I enjoy backing in for haul-out, for the extra challenge…
I’ve been putting off writing this because it’s kind of an “end of season” edition of the Commodore’s Corner, and that’s essentially admitting that it’s over. Getting the sails off, winterizing, hauling out, etc. hasn’t exactly left me spilling over with free time, either. But really, I tend to think it’s not wanting summer to be officially ended that led to my procrastination. But I can’t really continue in my denial spiral anymore; I’ve raked leaves and turned the furnace on, I’ve complained that it’s dark in the morning and in the afternoon, I’ve indulged in pumpkin spice everything… as much as I dislike it, fall is here. So now all I can do is embrace the nostalgia and remember the 2025 HBYC season for how great it was.
Very special thanks to B and D dock for hosting the September social, many steaks and shrimps were eaten. And thanks to everyone who helped out with any of the socials and cruises this year. And an even bigger thanks to David Makoroff for stepping up for next year’s social director and Rick Billheimer for taking over as cruise director!
The September membership drive was a great success this year, bringing in 11 new members during the month! Welcome to all new members if you’re reading, and if you have any questions or issues, please don’t hesitate to reach out. My contact information is all over the website, and although I won’t be commodore next year, I won’t be disappearing into the ether either.
Congrats to our new members Mike & Karen Walsh from F-dock for winning the new membership dock prize from Safe Harbor Sandusky during the month of October!
Huge thanks for all the support from my bridge: Carla and Marc, Joe K, Ron, Marianne and Chris. Kathy had an excellent first year as secretary, while Carla, Jessie, and Marianne had awesome final years in their roles as social / cruising directors. Thanks again to Larry for sticking it out one more year at least to lead racing. Thank you to Sharon and Nick for all you do with membership and clubhouse, and gratefulness to Deb for a great job as sunshine chair. Appreciation to Ken for handling the finances, Chris and Karissa for a fantastic year of goodies with the ship store, all the past commodores for the support, and Rick for everything you’ve done as AYC Fleet Captain. And last but definitely not least, thank you to Laura and all of the significant others of those mentioned above!
There will be two events happening over the winter, the HBYC Winter Rendezvous which is happening this year in Columbus, OH. Keep your eyes on email and the facebook group for updates! Also, our friends at the Associated Yacht Clubs (AYC) will be hosting their legendary ball in Romulus MI in February. If you’re interested in attending, get in touch with Rick Billheimer, AYC Fleet Captain, or let a bridge member know to get all the details! HBYC will be partnering with All Ports Yacht Club, Nugent’s Canal Yacht Club, and Put in Bay Yacht Club to create one of the speciality themed hospitality rooms at the event. It’ll be a blast!
And with that, we sail off into the sunset…
Thank you everyone who stopped by to read over the course of the season. I enjoyed my time at the helm! I leave everyone with a quote that (although originally about baseball) sums up my feelings about the end of the boating season:
"It begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone. You count on it, rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive,and then just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops."
Sean Leengran
2025 Commodore