Have an article for the Log? Please send to Joanna Wensell by January 21 to be included in the Feb/Mar issue.

FBYC's future is very much determined by retaining and attracting new young adult members (YAMs) and there is no one better to lead that effort than Mary Catherine Buhl McAllister.  (Or "Cappy" as she will always be known to many.)

Mary Catherine's sailing career began during 1998 during Junior Week when she was seven years old. "That year, the Junior Week shirts were yellow and my oversized shirt fit me like a dress,"  she says. "I've grown a bit since then,  but that yellow shirt has survived the years and I still proudly wear it.

"After growing up in the Junior Program, in Optis and Lasers, I transitioned to college racing at Christopher Newport University. My CNU sailing days …

Jim is currently FBYC's Long Range Planning Committee Chair.  He's as colorful off the water as his boat is on.  Here's his story:

"It all began in 1983 when a group of us at Virginia Tech decided to charter a sailboat for spring break.  One of us had some experience so our band of misfits sailed a Morgan 44 OI to Bimini in the Bahamas. (Can anyone ID Jim in this photo?)  It was my first sailing experience of any kind.  It's amazing how much beer fit under the settees in that boat,  Some years later, I bought my first boat in 1990, a 27' Jeanneau Fantasia with the intent of family sailing and didn't think about racing until Brooks …

From our much loved Chaplain and FBYC Honorary Member Doug Anderson:

During this holiday season of both tremendous stress and great hope, I am mindful of the gifts that don't go under the tree. These gifts are often priceless and just as often, cost very little.  They seldom have to be wrapped, but most often are. You and I are the gift givers,  as well as the recipient of many of these gifts.  We, you, are the wrapping, and it is your time, talents and your service that is the substance of your gifts to us all.

As members of FBYC we are in a community of gift givers and gift receivers. Whether you know it or not,  you are …

We are planning to dispose of all remaining abandoned boats in the Laser racks next to the Junior Shed. The old racks will be disposed of as well, and new storage for the club’s 420s will be installed. While the “Laser Graveyard” has a certain rustic appeal, we will end up with a much neater and useful space.

Unclaimed Lasers are available for club members to take, but must be removed from property by December 13^th. Please note that these boats are going to need a lot of work and most have hull integrity issues.

Please contact Jason Angus (jangus@hilbgroup.com) or Mark Wensell (mark.wensell@gmail.com) if you would either like to claim one or …

Winter decommissioning is well underway. 

We have winterized Mr. Roberts, closed the Bathhouse, and shut off the water to the docks, ramp and yards.  Jackson Creek Docks' power will remain on.  

The Clubhouse will be closed down by Friday, December 11.  Unfortunately, the Clubhouse will be closed until ceiling work is complete.

Fannie's will remain open all winter.  The front door will remain locked for security purposes.  But you can access the building through the key-coded porch door on the Jackson Creek side of the building.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions and stay warm.

- Brian Ankrom

Even though "real sailors" are still out on the Chesapeake's waters, many of us spend the winter to regroup, work on boats and plan for the next sailing season.  So now's a good time to share some stories about your board of directors, especially for new members. 

We start with our club historian, George Burke.  

George, wisely, embraced his wife Lyon's, childhood love of sailing.  Lyons had sailed at the Hampton Yacht Club as a junior, but George didn't step aboard a sailboat until he was 40 years old.  Long-term FBYC member Tony Sakowski, invited him to crew on a one design boat and taught him the fundamentals of sailing. They soon became members, initially to teach their two children …

While some were eating turkey or putting boats to bed, other members were keeping our club looking beautiful.  Especially during the winter months, there's always work to be done.  Whether it's clubhouse cleaning, dock repair or lawn clean-up, there's always something to be done.  Thanks to Susan Roberts and Margaret Montgomery for ushering in fall at FBYC.

Now on to winter!

This year we had great participation in the Laser Series with 55 total sailors taking part in either Standard or Radial racing. The standards sailed 19 races over 4 days while the radials sailed 14 races over 3 days. The 5 day series consists of one spring, 2 summer, one fall and one frostbite race days. Only the first summer race was canceled for lack of wind. To qualify for series scoring, a sailor needed to participate in 50% of the races in the series.

Radial (18 boats, 4 qualified)

1. Andrew Ciszewski
2. Reed McAllister
3. Henry Ciszewski
4. Josh Almany

Standard (33 boats, 9 qualified)

1. James Jacob
2. Rob Whittemore
3. Jon Deutsch
4. Mike Toms
5. Britt Drake
6. Alain Vincey
7. Frank Patch
8. Frank Murphy
9. Ron …

The holiday lights are up & that special season is around the corner  -  Winter Decom season! 

We will be decommissioning the facility & boats for the Winter over the next couple weeks.  Barring any unusually cold weather, we will be closing down around December 7th.  Our 2020 decom list includes:

• Haul & winterize all Race Committee boats
• Winterize select Junior Coach boats
• Close & lock the Bathhouse
• Close & lock the Clubhouse 1st floor  (Upstairs will remain open)
• Shut water off to the Jackson Creek Docks  (Power will remain on)
• Shut water off to the Fishing Bay Ramp
• Shut water off to the Junior Yard and One-Design parking areas

As usual, Fannie's will remain open all winter.  The front door …

We ended our sailing season as it began.  On Zoom.

But there was plenty of cruising, racing and welcome fellowship in between.  This past Saturday, FBYC held its Annual Meeting and Awards Presentation. We welcomed our new Flag Officers and other members of the board who will help us navigate 2021, we hope NOT on Zoom, but in person.  In addition, our annual awards were presented to those members who have excelled on the racing circuit, supported our cruising and junior divisions and arranged for numerous safe and socially-distant events.

Hear a recap of the year, learn about our future plans and recognize all those who worked so hard to move FBYC forward in 2020.

Please visit:  https://www.fbyc …

I'm please to announce we've hired Ben Boone as the Club Custodian.  He'll be helping out around the club, making necessary repairs, & performing small miracles!

Please say hello & welcome Ben to the Club when you seen him!

Sunday was the final day of the Laser Series and the the final event of the One Design schedule for 2020 and it was a perfectly light day to end on. The forecast all day was for nothing and it was delivering. Those who sailed Saturday had the same forecast and knew the wind came in around 1 and so we waited. Sure enough an easterly breeze of 4-7 came in and we were able to sail 5 races with 9 boats right up in Fishing Bay just off the docks.

Mike Toms had a great first race – getting a lead and not letting it go. In the 2^nd race James Jacob lead the fleet around the course while …

Make plans to "attend" FBYC's Annual Meeting this Saturday via Zoom.  Although this event won't be part of the Commodore's Ball as in the past, the meeting is important for all members to meet the new Flag Officers, learn about the financial health of our club, anticipate plans for the 2021 sailing season and recognize our award winners.

Members will all be emailed a Zoom Invitation link soon.

So grab a Dark 'n Stormy, belly up to your computer and let's close out 2020 with cheer!

The Rappahannock River Yacht Club is organizing this year’s Lights on the Creek boat parade on Carters Creek.

Time:  Saturday, November 28, 2020 at dusk

Rendezvous Point:  Entrance to Carters Creek near RRYC.

Please follow the web site below to register your boat - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4faaa923a6f8c07-lights

Should you require a slip prior to or after the parade, there are limited slips available on Carters Creek for early registrants.  Please register your boat by November 14, 2020.  Email your docking requirements to me at LightsontheCreek@gmail.com     

Begin the Christmas season with a colorful boat parade!

The weather was lousy, but the oysters, food and physically distant fellowship was outstanding!  FBYC's Annual Oyster roast was a great success last Sunday with more than 100 members and guests participating in our Oyster Tailgate.  All wore foulies which we stripped off and tossed into warm cars once we had our fill of roasted and raw oysters.  Thanks to Social Chairwoman Carrie Russel and her crew for pulling off a memorable event.

In spite of challenging conditions having nothing to do with wind or weather, FBYC's Cruising Division had a stellar season.  Boats, circumnavigated the Delmarva Peninsula on the outside and traveled from Baltimore to Norfolk on the inside--all the while being physically distant yet socially close.  A number of our boats are currently traversing the Big Ditch for the winter, including Commander Nancy Powell and husband Chris Lindholm aboard Bolero. Others are enjoying the Bay's fall winds or laying up for the winter.

To put a fork in this season (or fid if you prefer!),  join your fellow cruisers on Zoom for our Closing Cocktail Hour on Sunday, November 1 at 5 PM.  We'll share stories from our travels, talk about …

Join us if you dare for some Halloween fun! Creep, float or crawl on over to the YAM Zoom call on October 28th at 6:00pm. Prizes will go out to the best Zoom background, best individual consume and best family/team costume. We will finish our evening with an around the house scavenger hunt!

Zoom link found here.

Meeting ID: 839 8648 1327
Passcode: 1939

Hurricanes, high tides, power outages have not stopped the Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters before, and neither would a global pandemic this year. The event looked a little different on shore and the social and dinner was a little subdued with social distancing and other precautions in place to keep everyone safe. Fortunately for single-handed sailing – the social distancing was only briefly violated at a few mark roundings and most violated was the weather mark itself.

The sailing was as good as it’s ever been – the fleet was greeted with 16-20 knots of wind out of the NNE and had a blast sailing in the slightly shifty condition and flat water on the far side of the river in Godfrey …

Registration for our Tailgate Oyster Roast is now closed. 

But for those of you joining us to help cast off 2020 with bushels of oysters, BBQ and fun, remember to bring your chairs and drinks.  You are also welcome to pack your own knives and gloves to shuck your own oysters if you like.  

We're going to have a full parking lot.  "Gates" open at 11 am and we'll start serving at noon.

Thank you for working hard to safeguard everyone's health by remaining physically distant but socially close.  And be sure to bring your masks!