Welcome!

This is the first edition of the totally electronic EYC Bulletin. Some things will look the same, other things will definitely be different. One of the biggest differences is how the Bulletin will arrive in your email inbox. Instead of a .pdf attachment, this email will actually be the new Bulletin. It will have basic information about what's going on, but you'll want to check the links to the EYC website to get more details, fill out or find forms, to register for events—and to pay for them online.

We are in a transition period, so there will be some things to figure out as we go. Your comments about what works and what could be better are important to the process. Please send your feedback to EYC's new Media Manager Karen Nousen.

Thistles took to the ocean at this year's Mid-Winters West in San Diego. Evert Slijper and Marty Parisien represented EYC and share their experience in this edition of the Bulletin.

Inside this Bulletin

Commodore's Corner
Calendar Highlights
D Dock Work Party Needs You
Thistlers Gather and Invite You to Join the Fun
February Potluck & Ship Shape Assignment
Online Sail School Registration Starts March 1
Thursday Night Racers Register Online
From the Club Manager
Membership Changes
Port Captain Report
KOCF Fundraiser
Scenes from the Chili Feed
A Thistler's Mid-Winter Experience
Andrew Kerr: Sailing the Waves
Salty's Travelogue, Part 3

Commodore's Corner

Ted Walkup

As I start this month’s Commodore's Column, I am grabbing a few minutes to begin writing while I wait for my casserole to cook before I head off to the Santana 20 fleet meeting and awards ceremony. I mention this because I am reminded how important the fleets are to the club. Whether it's the Santana 20, WaveLength, Thistle, Lido, or Trailer fleet, being a member of a fleet brings people into the club and makes them feel welcome.

Continue reading what Commodore Ted has to say about the recent Membership Committee meeting, the February 25 Work Party, and more projects and changes on the way for EYC.

Calendar Highlights

February

19 Sunday
Deadline for Trailer Moorage #14 Requests.

Submit your request to Port Captain Gordon Mattatall

24 Friday
Thistle Fleet 118 Party, 5:30 pm

        Contact Fleet Captain Stuart Ramsing to RSVP or for more info.
25 Saturday
         Work Party   9:00 am
         International Night Potluck 6:30 pm
         General Membership Meeting 7:30 pm
March
1 Wednesday
         Early Sail School Registration for Members Begins!
         Get a $50 discount by signing in March.
14 Tuesday
         Board of Trustees Meeting 6:00 pm
15 Wednesday
         Deadline for Thursday Night Racer Registration
19 Sunday
         Deadline for Moorage Registration Forms
         Get yours filled out and submitted to Port Captain Gordon Mattatall.

Save the Date!
April 8 is the date for this year's Skippers & Mates dinner. John and Terri Ward will share their sailing adventure in the Greek islands. Mediterranean food is on the menu—more details will come your way soon!

See the EYC Calendar for more events and full details.

D Dock Repairs Scheduled for February 25 Work Party
Paul Stephens
While there will be a good deal of general maintenance and repair happening at the next Work Party on February 25, much of the effort will be in support of getting D Dock into shape for the next sailing season. If you are able to help with this effort, please come lend a hand. Contact me with your questions or to confirm your attendance by email or by phone (541-915-5063).

Continue reading about detailed plans for this work party.

Thistle Party Approaches

Stuart Ramsing, Fleet 118 Captain
This year's winter Thistle Party happens on Friday, February 24 at 5:30 pm at the home of Evert and Judy Slijper. With the lake filling and warmer days teasingus, some are rumored to already be sitting on 2x4 boards in anticipation of getting back on the gunwale.

Obviously, a Thistle party is for the fleet and its land support team, but we're always excited to grow our numbers. If you are interested in crewing or taking the helm of your own Thistle, reach out to Fleet Captain Stuart Ramsing. We're a fun bunch with only a few moments of seriousness at mark roundings.

International Night at February 25 Potluck

John Pfanner
Ship Shape Committee Chair

This month, the February Ship Shape Committee invites you to bring your favorite international cuisine! A main dish plus a local native side, salad, or dessert. Prizes will be awarded for the top two main dishes. Those wearing their nationality's traditional dress will be warmly recognized.

The General Membership meeting follows at 7:30 pm.

Ship Shape Committee for February 25
     Co-Chairs
         John & Susan Pfanner
         Glen & Irm Clevenger
     Committee
         Jonathan & Christy Gonenne
         Laurance & Cece Headley
         Neill & Rebecca Plant
         Ted & Janice Poole
         Michael Tieman

Ship Shape Committee for March 25
     Co-Chairs
         Ken & Chris Emmes
         Al Avey & Kelly Reis
     Committee
         Murray & Linda MacLeod
         Justin & Sarah Schindler
         Jonathan & Andrea Dolp
         Lyle Mayer & Nan Weed

Online Sail School Members-Only Registration Begins March 1
Volunteers Still Needed!

Mike & June Chamberlin, 2017 Sail School Directors

Each summer, an all-volunteer crew lends its skills and love of sailing at EYC Sail School. Kids and adults get to learn to sail or hone their skills during the week. Come join the fun, learn something new, and get out on the water with the EYC sailing community. Help keep this remarkable EYC tradition going strong by sharing your love of sailing with the young and aspiring sailors in your life by inviting them to join us at Sail School this year.

Members-Only Discounted Registration Opens March 1. Registration and payment this year is all online, making it quick and easy to get your sailors into Sail School. Click here for more information on costs, class offerings, daily schedules, and what to bring.

Volunteers: Your help is essential to the success of Sail School. Please register online to help in the kitchen, on a rescue boat, or help teach a class—even if you've volunteered before.

Please note that all volunteers will need to complete a background check prior to Sail School.

Thursday Night Racer Registration Moves Online

Michelle Wood
Joint Race Committee
It's time to register your boat if you're going to race on Thursdays. Everyone needs to update their information by March 15. We have a new online form that makes it easier than ever to get registered. This new form does not require you to provide the names of your crew.

If you need a paper registration form, please email me.

Continue reading to learn more about the registration process and why it's so important.

From the Club Manager

Rich Aaring

EYC is beginning to wake up and look forward to the new season. The lake should be full in about six weeks (we hope!), and the racing will begin shortly after. Cruisers like me will probably not be putting in at the absolute beginning of the season, but we too are very ready to put this awful winter behind us.

So what has been happening?

Continue reading to discover the Club Manager's answer to his own question.

Membership Changes
Reactivated to Full
     Mike and Mary Potter
Inactive
     Michael Lambros (from Associate)
Resigned
     Kent Fleming & Shelly Hoose (from Inactive)
     Katie May & Matt Logue (from Associate)
     Ruth Rau (from Inactive)

Port Captain Report

Gordon Mattatall

The wind and rain have not passed EYC by. The lake is filling and so are some tarps. Might be worth checking on any boats stored on the grounds before they take on any more water.

Remember to get those Moorage Registration Forms filled out! Forms are due March 19. Please note that non-OR numbered watercraft also need to be registered with the Port Captain by March 19.

Continue reading the complete February Port Captain Report.

KOCF Invites You!

The Board of Trustees at EYC invites you to join the friends of KOCF-FM for their 2nd Annual Auction to benefit the radio station. KOCF-FM is a relatively new radio station that serves the Fern Ridge community. It is a 501c3 non-profit organization and this is its biggest fundraiser of the year.

Donations of goods and services for the auction are very welcome—as is your attendance at the auction on March 18.

Contact Station Manager Dean Middleton at 541-543-7625 with your donations or questions. Dean is a Santana 25 sailor and a member of Triton Yacht Club.

The Annual Chili Feed on January 28 brought out some tasty chili, a good crowd, happy board members, and a chili cook-off champ!

A Thistler's Mid-Winter Experience
Evert Slijper

Most years in late January, several Eugene Thistlers make the long trek to balmy San Diego to race in the Mid Winters West Championships. It's an annual event put on by the San Diego Thistle fleet and the Mission Bay Yacht Club. This year, though, there weren't many from EYC heading south.

Continue reading Evert's recap of Thistle Mid-Winters West in San Diego.

Sailing the Waves: Strategy, Tactics,
and Boat Handling
Andrew Kerr, Sailing Coach

Having recently sailed a ten-race series regatta at Key West Race Week which featured a large amount of waves and cluster chop, I'm happy to pass along some strategy, tactics, and boat handling tips that may help your team sail a fast and consistent series when the waves are up.

Continue reading for Andrew's best practices for sailing an ocean course.

Sunset in central south Australia...just one of many stops on Salty Green's South Pacific tour.

Salty's Travelogue, Part 3
Salty Green
This is the third installment from Salty who has been sailing in the South Pacific this winter with an old friend. Last we heard, he was enjoying his stay in Tonga.

With the exception of leaving Big Mama, we were anxious to leave Tonga and head south to our final destination, New Zealand. An almost eerie sound resonated from the jungle like motu. It seemed like the hundreds of birds singing in low tones were saying good bye as we pulled the anchor at first light and headed out through the pass to far away Auckland.

Continue reading about the rest of Salty's journey.