The
Beacon 
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1 May 2005
Volume 4, Issue 3
P.O. Box 211, Glen Cove, NY 11542
www.GlenCoveYachtClub.org
Glen Cove Yacht Club Home Page
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The
Beacon
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1 May 2005 |
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Volume 4, Issue 3 |
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P.O. Box 211, Glen Cove, NY 11542 |
www.GlenCoveYachtClub.org |
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Dear Friends, Summer is near and we can smell the new season. Nature is finally waking up and the flowers and trees are blooming. Boat yards are buzzing with the sound of tools from boat owners working and dreaming of a new season on the water. Meanwhile the Yacht Club is relatively quiet. We have the usual suspects working to set up the club, and, as every year, they think about the good of the club and the good of the members who refuse to work their 4 hours per year. They are thinking about the club before they think about their own boats. To these loyal members (and I will publish a list of their names in the next Beacon) I say a very large THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. Our club is based on a volunteer system. When the system does not work any more, it will have to be changed. If things continue as they are now, with so few members volunteering for work days, the time will come when we will have to hire professionals to do the work - and this will mean a substantial fee hike. It's too bad. We will probably still be less expensive than the other clubs around the area, but we will all feel the pain. Have a great summer, and be sure to be safe on the water. In my capacity as US Coast Guard Auxiliary Vessel Examiner, I provide vessel inspections every year to those who ask. Contact me if you would like to have an inspection of your boat and receive the VE Decal for 2005. Also be sure to show up for the Club Commissioning Day on Saturday, May 14, starting at 3 p.m. Your presence at the Commissioning Ceremony shows your support of the Board and your Club. It would be less embarrassing for those of us to who come not to be outnumbered by our guests, for once. You might be surprised to see all of the guests who come! Remember that we will have a pot luck gathering after the ceremony, so please bring a dish to share. See you on the water! Bon Vent, ~ Herve Riou, Commodore GCYC
Strange Winter Events While the winter of 04-05 has not been extreme in terms of weather, it certainly has been strange relative to the Glen Cove Yacht Club. Weather wise, this winter wasn't too cold and snowy, nor too warm and mild. Club wise, we have experienced a collection of events designed to try men's soul. With spring approaching, a check of the condition of the docks stored on the beach revealed that one of the docks was among the missing. It's lashings undone, the errant dock had journeyed in the ice down the length of the harbor. We were lucky to have it rescued by John Gladsky and his crew and safely stored at his yard. The next mystery was the collapse of the pier. It seems a none too intelligent person decided to drive a vehicle down the length of the pier that leads to our docks. In the pier's advanced stage of old age, it yielded to the weight and collapsed downward. Lucky for the driver that it didn't swallow him/her down in with it. |
The third event was a driving rain the penetrated the south side windows of the Clubhouse. Enough water was left sitting on the floor to cause the tiles to curl & lift. Well, the dock was towed to the Glen Cove Marina where it will be hauled and repaired by Joe Weiser. The pier was promptly repaired by the City of Glen Cove after they accessed the safety hazard it represented. The water in the Clubhouse was cleaned up and dried with a minimum of remaining damage. The good side to all these events, if there is a good side, is that they all took place well prior to the seasons opening. Had they happened after the beginning of the summer, a loss of the use of the Club facilities would have been probable. As it is, with a minimum of fuss, a little extra work and a minimum cost , all is ready for the new season. Let's hope that it's true that luck runs in threes and that we have now used up our share of bad luck. See you at the Commissioning day ceremonies on Saturday 14 May at 3:00 pm.
An ambitious schedule is planned for this season, however its implementation will depend on how many operators are available to work it. Only one of last year's operators is expected to return, so if you can recommend a reliable boy or girl, at least 16 years of age, who wants to be a launch operator this season, please have him or her contact me or one of the other Club Officers. Saturday-Sunday launch service will commence on Commissioning Day, 14 May and will continue through the end of October. Friday service will begin on the Memorial Day Weekend from 3 PM, and Wednesday evening service will begin on 1 June, unless the Wednesday Night Race Series begins earlier. Friday and Wednesday evening launch service will run through the month of September. We will try a Monday service again beginning on 20 June and running weekly through Labor Day Weekend. The hours have yet to be decided and member input is requested. The goal is to have 1 eight-hour shift on Mondays. Once again, this can only be accomplished with several reliable operators and adequate supervision by a Launch Committee. Currently, we have neither. Please get involved so that we can provide the best service to the membership. Detailed Hours of Operation will be posted throughout the season on the Club web site: www.GlenCoveYachtClub.org ~ Dave Nieri, Fleet Captain
The Glen Cove Yacht Club has this guy who loves to work on boats. Oh, we all love to work on our own boats, but not like this guy. This guy has taken it upon himself to take the Club launch under his wing and work miracles. For the past couple of years he has done numerous structural improvements on the boat. This past winter he peeked under the engine cowling and didn't like what he saw. He figured it was time to do something about the mess that he found there. Below is the order by which the miracle occurred: |
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1. Take engine out of launch. "Who is this guy?" you say. Well, at the risk of exposing this quite family man to the raves of his fellow Club members, we'd like to extend our heartfelt thanks to: Thanks again for a job well done!
Wednesday Night Races I attended a Saturday meeting at Hempstead Harbor Club to discuss Wed night races. Results are that the series will be 16 races beginning May 25, thru Sept. 7. Races start at 7 pm (out at the line by 6:30 pm). No make-ups (not really - you can wear a little powder and lipstick if you want). There will be a $100 entrance fee for the series, as last year. This year, however, there will be a charge for per person at end of season dinner (@$10). They also need Race Committee - starters for some nights, especially early in the season and later in the season - and would like some volunteers to help cover. Obviously these folks cannot race for those nights in which they act as starters. - Let me know if we have any volunteers, and I will communicate to Hempstead Harbor - basically you have to understand how to read a timepiece, fire the pistol, and squeeze the horn for finishers. They are moving the old M buoy nearer to the barges, since there is very shallow water on the highway side in that upper harbor area. That's all for now. ~ Jim Dahl Crew needed While we are speaking of racing, Tony Oliveira is always looking for crew to help race his 40 Hi-Tech sailboat "Corybantic". If you are interested in the Wednesday night or weekend racing give Tony a call at 516 676-9064. |
The best part of the year is upon us - Boating Season is here at last. Starting on commissioning day our up-coming cruises will be posted in the Club House. Keep an eye out for information concerning these cruises and others planed for later on in the season. Hope to see ya on the water. BAR BEACH RAFT UP Saturday June 11th at 4 PM Join us for a friendly gathering of Members and boats. Good food and conversation into the evening. We will raft up in the southern portion of the harbor across from the Tappan beach marina on the west side beginning at 4 PM. Bring some food to share and a cup of cheer. All boats large and small are welcome to join. Boaters should fly their Club Burgees to help identify our group. Either tie up to the main group or bring a dinghy, anchor off, and dink over and climb aboard. Motorboats and day sailors are encourages to come down the Harbor and enjoy the festivities. OYSTER BAY OVERNIGHT TRIP Saturday June 25th through Sunday June 26th An overnight trip for a raft up on our Club mooring in Oyster Bay is always a fun filled weekend. Details on the Club mooring will be posted on the cruise notice in the Club House. A protected anchorage and the security of being on a mooring gives everyone a chance to relax & enjoy themselves. Maybe the water will even have warmed up enough for swimming. Enjoy a day of boating and arrive in the afternoon. Party the night away with friends and food. Sunday morning after a lazy start have a second day on the water returning to Glen Cove. This is a "Rain or Shine event, so if there's a drizzle in the air, don your foul weather gear and come on over. SANDY HOOK NJ CRUISE Following a warm up at Bar Beach and an overnight trip to Oyster bay our next cruise will be to Sandy hook NJ starting on Wednesday July 20th in the afternoon or evening and returning on Monday July 25th. I strongly advise that boats planning on joining this cruise formal notify me of their intent. There are reservations that have to be made and latecomers may have difficulties. There will be a skippers meeting at 7:30 on Wednesday July 13th one week prior to the cruise for all boats participating. There are costs that will be involved during this trip and skippers should make sure they have the charts needed onboard. ~ Chris Brown  |
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It has occurred to me that our Club does not have a motto. Most yacht clubs have a motto that is displayed in Latin on their Club seal (hey..we don't even have a Club Seal). Anyway, while fooling around with a English-Latin online translator, I set out to correct the problem and came up with: which, loosely translated, means " Frugal sailing pleasure for all". Seems appropriate, since that has been our Club's underlying mission since it was chartered in 1960. Just throwing this out for discussion. If everyone likes it, we would have to amend the Constitution, but I wouldn't do this unless we had designed a seal to go with it. Something to mull over..... ~ Rich Reynolds, Club Historian
As a reminder, the Club has furnished a 250# mooring in Oyster Bay Harbor for the use of our members when visiting there. The mooring was first installed last season, furnished through the generosity of the family of member, Elmer Kirsch, who passed away last year. Please share the mooring with other members by rafting up when necessary. Be aware that though the mooring is in the mooring field serviced by the Oyster Bay Yacht Service launch, this service is not provided for all moorings, so be sure to trail your dink if you want to go ashore. The mooring is designated "CB-22" and is located on the East side of the channel leading to the oil terminal dock. The mooring's approximate Lat/Lon position from last season is posted on the Club's web site for programming your GPS, however since the mooring is removed, maintained and reinstalled each year, the position might be off somewhat. If you visit the mooring and can obtain a new GPS position for it, please send me that position so that I can update the web site. ~ Dave Nieri, Fleet Captain A professor stood before his philosophy class with a very large and empty mayonnaise jar which he proceeded to fill with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes". The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. "Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things, family, health, friends, sailing--- things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. "The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else ---- the small stuff. If you put the sand in the jar first," he continued, " there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you." "Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand." One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers." Reprinted from Latitudes and Attitudes |
The Glen Cove Yacht Club has offered to keep the launch service running for boats visiting the Club who may want to attend the Free Concerts in Morgan Park sponsored by the City of Glen Cove on weekends. The band shell at Morgan Park is an easy 2 minute walk from our Club facilities. Visiting boats on a Club mooring or anchored beyond the mooring field can call the launch operator on VHF Ch 69 (or 3 toots on an air horn). The launch will operate until all crews are deposited back aboard their vessels after the concerts. See message below for the 2005 Morgan Park Schedule. Dear Commodore Riou, Sunday July 3
- 7:30pm The Fireflies and
The Quotations, doo-wop show Monday, July
4 - 7:30pm Something Special,
swing band followed by City's fireworks at dusk
Saturday,
July 9 - 7:30pm Young Performers in
Concert featuring 2005 competition winners
Sunday, July
10 - 7:30pm The Shades, blues
Sunday, July
17 - 7:30pm Jeffrey Biegel
Plays George Gershwin, with Kevin McDonagh &
Leslie Haley Sunday, July
24 - 7:30pm South Pacific,
Plaza Productions Sunday, July
31 - 7:30pm The Zen Tricksters,
jam band Saturday
August 6 7:30pm Sleeping Beauty,
Plaza Productions Sunday,
August 7- 7:30pm Soleo, jazz
fusion Sunday August
14 - 7:30pm Vincent Roccaro
Sings Bobby Darin, with the New Vintage
Orchestra Saturday
August 20- 7:30pm The Island Chamber
Symphony, Peter and the Wolf and other
favorites Sunday,
August 21 - 7:30pm Edmar Castenada
Band, Colombian harpist Saturday
August 27 - 7:30pm Nritya Saagaram
Dance Academy, Classica Indian Dance Sunday,
August 28 - 7:30pm The Machine,
multimedia Pink Floyd Tribute Concerts are free. Bring
chairs or blankets. Picnic if you wish. Rain place,
St. Patrick's Church, Pearsall Ave. Glen Cove. For
further information call (516)
671-0017 email morganparkmusic@aol.com
or visit www.morganparkmusic.org |
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Here's some special thanks to those who when out of their way to do a little extra to help the Glen Cove Yacht Club. This winter Nick decided that the Club's launch engine was looking pretty ratty. To correct this he removed the engine from the boat, took it home, and overhauled it. We have to find a way to clone this guy. At the early work parties much of the work that was accomplished would not have happened if not for Fred and his tools. To these people, the Glen Cove Yacht Club, extends a very special thanks for a job well done.
If you are not a member of Boat US, you should be. It's the only organization that fights for the interest of boaters and sailors like you and me. The Glen Cove Yacht Club is proud to be involved as a cooperating group member. As a result of this, all members of the GCYC are entitled to a 50% discount off of Boat US membership. If you join up and mention Boat US # GA 83113Y, you'll be enrolled for a one year fee of $9.50. This is a worthwhile group to be a member of.
The second weekend in June is the time for the 25th Annual Sea Music Festival at Mystic Seaport, CT. If you like listening to good sea chanteys and other music of the sea, then this is the place for you. Come by boat and stay in the Museum or come by car and stay for the weekend or the day. If this interests you, contact Jim Cleary at saildana382@msn.com or 516 437-6107.
For those with a computer who want to get on the sound weather information, log on to the following website: There is a buoy off Greenwich Point that is maintained by the University of Connecticut. The information, wind speed, wind direction, air temperature, humidity, dew point and more, is updated hourly. |
Jim Dahl has ordered a number of new items to the inventory of the Glen Cove Yacht Club's Ship's Store. Fleece Pullovers ($30), Windshirts ($45), Wind Vests ($25), Boat Bags ($25), Burgees ($20), Hats ($20), Polo Shirts ($20) and Tee-shirts ($12). Log on to the Club's website to view photos and contact Jim Dahl at 516 676-6097 or jjdphd@aol.com.
First, thank you to the Glen Cove Yacht Club for a place to hold Flotilla meetings and training. Now that the days are getting longer and warmer; many of us are already on the water enjoying an early season. While we are out on the water it is time to reflect on some basic safety protocols. Review your navigation rules; know who is the stand on and who is the give-way vessel, how is your safety equipment?. Check your navigation lights and emergency kit. A point to remember is the need for added security on the water and around the shore. Port and waterway security is everyone's responsibility. To repeat a phrase you see on all public transportation in the New York area "If you see something, say something". What does this mean? It should represent to us a reminder that we are at an elevated threat from terrorists. A simple call to the authorities on something that is out of the ordinary can prevent disaster. What is unusual or out of the ordinary? The best judge of that is the person who is out on the water on a regular basis, you see the regulars, you know the best fish spots, and you know where a boat or divers should not be. Check with your local authorities for phone numbers to call if you see something, the Harbor Patrol, Police and Coast Guard are phone numbers you should have with you or emergencies. A message from: ~ John Pitrowski, Commander Flotilla 12-03
Dinghy Slip Assignments The following dinghy slip numbers have been assigned to the members who have paid for a slip this season. The new dock configuration, when installed, will have numbered slips on the East side of the 2 new floats. Please use the slip you are assigned only, as taking a different slip results in a cascading of rearrangements and endless phone calls. Remember that as a courtesy to members in adjacent slips, please maintain your dinghy by keeping it afloat at all times (that means bailing it after heavy rains), and keeping your rubrail in good repair. If there is any question about what constitutes a dinghy, refer to the Club Rules and Regulations. You should have your name somewhere on the dinghy, e.g. painted inside the hull or on a thwart, so that problems with the dinghy that occur during the season can be reported to you. ~ Dave Nieri, Fleet Captain
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Photography Workshop For those who are so inclined towards
taking photos, there are excellent workshops given in
Chesapeake City, Maryland. Whether you shoot film or
digital, Horizon Photography Workshops has a seminar of
interest to any amateur photographer. This June there will
be a workshop devoted to Boats and Boaters. For information
and schedules contact Steve Gottlieb, Horizon Photography
Workshops, 98 Bohemia Ave. Chesapeake City, MD. 410
885-2433,
****4 HP Johnson Long shaft outboard . Complete with fuel tank. Excellent condition. Asking $700.00. Contact Jim Park at 516 746-1603
Food for Thought The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans. The Japanese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans. The French drink excessive amounts of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans. The Germans drink lots of beer and eat lots of sausage and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans. Conclusion: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you. |
Navigation Answer "Iso" means "Isophase". This is a flashing light where the duration of it's light is equal to The duration of it's darkness. In this case six seconds each. Navigation questions are supplied by Past Commodore Chris Brown.
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