Luff 'N Laff August 2023
Please RSVP Below!
| Our Gulf Coast Sailing Club Mission:
As Naples and Southwest Florida’s leading volunteer sailing club, we support inter-club racing, cruising, day sailing, social events, and boating education for the benefit of sailors and their families. Let’s keep it fun.
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From The Commodore:
The Commodore shall be the senior officer of the Club
| Trudell Kolpack
Hello sailors!
Do you believe Summer is half over?
We are already planning club activities for the season!
So for the rest of the summer and early fall, join us at our meetings and the rest of the Tequila series.
Please be thinking of where you'd like to participate and get involved, make new friends, and get out on the water!
Reach out to any of us with suggestions, questions and feedback for how to up-level everyone's enjoyment in the club.
Please do your best to RSVP for this month's member meeting on the 9th (very easy, you can just reply to this Luff 'N Laff email) so we have enough food for everyone!
Thanks in advance for letting us know!
We look forward to seeing you,
Trudell Kolpack
Commodore
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From The Vice Commodore:
The Vice Commodore is responsible for Membership, Communications, and Volunteer Coordination activities for the Club.
| John Steiner
Summer Greetings GCSC Members!
As Vice Commodore, I have exciting news to share!
This season we have a new structure for our GCSC Monthly Membership Meetings.
I'll cover a few of the highlights here and provide more details in subsequent issues of Luff & Laff.
Here are the highlights:
1. There will be fewer external speakers throughout the season. Instead, we will dedicate more time at each meeting to inform our members about the Programs and Activities available to GCSC members AND how each member can get involved!
2. Our November season kick-off meeting will have separate presentations from each of our core Program and Activities leaders, i.e.:
* Racing
*Cruising
*Smallboats
*Daysailing
*Landside Events
Looking forward to this season and greeting you all in November!
Best regards,
John Steiner
Vice Commodore
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From The Rear Commodore:
The Rear Commodore is responsible for the Racing and Cruising activities for the Club.
|  | Bob Andreini
I cannot tell you how excited I am about our sailing programs for the upcoming year. Already, our members have been highly active in planning the On the Water Events for our club!
We spent a lot of time this summer working through conflicts on the calendar and coordinating with our neighboring clubs such as CMCS and PGSC.
As a result, we did move a couple of traditional event dates while trying to maintain as much consistency as possible.
Over the next few weeks, you will see these events appearing on the club’s website calendar in each of their respective areas.
Please look out for them so you can start planning which events you are looking to participate in.
If you are interested in helping to plan and coordinate any of the events below, please let me know (bandreini@ra3.com). We have a FUN group of members already highly engaged.
Even if you are not a boat owner this is a great way to get involved in YOUR club, get to know people, and get out on the water.
| Upcoming Races:
2023 to 2024 Boat of the Year (BOTY) Schedule Announcement:
We have an exciting schedule of BOTY races this season!
Coordinating with NSYC, CMCS and PGSC we are pleased to have finalized our Notice of Series and launch our regatta style and distance racing season!
8 regattas consisting of multiple races or individual races as follows:
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Yachtscoring Registration:
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DIVISIONS
- Spinnaker
- Non-Spinnaker
- True Cruising
- Multihull
- Racer Cruiser
Note that The Naples Classic (formerly the Bunny Hop) has been moved from March to April. Summerset has been confirmed by CMCS and will kick off our BOTY racing season. Let’s try to get as many of our members to enter and join their event!
Tequila Summer Racing:
Casual racing for free Starting at 10am or 11am roughly every other weekend when we don’t have another club activity. These are pursuit starts based on your PHRF rating.
You will see the announcements from Frank Brown and Jeff Gage and soon the schedule will be posted on the clubs website along with the rest of the racing series.
To hold these races, we are asking people to confirm no later than Thursday prior to the race and we need a minimum of 4 boats to participate.
Pursuit races are fun casual races for racers and cruisers alike.
Even if you don’t compete, join us out on the water as a Day Sail. Almost always, there is a raft up or after party that everyone is welcome to join.
FROM Jeff Gage and Frank Brown:
THIS SATURDAY Tequila Race 8/5 IS ON!
Tequila Summer Racing:
July 8 was cancelled due to Thunder. The Race for July 22 was canceled because only one boat signed up. Where are you racers? We're having fun out there but you're not with us!
Casual racing for free Starting at 10am or 11am outside of Gordon Pass. Pursuit start based on your PHRF rating.
When: Saturday, August 5, 2023, 11:00 AM until 3:00 PM
Where: Starts off Gordon Pass at 11AM with finishes in the early afternoon
More details will be forthcoming <Friday Night> as soon as we have a better feel for wind direction and velocity. It will be pursuit start with individual start times. Encourage racers and cruisers to participate. Very easy!!
Please reply to jeffrey.gage@cbre.com or Frank Brown if you plan to attend so we can assemble the scratch sheet. If you need crew tell me that in your reply. We have qualified crew members interested in getting on the water.
Monitor VHF #72 For Details on the Race and the (Potential) Party
Are you willing to organize an after race Landside Party? Please contact Jeff with the details
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2023 to 2024 Cruising schedule of events:
This season we are mixing in some of our classical cruising events and working in a couple of new and exciting events.
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These events will include in a Skippers dinner prior to the cruise (where possible) and for planning.
Any of the racers interested in doing a Naples to Marathon race just prior to the Marathon Cruise event? If so, let us know and if there is interest, we will schedule accordingly (not as a BOTY event).
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We are thinking about re-creating a cruising series over several consecutive weeks where you can do one or more parts or the entire event. The idea is to have this as a summer series in the May, June, July timeframe.
Destinations could include:
- Cabbage Key
- Cayo Costa
- St. James Island
- Boca Grande Marina
- Fisherman’s Village
Let us know what you would be interested in participating in (cruising@gulfcoastsailingclub.org) as we start to plan what destinations to include.
For anyone interested in a longer distance cruise and exciting event, consider entering the Most Memorable race May 17 and / or the Return to Reality back to Naples the following weekend. You don’t actually have to race, but entering gives you docking rights at the Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa for the week. A great way to explore Tampa Bay.
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SUGDEN SUNDAYS at SUGDEN PARK:
(See more of the latest pictures on Facebook!
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Sugden Sundays at Sugden Park From 12 -3 PM:
- Sugden Sunday's Start Again in November!
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Looking to plan for 5 events this year.
Announcing: New Certification process for volunteer Skippers at Sugden. Thank you to Doug Foss for writing it all up. The document is available on the website in the News --> Documents --> Volunteering section HERE.
Where: Lake Avalon in Sugden Park – 4284 Avalon Drive, Naples, Florida
Cost: $15 for a single, $25 for a couple and $30 for a family – pays for the facility & staff
($5 more for non-members)
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The newest on the water activity for Gulf Coast Sailing Club is to organize a Day Sailing program. This is an opportunity for boat owners to take out members of the club who do not have a boat.
Our Racing program has recently started a “Crew Board” where they match racing captains with crew who are interested in joining. Similar we are going to implement this for Day Sailing.
Some of the events we would like to plan are:
RAFT UP’s:
- Smokehouse Bay
- Champney Bay
- Keewaydin Island
RACE DAY:
- Join on boats, who are not racing, to watch from the water and then join in on the raft up or parties afterwards.
OTHER IDEAS:
- Naples Centennial – Fireworks
- Naples and Marco Island Boat Parades
While there has been a lot of planning on “how” to run the Day Sailing program, we need a committee to run it. This is an EXCELLENT opportunity for non-boat owners to get involved in YOUR club and help match up boats and crew for any of the planned or unplanned events throughout the season.
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Our Next Member Meeting is
Wed. Aug. 9th! 6pm
(Always the 2nd Wed. of the month)
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🏨 Location: Moss Hall at Moorings Presbyterian 791 Harbour Dr. Naples
👩🏫 Speaker is Undecided...join us for a surprise. If you're a sailor, ya gotta be flexible!
🍴🙋 Join us at 6pm: So far, menu is Undecided...but we are working on it! Please RSVP so we know how much food to order - Just Click Reply to this email and newsletter@gulfcoastsailingclub.org will get your RSVP!!
🍪 Please Bring a dessert to share! Thank you!
🥤Y🍺 🍷BYOBeverages as always
P.S. Burgees will be available for sale at the meeting please bring $65 in cash or check (see image below)
See you on the 9th!
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Please Welcome our Newest Members!
| July 2023:
Gulf Coast Sailing Club welcomes the New Members who joined GCSC in July:
Ross & Beth Cummings from Naples. They have a Beneteau First 20 named French Fry and are interested in cruising, day sailing, Sugden, and racing.
Julia Curry from Naples. She is interested in racing, cruising and the Sugden small boat program.
Scott Peterson from Naples. He has a Beneteau 43 named Invictus and is interested in cruising and day sailing.
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Renew (or Start!) Your Membership!
| Have you Renewed your Membership for this year?
Your current Gulf Coast Sailing Club membership Expired June 30, 2023. (Our fiscal year is July 1 to June 30)
Renew now! The annual membership fee is $115 and will cover your membership until the end of June, 2024.
Club dues allow the Club to provide:
⛵ Races & cruises planned and put on,
👩🏫 Monthly meetings 🎉 and parties with food 😋 and comradery, speakers, and
🏊 Sugden fun day's 🍔 ⛵planned and held...
You can complete the payment process online with PayPal or a credit card.
If you prefer, you can mail a check for $115 to Gulf Coast Sailing Club, P.O. Box 2121, Naples, FL 34106 and your membership will be manually renewed.
Please include any changes to your contact information.
We look forward to seeing you at events, on committees, and on the water!
| Our Very Own GCSC Online Store!
You can also get to the Store on the website at Membership --> Merchandise (see pic below)
Please Note: Because all merchandise has our logo, it can be returned only if defective. If you need help with the Store, please contact Michael Charalambous michael@charalambous.us
Thank you Michael for setting up this Store for GCSC!
| If you would like to invite other Gulf Coast Sailing Club members to go out on your boat for a day sail, simply email your invitation to membership@gulfcoastsailingclub.org and we will forward it to all active club members.
As a minimum, your invitation should include your contact information, your boat’s size and location, and your desired sailing dates. We’ll distribute your invitation the same day we receive it.
| Do you have a boat or equipment to sell? Equipment you need?
GCSC BURGEES and NAME TAGS:
You’re a member – say it loud and proud with a GCSC official Burgee or Name Tag!!
(Not a boat owner? Hang it at home or in your office!)
Burgees are large (17” X 25”) fully embroidered – not printed. $65
Name tags are magnetic (no damage to clothing) and feature our logo, your name, and either “member” or your boat name if you choose. $11
E-mail Paul Carlson the exact spelling of your name and whether you want to have a boat name added to your name tag at least a week before a meeting so he can deliver it to you at the meeting: skippersail1@gmail.com.
Pay Paul with cash or check when he gives you the name tag.
| Sailboat For Sale!
Grand Cru is a 1980 Bristol 35.5 a true classic beauty designed by Ted Hood with a history of excellent maintenance and many recent upgrades.
She is the centerboard model with shallow draft ideally suited for Florida coastal waters. |  | Our Club thrives on your expertise, enthusiasm, and your presence!
This is a list of current volunteer opportunities - and there are always more, so if you have a desire, let any flag officer or director know what that is and we'll help you find a spot you love! We appreciate you 😃
The fastest way to get to know your fellow sailors and members is to volunteer!
😃 Membership Director - Maintain the member database and help sign up new members.
😃 Mentors for new members - Help new members get acclimated to the club and introduce them to other members.
😃 YouTube video collector of educational sailing videos
😃 Committee Chair - Landside Events and Member Meetings - For the Summer 2023!
😃 Committee Members - Landside Events - help plan, execute, and set up & clean up at member meetings as well as social events.
😃 Backups for all Communications - for Facebook, the website, and Luff 'n Laff newsletter
😃 Sailing Certification Program Chair 😃 and Certification Captains - Help members improve and prove their sailing literacy so skippers can recruit them for crew.
😃 and Certification Captains - Help members improve and prove their sailing literacy so skippers can recruit them for crew
😃 Race Captains - We will train you!
😃 Race Committee - We will train you! | |
Do you have a sailing story to share with the rest of us sailors? Please submit your story to Michael Charalambous or Laurie Conrod at newsletter@gulfcoastsailing.org.
| Our Gulf Coast Sailing Club Mission
As Naples and Southwest Florida’s leading volunteer sailing club, we support inter-club racing, cruising, day sailing, social events, and boating education for the benefit of sailors and their families. Let’s keep it fun.
Our Gulf Coast Sailing Club Strategy
· Be an innovative volunteer and non-profit organization of beginner, intermediate and experienced sailors.
· Provide year-round on-the-water and land-based activities for our members, their families, and their guests.
· Build a robust sailing program by interfacing with all southwest Florida sailing clubs and coordinating interclub activities.
· Build community outreach through supporting local boating programs and marine industries.
· Actively support sailing and seamanship education programs.
Our Gulf Coast Sailing Club Core Values
· Maintain a welcoming and friendly environment for all.
· Respect all levels of experience and interest.
· Exhibit leadership, Integrity, and honesty.
· Have fun!
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