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An Interim History
- 1956
The following are excerpts written by Hazel Tomlinson for Sea Magazine:
One day in March 1956, aboard the Evergreen State Ferry, seven Bainbridge
Islanders breathed life into an infant sailing organization by signing its bylaws
and electing themselves officers. These men “being soberly dedicated to
the promotion of sailing, navigation, piloting and seeking only to enjoy and
admire the manifold beauties of the sea” had banded together - so the
articles of incorporation declare - to form the Port Madison Jib and Jug
Association.
This summer, a decade and 60 member families later, the old jib and jug
group, now more auspiciously titled the port Madison Yacht Club, will host
the national O.K. Dinghy Regatta. To the champion of that race, scheduled for
July 8, 9, and 10 on Port Madison Bay,
goes a free ticket to Australia and the 1966
inter-national O.K. Dinghy Finals.
Today, despite a more sedate name and ambitious schedule, PMYC is not all
that pretentious. Still dedicated more to the promotion of sailing than to
frills, members advise newcomers to their clubhouse not to expect elegant
decor and white-jacketed waiters. But if the building lacks elegance, it
compensates in utility and atmosphere. The modest former machine shop is now
self-conscious under a fresh coat of paint with a new deck across the front -
labor contributed by a volunteer work party. In this room with its rough wood
walls, members conduct business meetings, throw parties and potluck dinners
and, on bone chilling race days, warm their backsides and stiff fingers
around a blazing fire. Outside the clubhouse, located on the east bank of
Port Madison, the club float unique in today's automated, status-conscious
society, PMYC stresses in-formality and the desire to maintain a status quo.
Basically a family club, the year's calendar features bi-weekly races for men
and women, children's sailing instruction, plus numerous family-type
activities. In addition, members find time to donate talent and muscle to
club projects. They respond to a call for volunteers wielding paint brushes,
hammers, shovels, lawn mowers, and enthusiasm. This casual atmosphere is what
members hope to preserve.
One of the original members has been quoted as saying that “no one
shall be denied membership or expelled so long as the vessel in which he has
ownership can float for 15 consecutive minutes in either fresh or salt water
and does not exceed a maximum length of 220 feet nor a minimum of four feet
in length overall at the waterline.”
PMYC - An Interim History - 1966
Members were not quite so tongue-in-cheek, however, when they drew plans for
their class boat. It had to be small enough for women and children to rig and
handle, stable enough for novices - young and old, easy to maintain, reasonably
priced, and to meet the final test, it had to be an unbeatable performer.
Commodore John Powel, Vice Commodore Howard Springer, and rear commodore John
Adams drew sketches and, with the help of Bill Garden, produced the design of
the Port Madison Pram. When the first boat was completed, anxious members
drew straws to see who would own it. John Adam's sail, carrying the large,
blue #1, is proof of the winner. Although it was designed to sail with
mainsail only, the 14 foot pram has been with jib and spinnaker, a
combination that every other Sunday afternoon, regardless of the weather,
pram owners turn out to race. And a pretty sight the boats are - triangular
white sails billow as sailors strain to make wind, tide and current work to
their advantage because each race counts toward the championship trophies to
be awarded at year end. Each summer families pack food, sleeping bags, and
kids and sail across the bay to Jefferson Head for an annual overnight
picnic.
An Interim History - 1992
In the twenty-six years since the above was written, there has been emphasis
on large boat racing in addition to dinghy racing and there are races every
week. This has caused an expansion of docks and floats to accommodate the
large boats along with grid and mast hoisting facilities. Additional property
has been acquired to preserve the natural beauty of the club's surroundings.
The clubhouse has undergone recent remodeling and now sports a completely new
interior with large windows overlooking the bay. A large flagpole and
landscaped grounds complement the clubhouse decks, where members congregate
for meetings or picnics on warm summer evenings. All work is still supplied
by member work parties.
Dinghy racing at PMYC continues to be so popular that many of the club's
junior members have long since graduated from prams, El
Toro's and Mintos to Lasers and are
openly competing with adult members for use of the boats. Both junior and
adult members compete in international competitions - one of, which is the
annual Laser regatta hosted by PMYC.
In both talent and enthusiasm for sailing, Port Madison Yacht Club can
be quite proud of its heritage.
===
Who was Fal Joslin?
by Jim Llewellyn
Every year someone asks me, "Who was Fal
Joslin?" So this year I found out with the help of Jack Kutz, Ed Selfors, Howdy
Springer, and Jerry Elfendahl.
Falcon Joslin Jr. was the son of a railroad engineer in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Before World War II he lived on Port
Madison where he became an avid sailor with a huge passion for boats. After
the war he moved to the Pleasant Beach/Ft. Ward area where he lived with his
universally loved wife, Ruby. Legend
has it that they both did their parts to justify both parts of the early PMYC
name, Jib & Jug Club.
Ruby was a school teacher here on Bainbridge for a number
of years and Fal was a supervisor in the Colridge
Auto Machine Works (or something similar) in Seattle. He loved engines of all sorts and loved
working on them. The sailboat he is remembered most for was the
Aeolus which was a 34' gaff-headed yawl designed by Lee Coolidge (later
sold to Al Engels, Jr.). Jack Kutz remembers
Aeolus (and Fal) to be a very stable yet lively performer even in the
breeziest crossing of the Straits of Juan de Fuca. He didn't race much but
cruised very extensively. Fal also did much sailing with Don Facett on Swirl.
Fal eventually replaced Aeolus with a powerboat
named Halcyon. Ruby passed away prematurely from cancer and Fal was killed in
the late 60's after cruising to Elliott Bay (some say Lake Union)
with a ladyfriend (widow of another PMYC
member). Apparently there was a
propane leak in the stove on Halcyon and it exploded after Fal smelled
the fumes and got his lady overboard then went in to check it out. Friends and BOD members established the
perpetual trophy bearing his name shortly thereafter for the annual weekend
race to Port Ludlow (which was as close to a cruise as you could get and
still be a race…..with all the fun of both!)
===
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