Commodores’ Report
By: Commodore Lou Konopacki
What a wonderful surprise to see how Red Eye Yacht Club had decorated their club for our meeting. The frog was a special touch. The food and hospitality was outstanding. Thanks to Commodore Steve Rockel and the crew at Red Eye.
A member of Galloway Yacht Club was the last winner of the 4x500 raffle. I would like to thank all of the yacht clubs and their members who made the raffle a success, and a special thanks to P/1st Crab Joe Broseker for putting the raffle together.
The balls have come to a close and the openings are just around the corner. This is a good time to see old and new friends. I would like to thank my officers for filling in for me at some of the balls.
YCM continues to grow with the addition of two more yacht clubs . Welcome aboard Middle River Yacht Club, and Great Oaks Yacht Club.
The first two openings the uniform of the day for YCM officers will be salt and pepper.
Our next meeting will be a board meeting at Maryland Yacht Club all are invited to attend. Hope to see you there.
Vice Commodores’ Report
By: V/C Joe Hellner
The next General Membership Meeting will be held at Otter Point Yacht Club on May 28, 2008 starting at 7 PM. Dinner will be at 6PM. Dinner menu and cost are not out yet.
YCM meets every month for the benefit of its membership. Host clubs work hard to host YCM meetings and prepare dinners for their friends from other member clubs. Please show your interest and support by signing up for the dinner at Otter Point! The dinners are a convenient and enjoyable way to attend General Membership meetings, take care of yacht club business, and socialize with your friends from around the Bay.
If you have not already signed-up, leave a message with me at 410 729-1971 or send me an email at If you sign up, please ensure you notify me as soon as possible if you have to cancel. Otherwise, we may have to charge you to cover the costs incurred by the host club for dinners not served.
Late Breaking News: The 4th Annual YCM Yacht Club Golf Tournament will be held September 29th instead of October 9th as originally planned Contact Tournament Chairman Jerry Cramblett for details. Jerry plans to have a flyer out by Opening Season.
Upcoming Meeting: The April Board Meeting will be at Maryland Yacht Club on April 30th, at 7 PM.
The next Newsletter Deadline is May 12th. As always, all member clubs and guest writers from our yachting community are welcome to provide articles.
Rear Commodores’ Report
By: R/C Dan Miller
Announcement:
Welcome Welcome… No there is no echo here. It is two welcomes, one each for our two new members, Middle River Yacht Club and Great Oak Yacht Club. We are now 29 member clubs strong and while we are on the subject, we are hoping to get even stronger. As mentioned previously, I announced two additional applications at the March meeting. One from Commodore Robert “Bubba” Tuck from Charlestown Yacht Club and one from Commodore Karolann Fine of Bowleys Point Yacht Club. These applications will be processed in the typical way and I will report my findings to the Board at the April meeting. I expect all to go well and expect the Board to present these to the General Membership in May.
With regard to the 2008 Ship’s Log, all submissions have been received, the publishing process is continuing and we hope to go out to print very soon. The General Membership voted to spend $1,000.00 to produce as many copies as possible, which will allow each club to receive a few more that last year. Watch for your copy coming soon.
Hope to see you soon,
Rear Commodore Dan Miller
410-536-0554
Boating, Waterways, and the Environment
By: Legislative Affairs Officer Deb Noon
The Maryland General Assembly session ended with nothing that directly affects recreational boaters. This is the first time in years we in the yachting community have not needed to provide written or verbal testimony on a bill.
The hot issue for all boaters is at the national level. A bill in the Senate, S. 2766 "The Clean Boating Act of 2008" was formally introduced on March 13, 2008, which, among other things, would exempt recreational boaters from the need to apply to the EPA for discharge permit for each of your boats, renew it every 5 years, and potentially get a separate permit for every state where you operate the boat.
In 1999, environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in an attempt to control the spread of aquatic nuisance species by mandating the treatment of ballast water in large commercial ocean going ships. The court ruling in 2006 interpreted current law to require EPA permits for all vessels including even dinghies and canoes. Obviously, such permitting would do nothing for the environment because discharging bad stuff like oil is already illegal.
Getting a permit to bail rainwater, wash water, and seawater leakage out of your boat is obviously a silly waste of time and resources. Nevertheless, Boat US warns that if Congress does not act, operating your vessel after September 30, 2008 without an EPA permit would be illegal. The EPA is reportedly working on a recreational boater permitting process, just in case.
The following link from Boat US provides all the details and whom you should contact: http://www.boatus.com/gov/alert_0308.asp
Maryland Senators Cardin and Mikulski are already among the bill co-sponsors but we boaters need to keep pushing to get Congress to act on the legislation before the Sept 30th deadline.
As always, if you have any issues that you would like discussed or followed up on, please drop me an email at .
Sunshine
By: Honorary P/1st Crab Kate Cramblett
As you know my job as is to send cards to
those who have are in need of a little
“sunshine” in their lives. Whether it be due
to sickness, hospitalization, passing of a loved
one or just to know that YCM is thinking of
them during a stressful time. At each meeting
I report on all those I have sent cards to and also
ask if there is anyone who may be in need of a
card.
It has been expressed to me that perhaps you
would like to have this information in a more
timely manner so that you may send a card.
So, to that end, I will create an e-mail distribution
list so that as soon as I know – you’ll know.
If you are interested in being on this list, please
contact me either by phone (410-437-.6253) or
e-mail ().
Secretary’s Report
By: Sec Charlie Downs
Member clubs, please keep me posted on Commodore’s and YCM Delegates’ name, address and e-mail address in case I have to send any special notices. Thank You.
Treasurer’s Report
By Treasurer Steve Keefe
No news to report. Just send money.
Dates to Remember
Board Meeting – Maryland YC - April 30th
Gen Membership – Otter Point YC - May 28th
Board Meeting – Sue Haven YC – June 25th
Tolchester Cruise – July 18 – 20
Family Picnic - September 21st
Golf Tournament – Sep 29th (New Date)
Change of Watch Dinner – Oct 24th
Scuttlebutt and Spindrift –
By: Salty Sam the Sea Dog
Ahoy Mateys! Salty hears there was a great land cruise up around the Middle River. Baltimore YC visited Crescent, Eastern, and Sue Haven but either the bilge rats aren’t talking or everyone behaved (highly unlikely). Many of you remember 2002 Queen of the Chesapeake Bridget Smith. A Salty belated Congratulations and Best Wishes goes to Bridget, who got married back in July ’07. Bridget will soon be settling down in South Carolina with new husband, Dr. Brian Desaulniers. No other news, stories, or gossip to report as our captains and crews remain busy getting their boats and clubs ready for the season.
The Skunk Flag remains with P/C Steve Keefe of Bodkin YC but Salty is pleased to report that a potential new winner has been “ratted out” and King Neptune’s court will soon decide the person’s fate. The winner will be announced at the opening of that person’s home club.
Please send your news, items of interest, stories, and skunk flag nominations to V/C Joe Hellner. He usually knows where to find me. Till next Port of Call, always remember, those who don’t make mistakes must not be doing anything!
Protocol Matters
Captain Protocol, P/C Joe Hellner, Belvedere YC
Openings and Flag Raisings
At yacht clubs, a ceremony is traditionally held in the Spring or early Summer to mark the official opening of the summer boating season. The day this occurs is called Opening Day. A common traditional part of the ceremony is to host the club burgee to the top of the mast. This is called Flag Raising. Often members of the yachting community will refer to the Opening Ceremony as the Flag Raising, which is perfectly acceptable.
Quick Opening Ceremony/Flag Raising Pointers:
Flower Color for the Queen of the Chesapeake is yellow. Flower colors for your Princess are your club colors, when possible. Immediate Past Commodores are introduced last. Always check with the host club first if you intend to make a presentation or special gesture. Be quiet and respectful when the M/C or other speaker is talking. OK to cheer, clap, and show enthusiasm but do it at the right times. Face the wreath when Taps or Amazing Grace is played during the memorial for the departed. Only the senior officer of a group salutes the honor guard. Always line up facing the podium with the higher ranking officers to the right (right rank). Correct call for the Group Salute is: “XYZ Yacht Club, Hand Salute!” (hands go up at the word “salute”) and Ready, TWO! (Salutes are dropped at the word “two”)
Guests should arrive and check in on time so as not to delay the host club ceremony. Host clubs should move through the ceremony promptly when other club ceremonies follow in the same day. Delays should be accommodated gracefully by all yacht clubs with ceremonies on the same day. The most important thing is for guests to arrive safely, whether by land or sea.
Princess Corner
Princesses are always welcome to provide notes, reminders, & articles. Princess home clubs are welcome to post short bios or otherwise tell us about their young lady. We also welcome "royal" inputs to our website - our webmaster, Karen Anderson, would be happy to answer any questions. Send articles to
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****** Yacht Clubs of Maryland – Bay Breeze (April 2008) ******
Openings 2008
APRIL, 200826 / Marley Boat Club - See YCM Web Site for Links to Opening Day, Raffle Tickets, and Ad Book Flyers / 1400 hrs
27 / Wellwood Yacht Club - See YCM Web Site for Link to directions – Contact R/C Cheryl Blakey - (215) 275-3910 or - Registration at 1300/Ceremony at 2PM / 1400 hrs
MAY, 2008
3 / Maryland Cruising Club - @ Red Eye YC - Registration and breakfast 0900 / 1000 hrs
3 / Galloway Yacht Club - @ Middle River YC / 1200 hrs
4 / Sue Haven Yacht Club / 1400 hrs
10 / White Rocks Yacht Club - @ Bodkin / 1300 hrs
10 / Kent Island Yacht Club / 1500 hrs
11 / Crescent Yacht Club - Flag Raising - FC Gene Bertoni (443)690-3267 / 1400 hrs
17 / Belvedere Yacht Club - Contact V/C Joy Cook (410)279-5393 / 1500 hrs
17 / Middle River Yacht Club - Contact Lloyd Moore 443.503.5430 / 1300 hrs
17 / Miles River Yacht Club / 1630 hrs
18 / Riverside Yacht Club - see Flyer (YCM web link) for weekend details. Slip info: FC Steve Melnick 717.314.4579; Dinner/Dance tickets: VC George Thurbon 410.477.8537 / 1200 hrs
18 / Red Eye Yacht Club - Boat Arrivals: F/C Bill Hill @ 410-802-7184;Opening Day: P/C Jill Cashman @ 443-506-1605; Steak Dinner Tickets: Terri Rockel @ 443-904-7679. Flyer on YCM Web Link / 1500 hrs
24 / Great Oak Yacht Club –Continental breakfast 0900 / 1000 hrs
24 / Otter Point Yacht Club / 1400 hrs
25 / Baltimore Yacht Club / 1400 hrs
31 / Maryland Yacht Club 100th Opening – Contact Club (410) 255-4444 / 1300 hrs
JUNE, 2008
1 / Queen of the Chesapeake Pageant – Maryland Yacht Club / 1300 hrs
7 / Ventnor Yacht Club – at Eastern Yacht Club – Contact Gloria Miceli 410.255.6306 / 1100 hrs
7 / North Point Yacht Club / 1400 hrs
7 / Bush River Yacht Club / 1600 hrs
8 / Eastern Yacht Club – VC Kevin Silate 443.841.6137 / 1400 hrs
14 / Charlestown Yacht Club – Charlestown Pavilion and Marina / 1400 hrs
15 / Bodkin Yacht Club – Registration 1200 – Docking info: F/C Bill Fairall cell: 301-440-0639 / Other info: Call club 410-255-9833 or V/C Will McCracken 410-437-2907 / 1300 hrs
21 / Outcast Yacht Club – at Crescent (subject to change) / 1300 hrs
21 / Amber Lighthouse Yacht Club / 1600 hrs
22 / Key Yacht Club / 1400 hrs
Social Events
DATE / CLUB / DESCRIPTION / INFORMATIONAPRIL 2008
19 / Otter Point YC / Bull and Shrimp Feast / Contact Club
19 / Baltimore YC / Shrimp Feast - Food 6-9 - Music 9-Midnight by the Mid-Niters / Contact Club (410)682-2310
19 / Bodkin YC / Bull and Oyster Roast / Contact Club (410)255-9833
19 / Crescent YC / Country Western Dance - see Flyer / Contact Club (410)687-2582
MAY 2008
9-11 / Crescent YC / Opening Weekend - Flag Raising 5/11 / Contact Club (410)687-2582
16-18 / Middle River YC / Opening Weekend - Flag Raising 5/17 / Lloyd Moore (443)503-5430
23-26 / Otter Point YC / Opening Weekend - Flag Raising 5/24 / Contact Club
JUNE 2008
1 / Maryland YC / Queen of the Chesapeake Pageant / Contact Club
JULY 2008
18-20 / YCM / Tolchester Cruise – All YCM Member Yacht Clubs - See Newsletter Notice below / Contact YCM F/C Steve Rockel at or 410-256-1065
AUGUST 2008
16 / Eastern YC / Feast of Plenty / (410)686-1
To List or Update Your Upcoming Club Activities