Commodore's Cup

HISTORY OF THE AWARD

The trophy is a 3 1/2 pint three-handled sterling silver loving cup. The original history of the trophy is not known. However, it bears the date 1909, and we do know that in 1909 LCYC sponsored the main events of Burlington’s observance of the 300th anniversary of the discovery of the lake by Samuel de Champlain. As part of that celebration LCYC held a regatta on July 8, observed from a waterfront viewing stand by President William H. Taft, Governor Winston Prouty, Ambassador Jusserand of France, and Ambassador Bryce of Great Britain. It is probable that as part of that celebratory year the club gave this trophy as special recognition to a member for exemplary extensive cruising on Champlain’s lake.

At some time the trophy came into the possession of William S. Preston, Jr., Commodore in 1958, who kept it in the vault of his jewelry store. In 1973, when Robert W. Henshaw was Commodore, Preston gave the cup to the club to restore it to its intended use. In 1977 the board, under Thomas Sproston, Commodore, established the modern cruising award with this cup as the trophy.

The cup is engraved :

COMMODORE’S CUP
L.C.Y.C.
1909
CRUISING AWARD

For the first ten years, from 1977-86, the criteria for winning the trophy was totally objective and simple – recognition went to the member/boat with the most nautical miles that year as documented by the boat’s log.

In 1987 Glenn Findholt and Dale Hyerstay, Rendezvous co-chairs, proposed to the Board of Governors that there was more to cruising than just logging miles, and that the criteria for awarding the Cup should be more broad-based. The Board agreed and voted that henceforth the trophy would be awarded to the member judged by the board, based in part on the recommendation of the Rendezvous chair, to be most worthy of club recognition for their noteworthy cruising-related endeavors, either in a given year or cumulatively, whether on the lake or in other waters. Criteria may include anything the Board believes to be pertinent, including the candidate's own cruising undertakings or experiences, their beneficent or safety efforts on behalf of other cruisers, or their efforts on behalf of cruising in general.

RECIPIENTS

Based on Most Recorded Miles:
1977 Keepsake — Alan & Sunny Olsson — Tartan 34
1978 Odyssey — James & Diane MacDougall — C&C 24
1979 Windancer — James & Diane MacDougall — O’Day 27
1980 Windancer — James & Diane MacDougall — O’Day 27
1981 Summer Wind — Bob & Susan Bergman — Irwin Citation 30
1982 Summer Wind — Bob & Susan Bergman — Irwin Citation 30
1983 Summer Wind — Bob & Susan Bergman — Irwin Citation 30
1984 Aunt Meg — Ken & Ruth Frost — Nicholson 32
1985 Pass Auff — Chuck & Gerlinda Bowen — Tartan 33
1986 Aunt Meg — Ken & Ruth Frost — Nicholson 32

Based on Broad Criteria:
1987 Unicorn — Bill & Pat Brown II — Mainship II 34
1988 Aunt Meg — Ken & Ruth Frost — Nicholson 32
1989 True Love — Rudy & Dolores Reinecke — Hunter 25
1990 Falcon — Arthur & Pat Hill — Sabre 28
1991 Summer Snow — Mike & Page Caldwell — Mainship 36
1992 Sundance — Tom & Arlene Glynn — Pearson 37
1993 September Song — Dick & Ginny Walters — Nimble Kodiak
1994 Dionis — Larry & Roberta Coffin — Hans Christian 33
1995 Vanguard — Peter Brownell — Catalina 34
1996 Tumbleweed — Dale & Alice Hyerstay — C&C 32
1997 Winsome — Steve & Laurie Landau — Tartan 30
1998 Windspirit — Glen & Marie Findholt — Cal 35
1999 Secrets — Lou Chiriatti/Randee Bloomberg — C&C 35
2000 Dream Weaver — David Schaefer — Endeavour 35
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

Destinations

Excellent cruising guides to Lake Champlain are available for purchase, and most LCYC cruisers have one aboard. So the purpose of this site is to provide insights and comments about "members' own" favorite destinations. We seek volunteers to select the sites and provide brief comments and descriptions. We will provide composition, editing, and site mounting help as needed. Contact Ted Lattrell or Dale Hyerstay, or post your ideas in our cruising forum and we can take it from there.

CANADA: Richelieu River from Canada border to St Lawrence River

About 7 miles north of the border, in mid-river, is ISLE AU NOIX, the Isle of Nuts, about the size of Valcour Island, and a great stop for kids and adults. There is a mainland marina on the west branch of the river (check the chart for depth data), and a modest dock on the east where the water is deeper but with a 3 knot current. We anchored close to the island near the dock. On the island is a fort built in pre-colonial times with its cannons pointed south. It is the only fort on the continent that still has a moat. The fort is a museum worth visiting. The rest of the island is a large grassy picnic area surrounded by trees. Customs stops were simple, cordial, and relatively short. (We were last there some time ago, so someone check me on current accuracy.) [Submitted by Dale Hyerstay 3/16/06]

NORTH: From Cumberland Head to Canada border

MIDDLE: From Diamond Island to Cumberland Head

The cove at JONES PT, is a very pleasant lunch/swim spot on a warm sunny day with a moderate breeze. It is about 1.4 nm north of Boquet River Pt on the NY shore, and about the same latitude as Quaker Smith Pt on the VT shore. You can anchor in 25-30' of water, with good holding for rafting. It is a perfect distance from the club for a nice sail over and back; or it could be a nice mid-day stop on your way south. A S to SW or NW breeze is preferable — the point provides a decent wave dampener against southerlies, as does the shore for NWesterlies — and those winds gives you nice beats or reaches. The near shore is pastoral with a couple of summer places, and the view of Vermont is expansive. When the water is warm the swimming is delightful. Beware the unmarked charted rock pile near the shore to the north - the keepers of the shoreside cottage mark the rock pile with a milk jug, a good intentioned trap that makes you think it is merely a mooring marker. [Submitted by Dale Hyerstay, who has on his desk a piece of the rock pile that lodged in his keel a few years ago. 3/16/06]

SOUTH: From Whitehall to Diamond Island

LCYC Cruise Calendar 2008

The following scheduled rendezvous are always a good time! As many cruisers also race I have done my best to avoid most of the races so all can participate in the rendezvous. However, because of weather and other factors they don’t always happen. It has also been my experience that some of the impromptu rendezvous have been the best. Mostly due to ideal weather conditions, everyone’s out for the weekend. So, I will post a destination on the board at the club when I know we have two or three boats headed to the same anchorage. Please join us!

As always I will be monitoring channel 9.
Ted Lattrell

You can also read or post in our Cruising forum to share more cruising plans and ideas.

All Summer - Impromptu rendezvous

6/21/2008 - Valcour Wildflower Cruise
Joint Rendezvous with MBBC
We will attempt again to line up with MBBC who have invited us to join them for the 1st Rendezvous of the season. We will join Richard Villamil and others from MBBC as they investigate the natural history of Valcour Island including investigation of the glacier's legacy in the Champlain Valley and the spring wildflowers. Richard has a wealth of knowledge and once you tour the island with him, you’ll walk the paths at Valcour with a new perspective. I will be monitoring channel nine. Hike to start at 2PM and cocktail/hors d’oeuvres at 5:00PM. Bring your dinghy, field guides to the stars, wildflowers and mushrooms, insect repellent, walking shoes, cameras, and binoculars and a snack to share at our social hour/party after the Saturday walk. See you there!

7/3/2008 - Fireworks / Rendezvous
POT LUCK dinner at the club and then a cruise to the breakwater for an LCYC raft-up to enjoy the fireworks! We plan to anchor outside the breakwater (weather permitting)

7/12/2008 - Champagne Race to Willsboro Bay
Catered dinner on shore Provided by BayView Inn
We will again have the Champagne Race to Willsboro Bay where the winner will receive Champagne. Other prizes will also be awarded. We will have an award ceremony on shore. This year the on shore festivities will be followed by a catered dinner which will be held on the lawn just off the Bayview docks. They have a great set of dinghy docks to tie up too. We will not have launch service after the race so bring your dinghy. Sign up for the dinner reservations by July 5th. We could not replace Dave Kelton, so we hired Bayview! See you there!

7/18/2008 - Moon Light Cruise
The full moon for July is Friday the 18th . So we will do Moonlight Cruise to Converse Bay. Rendezvous/dinner at the club, then an evening departure. If you leave with us on Friday evening you get to sleep in Saturday Morning. Saturday evening we will raft-up around the club moorings and swap stories. Bring your favorite appetizer for Saturday evening.

8/09/2008 - Kingsland Bay Rendezvous
Kingsland Bay a great spot (as long as the wind is not from the northwest). We have one club mooring located there and we hope to add an additional one this year. The Kingsland Bay State Park is a great place to go ashore and walk around. We will plan cocktail/hors d’oeuvres at on shore at 5:00PM. If you don’t want to bring your boat you could drive down to the park.

8/15/2008 - Not Quite Full Moon Cruise
The full moon for August is the 16th . Close enough! We’ll do Moonlight Cruise to Willsboro Bay on Friday and howl at the moon on Saturday! Rendezvous / dinner at the club, then an evening departure. Raft-up cocktail/hors d’oeuvres Saturday evening.

8/23/2008 - Converse Bay Rendezvous
Last year we took advantage of our new LCYC moorings in Converse and had a great time! This is a popular spot with plenty of protection from both the north and south wind. We will again be anchoring on the south side and see how many boats we can raft on our club moorings. Cocktail’s and hors d'oeuvres are at 5pm. We have two moorings at converse. Do to the popularity of this location we plan to add two additional moorings this season.

8/30, 8/31, 09/01/2008 - Labor Day Weekend Cruise to Deep Bay
Cruise to Deep Bay. Many of us will probably sail to Valcour on the 30th and move on to Deepbay on the 31st. Return to LCYC on Monday. Plan on bringing your hiking boots. They have a great trail system.

9/20/2008 - Fall Cruise to Converse Bay
One more time at our favorite spot. Raft-up cocktail/hors d’oeuvres.

All Summer - Impromptu rendezvous

Safety

Our "Yacht Docs", Fleet Surgeons Drs Larry & Roberta Coffin, themselves experienced Lake and ocean cruisers, have provided us with a series of articles dealing with issues of high interest to anyone who spends time on or near the water.

ALCOHOL

ACCIDENTS, or DRINKING and BOATING

The sobering facts are that alcohol impairs maritime vision performance in several spheres and navigational problem solving. In addition, a variety of surveys of boaters have shown that drinking while boating is much more common than drinking while driving.

Studies have shown that deaths resulting from boating-related accidents and deaths frequently involve elevated blood alcohol levels. They have also shown that drinking promotes risk-taking behaviors and impairs balance — a sense already challenged on a boat in the water, at the dock, at anchor, on a mooring, or underway. Alcohol exacerbates heat loss and hypothermia by dilating blood vessels.

Many people believe it is okay to have a "designated boater" as the captain, but what about the drinking passenger who is at increased risk for falling off a boat, or having a boating-related accident regardless of the sobriety of the boat operator?

In addition to the serious physiologic problems which occur to the boater using alcohol, under Vermont and Federal laws an intoxicated boater is subject to a prison sentence of one year and/or a substantial fine ($200-$5000).

PREVENTION TIP

The smart LCYC boater will be judicious in alcohol use, of course. "Sundowners" while cruising are popular, but what about the ride back to your boat in the dinghy after socializing on another boat, or the long, dark night at anchor? What about the cold beer while on the race course? Knowing some of the facts and practicing safe, sensible boating will prevent the LCYC boater from becoming a Coast Guard statistic.

HYPOTHERMIA

HYPOTHERMIA and COLD WATER SURVIVAL

Lake Champlain remains cold, or at least cool enough to cause hypothermia, all year round. Therefore, the risk of hypothermia is almost always present.

Lake Champlain 5-year (1996-2000) average monthly water temp (degrees F): Apr 38.2, May 47.0, June 59.8, July 67.8, Aug 70.8, Sept 66.2, Oct 55.2, Nov 47.4, Dec 41.0.

Falling in the water is only one cause of hypothermia when boating. The cold water temperatures of spring and fall increase the wind chill factor of those on deck.

In a recent fall, on a day with blustery NW winds, a 2-4’ sea in the LCYC anchorage and snow predicted, we watched a boat under sail try repeatedly to pick up a mooring which had a dinghy attached with a long line. After several failed attempts, the boat sailed over the dinghy painter, cutting loose the dinghy from the mooring. Finally sails were taken down and a motor turned on. No PFDs were in sight . The next mooring attempt succeeded. Now, how to get ashore? The docks and dinghies were all on shore. Luckily someone trailing a dinghy came by, launched it and "rescued" the pair on the sailboat. They were quite cold by this time, and would be colder yet if they had to swim to shore.

It may take 10-15 minutes before the temperature of the heart and brain start to drop when the body is immersed in cold water. Survival in cold water depends on many factors, only one of which is the temperature of the water. By swimming or treading water, a person will cool about 35% faster than if remaining still. An average person, wearing light clothing and a PFD, may survive 2 1/2 to 3 hours in 50 degree water by remaining still and assuming the huddle position (legs up, arms wrapped around the body).

PREVENTION TIPS

1. Don’t fall overboard — use all prevention strategies such as not boating alone, no drinking, using a tether when moving about on deck, etc.
2. Wear a PFD.
3. Wear several layers of clothing--consider a wet or dry suit.
4. Get hold of anything that floats.
5. Get out of the water — back onto a boat if capsized.
6. Swim to shore only if certain of success.
7. Have a practiced plan and equipment to get yourself or others back on board — ladder, steps, lifesling, trailing line overboard (keep it out of the propeller).

MOSQUITOS

BOATING and MOSQUITO BITES

Boaters on Lake Champlain should avoid mosquitoes and prevent mosquito bites. They are a distinct nuisance with resulting itching, swelling, and redness at the site of the bite, with possible ensuing local infection. In addition, mosquitoes carry various diseases. Until recently, Lake Champlain harbored no disease carrying mosquitoes. That has now changed.

West Nile virus is a virus mosquitoes sometimes transmit to humans. Mosquitoes are infected when they feed on an infected bird. West Nile virus has been confirmed in Vermont and in New York counties bordering Vermont. There is no interstate mosquito barrier! Most people exposed to the virus do not become seriously ill, having symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, skin rash, and swollen lymph glands. More severe cases can lead to encephalitis, an infection of the brain. Symptoms of encephalitis are convulsions, coma, disorientation, and even death.

PREVENTION TIPS

1. Avoid anchoring near swampy, standing water or wetlands where mosquitoes may breed.

2. Limit on deck time at dawn or dusk, especially in May and June when mosquitoes are most active.

3. Use screens or screening materials in good repair to cover portholes, hatches, and the companionway. Promptly kill any mosquitoes found.

4. Use insect repellent that contains DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). Be sure to carefully follow the directions on the label. DEET can be harmful if overused. It should be applied sparingly to clothing and exposed areas of skin. It should not be applied to a child’s face or hands, or to skin that is scratched or irritated. Use DEET repellents with concentrations below 10% for children and below 30% for adults. Do not use DEET on infants. Do not use DEET on children under age 3 or in concentrations greater than listed above without first consulting your health care provider. Cream, lotion, or stick formulas are best for applying to areas of exposed skin. Wash skin where DEET was applied when mosquito exposure has ended.

5. Consider spraying screens and using citronella candles and/or bug coils.

6. Pay special attention to any water that collects in a puddle, container, rigging, sails, or deck equipment. Egg to wiggler to stinger in FOUR days.

SUN EXPOSURE

SUNBURN and SUNTANS
The summer sun of July and August is finally here, and it’s time to get "color" or a tan on the water where there is little shade and the water can reflect 50% of the sun’s rays back at you--Right? WRONG!

Both of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation wavelengths (UVA and UVB) are harmful and may lead to premature aging (wrinkled, leathery-looking skin), eye damage, cataracts, and most importantly, skin cancer. Since 1930, there has been an 1,800% increase in the incidence of malignant melanomas (the most serious of the skin cancers). Currently, one in five Americans develops some form of skin cancer. A blistering sunburn can double your lifetime risk of developing melanoma. A family history of skin cancer and chronic exposure to sunlight (as in boating) are also significant contributing factors.

PREVENTION TIPS
1. Avoid midday sun exposure — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Note that UVA rays are equally as strong early in the morning and late in the day as at noon, and as strong in the fall and spring as in midsummer. UVA is likely to produce damage through tanning, let alone burning, especially on or near the water.

2. Wear a hat with a 2" to 4" brim — baseball caps don’t do much for those sensitive ears, neck, and forehead.

3. Use sunscreens regularly. Read the labels; get one that withstands swimming and sweating. Use one with an SPF (sun protection factor against UVB rays) index of 30. Apply frequently and liberally.

4. Wear loose-fitting, tightly-woven, colored clothing, ideally with long sleeves and long pants — try the lines of sportswear especially created for sun protection with an SPF of 30. (A white cotton tee-shirt has an SPF rating of only 5 to 10).

5. Wear sunglasses — preferably ones that are polarized and ultraviolet-protected. Be sure to use one of those colorful strings to keep them attached to you.

6. Use an SPF lip block or consider emulating Dennis Connor and use zinc oxide ointment (the white stuff) on your lips and nose to physically block both UVA and UVB rays.

7. Avoid sun bathing!!!

TREATMENT
A mild sunburn (where the skin is pinkish-red, hurts, and is warm to the touch) may last 1-3 days and can be treated symptomatically with cool compresses, over-the-counter topical steroids, or other lotions.

A severe sunburn (where the skin is deep red, possibly swollen, and/or with blisters) may be associated with nausea, fever, chills, and may need medical care.

SWIMMERS' ITCH

Swimmer’s itch, or cercarial dermatitis, is a skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to infection with the larvae of certain parasites released from infected snails. These larvae swim along shallow water at various times during the summer months.

Within minutes to days after swimming in contaminated water, your skin may tingle, burn, or itch, followed by small reddish pimples within 12 hours. These pimples may develop into small blisters, and the itching may last up to a week or more, but will gradually go away.

Children are most often affected because they swim, wade and play in the shallow water more than adults, and they usually do not towel themselves dry when they leave the water.

Many factors must be present for swimmer’s itch to become a problem. The snails become infected with certain parasites of birds and mammals, and the larvae are released intermittently. The larvae cannot develop inside a human.

The rash and its itching and tingling may be relieved by the following non-prescription remedies:

apply anti-itch lotion
apply baking soda paste to the rash
bathe with baking soda
apply Calamine lotion
take colloidal oatmeal baths using a product such as Aveeno
apply cool compresses
apply corticosteroid cream

TRY NOT TO SCRATCH!

PREVENTION TIPS:
1. Avoid swimming in areas where swimmer’s itch is a known problem (such as around the dinghy docks or along the shoreline between the docks).
2. Avoid swimming near or wading in marshy areas or any other areas where the water can become stagnant.
3. Briskly towel dry or shower immediately after leaving the water.
4. Do not attract birds or ducks to the area by feeding them.