WFM
September 2026
Fall has officially begun, but Mother Nature apparently didn’t get the memo! Hopefully this edition of The Waterfront finds you well air-conditioned and comfortable.
While the sailing season may be winding down, there is still plenty happening around the waterfront. September brought us some of our favorite events of the year, plans are already taking shape for 2027, and there are still opportunities to get out to the Club and enjoy the water.
Junior Sailing Homecoming — What a Night!
More than 60 junior sailors, parents, grandparents, instructors, and friends joined us for our 2026 Junior Sailing Homecoming. We couldn’t have asked for better weather, and it was a wonderful way to bring our sailing families back together.
The afternoon began with games, including volleyball, where we discovered that some of our parents are very competitive! Fortunately, they were also great sports. Steal the Bacon followed, with parents joining the kids for plenty of running, laughing, and friendly competition.
Dinner was excellent, and a very special thank-you goes to Rebecca and her team for helping make it happen.
One of the highlights of the evening was recognizing the accomplishments of our junior sailors. Sailors received their Sailing Stripes certificates, and their names were entered into the new Stripe Nook, a permanent record of Sailing Stripes achievements that will be kept in the Junior Sailing classroom.
We also presented awards from the Race Camp Regatta. Congratulations to all of our award winners and to every sailor who participated!
And Then the Parents Went Home…
Following dinner, it was time for the Kids-Only Lock-In!
The evening started with a scavenger hunt that sent teams running all over the Club grounds in the dark, searching for hidden clues. From there, things slowed down around the campfire as we roasted marshmallows and made s’mores.
Of course, quiet didn’t last long. Ghost in the Graveyard and tag followed before we finally wrapped up the evening. By 10:30 p.m., everyone was headed home — tired, happy, and hopefully ready for a good night’s sleep.
A special thank-you goes to Lauren and Charlotte, along with their friends, for creating the scavenger hunt. A tremendous amount of work went into putting it together, and it was greatly appreciated.
Thank you also to David Dixon for building and maintaining our campfire throughout the evening, and to Nancy Peterson for organizing the s’mores and rewards.
Save the Date — 2027 Homecoming
We enjoyed Homecoming so much that we’re already planning next year.
Junior Sailing Homecoming 2027 is scheduled for July 24.
Next year we’re making it an even bigger day. Plans include a morning regatta, an afternoon of family games and activities, a potluck cookout, the Kids-Only Lock-In, and then — for those who still have some energy left — an overnight sleepover for the kids!
The 2027 Waterfront Calendar Is Here
Planning for next summer is already well underway, and the 2027 Waterfront Calendar is now posted on the Island Bay Yacht Club website. You will need to advance to May of 2027 and beyond, but it’s all there.
Junior Sailing Camp will begin with Session 1 on June 1, followed by two additional regular camp sessions, a two-week Encore Camp, and a one-week Race Camp.
New for 2027 — Sailing Sundays
We’re also introducing Sailing Sunday Afternoons in 2027.
The idea is simple: give our sailing families more opportunities to get back on the water after camp. Sailing Sundays will feature continued sailing, games, racing, and fun activities for sailors and their families. Attendance will be free except for a dish to share during the cookout.
And because everything is better with food, each Sailing Sunday will conclude with a potluck cookout.
More information about Sailing Sundays will be coming as we get closer to the 2027 season.
Looking Ahead — Our Long-Range Waterfront Plan
A detailed Waterfront Long-Range Plan has been presented to the IBYC Executive Board of Directors.
The plan includes strategies for continued growth of both Junior Sailing and Adult Learn to Sail, along with improvements to the equipment and resources available to our sailors.
One important goal is to develop a fleet of club-owned sailboats that can be used by members who do not own a boat. We want someone who learns to sail at Island Bay — junior or adult — to have opportunities to keep sailing, develop their skills, and become part of the Club’s sailing community.
There is a great deal of potential ahead for the Waterfront, and it is exciting to see where we can take these programs over the next several years.
Remote Control Sailing Is Coming Back!
Within the next couple of weeks, watch your email for information about the reboot of the IBYC Remote Control Sailing Fleet.
We’re planning to race Saturday afternoons through the fall and into early winter, giving us a way to keep racing long after the full-sized boats begin coming out of the water.
Interested but don’t own an RC sailboat? No problem.
There are boats available for sale in the Springfield area, and we’ll also have opportunities to borrow a boat and give RC sailing a try before making an investment.
More information is coming soon!
Another Sailing Season Winds Down
It was a little sad this past weekend to see the Stars being packed away for the year.
The lake level is dropping, making it increasingly difficult to get boats in and out of our harbor. Before long, most of the boats will either be out of the water or tucked under their covers for the winter.
And then we’ll be sitting inside watching football and hockey, wondering where summer went.
But the Club doesn’t close when the sailing season ends.
There is still time to enjoy the waterfront, spend time with friends, and take advantage of everything happening around Island Bay.
So don’t disappear just because the boats are coming out of the water.
Come out to the Club. Enjoy your friends. Enjoy the water. Enjoy the activities.
And start counting the days until we put the boats back in.
See you on the Waterfront!
John Sepanski
Waterfront Director / Director of Sailing
Island Bay Yacht Club
