Dick Bentzel, Commodore 453-7348
Charles Faulkingham, Vice Commodore 596-0874
Neil Woodside, Rear Commodore 594-2823
Mike Sodano, Secretary 549-5013
Arthur Frieder, Treasurer 372-6326
Diane Hebert, Membership Chair 594-7004
RYC website; www.rocklandyc.org

LOBSTER PICNIC & ELECTION of OFFICERS
Our 2000 Lobster Picnic will be at the same location as last year. Starting time is approximately 1:30 PM and the meal will be about 4PM. A brief meeting including the Election of Officers is concurrent with the end of the meal. As usual, the club will provide the lobsters or steaks ice, chips and mixers for members, but guests are $ 5.00 each. We suggest that you bring an appetizer, covered dish or dessert (pot luck) and your beverage of choice. Please notify the following by 6PM, Wednesday, October 4 if you plan to attend and indicate if you want lobster or steak. If you leave a phone message, please leave your name AND phone #.

Contact: Moira Bentzel 453-7348

Help wanted! Anyone who wishes to help set up, cook or take down, please tell Moira when you call.

Directions to Beaver Lodge:
a) From Rockland, head west on Rt. 17 towards Augusta. After passing Fullers General Store watch for Rt. 235. Turn RIGHT on 235. (Note: ignore signs for Alford Lake Camp - this is on wrong side of the lake). b) From Augusta, head towards Rockland. After passing Union and eventually Mic-Mac Market watch for Rt. 235 on your Left.

Once on Rt. 235 pass through South Hope (an intersection with 4 houses) and proceed on 235 down and then up a hill. At top of the hill look for the sign for Beaver Lodge - it has a jumping deer on it - turn right and follow signs to the lodge. There is one other fire road off the Beaver Lodge road that turns right - take the left fork. Besides the lodge, lawn, etc., there is a dock and a sandy beach for swimming (?!?).


From the Commodore's Stateroom:

It's hard to believe that the sailing season is winding down just as the weather is improving. I hope that you were able to join in on some of the RYC activities and to get out on the water.

I will be stepping down as Commodore in September. I would like to thank the following members for their help and support in carrying the club functions during the year: To Jeff McKinney and Charles Faulkingham for serving as Vice-Commodore or Commodore of Vice as Jeff referred to the position; To Neil Woodside for serving as Rear Commodore, for chairing the ad hoc clubhouse committee, and for all the press releases he got out; To Mike Sodano for serving as Secretary, publishing our newsletter, and co-chairing the cruise committee; To Toni Vander Veer (cruise committee co-chair) and the other members of the committee for planning our cruises; To Doug Pope and the racing committee for another great racing season; To Frank Tax and Janet Sawyer for their keeping track of members and publishing the Membership Book; To Diane Hebert for her work as membership chair; To the Keegans as for planning the meeting programs; To Patrick Rowling our webmaster and Susan Rowling for chairing the spring banquet and Christmas Party committees; To Arthur Frieder our treasurer; To the executive committee (all officers and Bruce Stedman, Doug Pope, Jean Keegan, Charles Faulkingham) for their help and guidance.

I have neglected to mention the many other members who have stepped forward to serve on the committees and lend their support. The club depends upon your volunteering to carry out these activities and in return you get a chance to work with a great bunch of people.

We have seen considerable growth in the membership in the past few years and have taken strides tailoring the club activities to the desires of the membership; while at the same time retaining the original mission of the club. We sent out two surveys last year and have tried to act on both of them. The summer cruises were set up to meet the responses from the cruise survey. In response to the Club Home survey, the Club continues to look into options regarding a permanent home for RYC. In the interim, John Trumble has offered the Harbor Master's building for use for meetings and as a place to display trophies and club memorabilia.

For the November meeting, we will attempt to get a person from MBNA to speak. If there are things you would like to see happen let us know and join in.

It has been a real pleasure being your Commodore and thanks for your support.

Fair winds
Dick

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Nominating Committee Report:

The nominating committee has selected the following candidates for next years officers:

Commodore, Toni Vander Veer
Vice Commodore, Charles Faulkingham
Rear Commodore, Gary Cran
Secretary, Mike Sodano
Treasurer, Arthur Frieder.

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May Banquet Meetinng Minutes

Time of opening and closing the meeting was not recorded. About 65 members and guests were present. Commodore Dick thanked the banquet (Susan Rowling) and program (Bill Keegan) committees for their efforts towards such a well attended event. He went over the clubhouse issue and Neil provided additional information on the clubhouse status, which was that things were on hold until the Gronos estate is settled (more on this issue elsewhere in this issue). Members were reminded that no contract would be signed without prior approval.

Additional thanks went to: Jerry Faulkingham for the table decorations, and Toni Vander Veer for taking the names.

Following the meeting, a representative from Ed Hamilton Charters gave a very informative presentation on the dos and don'ts of chartering.

Mike Sodano, Secretary


Paul Devine

The RYC and Rockland community were saddened to learn of Paul Devine's passing early this month. Paul was an avid supporter of the RYC and had allowed us the use of the Navigator function room gratis for many years. He was presented a plaque of appreciation from the Club last winter.


New Home Committee "Still Looking"

The "New Home" issue for the RYC remains unresolved. Since the last newsletter reported on a possible arrangement to lease and renovate space on Wharf Street in Rockland for a clubhouse and dock, we have lost some ground. The Gronros family was finally able to settle the estate, which included the property we had focussed on. Unfortunately, they were advised that it was necessary to sell the property, which they would have preferred not to do. As a result, we are back to searching for a suitable opportunity for either purchase or, more likely, lease. Currently, some discussions are under way concerning other options. Any interested party with suggestions on this issue, please contact Neil Woodside.


RYC Yard Sale

This year's Yard Sale on June 3 netted $455.50; all of which was donated to the Atlantic Challenge Foundation's Community Sailing Program. Cate Cronin, ACF Executive Director, sent us a very nice letter of appreciation for our efforts.


2000 Race Season Wrapped Up!

SUMMER SOLSTICE RACE
The Summer Solstice Race was run on Saturday June 24th; 6 boats competed on a course of approximately 20 miles around lower Penobscot Bay. Winds were light throughout. In order of finish:
1st Guy Polyblank BLOSSOM 17,773.04
2nd Ken Priest EXTRA BEAT 17,841.40
3rd Gust Stringos BLUEBIRD 18,728.37
4th Gary Cran BLACK BEAR 19,408.43
5th Al Hodsdon SEA JAB 19,517.92
6th Dick Bentzel NATALIE B 20,399.30

TUESDAY SERIES
The last scheduled race of the 14-date Tuesday Series is now history and scoring for season standings has been done. Racers were scored on the basis of their best 9 races out of 14 scheduled dates. Committee boat duty could be counted as the 9th race, equal to an average of the other 8 race finishes. "Low Point" scoring was used: a 1st finish was 1 point, a 2nd place finish was 2 points, etc. Lowest 9-race total wins. The other requirements to score for season standing were submission of a PHRF certificate and club membership. A change this year was to split into Racing and Cruising Canvas divisions. This required the creation of a new trophy plaque for the racing division; thanks to Charles Faulkingham and Rockland True Value Hardware for their sponsorship of this award. See below for results. Many thanks to John LeMole of Gemini Canvas for providing his time and JUKI as committee boat for the Tuesday Series, also for sponsoring the Summer Solstice Race Trophy. More (post-season, informal) races of the Tuesday format are yet to come however, as long as the weather and enthusiasm holds out. Same time, same place: Tuesdays, 5:00PM start. Contact Doug Pope for more info.

TUESDAY SERIES - RACING (SPINNAKER) DIVISION
First Place HAVOC (J-24) Jeff Dinse: 9 points (!)
Second Place BLOSSOM (Etchells 22) Guy Polyblank: 14 points.
Third Place WALKABOUT (Tartan 10) Doug Pope: 22 points.

TUESDAY SERIES - CRUISING DIVISION
First Place UNDINE (Pearson Vanguard) Neil Woodside: 10.13 points.
Second Place EMERITUS (Quincy-Adams 17) David Jones and Bill Heuermann: 11.25 points.
Third Place: no qualifier.

SATURDAY SERIES
The 6-race Saturday Series was off to a slow to start with two dates in July cancelled for weather. In the one race completed, only Jeff and Patty Dinse on their J-24 HAVOC and the Priests and Kopps on EXTRA BEAT managed to finish, with other racers unable to cross the line in a sudden flat calm. The Saturday Series was not at all lucky in terms of weather; lots of rain on scheduled dates. No racers completed the required 4 (out of 6) races, so there are no season rankings for this year. Thanks to Ocean Pursuits for their sponsorship of the Saturday Series Plaque. Also, thanks to Rockland Boat for its continuing sponsorship of the Rockland-Castine Regatta Trophy.

ROCKLAND-CASTINE REGATTA 7/29-7/30/2000

Boat/Captain/Saturday/Sunday/Regatta Total

IMAGINE Bob Bowden 4257.49 (4th) 13,804.01 (1st) 18,061.50 (1st)
SECRETWATER A.Hall (NYC) 4055.53 (1st) 14,050.54 (2nd) 18,106.07 (2nd)
WALKABOUT Doug Pope 4226.44 (2nd) 16,494.11 (3rd) 20,720.55 (3rd)
EXTRA BEAT Ken Priest 4577.00 (5th) 16,632.72 (4th) 21,209.72 (4th)
MARELLE Mike Sodano 5085.00 (12th) 17,774.52 (5th) 22,859.52 (5th)
BLACK BEAR Gary Cran 4687.98 (9th) 19,272.28 (6th) 23,960.26 (6th)
SEA JAB Al Hodsdon 4624.30 (6th) 19,443.16 (7th) 24,066.98 (7th)
NATALIE B Dick Bentzel 4732.47 (10th) 19,513.81 (8th) 24,246.28 (8th)
UNDINE Neil Woodside 4255.81 (3rd) 20,057.89 (9th) 24,313.40 (9th)
BLUEBIRD Gust Stringos 4767.26 (11th) 20,105.59 (10th) 24,872.85 (10th)
SALSA Steve Files 4658.14 (7th) DNF DNF
WINDMAIDEN Chas. Duvall 4660.22 (8th) DNF DNF
APOGEE Giles (NYC) 5361.29 (13th) DNF DNF
PEARL Geoff Pitchford 5567.42 (14th) DNF DNF
HEYGENE Alan Hopkins DNS DNF DNF

NOTES*** The Rockland-Castine Regatta was run under very frustrating conditions this year. On the first day, after a painful hour of drifting in no air at all, the race committee abandoned the original start from the Rockland breakwater. A restart from the vicinity of Resolution Island made for a short course without much complexity, but it was a pleasant down-wind run in about 5-8 knots of breeze. The social side of the event went off well on Saturday evening and things looked more promising for the race home on Sunday. That did not turn out quite as some may have wished, however. A good downwind start at the Castine bell soon slowed down as the mild northerlies faded away, and the race committee eventually decided to shorten the course to a finish at Robinson Rocks bell. The Sunday race went on so long in very, very light air that the day's results effectively decided the overall regatta scoring. This was in marked contrast to the previous year's dash home in 20+ knots southwesterlies. Among various changes this year was an invitation to the Northport Yacht Club to participate. That club sent two boats down, and NYC members have said more will come next year; this makes for a nice annual balance, as RYC racers have gone in numbers to the last two runnings of the NYC's "Round Islesboro Race" (see notes on this elsewhere in this fine journal – flattery will get you everywhere, Neil). The top three finishers (including one from NYC) took home handsome trophy bowls this year; the RYC R-C Regatta Cup has been engraved with the top three RYC member finishers.

Many thanks to Bob and Deb Sween on DESTINY, who provided a stable platform for the excellent race committee work by Jeff and Patty Dinse. Thanks also to Leni Gronros & Rockland Boat for sponsoring the R-C Trophy Cup.

NORTHPORT YACHT CLUB ROUND ISLESBORO RACE

The club sent 10 boats to compete in the Northport Yacht Club's 14th Annual 'Round Islesboro Race on September 9th. It was an ideal day for racing, with variable fresh breezes and beautiful sunny weather. All participants seemed to have a great time, and many got to bring home a souvenir. In the "Private Cruising Division" Jeff Dinse took First Place sailing SYNERGY, a J-24. Patti Dinse was right behind in Second Place on HAVOC. Neil and Susan Woodside, with Leni Gronros as crew took Third Place on UNDINE. In the "Private Racing Division", Doug and Beth Pope and a full crew on WALKABOUT were the Second Place finishers, with Gary Cran's BLACK BEAR in Third Place. Dick Saltonstall was in First Place in the Multihull Division, sailing his new Maine Cat rocketship. Other RYC racers were BLUEBIRD, NATALIE B, WINDMAIDEN and EXTRA BEAT. All enjoyed mid-field or better finishes in the competitive 42-boat fleet.


2000 Cruise Season Summary

This year's cruises were designed as a best fit around the membership survey results and the Cruise Committee wishes to thank all of those involved for their support.

BARRED ISLANDS
Of the boats that had signed up, predicted poor weather deterred all except Pearl, Marelle and Persephone. On Friday, July 21, the first evening, a pleasant social hour was held ashore. Unfortunately it rained the following day so we all just stayed aboard until Sunday which showed much improved weather. We all sailed around to the eastern entrance to the Thoroughfare where Marelle gave a demonstration on how to "catch the pot buoy." A successful disengagement was assisted by Pearl and Persophone.

ROQUE ADVENTURE
With great expectations, on Saturday, Aug. 12, we met at Buckle Harbor. The crews of Gemini, Marelle, Persephone, Black Bear and Webfoot went aboard Escapade to test her floatation. Escapade passed. Winds with fog and rain were predicted from the northeast, which was where we were headed so we decided to seek haven in Northeast Harbor until things improved. We were all able to find floats in the harbor, which served, nicely for socializing. Black Bear took the crews of Persephone and Marelle on a pleasant tour up the Sound to Somesville. The next day, the weather was still too iffy to proceed so some of us toured the town and others took advantage of the free shuttle busses to tour the island and Bar Harbor. Tuesday didn't look promising but Marelle, Webfoot, Black Bear and Persephone elected to go to Isleford, Cranberry Isle for lunch. About the time we arrived, the fog lifted so we could enjoy the view. After lunch, we all (sans Escapade and Gemini) headed for Galley Cove, Bartlett Narrows where we found the two moorings unoccupied and had the whole place to ourselves. The social hour on the beach was spirited. The next day, Wednesday, had severe squalls and thunderstorms predicted for the day, so we elected to stay put. We toured the north end of island and discovered an old (early 1800's to 1900s), but well maintained cemetery where Bartletts and Galleys were buried. The predicted storm was late and brief but brought a beautiful breeze from the northwest on Thursday. Our destination was Head Harbor, Isle Au Haut and we all had a great 20 mile, single tack, close hauled sail. Head Harbor was a bit rolly but, except for a couple Outward Bounder boats that left, we had the whole place to ourselves. The fresh water swim in Long Pond was great for everyone except Gerritt who swam into an underwater rock. He then demonstrated his remarkable recuperative powers (which actually took a couple weeks). The beautiful sunset from the point at the Harbor entrance was the first we had seen all week. Another great sail on Friday took us to North Haven where we met up with Natale B and Pearl. We all had dinner at the Coal Wharf to cap a week which didn't see Roque Island but was nevertheless worth the ride.

LABOR DAY CRUISE & GOLF TOURNAMENT
Friday afternoon we rendezvoused at Pulpit Harbor. Merrowly, Persephone, Scoundrel, Amity, Black Bear, Shamrock and Marelle (w/ Dick & Carol Jones aboard) enjoyed socializing and the incredibly beautiful day. Sunday was the tournament. Unfortunately, due to logistical problems at the Coal Wharf, dinner there had been cancelled. Without going through a long list of tournament participants, only the division winners will be listed. They are:

Retired Military (& Overall): Dick Jones
Senior: Geoff Torney
Women's: Ginnie Torney
Nova Scotia Cruise Survivor: Charles Faulkingham
Solo (& Late Arrival) : Alan Hopkins

That afternoon we all retired to Perry creek where Heygene hosted the social hour.

NOVA SCOTIA EVENT
June 28 saw the departure of Sha-Col-Ian, Natale B, Shamrock and Evergreen for Shelburne Harbour, NS. The first night was starry and a pleasant breeze. Daybreak, a very new moon preceded the sun which soon disappeared behind clouds bringing rain. Rained most of Thursday but the sun reappeared at sunset. Thursday night was VERY lumpy but we entered Shelburne early Friday and were greated with great hospitality at the Shelburne Harbour Yacht Club. Toured the town some, but were all too tired to do much else. Saturday, Sha-Col-Ian, Shamrock and Natale B headed for Port Mouton on the way to Lunenburg. Hank Williams, aboard Evergreen, had made arrangements for a memorial service for his father so we stayed put, intending to head out Sunday afternoon. Sunday, the other boats got to Lunenburg but Evergreen's attempt to get out ran into a wall of fog so we spent another day in Shelburne. On Monday, it was decided to stay put until our departure for Cape Negro Island on Tuesday. Headed for Maine on Wednesday AM but it is critical to be at Cape Sable at low tide. We didn't, so progress was slow until the wee hours of Thursday morning. It was also VERY lumpy. Arrived at Frenchboro, Long Island that afternoon and Tenants Harbor on Friday afternoon. Natale B and Sha-Col-Ian did an overnight from Lunenburg to arrive (after a layover at Shelburne) at Cape Negro Wednesday evening. They got the tide right at Cape Sable on Thursday and were in Rockland Friday evening. Shamrock stayed an extra night at Lunenburg and arrived in Rockland on Saturday. It was a great adventure and the hospitality was incredible. The best part (almost) – NO POT BUOYS. For more details of this adventure, contact one of the participants.


Don't forget the LOBSTER PICNIC Saturday, Oct. 7

And finally – New members or late renewals who have not received a 2000 Membership Roster and Boat Listing (red cover) please contact Mike Sodano 549-5013 or mcsodano@aol.com to recieve one.