“Our harbor reconfiguration has been completed”, I thought that I’d never be able make that statement.  This project would never have started - let alone be completed - without the hard work and time consuming efforts of many of our members; my sincere THANKS to each of you.  Please see Len Cardoza’s SeaScape article for more details.  Aside from providing our members with an increased number of large slips, the most significant benefit of this project will be an increase to our income of approximately $80,000.00/ year (after the loan is paid in two to three years).  Without this project’s successful conclusion, our harbor would have continued to have an unacceptably high harbor vacancy rate and we would never realize the increase in income. 

The Club is offering an excellent incentive for people to join: 1) half off the initiation fee and 2) free slip fees for their first month in the harbor.  This offer expires on June 1 and applies to all slip sizes.  If you know anyone who may want to take advantage of this great deal and is looking for a 42’ to 44’ slip, or a 28’ slip, we have a few open slips right now.  Please have any potential candidates contact Craig as soon as possible.   

Our summer Wednesday evening racing series is about to begin and is a wonderful way to give yourselves a mid week break.  If you want to enter, please stop by the office and fill out an entry form.  If you’d like to volunteer to help the Race Committee, please get in touch with Steve Shaffer, or if you’d like to learn how to race by crewing for someone, let Steve know and he can steer you toward a good boat and skipper. Racing is the fastest, and best, way for each of us to improve our boat handling and sail trim. Even if you never win, you’ll always learn something new. 
 

On an administrative note: PLEASE DO NOT go directly to Brent Gill (Facilities Manager) with requests for immediate help unless it’s for a problem that is, or could quickly become, a safety issue for our members and guests.  Brent receives his instructions from Craig and not from individual members.  Craig maintains a prioritized list of tasks based on the greatest benefit to the Club as a whole.  This is the list that Brent generally works from and uses to set the priority for his time.  To get a normal maintenance item on this list, fill out a “Fix It” ticket that is available on the office counter.  A related thought is that as OYC members we are the owners of Oakland Yacht Club.  As we would give personal attention and care to the other things that we own (boat, car, home, etc.) we ought to treat our Yacht Club the same way.  If we see some trash on the pier or around the House, let’s take an extra second to take care of it ourselves.  Asking Brent to spend his time on things that we can do ourselves is a waste of his time and delays the work he could be doing to benefit the entire membership.  REMINDER: Please keep the area around your boat uncluttered and clean; this is as much a safety issue as it is for aesthetics. If you have comments (positive or negative) about anyone who supports our Club, give them to Craig – NOT the individual.  Venting your anger at anyone that supports our Club is an unacceptable behavior; please talk to either Craig or to me. 

I want to thank our Commodore for handling the Harbor Meeting and my portion of the Board Meeting this month.  I have had pneumonia and been out of commission for a few weeks.

Based on Mike's notes, the Harbor Committee passed the following motions which need to be reviewed and considered and then presented to the Board:

1.) CARPETS/RUGS ON GANGWAYS, PIERS, FINGERS.
      No carpets, rugs or other coverings may be placed on or attached to any gangway, pier or fingers except those currently in  
place on slip fingers prior to 04/03/08

2.) ELECTRICAL MODIFICATIONS OF INDIVIDUAL SLIP POWER PEDESTALS.
      Electrical power modifications of individual slip power pedestals may be carried out for individual slip renters under the  following conditions:
      a.) Written request with scope of work and electrical plans of modifications to be performed must be submitted to the OYC Harbormaster.
           Permission of OYC harbormaster MUST BE OBTAINED PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF ANY MODIFICATIONS
      b.) Change s/modifications must meet electrical code  requirements for OYC Harbor
      c.) Changes/modifications must be performed by a legally California licensed electrician approved by OYC Harbor Master
      d.) Payment of total cost of changes/modifications performed MUST BE paid by slip renter to OYC Harbor Master who will then pay  
Electrician
      e.) Pre-payment to OYC of  the cost of the changes/modifications and  the COST of RETURNING power pedestal to ORIGINAL ELECTRICAL configuration must occur BEFORE any changes/modifications are performed

3.)  CORNER MOUNT DOCK WHEELS
      a.) Corner Mount Dock Wheels may be installed on fingers under the following conditions
      b.) Permission to Mount Do ck Wheels must be obtained from OYC Harbor Master
      c.) Dock wheels must be installed by personnel at the directed by OYC Harbor Master
      d.) Dock wheels must be paid for by slip renter for whom theyvare installed.
      e.) Dock wheels become property of OYC and may not be removed by slip renter
 

Hope to see you all soon as I am better.

Carolyn Hooper
Vice Commodore

Thanks to all who made it out for the April Movie night. The dinner was great and so was the turnout. After a little technical difficulty we all enjoyed the 2007 Best Picture winner ‘No Country for Old Men’.  Things are pretty busy in May so June will see a return of Movie Night. Please feel free to email your suggestions for the June movie to me at vccigar@yahoo.com. The house committee is asking for volunteers for the upcoming “Spring Clean” day. Some of the things scheduled for the day are Trophy case cleanup, flower planting and general sprucing up of the club for the year. Spring Clean will be held on May 3^rd. We look forward to seeing you there.

Cheers,

Take the Test 

Old habits and behaviors tend to hang on.  For example, I always look forward to the weekends.  But, it doesn’t make any sense.  I have been retired for almost 15 years, and Saturday is no different than Wednesday.  There are other examples. On most college campuses, the end of the semester is approaching.  That means final exams are coming up, and profs are beginning to think about writing tests.  I did that for about 30 years, so it probably explains why I am feeling the urge to write a few test questions this month.  Bear with me while I do that. 

1.  There are two common ways to put a loop on the end of a line: by tying a bowline, or making an eye-splice.  Which one of these is likely to fail first under a heavy load (given line that otherwise has the same characteristics)? 

2.  How many and what kind of visual distress signals should you have on board your boat, in order to meet U.S. Coast Guard requirements?  How about sound producing devices?  What is the requirement for these?   

3.  How many islands are there in San Francisco Bay?  Name five of these.   

Go ahead, take the test.  You don’t need to worry about your grade-point-average, because I am not going to record any answers.  In spite of the periodic urge to write exams, I never developed a great deal of fondness for grading them.  But, if you are interested, you can get smart and score them yourself.   

On question number one, ask Muggs Zabel or Jim Macintire or Len Cardoza, or any one of the other Club members who attended the splicing workshop on April 12^th.  Ryan Nelson and Jesse Corlett, riggers at the Alameda West Marine store, conducted the session. OYC’s own Larry Zabel arranged it for us . . . and it was a good one.  The limit for the class was 15, and we had a full-house. 

For the second set of questions, check with one of the eight OYC skippers whose boats passed the USCG Vessel Safety Checks on April 13^th.  You can spot them by the 2008 red-white-and-blue decals on their masts.  Ask Jim Gunderson.  The smile on Jim’s face (in the photo accompanying this article) confirms that USCGA examiner, Bob Heger, gave him the OK on all items.  Incidentally, Club member Frank Swift also is an examiner, and he was part of the four-person USCGA team on the docks that day.  If you were unable to be there for the actual examinations, you can go online to the “Virtual Vessel Safety Check”  (www.safetyseal.net) and see how you measure up.    

If you need help on the islands of the Bay items, you should plan to come to the presentation authors and photographers, James Masters and Mike Lee, will give at the Club on Saturday evening, June 7^th.  You should attend in any case because this will be a great program.  It will be based on the book they produced titled, “The Islands of San Francisco Bay.”  The coffee-table-sized publication includes fascinating information and features over 400 images.  James and Mike will share information and provide a beautiful slide show on the islands.  The show will start at 7:30 p.m. No charge.  Come earlier for dinner and stay for the program.  If you do plan to attend, please let us know.  Drop by the OYC office or call (510-522-6868) or send an email (emendes@oaklandyachtclub.com).  You can get more information about the book and the authors/photographers by going to their website (www.islandsofsfbay.com).    

The project to reconfigure Docks 5, 6, and 7 is over 99% complete!  Western Dock Enterprises is the general contractor.  As previously reported, this is the first phase of a larger project to reconfigure the harbor for increased safety and efficiency.  The goal of the project is maximum utilization of OYC harbor property.  The reconfiguration results in fewer small berths and additional larger berths to match member demographics and accommodate vessels currently on the waiting list.   

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED 
 

Our office needs some extra hands to help with a few routine monthly functions.  When you volunteer to help with regular office tasks it allows Craig and Elaine to concentrate their time in areas that increase our income. Please contact Craig if you can spare some time each month or even just once in a while.

For all participants in the Lakeport Yacht Club Spring Regatta 2008

2008 Directories
 

Our 2008 directories have been printed and should be available at the office within the next week.  This is one of the better directories in the recent past thanks to the efforts of Bruce Gillis, Frank Hooper, and Craig Wong.  Bruce took a broken process, reinvented it and gave it a professionalism that will serve the Club well for many more years.  Frank has single handedly  sold more advertising in this directory than at any other time that I can think of, the income fully supports the printing costs.  Craig spent more hours than I can count supporting Bruce and Frank and pouring over pages and pages of our directory data trying to ensure that it is up to date.

WHEN YOU SEE THEM, THANK’EM FOR THE HARD WORK!!

OYC RETURNS TO THE DELTA YACHT CLUB!

Save the dates of August 18 through August 22 for a fun filled stay at the Delta Yacht Club, located on the San Joaquin River at channel marker 16.

DYC offers a great clubhouse, full galley, a patio area with 8 large BBQs, restroom and shower facilities, 1200 feet of dock space, ample 30 amp connections on five acres on Tule Island.

Bring your friends, kids, grandkids for swimming, bocce ball, horseshoes and a 9-hole putt & play.

Planning is just beginning –more information will follow – just save the dates!

Check out DYC web site at www.deltayachtclub.org

Roger & Mona Elliott

rjelliott@frontiernet.net

36th Annual Lake Tahoe Concours d'Elegance

Aug. 7-9: The Tahoe Yacht Club Foundation presents the 36th Annual Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance, featuring beautifully restored classic wooden boats for a three-day show from Thursday through Saturday, August 7 - 9 at Sierra Boat Company in Carnelian Bay. Tickets may be purchased online at www.LakeTahoeConcours.com. 530-581-4700.

LAKE TAHOE WOODEN BOAT WEEK:

August 7-13: The Tahoe Yacht Club Foundation hosts Lake Tahoe Wooden Boat Week, a week-long festival celebrating Tahoe's classic wooden boats, with the three-day 36th annual Concours d'Elegance in Carnelian Bay, plus plenty of on- and off-water activities. For more information see www.LakeTahoeConcours.com or call 530-581-4700.