Over 60 members crowded in the Clubhouse on Monday, November 12, to attend the Club’s 2012 Annual General Meeting.

After a brief social period, the evening started with an entertaining presentation by Steve Travis about sailing earlier this year at Cowes Week in England on a chartered Kerr 40.  Steve sailed with a crew from Seattle, mostly from his Flash crew, and one Scottish “owner’s representative” – an example of separation by a common language!  Steve noted that almost all of their competition had far younger and paid crew – but the Seattle group held its own and finished a respectful fifth of 19 boats (2 other Kerr 40s and a group of Farr 40s, Swan 45s and other similarly sized boats).

A fascinating aspect of racing at Cowes is that the course for the day is announced in an English accent just 10 minutes before the start!  And involves numerous turns (up to 17) round the named marks in the Solent (the 3 to 4 mile wide waterway between the Isle of Wright and the English mainland), some to port, some to starboard.  A tense time, especially as Steve said, when you are leading your group and you only can hope you got the course down correctly! (“Is the boat behind going around the same mark?”).  And of course there are hundreds of other boats on the course, some going around the same mark as you – although perhaps to port as you are going around to starboard!  Add 3 to 4 knots of tide, shifting winds (10 to 20 degrees) and short legs demanding quick sail calls and changes!

The crew steadily improved its performance, and won the class one day (by 6 seconds) when Steve said they had a great start, and the course was primarily reaches so there were very few if any passing lanes.  For that result, the crew was awarded the Queen’s Cup, and were invited inside of the Royal Yacht Squadron (fortunately Steve had access to a coat and tie).  See the September/October issue of the Leadline for more details about their racing at Cowes.

Wayne Balsiger, as chair of the Nominations and Elections Committee, presented its nominees for the Officers and Board.  No other nominees were named, and at the end of the meeting, after all the votes were cast, Wayne announced that the nominees had all been elected as officers and Board members starting at the first of 2013 (see sidebar for the names of all the 2013 officers and Board members).

Commodore Ken Johnson spoke about results in 2012 – he noted that a year ago the Club had taken the radical step of lowering dues and increasing race fees, a coupled those changes with a broad effort to bring more activity to the Clubhouse.  The membership effort was very successful – so far we have attracted 132 new members, including 85 new Adult/Family members!  We now have 489 total members, the most since 2008 – with the primary group of Adults 30 and over comparable to the previous “S2” group, growing from 198 to 278, a net growth of 80 members.  Many thanks to Sunny Fenton and her membership committee!

Racing results are more mixed – Lake evening racing was slightly above 2011 levels although Lake weekend racing was down, with events often cancelled in 2012.  Sound evening racing continued at about the same levels, with more boats registered than coming out to race.  Thursday night “light” racing was still a work in process.

Troubling,  Sound weekend racing continued to decline – only PSSR has held constant the past 3 years – and altogether, Center Sound, PSSR, PSSC – small boats and PSSC – large boats, has declined from 295 participants in 2011 to 261 registered boats in 2012.  As these races are significant financial contributors to the  Club’s racing program, this decline is a continuing concern.

Other 2012 accomplishments included (along with names of some of the volunteer leaders):

• 2012 Boat Show participation, to be continued in 2013 – Bob Ross, Noel Morgan
• Clubhouse painting and other improvements – Noel Morgan, Joel and Mary Thornton, Brian Watkins
• First Fridays and active social events – Cindy Gossett and committee
• Volunteer Bar Tenders – Brian Watkins and group
• Junior Sailing School fuller and active Junior Racing team – Derick Vranizan
• Successful Optimist NW Regional Regatta – Rusty & Haley Lhamon
• Better Communications:
  • Helmsman published – Bruce Sherman, Anne Bassing & Eric Sanderson
  • Leadline issues – Peggy Johnson
  • Website – Nojan Moshiri and group
  • Social Media – Michelle Rogalin

• Rookie Rally successful – Bruce Van Deventer
• Clubhouse Rentals increased
• Office Operations becoming smoother – Rachelle O’Halect and Laura Bolin
• Donations received of over $17.5K with no organized donation program

Commodore Johnson noted that the Club’s revenue increased significantly in 2013, from approximately $308K to about $377K in 2013, but so had expenses.  He stated that the Club expected to post an operating profit of about $15K, although for tax purposes there likely would be a small loss (less than $1,000) due to capital depreciation charges.  Cash reserves would be about the same at the end of 2012 as at the beginning of the year – the operating profit would be offset by the unanticipated expense of acquiring two new whaler motors this year for about $15.5K in total.

2013 Commodore Elect Bruce Van Deventer discussed challenges (and opportunities) facing the Club in the upcoming year, including:

• Finances – keeping pace but not running a surplus
• Capital needs – see below
• Membership – can we continue this year’s good growth?
• Leschi moorage – deterioration of docks
• Leschi – continues to lack a facility
• Racing – regatta attendance shrinking (down 50% over last decade)

After reviewing possible opportunities for improved programs, Bruce outline some capital needs that he believed the Club should explore, some to maintain what we now have and some to expand our offerings, including:

• Haulout of the Shilshole Clubhouse in 2016/2017  – estimated around $120K (raise over 3 years, starting soon)
• Review a tent or similar arrangement for a Leschi meeting place
• Acquire 6 or so two-handed dinghies and coaching RIB to expand sailing school and offer adult training
• Race equipment needs – from marks to winches to committee boat haulouts
• West side float to Clubhouse – permitted when moved Clubhouse

Bruce discussing ways the Club could expand its sailing activities by supporting a wide age group when teach basic sailing skills, involve associate and youth members in cruising activities, and offering per and coach based training in both dinghy and keelboat racing activities.

Commodore Johnson ended the program by thanking the race committee PROs and whaler drivers who put on the best racing in very challenging conditions,  the retiring officers and directors, the many volunteers that made such a positive contribution to all aspects of the Club’s operations and the new officers and directors who face a continuing set of significant challenges.