2013 has seen a bit of a sea change for Elk River YC as the group seeks to re-rig to increase the club's family focus and attention to seamanship basics.
Of course, the usual events remain. Club members still joyfully anchored together in the weekly seasonal "raft-outs" (typically at Veazey Cove), and just as eagerly met weekly during colder weather at members' homes for "raft-ins" to share shore-side camaraderie, food, and fun. The annual “Crab tail” event continued to draw a large crowd eager to sample other attendee’s crab-based appetizers and to compete for the best crab-inspired costume. The annual club cruise, as last year to historic Havre de Grace, also attracted several dozen members sharing food, beverages, and reminders of shared experiences boating the waters and coves of the upper Chesapeake Bay.
Where the club seeks to chart a new course was shown with the return of the “Day on the Bay” family-oriented event. Held along a stretch of Elk River beach accessible by boat or car, this extended family outing drew members, their parents, their children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren for catered picnic fare; games such as volleyball and horseshoes; a scavenger hunt; swimming; and sandcastle-building contests. Sunfish sailboats and kayaks stood ready to cast off and give a taste of the water life to those who don’t have the Chesapeake as their backyard.
A further change laid down this year is the club’s intention to emphasize sailing and seamanship in 2014—to give attention to wind-powered boating and perhaps some small craft sailing competition in the year ahead.
To shorten this sea-story, Elk River Yacht Club has enjoyed fair winds and following seas in 2013, and anticipates opening 2014 with full sails set for enjoying life on the great Chesapeake Bay.
