DATES TO REMEMBER

FJ Ritt, Commodore

COMMUNITY SPIRIT OF SAFETY

The Newport Yacht Club makes our facilities available to organizations which promote boating safety, including the Newport Harbormaster, the American Canoe Association, the Better Bay Alliance and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. THREE boating and paddling safety events are coming up!

Boating Safety

The Better Bay Alliance will be hosting a Boating Safety Seminar at Newport YC main deck on Wednesday, April 16, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. This seminar is open to all members and the public. Fee is $ 10.

Whether you’re an experienced sailor or just starting your journey on the water, this seminar is for you! We’ll cover essential boating safety topics, including Rules of the Road, Aids to Navigation, and best practices to stay safe on the water. Attendees will also gain local knowledge and an exclusive introduction to LIVE CHART, an interactive Google map showcasing all activities on Rhode Island waters.

This event is a wonderful opportunity to refresh skills, discover new tips, and connect with fellow boating enthusiasts.

Register now on this Eventbrite [LINK]

Paddle Skills and Safety

The Newport Harbormaster paddle safety program will conduct an indoor workshop on paddle skills, paddle safety, care for paddlecraft and fitness for the season ahead. Kayakers, paddleboarders and paddlecraft anglers are all welcome. Choose one of two sessions, either Sunday May 18 or Monday May 19^th.

Register by emailing NewportPaddles@cityofnewport.com

COMMUNITY SPIRIT: BLOOD DRIVE

Thank you to the member donors and walk-ins on a successful Rhode Island Blood Center blood drive held at the Club on Sunday 23 February.  With your generosity the club had 15 donors report to donate and 13 successful donations.  Since one donation was a double red the Club exceeded its goal with 15 total products to provide to local hospitals in need.  Shout out to Hallie, Tim, and Ray for their assist with set up and an incredible quiche, tater tot and cookie spread to replenish the donors, your efforts are greatly appreciated.

Our RIBC liaison said, “Please extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to your donors.  It’s so heartwarming when you see a community come together around a common cause.  On behalf of the hospitals and patients we serve, THANK YOU!!  Lives are being saved today, tomorrow and for the next several weeks and months, thanks to these generous donations.” 

Save the date for an early June grill night blood drive, usually the week after opening weekend—more info to come.

Dave and MJ

ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE

We had just a great time at the Candle Making Class on March 8.  Sienna from Pour Your Heart Out was a joy!  We may have been a small group but we created individual scents and had LOTS of laughs!

Upcoming Events

Music Bingo & Taco Bar, April 5.  Sign-up is available.  This event was so much fun last year that we had to bring it back and add Tacos!

Easter Brunch April 20.  This event is always a sellout so don’t delay in signing up as soon as you receive the announcement. 

Opening Day June 7.  We have already had meetings about this event and have made a few updates.  This announcement will be going out in May, do not delay in signing up.  We have the same band as last year so get ready to party! 

Stay tuned for further events already in discussion! 

Your Entertainment Committee

JUNIOR SAILING

I hope all members are in good health and enjoying every day!  To keep you informed of Jr. Sailing activity, I continue with this updated information since our last report. 

We have great interest in camp this season with full sessions (1 and 4), with session 4 trailing 5 on the wait list.  Sessions 2 and 3 are nearing full with 22 and 28 campers respectively.  Hallie has been working on staffing. Positions for a director, as well as general staff, have been offered. Once positions are accepted, we plan to introduce this years’ staff to all Club members through the Burgee.

Meetings with the Newport Schools for scholarship students are upcoming.  I currently have a list of potential candidates that will be reviewed at our next meeting. They presented 12 potential students.

In the month of April, the committee plans to have commitment to dates from the USCG, Aurora, The Perry and the Aquarium.  This will allow us to further fill the sessions with dates for the Big Boat experience.

With all going on, and summer approaching, I am glad to announce Greg Bader as a new committee member to help us with all the planning. Thanks, Greg for stepping up!

To all members, if you are planning to make a donation for “Name That Boat” program, please do so along with the “Name” you want to advertise early, as work on the campers’ boats will begin in April.  

Thank you all for your support,

 Aedan Gleeson, Steve Morin, Michael Barszcs (ad hoc),Greg Bader, Al Sgambato

2025 SAN DIEGO YACHT CLUB WOMEN’S WINTER INVITATIONAL WRAP UP

First and foremost, thank you to everyone who supported the Newport Yacht Club’s women’s team for participating in such an incredible event.

It was an idea that originated with Jackie Dietrich 2 years ago when she and her husband visited the SDYC and learned about the event. To this fall when the 4 of us sailed in the Sail for Hope Regatta and decided we should really try for it. 

Once accepted in December it was a sprint for fundraising and making arrangements in San Diego. We were fortunate to connect with Chris Snow for invaluable local knowledge, thanks to arrangements made by Al Girard and Jackie. Your generous donations, kind words, and enthusiastic support propelled us forward, and we couldn’t have done it without you.

No, we didn’t win. We won only 1 race and placed 19 out of 24. We learned a lot. The competition was amazing. I’m pretty sure we were the only team that had ever only sailed 1 race together, prior to arrival. The courses were short, 4 boat “fleets” at a time. They also had moored boats in the middle of the course. The next fleet starting as one fleet finishing and 1 fleet out practicing for their start was something to behold. And it blew. San Diego’s light to no air filled our mornings, with winds continuing to build to 14-18 in the afternoons. Around 4:15 the wind would dial down and it was time to head back to the dock. After the stellar race committee had run 45 races!

It was amazing to watch and be part of it. Having the editor/publisher of Scuttlebutt, Craig Leweck, as the onsite sportscaster was entertaining. OK, so his knock knock jokes during a light air delay were mostly (all) groaners, it was fun to participate with 23 other teams all groaning together.

The socials began on Friday after our practice time on the water. In everyone’s welcome package was an insulated mug with our names on it. Mugs made it easy to socialize and learn names. Lots of great talk about women’s sailing, yacht club participation, endowments, friendships formed through sailing.

Saturday started with a hot breakfast on the deck and skippers meeting held by Flamingo clad organizers. The boat rotations were made available electronically and with a chart on the dock. The amount of volunteers to be sure everyone had everything necessary was impressive. Snacks, water, dock hands, and when needed instant jury.

Saturday night was dinner and karaoke which we found out was a tradition. As new comers we supported the teams on stage with chorus singing, dancing and applause.

Our own Saturday highlight was meeting past SDYC commodore Chuck Nichols, introduced to us by Bob Morton. Chuck’s visit, along with his wife’s support as a spectator, was a true honor.

On Sunday, after 18 more races, scores were tallied and it was 6 boats in gold and 6 in silver for the final 3 races. The team from Acapulco made silver fleet. Our past frostbiter and RWU sailing coach Amanda Callahan, representing Bristol YC made gold. In the end it was SDYC as winner followed by California YC and New York Yacht Club. Silver fleet saw Santa Barbara YC, San Francisco YC and Rush Creek YC on the podium. The competition was fierce, yet the sportsmanship and sense of community were extraordinary. An incredible regatta.

I’d like to take this opportunity to ask you to support the businesses that helped make our auction successful and fun.

5^th Ward Liquors, Aquidneck Liquors, Ash Mart, Atlantic Grille, Bill Shea Photography, Boston Duck Tours, Bridge Liquors, Classic Harbor Line, Cru Cafe, Defender Industries, Kate Hanna LMT, Latitude Graphics, Newport Classic Tours, Newport Mansions, Dave Reed-Newport Media House, Newport Nautical Supply and Randolph Sunglasses.

Supporting the auction and responding to email requests allowed us to raise funds to support our participation in this regatta with a surplus. We will work with the NYC board to establish a special sailing events fund. We were able to reimburse the BOD at the February meeting for our entry fee through your generous donations.

Thank you for being part of this unforgettable experience. We are proud to have represented the Newport Yacht Club. We look forward to more exciting opportunities ahead for women sailors and all NYC sailors.

With much gratitude,

Bea Grimmitt, Jackie Dietrich, Becky Shoemaker and Helen Vaughan

OFFSHORE COMMITTEE

We held a Bermuda One-Two Skippers’ Forum/Shore Party at the yacht club on 1 March.  Twenty-one people listened to Frank Bohlen brief us on weather and the Gulf Stream to get the skippers prepared for this year’s race and to inform anyone interested in the topics.  Roy provided specifics on this year’s race. Thanks to Tim for providing refreshments for us.

Roy Guay, Chair Offshore Committee

REGATTA COMMITTEE

The Newport Yacht Club Regatta Committee comprises Steve White Chair, Joy Hadley, Jackie Dietrich, Avram Dorfman, Dennis Ferreira and Scott Walker. The Committee will organize and run or participate in running three separate sets of regattas this summer.

1. First, the regular Tuesday and Wednesday evening multi-class regatta throughout the summer in the two usual sessions, spring and summer (end of May to the end of August.)
2. Second, NYC RC will aid in starting the following special Saturday regattas.
   
   

Saturday 5/17              2000 Club Three Bridge Fiasco: Start south of Prudence. NYC provides driver and Volunteer. RC and Volunteer are done by11:00 AM and back to NYC dock by noon.

Saturday 5/24              1st Mitchell Regatta. Memorial Day weekend. NYC provides driver and Volunteer and a start.  RC and Volunteer are done by11:00 AM and back to NYC dock by noon.

Friday 6/6                       NYC Bermuda 1-2 {may need driver. NYC provides driver and Volunteer and a start.  RC and Volunteer are done by11:00 AM and back to NYC dock by noon.

Saturday 7/12              Sail Newport (July 12-13) Full weekend. NYC driver.  NYC provides driver and Volunteer.

Saturday 7/19              2000 Club – Cuttyhunk. Start at Rose Island. NYC provides driver and Volunteer for the start only. RC and Volunteer are done by11:00 AM and back to NYC dock by noon.

Saturday 8/2                2000 Club Block Island Race: Start at Rose Island. NYC provides driver and Volunteer. RC and Volunteer provide start only and are done by11:00 AM and back to NYC dock by noon.

Saturday 8/23              2000 Club Prince Henry Race: Start at Rose Island.NYC provides driver and Volunteer. RC and Volunteer provide start only and are done by11:00 AM and back to NYC dock by noon.

Saturday 9/10              NE Multihull Newport Unlimited. Saturday start: 8/9. Details not confirmed. Usually, RC and Volunteer provide start only and are done by11:00 AM and back to NYC dock by noon.

Friday 7/25                    NYC – NE Solo Twin. NYC provides driver and Volunteer. RC and Volunteer provide start only and are done by11:00 AM and back to NYC dock by noon.

Saturday 10/11          2nd Mitchell Regattas. Columbus Day weekend. 

• Third, NYC RC is exploring an intra-club J22 challenge regatta over four Friday evenings is July and August. If you are interested in competing in this regatta, please contact Dennis Ferreira dferre8503@aol.com.

We can use your help! Be a part of the great NYC sailboat racing traditions.  Please contact any member of the Regatta Committee to explore volunteering in supporting one or more of these events.  For example, you could be a driver for Volunteer-our race committee boat, a flag handler, a timer or a general support person.  Join the fun on the water.

You are invited to both of the following events:

            Wednesday March 26:  5-7 PM – Race Committee Social event at the Club.

            Sunday April 27: 9 am to 4 pm – Race Committee training.

Regatta Committee

FINANCE COMMITTEE

The Budget was passed at the Membership meeting.  Thank you all for attending and voting for the budget. 

A special thanks to my Partner on the Finance Committee, Renee DiNovella, for all the hard work on this budget planning and to the chairs of all the committees.  Also, a special thanks to Larry Girouad, past Finance chair for always being there to consult. It’s always special when a past chair is available to guide us along. 

Janet Bottiglieri, Finance Chair