Luff 'N Laff March 2025
⛵ For GCSC Active Members ⛵
Please add our email to your Contacts so you never miss our updates!
If you have a question and don't know who to ask, just reply to this email and we'll forward your question/comment to to the right sailors!
| Our Gulf Coast Sailing Club Mission:
As Naples and Southwest Florida’s leading volunteer sailing club, we support inter-club racing, cruising, day sailing, social events, and boating education for the benefit of sailors and their families. Let’s keep it fun.
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From The Commodore:
The Commodore shall be the senior officer of the Club
| Trudell Kolpack
Spring is Here!
Time for a new boat? Catamaran For Sale:
2014 catamaran — 35’ Gemini. The boat is at their slip in SouthPointe Yacht Club Marina in Naples. If there is interest, ⛵️⛵️⛵️Many Thanks—John & Vi Cochran C: 260-403-5314 Vlanis@att.net
Always check the Calendar to see what's happening in the Club! This newsletter gives you a lot of the details too.
We are always open to your feedback and suggestions. If you don't know who to ask, reach out to me, or look at our Club org chart ON THE DOCUMENTS PAGE for direction (in Club Documents if you are logged in). We love to hear from you.
We look forward to seeing you at the member meeting March 12!
Trudell Kolpack
Commodore
480-310-2330
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From The Vice Commodore:
The Vice Commodore is responsible for Membership, Communications, and Volunteer Coordination activities for the Club.
| Laurie Conrod
Happy New Year!
Don't miss our March Member Meeting on the 12th! Please RSVP for the meeting so we can plan for the crowd!
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Ed Thompson gave us a lowdown on his bareboat events at the February meeting:
Essentially, I gather a crew and charter a 50’+ monohull for a one to two-week cruise out of the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Athens—the Cyclades Isles—Newport, RI, or anywhere in the world that provides charter boats. This is not a for-profit endeavor. Rather, as Organizer and Skipper, I facilitate sailing adventures for sailors who do not own boats or who do not have the facility to charter on their own. The cost of the bareboat charter to crewmembers is collected by me and passed on to the charter company, without markup. Travel expenses, provisioning and incidentals are extra. Sailors are nice people—it’s a great way to make new friends with like minded individuals. And I get myself out on the water several times per year.
Typically, we arrive at our destination on day one, get checked out on the boat, go to the market for provisioning and then go out to dinner together, getting to know each other. Then, it’s daily island hopping with breakfast and lunch aboard. In late afternoon, we moor or dock and it’s dinner ashore. See the attached document for a full description of my sailing adventures. Or visit my website, www.SailBVI.us, which contains the same information.
My next trip is to Athens on April 23 for ten days. I still have one cabin available. The cost pp will be ~$950, depending on the number of crewmembers. I have sailed the BVI many times and love it. But I am increasingly coming to favor sailing the Cyclades—the Greek Isles. This will be my fourth time. Stern to docking quayside and lowering the gangplank permits for easy on/off access to numerous shore facilities—markets, restaurants, scooter rentals, exploring and much more. Such sights as the Mykonos windmills provide memorable experiences and great photography.
Anyone interested in booking a sailing adventure almost anywhere in the world may feel free to contact me. I can recruit additional crewmembers to fill the boat. We usually have 5 – 7 sailors aboard.
Fair winds,
Ed
Ed Thompson
Sailing Charters
Naples, FL
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See details for how to join Wahoo's in this newsletter: GCSC joined Port32/Wahoo's so members can join for $99 instead of $399 and save $300, as well as have a gathering place for more fun! Active GCSC members get this benefit.
Announcing an enhancement to our website and newsletter! Would you like to advertise your business on our website and this newsletter? Tell your fellow sailors what you do and let them get to know you better! All the details are on our Sponsors page here: Sponsors Page
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How To Join Port32 Marinas Wahoo's:
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When you want to join Port32 Wahoo's, you'll have to show Kristy at Wahoo you are an active GCSC member.
You can do this by showing her your Profile on our website:
3. Click on your name in the upper right hand corner
4. Click on Profile
5. Take a screenshot and print it to show Kristy in person, or email it to her with the contract. You can also show her your profile on the phone when you are at Wahoo.
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Please Welcome our Newest Members!
Active Memberships: 148
Active Members: 255
Pending Members: 5
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Gulf Coast Sailing Club welcomes the New Members who joined GCSC in December:
Sumeet Chhibber and Harminday Gill Sumeet and Harminday are from Bonita Springs & looking forward to day sailing, cruising, and racing.
Max Klein Max is interested in the Sugden Small Boat Sailing Program and Cruising.
WELCOME TO GCSC! Any members (especially New Members) are invited join the ORIENTATION TABLE at our monthly member meetings.
Starting at 6pm, join a Director and/or Flag officers at the ORIENTATION TABLE to get acquainted, get your questions answered, and have an informal overview of everything the Club offers. Then the meeting starts at 7pm!
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From The Rear Commodore:
The Rear Commodore is responsible for the On The Water activities for the Club.
|  | Bob Andreini
Lots going on at GCSC. Racing, Cruising, Day Sailing. This month we welcome back our Sugden Sunday events having been unavailable for the past two months due to the lake being closed and lack of volunteers to run them in February.
There seems to be a growing interest for chartering within our club. Last month's presenter gave a great overview of the charters he organizes, and many members are already active sailboat charterers. There was lots of discussion after the presentation. If anyone would like to discuss further or find out more about chartering, please reach out to me. We are not specifically planning charters as a club, but we can help you be successful to plan your own!
On February 15 we held the Presidents Regatta in which 8 boats participated for a pursuit race from Naples to Marco Island. You can see the results of the regatta here:
Big thank you to all those who participated and to our race committee who organized and executed this BOTY event!
On the same weekend, we had our annual Panter Key cruise. We started with 8 boats, then it dropped quickly to 5. On Saturday, 4 boats departed for Panther key. However, one had trouble and had to return to their home marina. That's the thing about cruising, and boating in general, you have to be flexible and just roll with it. The three boats had a great time hanging out together, going to the beach, and dinner on one of the boats. These events build community and friendships within our club, and I look forward to them all each and every year.
Let's look ahead to what's on deck.
In March we have the Conquistidor Cup Regatta up in Punta Gorda and the Marathon Key Cruise. In April we have the Messmer Cup. See below for more information and please do not procrastinate if you are planning to attend any of these events.
Note, there is no Cayo Costa cruise scheduled at this time. If you are interested in being the cruise captain and organizing it, let me know and I can give you all the details necessary to plan it.
Let us know your interest level in any of these events by either registering or emailing the club with your interests and questions.
Stay tuned, read your newsletters, visit the club website, and if you are interested in getting involved in any of these activities, please reach out to me at RearCommodore@gulfcoastsailingclub.org.
Cheers,
Bob Andreini
Rear Commodore
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Sign up for the GCSC Crew Board - For GCSC Members Only
| Announcing SWFL Boat Of The Year (BOTY)
Notice of Series 2024-25 | | To download the Notice of Series, Click Here | Click Below for the Notice of Race (NOR)
And to Register!
| Click Below for the Notice of Race (NOR)
And to Register!
| | Returning to Marlin Marina Marathon Key after a successful cruise in 2024. Come enjoy the fun SATURDAY MARCH 22 - SATURDAY MARCH 29. You do not have to stay the entire time. Most people come down the first weekend and stay for 2-3-4 days and then return home.
Very last chance to secure a slip! Contact Bob Andreini at (847) 275-6829 if you are even considering participating.
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DAY SAILING
Fleet Captain Day Sailing: Peter Russo
| | Boats needed to take sailors!
Going out sailing for a day or few hours, would like to take other members out on your boat to help them learn more about sailing from your experience?
If so, please send me your dates and times when you are planning on going to sail and I'll setup a calendar event for people to sign up and go with you. Please include your name, email or text info, boat information, how many guests you can bring, and what each person needs to bring with them (lunch, beverages, gloves, etc).
| | | Stay tuned for the next Day Sailing event, and always check the website Calendar!
Now Let’s Go Sailing,
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SMALL BOATS
Fleet Captain Small Boats: Doug Foss
| | If you are interested in learning more, reach out to
Doug Foss
| | | Message from the Small Boat Fleet Captain
New Date for Sugden Sunday March 30th
Contact Doug Foss if interested and to sign up to volunteer or participate.
Please check the website for future events as they become available.
As your small boat fleet captain, I am always open for suggestions on how to improve our small boat sailing program. Please provide me with any comments and/or suggestions and ideas for increasing our on the water activities.
Thanks!!
Doug Foss
Small Boat Fleet Captain
630-464-0505
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Member Meeting March 12 at 6pm
(Always the 2nd Wed. of the month)
PLEASE RSVP! WE NEED TO SET UP AND HAVE FOOD FOR EVERYONE!
Do you need help renewing online or logging in to the website?
We'll have a computer and someone to help you at the meetings!
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🏨 Location: Moss Hall at Moorings Presbyterian 791 Harbour Dr. Naples (Signs are posted)
👨🏫 Speaker: The Civil Air Patrol in Naples
🍴🍪🍰 Serving: TBD!
🍺 🍷BYOB (Water and Iced Tea provided)
So we can plan!
Please Note: Non-Members and Guests are $15 each, payable at the meeting. Thank you!
Non-Members and Guests will be credited the $15 if they join the club at the meeting!
Everyone who RSVP's, and guests, will get a blue dinner ticket.
Non-RSVP's will get a red ticket. Blue tickets will be served first.
If all else fails, just reply to this email and we'll add you so you get a blue ticket!
Thank you!!
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Have Your Friends Join the Club!
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Join Now! The annual membership dues are $115 and will cover a new membership for 12 full months for new members. Members that joined before August 1 2024 have a June 30 renewal date.
Don't Miss Out!
✅ When your membership expires, you will no longer be able to login to the Club website, and no longer have access to members only content.
✅ The Club Luff 'N Laff will be sent to active members only, and general information will be sent to non-members.
✅ The Port32 Marina/Wahoo membership is available to active members only.
✅ Some Club events will be available to members only, so keep/start your membership!
Plus, we'll miss you if you let your membership expire!
Renew or Join Now! The annual membership fee is $115 and will cover your membership until the end of June, 2025 for past members, and a full 12 months for new members.
Club dues allow the Club to provide:
⛵ Port32/Wahoo membership for $99 (Savings of $300)
⛵ Races & Cruises planned and put on
⛵ Day Sailing events planned and put on
⛵ Raft-Ups planned and put on
⛵ Charters planned and put on
⛵ Small Boats Events planned and put on
⛵ Sugden Sunday Fun Day's 🏊🍔 planned and put on
👩🏫 Monthly meetings planned with activities for engagement, fun, food, and occasional speakers
🎉 Parties with food
😋 Comradery with your fellow sailors
🙋♀️🙋♂️Unlimited volunteer opportunities
You can complete the payment process online with PayPal or a credit card.
If you prefer, you can mail a check for $115 to Gulf Coast Sailing Club, P.O. Box 2121, Naples, FL 34106 and your membership will be manually renewed. Please renew online first, and then mail in the check. Thanks!
Please include any changes to your contact information.
We look forward to seeing you at events, on committees, and on the water!
| Our Very Own GCSC Online Store!
You can also get to the Store on the website at Membership --> Merchandise (see pic below)
Please Note: Because all merchandise has our logo, it can be returned only if defective. If you need help with the Store, please contact Michael Charalambous michael@charalambous.us
Thank you Michael for setting up this Store for GCSC!
| Do you have a boat or equipment to sell? Equipment you need?
GCSC BURGEES and NAME TAGS:
You’re a member – say it loud and proud with a GCSC official Burgee or Name Tag!!
(Not a boat owner? Hang it at home or in your office!)
Burgees are large (17” X 25”) fully embroidered – not printed. $65
Name tags are magnetic (no damage to clothing) and feature our logo, your name, and either “member” or your boat name if you choose. $11
E-mail Paul Carlson the exact spelling of your name and whether you want to have a boat name added to your name tag at least a week before a meeting so he can deliver it to you at the meeting: skippersail1@gmail.com.
Pay Paul with cash or check when you order.
| Catamaran For Sale
2014 catamaran — 35’ Gemini. The boat is at our slip in SouthPointe Yacht Club Marina in Naples. If there is interest, ⛵️⛵️⛵️Many Thanks—John & Vi Cochran C: 260-403-5314 Vlanis@att.net
Sailboat For Sale!
Cathun Sun Too (pdf) is a beautiful boat and perfect for cruising/racing in SW FL.
Please contact Tom or Mary beth:
| Sailboat For Sale!
Wings
Please contact Rick & Candice Thiele:
239-292-6472
| Our Club thrives on your expertise, enthusiasm, and your presence!
This is a list of current volunteer opportunities - and there are always more, so if you have a desire, let any flag officer or director know what that is and we'll help you find a spot you love! We appreciate you 😃
The fastest way to get to know your fellow sailors and members is to volunteer!
😃 Committee Members - Landside Events - help plan, execute, and set up & clean up at member meetings as well as social events. We have the blueprint, many hands make light work!
😃 Communications - Want to help getting the word out about the club?
😃 Sailing Certification Program Chair 😃 and Certification Captains - Help members improve and prove their sailing literacy so skippers can recruit them for crew.
😃 Race Captains - We will train you!
😃 Race Committee - We will train you! | |
Do you have a sailing story to share with the rest of us sailors? Please submit your story to
| Our Gulf Coast Sailing Club Mission
As Naples and Southwest Florida’s leading volunteer sailing club, we support inter-club racing, cruising, day sailing, social events, and boating education for the benefit of sailors and their families. Let’s keep it fun.
Our Gulf Coast Sailing Club Strategy
· Be an innovative volunteer and non-profit organization of beginner, intermediate and experienced sailors.
· Provide year-round on-the-water and land-based activities for our members, their families, and their guests.
· Build a robust sailing program by interfacing with all southwest Florida sailing clubs and coordinating interclub activities.
· Build community outreach through supporting local boating programs and marine industries.
· Actively support sailing and seamanship education programs.
Our Gulf Coast Sailing Club Core Values
· Maintain a welcoming and friendly environment for all.
· Respect all levels of experience and interest.
· Exhibit leadership, Integrity, and honesty.
· Have fun!
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laurie@LCAssetManagement.com
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