time favorite events! Past Commodore Peter Jenkin’s band was the highlight of the evening, giving a real Oktoberfest ambiance to the festivities. And the food! Grilled bratwurst and hotdogs, pretzels with mustard, schnitzel, salads and pickles and yummy desserts.

Our last event of the year will be our Friends-giving feast October 27.  Sadly, this will be Lucy Armstrong’s last event as Events Co-Chair. We are hoping this will be a wonderful way to end the season, before we put the club house to bed for the winter, the “snowbirds” head south, and the rest of us hunker down with dreams of the summer sun on our backs and warm breezes in our sails.  So let’s gather for a big family style Turkey dinner to give thanks for one another and for the great year.  Warm spiked cider as the signature drink!!  Please look for the sign up soon.   

See you all soon!

Melissa C & Lucy

Cruising News

It feels like we are in a monsoon pattern of rainy weekends. As time marches on, the days are getting shorter and we are trying to get another cruise into our 2023 calendar.

We are hoping for fair weather on Indigenous People’s Day weekend, October 7-9, as we make a second attempt at the Mattituck Wine Tour. Anchoring & biking the vineyards and enjoying the wineries will be top priorities. Sign onto Discord for the latest as to who is going and when we are meeting at the town dock. Additionally, for the important dinner venue.

Cheers & here’s to dry weather, fair winds and smooth sailing.

Regards,

David Chan, Fleet Captain

Mystic Labor Day Cruise

The weather was beautiful, and Port Captain Pete Stump arranged a behind-the-scenes tour of lesser seen Mystic Shipyard activities. We toured the Coronet, the elegant 1885 yacht–one of the last yachts of the Gilded Age–now undergoing a complete restoration; we admired the rigging loft (and learned to tie a bowline one-handed;) we ogled the engine and metal facility; and we learned how the shipyard is able to haul out yachts of hundreds of tons.

Speaking of hauling out – closer to home, members Greg and Melissa Clark ran aground right in front of the museum. In Melissa’s words: “Pretty embarrassing as we were REALLY stuck! But Greg is always the best sailor I know even though HE was at the helm and grounded us. But he got us unstuck by taking the anchor out in the dinghy and winching the boat out.” [Ed. Maybe they only ran aground and got themselves out for the edification of the visitors at the Seaport?? I’m going with that explanation.]

Manittuwond: An Early History of Plum Island

We all know Plum Gut; that roaring sluice of water that abuts Plum Island whose tidal currents can reach upwards of five or more knots. Currently off limits to the public, home of an animal disease research lab, and containing myriad decrepit buildings–the leavings of the former Fort Terry–the island feels just a bit creepy. But before the government owned it, Plum Island’s history was varied and rich. Native Americans used it for hunting, and growing corn; colonials lived, farmed, and fished there. It was a place where wealthy Americans picnicked, where shipwrecked survivors found refuge, and it became the final resting place for many shipwreck victims.

Plum Island is made up of glacial moraine–a mixture of sand, rocks, and soil left behind 22,000 years ago as the glacier that covered Long Island Sound retreated. For thousands of years, Native Americans farmed corn and hunted on the island. When Europeans arrived in the 17th Century, the two cultures existed peacefully–for a very short time. But differences in values, as well as the idea of land ownership frayed the relationship. The Pequot war of 1636 was the final dissolution of the Native Americans’ hold on the land and the beginning of the domination of the English. Under English control, Plum Island became a manor–a privately held island owned by a few families. (Gardiner’s Island was also a manor, and is still owned by the Gardiner family.)

The 18th century found Plum Island settled primarily by the Beebe and Tuthill families, who were Whigs during the Revolution; an affiliation no doubt strengthened by the British Navy’s repeated raids on their crops and livestock during the Revolution. During the War of 1812–and learning their lesson perhaps–the families then living on the island were more cooperative. In fact, the British Vice Consul at the time, James Stewart, under diplomatic immunity, became rich off his schemes of selling the cargos of ostensibly neutral ships to the British Navy engaged in American waters. He and his wife, Elizabeth were largely considered to be spies, and had moved to the less hostile Plum Island from New London, where the residents either engaged in or tolerated selling supplies to the British enemy.

 The first lighthouse on Plum Island was built in 1827. The primary duties of the lighthouse keeper were to keep the lamps burning from sunset to sunrise. Other duties included aiding stranded or wrecked mariners, of which there were plenty. In time, as a way to supplement their income, lighthouse keepers operated a sort of B&B for guests and the 19th century became the heyday of Plum Island tourism.  While the lighthouse was government property and the entertainment of tourists by the government-appointed keeper not strictly legal, it was accepted as long as no alcohol was sold or served. Visitors to the island, fed by the excellent cooking of the lighthouse keepers’ wives, included President Grover Cleveland. The Jerome family, owners of vast acreage on the island, gave permission to many clubs to set up tents or even, in the case of the Smoke Pipe Club of Hartford, to build a clubhouse. Visitors waxed poetic about the beauty and solitude of the island and the abundance of the fishing.  

But tourism came to an end in 1897, when Abram Hewitt, who had managed to acquire all of the island (but for the three acres the lighthouse sat on) sold it to the United States Army. It was thought that Hewitt wanted to develop the island as an elite resort, but the Spanish-American War had begun, and the army wanted the island for coastal defense. The army paid Hewitt 89,700.00 dollars; approximately 2,600,000.00 dollars in today’s money. With the army in charge, the construction of Fort Terry began.

Today, the rare visitors to the island can see the ruins of Fort Terry, and with the Animal Disease Lab relocating to Kansas, Plum Island’s future is in limbo. Its lighthouse is a National Historic Landmark, and the non-profit organization, Save the Sound, is working to have the entire island declared a National Monument so that its rich history and ecosystems can be celebrated and shared with you and I. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to anchor off the island and dinghy in for a picnic?

Thank you to Chris Bazinet for these amazing photos of Plum Island as it looks today

From the Chaplain’s Quiet Corner of the Cove

What Can I Say

by Mary Oliver

What can I say that I have not said before?

So I’ll say it again.

The leaf has a song in it.

Stone is the face of patience.

Inside the river there is an unfinishable story

and you are somewhere in it...

May you find time this fall to hear the leaf’s song and the river’s story.

Peace,

Jean Golicz, Chaplain

Winter Rental Opportunity

Member Joyce Grossbard has a lovely house for rent for the winter months–October 2023 through May 31, 2024. Three bedrooms, two baths. 2,500/month. Contact Mim 860 575-2722 if interested.

From the Editor

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue and to all the members of the Club who work together to make our official events and casual get-togethers so much fun! Photos contributed by: Eddie Addeo, Chris Bazinet, Alex Beauchene, Melissa Clark, Al Ebstein, Dan Ferrier, Jean Golicz, Deb Paulson, Linda Tuzzio

High Tidings September 2023

The Cruising Issue

Upcoming Events for September

• Wednesdays ongoing – Grill night. Join for a drink or dinner

• September 2 – September 4 . Labor Day Cruise to Mystic Seaport

• Tuesdays beginning September 5 at 5:30 at Club– Meditation facilitated by Caryl Horner

• September 8 – Friday through Sunday Launch service begins. Check calendar for times.

• September 9, 4:00. BYO Pizza and trivia night

• September 16 – September 17, Mattituck Wine and Bike Cruise

• Mondays beginning September 18 at 6:00 – Restorative Yoga at Club with Cheryl Miller

Commodore Remarks

Mother Mother Ocean… I have heard you call…  Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was 3 feet tall… 

Jimmy Buffet

That’s my lead in for this year’s club cruise.  What a great time we had and so inspiring to see more members joining the cruising fleet.  A large gathering at “The Oar” Block Island.  Not sure how this came about but a crowd on the lawn outside the oar was cheering folks as they maneuvered their dinghies into the dinghy dock trying to avoid the rock at low tide, which is a challenge.  As we came in some folks on the dock were asking if we were part of that group, I dodged the question, then he said they’re yelling “Commodore” !!!     Oh well ….   Luckily we had a good landing.  Also, a great gathering at Coecles Harbor Marina.  We were anticipating gas grills but were saddened when it was charcoal grills only and the ship’s store had already closed.  

Vice Commodore Linda took charge and approached the neighboring group which was Shinicoset Yacht club from Groton.  Yes, they had an extra bag and chimney starter and we were GTG.
        Some members came out just for a weekend and a few stayed for the full two weeks. Personally, once I’ve lived on boat for two weeks I don’t want to return back. Just a touch and go to for food, water, fuel, laundry, and back out. 
  Next up is the Labor Day cruise to Mystic Seaport. Always a fun time. Then the Wine cruise to Mattituck, which is centered in North Fork Long Island wine country. One of my favorites, you can bring your bikes or easily rent bikes in town. Anchor at the head of the Harbor or get a slip at Strong’s marina.  It’s a one-hundred-yard walk to “Love Lane” (very romantic), which has a New York City flair of cheese and chocolate shops, great breakfast, and a couple restaurants.  Then the wineries….  Best to ride out to the further ones and hit the close ones on the return home.  There is a brewery as well which typically has live music, as do several of the wineries.  Hope you all are enjoying the boating season and can stretch it out as long as possible.

Vice Commodore Remarks

Thank you, David and Ann Chan, for leading us on a fun-filled club cruise! Rob and I managed to make most of the ports of call. Rainy weather kept some people away and others headed home, as planned, after the first week. We had some sunny days which made up for the rain. Our Commodore, that old salty dog, was the last one to come home after fetching the final destination port, Sag Harbor.
Another highlight, one we missed out on, were the Millers and Peter Stump’s family riding horses on the shores of Montauk. I would be interested in doing that next year.
The people make the cruise and we had a great group. It is always interesting to gather at 5 pm in a new port of call and see who arrives. We were never disappointed. Dinners, drinks, a cookout, farmer’s market, beach, hikes, and meeting up on someone’s boat made for the best of times.

We have a couple of more short club cruises left in the season and I hope you will join us.

The clubhouse looks great, thanks to Rich Peters. We have some new novels and a seafood cookbook on the corner bookshelf. Help yourselves. We could use a few more good books if you have them. 

Open position for next year: House Operations Chairperson. Responsibilities include maintenance of the clubhouse, responding to calls for repair or replacement, ordering supplies, and regular checks of the clubhouse. Contact any board member if interested.

Linda Tuzzio
Vice Commodore

The 2023 Club Cruise

Fleet Secretary ANn Chan and Fleet Captain David chan show off their new t-shirts that commemorate the 2023 ben franklin cruise

From the desk of the Fleet Captain:

The 2023 NCYC Annual Cruise has been christened

The Ben Franklin Cruise 

With the spectacular lightning shows the cruisers experienced nearly every third day of cruising, Ben Franklin would have had a great time flying his kite. Nobody needed flashlights to confirm that the anchor was still holding in the gale force winds; the flashes from the lightning show illuminated the masts of neighboring boats and the shoreline clearly. Thoughts of donning our life vests while hunkered in our cabins were consistent throughout the fleet. Distance settings for the anchor alarms were increased with confidence as the sway of the vessels on the chart plotter resembled the pendulum of a grandfather clock. In fact, the thunder was consistent with the hourly chimes! Under the ever-watchful command of the captains of our cruising fleet, the fleet came through without any major incidents or accidents. For sure, the rain events allowed us to spot the leaks in our vessels. On the bright side, there was no need for any deck washdowns.

Happy hours were greatly appreciated especially the evening event at the Ram’s Head Inn with lots of ice & libations. Many thanks to our always hard-working Port Captains; without them it will be a very uneventful cruise. From pancakes to farm visits to yacht club visits to farmers market to horseback riding to numerous specially prepared meals at restaurants to mud slides to specialty drinks to a BBQ with borrowed charcoal, our port captains made sure we had a wonderful time with a great cruising family.

Cruise 2023: The Best. The Worst. The Most Memorable.

Cheryl and Mark Miller–Kairos

Best - getting to spend 9 days onboard with our adult son and spending time with wonderful NCYC friends. Doesn't get any better than that! 

Unforgettable - the sunset on Saturday night in Watch Hill and horseback riding in Montauk. Deep Hollow Ranch is where we did the trail ride from and it is the oldest continuously operated cattle ranch in the US! Riding along the beach with views of Block Island was quite memorable.

Could have done without - rain at some point during five of the nine days we were cruising, and being abruptly awoken at 2:30 AM when a storm with exceedingly strong winds (Whimsea clocked a 39 knot gust) swung our boat and rolled me in my bunk. Fortunately, the lightning didn't strike anything near us and the mooring held in place despite the repeated wild swings.

Amy Vinciguerra – Serenity

Best moment – discovering a live band playing on the beach the night we stayed in West Neck Harbor.

Most Embarrassing – trashing our jib during the one moment we tried to do a Tigress Race.

Unforgettable – following past commodore Jenkins to a lovely secret anchorage at.. [REDACTED]

Melissa Clark – Scoundrel

Best – The abundance of wildlife! And Ram’s Head

Could have done without – Too much rain and leaks!

Pete Stump – Hippogriff

Best – Amelia Dawe is now a confirmed blue-water sailor. She stood watch for three hours piloting Hippogriff between Block and Montauk with skill and awareness. She guided us through several tacks, kept track of marks and other boats, and did a FINE job of it all. We are grateful for her effort all through this cruise.

Worst – The weather and rain frequently invading our travels along the way.

Memorable – Our horseback ride at Montauk was very good with beautiful trails and beach scenery. What a blast and bounce for me!

Ann Chan – Akvavit

Best – Being with like-minded people.

Worst – The squall the last night in Coecles Harbor.

Most memorable – Turning Deb Paulson’s boat around 180 degrees at the dock in Block Island

Linda Tuzzio – Sea Horse

Best – The impromptu dinner at The Barn on Block Island with the six of us!

Most embarassing – Leaving my cell phone in the store at Block Island! Got it back four hours later!

Most memorable – Watching a raccoon forage for seafood on the shore as seen from the Jenkin’s boat deck.

Keeping It Fresh

Veteran cruisers share their cruise provisioning tips

Fridge/Ice Box

Freeze everything perishable that can be frozen, such as sausages, meats (you can freeze in marinade!), cartons of egg beaters (the seasoned ones are quite tasty). They won’t stay frozen, but will help keep the fridge/icebox cold. You will use the perishable things in order of their perishability - don’t overstock unless you have great faith in your refrigeration! You can count on picking up some fresh fish, eating out, or restocking during second week.

Chill everything else that you will be putting in the fridge/icebox (don’t put room temp beers and seltzers in if you can help it) 

If you can, bring the temp of the fridge/icebox down before loading it up - put ice in the night before - especially if it’s hot. Re-use the sturdy Arizona Iced Tea jugs to freeze ice - just make sure to leave space for expansion! I leave one at the bottom of our icebox to keep things from falling out of reach. Block ice lasts longer than cubes, of course, but everyone likes cubes in drinks.

Find some plastic baskets or containers to help organize the ice box and keep small things from getting lost. Keeping an organized icebox isn’t easy but you don’t want to have it open any more than necessary.

Dry Goods

Keep an eye out for shelf-stable options as you shop before the cruise. Trader Joes has interesting options for appetizers. We always bring that dense german pumpernickel - stays fresh as long as the package isn’t opened. Shelf-stable dairy or oat/nut/soy milk is a must. Come up with a few “emergency meals” such as pasta and sauce, Dinty Moore stew, dried soup mix (this makes a good lunch after a cold rainy passage!). A tasty veggie chili can be made with salsa, diced tomatoes, beans and hominy, all canned. Packs of pre-cooked rice are handy. All these can stay on the boat for the season. Kodiak pancake mix can be made with milk and eggs if you have, or water if you don't, and can be used as a baking mix if you want to be creative (peach coffee cake anyone?). Jiffy muffin mixes and a six-muffin foil pan can make the boat smell good and a simple meal more special. Our propane oven works great - just leave plenty of time to pre-heat or your bottom will get burned!

Produce 

If you have a garden or know someone who has, get some mostly green tomatoes as well as mostly ripe ones - they will ripen through the cruise. Same goes for plums and peaches - get them hard to ripen as you go. Produce can be stored in a hanging basket or a picnic basket - onions, garlic, potatoes, fruit, blueberries, zucchini and cukes, but keep an eye out for soft spots and use icebox if you have room and need longer storage. In the icebox: I get a head of iceberg for sandwiches - seems to stay crunchy and good. We like cooked greens and use kale, chard or collards early in the cruise. Coleslaw mix is sturdy! If you put berries in the icebox, put them in a ziplock. Blueberries clog the drain hole don’t ask me how I know.

Happy cruising!

Laurie and Janet

Block Island Clam/Miso Soup

Recipe by David Chan

Portion to your desire the following main ingredients: Clams/miso soup base, wakame, tofu, clams, shitake mushroom

Prepare your favorite miso soup with wakame/bonito flakes/miso or equivalent. Add in small cubes of tofu. Add in sliced, dried shitake mushrooms. Bring to a simmer until mushrooms are soft. Add in chopped clams & liquid. Simmer until done.

Boil Shanxi noodles or equivalent until firm (al dente). Rinse with cold water. Return to boiling water. Drain & mix with sesame oil & soy sauce to taste. Set aside.

Portion noodles with soup, or enjoy soup and noodles separately.  

Upcoming Cruises

Looking ahead, we need to make our reservations for our Labor Day Cruise to the ever popular Mystic Seaport. Please be sure to mention that you are with NCYC for our slip grouping. Peter Stump is our hard-working Port Captain for our cruise visit to Mystic Seaport either by sea or by land. After Mystic, there’s still the much-desired Wine Cruise to the North Fork to consider. Please let me know if you want to be our Port Captain to lead our always thirsty cruisers. Initial plans are to dock at Strong’s Marina in Mattituck. Slips are available as well as anchoring opportunities.

Green Boating

Earlier this season, Tom and I joined Sailors for the Sea, sailorsforthesea.org. Like many others in NCYC, we were concerned about trash in and around our beautiful waters, and we wondered what we could do to help. Sailors for the Sea seeks to educate boaters on their environmental impact as well as give them ideas and suggestions on how to be a greener boater. Turns out, small actions can have big impacts!  

In general, we try not to use single-use plastic water bottles (difficult, but not impossible) and we try to use environmentally safe cleaners on Airbus. Simple Green works well for bug and scuff marks on the gel coat, and Peppermint spray is amazing for keeping spiders out of the boat–and it smells great!

We also replaced paper plates and plastic utensils with reusable plates and utensils several years ago on Airbus, and added a recycling bin aboard to store any cans, bottles and plastic. If we see some trash floating in the water (mylar balloons are often sighted) we use this as an opportunity to practice our man overboard drills and it’s fun to scoop up that Happy Birthday sign!  When cruising, we often go to shore with a trash bag, in addition to our cooler of drinks. We make a game of collecting trash – once we find ten pieces, we pop open a beer (sometimes Tom thinks five is plenty!) 

While we are all conscious boaters at NCYC, we can always do more, and as a group I believe we can make a bigger impact. 

If you have specific boating practices or eco-friendly products you use, email me (Julie) at tjtydeman@gmail.com and we can spread the information through High Tidings. I look forward to hearing from you and sharing your ideas!

Thank you!

Julie Tydeman - Airbus

Activities

[Ed. note – oops, lots of paper and plastic here. We’re working on it!]

What a fun night the Ice Cream Social was!  We were all busy enjoying the delicious ice cream with ALL the toppings!!  Fresh pineapple, raspberries and strawberries along with some gooey hot fudge, m&ms and whipped cream over cold, creamy vanilla ice cream (Am I making you drool yet?)  And a new favorite topping, rice Chex introduced by Pat O’Malley!  They are like having tiny bits of cone on top!  Delicious! 

Since we had approximately thirty five people, we decided to have a fun game of nautical trivia. Each table was a team. Did you know that an old seaman's term for marriage is called double clewing?!   

For those that missed it, we managed to save some of the ice cream for the upcoming Octoberfest!! Imagine hot apple strudel a la mode! Speaking of upcoming events, sadly we are getting close to the last of them. We would really like to finish strong so please join us for as many as possible.

SATURDAY SEPT 9. -  Pizza Party Palooza!  You bring your favorite large pizza to share.    

See you all at the club! 

Melissa and Lucy

Yoga is back!

Fellow club member Cheryl Miller will lead a restorative yoga class on Monday evenings from 6:00 to 7:00 PM starting on 9/18 through 10/16. This all-level yoga class will incorporate grounded movement, restorative poses, and pranayama (or breath) exercises, and will conclude with an extended Savasana (relaxation pose).  Participants will have an opportunity to slow down, use props to facilitate longer holds, find stillness, and release tension from the body and mind. 

Bring a yoga mat, a beach towel or blanket, and yoga blocks if you have them.

New! Meditation Group at NCYC

NCYC is inviting members to our new 8 week Meditation Group on Tuesday evenings at 5:30 PM beginning September 5, 2023 at the club, facilitated by meditation coach and NCYC member, Caryl Horner.   

Chairs will be set up for meditating or you can bring a meditation mat/pillow if you prefer. There is no commitment to attend every week.  Just join us when you can.  

If anyone needs to learn how to meditate, you can arrive any Tuesday at 5:15 PM, and Caryl will provide individual meditation instruction, so that you can join in the group practice at 5:30 if you wish. 

We will be setting up Zoom for the meditation practice to include those who prefer to meditate with us virtually. More info to follow on the Zoom details. 

Herbal tea will be available after meditation. 

By meditating together we will reduce stress and gain the many proven physical, cognitive and emotional health benefits of meditation. We will also have fun meditating together!

Belle 8 Race

Ladies, hoist your sails! 

The Belle 8 race returns on Sunday September 10th! Come join us for NCYC’s Annual women at the helm race! This is an excellent opportunity for women to show their sailing knowledge, or learn how to race in a very friendly environment. There will be a skippers meeting at 10am before the race to reviews the course followed by a noon start off of the Outer Light. After the race there will be food ($5 per person) and awards (roughly 2:30-3pm weather dependent). Boats and female skippers can be arranged via discord, or reach out to Amy Vinciguerra if you need a female skipper, want to be the skipper for a boat, or would like to crew. 860-395-7625

Please register your boat to race by emailing amyvinci94@gmail.com 

Membership

Please welcome into the Club the following new Members:

•      Joyce Grossbard

•       Alex and Loreen Yuknat

• The following are posted for Membership.

  Michael and Kathleen LeGeyt

  Old Saybrook, CT

  Kathleen: Occupational therapist

  Michael:  Orthopedic Hand Surgeon  

  Proposed by:  Caroline Miller

  Support letters:  Pavlos, Cheryl Miller, Chan

  Children: Alessandra, Mitchell, Kyle Jared, Hannah

  Boating:  They owned a small power boat 18 ft Sea Ray.

  Skills/interests:   Micheal and Kahleen are eager to learn to sail and make friends with similar interests.  They are interested in taking sailing lessons with their daughter.  They loved owning their power boat and have many great memories.  They are looking forward to getting back into boating and joining the boating community at NCYC.  They look forward to learning and being involved.  

Thursday Night Racing

A few weeks back, the Thursday night race was cancelled due to impending thunderstorms. Undaunted, the intrepid racers decided to race the 420’s off the dock. (Be sure to listen to the audio.)

Reminiscences of a Nantucket Sailing Childhood

by Joe Carroll

As a lad sailing my 19-foot molded plywood Highlander along the harbor and other shores of Nantucket Island, the winds were frequently strong and shifty. When the wind was like this, I would get the boat settled down and sailing right, only to have the boat mysteriously jibe and tack on its own as the wind instantaneously and simultaneously changed direction multiple times. Sometimes the boat would stall in irons with the sails flapping away in 30 knot winds. Usually, Nantucket winds are 15 to 20 knots on most days, with the Hulbert Avenue mansions deflecting the harbor winds in every direction, and the hot sands and dunes of the beaches setting up their own cyclonic wind patterns. 

Naturally, my other 11-year-old friends who would sail with me (Buzzy, Squirrel, John-Boy, Chaaarllie, “Drugs” Harrison [his name was pronounced using a Transatlantic accent-think William F. Buckley], Spider, Sharky, Maisie & Muffin) would sometimes appear to be, and even perhaps smell “frightened” as we sailed in these challenging conditions.    

There was an ancient Nantucket man we called “Skipper”. He was born in a whaling ship tied-up to a downtown Nantucket wharf in 1873 and as a lad he attended the Admiral Coffin seamanship school in Nantucket. Skipper used an old oar as a walking stick, and he chewed wax made from oil taken from the case in the head of a sperm whale. Skipper was a part of Nantucket’s quahog royalty. There were other members of this royalty-old sailor guys-who hung out on the wharves talking about important things, like what fishing boats were smuggling pot and illicit drugs and outrunning the “Revenuers”. Occasionally, Skipper would dispense to the local youth advice on sailing since he saw that many of us had trouble keeping the wind in our sails.

Skipper would provide unsolicited sailing advice to me. “Jerry”-he called me Jerry back in 1963- “you must understand where the wind is coming from.” Skipper would dispense such knowledge in between expectorating “lungers” onto the rotted 1840 wood of the wharf.  “Before you set sail, stand on the shore and simply look at wind indicators such as flags on boats and flagpoles. Look at the ripples in the water and determine where the wind that is causing the ripples is coming from. Determine how the wind is shifting prior setting out. Plan where you want to sail to, and how you are going to tack back and forth to get to your destination-a series of short tacks. If you are sailing downwind adjust the sail so that it is way out over the water at a right angle to the boat. The way that you adjust the sail is dependent on the course you sail. If you are heading into the wind and the sail begins to flap-you are sailing too close to the wind and need to change your course off the wind to get back to the proper sail angle. On the other hand, if the sail is out a little and isn’t flapping, the boat is sailing too wide and the course of the boat needs to change so that it is closer to the wind.”

Skipper also taught me about keeping an eye not only on the sail, but also on the ripples of the water beyond the bow. The ripples on the water are a prelude to a wind shift. When sailing in shifty winds practice steering a straighter course so that your boat won’t sail as high or as low as it may want to. Skipper also was an advocate of making rapid adjustments to the sail in shifty winds and keeping the mainsheet in your hand so that quick adjustments to the sail could be made whenever the wind changes direction. Difficult to do on a Catboat–the Nantucket boat-of-choice in Skipper’s day.

Skipper also talked about sailing in the fog & squalls, and using different current direction and velocities to augment boat speed; predicting weather by looking at clouds (cirrostratus, altostratus and nimbostratus & alto & cumulonimbus); and taught us how to read the Cape Cod barometer–clouds and a barometer are each used in predicting weather. I’ll cover Skipper’s 1840’s style training in future articles.

The good news is that today our youth have the North Cove Yacht Club’s junior sailing program to teach them sailing utilizing modern training methods taught by certified sailing instructors. My generation may have a lot of fun remembering guys like “Skipper” guiding us with his oar and his bullhorn in the finer aspects of roll-tacking, and performing Nantucket flying jibes, and learning how to swim by being thrown off of a wharf into water that is over one’s head. Also, teaching we former minnows how to keep from getting run over by the Nantucket steamer (“Skipper said to pay close attention to the rhythm of the rotating prop and its escalating “swish-swish-swish” as it gets closer to your becalmed boat. If necessary, break out your whale-boat oar and start paddling like hell away from the oncoming steamer”).  

Ah–those were great days–but we would have learned more under the watchful tutelage of Amy Vinciguerra.  

Got to get going, need to monitor Hurricane Idalia that is now threatening Florida.

Yours for a fair tide,

Captain Carroll, Skipper of the catboat Madaket.

A Fond Goodbye

“You can’t direct the Wind, but you can adjust your Sails.”

 I’m adjusting my sails as I am writing this to the members of the North Cove Yacht Club. My husband Bob and I joined the club in 2001, a mere 22 years ago. We were active in various ways through most of those years. Sadly, Bob died in 2020 but I continued as a senior member.

I have gradually realized that I have “aged” out of what I see are younger boaters and new members all around me– and I’m happy to see the new families joining and carrying on. To me, the NCYC has always been the best yacht club on the shoreline.  We are lucky to have such a wonderful club house, gorgeous views, and a membership that all works together within their expertise.

But without a boat, one loses the “connection” with others that have so much to share about their marine experiences. I’ve tried to continue on my own, but something is missing. So, at the end of this membership term, I will resign. It’s been a good run and I wish everyone smooth sailing, fun activities, and good fellowship.

All the best to the membership, officers, commodores past and present. I will carry with me many good memories of the NCYC.

Fondly, Sue Wisner from Bittersweet, our 30 ft. Wanderer.

[From the editor: When I first took on the job as editor of High Tidings, I learned that Sue’s husband, Bob, had done the job before me. I quickly realized that he had done it with such aplomb and expertise that the bar was set high. But Sue always made sure to send me a note after each issue of my tenure came out, complimenting me on it, and telling me Bob would be proud. She’s a fine lady, and I will miss her.]

From the Chaplain’s Quiet Corner of the Cove

Sometimes, you need the ocean light,

and colors you’ve never seen before

painted through an evening sky.

Sometimes you need your God

to be a simple invitation,

not a telling word of wisdom.

Sometimes you need only the first shyness

that comes from being shown things

far beyond your understanding,

so that you can fly and become free

by being still

-David Whyte

For Sale

23' Sea Sprite Weekender Sailboat

5 HP Engine (2 yrs old) / Garmin GPS/ Ship to Shore Radio/100 Watt Solar Collector/New Bottom Paint/Includes new Spinnaker/Sink, Porta Potty, ice box , sleeps 4 

Old Saybrook, CT- on a mooring 

2900.00/ contact Bruce Sumner 203-804-8661 or basumner@gmail.com.

John Gardener design. Rowing/sailing 17 foot Swampscott Dory. It has all lines, rigging, mast, red sail, tiller, centerboard, padlocks and lightweight wooden oars by Shaw and Tenney of Maine. It also comes with life jackets and anchor. The trailer was new in 2008, and is still legally registered. Asking $4000 for boat and trailer, or best offer. If interested, please contact Elizabeth Gourlay at 860-271-6670

Follow NCYC on Instagram

@northcoveyachtclub

Many, many thanks to the club members who contributed to this issue! Photographs contributed by: Chris Bazinet, Elio Betty, Ann Chan, David Chan, Melissa Clark, Rob Hathaway, June Lee, Melissa Mason, David Miller, Caroline Miller, Cheryl Miller, Cathy Murphy, Deb Paulson, Laurie Pavlos, Lauren Peters, Pete Stump, Peg Sheehan, Stephen Sheehan, Linda Tuzzio, Julie Tydeman, Lou Vinciguerra, Janet Vinciguerra, Amy Vinciguerra.

Deb Paulson, editor

High Tidings August 2023

The Picture Issue

Upcoming Events for August

• Wednesday evenings – Grill Night – Join for a drink or dinner

• Thursday evenings – Thursday Night Racing – be at the dock by 5:00 if you want to join

• Friday August 4 – Last day of Jr. Sailing

• August 5-20 Annual Club Cruise

• Friday August 25 – Ice Cream Social

Commodore Remarks

NCYC is “Copper Bottomed” with her new teak deck and sturdy deck furniture.  We had a very successful Outer Light Classic event thank to the hard work of Amy Vinciguerra and her team, with nineteen boats racing and a well-attended post-race party. It’s also been a great year for Junior Sailing school, creating our next generation of boaters and sailors and they are on the final tack to the finish. Our sailors have competed well this season which you can read about in the following pages.   Next on the horizon is our annual Club cruise. Hope to see many of you at the various ports of call. This is a local Watch Hill, BI, to North Fork LI cruise so come join us for an overnight or even day trip if you have one of those fast power boats.  

 HELP WANTED…  Rich Peters, Chris Bazinet and I are constructing bead board seat boxes to place under the South windows to store junior sailing parts and supplies-getting away from the tables with table cloths attempting to hide the gear.  We would like a volunteer to paint them so they fit in with the interior decor. If you can assist, please email me at louvinci@gmail.com.  We can place them on saw horses under the overhang outside the galley and have painting supplies ready.

ALSO, with sailing school coming to a close we have a several OPTI’s dinghys in need of fiberglass repair.  Our member David Gilmore has done amazing restoration work turning a boat that looks like it should be retired into one the kids are hoping they get to sail.  If you are interested in learning some of the tips and tricks of fiberglass repair email me at louvinci@gmail.com.  In the fall after the club cruise, I was thinking of doing a couple weeknight night work parties and let members experience prepping a broken OPTI bow corner, mixing resin and hardener and, applying layers of fiberglass.  

May the seas lie smooth before you. May a gentle breeze forever fill your sails. May sunshine warm your face, And kindness warm your soul.

Lou Vinciguerra, Commodore 

Vice Commodore Remarks

How time flies when we are having fun! As usual, Rob and I are not getting out on the boat as much as we would like. That being said, I spent a wonderful day on Seahorse for the Outer Light Race, which you can read about next.

Linda Tuzzio, Vice Commodore

Outer Light Classic

What is it like to participate in North Cove Yacht Club’s biggest event of the season? Here are the inside reports!

Regatta Chair/ Program Director/ Party Planner 

Amy Vinciguerra

When I first took the reins of planning the Outer Light Classic, Rob Hathaway gave me a handwritten timeline of each step of the planning process. He gave me the advice that “planning for next year starts on the day after the race”. I have found that to be extremely true, and I usually get a head start on that. Once all the food has been eaten, all the trophies awarded, all the chairs put away, I go home that very night and begin making my notes for next year: “Order more pulled pork,” “over 100 tickets sold,” “Too many T-shirts.” As I’ve grown up in the club, I’m learning to share the load a little more. This year the Outer Light Planning Committee began meeting in March and met each month to prepare for the July event. Each meeting we had a different topic: Marketing, Fundraising, Race Preparations, Party Planning, and then a meeting for final touches before the big day. Most important of all, these meetings ensured that each step of the planning happened in a timely manner. Posters were printed and distributed to the surrounding clubs, booklets with revised sailing instructions and advertisements were printed, and we attended the Essex pre- race party to promote our event. All things that happened this year with the help of the Planning Committee. I took over this event at a time where interest in running a regatta was dwindling. I started sailing here at NCYC when I was 8 years old, at 12 I was racing against the adult members in Dyer Dohws. I couldn’t imagine a yacht club without sail boat racing. The Outer Light Classic has become one of my favorite events at North Cove because it is such a beautiful melding of racers from other clubs. Having the chance to share our clubhouse and waterfront with the racers from ECSA (Eastern Connecticut Sailing Association) feels like the real spirit of yachting. If you’ve been looking for a way to get involved, be on the lookout in March when we begin planning for 2024. 

The Committee Boat

Karl Frost

The Committee, or more accurately, the "Signal" boat, performs several primary functions: To start, finish, and record official times for each individual racing boat, and to act as one end of the start and finish lines (which is often the same line used for two purposes).

For the start, the Signal boat goes to the general vicinity of the race course start area, and takes input from the Mark boat on final position for length & orientation of the start line. Once that is established, the racers check in by driving by Signal boat and yelling their boat name and class in which they plan to compete. The Professional Race Officer communicates the race course(s) via radio, and then we start the flag sequence that takes each class through the phases of the start...this is a very busy time of the race and the actual starts are often quite competitive and exciting.  For this Outer Light race we had 3 classes with 6-7 boats in each class fighting to cross the start first or, within the established rules, cut a competitor out from having a start advantage.

After the three classes start, there is some time for debriefing,  jokes, or perhaps a bit of lunch, but with 3 classes totalling 20 boats of varying speed, the first roundings (if a multi-leg race) and finishes start coming in fairly soon, so we soon are recording finish times.

After all racers finish, it's time to return to the Club for the food & party, which as always is great fun.

The Mark Boat

Linda Tuzzio

Years ago, I raced on friends’ sailboats in the Sound and on Block Island. My experiences ranged from exhilarating to endlessly waiting for the wind and current to change in our favor. The committee boat, always vigilant, stood by, watching and critiquing our strategies. The larger races had mark boats and chase boats too.
I had the good fortune to be on the mark boat this year for the Outer Light Race. The Mark boat is the one that ventures out from the anchored committee boat and sets a ‘mark’ buoy as a waypoint for the sailors to fetch and go around, port side to. We set one mark this year, our large orange buoy, although we brought two and were ready to set the second one, if needed.
My preconceived notions for the day were that it was going to be hard work at times and a long boring day in the sun. Happily, it was neither! There were five of us on the boat and the work was evenly divided. Our boat has a hard top so sitting in the sun was optional. We positioned our boat close to the mark. The race official on board was able to call out the names of the boats as they rounded and I got some great photos. 
The race official on our boat was in frequent communication with the race official on the committee boat. I was impressed with the skill and expertise of the officials in plotting, planning, and executing the race course. They are under-appreciated.
We repositioned the boat frequently for the best angles to watch and monitor the roundings. For the start of the second race, we moved our boat to watch the sailors cross the start line. It was great fun watching them maneuver into place, jockeying for the best position. How I remember the thrill of a good start! 
Then we motored up and moved into position for the rounding of the mark buoy, enjoying a lunch that Amy provided. Cold drinks and water were plentiful. No alcoholic beverages on our boat while underway. That is for the after party!
It was a beautiful and thoroughly enjoyable day on the water. I encourage anyone who is looking for a fun experience to volunteer to be on one of the boats for Outer Light, Belle 8, or Thursday night racing. It’s a blast!

The Pin Boat

Deb Paulson

The pin boat is the smallest of the race committee boats. It fits two people and big orange inflated “pin.” The initial job of the pin boat is to hang around near the Signal boat while towing the pin and awaiting instructions. It takes a while for the Professional Race Organizers (PRO’s) to test wind, water, current etc. and determine an optimal course for the regatta. The pin boat has to be ready. As soon as the course is determined, the signal boat gives the pin boat instructions on where to drive to put the pin to mark the other end of the start/finish line. Because Alex Beauchene, master pin boat helmsman (and senior sailing instructor) was not at his first rodeo, as the saying goes, he had a pretty good idea of where that drop would be and sure enough, when the instructions came, we only needed to tow the pin a few yards before the order came to drop its anchor. After that we stayed near the pin and waited for the races to start, becoming a second pair of eyes for a clean start from the racers.

When we got the ok to roam, the next phase began. The pin boat has no shade, so to counteract that, we went fast to catch spray–and let’s face it, just because it’s fun–and also to get to different points within the race so that I could get photos for this August issue as well as to put on our website so racers from other clubs can access them. We also went to Belle 8–one of the marks for the racers to turn around; both to get photos and to ensure that everyone did, indeed go around the buoy, radioing that info to the signal boat. At races’ end, we hauled up the pin and deflated it, stuffed it into its container and headed back upriver to a fantastic party!

The Racer

Joe Carroll (As reported by Special Correspondent Midshipman Stubby Stubbs of the SS Madaket).

On Sunday July 24th @1000 Madaket set sail out of North Cove in Old Saybrook toward the 12:00 noon start of the Outer Light Regatta (situated about 1-mile South West of Old Saybrook’s Outer Light House). Our Skipper, Starbuck O’Carroll XXI of Nantucket Island, had the fat catboat clipping along at 7+ knots as our vessel was hurled by the river current into Long Island Sound via a wall of turgid brown water with entrained logs, trees, and upper New England high class sewage effluent that had coursed its way down the river valley from Vermont and Massachusetts’ flooding brooks, streams, and municipal sewage plants.

Once in Long Island Sound the 6-ton catboat Madaket effortlessly cut through the rip currents on a West by Southwest heading toward the anchored Race Committee. On our bow was Mildred Jewett, a Nantucket girl of Polynesian/Nantucket whaling family heritage with the eyesight of an eagle, and the remarkable capacity to find wind, and make loud utterances that scared our competition away from us.  

We approached race committee and Millie started a Gam session where she announced our vessel’s intension to battle in the Outer Light Classic. Soon, Madaket and our fellow competitors were given a course to follow. We were to follow a compass heading of 230- degrees for 1.2 miles to round to port a small barely observable floating orange beach ball, followed by a heading eastward to Bell Buoy #8, followed by another heading westward to Cornfield Point Bell #2, the sight of an early 1800’s ship wreck where over 100 people were killed, and later buried in the cornfields of Saybrook’s Cornfield Point and Knollwood Beach. After rounding Cornfield Point Bell buoy, we were to return eastward to finish at the starting point of the Race located about 3/4 mile off of Knollwood Beach. Finishing boats were to cross on a line opposite the starting line between a flag on the race committee boat and an anchored orange beach ball.

The wind was out of the Southwest from about 230-degrees at 9 knots. There was a 2 knot tide running westward in Long Island Sound. We were given a 5-minute starting sequence, and Skipper said to me “Mr. Stubbs: bring ye mainsheet in” as he maneuvered the mighty Madaket close hauled up to the starting line. Skipper ordered Millie to maintain a watch for logs, and other vessels that may enter into our path, and also to keep track of the amount of time ticking away on a stop watch to the start of the race. Millie was ordered to make sure we did not arrive too early at the starting line prior to the start of the race.

Finally, the race began, and Skipper positioned Madaket on the line so that we would have the most advantageous start. Madaket headed on a starboard tack closed hauled on a 200-degree compass bearing heading toward the middle of LI Sound. After a short time almost all of the competitors tacked west on a port tack, and Millie began to question Skipper’s prudence of not tacking to cover the other vessels. Skipper thoughtfully answered Millie that the tide was pulling us westward toward the mark, and that on our heading we could quickly make a clear layline to the mark in off shore’s heavier wind & tide. Millie persisted in her opinions but Skipper continued on his strategy, and next thing we knew Madaket rounded the mark first many boat lengths ahead of the competition. Well, what did Millie expect? Skipper is one of the Nantucket Starbuck O’Carrolls.

Next, we set an easterly course toward Belle 8 against the tide. Skipper remembered the Connecticut River ink colored tidal wave filled with debris, sewage, and sediment that was cutting through the Long Island Sound Eastward inside of the astronomical westward flowing tide line (AKA incoming tide). The Connecticut River tidal wave was inky black, and there was a definable rip tide line just outside of the mouth of the river heading eastward toward Nantucket. So, Skipper positioned Madaket in the eastward flowing river flow, and eventually Madaket travelled farther eastward ahead of the competition. Skipper then crossed Madaket over to Bell 8 out of the river tide and into the incoming LI Sound tide. Next, Madaket arrived at Bell 8 ahead of our competitors, successfully rounded the buoy with Millie yelling at another boat to stay clear of us, “You, you know who I’m talking to…..Keep away from Madaket” she yelled like a Tourette syndrome patient. Madaket then made a bee-line westward to Cornfield Point Bell Buoy #2.  

Although there were some moments where Madaket became becalmed during the race, and didn’t make much progress, we arrived first out of our competitors at the Cornfield Point Bell buoy. However, at that time, contrary to the timing of the tide change in Captain Eldridge’s Tide & Pilot Manual, the LI Sound tide had already changed to flowing eastward. Unfortunately, Madaket was inadvertently positioned to be dragged into (instead of away from) Cornfield Point Bell Buoy upon its rounding, and Skipper needed to perform another quick tack to get around Cornfield Point buoy. This required a short burst of commands from Skipper to Me-Stubbart Wendell Stubbs IV- who was on the main sheet, and also prepared to become a fender between Madaket and the large Gonging Red Metal rigidly anchored buoy. Well, I’d do anything for “Skipper” and “Madaket”.   

Next, Skipper successfully rounded Madaket around the loudly gonging buoy, without me having to sacrifice myself for Skipper and Madaket. We accelerated eastward on a broad reach on our way to the finish line leaving our competitors to stare at the shimmering gold leafed name “Madaket” on our transom. The shimmering name quickly became a distant imprint in the minds of our competitors.  

We crossed over the finish line well before our other competitors. In other words, “we got the gun”. However, because of an antiquated handicap rating system, some sloops have a significantly higher handicap rating than our cat boat, and two of them finished ahead of Madaket in corrected time by only a few seconds. 

I’m sorry Skipper for looking at the 2022 Eldridge manual instead of the 2023 volume. I believe that if Madaket didn’t have to perform the extra tack against a tide around the Cornfield Point Bell buoy that we surely would have beat the 2-heavily handicapped racing sloops. However, that’s sailboat racing, and there is always another ECSA regatta around the corner to win. 

Thank you NCYC Outer Light race committee and Amy Vinciguerra’s planning and leadership for making the Outer Light Regatta and party so much fun for Me (Stubbart Wendell Stubbs IV), Millie, and my wonderful “Skipper”.

Stubbart Wendell Stubbs IV, July 24, 2023, Nantucket Island  

Outer Light Classic Regatta 2023

Junior Sailing

The Summer 2023 junior sailing season ends on August 4th. We had 80 sailors throughout our three sailing sessions and made it to 5 junior sailing regattas this year. In my final High Tidings update for the year, I wanted to express my gratitude to the village that helps make our program run.

I am so grateful for…

·       Everyone who signed up to be duty officers – from assisting with ice packs to kind words for a nervous sailor – you are great ambassadors for our club

·       Those who kept our fleet in repair - Commodore Lou, David Gilmore and countless others who provide the magic skills to keep our small boats afloat

·       Caite Whitbeck for organizing the last Friday cookouts this season – these meals bring lots of smiles

·      Our junior sailing committee for their pre-season prep from interviewing instructors to deciding on t-shirt designs [side note: there are still some adult 2023 t-shirts $15 and navy blue bucket hats $20 available for sale]

·       Our sailing instructors (Scott Soukup, Stephanie Charbonnier, Nadia Goodman) for keeping 80 sailors from ages 8-16 engaged while instilling a love of sailing

·       Alex Beauchene, Roy Guile’s grandson and our Head Instructor, who stepped into a new role this year and took on day-to-day management of our instructors. From ensuring they had daily lesson plans to assisting on the water to coaching sailors at regattas, Alex helped elevate our program!

Last but definitely not least, I am especially grateful for Amy Vinciguerra, our Program Director. I could not take on the chair role (and work full-time) if it were not for her. NCYC is so fortunate to have Amy running the summer operations of the junior sailing program. In addition to the expected summer hours, Amy works tirelessly to prep for the season always looking for ways for us to improve. Last fall, she advocated for dividing her role of Program Director and Head Instructor into two roles which was a resounding success. We creatively brainstormed how to cover the extra cost landing on slightly increasing tuition and increasing the number of sailors per session by 2. This change allowed us to operate at a higher and safer level! Thank you is not a big enough phrase for Amy’s hard work and dedication to our program! 

Wishing everyone fair winds and following seas!

With gratitude,

Melissa Mason, NCYC Junior Sailing Chair

Cord Enman getting his first place trophy!

Our Junior sailors at the Pettipaug reatta. 5th place in 420 spinnaker, 2nd place in non-spinaker, 5th and 6th place is Opti blue fleet, 1st place in Opti red fleet, and 2nd place in green fleet.

winner of the Ed Godfrey Jr. Racing Series: Kory (at right) in 420’s and Cord in optis

Activities

Well, the Regatta was our biggest activity this month, but there was another one:

POT-LUCK NAUTI-DIME BINGO

You know, not all events have to be huge.  Sometime just a few makes for a fun, intimate evening on a hot, muggy night in July.  Lots of really flavorful, light delights and yummy desserts. I didn’t see who brought the tiramisu cake but,  on my!  If you are going to fall off the diet wagon, that was the best possible dessert I can think of to fall for!!.

Bingo was a lot of fun!  Everyone purchased a card or ten for a dime a game.  At one point the pool got up to a whopping $7. 00 which was won by our youngest dinner guest Jade (I’m so sorry I didn’t get your last name sweetie!) 

All in all, very wholesome fun and got to know a few more people better.  

Thanks to all who came!! 

Our Members are Cruising!

And Racing in Off Soundings!

And Finding Golden Clams in Block Island….??

From the Chaplain’s Quiet Corner of the Cove

Time for Serenity, Anyone?

By William Stafford

I like to live in the sound of water,
in the feel of mountain air. A sharp
reminder hits me: this world still is alive;
it stretches out there shivering toward its own
creation, and I’m part of it. Even my breathing
enters into the elaborate give-and-take,
this bowing to sun and moon, day or night,
winter, summer, storm, still—this tranquil
chaos that seems to be going somewhere.
This wilderness with a great peacefulness in it.
This motionless turmoil, this everything dance.

May you find time for serenity this summer as you “live in the sound of water” 

Peace be with you…

For Sale

Sea Sprite for Sale

Ed. note- I recently took a painting workshop and one of the participants told me about this lovely boat she has for sale. Please contact her directly if you’re interested.

$7000 or best offer.  Contact Susan Shaw, 401-539-3009 or susanshaw50@icloud.com.

For sale: Sea Sprite 23                     Designer: Carl Alberg  

More photos available by email. 

Classic mini-yacht lines, stable & seaworthy, sails like a dream. Very balanced helm, with slight touch of weather.  Tracks well, tacks smartly.

Built 1976 at Wickford Shipyard.  Currently in Wyoming, RI, I-95 exit 3B.

Spinnaker with pole, snatch blocks, and sheets.

Thurston performance cruising main, 130% jib, spinnaker. Harken roller furler.  New main and jib sheets.

Full set of cockpit and cabin cushions.

Original winches and handles.  Winches dismantled and oiled.

Harken adjustable backstay.

New gelcoat in 2008, including gelcoated boot stripe.

New Micron CSC bottom paint.

4 HP Mercury 2-stroke engine, professionally maintained each year.  New fuel tank.

Full set of six new PFDs.  New Ritchie compass with cover.

Five poppets, refurbished and repainted.

All bright work newly revarnished by Mystic Seaport shipwright.

From the Editor

A big thank you to everyone for sending along the fantastic photos: Alex Beauchene, Chris Bazinet, Melissa Clark, Jen Frost, Walt Gayeski, Chris Griffin, Rob Hathaway, Hugh Hunsinger, Suzanne Miller, Caroline Miller, Dan O’Malley, Laurie Pavlos, Pete Stump, Linda Tuzzio, Janet Vinciguerra, Amy Vinciguerra.

If you have anything you’d like included in future issues of High Tidings, please email or text me. Thanks!

Deb Paulson

High Tidings July 2023

Upcoming Events for July

• Monday evenings – Jr. Sailing Racing

• Wednesday evenings – Grill Night – Join for a drink or dinner

• Thursday evenings – Thursday Night Racing – be at the dock by 5:00 if you want to join

• Friday evenings – Join with your friends on the deck

• Monday through Friday 8:30 to 4:15 – Jr. Sailing

• Tuesday July 11 6:00 pm  – Activities Meeting

• Wednesday July 12 6:00 pm – Cruise Meeting (Happy hour at 5:00)

• Friday July 14 6:00 pm  – Potluck Bingo

• Sunday July 23 – Outer Light Classic ECSA Race and afterparty

• Sunday July 30 – 4:00 pm – Christmas in July/Yankee Swap

Commodore Remarks

NCYC on Steady Course and Speed!

A lot is happening at NCYC. Our new deck and flagpole are complete, with the pin rail made by club member Dave MacVaugh installed, so all is finished with those big projects!

Thursday night racing is underway; grounds landscaping, clubhouse, and launch are all in Bristol fashion, and Junior Sailing Program is in full swing! If you are bringing your boat to the dock and concerned about the fleet of beginner OPTIs sailing in front of the club, you can hail the junior sailing instructors on CH 72 and they will shepherd the flock out of your way. You can also hail the launch drivers on 78 and they will pass the word.

What do we see on the horizon at NCYC? Grill nights are happening on Wednesday nights, it’s a fun time mid-week to gather and socialize. Not everyone who attends grills; some bring take-out or pizza and enjoy the deck and sunset. The next Club event is our very own Outer Light Classic Regatta on Sunday, July 23rd.  This is an Eastern CT Sailing Association (ECSA) regatta that has been hosted by our club for many years. Amy Vinciguerra is at the helm of the Outer Light Committee and is coordinating the race and party.  All members are welcome to attend with purchase of entry. The Outer Light Committee will be looking for a little more help on the day of, so please watch your emails for opportunities to sign up.  All racers: don’t forget to sign up for the Essex Rum Challenge the day before on July 22nd. Two local ECSA races in one weekend! 

The next event by our hardworking Activities Committee is Potluck Bingo on Friday July 14, at 6:00 pm, followed by “Christmas in July” on Sunday July 30th. I believe there will be a fun Yankee swap/white elephant type gift exchange; read further for more on this and watch your email for details. The Club Cruise starts on August 5th. This year, the cruise is staying relatively local, so hopefully some smaller boats can drop in and out for a few days of rafting and beach parties.   

I’m now going to make a pitch about fuels in small engines. We had a hiccup with the Honda outboard for the RHIB.  It’s at Greg’s outboard for repair, no spark in one-cylinder, clogged carburetor. Thanks to a donation few years back from Enrique Rodriguez, we have a backup outboard–an 8HP 2 stroke Yamaha which has been stored in the shed. You may have seen this engine hanging inside the shed for the past few years. When Enrique donated the engine, I ran the engine then disconnected it from the tank and let it run until it quit emptying the fuel lines and carburetor bowel. Then I drained the tank and added a 1/4 gallon of stabilized ethanol-free fuel. Ran the engine again for 10 minutes to be sure all ethanol was out of the fuel system. When we needed the engine this season it started right up on the second pull! Ethanol clogs carburetors on small engines if they are not run on a regular basis. I have been using ethanol-free fuel in all my small engines, chain saws, weed whackers etc. ; they all start up with no issues. You can buy ethanol-free fuel at hardware stores and Tractor Supply. Expensive but worth it.

A reminder that the Yamaha on the RHIB is a two-stroke engine and needs 50-1 gas to oil mix ratio. The same is true for the Evinrude on the William T. If you’re adding fuel from our fuel storage locker (which is a green box with lid next to the dumpster,) there are two 2-1/2-gallon jugs labeled 50-1 mix fuel for William T and Yamaha.

  
Enough talk about fuel?

Sorry, but no…early this season we were having issues with the outboards trouble starting, not idling and lack of power when in gear. After some trouble-shooting I sucked some fuel from the bottom of the tanks, put it in a clear plastic container and found a considerable amount of water separating out. Fuel floats on water, so the pick-up for the engines was sucking up water from the bottom of the tanks. After I purged fuel lines and replaced fuel in the tanks the engines are now running fine. But the question remained, where is the water coming from? I checked a five-gallon jug filled this year from Sunoco station and found water in the jug! Can’t confirm how this may have happened but I alerted the station and have an email to the supplier asking to compensate us for bad fuel. We will see where that goes. On my last fuel run, I sampled the fuel in a glass jar before filling to confirm there was no water. Seems they have corrected the issue.

OK… now I’m done talking fuel. Many of you may already know all this but I hope sharing this experience may help some members new to boating and outboards to keep their engines starting and running smooth.

That’s all for now.  Enjoy your club and sea time on your boats!

Lou Vinciguerra, Commodore

Vice Commodore Remarks

Books, Boats, and Beaches

Do you need a novel to read on your cruise? Are you looking for a new seafood recipe? Do you have a great book to share with others? You have come to the right place! We are revitalizing our bookshelf in the corner of the clubhouse. Take a book or two. Bring in what you have read. We have nautical books old and new, novels, mysteries, cookbooks, and a couple of children’s books. 

A copy of ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ is on the shelf. It is a great summer book but not light reading. It tells the story of Kya whose life begins in deplorable conditions. Stay with it, the book is worth finishing. I’d love to discuss the ending with you.

There is also a novel on the shelf by Elin Hilderbrand. A well known author, her novels take place in and around Nantucket. Have a chat with past Commodore, Joe Carroll. His Nonsuch is named Madaket, a place on Nantucket where he spends a lot of time and one that Hilderbrand uses as a setting in some of her books.

We continue to recycle paper plates, plastic utensils, and cans. Please place your recyclables in the blue bins next to the large dumpsters.

Our Commodore’s cookout and silent auction were a huge success.  Many thanks to the Activities Committee and volunteers. I am looking forward to our next event!

Linda Tuzzio, Vice Commodore
 

Membership

The Membership Committee is pleased to Post Joyce Grossbard for Membership. 

Joyce M Grossbard

Old Saybrook, CT

Joyce: Psychotherapist

Proposed by:  Jean Golicz

Support letters:  Chan, Mason, Miller

Children: Jessica (24)

Boating:  Joyce has sailed for most of her adult life.  She has a friend with a 50’ Gulf Star that she has sailed with both in Saybrook and back and forth to Maine. She has bare-boated in the Caribbean and sailed with Hal Kerr on the Acamar here in Old Saybrook.

Skills/interests:   Jean and Stefan Golitz are friends, and she has been their guest at several NCYC events. The members that she has met have been delightful and very friendly.

Joyce has owned a home in Saybrook for over 40 years and is now making this her permanent residence. Joyce wants to engage with lovely people and thinks that the NCYC will be a place to make friends and contribute to a community.

Joyce is delighted to crew and is an active person who is always willing to help. She has a long history of volunteering (please speak with her about all she has done!)Joyce looks forward to helping plan and organize events.  She has been an active member of the Rotary Club of Englewood, NJ for the past 15 years and served as the Membership Chair.

Jr. Sailing

Junior sailing has begin with a great first week! This year our program has expanded to hosting 27 sailors every two week through the summer, a total of over 80 junior sailors! The Junior Sailing team consists of 5 US Sailing trained instructors. Scott Soukup as Beginner Instructor (left), Alex Beachene as Head Instructor, Nadia Goodman as 420 Instructor, Stephanie Charbonnier as Intermediate Instructor (right), and Amy Vinciguerra as Program Director (not pictured).

Students of the program have been having a blast! They have enjoyed sailing on the river at the mouth of the cove, playing sail tag on the water, learning kinetics on light wind days, and getting used to steering with a tiller.

Intermediate Optimists sailing around green can #3 at the mouth of the cove

The first Friday of every session sailors take part in the “Sailing Olympics”, a fun collection of nautical competitions ranging from knot tying and anchor throwing, to man over board drills. On the last Friday of every session, we will be holding graduation ceremonies to mark the progress each sailor has made in the program.

The Junior Sailing Program will run for 5 more weeks every day from 9 am to 4pm. Feel free to stop by the club and watch the kids learn to sail, or volunteer to be a duty officer. I recently learned a little history of the club (by reading the yearbook) and discovered that North Cove has been offering three two-week sessions of Junior Sailing Lessons since 1994! Next year will mark 30 years of Junior Sailing at North Cove!

Thanks to everyone in our club community for your support. If you want to join our team, please reach out!

Melissa Mason, Jr. Sailing Chair

Amy Vinciguerra, Program Director

Outer Light Classic Regatta July 23

Our biggest sailing event of the year is approaching! The Planning Committee has been hard at work organizing the party, collecting advertising, fundraising, and getting boats registered. We have seven boats registered so far (more than our total in 2021!) North Cove will be hosting racers from Duck Island, Sachem’s Head, Thames River, and Mud Heads. These sailors will be completing not only for trophies at North Cove, but also for annual trophies from the Eastern Connecticut Sailing Association. Our Regatta count towards cumulative totals for racers who compete at multiple clubs throughout the summer. Our Regatta also counts towards the Long Sand Shoal Cup, a perpetual trophy given by ECSA to the boat who has the highest score out of the four regattas that take place in our area of Long Island Sound. 

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

The Outer Light comes together every year with support from our membership.

Ways to get involved: 

1. Register to race or help crew- The Outer Light is our premier race for the Eastern Connecticut Sailing Association circuit. Any Captains who wish to register to race should register their boat using the link button. If your boat is not ready to race, but you want to get in on the racing action, there is usually room to crew! Email Amy Vinciguerra  and she will help find a spot for you. 

2. Volunteer for food or set up to for the after race party. We are looking for set up, clean up, ticket sales, t-shirt sales, and food volunteers. There is an ECSA trophy for the club who hosts the best party! Help us bring home that trophy by volunteering for the party.

3. Mark your calendars for Sunday July 23rd to help us welcome these visitors and show some North Cove hospitality by attending the party. Party tickets are $20 per person. The party includes catering from Walt’s and other Old Saybrook restaurants, libations, and the awards ceremony. PLUS the raffle drawing for a Dyer Dhow! Reserve your party tickets HERE.

This year there has been a huge support from the Outer Light Planning Committee to make this year’s race the best yet! Hope to see you all there. 

Amy Vinciguerra

Activities

Mmmm!  Barbecue! The Commodore’s Cookout was a huge success, as was Fajita Night. Mike Boyle knows his way around a grill!  If you didn’t make it, you missed out on a really wonderful evening.  The chicken was fantastic! 

And we held our fist ever silent auction to benefit the Outer Light Classic Regatta coming up on Sunday, July 23. There were some great gift baskets. People commented they were very impressed with the high-end quality of the items.  A couple of the baskets; the “boat basket” and the “Scotch w/rocks” baskets got a lot of attention and the bidding got pretty contentious! Others said we should do this again next year as they really enjoyed perusing the items and getting great deals.  In the end the auction brought in a very impressive $1,400.00!  Amy Vinceguerra, Outer Light chairperson, was very pleased!  This will help defray some of the costs to host this race.  Thank you to all that donated to the baskets.

UPCOMING EVENTS

July 14 –POT LUCK BINGO

POT LUCK BINGO: Now that summer is on full swing and we are all in the cove, we are hosting an old fahioned Friday Night Pot Luck. Bring enough to share and your won set ups. After dinner, hang around for a rousing game of Nauti-Dime Bingo. (That’s G-rated NAUTICAL bingo.) Yoiu could go home with as much as $1.50 in dimes!! Doesn’t that peak your interest? This is a great family-friendly event so we hope to see the kids too. Sign up is going out this week, so please sign up early.

JULY 23 -  OUTER LIGHT CLASSIC REGATTA

July 3. -  CHRISTMAS IN JULY

CHRISTMAS IN JULY: This is an old-fashioned pot luck with a twist.  Please bring a gift-wrapped item that cannot exceed $25 for the Yankee Swap. Gag gifts are allowed!  If you have ever been to one of these swaps you know this gets to be a lot of fun!  If you haven’t been to one before you HAVE to attend this one! Keep a lookout for the signup.  Maybe there will be another signature drink?  

See you on the water!

Melissa Clark and Lucy Driggs-Armstrong, Activities co-chairs

Cruising News

From the Fleet Captain’s desk –

The moorings in North Cove are slowly but surely filling up. Here’s the latest cruising news.

Sailfest New London 2023-July 8 & 9 with Fireworks on July 8 – Sailfest is back on the calendar. Drop me an email & I will tabulate the boats heading to Sailfest 2023. The list will be on our website & our launch captain’s desk.

Next Annual Cruise Meeting – Wednesday, July 12 at our clubhouse – Happy hour from 5pm to 6pm & the meeting from 6pm to 7pm. We look forward to the final details of our Annual Cruise and will also have a Q&A session on our ports & routing details.

We will need the Port Plans from the following Port Captains prior to our July 12th Cruise Meeting. Please send me the port plans so that I can include it in our itinerary for the July 12 cruise meeting. This is the latest:

1. Block, Day 1 – John & Laurie

2. Block, Day 2 - Walter & Suzanne

3. Montauk, Day 1 – Peter, Tyler & Megan

4. Montauk, Day 2 – Open right now – Suggestion: Sushi at Westlake Fish House – highly recommended

5. Coecles Marina, Day 1 – The other yacht club has booked Friday & Saturday – we need an alternative plan – Picnic/HH on the beach or Taylors Island or Lower Beach

6. Coecles, Day 2 – Open to ideas – Ram’s Head for Happy Hour & Dinner

7. Greenport – Open, No PC – free & easy, shopping & dinner (individual reservations)

8. Robbins Island – Lou & Janet

9. West Neck, Day 1 – Rob & Linda – Mud Slides & swimming

10. West Neck Day 2 -  Open – No PC

11. Sag Harbor – Open, No PC

Labor Day Cruise – Please make your reservations at Mystic Seaport & mention NCYC so that they can group us together. Reservations are filling up & are cancellable.

Wine Cruise – More details to follow.

Look forward to our July 12th Cruise Meeting to confirm the details.

Cheers,

David Chan, Fleet Captain

Thursday Night Racing

Thursday Night Racing is in full swing, but our intrepid correspondent Joe Carroll is taking this month off from writing another engaging, and dare I say, endearing missive. It’s just pictures this month, folks. But definitely check out Amy’s whisker pole! [Ed. note: I’m thinking Alex as whisker pole for another silent auction fundraiser?]

Dedication for Klinki

On Sunday July 2nd one of North Cove’s 420s was dedicated in memory of Tanya Anderson’s father, David Anderson. The first of the four boats purchased this winter from Pettipaug Yacht Club to be given a new name. The boat is now named “Klinki” after the pre-historic Klinki trees that are being used in the Reforest the Tropics initiative. David Anderson was both a sailor and an avid environmentalist. David was especially proud of his connection with Reforest The Tropics (RTT), an organization based in Mystic, CT that plants forests of varying sizes in Costa Rica to offset carbon dioxide emissions of companies and individuals. He was a board member and driving force of the organization, personally donating to establish an RTT forest in Costa Rica to offset part of his family’s carbon emissions. To learn more about the Klinki trees and RTT visit:  https://reforestthetropics.org/forests/

Women on the River

Women on the River it is a social group for women from the five local yacht clubs–Essex Yacht Club, Corinthian, Pettipaugh, Hamburg Cove and our own North Cove– who enjoy sailing. We meet one evening a week for three to four weeks to sail the Ideal 18’s at Corinthian and Essex Yacht Club. After sailing, we have dinner at Essex Yacht Club, play games, laugh and get to know each other. Wednesday, June 21, was the last meeting of the season for Women on the River and was hosted by North Cove Yacht Club. It was an opportunity for the group to use our 420’s and share a pot luck dinner. It was also a wonderful way for us to show off the club to members of other local clubs. This is the fifth year for Women on the River and the first time we have met at North Cove. The evening was a a big success and everyone enjoyed themselves. Several of the women got out in the cove and had a fabulous time on the 420’s.  We had good wind so those boats were fast and fun! Thank you to members Frank Borzenski, Bob Murphy, Lou Vinciguerra, Caroline Miller, Kathy Reddington, and Maria Gilmore for helping to make this a memorable evening. A special thanks to our Sailing Instructor Amy Vinciguerra. If you’re interested in joining Women on the River for next year please contact Cathy Murphy at cjhmurphy@gmail.com. You do not need to be a proficient sailor to join; members have a mix of skills. The group can help build confidence, as well as enhance your sailing skills and it’s a great way to meet other women who enjoy the water.

Discord for NCYC

At times we need to coordinate with groups of people, to have different groups for different purposes, and to have groups of different sizes. Not to mention notifications and discussions.

Using text groups does work–to a point. But it is hard to add or remove members on the text chains, they have a member limit, and it is also hard to keep different text groups straight if you have more than one.

To solve these issues, we have set up a NCYC Discord [Ed. Note; ridiculous name] – a communication program that runs on phones, tablets, and personal computers. It’s free and allows users to post messages, direct messages, photos, and videos within the discussion topics (called channels) that have been set up.  

Currently in the NCYC Discord, there are discussion channels for the Outer Light Classic, Thursday Night Racing, Cruising Official Club Trips, Cruising Impromptu, Off Soundings Race, and the NCYC Magazine. More channels can easily be added. Thinking of heading to Coecles Harbor and want to let others know? Post it on Cruising Impromptu. Have some amazing photos of Thursday Night Racing that you want to share? Post them on the Thursday Night Racing channel. Have amazing photos in general that would be of interest for the NCYC Magazine? Put them in that channel. You get the picture.

To get access to NCYC Discord, you use this invitation link, https://discord.gg/5fx3kSX8 which is available until July 12. After July 12, please send an email to Chris Griffin or, you can get an invitation link from anyone who is logged into Discord.

The link leads you to a place to create a user name and install the software. Depending on whether you are installing Discord on your phone, tablet, or computer, the directions to install will vary. [Ed. Note: I could do it, and I am not a computer genius by a long shot. Or, there’s always that computer no-fail: ask a young person.]

It may seem intimidating at first but becomes natural to use with a little practice. [Ed. Note: he says optimistically, being a software engineer.] 

After you log in, you can set your own notification levels. Don’t be alarmed by the wavy, cartoony characters in the “Lobby” area—the area that gets you in. They go away in the other channels.

The goal is to make communications easier for all NCYC discussions. Nothing beats in-person meetings at the club [Ed. because there’s beer]  but Discord can help the discussions progress between them, keeping the ideas flowing.

Chris Griffin

And Another Way to Communicate

North Cove Yacht Club Members Forum

This is a Facebook forum exclusively for our yacht club members that you can use to post just about anything. If you have a Facebook account just click on the link below to join. As soon as we verify that you are a member you will be able to post. ( We recently had a guy try to join with the name Jib Sheet. Couldn't find him in the yearbook. ) There are currently 17 members and we are looking for more. You can also open an account strictly for the forum if you’re not a Facebook fan ( which I did and found some other boating forums that were also very useful )

https://www.facebook.com/groups/674559057251079

Summer Weed Whacking

Hello!  Maybe you missed this in June’s NCYC issue. The club needs a little weed whacking every couple of weeks. Come anytime during the two-weeks following the date you have chosen. Use the Club's weed whacker.

Check the sign up below and take a week or two!

If you have any questions, contact Outdoor Chairs, Bob and Cathy Murphy

Club WiFi Update

Just a reminder that, thanks to Rob Hathaway for his donation and to Dan Ferrier for installing a new WiFi antenna on the east side of the clubhouse, we should have improved internet service in the Cove.  Unlike the previous antenna, this one focuses more energy toward the water resulting in a stronger signal with greater range.  If you haven’t, please give it a try while out on your boat and let us know how it is working.  Connect to Frontier2976_EXT2.4G with the same password as the base station.

Also, note that we recently upgraded the clubhouse internet service to a fiber optic network which will give greater reliability and a huge increase in speed.

Chris Bazinet

From the Chaplain’s Quiet Corner of the Cove

Bend low again, night of summer stars.

So near you are, sky of summer stars,

So near, a long-arm man can pick off stars,

Pick off what he wants in the sky bowl,

So near you are, summer stars,

So near, strumming, strumming,

                So lazy and hum-strumming.

-Carl Sandburg

One of my fondest memories is on the bow of Acamar looking at the stars. As you pass by her this summer, you too are close to the stars. Acamar is a giant star at the end of the constellation Eridanus. The name Acamar is derived from  Ākhir an-nahr, which means "the end of the river". Thanks to our dear friend Hal, she remains in place, at the end of the river, a reminder that the stars are near in the summer sky.

Blessings on your own celestial navigations this summer!

High Tidings June 2023

the commodores and board of governors celebrate the 54th commissioning of the north cove yacht club

Upcoming Activities

• Thursday June 1, 5:00 PM and on-going Thursdays –Thursday Night Racing

• Friday June 2, 6:00 PM – Fajita Night at NCYC (RSVP by 5/30)

• Tuesday June 6, 6:00 PM – Activities meeting at NCYC

• Wednesdays ongoing – Grill Night. Join for a drink or dinner

• Saturday June 17, 3:00 PM – Commodore’s Cookout and Silent Auction

• June 19-23 –Jr. Sailing Prep Week and Race Clinic

• Saturday June 24 – Full time launch service begins. Check NCYC Calendar for hours

• Friday June 30, 6:00 – Friday Night Social

Commodore Remarks

“I declare North Cove Yacht Club open for our 54th Season!”

For those of you who weren’t able to attend the Commissioning event, the above is one of the lines from the script that’s passed down from Commodore to Commodore. The Commissioning was well attended, and we had a beautiful day to celebrate the opening of our Yacht Club.

By now, no one should be surprised at the tasty and beautiful appetizers our club members contribute, and that, along with the usual beverages, made for a fun celebration after the ceremony. 

We were thrilled to have Ryan Lombardi, Maxwell Schaum, and Daniel Steindl of the Old Saybrook High School Band, play the National Anthem as the American flag and North Cove Yacht Club flag were hoisted on our new flag pole. At the conclusion of the anthem, Rich Peters fired off the 10-gauge cannon.  

 If you missed it this year, be sure to mark your calendar to attend next year.  It’s a great party!

We also celebrated completion of our new Ipe and cable rail deck, our new flagpole, and the beautiful launch restoration thanks to Launch Chair Elio Betty and his hard working crew. The grounds and flower beds are in top shape thanks to our Grounds Committee Chairs Bob and Cathy Murphy and the many volunteers who support them.

Efforts are underway by our house operations chair Rich Peters to cool down the clubhouse on the hot summer days. So far, thanks to Dan Ferrier, we have a new attic exhaust fan set with an automatic thermostat to improve ventilation in the attic and lessen the heat radiating from the ceiling. Rich is also looking at options for window coverings for the windows along the south side of the clubhouse. Shading those windows on a hot summer day should be a major improvement to counteract the greenhouse effect we have now.

We are also working to improve internet service in the clubhouse and-hopefully-the moorings field. We’ve upgraded service in the Club to Frontier fiber and have installed a directional antenna to direct and amplify the signal toward the harbor. That’s Dan on the ladder again installing the antenna and thanks to Rob Hathaway for providing the antenna and our EE Chris Bazinet who understands how this stuff all works.

Other news to report, a sub-committee of our Board of Governors has selected and ordered new teak tables and benches for the deck to match the Ipe and replace the old painted grey ones. 

The bar area just keeps looking better thanks to the skilled efforts of Karl Frost and others supporting him. A big thank you to Eddie Addeo for refinishing the front deck and steps.

With all these improvements by our Club volunteers, North Cove Yacht Club looks shipshape and Bristol fashion for the new season!

The next waypoint for ship NCYC is Fajita Night Friday, June 2nd. 

Hope everyone had a nice Memorial Day weekend in honor of our military members who died in service defending this great nation of ours.

Lou Vinciguerra, Commodore

Vice Commodore Remarks

Board member, Elio Betty, proposed that we look into the purchase of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for the club. An AED is a medical device that is used to help someone experiencing cardiac arrest. The easy-to-use device analyzes the heart’s rhythm and delivers an electric shock, if necessary. The device has saved lives in an emergency, as it restores an effective rhythm to the heart. We applied for a grant to the organization, ‘In a Heartbeat,’ on the club’s behalf. The grant has been accepted and an AED is on order and will be donated to the club. The Board will find a suitable and accessible place within the club for the apparatus. The AED is in a portable case and can be used inside, taken outside, or brought to a boat.

The club is looking to update the books on the bookcase in the corner. Donations of nautical books, newer novels, and non-fiction books will be greatly appreciated. 

Linda Tuzzio, Vice Commodore

Membership

As always at this time of year, the Membership Committee is very busy.  We will be hosting two events on June 10th. At 9:30 will be an event for Prospective Members  At 10:30 will be the New Member Orientation  Anyone who wants a reminder of what the Club has to offer to the membership is welcome to attend. 

This month NCYC welcomes to membership Tim and Debbie Matson. Please be sure to reach out and say hello to the Matsons.

Junior Sailing

The Junior Sailing team is so excited for the season to begin. Prep week starts soon (June 19) and Session 1 begins June 26th. Thank you in advance to everyone as we have 27 young sailors and 5 instructors around the club each week. A few reminders:

· Duty Officers: Sign-up for this fun volunteer activity is now open. Feel free to sign up for one or more sessions throughout the summer.  

· Slow speed: Please drive slowly especially if you are pulling around to the waterfront! This is for the safety of our sailors and instructors.

· Ed Godfrey Monday Night Junior Racing series: Begins June 26 and runs each Monday evening through July 31st. All returning 420 sailors and Junior Instructors are eligible. If any club Opti sailors are interested, please let Amy Vinciguerra or I know.

Thanks to everyone in our club community for your support. If you want to join our team, please reach out! 

Happy sailing, Melissa Mason

Junior Sailing Chair

Thursday Night Racing

Sailors love the wilderness of the open ocean. A huge empty space where we can disappear, only to return later; wiser, relaxed, and rich with experiences. The everlasting terra incognita of the sea. Even today, after almost every terrestrial inch of the planet has been surveyed and mapped, only a small portion of the sea’s total volume has been explored by man. My former dojo Professor, Fen-Dow Chu often stated that “Columbus sailed over numberless unknown worlds to discover this one superficial western one.” Like Columbus, we NCYC sailors continue to explore the sea in our little vessels in hopes of finding nirvana via new experiences and discovery of new worlds.

Today, virtually all of the United States is a place of cities, suburbs, ghost towns, and national parks. We citizens consider ourselves to be “civilized”. Not so the sea. Ishmael, the common seaman and narrator in the movie “Moby Dick” (“call me Ishmael”) ominously intoned “however baby man may brag of his science and skill, and however much in a flattering future that science and skill may augment; yet forever and forever, to the crack of doom, the sea will insult and murder him, and pulverize the stateliest, stiffest boat he can make; never-the-less, by the continual repetition of these very impressions, man has lost that sense of the full awfulness of the sea which aboriginally belongs to it”.

The dangers of the ocean can be correlated to the 21st century United States which feels more and more like an era in which a cataclysm, whether financial, environmental, or terrorist devised, is just around the corner. Therefore, the wisest thing for a man or woman to do is to steer their boat to ports like Block Island, Newport, Long Island, Nantucket, or other nearby ports that are full of peace and joy. It is recommended that you read the weather report ahead of time because in the end, we are still at the mercy of the sea.   

I hope that all of you are busy getting your boats ready for the summer, and/or planning weekend or summer vacation trips on your vessel. My boat, Madaket, is in the water, and will be arriving in North Cove-probably this weekend if the rattling loose-bolt & nut noises coming from the engine isn’t a broken piston. Maybe I’m hearing things. After a winter’s rest, the engine started right up after one crank and isn’t spewing oil out of the exhaust pipe or overheating. So, maybe I’m just hearing things.

Remember, the first Thursday Night Race will be on June 1st. Be on the race course off of Katharine Hepburn’s former home at 6:00pm. It is recommended that you are at the yacht club by 5pm (or earlier) to meet up with the race committee and the competitors.

See you on the water, 

Joe Carroll  

Activities

Club events are only as good as the people who attend, and once again, what a great turnout on May 6th for the Kentucky Derby Party!! The club was set up beautifully by Lucy Armstrong with stadium style seating on all of our very comfy furniture!  The hats were amusing, creative (the lampshade hat won the Most Creative) and beautiful!  The Mint Juleps were flowing, and the food was really good “southern cookin’” (although there was a mention of the glaring omission of grits!)  There were a few technical difficulties with the TV,  but Greg Clark got it all straightened out by “Riders Up” call so it was all good. The race was fast and fantastic!  Mage was a fast little horse! There were some friendly wagers and Lucy won the pool  (She chose her horse because she liked the color marker used for the betting board. Lol)  Hey, whatever works, it’s all chance! A huge thank you to all who helped set up and clean up. 

Looking forward to our next big events: 

June 2  – Join us Friday June 2 @ 6 pm for Fajita Night. [Ed. note, this event is full, so everyone who signed up, enjoy!] 

June 17 – Saturday, June 17th, @ 3pm Commodore’s Cookout

This year, our signature event will be a chicken BBQ prepared by Pig Roastin

•          $25.00 adults

•          $12 kids

•          (vegetarian option available).

BYOB.  Plates and Setups will be provided.

This event fills up so sign up early!  Guests are welcome.

We are excited to present a new addition to the Commodore’s Cookout this year! 

A silent auction will be held for some fantastic gift baskets, a BoatUS membership, and a stay at Waters Edge Resort. All proceeds are to help the Outer Light Race committee, so be prepared to make some bids!

Hope to see you all there!!

Funtastically submitted, 

Melissa and Lucy, Activities Co-Chairs

NCYC Grounds News

Summer Weed Whacking

The club needs a little weed whacking every couple of weeks. Come anytime during the two-weeks following the date you have chosen. Use the Club's weed whacker.

Check the sign up below and take a week or two!

If you have any questions, contact Outdoor Chairs - Bob and Cathy Murphy

Outer Light Classic Regatta

On Sunday July 23rd North Cove will be hosting our Outer Light Classic Regatta for all local and visiting sailors and racers. We already have boats registered from Essex, Guilford, and New London who will be racing and celebrating with us at the club. 

Ways to get involved: 

1. Register to race or help crew- The Outer Light is our premier race for the Eastern Connecticut Sailing Association circuit. Any Captains who wish to register to race should register their boat at LINK. If your boat is not ready to race, but you want to get in on the racing action, there is usually room to crew! Email Amy Vinciguerra at amyvinci94@gmail.com and she will help find a spot for you. 

2. New this year! Board the spectator boat to watch the races- Karl Frost is in the process of finding a host captain to bring spectators to the course to view the races. Contact him if you would like to volunteer. More info coming soon. 

3. Volunteer for food or set up- look for sign up lists coming later this summer to volunteer for the after race party. There is an ECSA trophy for the club who hosts the best party! Help us bring home that trophy by volunteering for the party. 

4. Mark your calendars for July 23rd to help us welcome these visitors and show some North Cove hospitality by attending the party. Party tickets are $20 per person. The party includes catering from Walt’s and other Old Saybrook restaurants, libations, and the awards ceremony. PLUS the raffle drawing for a Dyer Dhow! 

This year there has been a huge support from the Outer Light Planning Committee to make this year’s race the best yet! Hope to see you all there. 

Amy Vinciguerra

 
Cruising News

It is nice to see the NCYC Fleet building up in North Cove. The weather has been accommodating and that is our hope for the rest of the sailing & boating season. Many thanks to Scott Mitchell, Saybrook Harbormaster for the mooring placements. Our next cruise is the July 4th Cruise to Hamburg Cove. This will be a free & easy cruise without a port captain. Our next cruise meeting to firm up our annual cruise plans is Wednesday, July 12th at our clubhouse.

·       Hamburg Cove is the port-of-call for our July 4th Cruise

·       Our Annual cruise is firming up with a fleet of more than a dozen boats

• The next cruise meeting is – Wednesday July 12th at our clubhouse

Happy times,

David Chan

North Cove Launch Maintenance News

Greetings from the North Cove Yacht Club Launch Maintenance Committee (NCYCLMC – T-shirts available. Not really.)

If you haven’t noticed, check out the launch; it got shiny. Much of the boat has been painted and varnished, in many cases with several coats. It could not have happened without a large group of dedicated volunteers working tirelessly throughout the spring. Thank you to all who made this project a success!

Deb Paulson is largely responsible for the launch getting done. Not only was she there for hours and hours sanding and varnishing, but she insisted that we start early, which proved to be prescient. It was Deb’s idea to get a work party together in FEBRUARY! We had great turnout and made a ton of progress until it started to snow. Yes, really. Spring weather is fickle, as you know, and even with the early start, it was a sprint to get it all done by the Coast Guard inspection deadline.

That initial work party included Tom Tydeman, who took the unenviable job of scraping and painting the bottom; new member RJ Lavalee, Chris Griffin, Bob Murphy, Dick Lacey, Skip Haskins, and of course, Deb. Please forgive me if I am forgetting anyone. It was a great turnout!

We made steady progress throughout March. Notably, Web Moore replaced the chunk of rub rail that was torn up last year with a new piece of teak. This was an involved process, requiring the excavation of the old rail and the fashioning of a new piece to fit precisely; no small feat considering the curvature of the hull. We would be stuck without Web’s considerable skills. Just a lovely job.

Another work party was held in April to get the boat ready for launch. This included Dan O’Malley, our intrepid commodore Lou Vinciguerra, Tanya Anderson, who was a great help with the life jackets and Coast Guard regulations; Fred Williams, who did a beautiful job varnishing the steps; and Len van Vliet, who prepped and coated the running gear with antifouling.

Len then led the Coast Guard inspection in early May, which we passed without demerits (phew!). Bob Murphy was there to help and be our drug testing czar as well as Stefan Golicz to run the boat back down to the club.

So as you can see, it was a team effort to say the least! Thank you all so much for your hard work and great attitude. There is nothing quite as fun as working on boats with your friends.

Cheers,

Elio Betty, Launch Maintenance Chair

Yoga!

Yoga is Back!

Cheryl Miller is teaching an all-level slow flow yoga class at NCYC . Participants should bring a yoga mat and a beach towel or blanket. Yoga blocks are helpful if you have them.  

The class will run in June on Tuesday mornings at the clubhouse from 7:30 to 8:30 AM, June 6, 13, 20 and 27th. 

Because Cheryl loves us, the class is FREE!

Reciprocity

NCYC belongs to the Yachting Club of America. This provides our members reciprocity to hundreds of yacht clubs across the country. The information can be found in the member’s section of the Club website.  There is a copy of the book in the Steward’s office.  erence.

Congratulations!

Club Member Jon Mason (and recipient along with his wife, Melissa, of the Commodore’s Cup) coaches high school lacrosse here in Old Saybrook. After a 12-4 season in his 3rd year as head coach (other seasons: 1-14, 6-10) the team qualified as the #2 seed in the Shoreline Conference and qualified for the State tournament. In recognition, Jon was recently honored as conference coach of the year!

Jon played lacrosse in high school at Daniel Hand high school in Madison and went on to row in college at Florida Tech, where he met Melissa. When their children, Reagan and Ian, were barely old enough, he introduced them to lacrosse and coached them “well past the time when any sane person would have stopped.” 

 “I love the game and the lessons it taught me,” Jon said. “My aim is to build these young people into leaders and arm them with the same things my coaches armed me with. It's an honor to be recognized and getting to give back to this great game (known by the Native Americans as the "Medicine Game" often played between nations to solve disputes or just to show gratitude to the Creator.) Helping to build a strong program in Old Saybrook has been a blast but does take away from Spring boat work…” 

Thank you Jon, for giving back–both to your town, and to your Club!

A big thank you to everyone who contributed to this issue. Please email me if you have anything you want put into the next issue. Photos were contributed by: Melissa Clark, Al Ebstein, Jim Lawless, Jon Mason, Caroline Miller, Deb Paulson, Richard Sachs, Linda Tuzzio and Lou Vinciguerra.