January 2025
Raise a Toast
Caught in the act! Members make merry and bright at holiday parties
Going for the Win Sailors Trophy Night puts the shine on another fabulous season
Calling all Stags
This year’s Stag Night goes to the grill—choose your cut and fire it up
Happy New Year everyone and I hope that you thoroughly enjoyed your holidays! Here we come 2025!
Commodore
Christian Tracey
Vice Commodore
Philip Slaght
Rear Commodore
Christiaan van Raalten
Fleet Captain
Dr. Laura Goldberg
Management Committee
Mark Callahan
Richard Slaght
Steve Kmetz
Joseph Starck
General Manager
Marc Dallas
Editor
Mary Ann Smith
CYC Islander deadline:
We welcome members’ photos for the newsletter. Drop off copy and/or photos for the February issue to the CYC Islander mailbox in the Club office by January 10. You may also send copy to msmith@cycrr.org.
On the Cover:
Members got in on the action, decorating festive buoys for the buoy tree, which came to life at the Commodore’s Tree Lighting Ceremony.
And the winners are...
Cheers to award winners: Yachtsman of the Year - Richard Coleman; Family of the Year –Ryan and Kristin Kovesdy (seen here); and Power Boater of the Year - Russell John Fuehrer III
As I write this in December, I’m reminded of everything that makes the CYC such an amazing place to spend time with friends and family. Maureen, Cormac, Mallory and I thoroughly enjoyed the unveiling of the new buoy tree that so many of you contributed to, as well as the singing of Christmas carols led by our amazing chorus, followed by our holiday shopping night (thank you Kari Caruso!). I also had the honor of attending the Ladies Champagne Dinner with entertainment by the Ohio City Singers — many thanks to Stacey Clevenger for a wonderful evening honoring our Past Commodore wives. It takes a great staff and lots of volunteers to pull off a month like December, so thank you all (OSU game: Katherine Lehtinen; Santa Brunch: Jason and Lindsey Smith; Polar Express: Jessie Reed & Alejandra Estemalik; and of course Chief Conductor P/C Lynn Lazzaro!).
Hopefully, you made the New Year’s Eve party and are looking forward to joining us in New York at Peek’n Peak for the annual ski trip. We will be gathering on January 17 at Alexander’s on the Lake on Friday evening and lunch at the main lodge on Saturday (sign up online). If your kids like animals, you will want to be at Family Night on Wednesday, January 15. I’m not sure what kind of animals, but I’m thinking this is one not to miss! We also have the Sail Fleet Trophy Night to look forward to on Saturday, January 25, and, if you haven’t come down to the club for a Saturday pizza night, you are missing out! Don’t forget about Friday babysitting nights — those
were a favorite of mine and Maureen’s when our children were younger and it’s how we met so many people from across the Club.
You’ve probably noticed that work has begun on the bridge. By the time you read this our builder will have completed all the prep work to widen the bridge supports so that we’re ready for the closing of the bridge for demolition starting on March 3. I am happy to report that the project, under the leadership of Fleet Engineer Jason Smith, is currently proceeding on time and on budget. The Strategic Planning and Management Committees are also working on a plan to improve the traffic flow on to the island to be implemented in conjunction with the replacement of the bridge and driveways. More to come on that.
Finally, we will be conducting two town halls this month to update you all on the status of the Clubhouse Improvement Project. We will be reviewing a new timeline, revised cost estimate, and the addition of another strategic project that has moved up the priority list. Look for announcements on the dates and times.
I encourage you to come down, reconnect with friends you haven’t seen in awhile and enjoy all that our Club has to offer. Maureen and I look forward to seeing many of you again on the island soon. 138 days to Spring launch.
—Commodore Christian Tracey
And this just in from Instagram
I suspect you have started 2025 with a renewed set of wellness goals. Here are the three most common New Year’s resolutions and how you can set yourself up for success. Good luck and Happy New Year!
This is a broad category, and trying to overhaul your entire diet all at once is a surefire way to overwhelm yourself. Instead, narrow your focus and work on mastering healthy habits like:
• Eating breakfast every morning
• Giving up soda
• Including a vegetable in every meal
• Turning to healthier snacks
• Scaling way back on ultra-processed foods (or cutting them out entirely).
Establishing an exercise routine is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions. But if you’ve never been one for physical activity, or if you’ve fallen out of the habit, it can feel nearly impossible to begin. Not sure how to start working out? Don’t go too hard too soon. If you’re starting from zero, you need to set the bar low enough to be realistic. Maybe taking a workout class will help you ease into things. Maybe you want to start a running regimen. Or maybe it means starting with core strength exercises, and then adding in other types of weight training or resistance exercises to build muscle. You can even try hiring a personal trainer for a few sessions.
Whether you’re starting the year with a Dry January, resolving to scale back on happy hours with friends or trying to stop drinking altogether, this common New Year’s resolution can feel incredibly daunting.
Formulate a plan that may include:
• Learning to avoid your triggers
• Finding enjoyable, alcohol-free ways to spend your time
• Seeking support from friends and family
The list could go on for areas to improve your health in 2025, but I will reserve some of those tips for future articles. The overarching theme in successfully navigating these goals includes starting slowly with achievable goals at the beginning. Keep it simple and fun, as you gain confidence in your success, you can increase your commitment.
Join your fellow CYC members for Euchre in January and February (abbreviated schedule due to the bridge closing): January 9, 16, 30, February 6, 20, 27 An announcement will be given at 7:15 p.m. to start gathering in the Snug Harbor Room and play will start promptly at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome to join. You do not need a partner—just come. Please bring $5 to be used for both the nightly prizes and season prizes. (Exact change is greatly appreciated.)
—Dave Wade
Before the bridge shuts down, gather with friends on Friday, February 7 at 6 p.m. for a trip around the CYC island. It starts in The Pilot House Bar. Tropical drinks at each stop will ward off the winter blues. Cost is $50 per person and includes four drink tickets and food at each stop.
Registration for 2025 Swim Team, Sail Camp, SOS and Junior Race Team will open through Clubspot on Monday, February 3. If you are a returning participant, you can go directly to Clubspot. Otherwise you will be able to access Clubspot through the CYC website under Junior Activities. More information, including registration fees, will be emailed to members in January. Questions? Email Nogay Dokmeci at waterfrontdirector@cycrr.org.
Every year members must reapply for a
second boat, jet ski or other watercraft assignment. All applicants, replacement requests or change requests much be received in the Accounting Office by February 10. Questions? Contact Diane May at dmay@cycrr.org.
Due to high demand for reservations for club events, all cancellations with less than 72 hours’ notice will be charged in full.
Don’t miss these special entertainers as part of upcoming Family Night Dinners. On Wednesday, January 15, an Animal Show with Nora the Explorer will take place 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Then on Wednesday, February 19 a Magic Show featuring The Amazing Jeffrey will be 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Please take time to complete our dining survey in the dining room and let us know how we are doing to meet your needs. We will be holding a monthly drawing for those who complete the survey with a chance to win a $100 CYC gift certificate. Congrats to the November winner Barbara Rudge.
It’s back – the R fleet Fireside Chat on Thursday, February 13, in the clubhouse. Chairperson Charley Bredt says, “All are welcome, come share in the scuttlebutt.”
The Sail Fleet Committee is thrilled to hold the annual Sail Fleet Trophy Night. This special event will be held on Saturday, January 25 at 6 p.m. It’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our talented sailors and crew while enjoying an evening of camaraderie and celebration.
The evening will feature a seated dinner, followed by the awards ceremony where we will honor the outstanding performances of each fleet. We look forward to recognizing the hard work and contributions of the 2024 sailing season.
Skippers, please alert your crew. RSVP online. Please submit your nominations for Sail Fleet Perpetual Awards: Sailor of the Year, Crew of the Year, Mueller Memorial Trophy, Little Brown Jug, Rita Wilber Memorial Trophy to Jeff Herzog at Jeffrey. Herzog@nexusgroup.com by January 5. We can’t wait to see you there.
The members of the CYC Art Fleet wish for all our friends a very happy, safe and enjoyable 2025! As we know well, soon our island will start to get ready for spring; work will begin to get sail and power boats ready to cruise our wonderful lake, and before we know it, the pool will reopen and the fun will begin!
No doubt that happy thoughts will help all of us to make the next few cold months go by quickly, as the Club looks forward to a new summer season. There will be plenty of indoor gatherings.
Stop by the Library this month and take a look at one of Pamela Gilliland’s wonderful creations. She and her husband have been CYC members for decades. She is well known within the Cleveland art community, with many of her works now part of prominent local art collections.
As you would expect from a boater, her works are often influenced by water, as suggested by her painting now being exhibited in the Library, titled “Swirl”.
To all, a sincere thank you for your support of the CYC Art Fleet activities, with our best wishes for the New Year!
—Marcello
Mellino, CYC Fine Art Fleet Chair
During our Club Shutdown, Marc Dallas and Chairperson Whitney Callahan would like to encourage you to rendezvous at clubs across NE Ohio. Some are old favorites and others are clubs you may not realize we have reciprocity with. Members will receive a Passport where they can get a stamp at each club, the member with the most stamps at the end of our CYC Club Crawl will receive a month of free dues. (There will be a drawing in case of a tie.) Reservations should be made on the CYC website so we can monitor attendance, but you must also call and reserve your dining reservation at the club you will be visiting. Each club’s contact information, distance and any important information will be listed on the CYC calendar. Reservations may be limited. The tentative dates are as follows:
Shaker Heights CC - March 6
Chagrin Valley CC - March 20
Shoreby Club - April 3
Edgewater YC - April 10
Lakewood CC - March 13
Avon Oaks CC - March 27
Brother’s Lounge - April 5
Lakeside YC - April 17
Westwood CC - April 24
Now that the busy holidays are behind us, it is time to relax a bit before we begin to work on the boats to prepare for Spring Launch. At the same time, we look forward to warm sunny days, calm seas and our busy 2025 cruise schedule.
Winter Get-Together
Come out for an evening of family fun at Main Event in Avon at 35605 Chester Road. Enjoy a relaxing night of dinner, unlimited fun and games, a few spirits, and camaraderie among Power Fleet members. This is a great event for new Power Fleet members to meet with more “tenured” members.
• 6 to 8:30 p.m. – casual dinner, including pizza, wings, salads and more
• 7 to 9 p.m. – unlimited bowling, billiards, laser tag and gravity ropes
Plus, one hour of all-you-can-play video games (no prize tickets) and unlimited soft drinks and water. Cost: $17.50 (including tax and gratuity) per person for adults (including children ages 12 and over); $10 for children ages 5 through 11; and free for children under age 5. Billed to your CYC account. Cash bar for beer, wine and liquor.
Please sign up on the CYC website calendar, or call the CYC front office at 440-333-1155, prior to February 27. Note: no cancellations after February 27. Include the age of each child.
2025 Cruise Planning
Planning is under way for the summer cruises, which includes an extended long cruise for 2025. This year’s extended long cruise will take us to Mackinac Island (via Mackinaw City) and down the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. The proposed
schedule includes:
• Friday, July 25 – Port Huron
• Saturday, July 26 – Port Austin
• Sunday, July 27 and Monday July 28 –Mackinaw City
• Tuesday, July 29 and Wednesday July 30
– Harbor Springs
• Thursday, July 31 to Sunday August 3 –Elk Rapids
• Sunday, August 3 and Monday August 4
– Charlevoix
• Tuesday, August 5 – Petoskey
• Wednesday, August 6 – Roger City
• Thursday, August 7 to Saturday August 10 – TBD
For those interested in the Extended Long Cruise, a planning meeting via a Zoom call will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 14. Please sign up for the meeting on the CYC calendar website no later than Tuesday, January 7. A call-in number will be sent to those who sign up.
Cruise Skippers Needed
We are still in need of someone to organize skippers and ports for the Traditional Long Cruise to Lake St. Clair and surrounding areas, as well as a skipper for the Rondeau weekend cruise. If you have an interest in skippering one of these events, please send us an email at rjadamsjr.saywhen@yahoo.com, or call at 239-734-0944.
Power Fleet Dues
2025 Power Fleet dues are $125. If you are a current Power Fleet member, or contacted us to be a new member, your dues will be billed on your January 2025 CYC statement. If you would prefer to pay your Power Fleet dues directly to the Power Fleet and avoid the sales tax, please make your $125 check payable to CYC
March 8 — Winter Outing at Main Event
May 17 — Kick-Off Lunch BBQ and Coast Guard Inspections at Center Isle
June 6-8 — Geneva on the Lake Cruise
June 15 — Father’s Day Picnic at Center Isle
June 18-19 — Crews Nest Cruise
June 20-22 — Kelleys Island Cruise
July 11-13 — Rondeau Cruise
July 25-August 10 — Extended Long Cruise — Mackinac and Lake Michigan Ports
July 25-August 3 — Traditional Long Cruise — Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair and St. Clair River
week of August 11 — Downtown Cleveland Cruise at Nuevo
August 15-17 — Cedar Point Cruise
August 22-24 — Vermilion Cruise
October 4 — Year End Party at Center Isle
Power Fleet and mail it to us by January 7, at: 4851 Bonita Bay Blvd., Residence 604, Bonita Springs, Florida 34134; or, you can Venmo $125 to Richard Adams Jr@ Tavira604.
Not a member of the Power Fleet, but would like to join? Please email us at rjadamsjr.saywhen@yahoo.com.
— P/C Rick and Suzan
Here at CYC we are fortunate to enjoy the beauty of Lake Erie and the Rocky River. In order to preserve the natural assets around the island for generations of members to come, we are embarking on a purposeful journey to certify The Cleveland Yachting Club as an Ohio Clean Marina.
With this designation, CYC will join other yacht clubs and marinas around the state that are taking proactive steps to protect our water, air and wild habitats.
A site visit this past fall from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources affirmed
that we are already well on our way to meeting the criteria. In fact, we have a plan to take some additional steps and earn the base-level Ohio Clean Marina certification before the end of 2025!
Here are just a few of the positive, costefficient changes you can expect to see in the coming months:
• New signage that provides members and boaters with helpful tips for “being green”
• Changes to our landscaping practices that will prevent harmful chemical runoff into the water
• The addition of a native plant butterfly garden to promote a healthy ecosystem
• A “Clean Boater” educational session hosted in partnership with the CYC Power Fleet (look for details soon).
There is a chance for us all to contribute to making CYC an Ohio Clean Marina. Be on the lookout for additional news and opportunities to be involved. And thank you to the CYC Board of Trustees, Management Committee, Marc Dallas and Commodore Tracey for supporting this initiative!
—Dana Textoris, CYC Sustainability Committee
Dr. Miller is assistant professor at Case Western Reserve. He and wife Brittany have two children. They love boating and own a 37foot Power Cruiser. In addition to boating, the family plans to participate in Swim Team and Sail Camp.
Sponsors: Matthew Hlavin & Christopher Zito
David King
A senior manager at Deloitte, David and wife Karen have two children. They moved to Rocky River during COVID and are looking to meet new people and love what CYC has to offer.
Sponsors: Courtney DeLuca & Will Lazzaro
This nurse practitioner at the Cleveland Clinic is excited to spend time dining and socializing with her friends and family. She also plans to join the Wet Hens.
Sponsors: Kyle Weigand & Katherine Lehtinen
Christian Baeza
Dr. Baeza is a staff cardiac surgeon at University Hospitals. He and wife Sophia have four children and would like to dock their boat at CYC.
Sponsors: Dr. Matthew Joy & Matthew Davis
As we reflect back on the 111 Commodores who have served The Cleveland Yachting Club, each one has his own story and we salute their time and service to better our Club. This month, we want to highlight and remember Past Commodore Al Mastics, who served in 1957. Al was a remarkable man in the national yachting community. He wrote a monthly column for Yachting Magazine covering the south shore of Lake Erie.
He was the yachting editor for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. And as a founding member of the Great Lakes Historical Society, he helped establish and preserve traditions and news throughout the Great Lakes. Below is the article from Inland Seas, the quarterly publication of the Great Lakes Historical Society upon his passing in 1992, which notes in detail his many journalistic and national yachting accomplishments. It states, “Alec Alexander Mastics sustained a strong personality and influence upon Society
affairs as a member of the Board of Trustees to the last.”
Al’s wife Marianne was also his biggest supporter and was an accomplished pianist and musician, a vital part of the CYC Chorus and numerous CYC Regatta Shows. In fact, they had a full upright piano aboard their Richardson cruiser Duet!
As current CYC historians, this committee marvels at the detailed documentation of our storied history in his many years as CYC Historian. Treat yourself to reading more of his work in the CYC Library in past yearbooks and the Inland Seas publication!
—CYC History committee P/C Lynn Lazzaro, P/C Jack Salisbury, P/C Dave Evans
WOW! This is the first thought that came to mind when I said yes to being Chief Chick of CYC’s women’s group, aka “Wet Hens.”
Wow, there are 160 members, but we still want more. We want you! If interested, contact me maryflovett@gmail.com.
Wow, there is a lot going on. I know a lot of people outside of Wet Hens think it is only a sailing group. Well our roots are certainly in sailing, but we are so much more. Even in these winter months we have a lot going on. Here’s a taste:
• Monthly dinners—Join us January 8 for cocktails starting at 5 p.m. followed by dinner and a presentation by Cathy Tasse. (Check out the Wet Hens newsletter for my spotlight on Cathy!) Sign up in advance on the CYC calendar. Don’t miss your free glass of wine.
• Monthly cocktails—Join us January 15 at 5:30 p.m. at Char. Contact Christy Weiss cmweiss10@gmail.com
• Pathfinders—every Friday at 10 a.m. get out of the house and walk approximately
two to three miles with friends. Locations and leaders vary. Contact Peg Indermaur at pegindermaur@cox.net or Deb Wadden at wadden.deb@gmail.com to get on the email list.
• Stitch N Bitch—meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 3 p.m. Bring whatever needlework project or sewing chore you have and a mug for tea. We will sit around the fire and share conversation, ideas and snacks while drinking our tea and working on our projects. Questions? Contact Cathy Wilton Bransch at cwiltonbransch@mail.com.
Follow CYC Wet Hens on Facebook @Wet Hens CYC and Instagram @cyc_wet_hens.
Check out the Wet Hens Newsletter at cycwethens.blogspot.com. All committee chairs’ contact info are at the bottom of the newsletter, which can be accessed using the QR Code.
—Mary Lovett, Wet Hens Chair
The Cleveland Yachting Club
200 Yacht Club Drive
Rocky River, Ohio 44116
440-333-1155
www.cycrr.org
Sunday, February 9 at 5:30 p.m.
Join the fun on football’s largest stage in the Lounge and Pilot House Bar. In addition to the regular dinner menu, we will offer game day fare including wings, chili and hot dogs, along with beer specials.
Don’t forget to stop by the bar and buy your Super Bowl squares the week before. A la carte dining will be available in the Club Room.
Saturday, February 15
Cocktails and “Coke”tails at 6 p.m.
Dinner at 7 p.m.
The menu includes a house salad to start followed by beef strip loin with a red wine reduction, whipped potatoes and green beans. The kids will get chicken fingers and fries. We will be serving apple crisp and vanilla ice cream for dessert. Make reservations online.
Cost is $45 for adults and $15 for kids.
— Chairperson P/C Charley Bredt
Saturday, February 22
Enjoy options for freshly cooked steaks from the grill. It begins at 5:30 p.m. You will be able to choose between a strip or ribeye steak and have the option to season and cook your own steak, or, if you are uncertain of your temperature management talents, an experienced CYC cook can grill the steak for you to your liking on our gas grills.
The night will feature music by our own Bear Kincaid, an organized poker tournament as well as self-managed Euchre and 71/2 games, and late night snacks to absorb all the consumed libations.
This is a members-only event. Cost is $75 per person, which includes beer, entry into the raffle, as well as a giveaway to remember the event. Register via our CYC app and pick your cut of meat. Registration will close on February 10.
— Rob Elwood