Page 19 - March/April 2019 Kwasind

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
“Keel Laid 1934”
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 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!
Meeting Dates: For 2019, meetings begin on January 9th, 2019 and continue each Wednesday until April 17th.
The 85th Shellback year begins with these presentations:
March 6th: We will hear of exciting Olympic Experiences with Martha Henderson, when she returns within a month of her last appearance at Shellbacks.
March 13th, 20th, 27th: TBA
April 3rd: Captain Jim Pound joins us to share his Adventures on the Nile.
April 10th: Aubrey & Judith Millard will be in town to
regale us with another part of their Living the Dream series, this time Part 2 Caribbean Cruising – Cuba to Grenada
April 17th: Paul Henderson Pontificates, in his unique
manner, about his many years in the sailing world, including observations about the Olympics (past and future).
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
KWASIND • MARCH/APRIL 2019 19
SAILING