FromtheCommodore
Message from the Commodore
BayviewYachtClub: SailandHaveFun
At Bayview Yacht Club, we are reminded of what brings us together: the simple pleasures of sailing and having fun. This club is our escape from the daily grind, a place where we engage in our passion for sailing without the burdens of workday woes
Thanks to our professional staff, the day-to-day operations of the Club are handled expertly, allowing us as Members to focus on what we do best, sailing and having fun. Our governance team is dedicated to setting strategies and targets efficiently, ensuring that everything runs as smoothly as possible, in our ever-changing environment, without requiring Members to get overly involved in the minutiae of day-to-day operations.
This year let’s embrace the uncomplicated joy that Bayview Yacht Club offers. It's not about taking on another job; it's about enjoying our time on the water and the company of fellow Members. We are here to relax, laugh, and enjoy the sport of sailing in a friendly and welcoming environment
Tracy Rose
Here’s to a year at Bayview where we keep things real, don't take ourselves too seriously, and simply: “Sail and Have Fun” Let's make the most of our time at the Club, cherishing the freedom and fun that sailing brings us along with the camaraderie and friendships that come along with it.
See you at the club!
Paul
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.
The Mackinac Race Foundation is a 501c3 Charitable Organization.
From the Manager
Matthew Prost, General Manager
As we look forward to our favorite time of year, I’d like to take a moment to celebrate some of the successes we ' ve had over the past few wintermonths.
Our DRYA seminars, hosted at Bayview every Wednesday night, have been an incrediblesuccess
With engaging and diverse topics, these sessions have provided invaluable knowledge to our Members. Attendance was outstanding, ranging from 50 to 120 participants each week! A special thank you to Charles Hess and Steve Elliott, whose leadership along with the support of the DRYA team has been instrumental in making these seminarssuchahit.
In addition, our dining room and event spaces have had a fantastic winter season. Chef Chris and the kitchen team delivered an outstanding winter menu, skillfully balancing traditional favorites, comforting classics, and elegant new creations. Our hospitality team continues to provide exceptional service, making Bayview a premier dining destination. Guests from other Clubs who joined us while their Clubhouse was temporarily closed were thoroughlyimpressedbytheBayviewexperience
We’ve also made significant progress in upgrading our Club management system. While we are still fine-tuning certain areas of the website, the new platform offers a cleaner, more user-friendly experience. If you haven’t already, please take a moment to register your account and explore the members-only dashboard, where you can find
recent charges, current bills, payments, reservations,upcomingevents,andmore
Looking ahead, we have some exciting events coming up! On Friday, March 7, 2025, we are thrilled to welcome our Official Bourbon Sponsor, Detroit City Distillery, to the Club They’ll be bringing several barrel samples for members to taste, along with live music, giveaways, appetizers, and most importantly the opportunity to vote on the barrel selection for our 101st Bayview Mackinac Racebourbon
Reservations are now open for both our Easter Brunch and Mother’s Day Brunch These are among our most popular events, so be sure to book early! Simply visit the event page on our calendar to secure your spot If you need assistance, Jon, our Food & Beverage Manager, is happy to help he canbereachedatJon@byccom
Spring is packed with fantastic events, so be sure to visit BYCcom frequently for updates A few highlightstokeeponyourradar:
HellyHansenSailingWorldRegatta–Registrationisnowopen!
OldGoat’sRoast
MarkShotBotMaster’sTournament FittingOutParty
DuelingPianosNight SpringLobsterfest
SavetheDate:SummerParty–June28th!
This year at Bayview promises to be filled with incredible experiences, and, of course, thrilling races. Let’s get ready for an unforgettable season ahead!
SeeyouattheClub!
MatthewProst GeneralManager
BayviewYachtClub
Spring is just around the corner and boats will soon be back in the water, signaling the start of the 2025 sailing season. We are excited to welcome everyone back for what is expected to be a great season with the 101st running of the Bayview Mackinac Race! We have been hard at work getting the Club ready for spring. Keep an eye out in the weekly emails for news andalertsofupcomingevents.
We made it through the winter with our core staff in place and now we are getting ready for this spring and summer With the help of the Dining Room Manager, Jon Grippi, we have been evaluating our staffing needs and are preparing to begin interviews for hiring around mid-April If anyone knows of someone who would be a good candidate to come work at Bayview, please have them give us a call We had several college students home on break work here last summer and would like to see that again We especiallyhaveneedforpart-timehelp
Chef Chris and the culinary team are planning the new spring menu. They are also designing the Commodore’s Ball menu. We have a Wild Game Wine dinner scheduled for March 20th. Chef Chris and I have put together a brilliant pairing of wines and delicious plates for a four-course meal. Space for this is limited, so check the calendar and make your reservation to avoid missing your chance to enjoy this occasion. Speaking of wine, if you ever want to haveawinepairedtoyourmealjustaskformeandI’ll begladtohelpgetyoutheperfectbottle.
Lastly, Easter is rapidly coming upon us, and I remind you to make reservations. Easter has become one of our most popular buffets. There is only so much space available so to avoid being put on a waiting list reserve your table now. Consider making Mother’s Day reservations as well. That is another high-volume day for us. We look forward to seeing everyone back andwisheveryoneblessingsin2025.
From the Dining Room From the Dining Room
Mike Amore, Food & Beverage Director Mike Amore, Food & Beverage Director
FromtheBayviewBoardroom–
February,2025
The Bayview Board of Governors sends our greetings from the Commodore’s room as we watch the ice flowing down the Detroit River and out of our harbors You can start thinking about your boat floating soon, after minor prep, of course
A nice way to get ready for the season is to join the BYC & DRYA Winter Seminars at Bayview on Wednesdays all through March, just meters from the Bayview beverage counter. See the dates online at www.DRYA.org or on your new Bayview Club Calendar.
NewsAboutClubSpot(ournewBYCsoftware):
Bayview is moving into the new century with a new Club management software package, ClubSpot. As we know, it always takes time to recover from an upgrade, but the initial experience and feedback have been very positive, and not just from our back room accountants. ALL MEMBERS who want to remain online need to log on (wwwBYCcom) and update your information, including your payment preferences Specific instructions follow, but be aware that for security reasons, Members using credit card auto-pay need to re-enter theirpreferredcard to continue payments
Tips and Tricks for the New Online Member Portal:
After logging in, navigate to the billing portal. You can add your banking info (it will ask you to log in to your bank's website for security) and you'll have the option to enroll in autopay. Stripe is the vendor that is used, and no information is stored on our platforms.
Following the same process above, you can add your credit or debit card to enroll in auto pay if you don't opt in for bank transfer
If you had a prior balance, the itemized details would not import from the old system so please reach out to Stephanie@byc com for a break down on opening balances.
Spend some time editing your profile: check your phone numbers, email, current address, and upload a photo. Not only does this make the site more personal, but it also helps our staff identify you when at the Club.
Events sign-ups and reservations are much easier now. Simply click on the event RSVP and you can choose to pay via member charge or credit card Reservations can be made under "Our Restaurant" and available times will populate
OTHERNEWS
TheBoardhasbeenreviewingpriorityprojectsto pursuethisyearandnextWedecidedonafew thingsattheFebruarymeeting:
TheClubwillmakeanothermortgage principialpayment,asinpreviousyears,to continuetoshrinkourdebtinanticipationofour re-financein2027
Newstoragelockersarecoming,whichare weather-proofandabitlarger.Weordered30 lockersand22arealreadyrentedoutPrepareto signup!
Parkinglotre-pavementestimatesareinfora morethorough,durablerebuild.It’sabigproject. Weplantopursuethisinstages AnewT-dockplanwillwaituntilweseehow oursliprentalsgothisspring.
ClubFleetFuture:Anexpertsubcommitteehas beenappointedforadecentstudyofalternatives –bothtomaintainthecurrentU20’s,andpossible futurereplacements.Staytunedforupdates. KudostoLanceSmothermanandGaryShoemaker
AdultLearn-to-Sail(ALTS)andRace(ALTR): Classesarenowpostedandreadyforsignup online.Onceagain,JimCooper,UofMSailing Director,willjoinusfortheALTRsessions.
TheMembershipandMembershipServices Committeeareinvestigatingnewwaystoinvite newMembers,leveragingprospectsfromALTS, ALTR,JuniorSailing,colleges,andtheMidwest CollegiateSailingAssociation(MCSA)Incentives forBYCsailingstudentsarebeingconsidered,as theyalreadyenjoyourClub.Supporting Membershipscanbeagreatopportunityfornonracers.ToddRileyandhisteamhavealotofgreat ideas.
Volunteersareoneofourgreatestassetsat Bayview, from committee work to race committeesandregattastospecialfunctionsor justhelpingout.TheBoardandtheMembership Committeeareseekingwaystomakeiteasierfor Memberstovolunteer,andforactivitiestoinvite potentialvolunteers.Youwillseeinvitationsand questionssoon
The Bayview Junior Sailing Program is the heart of our future and has seen impressive growth and performance the last few years, with over 80 juniorsinvolvedtoday.JohnVanTolgavetheBoard a peek at the future vision for Junior Sailing, including: ThehistoryofBayviewsuccess; Plansformorecompetitionandtravel; Planned increased use of world-class instructors; Planned upgrades to storage, and eventually thejuniorscenter; Newideasforfundingandsustainablesupport
The Board and the entire Club plan to work closely to continue the growth and success of our Junior SailingProgram.
Since this will be our 101st Bayview Mackinac Race, one of our race sponsors, Detroit City Distillery, is preparing a special edition Bourbon for the race, which will be 101 Proof. Join us to select thebarrelonMarch7th.
UPCOMINGEVENTS
MARCH:
Fri.,7th-101stRaceSingleBarrelCelebration Sat,8th-ChicagoYachtClubRacePresentation Tues,12th-BYCHowtoWintheMacRace Wed.,13th-MarchBYCFirstAidontheWaterSeminar Wed.,20th-GameDinner Wed.,19th-DRYASeminar:WomenwhoWin Wed.,26th-DRYASeminar:NewRRS&Tacticsw/DaveParry APRIL:
Wed.,2nd-DRYASeminar:GregNorman’sWorldSailing Thur.s.,3rd-OldGoatsWinterLunch
This is our Club, and the Board is committed to offering great sailing and a great Club experience. We want all Members and guests to enjoy themselves. Come down and use your Club; the staff already knows those six guys at the end of the bar. We hope to see all of you soon, on the water or in the Club. I’ll be with those other five guys. Sailing. It’s what we do.
Jim Morphew 2025 Senior Governor, Bayview Yacht Club
From the Race Chair
Com. Tim Prophit
Preparationsforour101stBayviewMackinacRaceare wellunderway.Forthis,thestartofourSecondCentury ofBayviewMackinacRacing,wewillagainbeoffering twocourses,theCoveIslandCourse,and,the traditionalShoreCourse,finishingeasttowestand leavingBoisBlancIslandtoport.
RegistrationopenedJanuary29th,andatthetimeof thiswriting,thereare145entrants.
Ifyouhaven’tregisteredyet,pleasedoso.Tellallyour friendswhoownboatstoregister;thereisaplacefor everybody,andthere’snotimelikenowtogetstarted on,orreturntoBayviewMackinacracing.Everything neededtoregister,obtainaratingcertificate,review SafetyEquipmentRequirements(SER’s)andmuch, muchmoreareavailableontheracewebsite, www.bycmack.com
TheMackinacRaceAuthority(MRA)has approvedthefollowingforthisyear’srace:
ReestablishedtheCruisingDivision
WithintheCruisingDivisiontherewillbe‘CruiserRacer’ and‘Cruising’classes.Eachwillhavespecific requirements,andtheintentistoprovideaplacefor truecruiserstocompetewithlikeboats.
The‘CruiserRacer’classeswillcompeteunderthe samerulestheyhaveinthepast.
MinimumCrew
TheminimumnumberofcrewrequiredfortheRacing Monohull and Cruising Divisions is now four. Previously,itwasfive.
WewillalsobeenforcingtheORCminimumcrew weights,aswellasthemaximumcrewweights,forthe RacingMonohullandCruisingDivisions.
Scoring
ORChasrevisedthe2025VPPtoincludewindspeeds offourknots.(Thepriorlowestwindspeedwassix knots.)
ThecustomwindmixesfortheCoveIslandandShore Courseshavebeenrevisedtoincludefourknots.The revisedwindmixesareavailableontheORCwebsite
Wehavealsospentaconsiderableamountoftime evaluatingWeatherRoutingScoring(WRS),andhavea triggermechanisminplacetoallowfortheuseofWRSfor thisyear’sraceWRSmaybeusediftheaverageforecast windspeedforatleast60percentoftheraceforecast periodexceeds12knots
UltraMac
This101stRaceisalsothefirstlegofthe“UltraMac”,a rareEast-to-WestracethatcontinuestoChicago,fora coursedistanceofapproximately550nauticalmilesThis raceissponsoredbyChicagoYachtClub,aspartoftheir 150thbirthdaycelebration
EndlessSummerBand
FormanyBayviewMackinacRacesailors,attaining“Old Goat”status(competingin25BayviewMackinacRaces)is asignificantmilestone.Thisyear,wewillbecelebrating witheverybody’sfavoriteIslandPartyband,theEndless SummerBand,whowillbeperformingforus,fortheir25th year
Speakingofparties,onceagainourIslandAwardswillbe heldonTuesday,July15,attheMissionPointLawnIfyou arenotracing,pleaseplanonbeingtheretohelpthe sailorscelebratetheirrace,andenjoythebestpartyofthe summer.
“HowtoWinaBayviewMackinacRace”Panel Discussion
SavethedateforWednesday,March12that7p.m.at BayviewYachtClubforapaneldiscussionon“HowtoWin aBayviewMackinacRace”.Lastyear’sPanelwasvery wellreceivedWewillhavesomeoflastyear’spanelists andsomenewones.
Iwanttothankoursponsorsandsupportersforthe2025 race:DeepEddyVodka,DetroitLiquidVentures, Casamigos,DetroitCityDistillery,MissionPointResort, NationalFleetServices,Shepler’sMackinacIslandFerry, Aitken&OrmondInsurance,FrankenmuthInsurance, MicroCODE,andtheBayviewMackinacRaceFoundation. Withoutoursponsors,wecannotrunthequalityeventwe areknownfor.
Com.TimProphit MackinacRaceChair2025
The Honor of Being Named to the Bayview Mackinac Hall of Fame
by Commodore Philip O’Niel, III
As the most recent inductee into the BYC Mackinac Hall of Fame, I am exceedingly grateful for this honor as it is voted on by the members of the Old Goat Society. The Hall of Fame trophy is awarded in honor of my long-time friend and mentor Chuck Bayer Sr., making it especially meaningful to me. Special thanks to the Bayer family for establishing this and for procuring such a grand trophy. The Bayview Mackinac Race has been a major part of my adult life. There is just something magical about getting your boat and your crew prepared to set out on a great adventure across all of Lake Huron, it doesn’t matter what the weather is, nor the strength of the wind or how high the waves get, it’s just you and your team against the elements and your competitors. The Mac is truly a rite of passage for Bayview Members.
73 Races
17 Class Wins
7 Overall Wins
My first Mackinac race was one for the memory books, as we had just started racing that same year. Our crew was primarily family members. Thankfully, our friend, Tom Anderson, agreed to guide us in the race The first thing he said when boarding our boat was “who’s bringing the sails?” We were taken aback as we had what we thought was a full inventory of sails: Mainsail, one Genoa, one jib, and a spinnaker. (my latest certificate allows me
Bayview Mackinac Hall of Fame
to carry eight headsails and six (spinnakers)
Back then every boat sailed the Cove Island course, so for our 35-footer it was a very long race. Needless to say, we ended up fighting like hell to not be the pickle boat.
For the last 48 years there has always been a Natalie J sailing in the Bayview Mackinac Race. Thankfully, during that
“There is just something magical about getting your boat and your crew prepared to set out on a great adventure across all of Lake Huron.”
time we got a lot better, eventually winning a record five Overalls, a first to finish, numerous first in Class, and many flags and medals. What I am most proud of is the fact our core group was made up of our family and friends. I am especially grateful that we had the opportunity to sail with three generations of O’Niel’s on several Mackinac races: my Father Philip O’Niel Jr, myself, Philip III, my son Philip IV, my daughter Mallory, as well as my son-inlaw Bora. As all of you know, you cannot continue to sail the Mackinac without the support of your family, especially your spouse. I am happy to say that my wife Sharon has always
beenfullysupportiveandthankfullyhas takenoverrunningourprogram.Natalie Jandour48yearsofracingwould neverhavecomeaboutbutforthe encouragementandsupportofmy mother,Natalie.
Lastly,ourprogramhasproducedwellover adozenOldGoats,manyofthemhaving sailedalltwenty-fiveracesaboardNatalieJ. Hopefullyweareabletoaddsomemore! Thankyou,Bayview,forcontinuingtorunthe greatestraceintheGreatLakes!Iwilldomy besttomakethathappenbyservingonthe MackinacFoundation,aswellasthe MackinacRaceAuthority
Thankyou.
Natalie J winning the 2024 Chicago Mac Overall
Why Do I Race the Bayview Mackinac Race?
by Commodore Tommy Meier
I have raced in 52 Bayview Mackinac Races and 36 Chicago Mackinac Races. I have sailed the Bayview Mackinac Race every year, only missing one a few years ago I have won 16 races and eight Chicago Races Or you could say I lost 64 times!
I have met many people and forged long lasting friendships over these 88 races. I do not have any best friends from work, organizations, neighbors, or other sports. My closest friends are from sailing the Mackinac Race.
I started sailing when I was eight years old, in a small dinghy on the Bayview canal My father was a sailor and Bayview Member since 1947. About that same time, he bought a 25-foot sailboat that was about as slow as it could be. When the Cal-25's came along and would lap us around the course on Lake St. Clair, I realized that I wanted to go faster. I learned not only how to sail, but how to have a good relationship with the team of sailors my dad’s age It taught me to be respectful of those who had the experience and who shared this love of the sport.
I joined junior sailing as soon as I was old enough. I was 12 at that time. I sailed every day I could. I made friends with my fellow childhood sailors that I still have today. I learned to respect those that were better than I was, but it also inspired me to keep learning as much as I could I am sure some of those friends are reading this article and have the same memories and thoughts I have today
I would see all the boats in the harbor leave in early July for the Bayview Mackinac Race. After the harbor was empty, I would slalom my dinghy
between the pilings. It strengthened my skills, but at the same time, saddened me that I was not one of those racing in the Mac My father told me that I was too young and had to wait until I was 16 years old. I was jealous of my friends whose dad’s let them go. In 1970, one of my dad’s best friends, Skip Grow, bought a new hot boat and named it Walloon. It was a C&C 35. My dad was asked to sail and after between the other crew members, I was brought on as the foredeck man in the spring, we ended up winning the Mills race overall. Keep in mind, there were great 50 and 60 footers that we beat.
I recall watching Maury Declercq intently as he steered the boat in exceptionally light winds to reach the first mark in second place. Right then, I knew I wanted to be half that good
Iwasextremelyexcitedtosailmyfirst MackinacRace.Thecrewwasmadeupof superstarsthatincludedSkipandRickGrow, MauryDeclercq,MikeTapert,EdJacoby,Stan Davis,andmyfatherasNavigatorThenthere wasme,thekid.Mybootcampincludedmore thansailing.Ilearnedhowtoproperlybuttera pieceofcoffeecakeforDr.Tapert.Wewon class“C,”andtheygavetheawardsoutonthe frontlawnoftheMackinacIslandYachtClub. Aftertheawards,CommodoreDeclercqasked mewhatIwasdoingnextweekend.Ihadno plans,soheaskedifIwantedtosailthe ChicagoMackinacRaceMydadaskedwhat boat?MaurysaidAmericanEagleandyouwill sailwithTedTurner.Theyneedayoungster, andyou’reitTalkaboutbaptismbyfire-it blew50knotsforabout300milesandonly37 boatsfinished.WewonmyfirstChicagorace, andIthought...Well,thisisnotsohard.
“Go make new friends, they just may turn out to be your best friends for life.”
Sailingwithfriendscreatesmemoriesandstoriesto tell.Iremembersneakingnearthecornerofthebar andlisteningtotheoldguystalkaboutthe MackinacRace.Theirconversationsbackthenare thesameconversationsstillhappeningtoday“How manyraceshaveyoudone”?Oneresponsestill sticksoutinmymind.Wheneveryonewasreciting
theirnumberanditcametoGeorgeVan,his answerwas...“Allofthem.”Severalyearslater, GeorgegavemethegreatestadvicethatIhave carriedwithmethroughoutmyamateurcareer, anditstillringstrueHetoldmethatifIwanted tosailforalongtime,learnhowtodriveand youwillalwaysgetaninvitation.Georgelivedby hisownwordsashewasstillgettinginvitations wellintohis80’s
Othermemoriesstickout.LikeAlDeclercq callingtheraceavictoryaftersailingonlyfour milesintotheraceBill“Popeye”Henderson providing12hotdogsandbunsfor10sailorsfor thenearly300miles.ChuckBayerbringinghis thirdstringsailsandthemainsailshredding halfwaythroughtheraceWewonthatrace andperhapsthegreatestvictory,especially withnomainsail.BillAlcotteatingbologna sandwichesandsmokingfivepacksofcigs. RickGrowcallingforatacktwomilesafter roundingtheCoveIslandbuoyandonlyseven degreesfromtherhumbline.Inanhourwe passedNatalieJwhichroundedtheCovebuoy fourmilesaheadofus.Wewonthatraceand beatNatalieJtotheislandPhilO'Neilasked, “howdidyoudothat”?AndItoldhimRick couldsmellthelake.GregThomasdrivinginan 80knotsqualldarkatnight,coolascanbe.Big TedspendingtheeveninginshortsandaTshirtwhentherestofusarewearingeverything fromourseabags.Ienjoyedsailingwiththe youngstersontheirfirstMacraces,likeLaurie (Henderson)Bunn,RickyGrowandthePokorny brothersMore
recently sailing with Greg Hummel and his two brothers, and proclaiming that I’m the fourth stooge, hence I’m now Shemp.
As time went on, I wanted to give back what the race had given me all these years. My way of giving back was being a member of the race committee for decades, race chairperson, and chairperson of the Mackinac Race Authority My father was race chairperson and I felt I walked in his footsteps.
Over the years I have sailed with great sailors and on several different boats. It’s like a football team with important positions, navigators, foredeck, mid-boat, trimmers, helm, strategist All of these positions are important and should be respected, even if you are a rookie I have never owned a sailboat. I have always been a “crew member.”
Some boats I sailed on were better and faster than others The weather can play a big part in the level of your enjoyment Windy and bumpy, rainy, cold, no wind, bugs, and then you have the perfect breeze, direction, sunshine, warm evenings, clear skies, the fresh smell of pines and finally the smell of horse poop and fudge. The common thread throughout was that I was with friends and never raced with teams I did not know
I’ve lost a lot of races but in my mind, I have won every race because of the close relationships I have made, and I am forever thankful for my beginnings and continued participation in the best race on the planet. I am especially thankful for the friends I have made and know that any one of them would fish me out of the water if needed well maybe
Go make new friends, they just may turn out to be your best friends for life.
“Sailing with friends creates memories and stories to tell.”
byMichaelKirkman
Becoming a National Champ
My name is Michael Kirkman. I recently had the opportunity to sail in two big regattas this fall. I sail at Boston College and raced every week at the beginning of the fall and recently won skippering at the College Match Race National Championship The event was hosted out of Seawanahaka Corinthian Yacht Club in Oyster Bay, NY It was three days of hard competition sailed in Sonars with very shifty and puffy conditions
As a team, we focused on getting better in every single race. We continued dialing in our boat handling and speed and tried to improve it every race throughout the regatta. After the first round robin, we finished fourth, advancing into the gold round. Then, in the gold round, where we raced the top six teams, we finished third, which paired us up against Tulane in the quarterfinals.
We felt unstoppable on the final day. We had beautiful starts and boat speed upwind, which allowed us to beat Tulane 2-0. Then we continued that momentum into the semifinals against Stanford and beat them 2-0. We then faced Brown in the finals We also sailed a flawless series against them and won 3-0 to become National Champs! It was an unreal feeling crossing that finish line
Competing in the Youth Match Race World Championship
Following the Match Race Nationals, I went to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to crew in the Youth Match Race World Championship for Justin Callahan, a former Detroit Cup champion. The event was hosted out of the Jeddah Yacht Club and Marina. The Yacht Club was beautiful The competition consisted of 12 teams from 10 countries around the world The event was sailed in boats called Fareast28Rs They were sporty, asymmetrical keelboats On the boat, I was trimming the jib and helping with communications
Our team finished the round-robin in third place and felt good going into the quarterfinals. Unfortunately, we lost in the quarterfinals to Team New Zealand. As a result, we finished in fifth place. It was a very fun event, and I learned a lot sailing with such great sailors.
The sailing conditions in Jeddah were terrific Each day began around 10 knots in the morning and grew to 20 knots every single day out of the North The sailing was on the Red Sea, and there were huge waves without a cloud in the sky each day we were there
“It was an unreal feeling crossing that finish line.”
2024 Match Race Champions Boston College
Michael Kirkman, Peter Busch, Sophia Hackett, and Peter Joslin.
Advice for Young Sailors
To any young racers trying to improve their sailing, I suggest taking any opportunity and sail as much as possible. Time on the water is the best way to improve and continue learning Also, never stop asking questions So many people are willing to help and they have the answers to things you are wondering about that can help you improve
“To any young racers trying to improve their sailing, take any opportunity and sail as much as possible.”
TALES FROM DEAD MAN'S CURVE TALES FROM DEAD MAN'S CURVE
B. Y. C. FIRE DOES BIG DAMAGE
SubmittedbyRalphRichards, BYCHistorian
Event:BYCApril1939Fire
Author:BYCBurgee
Date:November1957
In the wee small hours on the morning of April 5 <1939>, a fire swept through the Bayview Yacht Club’s locker building and spar shelter, burning up masts, rigging and equipment of 25 of the 55 boats stored in the Club yard. Damage consisted of about $5,000 to the building, destruction of most of the $1,500 dock, built late last year, and from $30,000 to $40,000 worth of Yacht equipment.
Among the boats which lost their gear were Ted Farnsworth’s ketch “Chantey“; the syndicate owned schooner “Spindrift“; the Avery-Stone owned schooner “Silhouette“, the 65 foot yawl Algonkin III“; Ed Gibson‘s cabin cat “Dauntless“; Lawrence Hope’s six “Mad Cap“; the syndicate owned schooner “Silhouette“, the 65 foot yawl “Algonkin III“; Ed Gibson‘s cabin cat “Dauntless“; Lawrence Hope’s six “Mad Cap“; the syndicate owned yawl “Ariel“; Fred Crebbin’s yawl “Docani“; the Marquis-Ledyard owned “Nawanna“; the sloop “Alsumar“, recently sold by Dave Sloss to Dr. Harold Jackson, of Baltimore; P. J.
Phillips schooner “Bald Eagle“; Al Bridge’ “Kittiwake“; the sloop “Mavourneen“ owned by P. J. Connolly; Perc. Williamson’s yawl “Rainbow“; and Ed Wunch’s “Minx“. Immediately after the fire, it was thought a postponement of the Mackinac Race would be necessary but as most of the boats were insured and the replacement work was given out to a number of firms, it is possible that most of them will be ready to go with the opening of the season
The fire was of unknown origin and was discovered late in the evening by Homer Burdeno whose apartment was in the burned building. He immediately called Ray Priebe, Greg Fredericks and others in the Club House who fought the blaze until the spars began to fall from their supports. Considerable paint in the lockers added to the blaze which became so hot that it melted solid metal fittings. The fire department finally put out the fire and closed the road to the Club until the tottering wall was pushed down.
Racing Through the Mediterranean: A Brotherly Journey with the Griffin Project
By Joseph and Nicholas Kurta
Last year, my brother Nicholas and I embarked on a life-changing adventure, racing in the Mediterranean as part of the prestigious Nastro Rosa Tour Il Giro. This opportunity came to us through the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s (RORC) Griffin Project, an initiative designed to foster the growth of youth offshore sailors across the globe. To say we were excited would be an understatement being selected for the Griffin Project, representing the United States and our home yacht club, Bayview Yacht Club (BYC), was a dream come true
The Nastro Rosa Tour Il Giro: A Unique Challenge
The Il Giro is no ordinary race. It’s a multifaceted competition that includes Figaro 3 racing alongside Waszp and Wing Foil events at each of eight stopovers. Teams were made up of a Figaro 3, Waszp, and Wing Foil, with each discipline contributing to a weighted team score Our team made up of just the two of us in the Figaro 3 was among a diverse group of sailors who participated in this unique multisport regatta Though we had some experience sailing the Figaro 3, we had never raced doublehanded on one before, and we were eager to seewhatwecouldaccomplishtogether
Preparation: Getting Ready for the Challenge
With only a few days to arrive in Italy and prepare, we were in full gear getting the boat ready for the first leg of the race. From installing battens in the sails to running new halyards and fine-tuning electronics, we had a lot to do. Luckily, our mother, Commodore Beth Kurta, accompanied us to provide support and help us stay organized. Without her, we would have been scrambling much more than we already were!
Genoa to Sanremo: Conquering the Mistral
Our first race leg kicked off from Genoa and took us to Sanremo, passing by the rugged Giraglia Rock on the northern tip of Corsica We had the privilege of racing the first two legs of the event, with another Griffin Project team takingoverforusafterourstint.
The race started strong and it wasn’t long before we found ourselves battling through 30knot Mistral winds. The conditions were tough, withwavescrashingoverusaswesailedalong
thecoastAsadouble-handedcrew,taking downthesailsinsuchahigh-windsituationwas noeasyfeat.Butoncewegotourbearings,we begantofindourrhythm,pushingtheboathard andpickingoffcompetitorsonebyone.
SanremotoLaMaddalena:Facingthe Elements
ThesecondlegfromSanremotoLaMaddalena wasatruetestofenduranceWestartedwitha 25-knotreach,butasthewindshiftedand intensified,sodidthewaves.Thewavestate waslikenothingwehadexperiencedinthefirst legtallandchoppy,similartolakewaves,but muchmoreunpredictableOnewavein particularsentusflyingoffthehighside,nearly throwingusoverboard.
Despitethechallenges,wefoundourselves pushingtheboatatspeedsof20knotsandat timesevenover25knotsasweraceddown thewaves,gettingdrenchedinsaltwateralong thewayJustwhenwethoughtthingscouldn’t getmoreintense,weenteredawindholeoff Corsicaandweresuddenlyatthemercyoflight windsButthiswasourmomentWemanaged
As we approached La Maddalena, the conditions shifted again, and we found ourselves battling confusing waves and strong winds TheStraitofBonifacioprovedtobeareal test, forcing us to reef the sails multiple times However, during one of our reefing attempts, we encountered a jam in the reefing line. After taking the main down for repairs, we lost a bit of ground. Despite this, we managed to finish in the top half of the fleet, feeling incredibly proud ofwhatwehadaccomplished.
LaMaddalena:ABeautifulFinishLine
After the race, we enjoyed a brief stay in La Maddalena, an island with a desert-like landscape that seemed almost surreal. As we approached the finish line at sunset, the sight of the shoreline dotted with boulders and cacti, the crystal-clear waters, and the striking architecture created a magical moment that we’llneverforget
RacingintheMackinacSeriesandBeyond
While in La Maddalena, we received an exciting invitation to race in the Mackinac series with a turbo J105 named Sleeper. It was a quick turnaround, and we thought it would be impossible to find crew at such short notice. However, with a fleet full of incredible sailors around us, I connected with Erik Holmbom, who wasracingwiththesecondRORCGriffinProject team Erik, along with me and my brother Nicholas,andAdrianna“Adj”Lee,all30yearsof age and younger. formed a dynamic crew and racedthroughthegiggles,trials,tribulations,and housemusicwiththedeterminationtowinitall ina4UPstyle.
The team was going for it from the start, trying to snag the coveted first place overall, and was seen at the top of the leaderboard until there was an unfortunate mishap during a wretched storm Sleeper was lucky in comparison to the beating other boats and crew took. The storm that dismasted four boats and even led to a [thankfully recovered] man-over-board on anotherboatonlyshreddedourbiggestkite,our A2 spinnaker Even with our biggest kite unavailable, we sailed hot when it went light, kept our spirits high, and consistently kept the boat speed faster than the wind speed even whenitwasbrutallylightout.Wewereproudof ourteam'seffortandgratefulfortheexperience and the knowledge it bestowed on us when we finallyfinishedtheChicagoYachtClub'sRaceto Mackinac in first place for Section 7 This race showcasedourcapabilitiesasyouthsailorsand gave us a glimpse of what's possible in shorthandedoffshoreracing
“Asweapproachedthefinishlineatsunset,thesightof
theshorelinedottedwithbouldersandcacti,thecrystalclearwaters,andthestrikingarchitecturecreateda magical momentthatwe’llneverforget.”
Regarding the 100th Bayview Mackinac Race, let’s just say it was long. I know most you can relate. Sleeper struggled in light air, but we enjoyedthecamaraderieofbeingsurrounded
bygreatBayviewsailorsduringthishistoric race.Plus,thepartywasgreatasalways!
TheIlVeloce:A1,492nmRaceAroundItaly
AftertheMackinacseries,Iwasabletogoback toItalytoraceagainwithErikandcompetein theIlVeloce,anon-stop1,492-nautical-mile racearoundItalyTheracewasfullofchallenges fromupwindbattlestolightdownwind conditions.Oneofthemostharrowingmoments camewhenwecollidedwithalogwhilesailing withthekiteupintheAdriatic.Thelogbecame lodgedbetweenthekeelandthefoils,andit tookawhiletodislodgeitbeforewecould continue.Butdespitetheobstacles,theteam finishedstrongandcompletedtheraceinjust over10days
LookingAhead:RepresentingDetroitandBYC
TheNastroRosaTourhasinvitedusbackforthe 2025season,andwe’rethrilledtoraceunder ourownteamname,representingDetroitand thebusinessesthatcontributetothisgreatcity TheopportunitytoraceintheFigaro3, alongsideWaszpandWingFoil,ineventslike theEuropeanMixedDoubleHandedOffshore ChampionshipsandIlVeloceisanincredible stepforwardforusassailors.Weareexcitedto continueourjourneyandseewherethisnew chaptertakesus.
WearegratefultotheGriffinProject,theRORC, andeveryonewhohassupportedusalongthe way,especiallyBayviewanditsamazing Members.Weareexcitedtokeeprepresenting DetroitandBayviewYachtClubaswecontinue tochaseoursailingdreams.
Insightsfromthe2025U.S.SailingLeadershipConference
byStephenElliott, DirectorofSailingandHarborOperations,BayviewYachtClub
I had the pleasure of representing Bayview Yacht Club at the 2025 U.S. Sailing Leadership Conference, and it was an inspiring experience!
The event kicked off with an incredible keynote by Greg Wells, who provided a fascinating look at how nutrition and exercise can enhance performance both on and off the water. With multiple PhDs and experience training Olympians and Navy SEALs, Greg brought a wealth of knowledge to the conversation.
Oneofthemostpowerfultakeaways? Just60minutesofexerciseperday can:
✅Loweryourriskofcancerby40%
✅Reversecardiovasculardisease
✅Reducecoldsandfluby75%
✅Andevenmakeyouhappier!��
Greg calls this concept “The Ripple Effect”asmalldailycommitmentthat creates lasting, positive effects in all aspectsoflife.I’mlookingforwardto bringingtheseinsightsbacktoourClub andcommunity!
Beyond Greg’s keynote, I attended several insightful seminars covering new and exciting developments in sailing. One session focused on making PHRF ratings more favorable, along with discussions on alternative scoring options to enhance the racing experience. Another engaging seminar explored ways to make regattas more fun, offering fascinating insights into how other clubs are innovating to create standout events ideas that could bring fresh energy to our own regattas at Bayview Yacht Club.
A real highlight was hearing from Dave Perry, who provided an in-depth look at upcoming rule changes and how they will impact our sailing instructions. I’m especially looking forward to Dave’s visit, where he will dive deeper into these onwater rule changes as part of our Legends in Sailing seminar series at the club.
With the sailing season just around the corner, I’m excited to integrate everything I’ve learned and help make this year even better for our members and racers Can’t wait to hit the water!
Steve
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
HELPFUL INFO FOR NEW MEMBERS
Bobby Cooper
John VanTol
Brian Schaupeter
Steve Young
Bryce Lesinski
Com. Lynn Kotwicki
Trich Kirkman
Com. Karl Kuspa
INTERMEDIATE I
JUNIOR JUNIOR INTERMEDIATE II
Nikolaus Kowal-Besler
Mike Delano
Mike Gualdoni
Keith Cameron
Jeffrey Dewitte
Com. Brian Geraghty
Robbyn Morphew
Sammy Barbour
Ryan Hathaway
Mac Nutter
Michael Kozak
John Gillis, Jr
Brian Kritzman
Brian Shenstone
Com. John Burke
Dave Williams
Thisisagreatoptionfor anyonelookingfora socialMembershipor interestedinlearningto sail.Eitherway,theycan stillenjoymanyofthe benefitsofbelongingto theClub!
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 and 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 Facebook Page and the Bayview Yacht Club Members Only Forum are also great places to get BYC news as well as to interact with fellow BYC Members. Please also visit Bayview on Facebook and Bayview on Instagram for event updates, race results, recaps, photos, and more.
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.
2025 BYC Trapshooting Championships
On behalf of the Trapshooting Committee, I can report that our Winter BYC activity has been very active this year, and it has been more diverse than ever. We have had more new Member shooters this year than the last several years combined.
We have revived our inter-club challenges and championships. As of today, we have brought the Challenge Cup back to BYC after beating the Birmingham Gun Club on January 11th. We brought the perpetual trophy back after beating the DAC on January 25th.
Finally, the time honored Blay Schoenherr Championship, our Member-only competition that marked the end of the season, was held on Sunday, March 2nd. BYC’s Tim Fought earned the champion title.
Jeff Bauer, Trap Chair
Representing BYC Trapshooting at the 2025 Spring Grand American, Tucson, AZ.
BYC beat the DAC on January 25th, with a score of 210 to 159!!
The winning BYC team from the competition against Birmingham Gun Club on January 11th It was close, with a score of 207 to 201
Saturday, February 1st, Team Bayview defeated the Grosse Pointe Club, 210 to 138, making Bayview undefeated in Inter-Club competition.
