Welcome to the
Rio Grande Yacht Club

Dear RGYC Member,

                 Welcome new members!  YEA, we still have water to launch at Rock Canyon!  April is a windy month so make sure you keep looking to the shore as far as you can see and if there is dust kicking up or a white/black wall of water coming at you be ready for wind gusts.  If the wind is really bad, drop sails, throw an anchor out and head down wind for a cove or an island.  Then wait it out.  My first priority is safety so please make sure you know what you are doing before you decide to take off all by yourself.  Don’t forget , there is safety in numbers.   By the way, if there is an emergency on the water, like a man overboard or a flipped boat then the race shuts down and all of us are asked to help out. If you are in trouble save yourself first then see if you can help but don’t get in the way.

We have a full sailing calendar with events held the second Saturday of every month with some exceptions which are dependent on the Full Moon. We abide by the US Sailing Association Rules and Regulations to keep in check with legalities. Why does it matter? You might ask.  Well the answer is if there is a collision and if there is damage there might be a lawsuit in the making.  By following the USSAILING rules you might have a chance in court.  Also, US Sailing provides  an awesome racing rule book that I encourage everyone to have just to know the right of way rules in order to keep safe while on the water. 

John Doghtery has accepted the position of Race Committee Chair since Alex was swamped with work and family matters.  So please be gracious... if you have a request, put it in writing and address it to John. He will have the committee review it and make a determination of what to do.  We use VHF Channel 68 to communicate while on the water.  Please come close by John and check in before the races.

Coming right up this Saturday, April 20th is a the Moonrise Regatta.  The first of it's kind.  This race is approximately 20 miles long, wind permitting.   Now you might be interested in why it’s called the Moon Rise Regatta.  Since the water level is high and everyone can easily launch their boats in the spring the thought was to hold the Sunrise Regatta at this time but not many of us are prepared to race all night long with all the necessary equipment like having running lights on the boat.  So, the race will end at Moon Rise which is 5:00 pm.   This gives you enough time to motor in and put your boat up before dark.  Please come by and check in before the races so that John can keep track when everyone is ready to begin.  Then join us for dinner and awards at the Sierra Golf Club.  Dinner starts at 6:00 pm but we will be glad to see you whenever you can make it. Please either text or call Emily, our secretary, at (505-401-1676) so that she can order enough burritos for everyone who plans to attend the skipper's meeting and how many you have in your party for dinner.  

Please volunteer and take your turn for something like race committee at least one time this year.  You can help John out in holding up flags, writing down finish times, and keeping him company. At the very least send a crew member to join him.  Also, if you want to see something happen, then see to it by volunteering.

If you need a sailing lesson or two, contact me to make arrangements.  I will usually be available the Sunday on the race weekends for a couple of hours from 1-3 or 4pm.  A portion of the money collected will be donated to the WOW (Women on the Water) account for future events.

I look forward to seeing you on the water.  Enjoy,

Sue Strasia Commodore    505-227-9827