With the smoke putting a damper on these last days of summer and the owners of the last few boats in the water making plans to pull out, it seems that we’re all about closing shop for the season. But, no! Just wait! We’ve got big plans going forward in the off-season that will put us ahead on our club’s list of chores.
Just to catch everyone up, volunteers—including our current and former vice commodores—removed all of the old Laser docks that have been littering the sea wall in front of A, B and C docks for many years. If you recall, these were the docks that could barely float a lawnmower when I ‘tested’ them in 2019.
The old Laser docks will be replaced with state-of-the-art, plastic-molded docks that will be attached to the A-B link dock so that returning boats can steer into the wind when they come in.
When you visit the club next and have time to take a stroll to the back forty, I think you’ll find a pleasant surprise there, too. Still a work in progress, but a lot of old docks, lumber, and steel have been removed and recycled, including 116 old tire floats from A dock. This was all to clear the area for future improvement.
Tuesday the Board approved the purchase of two 40’ sea cargo containers to be placed in this newly cleared area. These containers will provide a great deal of covered storage and will be placed a distance apart in order to construct a roof between them which will create a much-needed off-season shelter for the club’s power boats and other equipment that we have not been able to shelter in the past. This is a strategic move that will enable the remodel of the Yacht Pot, including the addition of a long overdue ADA/family restroom.
Those of you who were able to log into the first ever virtual general membership on August 29 meeting know that the club now has a Zoom account which can be used by any member for club business and social calls alike. If you would like to hold a meeting, or just a happy hour with your fleet, please send your time slot and title information to our Media Manager Karen Nousen to get it scheduled. And please plan on joining your fellow members for a virtual happy hour and general meeting on Saturday, September 26.
With such a calamity of negatives impacting events on all of us this year—Covid-19, low water, wildfire and smoke, and the upcoming election—it can be difficult to stay positive. But there are plenty of positives to celebrate. We have had a number of new members, we have done a lot in the way of long standing improvements to the club grounds that we will all benefit from for decades, and we have managed to have a handful of very intense informal races and fun Tuesday evening sails that have been personally helped to keep me upbeat enough to push through the difficult issues of the year.
So let us not forget these are short-term situations that will end and let's remember to appreciate all the things we haven't been able to do this year when we get through this challenging year.