We are observing Hurricane Michael and will be prepared should the storm threaten the Club.  Preparedness measures may include:
- Postponing or cancelling events
- Shutting down cooking and climate control equipment
- Turning power and water off to the docks
- Stowing away furnishings
- Hauling Club boats

Please take precautions and secure your on-site boat.  The Club is not responsible for damages.

We will provide status updates as the storm progresses.

Schedule of Upcoming Events:
Sat, Oct 13-Sun, Oct 14 - Laser Masters Atlantic Coast Championship
Sat, Oct 20 - Offshore Fall Series 3
Sat, Oct 27 - Offshore Fall Series 4
Fri, Nov 2 - Cruising Closing Dinner
Sat, Nov 3 - Closing Day Regatta (Winter Series #1) and Oyster Roast
Sun, Nov 4 - Laser Frostbite Regatta
Sat, Nov 10 - Offshore Winter Series 2
Sun, Nov 11 - Fall Clean-Up Day
Sat, Nov 17 - Commodore’s Ball
Sat, Dec 1 - Offshore Winter Series 3

This Week’s Update:
- Please be mindful of Hurricane Michael as you plan your weekend.  We are making preparations at the Club and will provide updates as the storm progresses.  Please stay tuned for updates on the FBYC news and Facebook pages …

The Laser Masters Atlantic Coast Championship kicks off this weekend with the largest single fleet of the year approaching 50 boats sailing in the waters of the Piankatank. Competitors are coming from as far as Michigan, Colorado, New York and Canada for the not-to-be-missed annual laser masters regatta at FBYC.

This years uninvited guest is hurricane Michael that due to skirt the area in the early morning hours Friday as a strong storm and should be mostly passed by the time competitors are arriving Friday evening.

As always the regatta features an amazing meal of filet minon and salmon by fleet member Alain Vincey and Rick Klein is back as PRO with a great crew.

The Trophy Committee will receive nominations until October 15^th for the following perpetual trophies to be awarded at the Annual Awards Party in November:

• PIANKATANK TROPHY – Recognizes the FBYC skipper who most exemplifies the principle that “all is not lost until the boat sinks.”
• MATTHEW FONTAINE MAURY BOWL – Recognizes a member of FBYC for an outstanding contribution to sailing at Fishing Bay Yacht Club.
• COMPETITION TROPHY – Recognizes a member of FBYC who is the skipper of an enrolled offshore or one-design boat and who most successfully represented FBYC in sailboat racing events conducted by other yacht clubs or associations during the past year. Nominations should consider the character (local, regional, national) of events entered and the quality of competition …

Laser Masters sailors are coming from across the country to the Laser Masters Atlantic Coast Championship at Fishing Bay Yacht Club October 13-14. Over 30 boats are already registered hailing from New York, Michigan, Colorado, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC. FBYC’s Masters events feature great sailing, an easy to launch location, experience race committee and a not-to-be-missed dinner by FBYC’s own Laser-sailing chef – Alain Vincey. From Apprentices to Legends – there will be competition at all levels.

Register before Tuesday to receive a discounted registration fee!

Want to see what FBYC Laser Masters Regattas are like?  Check out this video:

Schedule of Upcoming Events:
Thu, Oct 4 - Annapolis Boat Show Bus Trip
Sat, Oct 6 - One Design Fall Series 4
Sun, Oct 7 - Offshore Fall Series 2
Sat, Oct 13 - Laser Masters Atlantic Coast Championship
Sat, Oct 20 - Offshore Fall Series 3
Sat, Oct 27 - Offshore Fall Series 4
Fri, Nov 2 - Cruising Closing Dinner
Sat, Nov 3 - Closing Day Regatta (Winter Series #1) and Oyster Roast
Sun, Nov 4 - Laser Frostbite Regatta
Sat, Nov 10 - Offshore Winter Series 2
Sun, Nov 11 - Fall Clean-Up Day
Sat, Nov 17 - Commodore’s Ball
Sat, Dec 1 - Offshore Winter Series 3

This Week’s Update:
- Our weekend starts on Thursday with the Annapolis Boat Show Bus Trip.  The field trip leaves Richmond …

Fall Series started on the second day of Fall with light wind from the North West which built comfortably and shifted to the N NE during the three races (as SailFlow predicted (see previous post)).   There were 17 boats competing and all started together on each race adding some interesting large fleet racing aspects.   There were five classes; PHRF A, B, C, Non Spinnaker and J-70..  J-70s were racing tightly and the boats finished with 6,7,8 and 9 points.   The non spinnaker fleet was included in the first start and first leg to windward then did a medium length course up the Piankatank to Marker 12 then a slalom course back to 8 and then back to the …

Schedule of Upcoming Events:
Fri, Sep 28 - North Carolina Cruise (Dinner)
Sat, Sep 29 - One-Design Indian Summer Regatta (Fall Series 3)
                    - North Carolina Cruise (Depart)
Thu, Oct 4 - Annapolis Boat Show Bus Trip
Sat, Oct 6 - One Design Fall Series 4
Sun, Oct 7 - Offshore Fall Series 2
Sat, Oct 13 - Laser Masters Atlantic Coast Championship
Sat, Oct 20 - Offshore Fall Series 3
Sat, Oct 27 - Offshore Fall Series 4
Fri, Nov 2 - Cruising Closing Dinner
Sat, Nov 3 - Closing Day Regatta (Winter Series #1) and Oyster Roast
Sun, Nov 4 - Laser Frostbite Regatta
Sat, Nov 10 - Offshore Winter Series 2
Sun, Nov 11 - Fall Clean-Up Day
Sat, Nov 17 - Commodore’s Ball
Sat, Dec 1 - Offshore Winter Series 3 …

In the Fall 2018 issue of Sailing World magazine, there is a cover article by Amory Ross "Into the Night" covering the offshore training of the MudRatz Racing Team on a 1972 Swan 48 called Dreamcatcher.  The team was training for the 2018 Newport Bermuda Race - where they later won the 15 boat Class 5 division, and 7th of 85 overall in the St. David's Lighthouse Division.  FBYC member Gannon Troutman is helming Dreamcatcher across Long Island Sound in the photo selected for the magazine cover.

Christchurch School has recently announced a program that should be of interest to FBYC members, especially those who have participated in the Mobjack Fleet. Enclosed is an invitation that speaks for itself:

CELEBRATING ROGER MOORMAN
MOBJACK DESIGNER AND BUILDER

Roger Moorman, a Christchurch School 1939 graduate and native of Gloucester Virginia, will be inducted into the Christchurch School’s Hall of Fame for a Life Time Achievement Award on October 13th at 9:30 AM. Roger designed and manufactured the Mobjack, an all fiberglass 17.5 foot boat. This boat reflected a dramatic change in boat manufacturing technology. It was the first all fiberglass designed boat that incorporated a self-bailing capability. Prior to this, fiberglass was used to cover wood …

Fall is here!   This is the forecast for Saturday.  Moderate wind that shifts some and gets better.  RC will be ready to adjust marks to suit. Comfortable temperatures.   You could be sailing in this!

Schedule of Upcoming Events:
Sat, Sep 22 - Offshore Fall Series 1
Fri, Sep 28 - North Carolina Cruise (Dinner)
Sat, Sep 29 - Indian Summer Regatta (Fall Series 3)
                    - North Carolina Cruise (Depart)
Thu, Oct 4 - Annapolis Boat Show Bus Trip
Sat, Oct 6 - One Design Fall Series 4
Sun, Oct 7 - Offshore Fall Series 2
Sat, Oct 13 - Laser Masters Atlantic Coast Championship
Sat, Oct 20 - Offshore Fall Series 3
Sat, Oct 27 - Offshore Fall Series 4
Fri, Nov 2 - Cruising Closing Dinner
Sat, Nov 3 - Closing Day Regatta (Winter Series #1) and Oyster Roast
Sun, Nov 4 - Laser Frostbite Regatta
Sat, Nov 10 - Offshore Winter Series 2
Sun, Nov 11 - Fall Clean-Up Day
Sat, Nov 17 - Commodore’s Ball
Sat …

We’ve got a motor coach reserved to take a happy, eager group of FBYC sailors to the Annapolis Boat Show’s VIP Day on Thursday, October 4, 2018.  BUT with all the scurrying about and preparing for Florence, not many folks have signed-up to ride the bus.  

The last day to reserve your seat is this Saturday, September 22 at noon.  

You can reserve your seat for our journey by registering here! 

Costs are $35 a person for transportation.  Boat show admittance tickets are also $35 and can be purchased at the gate or on-line. 

Lighter wind, lighter tides, sunny skies.

Wind in the teens is still coming from the East but the rain has subsided at the Club.  Fishing Bay Road continues to drain and is passable in any vehicle.  We’re still seeing higher than average tides (about a foot above normal).  High tide is at 5:00 PM. 

We will restore water and power to the Docks no later than tomorrow afternoon.  The Bathhouse is reopened.  The Clubhouse and Fannies are also open.  We will begin full restoration of amenities Monday morning.

We hope weathered the storm as fortunately as we did.  Please consider contributing to relief efforts for areas hit hard by the storm.

Easterly wind, high tides, and sporadic rain.

Wind from the east in the 20’s and short, powerful rain storms continue at the Club.  Fishing Bay Road has standing rainwater but is still passable.  Tide is the biggest issue – more than a foot above normal.  High tide will be around 4:00 PM. 

The Docks’ water and power will remain off and the Bathhouse is still closed.  We will restore all facilities after the storm surge threat has passed.  The Clubhouse and Fannies are secured but can be accessed through the keypad doors.  Power and telecom service are still on.  The facility will remain secured while the storm threatens the area with wind, rain, and coastal flooding.

Please stay tuned …

Blue skies above Jackson Creek – Storm clouds across the Piankatank.

Intermittent storms are predicted all weekend with wind out of the East in the 20’s. Fishing Bay Road is still relatively dry and easily passable. Tide is still a foot above normal and high tide will be at 3:00 PM.

The Club’s facilities and equipment are in tact. The Docks’ water and power will remain off and the Bathhouse is still closed. We will restore all facilities after the storm surge threat has passed. The Clubhouse and Fannies are secured but can be accessed through the keypad doors. Utilities service is still on.

Please stay tuned for further updates.

Today is the day for last-minute storm preparation.

The water on Fishing Bay Road has receded but the wind is picking up at the Club.  Tide is at least a foot above normal and high tide will be at 2:15 PM.  The wind will continue to increase from the northeast and rain is predicted to start at 5:00 PM.  Rain is expected to continue through Sunday morning.

The Docks’ Water and power is turned off and the Bathhouse is closed.  The Clubhouse and Fannies are secured but can be accessed through the keypad doors.  Power and telecom service is still on.  The facility will remain secured while the storm threatens the area with wind, rain, and coastal flooding …

Despite NOAA’s change in the estimated tract of hurricane Florence, winds are predicted to be gusting 25+ knots in the vicinity of Windmill Point and coastal and land flooding risks remain, making traveling to the Club hazardous on Saturday.

THEREFORE RACING ON SATURDAY 9/15 IS cancelled. Due to potential conditions at the Club, this notice will be a substitute for a notice on the FBYC Official Notice Board.

Fortunately, Hurricane Florence is tracking further south than initially expected.  But wind gusts up to 40 and storm surge are forecast and Stingray Point is under evacuation for flood danger.

We are in the final preparation stages at the club today in anticipation of the storm.  Please note:

BUILDINGS  –  The Clubhouse will be locked - access through the front door with keypad.  Fannie’s will also be locked – access through the back/porch door with keypad.  The Bathhouse will be locked & unavailable for use. 
DOCKS  –  Power and water will be shut off to the docks this afternoon - we recommend unplugging shore power cords & double-checking lines.  We also anticipate losing a few boards – please walk the dock carefully.  Caution tape …

Schedule of Upcoming Events:
Sat, Sep 15 - One Design Fall Series 2 - CANCELLED
Sat, Sep 22 - Offshore Fall Series 1
Sat, Sep 22 - Fall Series 1
Fri, Sep 28 - North Carolina Cruise (Dinner)
Sat, Sep 29 - Indian Summer Regatta (Fall Series 3)
                    - North Carolina Cruise (Depart)
Sat, Oct 6 - One Design Fall Series 4
Sun, Oct 7 - Fall Series 2
Sat, Oct 13 - Laser Masters Atlantic Coast Championship
Sun, Oct 14 - Laser Masters Atlantic Coast Championship
Sat, Oct 20 - Fall Series 3
Sat, Oct 20 - Fall Series 4

This Week’s Update:
- Please take a moment to thank the Kadnucs and the Ragsdales for putting an awesome lasagna dinner together last week for the Offshore Distance racer.
- Club events scheduled …