Fleet Activities

Membership

All local Byte owners and skippers are asked to submit an annual fleet membership form and fee. The fee is only $15 for Byte owners, $5 for non-owners (talk about cheap fun!), and this helps defray fleet expenses such as Charter Byte costs, web site expenses (none to date), the occasional Latitude 38 ad, mailing expenses, etc.

Meetings & Elections

There’s an annual fleet meeting (usually held in January) and ad hoc meetings as needed, usually held as part of a well-attended sailing event. Gail Yando and Karin Knowles currently serve as fleet Co-Chairs; Michele Logan is Treasurer. Elections are infrequent and not hotly contested. If you’d like to take charge of anything, just let us know.

Communications

Everyone has email, so all notices go out via email in addition to being published here. We have a fleet Google Group that you may join if interested. This group enables a member to email everyone on the list by sending a single email. And if you’re looking for sailing companions or are interested in attending a fleet activity, you’re encouraged to email the group. And don’t forget to check this Web site—we try to keep it up to date.

Racing

Every January (or thereabout) we meet to plan our “official” racing season calendar, which usually runs from March through September. Many of us sail in the RYC Small-Boat Midwinters series, and there are several other “non-official” racing events at other yacht clubs that individuals or groups can attend. Occasionally RYC hosts a major Byte event (North Americans, PCCs, etc.), and Byte Class International Association regattas always welcome participation.

Sailing Clinics

For many years the local fleet has held one or more Byte clinics. The 2007 clinic at Clearlake was so much fun, we’re hoping to do it again in 2009. Dan Ouellet has a good Byte program at the Jack London Aquatic Center in Oakland and provides clinics and practice sessions (with marks and whistles!) when he can. He also has a special program for those who can already sail but want to learn the Byte (tryout required).

Informal Activities

We often schedule an informal practice or fun sail day. We’ve held more than one fiberglass repair party and even had informal camping trips. But things don’t need to be “official” or organized well in advance. All ideas are welcome. If you have an idea or just want to get out on the water, run with it. All it takes is an email to the group stating what, when, and where.

Charter Byte

The fleet owns an extra boat, the Charter Byte, which lives on a rack at RYC. We loan this to people who want to take a test sail, and interested parties can charter her for regattas and other events.