SBYC invites community to learn to row

By Sequim Gazette Staff • April 24, 2024 1:30 am
Photo courtesy of Sequim Bay Yacht Club Want to get an oar in the water? Join Sequim Bay Yacht Club rowers on Sunday, May 5, for “Experience Rowing” — an event inviting those 18 and older to try out sculling in the club’s coxed quad training shell. Pictured, from left, are WendyRae Johnson, Gail Clark, Lynn Gilles, Jean Heessels-Petit, Christi Jolly, Dennis Miller, Carolyn DeSalvo, Frank DeSalvo, Rudy Heessels, Amy Holms and Guy Lawrence.
Photo courtesy of Sequim Bay Yacht Club Want to get an oar in the water? Join Sequim Bay Yacht Club rowers on Sunday, May 5, for “Experience Rowing” — an event inviting those 18 and older to try out sculling in the club’s coxed quad training shell. Pictured, from left, are WendyRae Johnson, Gail Clark, Lynn Gilles, Jean Heessels-Petit, Christi Jolly, Dennis Miller, Carolyn DeSalvo, Frank DeSalvo, Rudy Heessels, Amy Holms and Guy Lawrence.

Try out sailing or rowing in Sequim Bay on Sunday, May 5, when Sequim Bay Yacht Club (SBYC) members offer free sailboat and power boat rides and rowing tryouts ala “The Boys in the Boat” as part of Opening Day of Boating Season festivities.

Starting at 9:30 a.m. near the John Wayne Marina launch, club members will be signing up all ages for short rides in the club’s Flying Scot sailboats and members’ own power boats.

Life jackets will be provided; those under 18 must be accompanied by parents.

Those 18 and older can also climb on a rowing machine for a quick introduction to erging under the direction of SBYC coach Guy Lawrence and then step into the club’s training shell and get their hands on oars for “Experience Rowing” into Sequim Bay with two master rowers and a coxswain.

Personal flotation devices will be provided; prospective rowers should wear athletic or water shoes. Applications for the next learn-to-row course will be discussed.

Boat rides continue until 12:30 p.m. on a space-available basis, weather permitting.

Meanwhile, games and goodies for children will be provided near the docks, and inside the club room, members will serve light refreshments until 1 p.m. and provide information about the club’s boating, social, education and philanthropic programs.

The public is invited to join club members at 2:30 p.m. at the Marina flagpole for a flag ceremony, the blessing of the fleet, “Last Call” honoring members who died in the previous year, and other special presentations.

The ceremony concludes with a concert by bagpiper Eric Evans, who will march to Pitship Point by 3 p.m. to play as members’ decorated boats leave the marina for a parade on Sequim Bay.

Those not in the parade are invited to join Evans on Pitship Point or view it from the Marina building balcony, from the Mud Bay beach or from one’s own boat.