Southport Yacht Club
[We should have our newsletter name—and the winning entry out of 90—in time for the
next issue!]
Commodore’s Corner
After a very long winter, it looks like spring is finally here! Spring is one of my favorite times
of the year…March Madness, daylight savings time, cherry blossoms (and pollen) and starting
to gear up for another boating season. As our boating season begins to kick into high gear, SYC
is also shifting gears for the spring with our social calendar and racing calendar set for the
coming months (see it on the next page). It is a great time of the year and I look forward to
seeing everyone out on the water!
As some of you already know, Rear Commodore
Jeff Fisher has taken another position in
Charleston, which means having the time
to devote to the club will be very difficult.
Therefore, Jeff has resigned as Rear Commodore.
Jeff was instrumental in the formation of SYC
and his leadership and insight helped put the
club where it is today. Fortunately, Jeff will be
returning regularly to Southport and B Dock,
where Jane is holding down the fort on Islena.
In This Issue
Calendar ... 2
Letter from the Editor ... 2
Photo Gallery ... 3
News ... 4
SYC Email Addresses ... 4
And of course, Roux is still the unofficial mayor of B dock!
(Cont. on page ... 4)
Southport Yacht Club Member Profile: Bob (Bob, Bob) and Lori Smith:
Selling everything, including the pantyhose, to go on a grand adventure
Bob and Lori Smith had been planning for their big boating adventure. But, as often happens with plans, they
change. The Smith’s change came when Bob learned a year before their tentatively scheduled departure that he
would need to work in Manhattan. Again.
Bob had worked in Manhattan and on Wall Street before. While working in this high-power, expensive-suit borough
of New York City may have appeared to be the corporate pot at the end of
the rainbow, it was not the life Bob wanted. He wanted to sail. And when he
met Lori, who had bought her own boat, at a marina in Connecticut, he had
a compadre not only for sailing, but for life. They later married and for years
enjoyed “cold weather sailing” to Maine early and late in the season. Years
later, the Manhattan work requirement reared its head. Lori, too, was tired of
the corporate life.
“We decided it was time to run from reality,” Lori recalls.
(Cont. on page ... 5)
1.
Southport Yacht Club Save the Date Calendar
Learn more about these events and book your participation (RSVP) at www.sycnc.org
April-May
April 11: Wine Tasting, The Wine
Rack, 3-5 p.m.
April 16: Thursday Beer Can Race, 6
p.m.
April 18: USCG Inspection, Southport
Marina, 9 a.m.
April 26: SYC Board Meeting (all
members welcome), Southport
Marina, 9 a.m.
April 30th: Thursday Beer Can Race
May 3: Tres de Mayo Party, Loco Jo’s,
3 p.m.
May 14: Thursday Beer Can Race
May 16: CFYC Series Race
May 24: Sunday Sunfish Racing 2 p.m.
May 28: Thursday Beer Can Race
May 30: CFYC Series Race
August
August 8: CFYC Series Race
August 22: CFYC Rocket Regatta
August 28, 29 and 30: Bald Head
Island Cruise
June
June 7: Sunday Sunfish Racing
June 11: Thursday Beer Can Race
June 13: SYC Regatta
June 20: CFYC Series Race
June 21 Sunday Sunfish Racing
June 26, 27 and 28: Banks Channel
Raft-up
July
July 3: Rib Fest, Southport Marina
July 4: CFYC Commodore’s Regatta
July 11,12: Harkers Island Sunfish
Regatta
September - December
September 5: CFYC Series Race
September 19: Around Oak Island
Sunfish Regatta
October 24: CFYC Series Race
October 24: Around Paris Island
Sunfish Regatta
October 31: Stede Bonnet
December 5:CFYC Frostbite Regatta
December 12: Christmas Flotilla
Letter from the editor:
As is the case with any new organization, things will change. Sometimes something you tried at another organization
works very well in the new one. Sometimes it doesn’t. And sometimes you need to tweak it to fit it to your new needs.
The Southport Yacht Club has similarly had some changes as we try to improve our club
administration’s communications with our various audiences, including the Southport
community, club members, guests and potential members.
First, while we never officially launched our new web site, we have changed the web
address to be more in line with our newly-acquired non-profit status. The new site is www.
sycnc.org. Member Larry Boggis developed the web site and did a fantastic job. As a result of
the change of the web address, we’ve changed the yacht club-related email addresses, which
can be found on page 4 of this newsletter. I suggest you save this page somewhere that’s
easy to find in case you need to contact someone on the list.
We will also communicate more timely information and fun tidbits through emails to
membership and our SYC Facebook page (please ask your friends to like our page!). We
want you all to be educated, informed and entertained about SYC events. Let me know how we could help!
Cheryl L. Serra ([email protected])
2.
Photo Gallery
It’s been a busy and welcomed winter-into-spring transition for
Southport Yacht Club members and guests. There was the Frogmore
Stew event at the marina (brrrr....) and then, in March, the gathering
at Provisions under blue and sunny skies, followed by another season
kickoff, the Blessing of the Fleet. And in the midst of all the activity,
there were some pretty stunning sunsets, too!
Despite — or due to — the weather conditions, lots of people came
out to chat, propose a toast and help usher in what will undoubtedly
be an exciting and activity-packed few months.
3.
News:
Chris Webster named Rear Commodore
My boating life paused for a while so I could finish my 30-year pharmabusiness career developing drugs for migraine, depression, ADHD, peptic
ulcer, and more. Whew....glad that is over with. Back to boating. My attraction
to the sway of the water began with my first boat ride – from Adak, Alaska
to Oakland Naval Hospital – on my way to being born. Years later, there were
2-week TransPacific ocean crossings to and from Japan. For me, this way of traveling was fantastic, and the typhoon
near Japan was pure excitement. Ultimately, these boat rides created that slippery slope which led to my love of
water, surfing, racing one-design 470s, canoeing, owning my 32 Trojan flybridge sedan, and now, my 31 Pearson
sloop. As we all know, boats are OK, but the real fun comes from hanging out on the docks with you boaters! Indeed,
the stories abound, and some of you skalawags will have to remain nameless – maybe! Currently, I am a member
of SYC and Cape Fear Yacht Club, as well as a US-Sailing certified race officer. I live in downtown Southport, a short
walk from the Southport Marina. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Commodore’s Corner (cont. from page 1)
We’re happy to announce that Chris Webster was
nominated and accepted the Rear Commodore’s
position (see article above this column). If you don’t
know Chris, please take the time to get to know him.
Chris and his wife, Colleen, live in Southport and have
been very active in several organizations in the area. You
can read about Chris on page 4 of this newsletter. We
welcome Chris to the club management and know he
will be a very valuable addition to our team (it doesn’t
hurt that Collen is the best baker in town!).
On Saturday, April 18th the Southport Coast Guard
Auxiliary will perform free safety inspections at the
Southport Marina to members and nonmembers
alike. The inspection takes about 45 minutes and SYC
members should RSVP as soon as possible by going to
the new web site at www.sycnc.org.
I strongly recommend the inspection for a couple of
reasons: the USCG likes that you have taken the time to
care for your vessel and its equipment and you could
learn if you need to update any equipment. If your
vessel passes the inspection they will provide you with a
sticker; the Coast Guard likes to see these stickers while
they’re patrolling on the water.
Don’t forget to order your SYC merchandise (see page
5 for web site). In many instances you can add custom
lettering to your order, such as your boat name, for an
additional fee. The club receives a percentage of all
purchases, so the money you spend benefits the club!
I can never adequately thank all the members who are
actively participating in helping with the administrative,
social, marketing and financial functions of the club.
I would be remiss if I didn’t remind all members
that everything that happens in the club is done by
volunteers and one of our goals is to have everyone be
active and share in the clubs responsibilities. Please
make sure you get and stay involved.
Enjoy your spring and I’ll see you on the water!
Southport Yacht Club Important Email Addresses
For general communications with the club: [email protected]
For membership and membership applications: [email protected]
For boating, sailing, racing and water events: [email protected]
For club and social events: [email protected]
For the SYC web site: [email protected]
4.
Member Profile: Bob and Lori Smith (cont. from page 1)
They thought they’d go cruising on S/V Pride, a 40-foot
Tartan, for at least a year.
Thus began an eight-year journey that began in 1999
and created indelible experiences, lasting friendships
and a world of memories.
Heading out to Granada
The Plan and the Journey
“We sold everything we owned—house, furniture, business suits, pantyhose—everything,” Lori says. Cars and
the vacuum cleaner were the last to go, she says, adding,
“Kind of like vacuuming yourself out of the house!“
They weren’t sure where this cruising adventure would
take them. They also knew the importance of having an
“out” if they had to return to terra firma, so rather than
give in to the temptation to invest the money from the
house sale in the boat, they saved it so they could start
again when the adventure was over.
Shop the Southport Yacht Club Store
If you haven’t yet
shopped at the SYC’s
online store, go there
now to pick up high
quality clothing,
bags, hats and more!
You can add custom
lettering, such as
your boat name, on
most items for a small
additional fee. A percentage of your purchase will
go directly to the club, too.
Visit http://www.coralreefsailing.com/index.php/
catalog/category/view/s/southport-yacht-club/
id/1581/ today!
Their journey began in Connecticut, where they were
living, and wound south to the Bahamas. From there,
they returned north, exploring Maine and Canada and
returning to Connecticut for a short visit. Heading south
again, they went to Beaufort, North Carolina, where they
arrived in late October. On November 4th—they remember the exact day all these years later—they headed to
the Virgin Islands.
Throughout their cruising life, they sailed from Nova
Scotia to Venezuela several times. Granada was one of
their favorite long-time staying spots, but certainly not
the only one.
Along the way they met lots of kindred cruisers. As a
group, they helped each other figure out boat fixes and
how to craft novelties like boat lights carved from island
trees. They experienced things like flying fish flying
right at their faces.
Oh, yeah, there were days of dominos and nights of rum,
too, along the way.
Some of Bob and Lori’s most vivid memories include
being in Granada with boats representing over 30 countries during 9/11. Lori remembers feeling locked out of
their country and realizing that freedom is something
many do not have and that we should cherish.
More pleasant memories include the boat parties with
great musicians in Venezuela. These parties and the
people they met at them and throughout their travels far
outweighed any political tension and security measures
cruisers had to take in various parts of the world.
(Cont. on page ... 6)
Spread the word about the Southport Yacht
Club. Like and share our Facebook page (https://
www.facebook.com/pages/Southport-YachtClub/757380797689562). Check out our beautiful
and functional web site, www.sycnc.org. Talk us up
to potential members. Think of it as asking your new
best friends to become our new best friends!
5.
Member Profile: Bob and Lori Smith (cont. from page 5)
As can be imagined, weather played a big role in their
travelogue. At times there were plentiful, quicklyforming and powerful storms and at others, no wind at
all. Sailing between islands was always an experience
too, due to the accelerating winds.
Bob says you have to have confidence in your abilities to
resolve whatever comes your way.
St. John, Easter
They remember with a chuckle the time their weather
router, Herb, sent them about 100 miles southwest of
Bermuda to allow a tropical depression to pass the
islands.
“He told us to keep going on our route and also released
about 150 boats who were also waiting for a weather
window in Bermuda. Herb told the other boaters,
‘Pride is our front!’.”
Later they figured out
the following boaters
weren’t following their
boat; they were following
a line of their cabbages.
Cabbages are a staple
for offshore cruising,
Lori says, because they
have vitamins, last a long
Storm at anchor Granada
time and they provide
good bulk for most meals. Their cabbages had outlived
their usefulness, however, and Lori was tossing them
overboard while underway. Who knew they floated?
Many cruisers they met cruised part-time, feeling the
tug of grandchildren and other obligations at ‘home’.
Some were disappointed because they really wanted to
be cruising full-time. After cruising
full-time for some very happy years,
Bob and Lori decided to come back
to land. Their parents were elderly.
In addition, the housing market was
starting to drop and it was a good
time to reinvest that pantyhose
fund.
“In the long run, you can dream to go, but you just
have to do it,” Lori says. “Now we dream of the next
adventure.”
“It was kind of like the fairy tale (Hansel and Gretel)
where crumbs are left to mark the trail,” she said. There
were lots of laughs about the new type of front.
Both Bob and Lori can’t overestimate the importance
of relying on your boat and your fellow crew members
when offshore.
However, you also can’t overthink the challenges to the
point of inaction in releasing the bow line to go cruising.
© Southport Yacht Club, 2015
6.