Page 24 - Kwasind Nov-Dec 2019

THE SHELLBACK CLUB
CELEBRATING 85 YEARS
Dianne Leggatt, Skipper
The Shellback Club is celebrating 85 years and, as usual, we have selected speakers presenting a wide range of nautical and maritime topics. We plan for 24 meetings loaded with good food, friendly men and women who like nautical topics and interesting informed speakers.
The Shellback Club officially started in February 1934 and met at Eileen Bradley’s Tea House on Adelaide Street but had its roots earlier. Starting in 1924, some of the crews of large racing sailboats from RCYC met weekly in the summer to organize crew duties.
By 1934, these crew meetings had morphed into The Shellback Club as other sailors from Clubs in the area liked the idea of sharing lunch and sailing lore...and even singing a shanty.
To be “Shellback” today only requires attending a lunch meeting and joining everyone in singing a sea shanty.
Website: http://shellbacks.weebly.com/
Many thanks to Ron Jenkins for creating and maintaining our website. Well done, Ron! Take a look here for our speakers, history, current updates. Ron now also videotapes our speakers, so if you miss one, you may go to the website to watch the session.
Location: The location, as in past years, is the RCYC at 141 St George Street at Prince Arthur (West exit of the St. George TTC station). The walk-in entrance is off Prince Arthur.
Timing: We start promptly at 1215 hours and finish about 1330 – 1345 hours. The guest speaker starts about 1245 hours.
Come early to enjoy the company and a beverage. All the usual beverages are available at Club prices.
Seating and Dress: There are no prearranged tables and dress is mostly smart casual.
Costs: Lunch costs are the same as last year - $25.00 including all taxes and service. Lunch is 3 courses of soup or salad, a main dish, desert and tea or coffee.
We suggest $2.00 for the Dory, which includes a ticket to win, if you’re lucky, a nautical book in the weekly book draw. There are no annual fees or initiation fees.
Once a year, we suggest a $20.00 contribution to pay for basic communication costs and the minimal costs of
“Keel Laid 1934”
operation. Funds not needed each year are donated to local youth sailing charities.
Guests: Guests are always welcome. Membership at the RCYC is not necessary and confirmation regarding attendance is not required for Shellbacks or guests. Come when the spirit or the topic moves you but come often!
November 6th: Richard Hudson: How to Achieve Your Sailing Dream. Richard brings all his many years of experience circumnavigating the globe to this presentation.
November 13th: Rob Mazza joins us once again, this time to review the Inductions into the Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame. This session was scheduled
last February, but we cancelled due to inclement weather.
November 20th: Bill Bialkowski returns to entertain us for the third time. His topic is: Celebrating Canadian Naval Aviators since 1914. This session was also cancelled last February.
November 27th: Ron Jenkins: The “Cyclone” That Changed Toronto. The Cyclone was used during the first half of the 20th Century to change the face (read waterfront) of Toronto.
December 4th: Paul Lamont: Travelling the Four Seas of Israel. Paul will share experiences on a recent trip to the Holy Land.
December 11th: Moosemilk at MCC. Join us for our annual Holiday Celebration – good food (including Moosemilk), good company, prizes, carol singing, fun!
Be a Shellback, come often, bring friends and enjoy the combination of good food, friendly people and interesting and often unique presentations about nautical and maritime topics and sometimes outdoor adventures.
The Shellback team is Dianne Leggatt, Skipper, Alf Jenkins, Purser, Elspeth Fanjoy, Mate, Graham Dougall, Second Mate, Ron Jenkins, Webmaster, Philip Morton, Music Director and many others who help throughout the year. Volunteers welcome!
Call or write Dianne Leggatt, Skipper, for any reason: 416.486.6025 or dianne.leggatt@gmail.com
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 • KWASIND
SAILING