As I write this fires rage in the hills east of us. While I haven't had direct confirmation, I believe one current and a couple of former club members have been severely affected by wildfire. The virus has changed just everything about our community: how we do business and how we recreate, how we educate and how we travel. The economy has been dramatically impacted. And if that wasn't enough, the water level at Fern Ridge is really low. With all this uncertainty and bad news, I would like to go ahead and promise that next year will be wonderful. I do not know exactly what it is going to look like, but I have to believe that things are going to get better.
From the Club Manager August 2020
Here we are starting the sixth month of our dance with the virus. We have cancelled pretty much all of our social activities at EYC. The only things left on the calendar are Board meetings and the Annual Meeting which will probably be held virtually (hint: download the Zoom app). It is so hard to be a social club and not socialize! Visiting with our friends during the season is important for improving our mental health at the same time that the virus chips away at it.
Our country is going through a rough time right now. Not only is the virus doing its darnedest against the human race, but we face climate change, a zapped economy, demonstrations, riots, and the political season. My cure is to talk to my friends and family, and more often than usual. My community is what's keeping me sane, that and being on or at least near the water regularly.
From the Club Manager July 2020
I have a few little reminders as we continue through these strange times:
The restrooms are open—sort of. We still need to get bottles of disinfectant in there. Please clean the surfaces you touch.
The club is not requiring members to mow under their boats and trailers this year. But if you can, it would be appreciated.
The clubhouse deck is being rebuilt and is looking good. Thank you to Gary Powell and his small band of masked carpenters.
EYC's internet connection is now faster. Let me know what you think (though I'm always happier if you choose recreate off-line while you are at EYC).
If you owe money to the club, please pay up. This can be done online with a credit card. If you are unsure how, let me know and I can talk you through it.
We have gate clickers for sale at $25. Contact me if you’d like to purchase one.
Pretty much all the group activities the rest of the year have been cancelled or postponed to next year. The exception is the Annual Meeting at the end of October and we will absolutely do that one. We are not sure yet how, but you might want to download the Zoom app to your smartphone or computer.
What can you do at EYC under the state's Covid-19 restrictions? The Clubhouse and barbecue remain off limits, but one can sail or swim or sit and read. In park management different kinds of facilities are built for different kinds of activities. For example baseball fields are geared for concentrated and group activities while hiking trails are created for discrete and dispersed activities. These days at EYC, we are looking more at the latter because we can still get on the water! And that is a lot. And we still have water, though it is down about four feet right now, but still, it's a big lake.
I would like to offer everyone a little encouragement. Please keep the faith that things will get better. Please keep hoping that we find a vaccine or a cure. And above all, keep demonstrating your love for your fellow boater by wearing a mask and playing it safe.
From the Club Manager June 2020
This is the weirdest year ever, isn't it? Never has our country or world experienced a set of events like what we are experiencing now. I keep thinking our little boating club has found its way into a Stephen King novel. But so far, so good. We have had to cancel some things and postpone others, but we are relatively untouched so far—and we really want to keep it that way.
The good news: Eugene Yacht Club is open. Lane County is in Phase 2 of the Governor's step-by-step plan to move toward normalcy which is allowing us to do a few things, though not as much as we'd like. We are encouraging members to come out and visit the club, maybe even go sailing. But be aware that the clubhouse, restrooms, and playground remain closed, and club-owned boats are not available for use. Even with these limitations, EYC is one of the best solutions for cabin fever right now. We just ask that everyone behave responsibly and use good judgement. Bring your own food and drink, use your own equipment, and as always, remember your sunscreen.
From the Club Manager May 2020
Well, this is definitely not what we had hoped for. All that beautiful sunny weather we have had this spring has a downside: we have a low-water year. We should be full and we are over 5 feet down (you can follow the water level here). The hoists are almost unusable and the tower ramp doesn't have much water. The the north ramp by the Youth Building does have plenty of water and most of the slips have enough water. We have had the occasional low water year and survived just fine.
Having said that, we are now living in the World of Covid-19. And that changes everything. Eugene Yacht Club is still partially closed. What does this mean for you? We are okay with members coming out, but we ask that you stay out of the clubhouse and stay out of the restrooms (we have a couple of port-a-potties so please use them) and stay off the playground. Also, you need to do all the social distancing stuff that we know is necessary: six feet apart and masks while on shore. If you get on a boat, please do so only with your own household members. Bring your own hand sanitizer, etc. We are not allowing members to use club-owned boats (paddle board and kayaks, too) right now but privately-owned craft are okay.
From the Club Manager April 2020
Ahoy, Sailors. So EYC is closed. Allow me to describe the timing of this. The Board of Trustees meets on the second Tuesday of each month. In March this was on the 10th. The Bulletin got written on the 11th, edited on the 12th and mailed on Friday the 13th. Back then, we were happy and optimistic and looking forward to a wonderful season. But on March 12, the NBA cancelled all its games for the foreseeable future and that—at least in my mind—was the first domino in the effort to stop the transmission of the novel corona virus. Also on March 12 Oregon’s Governor Kate Brown prohibited large gatherings. On March 17, Governor Brown prohibited gatherings of 25 or more, and then on March 23, the Governor prohibited non-essential social and recreational gatherings as well as requiring people to maintain social distances of six feet or more in non-prohibited activities. And so EYC closed down.
So what does this mean? We have been cancelling events on our calendar on a rolling basis, usually about four weeks out. We are cancelled up to May 15, and last night the Board decided to cancel the Memorial Day Regatta. We will try to keep everyone informed about what is (or isn't) going on via the Monday emailings. We keep the calendar on our website up-to-date so you can go there for the latest.
From the Club Manager March 2020
I sit here staring at a beautiful warm sunny Spring day. Which, of course, is bad. We want rain. We want storms. We want the Corps and the Commodore to be able to do their only important job—getting our lake full for what promises to be a great season. The water is up enough that the collegiate sailors are out working on their game. Fortunately, it won't take much rain to get us caught up.
There are a couple of dates to keep in mind. On March 28 we are hosting another NorthU course (different material than last year) being taught by our favorite sailing coach Andrew Kerr. Guaranteed to be great. You’ll ifnd more info here along with the online signup. EYC Members, remember you can register at the member rate.
From the Club Manager February 2020
Yay! The water is coming up (and it is already behind schedule). But water will hit the toe of our deepest ramp any moment. Progress can be followed at the Corps website. Make sure you click on that little orange thing where the Fern Ridge dam is. Or you could just ask Gordon who really stays on top of the water level.
I would like to encourage you all to check out the EYC Youtube Channel. We have lots of videos there to look at, some are educational, some are from regattas and Sail School, and the one from last year's 4th of July is just fun.
Eugene Yacht Club is working toward being a part of the Oregon Clean Marina Program. We are already pretty close to qualifying for that. We will continue to recycle. We will probably end up with a couple of new rules about where and how people can maintain their boats so that there is not any debris. And Dan and I will have some absorbent pads to hand out to people who are handling gasoline or diesel.
From the Club Manager January 2020
I don't know about you, but this winter has already been too long, with too many events that require some time on the water to "cure". But rest assured, your staff and Board and all the volunteers are working hard to make the upcoming season the best ever. The calendar is pretty much done and the most current version is on the website.
A couple of the highlights that are coming up soon: There is a workparty this Saturday, Jan 18 at 9:00 am, and one also on February 22. A lot of effort there will be to remove the old clubhouse deck and begin putting in a new one—something I am very excited about. I hope you can all come out and help.
Another great happening is the annual Chili Feed (aka the January potluck) which happens on Saturday, January 25 at 6:00 pm, followed by a General Membership Meeting at 7:00 pm. It is always fun to be part of this event. And the Chili Feed is particularly fun because the Board supplies all the food and place settings—all you have to do is show up and enjoy. You can pick up your 2020 Handbook and 2020 Membership Cards at the Chili Feed, too.
EYC is going to join the Oregon State Marine Board's Clean Marina program. The environmental stewardship of Fern Ridge is important to our club and I will be providing more details about what this means for EYC in the coming months.
From the Club Manager November 2019
The club is pretty much put away for the winter. I always like to come out and check on things during the winter months because the place looks so different from summer. It always reminds me of the changing seasons. Wildlife, especially birds, are easy to spot and fun to watch. I often will spot a bald eagle or two. The most I have ever seen is ten at one time.
The business of the club stays busy through the winter. Our fiscal year is November 1 to October 31. so we just sent out dues bills for the coming year. Dues for the coming year are $554 for a Full membership. On your bill, this was divided this year for the first time into the part (about 80%) which goes to operations and the part (about 20%) which goes to capital improvements (think docks and such). This split is an accounting thing that I don't completely understand but smart people tell me it is a good thing to do. We will be billing for travel trailers in December and regular moorage in March.
From the Club Manager October 2019
The season is winding down. We still have a few boats in the water, but we are not sure who won the Tuesday race this week as they finished in the dark. But what a great season!
The end of the fiscal year is Halloween, so I would like to encourage everyone to get their accounts paid up before the new fiscal year starts on November 1. Monthly statements have been mailed. They were a little late this month because the bank had a system changeover that didn't go smoothly, but we try to get those out right after the first of the month. If you have any questions please let me know. And you can pay online in the Members Area of the website (which is password protected—call me if you need help getting in at 541-321-0332).
From the Club Manager September 2019
What a great year we have had! Recently we have had several terrific activities including a couple for kids and a couple for women. And our Harvest Regatta had the best turnout in several years. Finishing out on a high note! Thank you to Dean Mitchell who chaired that event and Rich Johnson whose team ran the races and to Michelle Wood who did much of the shore support work.
From the Club Manager August 2019
This summer is going by too fast. I hope you have managed your time well and have come out to the club often and have been on the water. There is nothing better than bringing family and friends out for a picnic and a little time in a boat or on the beach. If you are wanting to be a part of organized activities, check the calendar on the website which is always current.
Volunteerism is a big deal at EYC. Some of the best evidence of members' willingness to help out came this last month when the Thistle Class National Championship when EYC sent a team of six people up to Sandpoint, Idaho, to help out the Sandpoint Sailing Association put on the event. So that was ten days in beautiful and fun Northern Idaho for members of our Race Committee who then came back and worked the Santana 20 Class Championship.
None of the cool things that happen at EYC work if members don't step up, so I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped this club do so much this year. And if Vice Commodore Rob Moline calls you and asks you to help out next year, I hope you say 'yes'. And if he doesn't call you, please call him and ask what you can do. There are about 50 Committee positions to fill each year. And tons of worker-bee positions.
From the Club Manager July 2019
Wow! That was fun. Sail School with 90 students (great job, Katie Bloom O’Brien and a legion of volunteers!) and then July 4th with a huge crowd (thank you, Heidi Leyba, Becky Barker, Glen Hughes and everyone who helped make it happen)—all within less than two weeks! Tons of fun and just a little tiring. While we’re all catching our breath, consider coming out for these upcoming events: our potluck and general membership meeting on Saturday, July 27, the downtown Methodist Church has a service on Sunday morning, July 28, to which everyone is invited, and the Concert By the Lake on the evening of August 4. The Concert will feature a Big Band from Corvallis. It is BYOBeverage and BYOFood. It will be fun. I’m sorry to report that the Sail Day event has been cancelled, but it will be back next year.
From the Club Manager June 2019
We are in the Season! The sailing events have been going great as have the social events. Much thanks to Dean Mitchell and his crew of workers who put on a great Memorial Day Regatta with 51 boats. Check out our photos on the EYC Facebook page.
Our next big event is Sail School. The planning for this is well underway. I think we may still need some kitchen staff and instructors, so if you can work some of that or have any other questions, please contact Katie Bloom.
We also are hosting an Open House on Wednesday, June 26 from 4:00-7:00 pm. Right in the middle of Sail School! So if you know of anyone who is interested, please invite them out. We also encourage you to share that event on your social media stream.
From the Club Manager May 2019
This Spring has seen some amazing work done by the membership. The grounds are looking great and the new Youth Dock is a few screws from done. Much thanks to the leadership of Marji Clune and Bob Pritchard and to Gordon Mattatall and Paul Stephens.
To keep the club looking nice we ask that you pick up and clean up like it is your own home. And we remind you to mow under your boat and trailer all season long—but especially right now as grass is growing so fast. Of timely importance is for members to move their boats from the center island in the parking lot before Memorial Day.
The Memorial Day Regatta is coming up very soon. If you have any questions, please contact the event chair Dean Mitchell. He will be happy to give answers. And you can register online here. You may notice that we have several other regattas coming up, including the always fun Live on the Edge Multihull Regatta in June. Yes, you still have time to buy a catamaran!v
From the Club Manager April 2019
The interesting news as I write this on Wednesday morning is the water level at Fern Ridge. I have never seen it so high. The Army Corps of Engineers uses elevation to determine how much water is in the reservoir, so "Full" is 373.5 feet above sea level. The highest the ACE will let it get without worrying about safety is 375 feet. We are at 374.1 feet at the moment—about seven inches above full. But it is changing constantly. Indeed, it went up about four inches in seven hours a couple of days ago. Currently, the inflow is at 4600cfs (cubic feet per second) and the outflow is about 3800cfs (for some perspective, summer outflow is about 30cfs). A couple of days ago that inflow was double that. If you want to watch these numbers online, visit the Corps website for the Willamette Valley and click on the dam at Fern Ridge. Better yet, go out to the lake and see for yourself! And even better than that, come out for the work party on Saturday, April 20 and see for yourself.
From the Club Manager March 2019
Yay! The season is upon us. Pretty much anyone can put in and go sail now. The snow pack is in great shape but now it’s the time in the season where we want rain to fill the reservoirs. Most of the reservoirs are not yet half full, although Fern Ridge is slightly over half full. So we want rain for the next month! You can keep track of lake water levels through this link provided by the Army Corps of Engineers. If you do put your keelboat in soon, please be cautious of the potential for early spring storm wave damage in slips on C, D, and E docks.
We are actively fundraising to help with the costs of building the new Youth Dock. If you would like to help out with a donation, please contact Gary Powell or me. We are excited about this project which will make teaching our junior sailors in the Zumas much easier. And speaking of juniors, looks like they have a bunch of fun activities planned for the season, so stay tuned for more on that.
From the Club Manager February 2019
You should all have paid your dues and received your membership cards and 2019 Member Handbooks by now. About a fourth of the handbooks were picked up by members at the Annual Chili Feed last month and the rest were mailed shortly after. Much thanks to Matt Sprick and Ancora Publishing for printing our handbook again this year. Please keep your membership card handy as it has the new gate code on it. And thank you to the Board for the chili, and congratulations to Al Avey who won the contest for best chili.
And as you prepare for the season, be sure to check out the always changing EYC website. It has pretty much everything on it now. We are especially excited about the new Members Area which has all kinds of information, including newly added sections of the handbook and a list of clubs which share reciprocity with EYC. Remember that your password to the Members Area is the same as this year’s gate code. The Members Area is where you’ll be able to make your Moorage Requests for this year. It takes about 20 seconds if you don't want changes. And of course, EYC's calendar of events is posted on the website as well.
A couple of other things on the website that you should know about, especially at the beginning of the season. We have a Crew Finder that has been successful at matching up people who want to crew on a race boat with race boats that need crew. And at the same page you, or someone you know, can sign up for a ride on a Tuesday night Fun Race boat which is a pretty fun way for a first-time sailor to get a taste of sailing.
From the Club Manager January 2019
Welcome to 2019! On the Day of Resolutions I resolved to sail more this year. This resolution will be much easier to accomplish than the other resolution I made. And I will start by attending a fleet party. But which one? The Santana 20 Fleet and the Thistle Fleet both have parties on January 12. The Tunas are at EYC and the Thistles are at the Boyce home in Corvallis. And the Lido Fleet is doing their winter party on February 10 at the Schroeders. Fleet members, crew, and interested sailors are invited to attend whichever meeting is appropriate. What a fun way to start the year!
The Work Party season is back. Work party dates are January 19, February 16, March 23 and so on. Work parties happen on the Saturday before the Saturday that the potluck is on, which is (usually) the last Saturday of the month. Please come and help out. There are a couple of big dock projects that Paul Stephens is working on and Port Commissioners Marji Clune and Bob Pritchard have a long list of shore-side things to do.
The annual Chili Feed is on January 26 at the Clubhouse. This is the potluck where all you have to bring is your appetite. The Board brings chili with all the fixin’s and even the bowls and spoons! And a reminder that the time has been moved up a half hour: food at 6:00 pm and the General Membership Meeting at 7:00 pm for this event and also for all future potlucks.