Page 8 - July/August Kwasind

David Brightling
General Manager & CEO david.brightling@rcyc.ca
We made it! The Island Clubhouse opened, as scheduled, just in time for Sailpast. Many braved unseasonably cold weather to participate in the festivities both on-the-water and ashore. Sailpast was a brisk affair, with good winds making for a quick parade with few crews ’dawdling’ in the harbour after they sailed through. More than 500 Members enjoyed the buffet dinner that followed, and it was “standing room only” at the new indoor-outdoor Sailors’ Bar. It is still early days for our new layout, but traffic patterns so far indicate that Members are migrating to the north part of the Clubhouse – including the Sailors’ Bar, the verandah immediately adjacent to it (formerly Bistro North) and the former Dining Room, which now features casual décor, a casual dress code, windows that open and the same spectacular views as before. As I write, discussions are underway for a new name for this new room that was formerly the “Dining Room”.
Prime spaces dedicated to Member enjoyment
One of the key objectives of the Cornerstone Project was to give the Members the prime spaces at the north side of the Clubhouse – the rooms with the views. This involved retrofitting two banquet areas, the Flagship Room and the 8 Metre Room, to create a new “bar with great views of the City”, as requested by Members. It appears that Members love their new bar and many are already making suggestions on how to improve it, all in a few short weeks! For now, our goal is to allow Member-usage patterns to develop, to monitor Member feedback and to let the Club’s dedicated Food and Beverage team work with the new layout before making any structural or operating changes to our initial plan. One specific example is this: what used to be Bistro North is now part of the Sailors’ Bar and will not be available for reservations. So, while reservations are welcomed in the old Dining Room space, which has received rave reviews from casual diners, they will no longer be taken for the full new Sailors’ Bar. Member feedback during this ‘shake- down cruise’ period is welcome and will be extremely valuable as we plan future improvements and fine- tune operations. Please use the Comments Cards at your table, write c/o cornerstone@rcyc.ca or directly to the Food and Beverage Team at rcyc.ca/feedback.
Our heritage preserved
Now that the finishing touches are being completed, our treasures are being returned to the space. The half
models from the former 8 Metre Room are now on display in the Sailors’ Bar, which will soon feature models of other famous RCYC Metre boats – including the old 6 Metre class – to complement the relocated Metre boat half model that graced the front of the old bar for many years. The port and starboard running lights will also return. The collection of Commodores’ flagship models has been moved to a prominent and well-lit niche in the former Dining Room, complemented by a Commodore’s burgee and the private flags from some of our former flagships. The Commodores’ portraits will return next season, albeit in different locations than Members are used to. Staff Archivist & Curator, Beverley Darville, has been working hard with Heritage Committee volunteers to develop enjoyable and instructional displays for everyone to enjoy at both Island and City Clubhouses.
Finishing touches
At the City Clubhouse, deficiency list items will be addressed during the quieter summer months so that we are ready for a busy fall season at our winter home. And as the Commodore mentioned, this process now begins on the Island. As always with projects of this size and complexity, finishing touches and correcting items on the “deficiency list” will continue for a few months beyond the official handover date. One group of outstanding items that I do want to address are the “new” fire doors at the main entrance and on the second floor of the Island Clubhouse. In order to remove the exit staircase from the northwest corner of the Sailors’ Bar/Upper Verandah to provide unobstructed views of the skyline, the fire escape route was moved to the main entrance. As a result, proper internal fire doors are required. These cannot help but look a little utilitarian but they are a necessary item in exchange for the unobstructed external views. Temporary doors are in place as I write with temporary hardware and the new doors are scheduled for installation in mid-July.
As always, your comments are welcome through cornerstone@rcyc.ca.
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JULY/AUGUST 2018 • KWASIND
GM & CEO MESSAGE