March Islander

March 2021

ISLANDER The Cleveland Yachting Club

Founded in 1878

Spring is in the Air

Let’s Go Cruising

CYC fishermen head to Key West

Our junior set readies for Sail

Power Fleet announces its

to get jump on fishing season

Camp, Swim Team, Jr. Race Team

2021 Ports o’ Call

A Big Catch

ISLANDER

ZOOMING IN ON WINTER HAPS

From a virtual father-daughter “dance” to a fishing trip down south, members counter the wintertime blues

ABOVE: Although we couldn’t have an in-person dance in 2020, the “old-timers” got together via Zoom to celebrate the tradition of our Father/Daughter Dance. Pictured are the Bredts, Kopcsos, Poormans and Cruses toasting the special father-daughter relationship in true 2020 style. Keep all our treasured traditions alive in your heart. Looking forward to celebrating together in 2021!

And some more lucky members: Cindy Herstrum-Clark won the New Year’s Day drawing for one month free dues; Caroline Pease celebrated her first birthday with a gift of a CYC sweatshirt; and Kevin & Karen Heck enjoyed a lake cruise.

BELOW: With not enough ice on Lake Erie for ice fishing in January, 27 brave fishermen headed down to Key West to go fishing. Looks like the fish were biting!

ON THE COVER: No Ice? No problem! The annual ice fishing trip on Lake Erie moved south to Key West, Florida, this year because the lake was not iced over in January. Seems like a fair tradeoff, no? Just ask Brent Wilhelmy, who snagged a big catch.

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March 2021

Commodore

Kevin Carroll Vice Commodore

Dan Clevenger Rear Commodore

Michael Mansuetto Fleet Captain

Andrew Drumm Management Committee

Kevin Heck

Mike Harris

Matt Dugan

Tom McNeill III General Manager

Marc Dallas Editor

Mary Ann Smith CYC Islander deadline: Drop off copy and/or photos for the April issue by March 1 to the CYC Islander mailbox in the Club office. You may also send copy to msmith@cycrr.org.

I sure hope the old saying that March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb holds true this year.

As I write this article, it is 22 degrees in Cleveland with several inches of snow on the ground.

updated as to when we can safely celebrate these cherished events.

With that being said, there are highlights to celebrate. The igloos have been a great success and soldout almost every weekend. The Browns made the playoffs and almost went to the Super Bowl along with Kevin Stefanski being named the AP coach of the year. The greatest highlight for me other than being sworn in as the 108th Commodore was the first annual Key West Ice Fishing Invitational.

The Commodore’s article in March typically provides highlights of the events that took place during January and February and events coming up in March and April. However, with COVID-19 rearing its ugly head again and our priority to keep our membership and staff safe, we cancelled or postponed almost all the winter events including, Sailors’ Trophy Night, Put-N-Bay Party, CYC Ski Weekend and Commodore’s Winter Cruise, to just name a few. A huge thank you goes out to all the volunteers who continued planning for these events in hopes they would happen.

Thank you is not enough for the great event that Trevor and Jeff Stohr put together for the 27 guys who went down to Key West for a long weekend for a quick fishing tournament (see photos below). Congratulations goes to the winning boat of Wade Massad, Rob Huxtable, Dr. Mike Fritz and Mark Conzelmann.

We are still looking forward to hosting the postponed events, such as the Change of Watch and Sailors’ Trophy Night, and will keep you

Thank you to all the members for all that you have done and continue to do to support our club.

Being in the sun for a couple of days brought the excitement of what the summer will bring and all the fun we will have.

It will not be long before the boats begin to launch, on April 26, and we start a new season.

—Commodore Kevin Carroll

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ISLANDER

AROUND THE CLUB

Book Club

Junior Activities Meeting

We will be meeting in the library on Thursday, March 18, from 7:30-8:30 p.m. to discuss The Rent Collector by Camron Wright. Please join us for dinner from 6-7:30 p.m. Make reservations at the Book Club table.

— Annette Yamada

The kiddos are eager to enjoy this summer, and we have great programs for them! Make plans to attend this year’s Junior Activities Meeting, which will be held Sunday, March 7, in the Clubhouse from 3-5 p.m. You will be able to sign up for Sail Camp, Junior Race Team and Swim Team. Plus enjoy pizza and soft drinks.

Sail Camp

Our club sits in a prime location to enjoy swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, powerboating and sailing.

No boat or boating know-how? No worries. CYC Sail Camp offers an opportunity for your child or grandchild to enjoy it all!

Sail Camp teaches campers age 5-19 beginner to advanced sailing skills, powerboating, water safety, paddle boarding and kayaking. New this year, we will be using a US Sailing based program called SkillUP. The mobile application allows campers and their parents to follow what skills are achieved. In addition to growing as a sailor, our campers will get to learn power boating skills as well as learn to tube, kayak, stand up paddle, and just have fun making friends and being in the water!

— Laura Goldberg, Sail Camp Chair

New Car Stickers Art Fleet

As Spring is finally around the corner, the CYC Fine Art Fleet welcomes a watercolor by John Kopcso titled “A portrait of Vagrant,” being displayed in the Club Library throughout March.

John saw this beautiful 106-foot racing yacht originally built in 1910 for Harold Vanderbilt after her restoration in 1987, and created this painting.

John holds a degree in Fine Arts from Kent State University, and founded A.T.S., a Cleveland-based graphic design firm. A passionate sailor, he takes inspiration from some of our beautiful vessels for his nautical watercolors and boat portraits, often commissioned to him here and in Florida.

We also would like to thank Sue Levy for participating in this project with her painting titled “Bear Lake”, which we were able to view in February in our Library exhibiting area.

— Marcello Mellino, CYC Fine Art Fleet Chair

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We will be issuing a Dockholder and a Non-Dockholder car sticker in March after the dock assignments have been made for the season. Vehicles displaying the Dockholder car sticker will be the only ones allowed in the “Dockholders Only” spaces, and this policy will be enforced. Thank you for your patience while dock assignments are being made.

Igloos & Firepits

Reserve an igloo on the patio and enjoy cocktail service and small plates in our newest dining venue. We have four igloos that can seat up to eight people each. Call Joe Rondini at 440-3331155, ext 225, to reserve an igloo. And firepits (four of them) are first come, first served and each seat up to six.

Men’s Stag Night

Mark your calendar for May 1, for Stag Night. The evening includes a pig roast dinner, Kentucky Derby Squares, euchre tournament and poker. Online reservations open on March 22. Please note there is a 75 person max this year and members only (no guests).

Welcom e New Membe rs

Francis Andrako

Robert Mansuetto

John Norris

Owner of Andrako & Associates, he and wife Monica own a Yamaha Jet Boat and are looking forward to socializing at the Club.

Sponsors: Lisa Shoaf & P/C Scott Durham

Joining as a Legacy Member, Robert has participated in Sail Camp and Jr. Race Team and is looking forward to getting involved with our Sail Fleets.

President of Norris Sales Associates, John and wife Stephanie are looking forward to social activities at the Club.

Sponsors: Rear Commodore Michael Mansuetto & P/C J.B. Walsh

Sponsors: Jeffrey Herzog & Karen Stohr

Jerald O’Dwyer

35 Sport Coupe.

Jerald is principal at Deloitte Consulting. He has two sons and they have a Regal

Sponsors: Jeffrey Davis & P/C Scott Durham

March 2021

POWER FLEET

Join the fun on land and on the lake with our powerboaters

For those of you who don’t know about Power Fleet, we are a group of people who share a common love for water, family, friends and fun. Power Fleet events occur both in and out of the water. Our cruises will vary in length from day trips, weekends, a week-long cruise to Lake St. Clair and even a 16-day cruise to North Channel. Besides being on the water, we have events on the island like the Dock Crawl and this year a four-day bus cruise to Niagara-onthe-Lake.

Power Fleet activities are live on the calendar as of March 5, so you can enter your registrations and update your calendar. Call CIC to reserve your room for that weekend with the Commodore’s Cocktail Party on June 12.

If you are interested in the week-long cruise to Lake St. Clair or the 16-day cruise to North Channel, please contact John Pyke at avonlakedentist@yahoo. com or (440) 773-5958 to provide you with more details. For those who may want to go on the 16-day cruise but don’t want to bring their boat that far north, Canadian Yacht Charters at Gore Bay (800-565-0022) has a limited number of boats to rent.

Mark your calendars for the 2021 Power Fleet events!

—John Pyke, Power Fleet Chair & Ethan Pyke (co-chair)

2021 CALENDAR

May 7 Kickoff Party @ Center Isle May 22 Boat Inspections/BBQ June 4-6 Kelley’s Island—Seaway June 9-11 Crew’s Nest June 11-13 CIC (Commodore’s Cocktail Party) June 18-20 Erieau/Rondeau June 26 Sandusky Bay Barge Party July 10 Dock Crawl on Island

orth Channel Cruise N

July 23 Port Huron/Sarnia

July 24 Kincardine

July 25 Tobermory

July 26 Collins Inlet July 27-28 Killarney Mountain Lodge

July 29 Maryann’s Cove

July 30 Bay Fine July 31-Aug 1 Okeechobee Lodge

Aug 2-3 Benjamin Islands

Aug 4 Tobermory

Aug 5-6 Goderich

Aug 7 Grosse Pointe Yacht Club Lake St. Claire Cruise (runs concurrent to North Channel Cruise)

Aug 1-2 Detroit Yacht Club

Aug 2-5 North Channel Yacht Club

Aug 6-7 Grosse Pointe Yacht Club Aug 13-15 Aug 20-22

TBD Sept 30-Oct 3

Vermilion Cedar Point Browns Home Opener Niagara-on-the-Lake Bus Cruise

In Memoriam

Michael Vadini

Michael is CEO of Info Center. He and his wife Kelly are expecting a baby girl.

Sponsors: Kimberly Pinter & P/C Scott Durham

Joseph Waterman Joseph is owner/ trader at Hudson Board of Trade.

He and his wife Jen have two children who are excited to spend time at the pool.

Sponsors: P/C Scott Durham & Commodore Kevin Carroll

P/C William Rudge P/C William “Bill” Rudge, DDS, graduated from Rocky River High School Class of ’53, and attended Miami University and Western Reserve Dental School, as well as served in the U.S. Navy. He and wife Barbara “Bobbe” Mueller, a fellow high school classmate, shared a passion for boating, leaving immediately after his honeymoon to sail with his new in-laws in the Lightning World Championships on the East Coast.

He loved sailing, power boating, fishing and hunting. He sailed competitively both as skipper and crew. He traveled to remote areas to fish for trout and salmon and was a skilled fly fisherman and fly-tyer.

He will be sorely missed as he leaves behind his wife of 63 years, three children and grandchildren.

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ISLANDER

Fishing Fleet: Get ready to reel them in As we ready ourselves for the first fishing opportunity of the 2021 season (hopefully April), it is time to start thinking about a “top shot.” You may be asking “what does fishing have to do with shots?” Well...a lot, but this month’s pro tip is about respooling fishing reels not mixology. Now is the perfect time to strip off the old line and replace it with some beautiful fresh monofilament. But wait before completely removing all of that old line, it’s time for a top shot!

the reel using a “double uni-knot” and wind back on 150 yards of the new line. It’s that simple.

Rarely will you use more than the first 50 yards of line trolling in our depth of waters; 30 yards is more typical. However, respooling with 150 yards of new line leaves plenty of extra safety factor should your line become damaged throughout the season. Don’t hesitate to discard 30+ yards at a time as the season wears on to expose a fresh new layer. Even if you don’t notice any physical damage, this A top shot refers to is a good practice ahead the practice of only of important events replacing the last like that of June 19 portion of the line on Jacqueline Bush with a 9-pound (hint: The 2021 Battle of Steelhead caught at the mouth Lake Erie). the reel. Typically a of the Rocky River aboard the fishing reel will hold If you have any quesAnabel Jane about 300 yards of tions, feel free to drop line. But rarely will us a line (pun intended) this much line be needed in Lake at CYCFishingFleet@Gmail.com.

Erie, even for those tournament And should this be too involved, winners. The process is simple you can always call Erie Outfitters and will save you time and money. and they will respool your reels at First strip about 150 yards of the a very reasonable price old line from the reel and discard —Fishing Fleet Chairs Sam Gifford it. Then join the new line to the and John Bush end of the old line that is still on

WET HENS REPORT First Ladies Spilled the Tea On February 10, in honor of Valentine’s Day, Wet Hens hosted a virtual First Ladies Tea starring our own Ruth Pangrace as Florence Harding. Billed as First Ladies Spill the Tea!, the performance featured Julia Grant, Ida McKinley and Florence Harding suspending time and space to come together on Valentine’s Day over a cup of tea. Wet Hens enjoyed the pre-recorded performance followed by a live Q & A with Ruth, all via Zoom and YouTube.

Moving Activities Outdoors The kayakers/yackers are still marching around the Island on Tuesday evenings beginning around 4:30 p.m., regardless of weather! We typically do three laps of the island, or roughly 2.5 miles, starting at Center Isle. All the while yacking up the proverbial storm.

Mask up and join us if you are interested. Contact Cathy Wilton-Bransch to receive updates at cwiltonbransch@ yahoo.com.

Feeling more adventurous? Check out our reviewed list of trails on the Hiking Hens website. https://tinyurl.com/ HikingHens21. Wet Hens interested in organizing a weekend hiking group should contact Deb Wadden at wadden.deb@gmail.com.

2021 Thistle Nationals Update CYC’s Thistle Fleet No. 1 continues to prepare for the 2021 Thistle National Championship, presented by KeyBank, taking place July 31-August 6 at the club. We’re optimistic that, come summertime, the pandemic situation will have improved to a point where we can host the event in a safe, responsible, fun and festive way. We’re working with club leaders and Thistle class executives to make the go/no-go decision by June 1, taking state regulations, vaccine availability and other factors into consideration.

We’re currently determining social distancing and COVID-19 safety measures, and we’ll likely require attendees to show proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 tests.

With the support of top-tier sponsors and dedicated volunteers, the Thistle National Championship promises to be a world-class event you won’t want to miss. We hope you’ll make plans to join us or, if you’re so inclined, help out. Questions? Interested in volunteering? Please contact us at ThistleNationals2021@gmail.com.

Please support our sponsors: KeyBank, Roundstone Insurance, The World Group, Oatey, Ulmer, Busch Funeral and Crematory Services, Amsdell Companies, Hinkley, Scheherezade, Sobstad Sailmakers Midwest, Mount Gay Rum, Three Olives Vodka, and Harken Derm — Fred Hunger, Chairman, Thistle Nationals ThistleNationals2021.com

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January Arts Challenge In January, Arts Committee Chair Cathy Tasse challenged us all to get creative! Wet Hens got creative in various ways. Among them, jewelry making, culinary arts, photography, poetry, watercolor painting and writing and illustrating a personalized children’s book for a grandchild! Here is a link to the slideshow. http://tinyurl.com/yiygkjpd

March 2021

MARCH S U N D AY

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M O N D AY

T U E S D AY

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W E D N E S D AY

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Family Night Dinner Specials

10 Family Night Dinner Specials

Junior Activities Meeting

T H U R S D AY

Burger Night

F R I D AY

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All-you-can-eat Perch Fry

S AT U R D AY

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Burger Night

All-you-can-eat Perch Fry

A la carte Breakfast

14 A la carte Breakfast

21 A la carte Breakfast

28 Children’s Easter Egg Hunt

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St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Specials

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Management Committee Meeting

29 Board of Trustees Meeting

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Burger Night

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Family Night Dinner Specials

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Book Club

Burger Night

All-you-can-eat Perch Fry

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All-you-can-eat Perch Fry

31 Family Night Dinner Specials

A la carte Breakfast DINING HOURS: Mon-Tues: Wed-Thurs: Fri-Sat: Sun:

BREAKFAST closed closed closed 9-11 a.m.

LUNCH closed 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

DINNER closed 4-8:30 p.m.

4-9:30 p.m.

4-8:30 p.m.

CLUBHOUSE BAR: Mon-Tues: closed Wed-Sat: 11:30 a.m.-midnight Sun: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

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200 Yacht Club Drive Rocky River, Ohio 44116 440-333-1155 www.cycrr.org LATITUDE 41 29.262° N LONGITUDE 081 50.085° W

St. Patrick’s Day Dinner

Wednesday, March 17 at 5 p.m.

One of CYC’s favorite traditions is back with the return of our St. Patrick’s Day celebration! Enjoy fine Irish fare including corned beef, cabbage, shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, and more.

Conway’s Irish Ale and Guinness will be on tap (as well as some fine Irish whiskeys). The Brady-Campbell Irish Dance School will perform starting at 6:30 p.m.

Please RSVP by calling 440-333-1155

Easter Celebration Children’s Easter Egg Hunt • Sunday, March 28

Who will find the golden egg? Everyone comes up a winner at this festive event.

Gather in the clubhouse at 1 p.m. for our annual Egg Hunt. There will be three age groups: 5 & under, 6 to 8 years, and 9 & over. Please note that the children need to bring their own basket.

Easter Buffet • Sunday, April 4

1 to 5 p.m. (seatings every half hour with last seating at 4:30 p.m.)

Bring your family to the club on Easter Sunday for a fabulous buffet. Menu features Salmon Wellington, roast leg of lamb, spiral ham, turkey, strip loin of beef, salads, fresh fruit, assorted desserts and a children’s buffet.

Cost: $35 adults, $15 children

Call 440-333-1155 for reservations.

. . . hippity hop hop Easter's on its way