Bilge Pump: May 2012

 QUEEN CITY YACHT CLUB

This article is due by the 10th of each month, and it always seems something is planned here a few days after the deadline! In this case, it's the annual "Outstation Work Party" so we can be ready for the summer of fun. Next month I will tell you how much was accomplished and who helped out this year.

In their eagerness to help, Doug and Cathlyn MacQuarrie came over the weekend before the work party to clean the barnacles off the water and electrical lines leading down to the docks and to do some yard work, too. (Doug, bless his heart, always makes the barnacles HIS project, after tackling it several years ago and, apparently, enjoying it!) Cathlyn put a rake to good use on the lawns, picking up all of the winter debris (and Edie's chewed up sticks), which allowed Edie's dad to mow the lawn for the first time this year the following day. I tackled some yard work in the gardens and have been making some trips to Costco and Wal-Mart in anticipation of the upcoming cleanup.

The annual Eagle Harbor predicted log race took place the end of March and Mother Nature was kind this year. The real winds did not kick up until Friday afternoon and then died down for the race on Saturday. Another system kicked in on Sunday morning but then died down, allowing the visiting boats to leave. A good time was had by all. One of our Members won one of the two races that weekend. (I'll give you a clue: he is a Past Commodore, he is really handy with making gorgeous cabinetry, he has a beautiful classic boat and a really nice wife. You guessed it - P/C Dick Timmerman. Congratulations, Dick!)

In other good news, the Bainbridge Island Police boat is back at our docks, which is wonderful. Plus, it gives me one more means of keeping tabs on old what's-his-name during the daytime.

Happy boating
Barb Wood 

• Coffee and donuts and/or Willie’s breakfast
• Race layout and coaching 10:00 AM -12:00PM
• Proceed to the lake in your boat with a race team member/coach on board
• Time your boat on the measured mile
• Run the course with your predictions of the morning
• Return to the clubhouse and calculate your score
• Enjoy the Bragger's And Liars Burger Bash and awards ceremony
• For those of you who are not mooring members the U will be available for a time on either side of the event in accordance with the club rules.

Bob Lindal
Regatta Power Chair

Spring is upon us with new beginnings. We thought it would never come but time and nature’s never ending promise survive and promise us a re-awakening of life and fresh starts. I wax poetic, but how can you help it when we look forward to new beginnings at QCYC as well.

We wish to thank our farsighted bridge, the workings of a diligent committee and all of the members that saw their way to vote for the spousal membership. We look forward to taking our place alongside our captains and endeavoring to work together towards the goals of Queen City Yacht Club.

Opening Day fast approaches and the Tarettes will be working in conjunction with the captains to serve breakfast on May 6th on the 3rd floor of the club house. We hope to see you there.

Our garage sale will be on June 9th, so start setting aside all of those items you have been meaning to get rid of. Diane Prestebak will be chairing the event. This is a great time to do some spring cleaning and make a little extra cash.

The Seattle Yacht Club has invited us to join them on May 2nd for the first of their Opening Day activities. Their drama club called, “The Red Feather Ladies,” will be performing a play entitled, “The Red Feather Ladies Get Their Man.” We will be meeting in the QCYC parking lot at 9:15 AM to carpool. A complimentary coffee starts at 9:30 AM and the play begins at 10:30 AM. It is always a lot of fun and a great way to kick off the weekend.

Wishing you all well,

Renee Kimes
Tarette President

Well, time moves on. I started being a little bit more involved, then I retired, and I decided it is my turn to pay back to my Yacht Club; so I joined the Docks Committee. Hey, anybody can pound a nail to put down new planks! Right?

Boy, what an awakening I had! We don't just nail down any old wood. It has to be specially treated for over water use. We use a special stainless steel screw-type fastener, and a special material goes on the dock underneath to protect the stringers from rot where the planks fasten. But wait, there's more! The so-called Docks Committee doesn't just do planking! It does so much more to the tune of well over one million dollars in well orchestrated expenditures over the last ten years.

Last Saturday, 10 people showed up, and by lunch we had over 45 man hours of work done. Three guys were planking, the rest of us did carpentry work, downspout repair, checked all of the lighting, painted some things gray, painted some things red for fire protection, walked the docks removing clutter & improper welcome mats (they rot our docks, folks!), inventoried and tested fire hoses on Dock #3, inspected all water pipes on all docks for leaks, moved the Junior Club’s mast storage, and much, much more.

This clearly is not just a Docks Committee; we are your Marina Committee. Years ago we had a caretaker to do a lot of this work in our marina, but it has fallen into our hands. Your Marina Committee is one of the big reasons your moorage is so inexpensive. We are responsible for what I think is the club’s largest asset.

Which makes me think, out of 500 members we have only 10 that show up? Take some personal responsibility yourself and help by checking out the Marina Task Board in Cummings Hall. Select a task at your skill level, and just do it. Join us every second Saturday of the month for our newly named “Queen City Marina Social and Skills Event plus Free Lunch” and help keep your Marina safe, sound, secure and inexpensive.

Thanks to the ten who showed up to help last Saturday, what a great group! We look forward to seeing the rest of you help us keep your marina one of the best.

Submitted by: Ron Stevenson

And thanks to you, Ron, for your devoted efforts toward making the chairman’s position and the committee functions, possible. It’s completely overwhelming without supportive people like you, the ten people who were with us Saturday April 14 and more who do work hard behind the scenes, as well. We need many more to do the task with which we are charged. Big thanks to captains Pete Collins, Jim McFadden, Tim Rutledge, Nadeane Rutledge, Wolfgang Werner, Ron Stevenson, Chuck Gould, Dick Dow, Tim Dies, and Art Mauldin for being there and accomplishing a lot, April 14.

Learn more at one of our coming Committee Meetings: 6:00 PM, Tuesday, May 22, or June 26.
Better yet, bruise your thumb with us: 8:30 AM Saturday May 12, and June 9.
Our schedule is easy to follow. The second Saturday of every month is a social event with tools.
The fourth Tuesday is committee meeting night. That’s where we talk about our throbbing thumbs.

Arthur Mauldin
Docks Committee Chair