Volume 40 Issue 5 – May 2021
Commodore’s Log
Diana Bliss
True is the saying April showers (and snow) brings May flowers and sailing!! The Salty Dogs will be having their first in-person meeting on May 13th at 5:30pm down in the Seagulls Restaurant at the Chatfield Marina. You can buy a quick dinner of sandwiches or hamburgers from their snack bar but this summer they will be open with a full menu. After a short meeting with sailing announcements and sign ups, we will head out to go sailing.
We also have several day sails and weekend sails opening up for sign-ups. To honor our lady members, who sail for free, on Sunday, May 23rd, we will be having the Ladies Day sail at Chatfield starting at 11am for lunch. Sign-ups will open up at the May 13th meeting. Thanks to Mel for jumping in to coordinate our first weekend sailing event, June 4th-6th at Lake Pueblo. Also sign-ups will be open for the Big Mac trip, June 18th-20th. This is the third year to be hosted at Admiral’s Cove. See the sailing announcements in this newsletter.
If you are still interested in joining us this year for sailing, it’s not too late to re-join the club! That way you will be on the first roster posted in the beginning of the season. Membership forms are on the website https://www.saltydog.org/membership/ and you can pay there too. Any questions, ask Cliff or any board member about membership. Invite a friend to our in-person meeting.
Thanks go out to Andrea for setting up the mini golf. We had 8 people join in and come for appetizers and drinks afterwards. It was a nice warm day and good to socialize with people. I’m writing this before our annual Boat Ready day on April 24th, but I want to thank Dave for organizing this important day to get our boats ready.
Hope to see all your smiling faces at the Seagulls Restaurant at Chatfield on May 13th, meeting at 5:30pm with sailing at 6:30pm! The Zoom meeting link will be sent out about a week before the meeting, so be looking for it.
Next Upcoming Event – Club Meeting May 13th, 5:30pm
Mark Graas – Vice Commodore
Lady’s Day Sail FREE Sunday May 23 Noonish Chatfield Reservoir
Lady’s Day Sail FREE Sunday May 23rd 11am Meet for Lunch, 12:30pm Depart Chatfield Reservoir
To all you wonderful Salty Dog Ladies, you sail free Sunday May 23rd, 11am at Chatfield Reservoir. Everyone, please bring lunch and something to share. Meet at 11am Chatfield Marina Store, turn left to private gate to picnic table. Sail at 12:30pm. The cost is free for Salty Dog Ladies, $15 for men, and $21 for signed up male/female guests. Everyone pays but free Salty Dog Ladies reserve with writing check to be returned on sail day. Email Coordinator, Mark mgraas@yahoo.com, for your commitment of Captain and Boat or Crew Member. Cancelation Policy- Less than 48-hours a fee of $15 is charged to all no shows including free ladies. Wearing masks is at the discretion of the boat owner but masks should be worn around the dock area. Sign-ups will open up at the May 13th member meeting.
2021 Salty Dog Upcoming and Past Presentations
-Mark Graas, before all main presentations, funny story/sailing rules/knots, 5 min.
-Jim Schoendaller March 11th “Unexpected Rough Weather, Vital Sail Bag” 20 min.
-Gary Kieft April 8th presentation “Man Overboard”.
-Marilyn Allen October 14th “Sailing and Diving the Virgin Islands”, 20 min.
Cliff Randall – Membership Report
We are currently at 32 members with a fair amount of interest from potential members.
We finally have enough hooded sweatshirt orders to place an order.
Andrea Lewis – Dry Land Coordinator:
After a winter of hiding away, eight of us bravely journeyed through history while playing miniature golf at the Colorado Journey. Great fun had by all – and a couple of “holes in one” by Dave Westfall and Marilyn Allen. We finished off the afternoon at the “Pint Room” for some well-deserved refreshments.
July 4th party – Gari Westkott has graciously offered to host a party at her house again. Those that went last year will know that it will be a fun-filled afternoon with games and BBQ!! Will keep you posted on the details.
Gari is also arranging a bike ride around Chatfield lake prior to one of the sails this summer – stay tuned!!
Any other suggestions for dry land activities, please let me know dryland@saltydog.org
Melissa Steiner – Member/Coordinator
Pueblo Sail – Friday 6/4/21 – Sunday 6/6/21
We are adding a sail in Pueblo for the weekend following Memorial Day weekend. We have three boats as of now. Reservations for crew will be accepted on a first-come/first-serve basis. More details will follow, via an email blast.
For more information in the meantime, please contact:
Melissa Steiner msteiner@interiorconnections.biz
Diana Bliss – Commodore
Big Mac Trip – Friday 6/18/21 – Sunday 6/20/21
The Salty Dogs will be going to Lake McConaughy from June 18th-20th. We will be staying at Admiral’s Cove again this year. You must register for this trip as there are limited spots on the boats. We have three boats this year so far with eight crew spots available. I’ll be looking for another boat so we can take more people. Your check will reserve your spot on this trip. The price of this trip is only the price to bring the boats up. YOU are responsible for getting your own reservation for lodging! The price does include a pot-luck dinner on Saturday night.
The price of the trip from July 18th-20th is $163.00 for club members and $245 for guests. This is based on the current three boats signed up. If we get a fourth boat, the cost may be reduced with a refund for the difference. Please mail your check (payable to Salty Dogs) to Diana Bliss. This will reserve your spot—it’s first-come/first-serve. If you pay online, please email me that you signed up and paid.
If you want to get reservations at Admirals Cove for a motel or cabin, please call 308-355-2102. Please leave a message saying that you are with the Salty Dogs. Rooms may be limited!! I also have a list of hotels in Ogallala. If Admiral’s Cove doesn’t have any rooms left, here are the two closest lodging:
North Shore Lodge 308-355-2222
Otter Creek Lodge 308-355-2372
Most of these places have cabin/trailer, kitchenette rentals. Here’s some others in the area:
Eagle Canyon Hideaway 308-287-2673
Gander Inn Motel- B&B 308-778-5616
Kingsley Lodge (by the dam coming into lake) 308-284-2775
Mesa View Lodge (your best budget motel-says ad) 308-355-5000
Vogl’s Lodge & Lure. 308-355-2321
Hotels in downtown Ogalala:
Elms Motel. 308-284-3404. Lazy K 308-284-4056
Oregon Trail 308-284-3705
Paradise 308-284-9940
Pump & Pantry. 308-284-6119
I don’t know about these places so you will have to call. If you have any questions, you can call email me at commodore@saltydog.org.
Dave Westfall – Member/Coordinator
Boat Ready Day – 4/24/21
The first Salty Dog Boat Ready Day was a huge success yesterday!! And YES, before you ask, you can have FUN washing and working on BOAT

S to get them ready to SAIL! Seeing everybody again was the best part, plus having the donuts, Subway sandwiches, chips, fruit, and cookies, followed by Happy Hour at the Breckenridge Brewery didn’t hurt!! Sadly a couple of the scheduled boats were still snowed in, or up on blocks with a blown pickup engine…
As shown in the Pictures, the 16 attendees did have FUN along with four potential New Members.
Members attending: Gari, Marilyn, Diana, Dave, Bob, Ronni, Larry, Brooke, Ken, Nick, Marty, Mark.
Volunteers: Thanks again to Cathleen, Peg, Janice and Royce for volunteering and for all your help! Three of the new Volunteers found our Boat Ready Day on the website because of our good SEO and on the Meetup Group