Volume 41 Issue 5 – May 2022
Commodore’s Log – Diana Bliss
It’s starting to look like spring with the flowers blooming and grass greening up. This means the beginning of sailing season!! We will be having our May Member Meeting down at Chatfield at the picnic tables at 5:30 PM. The Seagulls restaurant isn’t open this early, but we will be having summer meetings there when it opens. This month please bring your own bag dinner for a quick meeting and sailing after that.
We have several May events and two weekend sails opening up for sign-ups. At the May 12th meeting we will have an evening sail and for those late birds a moonlight sail. See Cindie’s writeup below. On May 28th, will be the New Member sail coordinated by Mark. This is where we honor our new members to sail free and we have Mark’s famous burgers for a potluck lunch. It should be fun for all new and old members. See his article in this newsletter.
Mel is jumping in to coordinate our first weekend sailing event, June 3rd-5th at Lake Pueblo. She will be taking sign-ups and payments and possible wait list. Also, sign-ups will be open for the Big Mac trip, June 23rd-26th This is the fourth 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, probably end of May. Membership forms are on the website saltydog.org and you can pay there too. Any questions, ask Ellie or any board member about membership. Invite a friend to our in-person meeting.
Our June 9th meeting is still in need of a sail coordinator for the short evening sail after the meeting. It’s a good way for a new coordinator to get their feet wet and learn the ropes of how to put on a sail. We have a sailing packet with all the instructions and forms. Shane or I would be glad to mentor new coordinators so we ALL can get out sailing. Take a look at the sailing schedule and see where you could step up and lead a day sail!
Hope to see all your smiling faces at Chatfield Marina picnic tables (look for our flag) on May12th meeting at 5:30 Pm with sailing at 6:30.!
Mark Graas – Vice Commodore
Thank you to Zeke Zebauers for his presentation about “Sailing the Gulf of Riga on the Baltic Sea”. It was very informative and interesting.
Salty Dogs Membership – Ellie Watson
As of the end of March we have 49 paid members.
Please be advised that next month’s May 2022 Salty Dog Newsletter is the last that will be automatically emailed out to members who have not renewed for 2022
Application forms and credit card payments can be found on www.saltydog.org. The application needs to be filled out completely with signatures on BOTH pages. Please do not write SAME on any of the lines, as I do not always have access to previous applications.
Once the application is complete with the necessary signatures and initials, there are 3 ways to get it back to me:
- Send it to me by snail mail. My home address is on page 1 of the application.
- Scan it and text or email it to me at membership@saltydog.org
- Take a picture of both pages and text or email it to me.
Neisha Atchley – Dry Land Coordinator
A handful of Salty Dogs and Pups met on April 16th at Colorado Journey’s Putt-Putt Golf Course. It was a windy spring afternoon, but the Salty Dogs still did a robust 18 holes of miniature golf. Marilyn and Ron are the 2 golfers to beat! The kids, Isabelle (Ron’s granddaughter) and Remy (Neisha’s grandson) played ahead of the group and scoped out the lay of the turf. We all agreed it was a blast. Credit goes to Commodore Diana for the fantastic dryland event suggestion even though she couldn’t attend.
Left to Right
Marilyn, Susan, Kathryn (sorry if misspelled), Isabelle, Remy, Elise (in the stroller)
Ron, Neisha, Sam
CONSIDERING CAPTAINING A BAREBOAT CHARTER?
BY JOHN VENEMA 14 APRIL 2022
At the request of commanders of Americas boating club, Colorado, and commodores of the salty dog sailing club, I have put together this outline of a presentation I gave a while back titled “Organizing, Planning and Captaining bareboat charters”. What follows is simply my personal insights from being a crew member, first mate or, more often, a captain on over thirty bareboat charters. I hope that you can avoid learning from the ‘school of hard knocks’ by reading what I have written.
Many courses on seamanship are available and I highly recommend that you take them, along with getting experience on the water, before heading out to sea as a bareboat captain.
Qualifications: verify with the charter company that you qualify to captain the type of vessel you want to charter in the waters you want to sail. What is required often changes, so check with the charter company for updates. Some suggestions: check with “Victoria Sailing School” for ASA classes. Check with dream yacht charters.com (855-860-8902). Check with “international yacht training” [iytworld.com] for courses like “international bareboat skipper”. Excellent courses on seamanship are available around Denver and are offered by the United States Coast Guard auxiliary and Americas Boating Club – Colorado (previously “the United States Power Squadron”). Put together a resume’ that shows your training, seamanship courses you have completed and your experience on the water. Include the dates you sailed, the location and name of the charter company, vessel type and size, number of crew members and your duties. Remember that the charter company makes the final decision and should be able to inform you of local captaining requirements.
Organizing and planning the charter: evaluate the crew and select a crew that wants to “participate” (for example they want to learn and/or get hands on experience). Select an experienced first mate. Evaluate yourself: do you have the training, skills and experience needed? Do you want to be responsible for the safety and comfort of the crew? Involve the crew in the planning. Priorities should be to be safe and to have fun.
First planning session: discuss the sailing area and how to get there—bring charts, videos, cruising guide, airline connections, etc. Hand out copies of the bareboat contract showing deadlines for deposits and refunds. Discuss the costs of provisioning and daily boat expenses. Assign a purser to account for the money collected and paid out. Discuss plans for the days before and/or after the sail, discuss use of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. Set a date for the second planning session and discuss what to pack in ‘soft sail bags’. Bring information regarding medical conditions, emergency contacts, passport, sail resume’ and airline arrival information. Bring checkbooks.
Second planning session: learn the skills and interests of the crew, then assign the (initial) duties and rotating duties for each crew member. Discuss the sailing itinerary—allow for bad weather delays and for fun time on shore. Discuss the type of sailing desired and provisioning duties. The purser then collects money for reserving the boat and for provisioning. Discuss what and how to pack so you don’t duplicate—for example, you do not need seven pairs of binoculars. Pack for safety and for fun. Consider “headlights”, a powerful flashlight, handheld VHF and GPS, and your personal PFD. Obtain each crew member’s travel plan and discuss how crew will meet at the destination.
Captaining (before setting sail): before the boat orientation have your list of questions ready for the marina staff and test everything before leaving the dock. Be sure to check the VHF, sails, running rigging, windlass, outboard engine, water tank levels and how to switch tanks. Are repair manuals in English? Check navigation instruments (on board and in your laptop). Enter your proposed waypoints. Also, get an orientation for the sailing area. Leave a float plan and emergency contact list with the charter company. Know how to get weather reports, medical aid, repair services, provisioning, etc. By now you should know the skills and interests of each crew member so be certain that each member of the crew knows how to perform their duties. Have the assigned ‘safety coordinator’ and quartermaster give their presentations. Every crew member should know emergency procedures and have a basic knowledge of how to operate the boat. Get a weather forecast. Do “sea trials” before leaving the harbor. Make sure everything is working properly before you head into open water.
While sailing:
1.) Keep a log that records: time, location, speed, track, and weather conditions.
2.) Expect the unexpected and think of “what if” solutions (e.g., what if a sudden storm approaches—where is the nearest shelter and what is the best action? What if someone falls overboard at this moment—what are the best actions to retrieve him asap?)
3.) Involve the crew. Hold a brief planning session each evening so the crew can agree on a plan for the next day.
4.) Communicate clearly, review hand signals and be sure that the crew knows “the plan” and “alternate plan” before anchoring and docking.
After the sail: learn how you can improve as a captain by asking for feedback. For example, hand out ‘anonymous’ surveys with open questions like “explain why you did or did not feel comfortable with the captain—his or her sailing skills, personality, ability to communicate clearly, be a team participant, etc.” Ask crew members if they would like a “letter of recommendation” for their resume’.
Finally: organize your journal and pictures, enjoy a farewell dinner on shore and consider a reunion date when everyone can laugh at all the unexpected events that occurred during the sail.
Wishing you fair winds and calm seas!
John Venema
Shane Brouillette – On the Water Coordinator
Sailing Schedule 2022 | |||
Date | Event | Location | Coordinator |
April TBD | Boat Wash | Chatfield | ? |
***Cancelled***
April 14 – Thursday |
Moonlight Sail | Chatfield | Andrea Lewis |
May 12 – Thursday | Meeting/Moonlight Sail | Chatfield | Cindie Sandlin |
**Date Change**
May 28 – Saturday |
New Member Sail | Chatfield | Mark Graas |
June 3 -6
Friday to Monday |
Memorial Day Sail | Pueblo | Melissa Steiner |
June 9 – Thursday | Meeting Sail | Chatfield | ? |
June 23-26
Thursday to Sunday |
Big Mac | Big Mac | Diana Bliss |
July 1 – Friday | Evening Sail | Cherry Creek | Shane |
July 7 – Thursday
*First Thursday This month only* |
Meeting Sail | Chatfield | ? |
July 15-17
Friday to Sunday |
Dillon | Dillon | Marilyn Allen |
July 23 – Saturday | Sail | Chatfield | Cindie Sandlin |
Aug 11 – Thursday | Meeting Sail | Chatfield | ? |
Aug – TBD | Day Sail | ? | ? |
Aug 20 – Saturday | Sail | Chatfield | Marilyn Allen |
Sept 2-5
Friday to Monday |
Labor Day Sail | Dillon | Jim Watson |
Sept 9 – Friday | Moonlight Sail | Cherry Creek | Shane |
Sept 11 – Sunday | Sailgrass | Chatfield | Cindie & Keith Sandlin |
Oct 7 – Friday | Moonlight Sail | Chatfield | Shane |
Meeting and Moonlight Sail_- Thursday, May 12
Club Meeting and Evening/Moonlight Sail at Chatfield, Thursday May 12th, 5:30pm meeting, 6:30pm sail. BYOP – Bring Your Own Picnic. We have our club meet and eat, then set sail at 6:30pm for an enjoyable evening/moonlight sail. Bring a jacket and a flashlight or headlamp.
New Members Free Sail and WORLD-FAMOUS BURGERS
Saturday, May 28th, 2022, at Chatfield
Welcome to all Salty Dog’s New Members (joined Oct 21 – May 28, 2022) free sail and burgers, all others is normal price of sail ($15 members: $21 non-members). Please sign up (online or during May 12th member meeting). Sail on Saturday May 28, 2022, at Chatfield. Everyone please arrive at 8:30 AM at South Chatfield boat launch then we will depart for the sail at 9 AM to return at lunchtime for the potluck barbecue. All need to sign up and pay, free new members get reimbursed. Please bring something to share for potluck, hamburgers and fixings and water will be provided.
PUEBLO SAIL – FRIDAY, JUNE 3 THROUGH SUNDAY, JUNE 5
Come join the Salty Dog Sailing Club for the annual Pueblo event! We will be at the South campground and marina again, where there’s a free hoist for masts.
We have 2 boats and have reserved two slips for both Friday and Saturday night. We will be sailing on Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Everyone is on their own for breakfast and lunch both days of sailing. Friday night is the potluck dinner at the campground — bring your own meat to grill and a side dish, appetizer, or dessert to share, also BYOB. The Club will provide the paper products for dinner. For Saturday night’s dinner we’ll be at the Shamrock Brewing Company in downtown Pueblo.
The cost for registration for the weekend is $120 per member and $180 per non-member. There is no reduced rate for a 1-day sail. To pay for registration on-line, visit https://saltydog.org/shop/ or you may mail a check to:
Melissa Steiner
7474 E. Arkansas Ave., Unit #1710
Denver, CO 80231
After registration is received, everyone attending this event will receive a packet with additional information including a map of the marina, campground site, driving directions from the marina to the Shamrock Brewing Company, and a listing of hotels in the vicinity for those who are lodging.
For further information or if you have questions, please email Melissa Steiner at msteiner@interiorconnections.biz or call 720-933-8554.
The “Big Mac” Trip will be June 23-26th, 2022
Big Mac is open for sign ups
The Salty Dogs will be going to Lake McConaughy from June 23rd—26th. 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 8 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. This 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 potluck dinner on Saturday night.
The price of the trip is $160.00 for club members and $240 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 7069 Xenon Ct, Arvada 80004. This will reserve your spot—it’s first come first serve. You can also pay online on the website saltydog.org.
If you want to get reservations at Admirals Cove for a motel room, cabin, or campsite, best way is to go to their website admiralscoveresort.com . If you have trouble call Mike, the manager at 1-402-201-4131. Mention that you are with the Club. As of this writing there is still availability of various rooms. If you still need lodging, give me a call or email me because I have a list of other nearby places.
Cindie Sandlin – Newsletter
If you have any suggestions, information, stories, jokes, fun facts, pictures, etc. and would like included in the next newsletter, please email me at newsletter@saltydog.org
Joke Time
What do British sea monsters eat???????
Fish and Ships, of course!
Watch for the upcoming “Sailgrass” News
Sailing meets Bluegrass
Sailgrass is Born!
Save the Date: September 11, 2022