Soundings January
COMMODORE’S MESSAGE
I am very excited to be serving as your Commodore this year, and I am greatly looking forward to the 2025 season ahead.
The 2025 season has got off to a great start, with a convincing win of the tug of war by the senior and junior EHYC teams, trouncing the WVYC competition. We also had a large contingent of brave participants in the polar bear swim that followed. I decided that discretion was the better part of valor and did not plunge into the frigid waters as I was recovering from a nasty virus (that’s my excuse and I am sticking to it).
We had a great turn-out to the Burn’s night dinner with special thanks to Elaine Grotefeld and Katy MacLellan for their phenomenal job organizing everything. More to follow in the next edition of Soundings. Thanks to everyone who contributed and participated; it was a really great event, and tremendous fun.
We have a lot more exciting and fun events planned for this year which can be reviewed on the EHYC website, and I look forward to meeting many of you at one of them.
Our club’s operational model is built around member participation to enable the club to put on events, and to get the maintenance and repair work done to keep the club ship shape. I encourage all members to volunteer for work parties, which as well as benefiting the club, are a great way to meet other members and share some camaraderie which is really what a club is all about. There are a great variety of opportunities to accommodate all types of physical capabilities and skill sets. Also, if there is something in particular that you feel that you can do, or would like to do, let Nancy know and we will create a special assignment for you for work party credit.
The next major event on our calendar is Valentine’s day. Attending is a sure way for partners to ensure they do not forget it, and are summarily relegated to the dog house. It promises to be loads of fun, and I look forward to seeing you all there.
Soon we will shake off the winter, and it will be time for our eagerly anticipated Sail Past. We plan to make some changes this year to maximize participation, and we will be providing more details closer to the date. I hope to see as many of you as possible out on the water with all your vessels ship shape and bristol fashion! Our boat will be 50 years old this year, with 47 of those years in our care, so it will be an especially auspicious year for our family and our much-loved and well-travelled sailboat, Valinor.
Wishing you all a fun-filled year both at the Club and at sea!
Nicholas Miller, Commodore Valinor
AGM 2 December 2024
Our Annual General Meeting was held on 2nd December 2024 - read the AGM blog post HERE for the Notice of Meeting, AGM Minutes and Director reports.
WELCOME NEWLY ALLOCATED MOORAGE MEMBERS
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Please join us in welcoming Active Member Andrew Mollard, Jenny Bunning and Charlotte.
Mary Hay, Membership Secretary, Sula
Welcome to the docks: Julian, Brooke and Charlotte Rhind and Bondi, Gospel Pro Fisher
J Bruce Pollock, Rear Commodore, Amscray
EHYC IMPROVEMENTS: Projects and Upgrades
Onshore improvements this month: Walkway Completion: The pathway has been beautifully finished with the addition of extra gravel, creating a smooth and inviting walkway for all members to enjoy. Clubhouse Floor Refurbishment: A huge thank you to our members who pitched in to relocate furniture, and to Ian for expertly sanding and sealing the clubhouse floors. The result is a refreshed and polished space that’s ready for upcoming events.
James Burdett, Vice Commodore, Bavaria 36
Dock improvements this month: Work on Dock 5 is moving ahead steadily, with new dock boards and bull rails being installed. Check out the comparison—where we left off (left photo) versus our progress this past week (right photo).
J Bruce Pollock, Rear Commodore, Amscray
BEHIND THE SCENES: Keeping the Club Running Smoothly
Work Parties.
Work parties are a great way to stay connected and involved in the club. Whether it’s installing chain, taking down Holiday exterior lights, building a utility trailer, relocating the lego dock, or serving behind the bar, volunteering is a great way to take ownership and pride in your club, and build community. Upcoming work parties have been posted!
We’re in need of a broad base of talents, so there’s something for everyone. Just select the work party you’re interested in. Click BOOK and turn up. It’s that easy.
EHYC WINTER SOCIALS: Art, Food, Fun and Friends.
Cork and Canvas 29 November 2024. Now a November tradition at EHYC, it was great to see around 100 members and invited guests enjoying our magically transformed Art Gallery Clubhouse for this special evening, and the stunning art on display. This was the first year the event was not a walk-in affair open to the community – due to our liquor license requirements – but we managed the change with help from Nancy Mitchell and online advance registration. We were delighted to feature the beautiful artwork of several local and highly talented artists, including Danyne Johnston – North Shore Artist of the Year in 2024 – and Kim Rosin, Gwen Davies, Pat Race, Beatrice Watson, Elizabeth Austin – as well as our very own EHYC artists: Peter Heaslip, Tom Bowen, Tim Lepard, and other members of our thriving EHYC Art Club. It takes hours for artists to set up (let along the time, inspiration, and genius to create their art) and we so appreciate their participation. Many thanks to them all and to all of you who helped make this evening worthwhile for them – especially through purchasing their art, art cards or similar.
Thanks to all those who helped make this evening a success – including Ian of course on setup and just about anything we asked of him in his customary charming and friendly style! Special thanks to Sandi Bellamy – on so many aspects of this event- and to Peter Heaslip, Dana Vanier and Jane Sikorski on the newly required people count and registration check at the door. It wouldn’t be Cork & Canvas without the Cork, so thank you so much to all those on bar over the course of the evening – including Callum Beveridge, Gary Bellamy, Mark Powell, Keitha Elvin-Jensen, Margaret Rudolf and Dave Wilson.
This year, I found the perfect Christmas gift for Callum – a beautiful local seascape by Peter Heaslip – in exchange for a curated case of wine! As you can see from accompanying photo, I was not the only one to benefit from this win-win deal.
If you attended, left empty-handed and wished you hadn’t, you can find these professional artists online or contact me, Elaine Grotefeld to be put in touch. Cork and Canvas will be back again this time next year, and is pleased to welcome new artists to participate. Please email Elaine if you’re interested, or would like to recommend a favourite artist. Thank you for your interest and support.
Elaine Grotefeld, Seute Deern
Ladies Festive Drinks, December 10, 2024. “A woman, especially if she has the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can.” Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey, 1817.
Fortunately, this no longer applies – at least in Canada in 2024 - and when the women of EHYC get together, we have much to share!
Our Ladies Christmas Drinks in early December was no exception, and proved a fun kickstart to the festive season. Around 25 – 30 members and invited guests gathered in Décor Queen Kim Southerst’s stunning White Christmas clubhouse to share some Yuletide camaraderie, a Kir Royale festive cocktail, and a delicious collection of homemade festive appies and treats – complete with accompanying recipes on display for us to photograph, replicate over the holidays and impress our family and friends. Thanks to the Ladies Drinks A-team for your invaluable help for this event – Sandi Bellamy, Katy McClellan and Alison Wilson – and to all who contributed your lovely food and recipes. Last but not least, special thanks and kudos to our well-dressed barmen for the evening – Gary Bellamy and Callum Beveridge - proving the truth that a man’s place is behind the bar, preferably wearing a bow-tie.
We’re planning our next Ladies Drinks for Spring 2025, and look forward to welcoming new members and friends at our next event.
Elaine Grotefeld, Seute Deern
Holiday Christmas Party, December 19 2024. The “Let it Snow” event was a wonderful evening of holiday cheer. Blue and white fairly lights, delicate paper snowflakes and a sparkling Christmas tree transformed the clubhouse into a winter wonderland. The event was very well attended and merriment was had by all. Guests dined on a delicious supper of pork pies, salads, home made chutney and other tasty accoutrements. The Yuletide Treats Table was full of festive dessert offerings from members and the rich aroma of mulled wine filled the air. Later in the evening, a spontaneous Christmas karaoke session ensued with a few members breaking out into song…
It was truly a magical evening and a highlight of the Christmas season! A staple now in EHYC’s social calendar, we look forward to planning the next holiday party!
KIm Southerst, Social Committee Sundancer
New Year’s Day Tug-of-War & Polar Bear Swim. Our annual event was a huge success. We were once again lucky with great weather and a small patch of beach where we proudly took on the members of WVYC. Not only did the kids secure a victory for EHYC, but the adults redeemed our pride with a decisive win.
Just 10 minutes before the start of the tug-of-war, I counted only three EHYC members on the beach, compared to at least 20 eager WVYC participants ready to take us on. But, true to our spirit, the EHYC members rallied in the final moments, showing incredible determination and teamwork to claim victory. Thank you to everyone who participated and made it such a fun and memorable event.
After the tug-of-war, many of you braved the cold and started the new year with a refreshing dip in the ocean. Hats off to everyone who took the plunge—what an amazing way to kick off 2025!
The day continued back at the clubhouse, where we served 130 bowls of Whittall’s famous beef and vegetable chili to warm everyone up. It was heartwarming to see so many members and guests enjoying themselves and supporting the club.
A special thank you to the members who volunteered their time to help with bartending and cleanup—you were instrumental in making the day run smoothly. And an extra shoutout to Ian for everything you do to support EHYC.
This event truly showcased the incredible spirit and camaraderie of our club. Thank you all for being part of such a special day.
Here’s to a fantastic year ahead!
Sean Whittall, Staff Captain Tribune
Page’s Resort & Marina, Silva Bay, Gabriola Island
Join Us for SUPERCRUISE 2025!
When: May Long Weekend – Friday, May 16 to Monday, May 19
Where: Page’s Resort & Marina, Silva Bay, Gabriola Island
What You Need to Know:
Dock Space Reserved: Space for 15 yachts (Fri–Sun). Call Page’s at (250) 247-8931 to confirm your spot and mention EHYC.
Other Accommodations: Cabins, suites, and camping are available—book early!
Activities: Loosely organized fun, walks, markets, and relaxing with friends.
Meals:
Saturday: DIY dinners (boats or food truck).
Sunday: Commodore’s Breakfast + Evening Potluck.
Reserve by April 12! Call Page’s to secure your spot, and we’ll see you there! MORE INFO.
