** Christmas Party Saturday Dec. 3rd **
Thank
you to all who contributed articles, content and photographs to
to this issue of the Whisper Pole: Chris Bennett, Paul Chandler, Laura Hetherington, Rob Koci, Nigel Rigby, Carla Schmid, Ed Young,
... and Robert MacDonald, Tim Stainton et moi for the photos.
Send comments, suggestions and future contributions to the Whisper Pole to: news@sailtoronto.com
In a Nutshell
What a switch from last year! Summer 2005 broke the heat records, prompting lucky J-Towners to take advantage of their cottage in the city to get away from all that heat and enjoy those refreshing Lake breezes. [Now that we have a Photo Gallery on our website, you can revisit many of those happy moments at will during the long cold days of winter!]
Adding to the enjoyment, this year's hard working executive, based partly on information culled from last year's membership survey, strove to make some major improvements - and they seem to have paid off: our decks were the place to hang out in the Outer Harbour and we had enthusiastic and full participation in races; social sails, dinners and events; clinics and classes. New chairs Chris Bennett, Beverly Knight, Rob Koci and Fran Steacy are all geared up to fill the large shoes left by their predecessors. But it takes way more than 13 people to make things work so, to all you other dedicated, creative and generous members who always find the time to lend a hand or make things better - Thank You!
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Commodore's Message
So what makes J-Town such a good a good club? Well I can tell you, it begins and ends with the members. It’s you guys that maintain the boats and put together the clinics and it’s you guys that organize the parties and keep the place running. You do everything!
Well done! The club’s got a nice feeling to it, and we’ve got a great bunch here. I think our success is our ability to work as a huge club team, from the running of the executive, right through to listening and taking advice from the entire membership, and implementing those ideas. We’ve had an excellent year, and there is no doubt in my mind, that 2006 will continue to see J-Town rolling along in top gear!
Winter’s coming! Don't forget, we don't just shut down until spring, there’s “all sorts” of stuff coming up. It’s not unusual to find members lighting a fire on fall weekends, and well into the new year. Come down on any sunny Sunday, and find members just milling around for the pleasure of it, having a coffee and taking in the winter views.
Kirk’s cats! Lastly, if you do come down, be vigilant regarding security and locking up, always report anything unusual, bring firewood if you can, and don’t forget there’s cat food in the sail locker.
Cheers to all of you,
Paul Chandler - Commodore, fridaystreet@bellnet.ca
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Wild Adventures of a White Sailor
Well, first off I can't believe the summer and sailing is over - where did the time go? On the bright side of things my body can heal from all the bruises that I got over the season!
I look back over the past 6 months to the start of my adventures as a White Sailor, starting my season with the class in May. A little nervous that the weather (and water) were going to be oh-so-cold, and having only once before been in a sailboat, thinking 'do I really want to do this'? Until I got into the boat with an old salt, first with Richard S and next with Chris M. We had pretty good wind for those two classes, after that I was excited about this whole sailing thing (and very happy that I didn't go for a swim like some of my fellow white sailors had!). After those first two classes the wind seemed to disappear. We learned to float well and get to know each other. Some of us learned to amuse ourselves during those nights with mini-races trying to catch any little puff of wind we could. We even learned how to paddle quite well. I still don't know why my crew didn't like it when I chanted 'stroke, stroke' as he paddled us to shore - isn't that what crew is for?!!
We finally struck the wind jackpot about the third last class. Stoked about actually getting to do some real sailing, with me at the helm, we rounded the buoys over and over and, exhilarated over the experience of real wind, I hear our instructor shout to me 'you're doing great, if you get scared you can head in'. Scared? Scared? Are you crazy? We finally have wind! I'll be out here until we're told to go in or we get tired! Eventually switching spots, with me now crewing, we continued rounding the marks having a great time - taking on a bit of water - ok, a whole boat load of water on a gybe - but at least we didn't go for a swim. We also didn't quite figure out how to use the auto bailers either. It's quite a challenge sailing with a boat full of water, but we survived! And I survived and passed White Sail III! Yeah!
Now on to bigger adventures - Race Training and Lasers! First night of Race Training, after graduating from White Sail, was more like survival sailing - my helm and I dumped twice that night! I don't think my helm (James) was too impressed when I swam after the whisker pole first, then swam to the boat. It wasn't that far away and really, how far can a boat full of water go? Another thing about that night which I discovered the next day were the bruises. I think my co-workers thought I had been abused, they were all over...ahh, the joys of sailing!
Next, Laser sailing - nerve wracking at first but what a rush. First time in the boat, first gybe and plop, into the water I went. At least righting the Laser was easier than the Albacore! With a great instructor (Rob Koci) getting me started and being lucky to have two coaches willing to help me out (my fiance Mark and fellow club sailor Liz) I've really enjoyed Laser sailing - so much so that Mark and I now have his and hers Lasers...crazy I know!! See what sailing can do to a person!
As the summer went on, lots more sailing and adventures. The Mooredale triathlon, what a blast! I learned that I suck at long distance running, however pretty good at sailing (Mark and I had one of the best sail times!) And then, last but not least, the Round the Island race, or should I say Round the Island drift! What a great summer and a great group of members! Can't wait for the adventures of next summer and a chance to help the new White Sailors begin their adventures with sailing the same as others have shown me! Thanks for a great season everyone!
Carla Schmid - White Sail 2005
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Race Review
What a year for J-Town … as we pack away the canvas for another year, we can turn back and regard a racing season that saw almost unparalleled success for J-Town racers with tremendous participation as 28 of our sailors stepped up as helms this season.
First, to review Friday Night results where Allan Measor rated 4th place and Mike Morrison 5th among helms and Richard Piercey managed a 1st place finish in the crew stats. Then, in the Harbourmaster’s Series Alan Measor finished 1st and Ann White in 3rd as helms and Richard and Tannis Baker finishing 1st and 3rd respectively as crew. Participation in these two series was also great training for many new racers and practice for J-Town’s successful participation in the big shows.
A notable success in Regatta racing this year was the Westwood Regatta, where we entered 8 boats and our top four placed 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th in a field of 39. The very next week we saw Ann win our own regatta with Allan and Richard in 2nd and Ed Young and Fran Steacy in 3rd.
In August, J-Town cleaned up in the new helms with Cathyann White picking up first place. And, after having 5 boats place in the top 10 at the Round the Island in late August, our J-Town sailors were well practiced at collecting hardware as September beckoned with the Canadian Albacore Championship.
Capping an already impressive season of racing, Ann White and JP Bureaud showed the full range of sailing skills, taking the Canadians on a weekend that saw the wind sniffers dominating on Friday and Sunday, sandwiching a crazy Saturday that included 27 knots from the west and a 3 metre swell. Congratulations to Ann and JP!!!! Other results of note were Alan and Richard in 7th and Mary Neumann and Paul McHugh in 13th. Pasquale Leone also turned in a second place finish in the Challenge Fleet. Congrats to the winners and everyone who participated.
J-Town sailors then went down to Maryland to show the Americans how it is done, with Alan and Richard picking up 3rd place in a field of 30.
This year saw an even greater participation in Laser racing than last year. At least one J-Towner appeared at the start line of every weekday Water Rats club race during the spring and summer. Rob Koci and Darren Monster kept the Rats honest during their Sunday afternoon Fall Series as well, with Rob winning the series. Though the Friday night racing remained a showcase for the Albacore fleet, there is life again for the Laser start. As many as five Lasers crossed the line in at least one Friday night race thanks mostly to J-Town participation. The most encouraging trend in the Laser fleet appeared at Monday night race training where Laser sailors of every level of ability and interest came to learn the various skills involved in sailing a Laser fast. Combined with an excellent turnout for the Good Friends Laser Regatta held August 6 (and won by a Rat, sadly), it has become the cornerstone for future J-Town greatness.
Three J-Towners attended the Water Rats Fall War Regatta: Rob Koci coming 4th, Darren Monster, 6th and Mark Acieri, 11th. But, J-Town had a presence outside the Outer Harbour, as well, this year. Rob Koci attended four of six Ontario Gold Cup races in Hamilton, Sturgeon Lake, Ottawa and Ashbridges Bay. He placed well enough to take second place over all in the Masters (age 45-55) category.
Results aside, the continued success of J-Town in racing will continue to be driven by our rigorous and popular Race-Training program. This year saw many new sailors and new helms benefiting from the skills and knowledge of our veteran sailors. As Vice-Commodore/Education Chair, Fran Steacey, and your faithful correspondent will be working to ensure that the same quality of training is offered next year.
As I take on the challenge of race chair, I need to remark on the great job that Paul McHugh did in this seat over the last two years. His passion, for racing and the club, was evident in all of his efforts through this season and last.
Chris Bennett - 2006 Race Chair, chris.bennett@sympatico.ca
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J-Town Cats
Wasn’t long ago when you mentioned the two J-Town cats, people would think of those fuzzy things that Kirk feeds. Well ... it’s been two full seasons that we’ve had Hobie 16 catamarans at J-Town, and things are looking good for our two multi-hulls boats.
We had just the one Hobie 16 for the 2004 season, so training new helms was more challenging. This year with the two cats, interest seemed to grow steadily through the season, with both boats in use frequently. Peter Warren is obviously the newest to earn the title “Hobie dude”. Bev Knight is definitely a “Hobie babe in training”, while Blaine continues to maintain his title of “Hobie captain extraordinaire”. Special mention for extreme crewing goes to Richard Piercy for his two times cat sailing this season—both times in northwest winds gusting to 30 knots.
Fun as it is, the speeds achieved on our Hobie 16s create a degree of risk that does not exist on our Lasers and Albacores. As such, safety must remain the number one priority when sailing the Hobies. Because of their wide platforms, these boats are very stable in light and medium winds. However, because of the large sail area (nearly twice that of an Albacore) and lack of maneuverability, they can be very tricky to handle in heavier winds. They also require more weight and a different technique to right when capsized.
We will again be offering Hobie sailing clinics next year for members who wish to try multi-hull sailing. For anyone wishing to become a competent Hobie sailor, I strongly recommend first becoming a solid sailor on Albacores and/or Lasers.
Ed Young - 2006 Treasurer, edyoung@sympatico.ca
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Nigel Hangs Up His Hammer
As I lick my stubby little pencil and X-off another day from the calendar before docks out I reflect back on my two years as house and all that we accomplished.
With the assistance of too many to name, we moved our pedestrian gate, replaced roofs over the storage locker, entranceway and personal lockers. The personal lockers were created generating about $1000 a year. The deck and furniture were stained and we obtained 4 new picnic tables. The toilets were moved and we acquired a new gas shed.
Major upgrades consisted of the purchase of a new industrial quality beer fridge and the construction of a lakeside deck which got lots of use. With the arrival of the Hobies, two cat ramps were constructed and members cleared the rocky shore to make room for them. Inside the clubhouse, the fan was added, the electrics were upgraded, we added a new boat signout board and a foot pump was added in the kitchen.
I had hoped to get more picnic tables as we seem to be the only club replacing ours but couldn't find any of the good quality ones. In addition I had budgeted for an awning over the building deck but I somewhat overshot the budget with the lakeside deck and the hot, hot weather necessitated the purchase of the fridge.
All in all the membership contributed a lot of effort and ideas and you are to be highly commended. Now may I please lapse back into retirement?? Thank You.
Nigel Rigby - Departing House Chair
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Site Update
Update on Waterfront Revitalization Efforts - How It Impacts JTown
As J-Town members, you all know what a wonderful resource we have in our
sailing club and the sailing community here in the Outer Harbour. Many
of you have also heard rumblings about changes coming as a result of the
Waterfront Revitalization initiatives in the city. Over the coming
year, the Design Team of the Lake Ontario Park project - a key
initiative under the Waterfront Revitalization - will be engaging
interested groups such as representatives from our Sailing Clubs and
specifically the OHSF (Outer Harbour Sailing Federation) to ensure the
co-op community sailing club needs are accommodated into the Park
design. Lake Ontario Park will encompass the land that runs from
Cherry Beach eastward to and including the Leslie Street Spit.
The Design Team will be selected soon, and consultations with
interested groups and the public will span Dec 2005 to Dec 2006. This
is our chance to speak up and have input into our sailing future.
While change for the sailing clubs is inevitable as a result of this new
Park; our job is to ensure the changes that come are welcome changes
such as running water and flush toilets! However, we may need to fend
off some other potential changes such as indirect access to the water
(in the event the Martin Goodman trail is re-routed to go directly along
the waterfront), and maintaining our current location in the protected
area inside the "ratspit", as examples. It has been made quite from
Park representatives that the sailing clubs, particularly co-op
community club sailing, are a desirable attribute to this new park and
will be accommodated in the design.
So please watch for ways you can help should we need to "rally the
troops". We will keep in touch over the winter through the JTown
newsletter informing you of critical updates and how you can help our
shared cause. Some examples of the help we may ask from you includes:
- Attending key meetings where your presence and voice would show
the diversity and commitment of our membership. It is helpful to have
different voices heard giving the same message and to show there are
many people who love our 'cottage in the city' and are willing to fight
for it. And don't worry about what to say - we will give you the key
messages to convey!
- Signing petitions
- Sending letters (that we will draft in softcopy for you) to your
City Councillor and Member of Parliament.
Other aspects of the Waterfront Revitalization development (e.g. The
Portlands), may impact access to our clubs due to
construction. This will be an unavoidable inconvenience, but we will do
what we can to minimize the disruption, if at all possible.
Looking forward to your support over the coming year!
Laura Hetherington, J-Town Site Chair and OHSF representative, laura-hetherington@sympatico.ca
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More to Come
And there is more to come! December 3 is the Annual Christmas Dinner - a way to see all your old pals again and fill your face with delish food. Please bring a non-perishable item for the Daily Bread Food Bank and take part in the optional gift exchange. January 1 we welcome in the New Year with the Infamous Polar Bear Swim (the challenge goes out now to all you intrepid ursine types) and, in early February, you can once again don your skates for the Skating Party!
In the way of low key activities, a great way to spend a winter afternoon
is to park at the club, walk across to the Leslie Street Spit; many members come down on their own to skate (after checking the ice reports).
Remember, J-Town is your club in the winter as well as the summer ... enjoy its unique and fabulous location year round.
Over the winter, the club executive meets once a month to plan and organize the next sailing season, with a peak in activity in January when the budget meeting is held, program priorities are set, membership fees are struck and member recruitment for the new season begins.
The first major member recruitment event is the Toronto Boat show in January. Each year the Canadian Albacore Association rents a booth at the show. Each club provides members on a rotating basis to attend the booth for free admission while doing so. If you wish to help with the booth, please contact Suzanne Young, Membership Chair.
Periodic email newsletters will continue to be sent out during the winter but don't forget to bookmark and visit the calendar occasionally for information (if you click on any of the events, a window with detailed info will pop-up!). Anyone who wishes to help out in club communications/website maintenance is urged to contact:
Tannis Baker, Communications Chair,
news@sailtoronto.com
Here are the dates for the main J-Town winter events:
Christmas Party - December 3, 2005
Polar Bear Swim - January 1, 2006
Toronto Boat Show - January 14 - 22, 2006
Skating Party - Early February, 2006
Spring Fling - March-April 2006
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Getting your "icelegs"
