Sailpast at Queen City Yacht Club
The Annual Sailpast and Review of the Fleet by the Commodore marks the official opening of the Club. As events at QCYC go, this is quite traditional and formal. It is also a day when all members celebrate the new sailing season. For as long as anyone can remember, Sailpast at Queen City has taken place on the Saturday of the Victoria Day weekend. This is an all-day event to which all members are invited.
There are 3 parts to the day: Sailpast in the afternoon, post-Sailpast social, and the dinner/dance in the Great Hall in the evening.
The schedule on Saturday, May 21, 2011
Times to note are:
1205 Skippers Meeting
1345 Review of the Fleet (Link for Instructions)
1600 Sail Past of the Fleet in the Lagoon accompanied by the pipes
1630 Commodore’s Punchbowl Reception
1745 Formal Dinner (Link for more information & reseverations)
1745 Head Table Piped in
2030 Head Table departs for Flag Lowering Ceremony
2042 Sunset and Flag Lowering Ceremony
2045 Dancing (Link for more information)
The Rear Commodore leads the Skippers meeting at around noon. In the meeting, written instructions for the Sailpast are distributed. The important thing to learn in the meeting is which boat is the leader of your section.
At around 1300, members on boats head out into the north-east section of the harbour and sail (or motor-sail) around, upwind of the Commodore’s anchored vessel, take pictures and generally have a great time waving to each other and admiring the new canvas or water-line or sail or boat that each may have acquired.
The actual Review of the Fleet begins at about 1345 (after warning guns are fired on the Race Committee vessel, The Harold S. Robbins – The sailing directions distributed at the Skippers meeting provide the details.)
When the gun to begin the Review is fired, the Fleet Captain leads the boats on which Past Commodores are present, past the Commodore’s boat. Boats in the category “Sail 36ft and up” follow the Past Commodores’ boats. The next group of boats is that 31 to 35 feet followed by those from 26 to 30, etc. The larger boats go before the smaller boats because the larger boats are ‘usually’ faster than the smaller ones. Since the objective is to have an orderly Sailpast and to allow the Commodore a chance to salute each boat and the members aboard, the practice is to let the faster boats move ahead, out of the way, rather than coming up fast from behind. In that same manner, within any category, the longer boats should go first, followed by those with a shorter waterline. For example, within the 26 to 30ft category, the C&C 27’s should follow the 28 to 30ft boats. Therefore, find the leader of your section and then fall in line behind it, with boats of like type and length. If your boat is moving too fast to maintain a good order, reduce sail or cut power.
Saluting the Commodore
When you ‘sail past’ the Commodore’s boat, leave two boat lengths between you and the boat ahead.
Salute the Commodore in the following manner:
· Yachts wearing an ensign (the Canadian flag) dip the ensign
· Yacht not wearing an ensign, luff the foresail
The salute should commence one boat length before reaching the Review Vessel and continue for one boat length beyond. Where possible the skipper and crew should stand and face the Commodore. Only the Commodore salutes by hand.
Etiquette
The traditional “dress of the day” is white pants and navy blazer. Many members follow this standard. But if the weather is lousy, the rule is: stay warm and dry. (If the weather is really foul, the Rear Commodore may direct the fleet to remain at the moorings; in such case, the Commodore’s yacht or his designate will pass through the lagoon.)
Finally, your boat should look ship-shape: take up your boat’s fenders; leave the dinghy at your dock.
If you do not have a boat
Some members watch the Sailpast from the Great Hall. In the past several years, a few members participated in Sailpast by aboard the Algonquin Queen II.
Post-Sailpast / Pre-dinner
After you sai past the Commodore, return to your mooring and “dress ship”. This means hauling your line of race or signal flags up a halyard to the top of your mast.
At this point members tend to congregate in various cockpits around the lagoon (assuming the weather is decent) for drinks and hors d’oeuvres. At about 1600, the Commodore and Flag Officers will cruise past the fleet in the Harold S. Robbins.
This is followed at 1630 by the Commodore’s Punch Bowl on the front lawn of the club (or inside the main floor lobby if weather is inclement.) Basically this is a cocktail party and another opportunity to raise a glass to the Commodore and/or the new sailing season.
Dinner/Dance
Sailpast dinner is a formal dinner in the Great Hall (with over-bookings in the dining room) which begins at 6pm and don’t forget to book your tickets!
The dress is “semi-formal”. It is traditional for men to stay in their ‘whites and blazers’. Some women do this as well but many change into a dress or dress pants. Remember that the Great Hall can be quite chilly in May.
The dinner is followed by the ceremonial Flag Lowering on the front lawn and then by a great dance.
For more information on Sailpast, contact the Rear Commodore at rearcommodore@qcyc.ca