Ahoy Mates!

Having recently been elected Commodore of the Kwajalein Yacht Club for 2011, I would like you all to know I appreciate your confidence and look forward to a fun, safe and exciting year. My wife, Jude, and I recently returned to Kwaj for our third tour after a 6-year hiatus. We both love the mountains and the ocean so the transition from Colorado to Kwaj is working well for us. Like my predecessor, this will be my first year as Commodore, and I'm sure I, too, will have a very good support group to tell me what to do--and how to do it in some instances.

We can look forward to a great year of sailing, and I encourage all members to come out and enjoy the activities already planned and others that will be added throughout the year. As in the past, we'll continue the KYC monthly meetings on the last Saturday of each month, the weekly "Happy Hour" on Thursday afternoons, the monthly Beer Can Race on the first Sunday each month, as well as our tradition of island-famous events: the Commodore's Ball, the Swashbuckler's Ball, the Spring and Fall Sunfish Regattas, a Roi Regatta or two, and the Christmas Parade of Lights. There will be more, so check out the club calendar often.

Due to changes in the way USAKA leaders will likely be looking at all water-related activities and associated issues such as our boathouses in the upcoming year, we will likely face some challenges as a club and as a community. Some changes may be a bit difficult to swallow and will likely require some effort and sacrifice from us to ensure harmonious community relations. I ask each of you to do your part to help out when these issues arise and understand it is for the good of the whole yachting community. I intend to write a monthly newsletter, "From the Foredeck", to address such issues and to keep the yachting community informed of changes coming down the pike. I encourage all KYC members to submit sailing stories and items of interest for publication in this KYC newsletter and to visit the KYC website at www.kwajyachtclub.com for the calendar of events and news updates.The site will be updated on a regular basis to provide you with the most current information.

I look forward to serving our yachting community as your Commodore. If there is anything you would like to see at our club or have suggestions for planned activities, please know that I welcome your suggestions and your support.

From the Foredeck,

Ken Winchester

KYC Commodore 2011

ken_winchester@kwajyachclub.com