|
|
122º 30' 06" W 48º44' 55"N
|
November 2018
|
Volume 34 Number 11
|
November 2018 issue:
Download this issue as a PDF.
The Next Potluck Meeting is November 13 at 6:00 PM
Speaker: Nancy Hart telling us about Elvin Smith, the Hermit of Matia.
Animals on-board? They are a constant source of amusement.
I sometimes find it surprising just how many animals one finds on-board boats (no, not the sailors). You mostly see dogs, but walk out N dock, and, as you approach Sea Rose on your left, there’s Sam, more wag than tail. On your right, soliciting pets from the bowsprit of Islander is Diaz. It’s like running the gauntlet…or walking up the steps of the public library flanked on each side by two stone lions. Sam and Diaz are the gateway to N dock.
There are also plenty of seafaring cats. Sylvia and Denny have their two felines with a cat bed on each side of their dodger. My animals, by comparison, were always reluctant sailors. Nadja and Felix would never come on deck when underway. Don’t get me wrong. They loved their home. They hated it when it moved. Only rarely, when we were under full sail, 20-knot winds, nicely healed over and doing 7 knots, would one of the cats poke their head out the hatchway to loudly protest their discontent. They became quite good weather barometers. When the cats begin to yowl from below, it just might be time to shorten sail.
They are named Nadja and Felix (not for “Felix the cat”). It’s Felix, aka “Fat Boy.” They are humane society rescues and identical twins. Although Fat Boy is a few belt sizes larger, 20 pounds worth. I picked them up the day after seeing a performance of Felix Mendelssohn’s violin concerto so beautifully performed by Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg.
Ok, it’s kinda weird, but that’s how I named them. It wasn’t until moving onto the boat that I realized how apropos the names were.
Nadja is the instigator and troublemaker, and Felix just follows along. I don’t think he would have ever left the boat but for Nadja leading the way. They were inseparable, and whatever mischief Nadja found, it was always Doofus Felix who got caught with his “mouth full of feathers” so to speak. Nadja played Felix like he was a violin!
For our morning routine, after feeding the beasts, I would let them out on deck. They would get a little shore leave before I went to work. (They were never allowed to be off the boat unless I was present). They would sometimes wander down the dock but they would never be away more than 20 minutes or so. However, I soon learned that if Nadja returned alone, sitting contentedly grooming herself as if to say, “See, it wasn’t me. I’m so innocent,” I would be called upon to walk down the dock to extricate Fat Boy from whatever mischief Nadja had gotten him into.
They soon learned my routine when preparing to go sailing. Nadja would burrow under the V-berth comforter to hide. Felix would loudly yowl and bolt for the hatchway. If not secured, he’d be halfway down N dock before I could catch him. On occasion, he would disappear, and unable to find his hiding place, I would leave him behind if we were just out on a day sail.
My Gate 9 neighbors were very patient with me. They would tell Fat Boy stories after I returned: “He’d just wander up and down the dock soliciting pets and loudly complaining to anyone who would listen. What an abusive owner I was to leave him behind!” When returning to my slip, there he’d be, sitting on our dock step watching our final approach. He would immediately jump aboard and race below (to the food dish, I’m certain) even before the Falcon was secured to the dock.
I recall one cold winter morning sitting at my salon table. There was barely room for my book and cup of coffee because Nadja and Felix took their half out of the middle. I had a radiant heater under the table making it the most comfortable place for a cat lounge. Fat Boy was sprawled diagonally across the table, upside down, paws in the air, exposing his soft white underbelly. Nadja sat next to him licking and grooming his ears, head and neck. Felix, eyes closed, reveling in Nadja’s attentions. It was a scene of complete domestic tranquility.
As she sat up, I noticed an imperceptible change in the look in her eye. I don’t know what demon possessed her at that instant, I barely had time to grab for my coffee cup before Nadja dove at Fat Boy’s exposed belly… all teeth! The table erupted in a howling mass of teeth and claws, fur and feathers flying in all directions.
As I said: a constant source of amusement.
Your Commy
Laurent
|
Ahoy, Racers!!!
We had a great turnout for our 2018 CYC Season Racing Awards Ceremony at the Local Public House on October 25th!
Great to see everyone there, chat about some of the highlights of the season, and look forward with anticipation to the 2019 CYC Racing Season!
We will announce our registration night after the holiday season is over, likely plan it for late winter.
A reminder to winterize your boats and check dock lines often through the winter months.
Thank you all for another great year Thursday night racing with CYC!
Cheers!
–Sean Jones
CYC Race Chair
|
|
Commodore - Laurent Martel
Vice-Commodore - Kathy Sheehan
Secretary - Roni Lenore
Treasurer - Joe Bartlett
Administrative Officer - Lesli Beasley
Membership Chair - Dave Hewlett
Race Chair - Sean Jones
Cruise Chair - Ken Russell
Reciprocity - Greg Hartgraves
Past Commodore - Steve Clevenger
Newsletter - Linda Benafel
Please support our advertisers!
|
2018 Turkey Cruise
The Turkey Tides: Blakely Island Turkey Fry 2018 was a great success. Fabulous weather for the 10 boats that arrived on Friday and again for the 4 boats that came over Saturday. We started off the weekend with a Friday night Halloween party. Roaring fire, (thank you to everyone that brought wood), amazing appetizers, ooey gooey mystery buckets of brains, eyeballs and intestines, wicked games of Jenga, hand and foot and rummy 2500, haunting music, and so many costumes! Almost everyone participated in costumes which made it extra fun. The big winners of the night were new members Debbie and Dale Jones with their "deer in the headlights" costumes and Delayne Brink with "snot face man"! He totally grossed us all out, but how funny he was! We were all running for the anti-bacterial spray. This night also gave us one of the most stunning sunsets we've seen this season.
Saturday awoke with calm seas and gray skies but no rain until after the Obstacle race was completed. 6 teams, 11 challenges, one runaway balloon bag filled with about 30 blown up balloons - Troy and Don Kosa came to the rescue, racing out to scoop it from East Sound! Hilarity ensued. We found out who was best at tying nautical knots, who could handle the balance course, which team could build the highest balloon tower and who had best aim at archery, football toss and Frisbee throwing, just to name a few. You haven't seen anything until you witness Deb Jones, Karen Reed, Wendy Hewlett, Sylvia Holmstrom, Linda Benafel and Vicki Brink - all the captains- coach their teams on passing a hula hoop from one team member to the last without ever letting go of hands. A huge shout out to these ladies and everyone that participated in this fun event. After Mike Reed and Mike Kirkland - thank you fellas - cleaned up all the course materials, we headed back to our boats for finishing touches on our dinner menu. 4:00pm arrived with Dave Jones, Dan Goodwater (my brother in law) and chef extraordinaire Troy pulling the turkeys from their pots, it was time to dig in! I can't even begin to tell you how delicious the food was. Thirty-five of us tucked in to all things Thanksgiving. Yes, 35 people this year! That was a record for Troy and I. After a few naps and walks around the marina everyone was back at the games which lasted well into the night. There were many concerns about weather for our return on Sunday, but all for not. It was calm seas, no rain and a beautiful ride home.
Thank-you to everyone that joined us this year, we had a blast. Loads of new members and a few returnees. I'm already planning some new things for next year!
Tracy Olney
On November 13th, we have a special treat from Nancy Hart. She is going to tell us about Elvin Smith, the Hermit of Matia. Don’t miss it! The CYC has a special relationship with Matia Island. Each Spring, in partnership with the Washington State Parks Department, our members enjoy a special cruise to Matia Island to provide trail maintenance and upkeep of the state park’s camping area.
December 11th will be our Holiday Potluck, and the Bellingham High School Show Stoppers, a 20-member vocal group will be providing Holiday Music & Dance.
Thank You,
Lesli
–Lesli Beasley (360) 201-1669
CYC Administration Officer
Community Boating Center Holiday Party
December 7, 6:30pm - 10pm
Squalicum Boathouse (2600 N Harbor Loop Dr., Bellingham, WA 98225)
Tickets: $30/person (every ticket purchase enters the ticket holder's name in a drawing to win a free season pass for 2019)
Party will include live jazz, a catered buffet, a dessert dash, a raffle, dancing, and wine by Samson Winery.
Event purpose: Support youth scholarships and community access to Bellingham Bay! We invite our community to join us in a fun and engaging celebration of a phenomenal summer enabling people to connect with our beloved corner of the Salish Sea.
|
Do you have a computer or mobile device to keep your appointments and weekly schedule? Do you want to add CYC events to that electronic calendar?
Cruising schedule and other CYC events are listed on the CYC Google Calendar, which is updated periodically. You can subscribe to the CYC Google Calendar on your computer or smart phone or see the Events & Cruises page.
Need help getting started? Talk to Chuck Dingée.
November 2018
November 13: CYC potluck, SYC Clubhouse
November 27: CYC Board Meeting, Commodore's House
December 2018
December 1: Lighted Boat Parade, Bellingham Bay
December 7: Community Boating Center Holiday Party, Squalicum Boathouse
December 11: CYC potluck, SYC Clubhouse
|
With Thanksgiving around the corner, this roasted cauliflower recipe could be a scrumptious addition. You can just eat the roasted cauliflower alone without the goat cheese if you wish. Adjust the crushed red pepper flakes according to your taste. I love it spicy.
Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Whipped Goat Cheese
Ingredients
Roasted cauliflower:
- 2 1/2 cups dry white wine
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 head of cauliflower, leaves removed
Whipped goat cheese:
- 4 ounces fresh goat cheese
- 3 ounces cream cheese
- 3 ounces feta
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons olive oil plus more for serving
- Coarse sea salt (for serving)
Preparation
For roasted cauliflower:
Preheat oven to 475°F. Bring wine, oil, kosher salt, juice, butter, red pepper flakes, sugar, bay leaf, and 8 cups water to a boil in a large pot.
Add cauliflower, reduce heat, and simmer, turning occasionally, until a knife easily inserts into center, 15-20 minutes.
Using 2 slotted spoons or a mesh spider, transfer cauliflower to a rimmed baking sheet, draining well. Roast, rotating sheet halfway through, until brown all over, 30-40 minutes.
For whipped goat cheese and assembly:
While cauliflower is roasting, blend goat cheese, cream cheese, feta, cream, and 2 tablespoons oil in a food processor until smooth; season with sea salt. Transfer whipped goat cheese to a serving bowl and drizzle with oil.
Transfer cauliflower to a plate. Drizzle with oil; sprinkle with sea salt. Serve with whipped goat cheese.
Do Ahead:
Whipped goat cheese can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.
Serves 6
Bon Appétit | May 2013: Domenica Restaurant, New Orleans, LA
Board minutes are in Adobe PDF format.
Send us your comments about the online CYC newsletter. Do you want to volunteer to write an article or do some editing? Do you have pictures for the Home Port News? E-mail Linda Benafel at editor@cycbellingham.org.
14 NOV 2018
Linda Benafel, Laurent Martel, Chuck Dingée, Lesli Beasley, Tracy Olney, Sean Jones.
Problems? Notify the Webmeister
Our mailing address is P. O. Box 101, Bellingham, WA 98227
[Corinthian Yacht Club Bellingham] [Meeting Information] [Cruising/Events] [Racing] [Newsletter] [Membership] [Reciprocal Clubs] [Links/Resources]
|
