Well, Lady Patti and I planned to be reporting our first in a series of Great Lakes articles in keeping with the GIYC motto Great People, Great Lakes and Great Times. However, as you all know our fate is not in our hands alone and the impact of COVID-19 has been more far reaching than most of us could have imagined. I’m very proud to be part of an effort to help support our first responders and medical professionals and hope that our contribution of time and talent have made a difference. Better days are coming.

Great People – I’d like to feature one of our Great People who in the throes of all this epidemic thing has been in the front lines risking his life every day to help others. Our Fleet Surgeon, Steve Lewis, works for the Detroit Fire Department and in conversations with him I’ve heard stories of grim, sad and scary events he has had to endure in his work as a first responder. Please join me in thanking Steve for his role in this heroic effort to serve the public.

Great Lakes – Are we ready! Get set and whoa! Time to wait before getting boats ready for launching as floods are occurring around us, our Governor is keeping some of us off the water, and most of our favorite boating destinations are opening late. Wondering if they will open at all this summer? Don’t fool with Mother Nature, be prepared, and enjoy when the time is right. Our cover features an early morning scene at one of our favorite destinations. Can you see Mother nature beckoning us to come visit?

Great Times – Coming out of all this Social Distancing have been some really creative ways to still get together if only virtually. We have been having online get together events on Friday nights at 7:00 pm and they have gone very well. Passwords help to keep our meetings safe from ne’er do wells and fun for those who participate. Feel free to join in and tell everyone what you’ve been up to. I’m afraid we’ll be needing to continue for a few more weeks at least.

Great People, Great Lakes, Great Times, are what it’s all about.

Commodore Todd Du�ett & Lady Patti

This month I find myself writing my Spray article from our condo in Florida ….. it seems when you spend four weeks cooped up in the house with your college aged daughter after she’s lived on her own for three and a half years, her need for some “alone time” was drastically needed. Being the good parents that we are, we obliged her by making the fifteen-hour trek to Panama City Beach to wait out the balance of Executive Order Nos. 21/42/59. I guess I’ll have a little time to get the boat ready for launch when we return!

Over the past several weeks we have learned many new buzz words that have become everyday vocabulary. As we maneuver through life in the aftermath of this pandemic, I really don’t think that we can even imagine what our new normal is going to be like. It appears that we are entering a period where community spread may be inching downward, and all of the sacrifices made during quarantine are starting to flatten the curve. We’ve relearned how to wash our hands and are learning how to social distance so that we can stay close to our friends and family ….. who would have thought that a virtual cocktail party would be so fulfilling! These are unprece-dented times and we’re all in this together ….. and when this is over we will all be essential once again.

I would like to give a huge shout out to Commodore Todd and Lady Patti Duffett and their network of assis-tants for providing much needed face shields for our first responders around the country via Operation Face Shield – Downriver. It’s fantastic when a nerdy hobby (just kidding Todd) can provide such vital equipment for so many in need. As this need will continue well into the future, please consider making a generous donation to Operation Face Shield – Downriver to help sustain this great effort.

Once again, when these trying times are behind us, Lady Els and I have arranged for some great entertain-ment for the Spring/Summer/Fall ….. please stay tuned to the Spray for more details in the upcoming months!

Stay safe, stay well and we look forward to seeing you around the Club really soon!

V/C Jim Ferguson & Lady Els

Reflections from the Rear

The Spring launching season is upon us. The travel-lift operators need room to maneuver when launching boats, so please refrain from parking on Peek -A-Boo. If you do, please leave your keys in your car so it can be moved if necessary.

For members that have stored on Peek-A-Boo, please keep in mind that we need to endeavor to have all boats launched by the weekend of May 16 / 17th, which is the before the Memorial Day weekend. This is quickly approaching during these challenging times.

Remember that the last boats hauled in the Fall are the first boats to be launched this Spring. Please be prepared, and ready to launch when it is your turn. Per the Dock Rules, all cradles, jack stands and shoring materials will need to be removed from Peek-A-Boo by Friday May 22nd, the Friday of Memorial Day weekend.

Please remember that each member that berths their boat in the harbor or winter stores on Peek-A-Boo Island, needs to provide a copy of their Boat Insurance Declaration page, which needs to match the vessels hull identification numbers. If you have a second well, insurance also needs to be furnished. The minimum liability coverage is $300,000.00 per boat.

You can e-mail us a copy, or drop a copy into our Mailbox in the Managers office. Proof of Insurance will be retained in your membership file. Each year when your insurance is renewed, an updated copy needs to be submitted. Another option is to add GIYC to your policy, then the insurance company can e-mail a copy to Club.

Soon we will be through these troubling times and enjoying our boats and the Club,

Bob Shafer / Chris ConwayFleet Captains

Unassigned Wells that may be Assigned as a Second Well on June 1, 2020

Well No.

Rated Length Beam

3 26 9 7 22 9 8 20 8

13 27 12 14 29 12 15 29 12 18 29 12 20 30 12 24 30 14 31 36 10 32 36 13 33 32 11 34 31 12

35* 32 12 51 20 10 52 30 13 60 30 12 64 30 12 87 44 13 97 33 10

107A 20 8 108 33 10 109 30 8 110 27 8 111 30 8 112 30 8 113 27 8 124 42 14

*Request made not to assign due to Hickory Island Yacht

Club dock issues.

8 Ways to Love Boating While Safely Waiting Out Coronavirus (from BoatUS):

***Offshore Sailing School’s Learn to Sail, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Modern Marine Navigation courses free through May 15

1. Become a smarter sailor while saving big bucks by taking Offshore Sailing School’s Learn to Sail or the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Modern Marine Navigation courses free any time through May 15. Use the coupon code “learnfree” at BoatUS.org/Courses at registration.

2. Checklists are great when you really need them — just ask the person at the boat ramp who forgot to install the hull drain plug. What kind of printed, laminated checklist would be helpful to have aboard? Ideas include: pre-launch checklist, trailering checklist (did you remember to cross the safety chains?), and safety checklist.

3. Whether you're an inshore day cruiser, offshore angler, or cruising sailor, you always need to be prepared to abandon ship. Here’s what to pack in a ditch kit.

4. Docking can be a spectator sport. The BoatUS How to Dock a Boat YouTube playlist includes a range of docking scenarios that show you how, from outboard to inboard powered boats. It also includes ‘How to Back a Single Engine Inboard Boat Into a Slip’ – the single most impressive recreational boat docking maneuver of them all.

5. If the boat and trailer are safely in the garage or driveway, now may be the time to look at all the things you never have enough time to, such as replacing outdrive anodes, changing trailer bearings or restoring the shine to gelcoat. It’s all in one place at BoatUS Trailer Boat YouTube playlist, including small boat handling tips such as ‘How to Use Trim Tabs,’ the most-watched BoatUS video ever.

6. Learn how to tie up your family, pets or anything else around the house with help from the BoatUS Essential Boating Knots YouTube playlist. Practicing at home now will make these knots easier to remember aboard the boat when the pandemic is over.

7. Consider supporting the waterfront businesses you enjoy and do business with – restaurants, chandleries, prop shops, sail lofts or other service providers – by purchasing a gift certificate. You can start by going to the local businesses’ website to see if they are available.

8. Help protect the water you love and take the free, online BoatUS Foundation Clean Boating course, which offers simple steps you can take to reduce the impact boating activities on our waterways.

Fitting Out Party

Scheduled for

Saturday, May 2nd Watch your email and the GIYCOfficial Facebook page

for reschedule date!

Mark your Calendar! We are pleased to

Announce that the

2020 Commodore’s Ball

Honoring

Commodore Todd Duffett

And lady Patti

Has been

Rescheduled

To

Friday, October 23, 2020

Looking forward to

Seeing you there!

Reciprocal Clubs

The following clubs cordially extend to the Flag Officers and members of the Grosse Ile Yacht Club the

privileges of Club House and Facilities for the year 2020:

Ashtabula Yacht Club, Ashtabula, OHBuffalo Launch Club, Buffalo, NYBayview Yacht Club, Detroit, MI

Detroit Beach Boat Club, Monroe, MIElba-Mar Boat Club, Grosse Ile, MI

Ford Yacht Club, Grosse Ile, MIHarbor Bay Yacht Club, Sandusky, OH

Monroe Boat Club, Monroe, MINorth Cape Yacht Club, LaSalle, MI

Ottawa River Yacht Club, Toledo, OHPoint Place Boat Club, Toledo, OHSeaway Boat Club, Wyandotte, MI

Sun Parlor Boat Club, LaSalle, ONTSwan Boat Club, Newport, MI

Windsor Yacht Club, Windsor, Ontario

The following clubs cordially extend to the Flag Officers and members of the Grosse Ile Yacht Club the privileges

of the Club House only for the year 2020:

Buffalo Yacht Club (includes anchorage), Buffalo NY Chagrin River Yacht Club, Eastlake, OH

Erie Yacht Club (includes anchorage), Erie, PAGreat Lakes Steel Boat Club, Ecorse, MI

Indian Hill Boating Club, Maumee, OHLakefront Yacht Club. Port Clinton, OH

Nugent’s Canal Yacht Club, Port Clinton, OHSunseekers Boating Club, Gibraltar, MI

Toledo Sailing Club, Toledo, OH

Curbside To-GoOrder Between

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MAY

JUNE4 - Kayaking

18 - Kayaking21 - Father’s Day Brunch

JULY2 - Kayaking

16 - Kayaking25 - GIYC Down River Race/Entertainment

30 - Kayaking

AUGUST9 - Sunday Breakfast

13 - Kayaking27 - Kayaking

SEPTEMBER5 - Labor Day Race/BBQ

7 - Crab Boil/Music on the Patio12 - Blue Nose Regatta

19 - Hungarian Night20 - Sunday Breakfast

.

ELSFERGUSON

Providing Exceptional Service to S.E. Michigan since 1985

8420 Macomb, Grosse Ile, MI 48138www.islandrealtyinc.com

Els Sells...I have lived Downriver for most of my adult life. My pre-real estate professional background includes 30+ years as a teacher and administrator in the Wyandotte and Gibraltar school districts. I have a passion for all things real estate. I will work diligently to help you sell your home and/or buy your

real estate transaction! Call me at 734-341-9265

SOLD

OCTOBERCLOSED ON WEDNESDAYS UNTIL May 2021

2 - Meet the Candidates9 - Election Night

11 - Sunday Breakfast23 - Commodore’s Ball

24 - Trivia Night25-14th Annual Trunk or Treat

31 - Halloween

NOVEMBER8 - Sunday Breakfast

11 - Veteran’s Day Event14 - Little Italy Night26 - Thanksgiving28 - Club Event

TBD 29 - Work Hours Opportunity (Club Decorating Party)

DECEMBER6 - Santa Brunch

11 - Change of Watch13 - Sunday Breakfast

19 - Poppin’ Bottles Night20 - Chef‘s Choice- Final/Final

21 - Club Closed24 - Christmas Eve25 - Christmas Day

31 - Happy New Year’s Eve

.

MAY

JUNE4 - Kayaking

18 - Kayaking21 - Father’s Day Brunch

JULY2 - Kayaking

16 - Kayaking25 - GIYC Down River Race/Entertainment

30 - Kayaking

AUGUST9 - Sunday Breakfast

13 - Kayaking27 - Kayaking

SEPTEMBER5 - Labor Day Race/BBQ

7 - Crab Boil/Music on the Patio12 - Blue Nose Regatta

19 - Hungarian Night20 - Sunday Breakfast

.

Commodore Todd Duffett commodore@giyc.com

Vice Commodore Jim Ferguson vc@giyc.comRear Commodore Will Evans rc@giyc.comGroup email to Commodore, VC, & RC bridge@giyc.comGroup email to all Past Commodores pc@giyc.com

Chairman Pete Uhse (2021) chairman@giyc.comHouse Rob Doss (2022) house@giyc.comDocks P/C Bruce Milkins (2020) docks@giyc.comGrounds P/C Brian Hartwell (2020) grounds@giyc.comBuilding P/C Terry McCarthy (2022) building@giyc.comFinance Dave Sims (2020) & Rich Obermayer (2021) finance@giyc.comMembership Roger Pollack (2022) membership@giyc.comIT & Communications Kevin Hodgins (2021) IT@giyc.com

Group email to all Board members bod@giyc.com

Fleet Captain Chris Conway & Bob Schafer fleet@giyc.com

Fleet Measurer Alan Tecmire measure@giyc.com

Fleet Surgeon Steve Lewis surgeon@giyc.com

Fleet Treasurer Lady Tamara Dust treasurer@giyc.com

Secretary Paula Duffett secretary@giyc.com

Chaplain Paula Duffett chaplain@giyc.com

Commodore's Ball Joyce Tecmire ball@giyc.com

Entertainment Jane Bersie entertainment@giyc.com

Flags & Protocol Lady Audrey Lyden & P/C Terry McCarthy protocol@giyc.com

Strategic Planning Rich Obermayer sp@giyc.com

Historian P/C Bruce Milkins & P/C John Clark historian@giyc.com

Junior Sailing Erick Heilman jrsailing@giyc.com

Adult Learn to Sail Fernando Leon adultsailing@giyc.com

Photography Neil Johnson photo@giyc.com

Race Chairman Brian Rooks race@giyc.com

Rendezvous P/C Dick & Lady Lynne Savage rendezvous@giyc.com

Peek-a-Boo Crew President P/C Mark Balazy peekaboo@giyc.com

Spray Editor spray@giyc.com

Group email to all Flags & Committee Chairs flags@giyc.com

Associated Yacht Clubs P/C's Goffinett, Kissell (Alt. P/C Balazy & Savage) ayc@giyc.com

Detroit Regional Yachting Association P/C Matthew Dubois drya@giyc.com

Inter-Lake Yachting Association Erick Heilman (alternate Mark Balazy) ilya@giyc.com

Group email to all delegates delegates@giyc.com

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