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2008
MRYC
Extended Board
Commodore
Gerry Prainito
Vice
Commodore
Clif Chiera
Rear
Commodore
Walt Fach
Purser
Jim Avenius
Scribe
Tim Tock
Fleet
Captain
Martin Kohl At
Large Directors
Dan Gabbert
Al Croll Past
Commodore
Tim Dowd
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It’s Launch Time! The 2008 MRYC Season Begins Now
The shrink wrap is coming off, the buffers are whirring, and the boats are splashing. Welcome to ‘launch time’ and let the 2008 season begin! We’ve had some great early weather, but it seemed to immediately follow a long and hard winter (both mentally and weather-wise). MacRay Yacht Club has a full slate of events scheduled for 2008, starting with our Shakedown Cruise / Launch Party on May 16th.
Water levels are looking good to start out the year, after a gloomy outlook last fall. Unless you’ve converted to sail, fuel prices will be of a concern, but it’s hard to predict what this season will bring. A good guess would be UP). The MacRay Harbor fuel dock opened up at $3.79 for regular gas, and went up to $3.89 last week.
And if you haven’t renewed or joined up yet, then get on board! And if you know anyone who is interested in joining the MRYC (neighbors, dockmates, family, etc.) have them check us out. Information and applications are available at both bathhouses, the MacRay office, as well as on-line.
Metro Shakedown Cruise / Party Plans Are Set For May 16th
The 2008 Metro Breach Shakedown / Launch Party is just around the corner on May 16th, 17th and 18th.
This will be the second consecutive year we celebrate the beginning of the boating season at Metro. Last year was a great success, and we look forward to another fantastic time.
We have a full house this year but it looks like (as of now) we can reserve a few more docks for you "late comers" if you would still like to sign-up.
Remember you can always ride over by land yacht if you wish for the Saturday activities and dinner.
Friday night will be “Docktails” at 6:30 and please bring your favorite hors d'oeuvre's or snacks to pass.
Saturday morning around 8:00 or 9:00 will be our famous Captain Morgan pancake breakfast, including eggs and sausage, with juice & coffee.
On tap during the day we will have some card games and Pictionary, along with some kids games.
Saturday afternoon at 4:00 we will start the grilles up for the dinner barbeque. You will also have another chance to sign up for the 2008 MRYC Cruises.
And something special planned is a surprise adult scavenger hunt. So think of things you might want to take along for the hunt later that night. This is an adult themed hunt but please keep it family friendly.
Before our departure on Sunday, there will donuts, muffins, juice and lots of coffee.
Come by boat or by car, but make sure you join us for the inaugural event of the season.
Any questions please contact Clif at (248) 577-0925.
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Important Alert on Recreational Boating Act of 2007
For 34 years the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has exempted discharges from recreational boats from the Clean Water Act permit system. Regretfully, a recent court ruling cancelled this permit exemption. EPA is required by the court decision to develop and implement by September 30, 2008 a national permit system for ALL vessels in the United States for a variety of normal operational discharges.
Fortunately, the Recreational Boating Act of 2007 (H.R. 2550; co-introduced by Candice Miller
(R-Mich) which would protect recreational boats from being swept into this unnecessary and expensive permitting system. It is critically important that H.R. 2550 be passed and your support is essential. If the permit system becomes a reality, you will be required to pay for a state permit for each of your boats. EPA will be monitoring your deck runoff, grey water, bilge water, engine cooling water, and the use of copper bottom paints.
The original lawsuit that led to this court decision sought to address ballast water discharges from large ocean-going ships, which can introduce damaging aquatic invasive species into U.S. waters.
Keeping our waterways clean and preventing the spread of invasive species is of utmost importance to the future of boating. But taking a complex permitting system designed for industrial dischargers and applying it to recreational boats will not yield significant environmental benefits and it will come at a very high cost. Requiring recreational boaters to purchase a permit would not prevent the spread of invasive species.
How Can You Help? Please ask your elected federal representatives to support H.R. 2550. It is common-sense legislation. Go to this website and easily fill out a short form to send a letter to your Senators and Representatives:
www.rallycongress.com/boattestcom/803/
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Birthdays
Gerry & Diane Prainito 30-Apr
Sandy & Marie Cornille 6-May
Marty & Shelley Dickerson 11-May
Art & Mary Ashley 30-May
Nicholas & Jill Zielinski 31-May
Anniversaries
Jody Jones 4-May
Robert Bordo 5-May
Lynn Bell 5-May
Martin Kohl 9-May
Thurston Dean 12-May
John McWilliams 15-May
Gabriel Vasile 20-May
Jeff Cole 22-May
Sheila McWilliams 22-May
Sue Farrar 23-May
Clif Chiera 25-May
Jill Zielinski 30-May
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Members Gather for Early Season Dinner at River Rat
Over two dozen MRYC members gathered on April 26th at the River Rat Restaurant and Bar for an early season dinner and get together.
Lots of folks had spent the day removing the shrink wrap or waxing the boat, and enjoyed a nice night on the town.
Located on South River Road in Harrison Township, the general consensus was that the food and service was great, and the prices are quite reasonable. So if you were unable to join us or are looking for another fine place to dine, check this place out!
ABYA Member Discounts
The 2008 ABYA member discount program available for all MRYC members is being finalized. Details will be announced at the Shakedown Cruise on May 17th, when member cards will be passed out. Here is a preview of some of the participating suppliers offering discounts. (Just use your MRYC member card and mention
ABYA):
Mikes Marine: Marine supplies and inflatables
SOS Marine Care: Boat Care and Detailing Services
Duffy’s Landing: Fuel
Bentley’s Roadhouse: Food
Crews’ Inn Restaurant: Food
Brown’s (Harsens Island): Food
Other participating suppliers include Fritsch-Kinney Insurance, Bouvier Bridge Marina, American Bistro Restaurant in Mt. Clemens, North Bay Marine, and Raber’s Canvas. More details to be announced soon.
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Coming June 14th
New Member Drive Get Together
MacRay Harbor Members Room
(Details To Be Announced)
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MRYC Cruises on Tap for 2008 Sign
Up Now for All The Fun
First Up This Season
June 6-8
St. Clair Cruise “Golf, Arts and Crafts”
Your Cruise Captains: John & Sheila McWilliams
and Tim & Gina Tock
Less than a month away, we’ll head 31 miles up the St. Clair River from MacRay Harbor. There are fantastic floating docks at St. Clair Harbor; all new in 2007. Facilities include sheltered pavilions, with tables and grilles, a nice bath house, and a short walk to town. Planned events include a
docktails, a Friday night movie ‘Caddy Shack’, and optional golf on Saturday.
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HOT off the
press!!!
Ready to start planning your summer weekends? We just
received the 2008 Music in the Park schedule in Lexington's own Tierney Park (Harbor). Every Friday night starting July 11 at 7:30 PM there will be free concerts! Some exciting new bands this year, as well as some annual favorites!
July 11 CAVERNERS (Beatles Tribute)
July 18 RAISIN PICKERS (Swing to Ballad)
July 25 MOTOR CITY BRASS BAND (Big Band Fun)
Aug. 1 PERSUASION (Motown plus)
Aug. 8 DAVE BENNETT QUARTET (Clarinet virtuoso
Aug. 15 HOTEL CALIFORNIA (Eagles Tribute)
Aug.22 STEVE KING & the DITTILIES (Rock all night!)
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2nd Annual First Mate’s Captains Course SignUp
AHOY ALL FIRST MATES! On June 14th MacRay Yacht Club is presenting our second First Mates’ Captains Course. As many may remember; it was a beautiful cool sunny Saturday at MacRay Harbor last September when we held our first First Mates’ Captains Day.
Over two dozen of our First Mates’ received an hour and a half training session, courtesy of Lakeside Marine, complete with driving and docking the boat. Starting with a quick lecture on the principle and basics, each First Mate took turns at the helm, going up and down the canals and docking back at the slip. There was just enough wind to make it “real world”, yet not enough to cause danger or frustration.
The women had various degrees of experience driving; many had never docked or driven their own boat before. Docking was a little nerve racking for some, as could only be expected with everyone watching from above the slip, but they all did fine.
This year’s event will follow the same format with 5 sessions of five First Mates’ on the following schedule:
Session 1 (9:00 AM - 10:30 AM)
Session 2 (10:45 AM - 12:15 PM)
Session 3 (12:30 PM - 2:00 PM)
Session 4 (2:15 PM - 3:45 PM)
Session 5 (4:00 PM - 5:30 PM)
The instruction will include:
Safety; Principals of operation; Rules of the road; Docking
Maneuvering in close quarters; Steering a straight course
All onboard have an opportunity at the helm.
A Certificate of Completion will be presented to each participant upon completion (which may not qualify for an insurance discount, but looks really cool).
All who participated in the last event felt this was great. We would encourage anyone that is interested in participating to reserve a spot early, and remember that there are only 25 spots. We will be conducting the class from the new “MacRay Harbor Members Clubhouse”.
For information or to include your self on the list call Al Croll at 810-499-0831.
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More…..
The club has more trips planned this season, plus the annual dinghy poker run, and our third annual Raft-Off. Openings and dockage are limited on several of the cruises. If you have any questions, contact the Cruise Captains listed below. Detailed information is also available on the MRYC website. Please keep in mind that many of the cruises will fill up, so registration will be on a first come first serve basis. Note that all MRYC Cruises and Events are BYOB. Hurry to sign up so you don’t miss the fun!
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The
MRYC Ships Store is OPEN ! In Fact...we have new items.
Check them out!
Order Forms for
the Ships Store are available on-line now.
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Date |
Destination |
Sponsors / Contact Info |
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June 20-22 |
Cove Marina ‘Casino Night’ |
Dave & Suzie Whyman and Tim & Kelly Dowd. Call
586-292-3950 |
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July 12 |
Dinghy Poker Run |
Randy & Lisa Zimmerman and Martin &Michele Kohl. Call
586-412-5829 |
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July 18 |
Clinton River Boat Club |
Gerry & Diane Prainito and Clif & Brenda Chiera. Call
313-806-4201 |
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August 22-24 |
Maumee Bay Cruise |
Dan & Robin Gabbert and Al & Sue Croll.
Call 586-954-1534 |
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Sept. 26th-28th |
Sarnia Bay Frostbite Cruise |
Walt & Fara Fach, Marty & Shelley Dickerson
Call 248-752-6500 |
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Local Events Coming Soon |
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Red Bull Air Race – Detroit River |
May 31–June 1 |
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Nautical Mile Car Cruise |
June 5 |
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Classic Car Show & Cruise Night – Mt. Clemens |
June 7 |
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Mount Clemens Summer Art & Craft Show |
June 13-14 |
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Colony Marine Boat Show – MacRay Harbor |
June 14-15 |
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GM River Days – Detroit Riverwalk |
June 20-23 |
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Fish Fly Festival - New Baltimore |
June 25-29 |
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Jobbie Nooner – Gull Island |
June 27 |
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Fireworks – Mt. Clemens |
June 27 |
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Antique Boat Show – Algonac Harbour Club |
June 27-29 |
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Our Deepest Sympathy
To Sheila and John
McWilliams on the passing of Sheila's mother.
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Cruises
and Events Calendar 2008 |
| January |
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Jan 26-27 |
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Colony
VIP Open House |
| February |
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| March |
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Mar 1 |
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Commodore
Ball, MRYC |
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Mar 7 |
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MacRay
Harbor Open House |
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Mar 14 |
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General
Membership Meeting, 7:00 PM, MRYC |
| April |
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Apr 19 |
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MacRay
Harbor New Member Orientation |
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Apr 25 |
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MacRay
Harbor Launch Day Party |
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Apr 26 |
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Dinner at
the River Rat, MRYC |
| May |
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May 15 |
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Mac Ray
Harbor Mommy Monologues |
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May 16-18 |
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MRYC Launch
Party/Shakedown Cruise@Metro Beach, MRYC |
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May 23 |
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MacRay
Harbor Memorial Day BBQ |
| June |
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June 6-8 |
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St. Clair Cruise,
MRYC |
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June 14 |
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New member
drive get together |
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June 20-22 |
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Cove Marina
Cruise, MRYC |
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June 20 |
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Mac Ray
Harbor Smokin' BBQ |
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June 28
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Mac Ray
Harbor/Yacht Club Raft off |
| July |
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July 3 |
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Mac Ray
Harbor 4th of July Party/BBQ |
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July 4 |
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Mac Ray
Harbor Fireworks |
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July 12 |
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Dinghy Poker
Run, MRYC |
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July 18-20 |
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Clinton Boat Club Cruise, MRYC |
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July 25 |
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MacRay Harbor Texas Hold'em Party |
| August |
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Aug 9
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National
Marina Day and Kid's Day, MacRay Harbor |
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Aug 22-24 |
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Maumee Bay,
MRYC |
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Aug 29 |
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MacRay Harbor
Vegas Night, Salute to the Stars |
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Aug 30
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MRYC Raft
Off |
| September |
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Sept 13 |
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Wine and
Cheese Party (formerly Haul Out Party), MRYC |
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Sept 26-28 |
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Frost Bite
Cruise to Sarnia, MRYC |
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Sept 19 |
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MacRay Harbor End of Season Party,
MacRay Harbor |
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| October |
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Oct |
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General Membership
Meeting, MRYC |
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| November |
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Have a Happy
Thanksgiving |
| December |
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Dec |
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Christmas Party,
Hospitality Committee, MRYC |
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ABYA
MRYC is excited to announce that the ABYA
(Anchor Bay Yachting Association) will be holding their September 2008
General Membership Meeting at MacRay Harbor on Monday, September
8th.
In what is expected to be a stellar turnout, Congresswoman Candice Miller
will be the guest speaker, talking about a topic ‘near and dear’ to
our hearts, protecting our Great Lakes. MRYC is a proud member of the ABYA
and honored to host this informational meeting. So make mark you calendar
now and be sure you don’t miss this one!
September ABYA Meeting Will Be At MacRay Harbor
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