Views from the Porch: The Hospitality Edition: August, 2025

Views from the Porch

ON THE PORCH WITH...

Deb Norris

INTERVIEW by JACQUES STEINBERG

Deb Norris (center) sits, embraced by her Junior Sailing Instructors on the eve of the Junior Sail Barbeque. - Photograph by Wendy Popp - Simmons

For many families, the gateway to Horseshoe Harbor Yacht Club begins with our Junior Sailing Program. Since 2008, that program has been led by Deborah Kobe Norris. Deb is almost as recognizable a fixture on the porch as her beloved dog Vinny – named for the Joe Pesci character in “My Cousin Vinny” -- a 9-and-a-half-pound Papillon mix (approximate age 14) whom Deb first met and adopted as a rescue a decade ago.

Over the course of this summer’s six-week Junior Sailing Program, Deb and Sara Levin, along with the program’s seven instructors (five of whom were once junior sailors themselves), served nearly 30 campers, ranging in age from 9 to 15. Among the graduates of that program is Deb’s daughter, Ellie, who later worked as a Junior Sailing counselor-in-training and counselor. Ellie is now a lawyer living in Dallas. Deb’s

husband, Scott, passed away four years ago this November.

On a recent Friday morning, with the younger sailors out on the Sound piloting Optis, and the older sailors paired up in Fevas, Deb took a rare break to answer a few questions from Jacques Steinberg. What follows are excerpts from that conversation.

Jack: Jerry Keyes has his couch, and you have your kitchen island workstation. Who is the woman sitting at the kitchen island all summer?

Deb: I suppose I’m a healthy dose of Dorothy from Kansas, which is where I was born and raised, coupled with my long and intense experience as a New York-Asia Mergers and Acquisitions partner for the consulting firm Deloitte. As additional seasoning for those ingredients: I have been the CEO of a small business since 9/11, tempered with being the wife of Scott and mother of an only-child, Ellie, later in life, and capped with running Junior Sailing on a volunteer basis in the summer while serving on corporate boards of directors for my ‘day job’.

Jack: Think back to the first time you laid eyes on Horseshoe Harbor.

Deb: It had to be around 2002. Ellie was born in 1992, and Scott and I were raising her in Scottsdale, Arizona. By the time she was 10, I was dying of the heat and went shopping for a summer house. Being a New Yorker at my core, we came to Westchester (rather

than California) and bought a townhouse in Rye. The reason we came to Horseshoe was because of sailing. Ellie had taken sailing

lessons on a little dammed-up pond in front of the airport in Tempe and liked sailing. So we started looking for a summer Junior Sailing program. People suggested we check out Mamaroneck Harbor or Horseshoe. I looked at Mamaroneck Harbor, but when I came down here to Horseshoe and met Carolynn Dilworth, who was running the program, and Karen Colin Sagara, who was supporting

Carolynn, I knew this was the place for us. They welcomed us. Ellie sailed that summer. She loved it. And then we joined Horseshoe the following year.

Jack: Had you ever sailed?

Deb: No. The first day Ellie was in the junior sailing program, I walked out past the Gazebo in Manor Park to get a better view. When I saw my only child in the world in a plastic bathtub halfway to Long Island, I thought, ‘Oh my, Scott’s going to divorce me!’ But Ellie survived (as did my marriage!).

Jack: How did you come to lead the Junior Sailing program?

Deb: Carolynn and I became immediate and fast friends. Karen moved away after her son went off to college. So I started helping Carolynn, beginning in 2006. By 2008, Carolynn had become immersed in Auray Gourmet so I took the lead, in that I responded to all the emails, processed the registrations, planned out the boats, and hired the instructors, while Carolynn remained the local face, while I was back in Arizona during the winter. She was also the one who recruited Sara Levin to partner with me, beginning just before the COVID summers.

Jack: As you look at the sailing program over that period, what makes you proud?

Deb: The program itself is much more professional and disciplined than it was when Ellie first sailed here. Unbeknownst to me, the year I took it over, the buzz was: how can we have a person who doesn’t sail and knows nothing about sailing running our Junior Sailing program? At the end of that season, Bob Diamond, who at that time was really our most prolific sailor, declared that the program had never been run better. Turns out that the skills needed to run something are different than the skills needed to do something.

I’ve been very fortunate to have always had very competent, caring instructors. My satisfaction in running the program derives from working with them, and knowing I am likely those instructors’ first boss. I expect of them, and treat them, exactly as I would a Deloitte summer intern – no surfer-dudes make the cut here. Watching summer after summer of little sailors grow and mature, become instructors, graduate and get ‘real’ jobs, marry and bring their kids to HHYC – as one of my former sailors, Wynn Simmons, just said as he passed by: ‘Watching stories unfold.’

Jack: Other than Junior Sailing, what do you love most about Horseshoe?

Deb: I love the communal nature of Horseshoe. You have to understand, my husband hated traveling. So I would always come from Arizona for the summer with Ellie. But then once Ellie got into law school and started working, I’ve been coming alone for more than 10 years. I don’t live here. I don’t have kids in school here. I don’t have a church or a job here. So summer could be a very lonely experience. But it never is.

All one has to do is come and sit on the porch, and someone’s going to come by and say: Do you want to go for a sail? Do you want to join us for a glass of wine? Do you want to join us for dinner? We have more than we need! I appreciate that a lot. And I try to reciprocate.

JackJ: What changes have you seen at Horseshoe in recent years?

Deb: Two things concern me. The first is the aging of our population, and the second is the narrowing of our focus to only sailors as opposed to boaters. That has lots of repercussions, including for the Junior Sailing program.

While we’re bringing in younger members, I don’t believe we, the more seasoned members, are doing enough to integrate and mentor the young ones.

And for the newer members, including younger members with families, I have an ‘ask’: that you will reach out to our older, long-

tenured members. We are eager to get to know you and embrace you. We welcome the opportunity for you to include us in your

plans -~ whether on a sailing expedition or for a meal on the porch.

That will ensure we keep this special sense of community alive and well at Horseshoe for years to come.

Deb Norris can be reached at: dkn@bullseyedm.com.

Sarah Levin welcomes members for the Junior Sail BBQ and a hug from Deb. - Photograph by Wendy Popp - Simmons

Photo Essay assembled by WENDY POPP - SIMMONS

One cannot illustrate an interview pictorially with Deb Norris as the feature without a flash of a Mediterranean turquoise wash over one's memory. Many iconic elements float to mind. The first being her boat, Celebration. Quite a few joyous occasions have been shared with Deb on her special craft moored just beyond the flagpole on Manor Beach. As sunlight penetrates the canopy, all of the celebrants are enveloped in a hue clearly fitting for a party on the water. Below are shots shared by Yolanda Gorman amidst those from Deb's archives.

Celebration, Deb's Cobia, Odyssey 248, can be seen just below the tower gates of the Whitestone Bridge on the horizon. In this shot, the advancing chop is pressured by Hurricane Erin as it rocks our cove.

Presented below is a slideshow showcasing additional celebrations with members and friends, both on and off the porch.

Click the arrow located in the middle right of the photograph below.

Photographs in the slide show above are compliments of members and friends, as well as from Deb's archives.

Yolanda Gorman enjoys breakfast at Tiffany's with Deb in the leading photo of the above slideshow.

Many of the photos in this essay speak to the charm of Deb's constant companion and beloved Horseshoe mascot, Vinny. Not only does he shadow Deb as she navigates the porch during Junior Sailing season, but he has managed to become an honored member among members. He is particularly attentive to those who may enjoy a snuggle.

Photographs compliments of Deb Norris

Vinny is pictured above enjoying the crossbreeze in the doorway, close to Deb as she sits at her laptop. Below, he is pictured on top of the laps of adoring members.

Photographs compliments of Deb Norris

The Junior Sail Program just successfully concluded its last session a week ago, and the group hosted its annual barbecue on Thursday, August 7, 2025. Deb addresses every detail with the greatest care. The menu, the music, the planning, and presentation are artfully assembled, and the sailing instructors joined in with enthusiasm, even when it came to preparing Yuca con Aceite y Cebolias over a hot grill! The menu was a novel tasting experience that included a Puerto Rican feast of Empanada, Escalada de Papa, and delicious traditional dishes.

Photograph by Wendy Popp - Simmons

It's truly heartwarming when former sailing instructors from years past return to see the juniors they once taught, who have now become our current instructors. Witnessing this full-circle moment is incredibly rewarding. A special thanks goes to this group: Eileen Wiesner, Jack Wenzler-Cooley, David Arencibia, Louis Kirk, Olivia Noyer, Maddie Cashman, and Olivia Diana.

(Pictured above) The team of instructors for 2024. (Below) Jack comes back to join the celebrations of this year's final event, a delightful surprise from our former instructor.

Photographs by Wendy Popp - Simmons

WIND and WAVES

Junior Sailing

Photography of the water and opti sailors by Wendy Popp-Simmons

We will take this opportunity to create an unusual transition in our format to highlight Junior Sailing after featuring Deb's profile. Deb Norris has played a crucial role in coordinating the HHYC Junior Sail Program for many years. She was one of the directors when this editor's son attended his first opti classes in Creature. There are no regrets about sharing this rare gift of the wind and waves, or the lessons learned to harness the elements to move freely in the most beautiful cove in the Western Basin, while also building the essentials for confidence and mastery that could last a lifetime. We thank you, Deb, and those who support your efforts; former Co-Director Sarah Levin and your team of sailing instructors, some of whom are pictured below:

A junior sailor from the first session sets out for a morning sail. The winds are gentle, the water is calm, and the day is just perfect for experimenting with the elements and finding the groove, all while experiencing one of the most beautiful spaces on the eastern shores of Long Island Sound

Junior sailors mastering the elements 2025.

Photographs by Wendy Popp - Simmons

Photographs of the juniors with compliments of Deb Norris

Swim across America 2025

Photograph by Wendy Popp - Simmons

This is the fresh morning that greeted hundreds of swimmers who made huge waves by donating their time and physical energy to skim the bracing waters of Long Island Sound for Swim Across America 2025. The course in the Western Basin stretched along the coast from Larchmont Yacht Club to the Shore Club.  Kayakers and paddleboarders assisted as escorts from every club in between. Swim Across America hosts charity swims that fund cancer research and patient programs. Since its founding in 1987, they have claimed to have raised over 100

million dollars in funds. Congratulations to our swimmers and their escorts.

This shot, taken during the point-to-point 5K and 2K swims offered from LYC to Larchmont Shore Club, barely shows the fantastic number of bobbing heads. The splashes hide the working limbs, and the entire distance looks like a mass run of large fish against the relative calm silhouettes of the escorts.

Seascapes and weather events

On the horizon, the dark mainsails of the Can One Thursday Night competitors, including many boats from HHYC, vie for leading positions. The blush of the sunset distracts everyone as it washes the world around us. The dusk becomes a feature of this evening race each Thursday!

It isn't easy to keep your eyes away from the west.

Skipper Ian Milward, USA 168 Quicksilver returns ahead of other HHYC competitors this evening

Photographs by Wendy Popp - Simmons

The Can One Thursday Night Race Series includes many yacht clubs from the Western Basin. The courses feature races around buoys, focusing on one-design racing. There are spinnaker and non-spinnikar divisions. These races are designed for sailors of all skill levels. For members and crews of HHYC, the evening includes the social feasts of Thursday night barbeques to look forward to after the sun sets and everyone tucks in for the evening. Come join us!

HHYC 2025 - SPRING SOLSTICE REGATTA 2025

Photographs by Wendy Popp - Simmons

We are grateful for the volunteers who gathered for the Race Committee. A huge thanks to the group: The Executive Race Committee; Bill Simmons, Pam Michels, Paul Beekman, Elias Dagher coordinated the race; Andrew Graham of Huegonot Yacht Club kindly agreed to run the committee boat; Alan Fuchsberg, and Elaine Wanderer joined him to run the signals. Many hands helped to pull the equipment and details together. Thank you to the crew members who helped to pull all of the RC equipment together.

Excited and anxious skippers and crew huddle to pick a course should the rains pass. Mattias Englebert waits patiently for his opportunity to race as first mate on Dolcinea with his father, Skipper Michael Engelbert, and with a family friend who is racing for the first time!

Crew members enjoyed the delicious breakfast preparations provided by Horseshoe for the occasion. Rebecca Charles managed to escape the lens of my camera, but is always present to prepare ample fare to nourish the crews and members for these occasions. Others organized the signal flags and made certain that the emblem on our Horseshoe burgee was directed in the proper position when flown. It appears that the culture at Horseshoe wants to inspire luck to flow freely, inviting positive energy in their orientation of the symbol.

Our teams and intrepid RC venture forth with only a drizzle to endure for the rest of the day. The list of competitors included: Days of Miracle and Wonder, Cayuga, Allegro S20, Quicksilver 168, and Nimbus.

Photographs by Wendy Popp - Simmons

Pam Michels presided over the Spring Solstice Regatta 2025 award ceremony. Since it was too early in the season for gourds, alternatives were awarded to David Morris of Days of Miracle and Wonder, third place; Ian Milward of Quicksilver received second, and first went to Allegro S20, Skipper Bill Simmons. We anticipate a fall regatta, so please consider gearing up to join us!

AN EXTRAORDINARY LOOK AT THE SPRING SOLSTICE REGATTA 2025 Captured through the drone lens of Marc Dorian.

LARCHMONT RACE WEEK 2025

Photographs by Wendy Popp - Simmons

Larchmont Raceweek 2025

A pretty fabulous week for the event, with little rain, just enough to produce this beautiful arch over the festivities. Our Junior Sailors loved their experience, the dance particularly, and HHYC was well represented in the one-design divisions by Allegro S20 and Quicksilver.

Skipper Ian Milward (pictured above, second from the left and below behind the wheel), and his crew accept first place for their division racing J109 Quicksilver, USA 168.

Photograph compliments of Ian Milward

Skipper Bill Simmons (end left above) accepts third amongst his peers in the S Class, racing Allegro S20 in the One-design Execution Rocks/spinnaker division during Larchmont Race Week 2025.

Successfully popping the 390 square foot chute of nylon that is Allegro's spinnaker is choreography to behold. Here she rounds a windward mark during Larchmont Race Week 2025. John Cutsumpas is on the foredeck and is the photographer who hoisted the GoPro to the spreaders for this shot!

Photographs by Michael Engelbert.

During a Can One Race, Sebastian Englebert and Paul Beekman serve as crew members for HHYC's Allegro and are rewarded by the setting sun beneath the boom.

Paddling

Member Jenny Geer sets out for the first voyage in her kayak on a sparkling morning in June, out of the shadows and into the light.

Guillermo Bilbao and the daughter of a visiting friend enjoy the gentle swells on a summer morning in the cove.

A paddleboarder heads out just after dawn in a mist that shrouds Long Island, the boats of the western basin, and his identity.

Beatrice Wienberger is often seen beginning her day paddling from our shore to the wider aspects of Long Island Sound. She is a wealth of knowledge regarding this sport and has inspired many of us to learn how to kayak. She has been captured here, gingerly maneuvering her kayak from the loft below our porch at HHYC to the edge of the dock.

Bea Weinberger glides gently over the mirrored image of the gangway as if on glass, a stunning morning to part the surface.

Photograph compliments of Josh Klein

Bea conducts a paddling session for new kayakers in the safety of the Manor Beach waters. A well-attended session on a very warm day.

A special note of appreciation for the HHYC Paddlers who hosted a barbecue raising $500.00 in donations for Save the Sound. The HHYC Board decided to match what was collected and delivered a check for $1000.00. Save The Sound is the leading organization working to protect our local waters and our environment. A number of our members are active supporters of their efforts.

Ideal 18s

We thank Skip Shumway of Sailing World for allowing us to borrow this shot of Ideal 18 competitors on the line.

The HHYC Board has opted to lower the fee for HHYC sailing members to access the club's Ideal 18s. For the 2025 season, mooring and Boat on Dock members will be charged $300.00 for access to the Ideal 18s.

Monday Race Practice sessions are continuing this year. The response has been enthusiastic. This will provide more opportunities to practice!

We reached out to Larchmont Yacht Club, and they have extended an open invitation to us to join in on their Wednesday night Ideal 18 racing program!

In the spirit of reciprocity, we have invited LYC Ideal 18 sailors to join us for our Monday Race Practice sessions.

Fair winds all!

Please click the following link for the LYC instructions:

https://files.constantcontact.com/3a4c616a601/24827591-ea6a-4b25-beaf-095ea7e50633.pdf

CULINARY CULTURE

Every Thursday evening, there is a feast of some sort prepared for all of our members to enjoy. They are created voluntarily by assorted HHYC members, groups, and in some cases, our Board of Directors. We have appreciated the tremendous effort this year; the care that everyone takes in their preparations and culinary decisions provides a diverse and special set of experiences that nourish our spiritual well-being as well as our appetites. This hospitality is a distinctive feature of Horseshoe Harbor Yacht Club, and I am told, the envy of many other clubs.

Please join us!

We would love to feature more of these events and encourage organizers to share photos and menus with us for features in future editions of our newsletters.

BBQs are open to all members, their immediate families, and out-of-town guests. It’s a great way to get to know other club members.

For advice, please feel free to reach out: Bec Charles (rebeccajcharles@googlemail.com) or Pam Michels (psmiche@gmail.com), or Marie Cattau (mscattau@gmail.com).

Women on the Water hosts a South Pacific-themed barbecue.

Photographs by Wendy Popp - Simmons

Woman on the Water organized a barbecue with a South Pacific theme recently. Susan Mahler and Nanette Bourne welcomed me with a vibrant lei to wear. The menu featured notes of pineapple flavor. A highlight of the Ladies' Sail evenings is Sharon Weinstock's Grilled Hawaiian Chicken, along with a salmon dish lovingly prepared by our vice commodore, Marie. The table was adorned with a savory cheese selection, a vegan assortment of vegetables like Barbara Berger's Eggplant Hawaiian Style, and a variety of fresh tropical salads, alongside Pam Micchels's shredded pork, wrapped and steamed in leaves. Everything was devoured before the crews from the Thursday night races could arrive to enjoy! I think there was a bit of Daniella Letros's Coconut cake and Mary Rubin's wonderfully citrusy lemon cake. A great incentive to finish the race first!

Photograph by Wendy Popp-Simmons

Deb Norris savors a tranquil moment right before Ladies' Sail kicks off, and the table becomes animated and buzzing with conversation as the South Pacific-themed barbecue gets underway.

Vice Commodore Marie Schiraldi-Cattau seasoned beautiful filets of salmon that John Cattau gingerly tends among other proteins on the grill, pictured above. Warming is the shredded pork specialty that Pam Michels contributed to the feast. It is a Hawaiian dish reminiscent of Lau Lau, a traditional dish wrapped in taro leaves and steamed. A huge effort and delicious!

Women on the Water, aka Ladies' Sail, celebrates our Vice Commodore on an auspicious day with candles and a song.

Although HHYC pups rarely make an appearance on the porch in the evenings, Tommy, a rescue and new member of the household for Marie and John Cattau, simply had to attend this celebration.

Ladies Sail, aka Women on the Water, meets at 6:30 p.m. and departs promptly thereafter to the Club Boats to catch the breeze every Tuesday evening, weather permitting. They come in just after the sun sets to dine on the potluck meal each of the participants contributes to. Lots of laughter and engaging conversation ensue. Around 9 p.m., everyone joins in on the clean-up details -the many hands make very light work. So bring your life-vest and a few morsels and join us!

The following pictures detail the burgeoning tides of Hurricane Erin, Tuesday evening, August 19, 2025, with Women on the Water and the Amorosa's J22 taking full advantage of the Easterly winds!

With weather predictions forecasting severe coastal effects for our region by Hurricane Erin in the next week, Ladies Sail decided to capture the delicious wind this evening. Great breezes come from the east, creating a little chop and a few white caps.

Gusts over the area of the channel were reaching 22 knots at times, and the port gunwale of the J22 owned by Haley and Russel Amoruso took a little dip and a lot of spray for the sailors!  Altogether, perhaps the most thrilling sail of the season thus far. As the evening progressed, the advance of Mama cloud formations in the coral light of the evening provided a spectacular seascape; a stunning reward for daring the wind and dancing with the currents to catch the mooring buoys.

We encountered Dino Ness as he ascended the gangway, after he had accompanied the last of the sailors to their boats amidst the significant spray from the increasing waves.

CREATURES AQUATIC

Photographs by Wendy Popp - Simmons

A pod of dolphins appearing just off the shores of HHYC is captured briefly in the lens of Marc Dorian! Thank you, Mark Dorian, for allowing us to share this miraculous moment! This is exceptional news, hinting at the health of Long Island Sound.

The Osperay that inhabits our cove makes off with breakfast. You can often see and hear her vocalising from the top of the gangway post each morning. She joins the egret below for the first feast of the day.

This double-crested cormorant waded particularly close to HHYC's beach, amidst the birdsong and lapping of a turbid tide, disappearing in a flash.

A little snippet for those among us with excellent fishing skills -and for those without.

Save The Sound

There are no Horseshoe crabs to photograph yet this season, so we'll have to settle for an ink drawing for the time being.

In previous newsletters, we noted that our modest Horseshoe crab population is dwindling. They serve as what some might call our canaries in a coal mine. Due to rising temperatures and climate events, alongside recent shifts in environmental legislation, David Ansel and other leaders of Save the Sound emphasize the necessity to bolster state-level policies and boost investments in clean water to safeguard all New York residents. Bill Lucey proposes that protections, including a harvest sanctuary, will enhance our understanding of the decline of these ancient and vulnerable creatures. Despite the quality of the ecosystems they inhabit, they have become essential to certain medical applications due to a unique component in their blood, making them crucial to the industry. For more details on this organization's priorities: https://www.savethesound.org/2025/01/06/save-the-sound-announces-priorities-for-2025-nys-legislative-session/

HHYC has many active members concerned about the water quality of our cove, as we are directly impacted by the watershed from areas north of us. Please take a look.

CLUBS and new porch events

THE BOOK CLUB

Photographs by Wendy Popp - Simmons

The backdrop for this Book Club gathering could not have been more perfect. A golden band of sunset illuminated the edge of the drape of dense cumulus clouds and fog.. This is the type of setting that a sailor peers anxiously through to find a comforting ray from a lighthouse or beacon to lead the way forward. Copies for all subsequent Book Clubs are reserved at The Larchmont Library for your convenience. This evening's discussion was a review of A Short Bright Flash: Augustin Fresnel and the Birth of the Modern Lighthouse by Theresa Levitt.

An appeal for a STORM RESPONSE TEAM

Mother Nature has been relatively gentle since the beginning of the 2025 season. We did have an event that damaged our docks enough to warrant replacement. On those occasions that a climate event passes through, the club has considered recruiting volunteers to form a response team to help Rob and the launch staff secure boats and club equipment before and after storms. A chat group will be created, and when necessary, extra hands will be called to assist. In the past, help has consisted of checking on moored boat bridles, securing spars and tiolers, bailing out boats, as well as rescuing and adjusting docks.

If you are interested, please respond to rearcommodore@horseshoeharbor.org.

We are deeply appreciative of the work it took for Rob and the launch staff to dismantle and cut down the former dock during the month of June.

ALL HANDS ON DECK

HHYC EDUCATIONAL SERIES 2025

We thank Bill Simmons for his post HHYC Spring Regatta reflections on racing, June 7, 2025

The focus was primarily on boat speed basics, tactics, and sail trim with a Q&A prior to the day of the regatta and after.

Photographs by Wendy Popp - Simmons

Bill has been sailing on Long Island Sound for more than 60 years. Mamaroneck born and bred, now living in Larchmont, he has been competing with his family and dear S Class friends for over 20 years as Skipper and tactician for Allegro S20. He delights in sharing his vast knowledge of the sport of racing and is expected to do a few more post-race clinics with our members and friends in the coming months or two. This particular talk focused on sail trim and mark rounding strategies.

A special thanks to Marc Dorian, a new member (pictured at his laptop), who has offered to share his expertise in drone videography with an amazing capture of the race! A piece of art to view after such a competitive day, and a remarkable way to view the set of your sail from a bird's-eye view. Bill was able to comment extemporaneously on how competitors might improve their speed or manage to overtake their competitors very well from this point of view. What a special opportunity to combine talent in this way to teach seasoned sailors and novices alike.

The video is featured at the base of the section featuring the day of the race under the title: HHYC 2025 - SPRING SOLSTICE REGATTA 2025

(Below), A still from Marc's video:

Basics of Coastal Navigation and Piloting

We thank Jim Allen for sharing his knowledge on the basics of coastal navigation and piloting on July 24, 2025, with paddlers and sailors alike!

Photographs compliments of Josh Klein

Line taming, knot instruction, and boat handling

We thank Dave Morris and Boris Rauls for their hands-on class demonstrating how to tie essential knots for sailing. Bowlines, half hitches, clove hitches, stopper knots, square knots, and more were practiced. Instruction included how to coil and secure the sheets. Perhaps you have heard the saying; It's better to know a knot and not need it than not know a knot when you do!

Photograph compliments of Josh Klein

Boat prep and rigging begin well before the start of the season. Curiously, a number of our boats needed some attention to their masts this year. Gratefully, we have many generous members willing to lend a hand.  Cayuga required some heft to step her mast. Allegro needed a new windex, and Ingwe needed the uppermast portion of her mast rebuilt due to the demasting by a climate event last season. How beautiful is this scarf joint pictured below? Fashioned by Julien Davies, friend to the S Class and master shipwright. Assisting others, learning skills.

Photograph by Wendy Popp - Simmons

HHYC Commissioning 2025

Photograph by Michael Engelbert

Commodore Josh Klein begins the 2025 season with a warm and humorous welcome that offered encouraging news for our fleet of Ideal 18s and plans taking shape for a Spring Solstice Regatta! Photo by Michael Engelbert

Photographs by Wendy Popp- Simmons

Clean Up Day 2025

The weekend in late April dedicated to sprucing up the club feels distant now, as do the sweaters and foul-weather gear worn at the season's start. It's an opportune moment to reflect, knowing we have several months to enjoy the remainder of the season, these especially warm days, and the results of our efforts.

Impressive leaf-raking, gentlemen!

Photographs by Wendy Popp - Simmons

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who came to paint, sweep, polish, rake, and dig in preparation for the upcoming joy! We are also deeply grateful to those who stepped in to manage all of the details that Marie Cattau typically handles with such dedication during her short absence.

Volunteering offers a wonderful social experience. We invite you to enjoy the delicious refreshments that are always available at these events. Our next gathering will be following the Laying Up dinner in November. We hope you'll join us!

Everything will be shipshape, inside and out, beginning to end!

A SPECIAL NOTE FROM THE EDITORS

Views from the Porch collaborators would like to extend a warm nod to our co-editor, Jack Steinberg, as he takes a break from his editorial responsibilities at the club to free up some much-needed bandwidth for his personal writing and professional projects. With great care and an empathic voice, his interviews have been critical in shaping the overall feel of our newsletter. In helping to get our newsletter off the ground, his goal was to provide interviews that would lead to the understanding and appreciation of the cast of characters that create the whole of Horseshoe. His love of our cove and those who light on the porch has been palpable from inception. We believe he has far exceeded expectations.

We thank him for his many contributions and insights. And don't worry, you'll still be seeing him and Sharon on the porch and the Sound!

~ Wendy Popp-Simmons

Photograph by Wendy Popp - Simmons

Captured as the morning mists began to lift from our cove, the gentle smile of Jack Steinberg. We catch him here as he directs his attention momentarily, from the beautiful views from the porch.

COLORS

Photograph by Wendy Popp - Simmons

It is what I was born for, to look, to listen, to lose myself inside this soft world - Mary Oliver

2025 HHYC Calendar of Events

Date	Event	Start Time	Where
Thursday Aug 21	BBQ	7 :00 PM	Clubhouse Deck
Sunday Oct 5	BBQ - Oktoberfest	6 :00 PM	Clubhouse Deck
Sunday Oct 12	'Race for the Gourd' Regatta
Saturday Oct 25	Laying Up Event	6 :00 PM	Clubhouse
Monday Oct 27	One-Way Launch Service Begins
Sunday Nov 2	Clean Up Day	9 :00 AM	New Rochelle Marina
Sunday Nov 2	Clean Up Day	10 :00 AM	Clubhouse
Sunday Nov 2	All Boats Out
Monday Nov 3	Club Closed for the Season

Many thanks for the photographs that are submitted almost weekly, helping us to enhance our stories!

Please note:

All art in this post will be copyrighted by the owner of the work, and credit has been given to those whose names accompanied their submission.

The majority of the photographs in this post are by Wendy Popp-Simmons unless otherwise specified, and rights are reserved

Please connect with Wendy at popp.arts@gmail.com for any questions regarding usage.

Please email high-res photos in jpg format that you would like to be considered for the future posts; popp.arts@gmail.com

Do not text images, as Wendy does not have names accompanying many of the texted photos, and their origin is often a mystery.