From the Commodore’s Desk
January 14, 2022
Hello Members. While the Covid 19 pandemic is impacting our daily routine with changes in our personal lives and as well as world wide. self isolation, quarantine and social distancing can take a toll. It is comforting for me and hopefully you that by looking forward to planning our FYC 2022 Sailing Season we will provide moments of strength and hope that shows the resilience of our members. We can do this by working together to make 2022 one of our best sailing seasons yet.
Let me give you a few things to look forward to:
• First of all, I want you to know that you are Fanshawe Yacht Club’s greatest Resource, as you are our Ambassadors in the community. Talk to people about the club and encourage them to talk to others.
• We have a wonderful new website that goes live January 15, 2022 please do some surfing on this site to give your spirits a lift. Website is https://fyc.on.ca/wp-v1/
• After the AGM in March you will have new Board of Director Members and SS Committee Members to meet, so introduce yourselves when you come to the club
• We are hoping to have some Dragon Boaters back at the club this season
• Community Living London hopefully will be able to join us again.
• Abilities In Motion will be paddling again.
• We have a full compliment of regattas planned so look ahead for those on the website calendar
• We are hosting an Open House, so sign up to help
• The second Friday of every month starting in June, bring you own food and enjoy a bonfire on the bluff overlooking the lake. Chickadees will share your food if you stand still and offer them some crumbs. Members with musical instruments will be there & if you have a story or a poem, you can jump right in to share
• Meet fellow sailors that you have not seen in awhile and catch up on their winter.
• Enjoy seeing children once again, at the club with their eyes wide in anticipation of what it is going to be like to sail their own boat.
• Volunteering will provide an avenue to make more friends and learn new tasks in the process
• We have some new-to-us books for you to borrow to encourage sailing adventures.
• Bring your paddle board, canoe or kayak and enjoy the lake
• Talk-up the club with family, neighbours and friends. This alone is contagious (but in a positive way)
• Think about the joy of coming first in the Wednesday Club races. These are where you practise what works and things that don’t. Just what is the best way to get the whisker poll out there anyway? Vera and Jeff can enlighten you with their technique.
Brighter days are ahead of us. We will talk soon. Stay safe.
Bonita, your Commodore
February 21, 2022
From The Commodore’s Desk
April 23 (updated May 7)
Hello and welcome to another season of Sailing.
Thank you so much for the fantastic job everyone did at the Work Party this past Saturday. The excitement of the different groups was palpable, and it made me excited to know we are once again going to have a full Club enjoying this wonderful property.
Covid is still with us, and we must learn how to live with it, by following all the protocols the Ministry of Health and our Government have provided for us. We have gotten quite proficient at this after three years of practice. I know we will continue to be Covid Safe. We will be putting all our Events on the FYC Website, so you only need to look there to know what is coming up next. Carleen is doing an excellent job to keep us informed.
On the second Friday of every month, (13th of May the first month) we will have a Potluck and Bonfire. Bring a favorite dish to share and if you play an instrument or would like to serenade us with your voice you will be welcome to the do so at the Bonfire following Supper. The last time we had this we started too early so this year show up at 5:30 p.m. to help setup the tables and we should start eating by 6 p.m. You may wish to bring the recipe for the dish you are going to share.
Our Sail Past and Commodores Reception is coming up on the 15th of May at 2:30 for the Sail Past (skippers’ meeting at 2:00 in the south parking lot). Once the skippers put their sails down and their boats on the Moorings, or Docks or on the Hard then we will gather in the Tent for the Commodore’s Reception at 4:30 p.m. You won’t want to miss this event because we will be celebrating the Members of the Year for 2019, 2020 and 2021. For those who are still a little nervous about gathering inside we will have some Picnic tables set-up outside too and the microphone to keep you in the loop**. During this event, we will be having a Contest for who can make the best Tie, “What kind of Tie” you say? Use your imagination! Be creative! Our Members of the Years will judge this competition.
Keep well and I will look forward to greeting each of you at these events.
Bonita, your Commodore
*Pictures from previous Sail Pasts & Commodore’s Receptions
**May 7 – masks will once again be required in indoor spaces until June 11. Thank you for your understanding.
July 25, 2022
Great News! Fanshawe Yacht Club has received an Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant! This grant will help the Club rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19 by upgrading existing sailboats, purchasing a new coaching vessel, and engaging coaching staff and volunteers.
See all the Details in this Press Release.
September 13, 2022
Welcome back out of town Racers! The 2022 Pumpkin Regatta welcomes racers from beyond FYC back for a favourite weekend of racing for the first time since the Pandemic! For more information, please Click Here.
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
Reminder to Members that the Annual FYC Banquet is this coming Saturday, November 12 in the Oak Room at the Lamplighter Inn. The evening gets under way at 5:30pm.
Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year!
From Commodore Bonita
Seasons Greeting Everyone,
Whenever we play, work, and sail together we have a truly awesome time, there is no question about this. Given that I am in my fourth year as your Commodore, I hope I am now getting it right. For anyone contemplating taking on the Commodore role, do not worry, there are people on the Board that will remind you of the rules, Robert’s Rules that is. All with good humour.
I am pleased to announce we will have a full complement of Regattas, and Wednesday/Thursday Club Racing this coming year. As my first mate tells me, if there are two boats on the water, there is a race going on, so we can look forward to that.
It has been my experience that when I ask people to work on a project or help in some fashion, I have been rewarded with a “sure what can I do?” and that makes FYC a great Club to belong to.
You, the Members are amazing, and I have enjoyed working and celebrating with you.
Please have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season and come see me in the New Year.
We will talk soon.
Bonita
December 2022