Shilshole Bay Yacht Club

2011 Report

On the weekend of May 21st, boats from the club gathered at Blake Island for the annual Burger Burn. Our illustrious Cruise Chair was not able to attend so the Skipper and First Mate from Morning Star will let those of you who couldn’t attend know what you missed!

Arriving by Friday were Prime Meridian, Summer Salt, Morning Star, Puget Sounder, Serenite, and Interprize, and then Turning Point arrived on Saturday. Friday turned out to be the sunniest day, but by late afternoon a cool breeze came in from the west. The harbor was seemingly full by mid-afternoon so our boats were scattered a bit to start, some rafted to kindly boats we didn’t know. With a bit of a cross-wind, Interprize posed quite the challenge to dock and in the end she was tied between two pilings across from the docks.

Saturday we were able to consolidate our holdings as other boats left and we were able to set up a cozy SBYC neighborhood on one dock. Then we were entertained by the hordes arriving from the Washington YC, who were there for an annual get-together of students and alumni. They arrived in everything from a 40+ foot center cockpit ketch and a Cal 40 to a Laser and a Hobie Cat, with a Boston Whaler herding them safely across from the locks.

David Horn as the Grill Master started the evening with lighting the fire to warm happy hour and set the coals. Soon all were gathered and enjoying the heat of the fire as the outside temperature headed toward the chilly end of the thermometer. We mustered a wide variety of interpretations of “burger” being “burned” with actual burgers, chicken, salmon and even some delicious ribs. Since we were a rather small group, it was a great opportunity to engage in lively conversations and spend time with long-time and recently joined club members.

Sunday morning held the promise of a fine sail home, but an hour after we were under way, the winds died outside Elliot Bay. Twenty minutes of motoring found the wind again and Morning Star was able to get home with one long tack toward the island side of the bay and then a return tack right to the south Shilshole entrance. We arrived, in much the same way as we left, with the NOODs in session to the north and lots of little spinnakers dotting the bay.