Visitor Health & Safety Seminar
Abaco Beach Resort
January 24th, 2012

Royal Bahamas Police Force Superintendent, Abaco Police Division, Noel Curry followed with a general discussion of structure and locations throughout the Abacos. He rightly took pride in the excellent results experienced in both 2010 & 2011 with respect to a reduction in boat thefts. The next presenter was Sargent Paul Johnson, Fire Chief Abaco Department who caused us to reflect upon and appreciate the vast geographic area for which his department is responsible. Further, as boaters, he urged us to check all fire extinguishers on an ongoing basis. Mrs. Angie Collie, founder & director of Auskell Medical Clinic shared her background and an overview of the evolution of medical care in Abaco. Clearly she has been a driving force in advancing and providing both basic and advanced capabilities for all residents and visitors alike. Did you know that the name Auskell is derived from the names of her two children?

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Age of Aquarius Party
RMHYC January Social

Everything was groovy for this “Hippie Fest” as members attired themselves with love beads, tie dyed shirts, bell bottoms, long haired wigs and tinted shades. Love and Peace ruled the beautiful Marquee Tent at Abaco Beach Resort as our resident hippie DJ Ray Vallerie (Last Dance) spun the tunes that allowed one and all to dance like it was 1969!

Our February party is also our Commodore’s Ball and will honor our standing Commodore Margo Caldy and her husband Dennis (Pizzazz), this party will feature a Roaring Twenty’s / Flapper theme. The Marquee Tent promises to be transformed into a speakeasy where flappers and gangsters rule. Band leader Ray V will have us doing the Lindy and Charleston into the wee hours and of course the bar will feature a selection of bootleg drinks.

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Marsh Harbour Dinghy Dock
January 9th, 2012

Many cruisers and visitors to the Bahamas spend a significant amount of time on the hook. The scenery & natural protection offered by the beautiful harbor in Marsh Harbour and the many attractions and provisioning opportunities in town make it a favorite place to drop anchor. Anyone familiar with cruising and spending time at anchor is keenly aware of the physical and safety challenges often encountered when landing a dinghy. Tidal swings of 3-4 feet, a rocky or coral strewn shoreline, and a busy and bustling harbor add to the challenge.

The RMHYC was founded on December 12, 1980 and has maintained a dinghy dock in Marsh Harbour for the past ten or more years. The By-Laws of the Royal Marsh Harbour Yacht Club specify that “The purpose of the Yacht Club is to provide Fellowship, Information and Support Services to Cruisers, Landholders and Others who enjoy visits and extended stays in the environs of the ‘Hub of Abaco, Bahamas’”. This new dinghy dock has been built and will be maintained by RMHYC for use by everyone in the harbor. Hurricane Irene completely destroyed the old dinghy dock which had been built in 2001 under the guidance of Past Commodore John Mitchell. With Irene doing her damage in the summer of 2011, the RMHYC had time to engineer and prepare for the dock’s replacement, and have work crews ready to go into action just after the Christmas and New Year holidays. Commodore Margo Caldy encouraged the Club to proceed with building a new dock, Vice Commodore David Bauereis took on the steering role, and Rear Commodore (Special Projects) Joe Caccamo designed the new dock and directed a group of Club volunteers in its construction. The dock was built locally on the beachfront property of one of the club’s members, towed into the harbor, attached to the Union Jack pier, and a ramp was constructed on site to enable cruisers burdened with purchases from Marsh Harbour merchants to safely return to their vessels.

The club thanks Helen and Peter Sutherland for allowing us to use the private beach in front of their home on Pelican Shores as a construction and staging area. With many of the work crew staying on boats in Boat Harbour marina, we also thank Abaco Beach Resort for providing a truck to move people and tools to the work site.

Ariclte by Rick Brenneman Rear Commodore (Communications)
Pictures courtesy of Peter Sutherland and David Bauereis

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The Christmas Social
Anglers Restaurant
Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour
Abaco, Bahamas
December 13, 2011

The hosts and hostesses for the evening were Jeff and Sandy Fabbri on the M/V Oasis IV and Robert and Rita Wieczorek on the M/V Magnum Opus. They were assisted by the RMHYC Social Rear Commodores, Roberta and Steve Brandt and Susan Harward.

The evening began with Vice Commodore David Bauereis bringing greetings from the Bridge to all attendees especially the new members of the Club. The mood was very festive. The restaurant was decorated with a Christmas tree and all the trimmings. Tables were set with white table cloths and red tulle net favors filled with delicious chocolates tied with a red ribbon at each place setting.

Door prizes were won by Kay Politano from Above and Below Abaco (Scuba Dive and Snorkel Service) and Jeannie Coyle from the M/V Sea bright. Kay has been a member of the RMHYC for many years and Jeannie is a new member of the Club.

The entertainment was provided by Stephen Colebroke. He played the key board and sang holiday tunes. Jim Fenn, our former Commodore, sang the World War I song, “I will be Home for Christmas.” This is a tradition that was started several years ago. The evening ended with David Bauereis thanking the Committee and the Social Chairpersons and the staff of the Resort. Everyone enjoyed the festivities.

rou

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Great Circle Route by Land

Rita and Robert Wieczorek, Kathy and Jim Fenn in front of the Fenn's boat house with their lovely river home in the background.

Jim and Kathy live on a River that is part of the St. LAWRENCE seaway. We spent two nights at their home and meet some of the Fenn's neighbors. We had a chance to go to a dinner party and a dock party while we were there. It reminded us of the Bahamas! Everyone was very welcoming. Robert and I did a lot of drinking and eating with the Fenn's and their friends. Jim and Kathy took us boat ride on the St. Lawrence river. Robert and I enjoyed the outing as we had never been in this part of upstate New York. The homes built on the 1000 islands on the river were either grouped on an island and some were estates that were built on private islands. We love being on the water and homes that were built in the late 1800's. Most of the homes on the river fit those categories.

We left the US and went to Port Franks in ON, Canada to visit Lily and Henry Jamrozinski(M/V Oh Henry II). They have just built a wonderful new home on Lake Huron . Henry and Lily just retired two months ago-so they spent a lot of time putting on finishing touches on their Lake Home this summer.

Henry and Lily Jamrozinski and Rita and Robert on one of the decks at the Jamrozinski's home.

Henry was the general contractor on their new home and Lily was his able assistant. The home sits directly on Lake Huron -there is only sand that separates them from the open water. Lily and I were able to take walks down their beach-what a wonderful start to a new day.

One evening, Fran and Tony from the M/V TOURELOU joined us for dinner.

Henry, Lily, Fran, Rita, Tony and Robert in the Jamrozinski's dinning room.

We had a wonderful evening with the group. Henry, Robert, and Tony made plans to play golf the next morning while Lily and Rita toured the shops and the surrounding areas. Fran had her regular golf date with the women she usually plays with during the summer and early fall.

If you want to know about Henry and Lily's new home think of three floors of open space facing open water with lots of glass. One of the great things about it is the sunsets with unobstructed views of the Lake.

Robert and Rita then drove to Vince and Linda's farm called Weekswood. This farm is 77 acres with a wonderful brook and water falls going through the land. Vince and Linda Weeks (S/V FORTNIGHT) have an English Tudor home, barns and lease their land to a farmer that grows wheat and soy beans on it. Vince and Linda came to the Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour for the first time last season. Vince built his house, an airplane, and his boat that they live on in the winter. I could not believe the amount of work and talent that they both have to tackle these projects. Vince is an engineer and physicist and Linda is an artist. They are real perfectionist.

Robert, Rita, Linda and Vince (photographed by their son Trevor Weeks) in front of the fire place in their den.

Note the rubbings above the mantle that Vince and Linda did in England while Vince was in the university studding for another degree. We enjoyed playing dominoes and card games in the evenings with the Weeks. I hope we will play the games this year in the Bahamas so Robert and I can 'hone' our skills. We thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history of the Weeks family and the stories about their building projects that they accomplished while working, farming and raising their family. Visit Fortnight(Weeks) this winter in the Abacos.

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Hurricane Irene Update - 08/31/2011

The following is a very comprehensive and well written article from Jeff Fabbbri article (Oasis IV) relating to Hurricane Irene as compiled from various sources and documented by on the spot updates from numerous impacted RMHYC members who found themselves in her path.

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RMHYC News June - July 2011

The big news is Glen and Susie Patch picked out a new M/V during their stay at Highbourne Cay. We spent some time with them at Highbourn Cay and explored some of the other islands in the Exumas on their little 26-foot inflatable dingy. They went to pick up their new boat by their Motor Home in late June/early July. It was located in Charleston, South Carolina. They supervised some work on it. The Patch’s M/V new name is “Magnolia”-it is a 53 foot Hatteras previously entitled the ‘Merry-Yacht’. Some of you may remember the yacht from two years ago when it was on Dock 6.

David and Bette Bauereis went to their land home in NC and promptly served as host and hostess to Vanessa and Andrew Benjamin from the S/V Tally Ho. Bette’s back is in better shape than she was at the end of last spring. She is pictured in her winning hat at a party.

Bette wearing her hat

Carolyn and Robert Wilson lost their dog Maggie. It was very sad but they now have a new dog-same breed. Enjoy the photographs of their dog that will join us this winter season in the Bahamas.

The Wilson’s new dog Coco

Jim and Kathy Fenn M/V Fennders, Dave and Barb Blutto M/V Chablis and Pat and Tom Comber M/V Lisa Marie welcomed new grandchildren this spring/summer. I am sure there were other additions to families but that is all who emailed the good news to me.

Rick and Diane Brenneman M/V Lady Di have enjoyed babysitting for their grandchildren and working on their boat on Lake Erie. They are planning on returning next year to Marsh Harbour. Rick will be using email to send our next NEWSLETTER OUT TO OUR MEMBERSHIP. It can be viewed and printed this coming fall. Rick will also be assuming all responsibilities for keeping our membership up-to-date on matters important to RMHYC. Rick did a terrific job on our last newsletter and I am sure his fall one will be the same. Send news that you wish to share with RMHYC members to him at his email address on your RMHYC list from the 2010-2011 season. You will also want to check our Web site for a review of the monthly parties sponsored by the Club. The information is helpful in planning your calendar of event for the season and clothes you may wish to have aboard your boat to wear to the parties. Most scheduled events have a theme-however; some members want to come in their smart causal attire that they put together in the Bahamas. The important thing is to have fun.

Commodore Margo Caldy and Dennis Krakow from the M/V Pizzazz have spent the summer in Florida and kept their boat in Stuart in the water so that can use it this summer. Margo spent some time in Nebraska helping her mother. Her health has been failing.

There are a few members who have had surgery, hospitalizations, and illnesses-we wish everyone a speedy recovery. We hope to see them back in the Bahamas healthy and ready to resume our “Adult Winter Camp.”

The S/V Splash will not return from Shelter Island, New York to the Bahamas but the Lareau’s (Belle and Jerry) rented a home at the Abaco Club for their visit next season.

Wally Kraemer and Joan Lovell are selling their sailing vessel ‘Fancy Bread.’ They came for a visit to Shelter Island and had dinner with the Lareau’s and the Wieczorek’s at Shelter Island Yacht Club. Wally and Joan are ready to start a new chapter in their lives. When I saw them, they were in the process of buying a new home in Florida close to or on a golf course where Wally can spend more time playing golf. They are also in the process of selling their home in New Jersey --a big change for them--we wish them well and look forward to them visiting in Marsh Harbour at the Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour.

Belle and Jerry Lareau, Wally Kraemer Joan Lovell,
Rita and Robert Wieczorek at Shelter Island

We attended a fundraiser for the San Simeon Nursing Home here on the North Fork of Long Island that Robert is a member of the Board. Tom and Pat Comber, MV Lisa Marie joined us at the event. It was a fun event and we donated 6 days on Magnum Opus, with us as the hostess and host. The auction biding was brisk and so we will have guests on Magnum Opus this winter. We just do what we normally do - visiting all the other islands and have a very nice couple with us!

I am ending my stint as your Rear Commodore for Communications-the baton is being passed to Rick Brenneman. I have enjoyed all the changes the Club has made over the past 6 years-Robert and I will be back for our 7th season this year and we plan to keep coming to Marsh Harbour as long as we remain healthy!

Rita Reis Wieczorek, Rear Commodore

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RMHYC News April - May 2011

This year there were a number of yachts that went to the Exumas. After St Patrick’s Day M/V’S Fennders, Wild Rose, and Elysium left to go to Eluthrea and the Exumas. In April, Magnum Opus and Oasis IV also went to the Exumas via a stop in Nassau. The Exumas are beautiful and they are very rustic. The water is bluer than in the Abacos and the snorkeling and diving are quite good too-some think it is better in the Exumas. However, there is no place like home in the Abacos my opinion! The marine park was lovely-the fish wonderful –there were lots of nurse sharks and huge rays. Every stop had trails for hiking. Walking and site seeing were a daily activity. Magnum Opus left a big drift wood sign on Boo Boo Hill indicating they were there. Everyone should look for it when they travel to the Exumas next winter season.

The M/V Lisa Marie went back east via a slow trip through the south. The Comers were home to Long Island for the birth of their new grandson. He is the first child for Tom and Pat’s son.

Dave and Barbara Bluto M/V Chablis also celebrated the birth of their second grandson. They are visiting him this June. They have settled in their new home in Florida but I have a feeling they will return frequently to the Carolinas to visits their grandsons.

The Baker’s had the wedding of their youngest daughter in April. The M/V Brenda J was put to bed at the boat yard in Green Turtle early so they could spend some quality time with their family and the bride and groom. I am sure there will be pictures of the event when everyone returns to the Abacos.

There were several boats that spent some time on Man of War Cay (Paul and Sue Graham M/V Odyssey) and on Green Turtle Cay. Leewood Yacht Club had visitors from our RMHYC in the fall and the spring. M/V’s More Attitude, Sea Island Girl, Time Out, Tally Ho were just a few of the yachts that visited there.

Most of our Canadian members have stored their boats in Florida or the Bahamas. They are at their land homes now. Oh Henry II (Henry and Lilly) have moved into their new home on the beach. Easter was spent with family and friends. It will not be long before members begin to think about the fall and the coming cold weather and the trip back to the Abacos.

Rita Reis Wieczorek, Rear Commodore

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Mother of the Bride Party
March 18, 2011
Anglers Restaurant

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Mangos Restaurant Party
March 23, 2011
RMHYC

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The Wearing of the Green on St. Patrick’s Day
March 17, 2011
RMHYC

The party scene

A traditional Irish sit down dinner was served with corn-beef and cabbage with Irish soda bread. For dessert, key lime pie was keeping with the green. There were several bars open during the festivities.

Ray O’Vallerie the RMHYC DJ provided Irish music for the evening, dinning and dancing. Dennis Krakow from the M/V Pizzazz and Jim Fenn from the M/V Fennders both sang solo Irish folk songs.

The chairpersons for the event were Jan Dennis and Brian Beckwith from the M/V Roving Seas. Terry Ziegler and Peggy O’Neill assisted them. Margo Caldy, our Commodore, brought greetings to the gathering at the beginning of the party. The MC for the evening was Brian Beckwith. He was dressed as a green leprechaun. Dennis Krakow played Irish trivia with the gathering before the dancing began in earnest. Several prizes were awarded during the evening.

Chairpersons of the St. Patrick Day Party
from the M/V Roving Seas-Brian & Jan

Brian the MC for the event

The Trivia prize winners with their new hats

The winners of the wearing of the green

Everyone enjoyed the evening! Thanks to the chairpersons and their helpers for a fun filed evening.

RMHYC MEMBERS FROM SIYC

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Second Annual Art and Craft Fair
March 10, 2011
RMHYC

The event was held at Boat Harbour in their meeting room. The Resort had an open bar with two for one drinks. This fostered visitors spending time to not only view the art and crafts but also time to socialize with other members.

The organizer of the event was Susan Mc Daniel from the power cat TK III.

During the winter season Susan organized an art and craft afternoon every Thursday at Boat Harbour. She had attendees from several marinas and also from several homes in the Bahamas. Susan taught art to several new artists and in addition there were also several teachers from other mediums. There were knitters, crocheters, basket makers and quitters, shell designers and jewelry makers in addition to the painters.

Please check our Web site photo section for photographs of this event.

Rita Reis Wieczorek, Rear Commodore

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Spotlight on Robert and Carolyn Wilson
March 2011

Robert and Carolyn Wilson have been coming to the Bahamas for over 10 years-first by sail boat and now by the M/V Sea Island Girl. Robert was the Commodore of the RMHYC from 2007-2009. He has been active in the Bahamian and Atlanta, Georgia communities his entire life. Robert and Carolyn live six months on their boat and six months in their home in Atlanta.

Robert focused his efforts in the early 2000’s on upgrading the RMHYC communication system and the Club’s computer Web site. He increased membership and worked hard to foster stronger relationships between the Club and the local community organizations in the Abacos. He has done some innovative work such as the Medical Services and Safety Conference sponsored by the Club in 2006.

Robert is active for over four years in the Rotary Club here in the Abacos and in the Sandy Springs Rotary Club in Atlanta. He has helped organize a Chalk Art Festival and an Interact Conference for High School children from all over the Bahamas. Both of these events were held at the Abaco Beach Resort at Boat Harbour. Robert just presented to the Rotary Club, at their weekly meeting, a presentation that focused on our Club and the community services that we offer to various organizations and schools here in the Bahamas.

Robert is currently the Cruising Editor for the Bahamas Edition of the Waterway Guide. He also writes for the ALBACONIAN and several other newspapers and magazines related to boating and his experiences in the Bahamas.

Carolyn Wilson has spent the last six years working with the school Every Child Counts (ECC). Once a week, she provides an entire afternoon session in Helen Hardy’s classroom. Carolyn provides an art project usually with materials found in the Abacos. Many people refer to Carolyn as the shell, sea glass, and sea bean queen. She is always collecting materials for different art projects for here in the Abacos and for the nursery school she founded in Atlanta. Carolyn brings each year school and office supplies for ECC. She has actively engaged in fund raising activities for Every Child Counts from RMHYC members, teachers at ECC, parents, and friends of the school in Atlanta.

Two curriculum programs that were designed by Carolyn for ECC are those that deal with National Pride and how to deal with Bullies. She discusses the natural resources found here in the Abacos such as fishing, shells, boating, sea animals, birds, climate, and beautiful flowers. Carolyn also talks about the children’s role in protecting their natural resources in order to maintain and protect their environment and promote tourism which is the Abacos main source of income.

Both Carolyn and Robert are active in the Pot Cake Rescue from Atlanta. Fourteen dogs from the Bahamas have been rescued by this group and good adoptive homes have been found for these abandoned dogs. In addition, they have taken a leadership role in the neuter and spay program for dogs and cats in Marsh Harbour and Green Turtle. Robert and Carolyn organized a fund raiser for this effort by promoting the Banks and Shane Concert at Boat Harbour where part of the admission fee was donated to the Pot Cake Rescue Fund. Carolyn and Robert help support children and animal protection causes as they believe both are natural resources for our future.

The RMHYC salutes Robert and Carolyn Wilson for their work in both the Bahamas and in Georgia!

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Fun Fishing Day
The Royal Marsh Harbour Yacht Club
February 23, 2011

The Club had a wonderful fun fishing day this past February 23rd. It was organized by Jeff and Sandy Fabbri M/V OASIS IV. Seven fishing boats left Boat Harbour to go to their favorite fishing grounds. The hooks went into the water at 8am and the fisher men and women returned to Boat Harbour by 3pm. Fish were cleaned at the fishing station in Boat Harbour by a couple of the boat captains and prepared for cooking.

Boats Leaving the Harbour for their Favorite Fishing Ground

The boat Captains had a planning meeting the evening before the event to share the rules for the day. Judges were Roger Comer M/V TEAMWORK and Brian Beckwith M/V ROVING SEAS. Prizes were awarded for a whole variety of fishing expertise from the prettiest fish to the biggest one caught that day.

Men and Women Fishing

At 5:30, RMHYC, members gathered at Dock 7 in Boat Harbour for a fish tasting and stories of the “the biggest one that got away.” There is nothing as grand as tasting fish and sharing fish stories.

Jack Powers cooking tasty fish at the fun fishing day

Jeff Fabbri announcing the winners at the party

Members came to the fish tasting with their own drinks and an appetizer to share. There were 5 cooks from the Club cooking up the tasty treats. Everyone had a wonderful time at the event. Members came by land and sea. There were many comments that members hoped this event would become an annual party for the Club. Fun fishing is one of the many reasons Members come to the Bahamas for the winter season. Thank you Sandy and Jeff –you both did a terrific job!

Roger Comber and Jeff Fabbri announcing the winners at the party

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Annual General Meeting
The Royal Marsh Harbour Yacht Club
February 14, 2011

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) took place in the tent at the Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour. Approximately 130 members attended the meeting. Commodore Jim Fenn chaired the meeting. This was his last activity as Commodore. The Membership elected Margo Caldy as the new Commodore. She was Vice Commodore for Jim for the past two years. Jim began the meeting at 3 pm by introducing his Bridge. He called for each Bridge member give an Annual Report on their activities.

New Commodore Margo Caldy

Commodore Jim Fenn chairing the AGM

The Chairperson of the Nominating Committee, Peggy O’Neill gave the report for her Committee. John Cummings and Ellen Sutton were nominated to be on the Nominating Committee and Jane Thurston was nominated to be Auditor. The above individuals were approved by the Bridge and the Membership. Peggy then presented the slate of officers to serve for a two year period starting the day of our AGM meeting. The slate was Margo Caldy, David Bauereis, Terry Ziegler and Jan Dennis. These individuals were approved by the Bridge and elected by the Membership.

Peggy O’Neill Nominating Committee

Members at the AGM

Commodore Margo Caldy introduced her new Bridge to the Membership. Margo is the first woman to serve as Commodore. Margo’s Bridge members are: David Bauereis, Vice Commodore, Terry Ziegler, Treasurer, Jan Dennis, Secretary and Jim Fenn, past Commodore. Appointed Rear Commodores are: Karen Trauger, Membership, Rick Brenneman, Newsletter, Susan Harward and Roberta Brandt, Social Co-Chairs, Joe Caccamo, Special Projects, and Rita Wieczorek, Communications. Enclosed are some photographs from the meeting. More photographs can be found on the photo section of our Web-site and the new officers photographs can be also found on our Web-site. The overview of the meeting will be posted by the Secretary of our Club.

Jim and Kathy Fenn

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