Page 17 - Mar-Apr 2020

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 & 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 12:15 pm and finish about 1:30 – 1:45 pm. The guest speaker starts about 12:45 pm.
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 three 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!
March 4th: Sally & Noel Lien recently sailed the English Channel to visit the South Coast of England and also took a side trip to Turkey. They will, inimically share their impressions and thoughts about their journeys.
March 11th: Angus Armstrong, Harbourmaster Emeritas, will give us an update on the status of the plans for the Waterfront of Toronto, including plans for the mouth of the Don River.
March 18th: Rob Mazza returns again this year. He has documented his Tour of the Canadian War Memorials at Vimy, Beaumont, Hamel, Dieppe and Juno Beach, the Five Canadian Pilgrims in Northern France.
March 25th: Gerri Staples takes us back to the mountains with her story of Trekking Machu Pichu.
April 1st: Aubrey and Judith Millard speak of their adventures sailing The Med.
April 8th: Chris Hope takes us to the Atlantic Leg of the Volvo 60 Around the World Race.
April 15th: Bill Hutton Rescued at sea - reflections, second thoughts and lessons learned. How a routine six-day passage turned into a midnight transfer to a 750ft bulk carrier.
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
MARCH/APRIL 2020 • KWASIND 17
SAILING