CRUISING

Stow your gear, unfurl the sails, set the GPS and fill the ice chest -- cruise with Raritan Yacht Club.   Throughout the sailing season, from late May through September, RYC offers its members a variety of cruises.   Some are short overnight sails to local yacht clubs in Keyport, Atlantic Highlands and Great Kills.   Others are longer sails over several days.   RYC's premiere event each season is the Long Island Sound Rendezous with destinations such as Block Island, Shelter Island, Mystic Seaport, and Essex, CT.   Mix fabulous food, a peaceful mooring and a sky full of stars and you’ll never want to go home!

Current Activities
Signing on for a Weekend Cruise For New Cruisers Off-Season Activities First-aid Kit Suggestions

2010 Cruises:

Dates

Destination

Cruise Capt.

Comments

Jun12-13

Great Kills

Jim Bauer

 

Jul 30-Aug 1

Rendezvous at Newport Folk Festival

Dave Frizell

These rendezvous will have one or more flotillas making their way to the destination.  Contact with the Cruise Captain for details.

Aug 3-4

Rendezvous at Shelter Island

Jim Woller

Aug 5-6

Rendezvous at Block Island

Cancelled

Aug 21-22

Sheepshead Bay

Tony O'Reilly


Sep 4-6

Atlantic Highlands

Andy Pittel

 

Oct 10-11

Annapolis Boat Show (by land)

Bob Kennedy

 

All cruises are "flotilla-style" -- we cruise in company of other RYC yachts to support each other, should anyone have a problem.  Our main objective is to have fun, eat, drink and make merry (after we reach our destination)!

 

2010-2011 Dinners:

  Dates
 Speakers
  2010 (Sundays)
     
 Nov 7th  Stu and Julie Conway talk about their global circumnavigation
 Dec 5th
 TBD
  2011 (Saturdays)

 Jan 8th
 TBD
 Feb 5th
 TBD
 Mar 5th
 TBD
 Apr 2nd
 TBD





RYC fleet in the East River

4 July 2007 - Carrillon and RYC fleet on the East River, returning from Western Long Island

Top of Page


Signing on for a Weekend Cruise

Each cruise is organized and led by a volunteer cruise captain.  The cruise captain selects the dates, destination and arranges reservations at local yacht clubs, marinas and restaurants.   Any member may sign up for a cruise by notifying the cruise captain.   Participants are asked to sign up no later than a week before the cruise so the captain has time to make all the necessary reservations.   Last minute reservations can usually be accommodated.

For a rendezvous cruisers can take their own route to a destination.  For a Shelter Island rendevous some go outside, along the southern coast of Long Island, which requires sailing straight through, 18-20 hours.  Others go through Long Island Sound - along the Connecticut coast, Long Island's nouthern coast or a combination of the two.  The Long Island Sound trip that usually takes four days and we may have several flotillas making their way to the rendezvous.

Signing up for a cruise is easy.  You can sign up on-line or use the sign up sheets posted on the yard bulletin board near the heads.   Please provide your name, boat name, number in your group, phone number and e-mail address.  Check the bulletin board often!  Some cruises may be cancelled or rescheduled at the skippers discretion (lack of participants, foul weather, etc.)

Each cruise usually begins with a skipper’s meeting.  Topics covered include destination, sail plan, social activities, emergency contact information, VHF channel for communicating among the boats, and other information related to the cruise.

Once we have reached our destination, there is usually a cocktail party on one of the boats.  The cruise captain will designate the host boat.  Each member boat attending the party brings an hors d'oeuvre to share.  Beverages are the responsibility of each boater.  The cocktail party usually lasts about an hour, followed by dinner on shore.


La Neige - Dawn Fletcher
Windy Day off Bridgeport (La Neige, Dawn Fletcher)
7 August 2009

Top of Page
 

For New Cruisers

If you are unfamiliar with cruising you are most welcome to join us on the club’s cruises.  The goal is to make boating a pleasure and provide an opportunity to socialize with other members.  The committee recognizes that most of us didn't "learn the ropes" without the advice and help from someone else.   The cruising group includes people who have extensive racing experience, have sailed to exotic places, and who know the harbors of the Long Island Sound and Raritan Bay intimately.   Getting advice on local waters and discussing boating issues with other cruisers is a great way to develop and improve your general boating skills through advice and discussion with other cruisers.   Don't miss the opportunity to cruise with friends, enjoy the great outdoors, participate in stimulating conversation and have a wonderful learning experience with all the members of your family.

If you are fairly new to sailing, you may be a little anxious about sailing out of Raritan Bay for a weekend.   Members who feel the need of a bit more of a support system should contact the cruise captain and ask to be assigned a "cruising buddy."   The cruise captain will assign a more experienced member to help you by reviewing navigation and safety issues, keeping in close radio contact and sailing in company with you to the destination.  We want to encourage cruise participation and will do all we can to make it fun.

Top of Page

RYC Flag on Oar at Block Island

RYC's oar takes its place among others
on the ceiling at the Oar restaurant in
New Harbor, Block Island.

Top of Page



Off Season

During the off-season, the Cruiser's get together each month for dinner at the club (including a potluck in January when the galley is closed).  This year's dates are at the beginning of this page.  We typically have a speaker or some planned activity before or after dinner. At our February 2009 Dinner we had an excellent speaker, lecturing on the U.S.S. Passaic, a Civil War ironclad monitor.  Prior to the dinner, we hosted a well-run seminar called "Skipper-Saver", given by the local chapter of the U.S. Power Squadron, covering how to plan for, and handle, shipboard emergencies when they arise.

We also have some "land-cruises", while our boats are on-the-hard.  In March 2009, RYC members visited the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Nautical Collection, which was on display at the South Street Seaport.  Republican and democrat alike had a good time viewing the former-president's artifacts.

 Land cruise wine
tasting">="

19 March 2008 – Land Cruise to LI North Fork Wine Region

Almost any off-season Saturday you will find a work party busy in the house or yard.  You can verify specific days with the Vice or Rear Commodores.  Work begins at 0830.  Lunch is usually provided.

First-aid Kit Suggestions:


This list for a first-aid kit was prepared for RYC cruisers by RYC member and cruiser Paul Hotz (May 16, 2009)

Item Quantity
Flexible bandage 2-4 rolls
Triangular/Sling bandage 1
Tape 2-3 rolls
Band-aids several usable sizes
Tongue blades 2 or more
Small tweezers 1
Small Scissors 1
Dressings 2 each assorted sizes
Antiseptic 1 or more tubes
Anbesol 1 bottle
Pain reliever (Aleve, Motrin, Aspirin) Small Container
Lip Balm (SPF15 or higher) 1
Saline solution Several Tubes or 1 bottle
Peroxide Smallest available
Silvadene/Burn Ointment 1 tube
Rolaids/Mylanta Small quantity
Anti-diarrheal (Imodium) Small quantity
Decongestant (Sudafed or other) Small quantity
Hand Sanitizer 2-3 small containers/pads
Thermal blanket 1
Small light 1

Extras:

Stethoscope
Blood Pressure Cuff
Cold Pack
Multi-tool (Leatherman)
Eye-glass screw driver or eyeglass repair kit
CPR Pocket Mask

For Bag/Kits:

Search the web for “First Aid Bag”
FirstAidNeeds.com has one for less than $20

Top of Page

For more information regarding RYC’s cruising program contact any of the following individuals.  They will more than happy to help you.

Ed Levinson (ed xison.com), Cruising Chair
Tim Fletcher (forthink netzero.com), Cruising Co-chair

Prepared by Richard Codd April 5, 2009
Updated by Ed Levinson November 20, 2009