Passed away peacefully at Chapman House on Sunday, December 31, 2023. Born in Markdale on February 12, 1927, Betty Edith McManus (nee Brown) of Owen Sound, was in her 97th year.
Beloved wife of the late Gordon McManus. Loving mother of Linda Mitchell (Brian) of Toronto and Bruce McManus (Shannon) of Kemble. Cherished grandma of Patrick (Judy), Andrew (Briar), Cathy (Neil), Alyssia (Aaron), Adam and Carrie. Betty will be missed by her 11 great grandchildren.
In keeping with Betty’s wishes, cremation is taking place and a service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are entrusted to Brian E. Wood Funeral Home, Owen Sound, 519-376-7492.
As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations to Chapman House or the Owen Sound Hospital Foundation would be appreciated. Online condolences can be sent to Betty’s family by visiting her memorial at www.woodfuneralhome.ca.
Just a quick heads up. The water is officially off to the basins and outlying washrooms. If you need water you now have to use water from inside the club, and clubhouse washrooms are available for use.
I look forward to the spring when we get to have fun on our boats again.
If you have any questions on water please just email or text me.
One of the advantages of belonging to a club like GYC is learning to sail by being mentored by more experienced sailors. Dave Manners, Doug Ryan, Bill Gamble, Don Sweatman, John Kilpatrick and many others have over the years generously shared their expertise and advice with me on seamanship and racing.
I’ve been a member of this club for 16 years and I’d like to think I’ve retained a lesson or two from everyone along the way. The thing about sailing is that the learning process is never ending. Case in point. This past week I had a friend and his daughter, very new to sailing but eager to learn, on board during the Wednesday evening fun race. We all learned a lesson that evening the hard way.
Due to some health issues this was actually my first race of any sort this year. A beautiful warm easterly breeze carried Diversion on one tack to the green can then downwind to the mark at Balmy. All was well as we rounded the mark and headed for home. Then began an unfortunate series of events.
The wind shifted. Ahead, Danae and Frisky both tacked away from the west shore and I foolishly chose to pinch on a close reach in the hope that the knock would shift to a lift. Unfortunately we did not have a “Manner’s minute” grace period and I felt the keel bump. Although we turned the wheel hard to port, it was to no avail as I had squandered the opportunity to heel the boat and we were now firmly “on the rocks” in a vertical position. I let the sails go, walked the anchor astern, and flung it as far as I could into the oncoming mercifully small onshore waves.
Looking astern I could see Ella Mae tacking back and forth in the deeper water. Only when my iPhone rang out did I discover that my VHS was not working and Becky was trying to contact me: John Griffith on Cedar Bank was steaming out from the club to give me a tow. I dug out my spare handheld VHS and received contact from John. Becky, low on gas and with night falling, sailed away.
John deftly manoeuvred his trawler in the shallow waters. Ed Griffith, with a full crew of volunteers onboard, threw a nylon tow line with instructions to affix it to a masthead halyard. As Cedar Bank slowly pulled the line taut I weighed anchor and moved captain and crew to the low side. Mast tipped, boat heeled, keel lifted and with a bit of bumping and grinding we were soon in deeper water. Lessons learned, rudder and prop sound, no water intrusion.
As we powered back to GYC with Cedar Bank escorting us, I tidied up the chaos on deck and reflected on the privilege of being in a club where so many members are willing to lend assistance at a moment’s notice.
Thanks a million to everyone who helped out that night.
A different time, heck we didn’t even have a fence! Covering a wide time-line for this throw back, whether you’ve been in the club for a hot minute, or been around long enough you might not want to admit it. Something for everyone!
GYC 2022
GYC Launch approx 1975
Early days, before the Mexican Basin aka The Swamp.GYC mid 90’s
Hi All, I will be out of the country from October 9th to the 19th. So I need to take down my mast sometime next week, 2nd to 7th. Is anyone else planning to do theirs in that time? 22′ MiYotie usually goes very quickly.
