Volume 40 Issue 7 – July 2021
Commodore’s Log
Diana Bliss
I just returned from our Big Mac trip this past weekend which we had three great days of sailing! We’ve had a slow start but have had some good sailing so far. We had two boats for the Lake Pueblo trip with a small group of crew. This year we had good weather for the weekend and several new members who took instructions well. This past Tues we had our first moonlight sail at Cherry Creek with three boats.
July 8th, we will be meeting at the Seagulls Restaurant down at Chatfield Marina at 5:30PM for a short meeting, then sailing at 6:30PM weather permitting. If you are planning to sail after the meeting, call Gary Kieft 858-752-8020 so he knows how many boats to line up. This sail is not payable online, so members pay $10 at the meeting.
We have quite a line up for July events and sails coming up! Gari Westkott is hosting the July 4th Party at her house again this year. It was really fun last year with fun team games and prizes, then watching the fireworks! Men will be honored at the Men’s Day Sail on July 10th which Mark Graas is coordinating. Shane Brouilette will be coordinating another moonlight sail on July 21st. The Dillon Day Sail on Wednesday, July 28th with John Venema coordinating. Lastly, the Dillon Weekend Sail on August 13th–15th with Jim Watson coordinating. Please remember to secure your own lodging for this Dillon two-day sail. I already have my hotel reservations. The sooner the better.
Cliff is working hard to update our membership list and hopefully have it distributed by email to our current members by July 1st. So, if you haven’t renewed your membership, you still have time to get your name on the list! Also, he has been distributing the sweatshirts from the first order. They turned out very nice and if there is more interest, we could take another order of 12 sweatshirts.
Shane, On the Water Coordinator, is still looking for two more coordinators for two-day sails, one for Friday, August 20th – full moon sail at Chatfield, and the last sail on September 18th is open. Please let him know if you are willing to coordinate a day sail—no experience needed, comes with training and mentoring. It’s really not that hard. Thanks for everyone stepping up to volunteer!
Again, I want to thank our sail coordinators and boat owners who volunteer their time to keep this club running and having fun! For June, coordinators were Gary Kieft for meeting sails, Melissa Steiner for the Lake Pueblo weekend, Shane for the moonlight sail, and myself for the Big Mac weekend! Also, our boat owners were Brooke and Larry Moreland, Cliff Randall, Mark Graas, Nick and Marty Condos, Cindie and Keith Sandlin, and Brian Tophoj. Please say a word of appreciation to them when you see them!
So, hope you can attend the next member meeting July 8th at Seagulls Restaurant at Chatfield Marina at 5:30 PM. Mark Graas will be leading the meeting since I’ll be hiking with my hiking group. Invite a friend to join us and check us out with a quick sail!
Next Upcoming Event – Club Meeting July 8th, 5:30pm at Chatfield
Mark Graas – Vice Commodore
Men’s Day Sail FREE Saturday July 10th (date change) 9am at Chatfield Reservoir
To all you Salty Dog Men (Dudes), you sail free Saturday July 10th. Meet at 9am at Chatfield Reservoir, sail at 10am. Mark will have Hamburger BBQ at the docks. Everyone please bring side dish to share. Meet at 9am Chatfield South Boat Ramp parking lot. The cost is free for Salty Dog Men ($15 deposit check returned on sail day), $15 for women, and $21 for signed up male/female guests. 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 men. 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 July 8th member meeting.
Andrea Lewis – Dry Land Coordinator:
Finally the sun is out, and sailing season has started!! Salty Dogs is obviously focusing on sailing activities for the summer. However, Gari Westkott is kindly organizing another July 4th party at her home – see her write up for more detail.
Also, keep in mind for the Fall, Marilyn is going to organize a scuba activity. Hopefully, we will be diving at the Aquarium in Denver!! I, for one, am going to have to spend the summer gathering up the nerve to do it. But by September/October, who knows, I may be ready!!
Any other suggestions for dry land activities, please let me know. 303-881-7376 dryland@saltydog.org
Tiffany Jordan – Newsletter
As we get back out on the water, please send any photos you approve of for use in our publications of your sailing days to newsletter@saltydog.org. I’d love to be able to use pictures of our AWESOME members rather than some random photograph.
Shane Brouillette – Member/Coordinator
Full Moon Sail – Cherry Creek Reservoir – Tuesday 7/21/21
Meet at the little shack on the dock at 6PM. Bring a light jacket in case it gets chilly. Also, a flashlight/ headlamp might be useful. Suggested return time is 10-11pm but it’s really up to each boat captain.
$10 for members, $15 for guests. Pay online at saltydog.org or send me a check payable to Salty Dogs: 6500 E Alaska Dr Denver, CO 80224
Shane Brouillette 303-393-0555 shanebrulet@gmail.com
John Venema – Member/Coordinator
Day Sail on Gorgeous Lake Dillon – Wednesday 7/28/21
Sailors: Bring your sailing stuff. Plan to meet at the Lake Dillon Yacht Club picnic tables at 11:30AM to sign up for boats. The yacht club is located past the Dillon Marina office and near the F dock (321 Marina Drive, Dillon, CO 80435). We will sail 12:00PM to 4:30PM, then get together for an optional 5:30PM dinner at nearby Pug Ryan’s Brewery (104 Village Place, Dillon, CO 80435).
$16 members, $24 guests of members. Pay online at saltydog.org and click on “shop” or mail me a check payable to Salty Dogs. Include your name(s), phone number, email address and whether or not you plan to join us for dinner. Your payment received is your reservation if space is still available, so make your reservation early. We have limited space on the boats—about 12 sailors total.
Attention “Why Buy” members/boat owners who sail on Lake Dillon: Call/text me if you are available to reserve and/or captain a boat on Lake Dillon on WEDNESDAY, July 28. Thank you in advance.
John Venema 303-589-8604 (voice and text)
Jim Watson – Member/Coordinator
Lake Dillon Sail – Friday 8/13/21 – Sunday 8/15/21
Come sail the beautiful mountain waters of Lake Dillon where you can experience calm to light winds and up to 20 plus knots in the same afternoon. A true test of your sailing skills and views to take you breath away.
Boats will be available from Friday afternoon through Sunday. For those sailing from Friday to Sunday the rates are $40.00 for members and $60.00 for guests. For those only sailing Saturday and Sunday the rates will be $30.00 for members and $45.00 for guests.
Plan to meet up at the white tent on the east side of the marina at 11:00 AM on Friday.
If there is interest in getting together for dinner on Friday night, we can arrange a group dinner at the Dillon Dam Brewery. Just let me know ASAP so l can make reservations. A potluck dinner is scheduled at our townhouse in Dillon on Saturday night starting around 6:30 PM. Please plan to carpool since there is limited parking available. BYOD
If you have questions l can be reached at 720 466-9595 or at jgwbreck@gmail.com.
Recent Sails – Recaps
Melissa Steiner – Member/Coordinator
Pueblo Sail – Friday 6/4/21 – Sunday 6/6/21
This year we had two boats. Captains were Nick Condos and Mark Graas. Everyone arrived on Friday, June 4th. The captains and some of the crew who arrived early on Friday were able to take advantage of an additional sail on Nick’s boat and enjoy some great winds that afternoon.
Friday evening was the potluck dinner at Diana Bliss’ campground site and it was quite the feast! There was no shortage of food. Joining us was a new Salty Dogs member Marguerite Granat, who lives in Pueblo West. Marguerite also sailed both Saturday and Sunday. A big welcome to Marguerite!
Saturday’s sail brought decent winds. After it concluded, we all met later in downtown Pueblo and had dinner at the Shamrock Brewing Company.
Sunday’s winds were quite light. Nick’s boat pulled out around noon, and Mark’s boat pulled out around 2PM as a storm was approaching, so many vessels were scrambling for the launching ramp. The best winds on Sunday, as luck would have it, were when Mark’s boat was pulling out.
Diana Bliss – Commodore
Big Mac Trip – Friday 6/18/21 – Sunday 6/20/21
On Friday, June 18th, we had three boats ready to sail and a few crew ready to go. We had great weather and wind. By the end of the day, we had everyone there for the cook your own dinner and some people went to the restaurant at the Cove. There was a singer performing at the Cove that night but we had our own fiddle player, Keith, playing for us! Saturday, we were out sailing early with three full boats. It started out with great winds but we knew to keep an eye on the weather as the winds were going to increase and possible storm by late afternoon. On Cliff’s boat they had a “Tilly overboard” in which Cliff lost his hat in the winds, so they did a man overboard maneuver to rescue his hat successfully! Everyone had a great long day sailing with winds 10-20mph. Cliff’s boat finally came in right before it started to rain at 5PM. Again, on Saturday night for our pot luck dinner, it was going to rain so thankfully, Brian offered his house on the other side of the lake to have our pot luck there. We all piled into cars and brought our food dishes over to his house and had a wonderful dinner party there and saw his new house which looks out onto the lake! Sunday was even heavier winds at 8AM so we decided to pack up and leave early. Until next year where we will plan on a three-day weekend to allow for possible storms and more time for sailing.
Andrea Lewis – Dry Land Coordinator:
Finally the sun is out, and sailing season has started!! Salty Dogs is obviously focusing on sailing activities for the summer. However, Gari Westkott is kindly organizing another July 4th party at her home – see her write up for more detail.
Also, keep in mind for the Fall, Marilyn is going to organize a scuba activity. Hopefully, we will be diving at the Aquarium in Denver!! I, for one, am going to have to spend the summer gathering up the nerve to do it. But by September/October, who knows, I may be ready!!
Any other suggestions for dry land activities, please let me know. 303-881-7376 dryland@saltydog.org
Tiffany Jordan – Newsletter
As we get back out on the water, please send any photos you approve of for use in our publications of your sailing days to newsletter@saltydog.org. I’d love to be able to use pictures of our AWESOME members rather than some random photograph.
Gari Westkott – Member
Fourth of July Party – Sunday 7/4/21
Come one, come all, maskless, smiling, and happy to see others!!! Whoopee!!! Another Fourth of July at 5:30pm at my house, 1690 S. Deframe Ct., Lakewood 80228. BYOB and BYOM (booze and meat to grill). AND a salad to share. It could be egg salad, bean salad, potato salad, macaroni salad, tuna salad, Jell-O salad, a green salad, Greek salad, pear salad, broccoli salad, apple salad, cucumber salad, carrot salad, chicken salad, avocado salad, fruit salad, shrimp salad, tomato salad, ham salad, spinach salad, German potato salad, deviled egg salad. A prize will be given for the best salad – voted on by the U.S. electoral college. Anyone who really wants to bake a cake, call me.
You will again be divided into teams that will compete. For what? Haven’t decided yet, but this time I guarantee you will not need to take off any of your clothes. Also, everyone is to come with a great joke or little story to tell us in the wee hour of the evening until the fireworks begin. Be prepared to dance to some awesome Iranian music.
If you have a folding chair, it would be good to bring one. Some of you went up to the street above my house and watched the fireworks display from up there; some of you sat on the roof of my house to do the same – your choice. Let’s issue in a new year of no Covid. My assumption is that you have all had the shot if you wanted one. And if you didn’t get one, it was because you didn’t want one.
You may invite a friend or two. I just need to know the final number coming.
Gari Westkott 303-986-4792 jgwestkott@gmail.com
