Message from the Commodore
FellowMembersandFamilies,
I am very happy to report that the PortHuron-t-Mackinac race, a cherished tradition for so many of us, was a standout event this year The 100th continuous running of the race will surely be talked about for years to come. Participation was strong, and I was particularly struck by the level of commitment from our volunteers. Their efforts behind the scenes are what make this race possible We owe them our deepest gratitude. The feedback from racers has been overwhelmingly positive, with many of you sharing stories of both challenge and triumph. These tales remind us of why we return year after year, drawn by the unique combination of competition and camaraderie that the race fosters. I was happy to see so many of you and your families on the island, and I hope to see you againnextyear
As we start the transition from a vibrant summer of sailing to the quieter days of fall, I am amazed at how fast the summer seems to have flown by. Fortunately, we still have some exciting racing to look forward to with the Long Distance Race, North Channel Race, and Alumni Regatta., I hope you will all be able to participate in one or all of these events.
Looking forward, the fall season brings with it a different pace but no less excitement. Our racing calendar may be winding down, butourClubhouseremainsahubofactivity. Fromsocialeventstoeducationalseminars, there is something for everyone in the comingmonths Iencourageeachofyou
to stay engaged with the Club, whether by attending an event, participating in a committee, or simply enjoying the company of fellow members in our beautifulclubhouse.
This fall, we will also begin preparations for next year’s season. Our Race Committee is already hard at work, and I invite any member with an interest in volunteering or offering input to reach out to them. Your involvement is what keeps our club vibrant andforward-looking.
In closing, I want to express my deep appreciation for the spirit, passion, and commitment each of you brings to Bayview Yacht Club Together, we make this a truly remarkable Club. I look forward to seeing what we will accomplish in the yearahead
Wishingyoufairwindsandsmoothsailing,
2024 Commodore Bayview Yacht Club
Photo taken by Martin Chumiecki during the
Bayview Mackinc Race.
From the Manager
Matthew Prost, General Manager
It is hard to believe that a month has already passed since the 100th Bayview Mackinac Race, presented by National Fleet Services This milestone event has left us with countless memorable stories, both on and off the water, that will undoubtedly be etched into the history books and remain vivid in our memories
Hearing about the experiences of sailing the original course was particularly special There was something truly magnificent about witnessing so many boats making their way towards the finish line on Monday morning, especially with our sponsors and Liz Ware from Mission Point The sight of the fleet in full sail was breathtaking
This year ' s race was a testament to our rich history and diverse community For one of our members, it marked their 100th combined Mackinac Race. It was the Grand Ram year for five participants We had boats representing over three generations, and we welcomed a racing family’s mom, racing for the first time in her 70s. We also had an 11-year-old junior sailor experiencing the race for the first time
We also celebrated LaRhonica’s first visit to Mackinac Island after 32 years with Bayview She was immensely proud to support this event with her family and see firsthand the incredible legacy that has been built over the past century
Thank you all for making this 100th edition so memorable. Your dedication and passion continue to inspire and drive the spirit of the Bayview Mackinac Race.
Reaching this historic milestone would not have been possible without the generous contributions from our valued sponsors. Their support was crucial in celebrating this landmark event and highlighting the rich legacy and enduring spirit of our race. The 100th Bayview Mackinac Race not only honored the event’s storied history but also celebrated the vibrant community that makes it truly special
A heartfelt thank you goes to Commodore Tim LaRiviere and National Fleet Services. Your involvement has made a significant impact, and we are deeply rateful for your commitment to supporting this iconic event
We encourage everyone to show support for our sponsors. When you ' re at the Bayview bar, be sure to check out and show your appreciation to Deep Eddy, Casamigos, Aperol, Detroit City Distillery, MaryCan, Blue Dot Farms, and Detroit Liquid Ventures. Your patronage helps ensure their continued support f our events. There’s still plenty of sailing to look forward to with the upcoming Long Distance, NorthChannel, and Alumni Regatta on the horizon. We also have several Thursday Night races and multiple championships that will be hosted at Bayview.
This fall and winter, we’re excited to offer a variety of offthe-water events for our members. Look forward to a full series of wine dinners, winter sailing seminars, and festive gatherings including our Halloween, Holiday, and New Year’s parties. Additionally, our popular Dueling Pianos will make a return, along with Lobster Fest. We’re eager to keep the camaraderie and fun going strong throughout the season!
Chef Chris will be unveiling our fall menu starting September 18th. We’re excited to offer three menu changes throughout the sailing season, ensuring a constantly fresh and seasonally inspired dining experience for our members. Enjoy your summer favorites for a few more weeks, and then join us to discover the new and delightful offerings Chef has prepared for the fall.
As always, please feel free to share any suggestions on how Bayview can enhance your member experience. We are committed to continually improving both our services and operations, and your feedback is invaluable in helping us achieve that goal.
Congratulations to all our members on a tremendous season of sailing!
Sincerely, Matt
Hope you all have had an enjoyable summer, and what a summer so far. We saw the historic Mackinac Race, and a great summer party! To those of you who were up on the Island you know what a great time that was. A big shout out to our partners at Mission Point for being such gracious hosts. Who knew you could fit that many people on the lawn? Thanks to Aperol, Deep Eddy, and Detroit City Distillery for their generous sponsorships with a successful race. A special thanks to Detroit Liquid Ventures for crafting our signature Century Sail Ale to the race. If you have not tried it, we have it on tap and in cans (to go) here at the club. Enjoy it before it is out of production.
Now that we are entering the latter half of the season, Chef Chris has been at work crafting the next menu change. Exciting and delicious things are underway. We will also be rolling out a Wine
From the Dining Room
Mike Amore, Food & Beverage Director
Makers Dinner calendar so you can plan accordingly. Other events still to come this year: Mackinac Awards Dinner, and Lobsterfest. Don’t forget ,for the kids, Santa is coming.
Speaking of Santa. December is starting to book up. If you’re thinking of a Christmas party call for available dates. Don’t be left out in the cold.
For now, let’s soak up as much of the summer sun we canandcomedownandenjoydiningdockside!
Thankyou,
Mike
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Bayview Mackinac Race Foundation
Your GenerosityMakes a Difference
The Mackinac Race Foundation's purpose is to ensure that the annual Bayview Mackinac Race continues on forever.
The Foundation depends entirely on contributions, bequests, and endowments to accomplish its goal to guarantee the financial security of the Mackinac Race in perpetuity. Thus, it is the Foundation's investment strategy and policy to invest the net principal of all monetary contributions and donations and to use only the earning in its support of the Mackinac Race each year.
Now, more than ever, we need your support to serve as a guarantee for the future of the Mackinac Race. Please think of us now or in your future estate plans. Every single contribution of any amount is always truly appreciated.
Your donation will help us reach our goal of $1,000,000
How can I support the Foundation and pledge support to the Mackinac Race?
To make a donation to the Mackinac Race Foundation that will insure the continuation of the grand tradition of the Bayview Yacht Club Mackinac Race, visit the Mackinac Race Foundation website.
100TH
From the Race Chair
AnOptiExperienceofaLifetime
ByCooerRiley
My journey started on September 23rd, 2023, when our very own Bayview Yacht Club hosted the U.S.O.D.A. Great Lakes Championship This event wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for my dad, Mr VanTol, and mostly my uncle Brian Schaupeter, who organized it National team trials are tough to qualify for, so it was great to have a home-court advantage, sailing almost in my own backyard.
According to the U S O D A , you must finish in the top 20 percent in a U S O D A regional championship regatta to be named TTQ (Team Trials Qualified). I worked hard at the Great Lakes Championship regatta, and it was a good reminder of how good the sailors are outside of the DRYA. I ended up getting 2nd place by .6 points, losing to Team USA sailor Kai Waters, who placed 24th at the Opti Team Trials later in April
Prepping for this regatta was a lot. First, we had to register for it, but it's not that easy. We had to make sure that I was prepared to sail in the windy, cold, and rough San Francisco Bay conditions. My dad and I wanted to make sure I was ready to give it my all We started by making a spreadsheet listing all the things we needed to do. This included making sure my race sail was good enough for the event, finding a way to
ship my blades, checking if my life jacket was Coast Guard approved, and getting a dry suit that fit. We then scoured the S.I.’s for anything we may have forgotten.
Our next step was finding a boat to charter. My first choice was a boat from Zim because it was a trustworthy brand for a fast boat Zim was sold out, so we ended up gettimg a boat that I’m familiar with, a Winner Optimist chartered through Simmons Boatworks.
Next, we had to find a coach boat for my dad We originally were going to share a RIB with another friend from Michigan, but Aunt Dana saved the day when she found a much less expensive option from a local yacht club in California. It ended up being the perfect coach boat for the long windy days out in the bay, and I am still very grateful.
The final items from our spreadsheet were finding a place to live, flights, and a truck to rent Luckily, my Aunt Dana has lived in northern California for a while and often sails in the bay area, so she had friends that were able to help us out.
Before I started sailing, we made a nice detour to Aunt Dana and Uncle John’s house in a little town called Mendocino. We did lots of fun stuff like riding mountain bikes in the Redwoods, walking dogs at an animal rescue, and hiking along the Pacific Coast We also had lots of great food
After four days of fun, it was time to move to San Francisco. My dad, aunt, and I stayed in a friend of my aunt's house in San Rafael. It was only a 15-minute drive to the San Francisco Yacht Club and a cozy, small place to stay.
Wednesday was my practice day, and it seemed like a day on Lake Saint Clair It was warm and sunny with
8 knots of wind and the view of mountains and the Golden Gate Bridge was spectacular Thursday was my first race day, and it started with no wind, and it was warm, but unlike the practice day previously it changed quickly. I was challenged with a lot more obstacles, like when a cold fog came in and the wind went from 12 knots to 26 within the span of my first start sequence
Over the next few days, I learned many things about how to sail better in current and big winds Most importantly, how to minimize water getting into my very “bathtubish” boat! I also learned new tricks on how to keep my boat flat. I learned how to hold my own in the choppy waves by using my body movement to make my boat glide over the waves.
Through all the tough times, like the first three races getting D N Fs when it was gusting to 30 knots and I couldn’t keep my boat dry to the better times when I started to figure out how to deal with the conditions and was finishing in the top half of Imy fleet, I was always having fun.
Another important point was depowering my rig, depending on the wind, sometimes even adjusting it mid race Also, a tough challenge was how to sail better on a reach During the summer, the DRYA usually only does windward leeward races, but USODA races use trapezoid courses with long reaches. I learned to stay high and cover people but also to keep my centerboard up so I could slide down the waves to leeward, and by the time I would get to the mark I would be ahead and not get stuck on the end of a huge pinwheel The most confusing part for me was learning the odd currents in the bay I'm still not sure if I completely understand the concept Finally, my main problem consisted of learning to tack on the crest of a wave rather than tacking in the trough. If you tack on the crest of the wave, the wave propels you in a forward motion, but if you tack in the rough, you will get stuck in between waves, take on some water, and potentially go into irons
Sadly, after all prep and hard work, I did not make the US Junior Olympic Team.
The help I gained was greatly appreciated along the way, including my coaches at BYC, my teachers who let me take the time off, the people who switched seats on the plane so my dad and I could sit next to each other, and the nice rich man who let me into the Delta Sky Club on one of his free passes. At first, my dad said that he was thinking about hiring a coach for me or adding me to The San Francisco Yacht Club Team, but looking back I know that wouldn’t be right for me I have no clue what I would've done without my wonderful coaches. I really liked spending time with my dad and my aunt and having them on the water coaching and serving as my pit crew.
One of the best things about sailing an Opti is the people I've met. It's crazy how small of a world it is. When I qualified for team trials, I thought I wouldn't know anyone, but eventually I realized I knew a lot more than my little brain could comprehend. For example, I saw some people that I raced against during the 2018 nationals in Green Fleet and six years later I’m seeing them again Even people from mall events like Macatawa Bay seem to reunite at big regattas like the
Orange Bowl or US Team Trials I've also realized how few sailors out of Michigan, or the Midwest come to this kind of event, so I feel blessed.
Oh, and if you ever see a group of Opti sailors at Annapolis Yacht Club tell them you know “The Only Bayview Kid” and ask them if they learned how to play Euchre
TALES FROM DEAD MAN'S CURVE
Submitted by – Ralph Richards, Historian Event: North Channel Race
Author: George E. Van (Detroit Times)
Date: December 13, 1947
The Morrill Dunn North Channel Trophy
On December 12, 1947, a large and representative group of members of the Detroit Regional Yacht-racing Association presented a new trophy to the C-Class Association of Detroit, to be named the Morrill Dunn North Channel Trophy, to be awarded to the first boat in the starting fleet to finish the annual North Channel Race. All of the circumstances of this trophy and its establishment were so unusual, that it deserves retelling, and no better account could be prepared than the article written by George E Van and published in the Detroit
Sailing Pals hold “Morrill Dunn Night”
The Morrill Dunn North Channel Trophy is no award such as you’d pick out of a case or a catalog.
Here’s the story. Morrill Dunn, whose name the trophy bears, is the skipper of the 26 foot sloop Cayuse ll. He’s a crusty, salty man who admits 76, but he’s probably cutting off a few years because he thinks “80 is really old.”
He has the regard and affection of all the sailor men along the river as a fine seaman, a tough guy to race against and a skipper who is well nigh unbeatable in small boat racing when it blows hard.
Holds Course Record
He has sailed in all six North Channel races, a 65mile event held each fall. He won in 1941 and holds the course record of 11 hours 19 minutes.
Skipper Dunn always has been the man to beat in Cboat racing here He’s been sailing for six decades, first in the East and later on Lake Michigan before coming to Detroit. He was a member of Dr. W. L. Baum’s crew aboard the 88-foot schooner which won the ChicagoMackinac race in the “Blow of 1911”, making the 330 miles in 33 hours. That record has never been touched.
The boys wanted to do something to express their sentiment. Joe Matte, Fred Hayes, Jack Briner, Irv Jorgensonnn, Al Gonas, Bill Schultz, Art Locke and Bob Roadstrum got together
They would give him a trophy. But it wouldn’t be the usual mug or plaque. They’d make it themselves. A half dozen meetings were held
Best Trophy Here
Roadstrum did the artwork. He came up with a beauty two sloops [a C and a L] rounding North Channel buoys, racing through heavy seas. It’s the best looking trophy in sailing here.
It couldn’t be duplicated for under $1,500 But the boys are proud because they built it with their own hands. Hundreds of man-hours were spent in its construction
Friday night at the Detroit Yacht Club the big award was presented to Skipper Dunn. Most of the 200 there choked a bit But Not Dunn He came up with a whale of a “thank you ” speech
Dunn in turn presented it to Chet Kuhn, who won the race this year Bronze C-boat models were presented to all who finished this year ’ s race. Those awarded were: Dorothy Locke, Fred Hayes, Doris Nevins, Russell Mintz, Joe Matte, Arden Poulson, Dunn, Aaron Evans, Jim Renault, Norman Seigeon, Lew McAllister and Roadstrum.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
JUNIOR JUNIOR
Connor Hough
Tom Ritter | Erik Ryan | Wally Cross
JUNIOR SENIOR
Beandon Baswell
Kevin Rossell | Mike Dodge | Amie Ross
Sydney Hough
Eric Ryan | Tom Ritter | Tim Kelly
Andrew Spiteri
Mike Spiteri | Al Declercq | Wally Cross
Matthew Zang
Brian Shaupeter | Paul Hulsey | Asam Hollerbach
INTERMEDIATE I
Carly Chmura
Robbyn Morphew | Laurie Bunn | Amie Ross
INTERMEDIATE II
David Beauchamp
Frank Gall | Joshua Gall | Jay Schmidt
ACTIVE
Matthew Brien
Kevin Rossell | Miike Dodge | Spencer Channell
Brian Doyle
Al Declercq | Paul Stroup | John Harper
Kurt Hulscher
Amy Cowan | Robert Eger | Brett Tigges
Mike Kirkman
Lynn Kotwicki | Charles Bayer | John Harvey
Chris Ongena
CJ Ruffing | Con Ruffing | Tom Kopp
Michael Peseski
Wally Cross | Todd Jones | Greg Thomas
Michael Rudd
Todd Jones | Andrew Walton | Bill Lynch
Jane Ann Schaefer
Gordon Smith | Paul Hulsey | Jon Shafferly
John (Jay) Schuch
Grant Veach | Kevin Rossell | Mike Dodge
Thomas Schulte
Trish Kirkman | Lynn Kotwickil | Mike Kirkman
Lacy Soria
Spencer Channel | Kevin Rossell | Matt Smit
HELPFUL INFO FOR NEW MEMBERS
Accessing the BYC Member Website
The BYC Member site is a great resource for information about all things Bayview. From upcoming events, to educational opportunities, to upcoming races, you'll want to make sure you ' re visiting regularly. You should have received a copy of the instructions for setting up your BYC member account with your welcome letter If you have any trouble setting up your account, reach out to our Communications & Membership Manager for assistance.
Check Out the Member Central Calendar
Once you have set up your BYC member website account, be sure to check out our Member Central calendar for details about upcoming events and registration The calendar can be found on the Member Central menu
Watch for Weekly Communication
Our first line of communication is our weekly email updates. These typically go out on Wednesday or Thursday of each week. These updates will be full of information about coming events, club news, names of people posted for membership, and more. If you are missing them, be sure to check your spam or "promotions" folder and reach out to our Communications & Membership Manager if you still need assistance. We also publish this Burgee magazine newsletter quarterly.
Join the BYC Members Only Facebook Group
In addition to our weekly updates and quarterly newsletters, the Bayview Yacht Club Members Only Forum is another great place to get BYC news as well as to interact with fellow BYC Members.
Electronic Monthly Statements
Your monthly statements will be delivered to you electronically at the email address you have on file. PS. If you are a long-time member and still receiving printed statements, contact us to go paperless! Save a tree AND maximize the reach of your monthly dues by saving on postage expenses #winwin
Adding Your Spouse to Your Account
If you have a spouse and would like for them to have access to the club, please contact the Communications & Membership Manager so that we can add them to your account. Spouses added to a member account will receive a member ID card, privileges to bill to your BYC account, and access to our email distribution list. Spouses are not automatically added to a member account when you join unless you indicate it on your application and the request to add a spouse must come from the BYC member
Host Your Next Event at Bayview
Now that you ' re a member of Bayview, you have access to our facilities for all of your special occasion needs! Contact our Food & Beverage Director to make your plans early.
How to Successfully Sponsor a New Member
The quality of candidates submitted for membership falls primarily on the Chief Sponsor who is responsible for coordinating the collection of the required membership documents. This flowchart provides further clarification of sponsor responsibilities.
Step 1: BYC Member Submits Request for Membership Application & Prospective Member's Sailing Background for Review by Membership Committee
Step 2: Membership Committee Invites Prospective Member to Complete Application for Membership
Each prospective member must submit a completed Membership Application along with a photo of themselves to membership@byc.com.
Step 3: Help Prospective Member Identify Two Sponsors & Two Board Members to Sign in Support
Each prospective member will need two additional sponsors and signatures from two current Board members. The Chief Sponsor is responsible for shepherding the prospective member through the application process, including introducing them to other BYC members who can serve in this capacity. Once those individuals have been identified the Chief Sponsor will also help ensure they each complete the necessary Sponsor Questionnaire as well as the Sponsor Contact & Board Signature form.
Step 4: Submit All Documents of Support by the Monthly Deadline
All application documents are due no less than one week prior to the monthly board meeting. Board meeting dates and deadlines can be found on the Member Central Calendar. Membership application files that are incomplete as of the monthly deadline will not proceed to the monthly meeting.
We are excited to share with you a new automated and efficient membership application process. While the steps are the same and follow the constructs and requirements laid out in the bylaws, the online process has expedited the process for the Chief Sponsor and the Prospective Member while making the office’s processes exponentially more efficient.
Because the process is completely online, every step of the process can be done from any device that has access to the internet There are a few buttons that need to be clicked by the office to keep things moving, but mostly the process is nearly instantaneous. In addition to its efficiency, it has made the application process much more accessible to prospective members while maintaining the vetting process of the Request for Membership Application from a current member.
To the left is a diagram of the workflow process that corresponds with the steps below:
All membership applications begin with the Prospective Member submitting their Sailing Background Questionnaire. A link to this form is found on the Join Us page of the BYC website. The first question asks them to name their Chief Sponsor if they have one If they do not have one, their questionnaire will be routed to the Membership Committee to pair them with a Chief Sponsor
The link to the Request for Membership Application will be emailed to the Chief Sponsor The Chief Sponsor submits the Request for Membership Application, including selecting the appropriate membership category based on the the Prospective Member’s age and sailing experience
The Prospective Member submits the Membership Application Form
The Membership Application Form is forwarded to the Membership Chairperson for review and approval to move forward as is or with an appropriate category change based on the Prospective Member’s sailing experience.
The Chief Sponsor will receive a series of emails is quick succession as each step is completed:
a) Sponsorship Questionnaire
b) Name Sponsor #2
c) Name Sponsor #3
d) Name the two Board members who will endorse the application
Sponsor #2 and Sponsor #3 will submit the Sponsorship Questionnaire Form
Signing Board Members submit their signature, completing the application file for review at the next scheduled Board Meeting
Please note that this process still requires Prospective Members be introduced to sponsors and board members before the online sponsorship questionnaires and board signatures are submitted The first Friday of each month, there will be two board members at the Club specifically to meet any prospective members who are needing board signatures.
If you have any questions or need any assistance with this process, please contact Communications & Membership Manager, Tracy Rose or Membership Chair, Jeff Putnam.
2025 Bayview Mackinac Race Key Dates
Registration Opens for Pre-registered Boats
Registration Opens for Regular Registration
BYC Member Account Payment without Surcharge
Entry Deadline & ORC/GLMRA Rating Certificate Due
Sailing Instructions Available
Registration at BYC
Registration in Port Huron
Race Start Date
Island Awards
2025 Race Chairperson: Com. Tim Prophit
2025 Technical Chair: Art LeVasseur
2025 Race Administrator: Melissa Wenzler
Race Safety Committee (SER Questions): safety@byc.com
September 24, 2024
October 1, 2024
April 23, 2025
May 25, 2025, 1700 hours
June 24, 2025
July 10, 2025
July 11, 2025
July 12, 2025
July 15, 2025
Future Race Dates:
July 18, 2026
July 10, 2027
July 22, 2028
LONG DISTANCE RACE
S A V E T H E D A T E
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH
100TH BYC MACK RACE CELEBRATION
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH
NORTH CHANNEL RACE
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH
ALUMNI REGATTA
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19TH
DECK THE HALLS
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24TH
LOBSTERFEST
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH
