Most people would think that December would be a slow time of year for a boating organization, but this month is filled with camaraderie and celebration. Most people would also believe that December on Puget Sound is not a great boating time, but we have 8 intrepid boats heading to Bell Harbor the first week in December. This event is always a favorite for holiday shopping and touring the Emerald City, all aglow with festive decorations. I believe there’s still room for boaters to participate in this cruise and get out to enjoy the gorgeous Salish Sea in the winter.

December is also a time of change. At the November meeting, the membership voted in the new Officers and Board for 2020. This is a dynamic group and I’m proud to be a member of the team. We’ll have a joint board meeting of the 2019 and 2020 Boards on Monday, December 9^th, to plan the upcoming year.

The next day, Tuesday, December 10^th, starts the theme of holiday celebrations and since many of us have a strong connection with Hawai’i, we thought it would be fun to have a theme of Mele Kalikimaka with mai tais and aloha attire for our general meeting. The Key City Public Theatre players will give a preview of their upcoming holiday play, “Mercy Falls” which the club will be attending on Friday, Dec. 27^th with a reception following in the lobby. Don’t forget to buy your tickets at www.keycitypublictheatre.org.   Continue reading →

Looking out my window as I write this, the rain is pelting on the deck, the fire’s going and football is on. That’s certainly a sign that fall is here and winter is just around the corner. But it reminds me that this time of year is when our clubhouse really comes to life with all the various parties and events of the upcoming season.

In just a few days, November will kick off with PTYC’s annual Crab Feast on Nov. 9^th and Scott, from New Day Fisheries, promises that this year’s crab will be some of the best. Hope you’ve bought your ticket and we look forward to seeing you there.

At our November 12^th meeting, members will vote to approve the 2020 Slate of Officers and Board Members.

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For over 30 years, Christina and I, no matter where we were in the country, made the trek to Port Townsend for the Wooden Boat Festival. This has always been a celebration for us. A celebration not only of wooden boats and the maritime community, but also a celebration of an amazing summer, wherever we’d spent it. This year was no different. With a great turnout for the festival, incredible boats and catching up with longtime friends, it’s also bittersweet because I’ve always gauged the festival as the end of summer and the beginning of a long, wet winter.

All the cruises this year have been well-attended with enthusiastic participants. One thing that struck me with both the Pleasant Harbor Cruise and the South Sound Cruise, was the participation of new members and these new folks learning and talking with our more seasoned members. For me, this is what the club is all about. Continue reading →