To All - Below are the Minutes from the cruising meeting last Saturday, March 30th. Attached is the Cruising Fleet Full Schedule for 2019 (suggest you print it out and paste it on your refrigerator), and the details of the Cruising Plan for 2019. If you haven't already, please pay your Fleet dues. Again, see attached. Lee Luce Cruising Fleet Secretary ___________________________________________________________ Cruising Meeting Minutes Saturday, March 30, 2019 Summary of Meeting High Points Five Hudson River cruises, from simple to moderately intense, were outlined and discussed. The point of these cruises is to gain cruising skills over the 2019 sailing season. The first cruise will be Memorial Day; the last cruise will be in mid-September. Cruising details are attached to this report as a separate document. Several action items were identified from the meeting: R Action item - The Fleet will work up a Survey Monkey questionnaire to ask about favored activities, cruising plan preferences, and whether members are willing to pay a few dollars to commit to joining a cruise. R Action item - Lee (Luce) will work with Joanne (Smolen) to identify sailing coaches, and those that would like sailing support. R Action item - Lee will add a raft-up idea to the Memorial Day cruise plan. R Action item - Jeff Levy will organize a Seamanship Rally in 2019. R Action item - Lee will work with Dave Horton to help organize the Coast Guard Inspections for the Fleet. R Action item - Jeff will reserve a time and organize a Local Cruising Destination Workshop Fleet Captain - Cruising, Jeff Levy, called the meeting to order at 10:15 am, introducing Secretary Lee Luce. Seventeen members were in attendance. Jeff outlined his mission statement for 2019 which included goals of having fun and enjoying the Fleet, the Club, and our members; increasing Fleet membership to prior levels; generate events and programs that will encourage participation; and to interact with other fleets with similar goals. Specifically, Jeff wants to help mentor newer Cruising Fleet members, introduce the Fleet to the joys of local cruising, repeat the Safety & Seamanship course from last year, sponsor a local destinations workshop, encourage Coast Guard inspections, and highlight cruises to different river ports. DISCUSSIONS Jeff asked how many people at the meeting were interested in racing, how many were interested in only cruising, and how many were in favor of both? The spilt was roughly 1/3, 1/3, 1/3. Someone suggested taking a survey of the Fleet to see how many members would like to get involved in what sort of activities. Lee volunteered, with help from Jeff, to work up some questions using Survey Monkey. Action item - Lee & Jeff will work up questions for a Survey Monkey. Coaching - Several members have expressed a desire to sail with more experienced sailors on their own boats to improve their skills and learn what they might be doing wrong, what they are doing right, and pick up new sailing abilities under watchful guidance. During the Racing Meeting 3/27/19, Joanne (Smolen) volunteered to coordinate those who wanted to sail with racing coaches, and the Cruising part of the Fleet wants to do the same thing. Lee volunteered to work with Joanne to identify who might like to have a sailing coach, and who might like to be a sailing coach. Action item - Lee will work with Joanne to identify sailing coaches and coachable sailors. Cruising Plans 2019 The big topic of the meeting was a discussion of proposed cruises for 2019. Jeff outlined a plan of five cruises from simple to more challenging from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend. The point of these five cruises is to gain experience cruising, enjoy the Hudson River, and have the support of other Nyack boats in a small flotilla. The details of these cruises are attached to this report and will be published in more detail on the Cruising fleet web site. Of course all cruising plans will depend on the weather, and the weather forecasts. The idea is to get a small group together and share the cruising experience, as we increase skills during the sailing season. Other suggestions for extended cruises at the meeting included a three day trip to Long Island Sound and back to gain experience going around Manhattan, and an extended two-week cruise out to Block Island in August. Lee pointed out that the great difficulty planning cruises is the importance of the weather, and the resistance of members to commit until the last minute. Ernie (Schlesinger) suggested asking folks to pay a small deposit ($5 or $10) to be refunded when they sign up so they have some stake in the reservation. This could be done using the Cruising Fleet Paypal account. Lee said she would investigate this possibility. Action item - Lee will explore the idea of using Paypal to ask members to pay a few dollars to make a reservation before joining a cruise. FLEET ACTIVITIES & EVENTS Jeff listed several activities he would like to support this year including: Coast Guard Inspections -Dave Horton is organizing the annual Coast Guard inspections, probably in June. These are courtesy inspections to help everyone comply with the law. When you pass, you receive an annual sticker that may discourage the local River police from detaining you for an inspection at a most inconvenient time. Because of his busy schedule, Dave requested someone from the Cruising Fleet help him organize the event. Lee volunteered to help out. Action item - Lee will work with Dave Horton to help organize the Coast Guard Inspections. Seamanship Rally - last year Morris (Azar) organized a popular Seamanship Rally that consisted of a two-hour Club house lecture, and then several hours on the water practicing man- overboard drills, coming into the dock, reefing your mainsail and jib, etc. Action item - Jeff Levy will organize a Seamanship Rally for this year. Local Destination Workshop - in conjunction with organizing cruises, Jeff offered to sponsor a Destination Workshop. The point of the workshop would be to swap information between those that had extensive cruising experience, and those that wanted more information about cruising destinations. Action item - Jeff will reserve a time and organize a Local Destination Workshop. Race Patrol - nine Race Patrol volunteers are needed this year. Ernie, Don Myers, and Joanne offered to each pick a day from Carol's list of spots which need filling. Action item - Carol (Marsh), Fleet Captain Racing, will ask for more volunteers to fill the Race Patrol roster. OTHER TOPICS Howie Rinehart discussed his membership in Singles Under Sail (SUS) on Long Island Sound. This group plans cruises up and down the Sound. This year the group is going to Fall River, Massachusetts with many stops along the way. He felt a good goal for Nyack cruisers would be to get to Block Island. Going in a small group would provide support and coaching. Patty (Lukes) asked about rafting up parties at Nyack, and some of the difficulties in organizing such an effort were discussed. Lee felt that if the weather was right, it might be fun to plan a raft up off Hook Mountain during the Memorial Day Cruise Weekend. Action item - Lee will add a raft-up idea to the Memorial Day cruise plan. Joe (O'Neill) asked about reciprocity with other Clubs. Lee explained that Clubs that share reciprocity with Nyack are listed on the Cruising Fleet web site at <http://cruisingfleetnbc.com> http://cruisingfleetnbc.com. The meeting adjourned at 11:30 AM Respectfully submitted, Lee Luce, Cruising Fleet Secretary March 31, 2019 Let's Go Cruising - 2019 Five proposed cruises, each with increasing difficulty and different learning experiences, are scheduled for 2019. Cruises will be planned, but cancelled for poor registration or for a poor weather forecast such as high winds, nasty rain, or cold temperatures. The idea here is that cruising isn't an endurance contest, but a fun activity to be enjoyed in reasonably good weather. Cruise #1 - Memorial Day May 25 - 27th. Three nights on your own mooring! Friday - Provision your boat Friday afternoon. Enjoy dinner on the patio at NBC Friday night, and spend the night on your mooring. Saturday - have breakfast on your boat, go for a sail, watch the Club regatta on Saturday, come back to your mooring and read a good book or have an afternoon nap. Enjoy dinner on your boat, at the Club, or enjoy one of the great restaurants uptown. Sunday - breakfast on the patio, organize a raft-up off Hook Mountain if the weather is right, and watch the new Champion of Champions regatta racing at Nyack. Perhaps organize a group BBQ on the patio Sunday evening. Spend a second night on your boat. Monday - breakfast on your boat, sail up to Ossining and back, and watch the Laser Regatta at the Club. Keep a diary of your weekend, and make a list of things your forgot to bring, or that you could do differently. Cruise #2 - June 14 - 16th Full moon Monday, June 17th . Clearwater Festival at Croton Point June 15 - 16th. Two-night cruise. Tides - Friday - low at Nyack 3:30 pm, high 10 pm. Friday -Make a reservation, using Dockwa, for a slip at Shattemuc Marina for Friday night. (See <http://www.cruisingfleetnbc.com> www.cruisingfleetnbc.com to do this. The code for a free dock spot at Shattemuc Marina is NBCIND18.) After provisioning your boat, sail up to Shattemuc with the flotilla (about 1 hour) leaving 5 pm on the flooding current. Go earlier if you and the kids want to swim in SYC's beautiful pool. Have dinner at the restaurant and spend the night at the dock on your boat. Saturday - have breakfast on the boat, leave Shattemuc and sail north around Croton Point. The current will be against you. This weekend is the great Clearwater Festival. Drop anchor and enjoy listening to the music. If you have a dinghy, go ashore, buy a ticket, and enjoy the Festival. It's always awesome with foot-stomping music. They have the greatest collection of political bumper stickers you will ever see! Wave to the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater as she sails by. Have dinner and a good bottle of wine aboard your boat. If the weather cooperates you can raft up with other Nyack boats, and/or go swimming and clean your bottom. Sunday - Happy Father's Day! High tide will be around 10:30 am, so you can head South to Nyack any time after that. Keep a diary of your weekend, and make a list of things your forgot to bring, or that you could do differently. Cruise #3 - July 4th fireworks at Bowline Point - one-night cruise We don't know yet when the Haverstraw fireworks at Bowline Point are going to be. The 4th is a Thursday and this year and the tides are completely wrong for getting in and out of Bowline Point in the early evening. Depending on how much you draw, you should go into or out of the Cove carefully within two hours of high water. On July 5th and 6th high tide is at 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm; low tide is at 8 and 9 pm. Don't go into the Cove the first time without an experienced guide, or else follow someone with a larger boat and a deeper keel to the inside. Once you're in the Cove, you can raft up with other Nyack boats or drop your own anchor. Bring a full complement of fenders. Bring provisions for cocktails, dinner, and breakfast the next morning. This is a traditional NBC party and absolutely fabulous. The fireworks are awesome. The cove is protected and beautiful. Don't plan to leave in the morning until there is enough water around 11:30 am (+/- two hours either side of high tide) and follow someone larger than you out into deep water. Keep a diary of your weekend, and make a list of things your forgot to bring, or that you could do differently. Cruise #4 - August 31st - September 2nd -Liberty Island & Raritan Bay - two-night Labor Day Weekend cruise Saturday - leave Nyack on the high tide at 11:30 am Saturday night - stay at Liberty Island Marina or anchor behind the Statue of Liberty. If staying at the Marina you can make reservations using Dockwa. The Marina has a good restaurant, is well lit, and will be a "happening place" on Labor Day weekend. If staying behind the Statue of Liberty, be prepared to drop anchor near other Nyack sailors. This anchorage is generally calm and beautiful, with breathtaking views of Manhattan at night. Sunday - sail in beautiful Raritan Bay to Keyport Yacht Club. Make reservations at Keyport for a mooring using Dockwa. We have reciprocity with Keyport, so there should be no mooring fee. The Club has a lovely restaurant, a launch exactly like ours, and members can't do enough for you. Monday - leave Keyport at 6 am to ride the current back to Nyack. Keep a diary of your weekend, and make a list of things your forgot to bring, or that you could do differently. Cruise #5 - September 14 - 17 - Hudson River Cruise to Kingston, NY [n.b. more homework has to be done here to check the currents between Chelsea and Kingston, plus return currents. This is a very difficult cruise to plan.] Friday night - provision and spend the night on your boat at Nyack Saturday - leave on the low tide at 6:00 am and sail north to Chelsea Yacht Club, arriving early afternoon. The trip to Chelsea through the Hudson River Highlands is spectacular. Read up on your Revolutionary War history to appreciate the West Point fortress and the American chain across the River that barred the British ships from sailing up to Kingston & Albany. Saturday night use the CYC launch to BBQ on shore, or enjoy dinner aboard your boat. Chelsea has lovely shower facilities, but no nearby shopping. Sunday - sail to Kingston leaving any time after 9:30 am. This is a lovely part of the River as the land flattens heading north. Sunday night - eat at one of the many restaurants along the Kingston waterfront, enjoy the tourist trolley ride, and make sure you visit the Hudson River Museum. Monday - leave Kingston and sail south to Chelsea. Other ports you might enjoy along the River include Newburgh, Cold Spring, Peekskill, or Haverstraw Marina. Tuesday - finish your cruise back to Nyack. Keep a diary of your weekend, and make a list of things your forgot to bring, or that you could do differently.