…History
The beginning of SBYC Juniors…Whitney Travis Macaulay, Midshipman
It is truly a pleasure and honor to respond to Jean Heessels-Petit’s request to give my account of the beginnings of the Sequim Bay Jr. Yacht Club and my involvement with the club.
Verse to the Navy Hymn
It is truly a pleasure and honor to respond to Jean Heessels-Petit’s request to give my account of the beginnings of the Sequim Bay Jr. Yacht Club and my involvement with the club.
- I was the inaugural Commodore of the Juniors and under the guidance of Ginny Tresche, Dr. Dennis Richard, and my father, Bob Macaulay, we struggled to breathe life into a fledgling program which had virtually disappeared after a series of leadership and property issues several years previous. My binder of old notes indicates eight juniors attended that first meeting along with then Commodore Luisa Hope and Vice Commodore Jim Forsyth. That first summer was quite productive with a Burger Bash, a Sailing Picnic at the State Park, a move to purchase an old J-24, possible whale watching trips, and lastly, a trip to the Junior Nationals to be held on Lake Washington later in the summer. The prominent event during winter was the organizing of a garage sale for fundraising purposes and to promote a positive community image of the club. We raised over $1,800 for ourselves, with the other half going to the Children of Afghanistan. As the years progress in my binder, the minutes and notes become more and more complex, with new purchases, members, bylaws, and advisors listed. As I grew older, especially after the 2003 boating season, I started to take on a new role in the club attending fewer business meetings but still participating by, coaching younger members on the water from my Laser, or from my small Boston Whaler. Finally realizing I would most likely never be a competitive dingy sailor, I moved to keelboats where I now spend the vast majority of my sailing time. However, one thing was never lost; the skills, the friends, and the experiences I had as a member in the Sequim Bay Junior Yacht Club. When I was in the process of applying to the United States Naval Academy, I contacted the offshore varsity sailing coach, Jahn Tihansky, with a letter of my sailing experience on a small bay on the Pacific coast and my hopes to sail for Navy. Much to my amazement, he responded and has offered me a chance to prove my sailing skills when I report to the United States Naval Academy on 2 July, 2008. Little did I know at the time, that Coach Tihansky grew up on a small bay in Florida, with an experience eerily similar to mine. As I leave for the Naval Academy, setting my binder on the shelf for the last time, I would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who was helped the juniors to succeed. I wish the Juniors and the Sequim Bay Yacht Club fair winds and good fortune in all endeavors.
Verse to the Navy Hymn