Just a reminder for those EYC members in Door County during the Labor Day weekend, please come on down to the dock for our end of season close-up day on Saturday, August 30th We will start at 9:00 a.m. and we will have refreshments for the participants.
The weekend showers brought cooler, crisper air to the county as if to signal the end of summer of 2025. This time of year, we look forward to our fall/winter activities and the first one on this list is the closing of the Clubhouse. For those EYC members in Door County during the Labor Day week, please come on down to the dock for our end of season close-up day on Saturday, August 30th We will start at 9:00 a.m. and we will have refreshments for the participants.
Save the date! Skip Heidler is coordinating an EYC NYE open house at the Village Hall. Stay tuned for further details .
Bridge will continue through September and follows the following schedule: Mondays – 1:00 – 3:00/3:30 Open play, Tuesdays – 4:30 – 6:30, Couples (bring a partner) and Thursdays – 9:30 – 11:30 Open Play. Last day of bridge will be September 30th. Mah Jongg will meet on Wednesdays at 3:30 through October 1st.
See you on the Dock!
Opti Tuesday / Thursday: RS Tera Tuesday Series:
3. 64 Points – Rohan Goettelman 3. 106 Points – Henry Knight
2. 57 Points – Sean McCabe 2. 84 Points – Murphy Travnicek
1.46 Points – Alex Ott 1. 17 Points – Penelope Hoag
420 Thursday Series: 420 Friday Series:
3. 235 Points – Hudson Bridenhagen 3. 106 Points – Hayden Johansen
2. 141 Points – George Kircher 2. 24 Points – Henry Knight
1.86 Points – Penelope Hoag 1. 12 Points – Penelope Whiteside
Laser Friday Series: Laser Monday Series:
3. 69 Points – Geoff Werner 3. 66 Points – Charlie Sauter
2. 36 Points – Nick Mueller 2. 55 Points – Geoff Werner
1.32 Points – Dan Mielke 1. 32 Points – Dan Mielke
Laser Masters Series Champion: Dan Mielke
Flying Scot Monday Series: Flying Scot Saturday Series:
3. 51 Points – Lily Ahrens 3. 99 Points – Dan Mielke
2. 21 Points -Jay Lott 2. 31 Points – Michael Faugust
1.12 Points – Nancy Claypoll 1. 27 Points – Jay Lott
Flying Scot Junior Champion: Charlie Dischner
Skipper’s License Recipients:
Lily Ahrens, Calvin Hoag, Max Travnicek, Madison Butler, Henry Knight, Brooke Lisle, Scarlett Downs, Graham Ottem, Julia McCabe, Gus Braun, James Woerful, Hudson Bridenhagen and Penelope Hoag.
Congratulations to all of you!
We had a great summer season, the EYC had 114 different group sessions this summer, with 226 unique students (many returning ones), and 429 group lesson sign-ups. Our 22 staffers did an amazing job teaching our students important sailing skills, which our sailors can then put into action on and off the water ,and keeping our equipment and dock in good condition. Additionally, our staff created a positive and enriching learning environment and the many happy kids on the dock, the clubhouse and at the races are a testament to their character.
Here’s a shout out to our amazing leadership team: at the helm our Director, Jackson Graham, Race Director, Hayden Johansen, Head Instructor, Penelope Whiteside, and Dock Director, Henry Tasker. Thank you to Senior Instructors, Nathan Taylor and Will Knight and to the rest of the instructional team, Charlie Dischner, George Knight, Vivi Sauter, Cameron Reynolds, Peyton Reynolds, Charlie Sauter, Max Meilke, Josie McCabe, Ellie Ottem, Spencer Kircher, Leander Braun and Liam O’Rear. Dock Assistants Rose Mortara , Calvin Hoag, Max Travnicek , George Kircher and volunteer dock assistant, Bill Hoag.
We look forward to seeing everyone on the dock next summer! Until then here’s use this link for a recap of the summer of 2025 Video Link . Thank you Henry Tasker for putting this together.
See you on the Dock!
Come on down to the dock this is your last day this summer to shop the Friday pop-up shop! We still have many options to choose from including this year’s Regatta UVs and Tees. Grab those fall birthday and Christmas gifts now.
If you are not able to come to the dock this Friday, don’t forget to check our online store through Game Day Gear. This site has a variety of EYC branded merchandise from Helly Hanson, Peter Millar and Yeti, with a variety of options to choose from. The best part is the EYC earns 10% of the sales, so buying items helps us to fundraise. Use this link for the EYC Online Store.
While our last sailing lesson will be on Friday, Bridge and Mahjongg will continue in the clubhouse through September.
We made so many sailing memories this summer and the laughter and cheer from the dock will carry us into the fall and winter. On Saturday, August 30th, we will prepare the club for its long winter’s rest. Come on down to the dock one last time for our fall close-up day. We will start at 9:00 a.m. and we will have refreshments for the participants.
While the storm took away their thunder, we give a huge thank you to the folks who set up our year end awards and recognition event only to take it back down including our coordinator Julie Watkins, Claudia Werner, Lisa Gifford, Carol Miles, Marta Fonseca, Susanna and Rose Mortarra, Laura and Jack O’Rourke, and our staffers, Charlie Dischner, Jackson Graham and Penelope Whiteside.
Dear EYC Members,
We call the gathering at the end of the summer season the Commodore’s cocktail party, but I feel it is not about the Commodore or even in celebration of the Commodore. It is the Commodore’s opportunity to recognize, honor and celebrate skippers and crew, who race in the weekly race series throughout the season; volunteers, who are generous with their time, resources and talents; and benefactors who contribute financially to the EYC. It is a celebration of EYC staff who bring it rain or shine. It is a celebration of the EYC Community who are the heart of the club.
I’m heavy hearted that a tornado blew away our opportunity to gather in celebration. Skipper of the party Julie Watkins with crew Claudia Werner created a whimsical and beautiful space which was awe inspiring! The string of life jackets and apple branches captured the essence of our gem of a sailing club which is nestled upon the Door County Peninsula. I am incredibly sad we could not gather to celebrate the accomplishments of the racers, hard work of volunteers and EYC community in this gorgeous setting.
EYC Racing was robust this season. Congratulations to all winners of the Weekly Race Series, you know who you are and so will the EYC community because we will list the winners in a blog and Fall Eagles Cry. I’m sorry we could not present your plaques to you in person, but that does not take away from your racing achievements! I hope to see you all racing again next Summer and winning plaques to add to your trophy wall and cups to add to your barware collection.
EYC is committed to the vision of building a sustainable, life enriching sailing education experience that positively impacts the community and reinforces a desire to preserve sailing’s Corinthian values. We give the Sportsmanship award to an EYC youth member who embodies this vision. I believe the Sportsmanship Award is one of the highest, if not the highest honor an EYC youth member can achieve. I am honored to present the 2025 Sportsmanship Award to Gus Braun.
As a volunteer run club, EYC only stays afloat when members raise their hands to chair fundraisers and gatherings; serve on committees; and pitch in last minute and behind the scenes. Volunteer of the year honors the EYC member who has a long history of taking on volunteer jobs that are often not highlighted or shiny. For years and years, the winner of this award has been behind the scenes making the EYC better because of all her tireless efforts. I am honored to present the 2025 Volunteer of the Year award to Carol Fiedler.
Thank you to Lisa Forsman who has served as Social Chair for four years. I believe the social gatherings allow for community building and that is what makes the club so special. Thank you for organizing and assisting Chairs and volunteers for the many social events we have during the summer! I appreciate all you’ve done to make EYC a party on the dock.
I would be remiss in not taking this opportunity to thank Geoff Werner for the many years he has served EYC on the BOD and in the Merchandise Chair Role. He created upscale classic designs for the club. I proudly don my EYC sail bags, foul weather gear, vests, polos, and t-shirts in Connecticut and get stopped by many asking if I belong to Eastport Yacht Club. When they read the fine print, Ephraim Yacht Club, they are intrigued, as they should be, because even though we only have a small clubhouse with a dock, we provide first class sailing education and racing opportunities.
I am very proud of what we achieved together at the EYC Gala this year. A huge thank you to Jane Lacy who chaired the Gala and served up the fun. No detail was left to chance and we all kicked up our heels and Lifted up EYC! Our goal was $25,000 and we raised almost $30,000. So thank you members who contributed generously!
Thank you to the EYC Board of Directors with whom I serve the EYC. It’s a pleasure to work with each of you in the summer and off season. We may close up the Clubhouse on Labor Day, but we labor for the EYC all year round.
Thank you to all Rear Commodores. I am honored to be in your company now and to have kept what you poured yourselves into afloat.
To make sense of Saturday, I look to the Tibetan custom of mandalas. In Tibetan Buddhism, sand mandalas are meticulously created as temporary works of art, only to be ritually destroyed shortly after completion. This destruction, often referred to as “blowing away,” symbolizes the Buddhist concept of impermanence and the ephemeral nature of all things. The process of creating and then dismantling the mandala serves as a powerful visual lesson in the transient nature of life.
What Julie created for us on Saturday was a work of art. The destruction blew it away, but this provides clearing for new. As EYC Commodore, I was inspired to honor the past and at the same time trim EYC sails for the future. The course is clear and I wish the best for EYC and Commodore Marta Fonseca as we sail into the future together.
With a warm heart,
Lisa Gifford
Hello Members!
wow what a storm! The whole county is experiencing many difficulties due to the storm that came through this afternoon. While we would love to celebrate this wonderful summer season, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the event for tonight.
Please join us on Saturday, August 10th from 6:00 pm-8:00 p.m. for the Commodore’s Cocktail party at beautiful Hidden Acres Farm in Sister Bay. Join us for our end of season social and EYC awards announcements. All ages welcome! Please bring an appetizer to share. Wine, Beer, soft drinks and water provided.
We are looking for a few extra hands to help with this event. To volunteer sign-up HERE
On Monday, August 4th, the EYC held their Women’s Regatta during the Monday night weekly Flying Scot Series. We had 5 boats competing. The winners of the Women’s Regatta were in 1st place, skipper Nancy Claypool and crew, Carol Claypool. In 2nd place, skipper Jennifer Ikeda and crew, Karen Nordahl. In 3rd place, skipper, Lily Ahrens and crew, Thanks to all our staff for running the regatta to all our participants.
See you on the Dock!
There will always be an Ephraim Regatta!
This past weekend, the winds put our motto to the test! Light winds prevailed over Eagle Harbor during the 2 day Ephraim Regatta and the MidWest District Championships and only one race was able to be run on Saturday. We had 22 boats representing 8 yacht clubs participating. The winners for the Ephraim Regatta were in 1st Place representing the Lafayette Sailing Club, Gadzooks! with skipper Kevin Kunz and crew Gene Vogel. In 2nd place representing the EYC Reindeer II with skipper Jay Lott and crew, Calista Troup. In 3rd place representing the EYC, Skizot with skipper Woody Heidler and crew Isak Peterson. In 4th place representing the EYC, Silver Bullet with skipper Michael Faugust and crew Jennifer Ikeda. In 5th representing the Cowan Lake Sailing Association, Kitchen Sink IV with skipper Bruce Kitchen and Crew Lynn Kitchen.
The EYC also presents trophies in specific categories. The Vail Cup was presented to the winner of the first race, skipper Kevin Kunz, and crew Gene Vogelin Gadzooks!. The Knudson trophy is presented to the top finishing husband/wife team and the trophy was presented to Michael Faugust and Jennifer Ikeda in Silver Bullet. The Sturgis Trophy honors the top finishing skipper under 18 and this was presented to Charlie Dischner of the EYC.
The MidWest District Championship winners were in 1st Place representing the Lafayette Sailing Club, Gadzooks! with skipper Kevin Kunz and crew Gene Vogel. In 2nd place representing the EYC Reindeer II with skipper Jay Lott and crew, Calista Troup. In 3rd place representing the EYC, Skizot with skipper Woody Heidler and crew Isak Peterson. In 4th place representing the EYC, Silver Bullet with skipper Michael Faugust and crew Jennifer Ikeda. In 5th representing the Neenah Nodaway Yacht Club, GranDude with skipper Thomas Morley and crew Carol Morley.
The MidWest District also presents trophies in specific categories. The Whipper Snapper award is presented to the top finishing skipper/crew under the age of 32 and this was awarded to skipper Max Meilke, EYC and crew, Sara Iselin from Commodore Decatur Yacht Club. The Fleet 135 Trophy recognizes the top finishing Yacht Club and was presented to the Ephraim Yacht Club. The Century Club award is presented to the top finishing boat with the combined age of over 125 and was awarded to skipper Kevin Kunz and crew Gene Vogel in Gadzooks!
Thank you to our race committee-PRO Rick Trester ,Chief Judge – Fred Horwitz, Judges – John Archibald and Dave Lucey, Drivers – Mike Lisle and Matt Winnacker, Markset Boat Use – Steve Sauter, Committee boat Members – Lisa Gifford, John Archibald, and Marta Fonseca, Windward Mark set – John and Deanna Peterson, Max Travnicek, Josephine McCabe, Leeward Mark set – Brian Buzzell and Will Knight and Safety Boat – Peyton Reynolds.
Thanks to all our volunteers, staff and participants for making this another great Ephraim Regatta/MidWest District Championship!
See you on the Dock!
The EYC is saddened to announce the passing of member John Guenther. John came to love the EYC later in life as he watched his grandchildren grow through the program and supported them in their sailing endeavors. We would like to extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends, especially Liz, John, Kate and Charlie Dischner.
John’s obituary can be found HERE