Hope Town Sailing Club Currents

HTSC Annapolis Summer Party

Posted 7/30/2023

Will and Muffin hosted a fun evening in Annapolis with a number of old and potentially new "harbor rats" looking to join the Club. Commodore Marcia Talley said it was "great fun". July 2023 Annapolis Party

Save the Dates for Upcoming HTSC Events 

Posted 7/13/2023

Pizza Party, Saturday, November 6, 2023

First Stand Up, Saturday, November 11, 2023

Wine Tasting, Saturday, November 18, 2023

Christmas Party, Friday, December 8, 2023

Wine Tasting, Saturday, January 13, 2024

Valentine's Day Lunch, Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Sailing Club Ball, Saturday, February 24, 2024

Commodore's Dinner, Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Spring Picnic, Saturday, March 30, 2024

Last Stand Up, Saturday, April 6, 2024

Achieved News

April 19, 2021 With sadness we remember and give a farewell salute to two of our club members who have recently passed away.

Dave Gale - Dave Gale and his wife Phoebe are honorary HTSC Members, arriving in Hope Town in 1954 and started Island Marine. Here's a link to more info about their lovely life and house on Parrot Cay -

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/my-houzz-island-life-and-love-in-the-bahamas-stsetivw-vs~5031542

Dr. Walter Jim Mack  - Read below letter written and submitted to club by his family.

"Dear Hope Town Sailing Club Members,

In the spirit of celebration and with a raised glass of Bahamian rum, the Mack family wishes to inform the Hope Town Sailing Club that longtime member Dr. Walter J Mack “Jim” of MV Wanderer has sailed his final voyage on April 17. He jumped ship at the fair age of 90 at home in Southampton, NY. He was annoyingly hovered over (his words) by his loving wife, first mate Fay and his crew of five rotten children. Surviving crew include 11 precious grandchildren and gazillions of deck hands (extended family and life-long friends). 

Dr. Mack’s humor, grace, and intellect stayed with him until his last day. He wished for no service and “no flowers please” and agreed to a summer celebration of his life in Montauk, NY of which he said “he would love to attend.”

With friends, he was often referred to as Cap’t Jim, as he held a USCG Master Captain’s license, and he was known for writing stories for the Hope Town Harbor Rats newsletter titled “As The Lighthouse Turns,” a spoof of the live-aboards’ of Hope Town Harbor, Bahamas. To honor our beloved Cap’t Jim, raise a glass of rum and we hope that Jim provides  a chuckle."

March 2, 2021 The Executive Committee voted at the Annual General Meeting, March 2, 2021 the following Flag Officers: 

Commodore, Don Meinhold

Vice Commodore, Marcia Talley

Rear Commodore, John Barr

Commodore-at-Large, Will Heyer

12/19/2020 Member Christmas Cocktail Party Date Changed 

The date for the member Christmas Cocktail Party has been changed to Saturday, December 19, 2020. The Abaco Inn will caterer the event so please let Patti Love know if you plan to attend or contact Kate Barr. 

12/2020 New Members

Five new members were posted at the November executive meeting and become members at the December Executive Committee Meeting.

Nancy and Doug Plourde are residents of Ontario Canada. They recently built a home just south of the Settlement. The Plourde’s, along with their son Hayden, own and manage On Da Beach bar/grill/resort. When Nancy is in Canada she pursues her passion for gardening on their large organic farm, Greenwood Farm on the Ridge. Doug provided a much needed respite for weary residents, volunteers and second homeowners by opening On Da Beach just 10 days post Dorian .He provided a bit of “normal” after strenuous 12 hour days. The island continues to benefit greatly from their positive energy and generosity.

Cathy Cockman.  Cathy and her late husband first came to Abaco in 1976 and built the forth home on Lubbers. Pioneers! She currently owns two homes on the North End. She is an experienced sailor. For many years she sailed her Hunter 30 out of New York and has had some junior sailing teaching experience while in the Berkshires. She is fun and charming and we look forward to the expertise and energy she will bring to the Club. 

Dominic and Monica MacKinnon.  Dominic and Monica bought Hilltop, in the Settlement, shortly before Dorian arrived. They have spent many months along side the construction crew restoring the damage and bringing their gorgeous home back to its former glory. Dom is the son of long time member Anne Horsley. We are excited to add them to the list of second generation members. 

Long Time HTSC Friend's Passing - From Carol Pahl

Tragic news to share that Mary Rice has passed on from Covid 19 related illness. She was a Hope Town icon and will be greatly missed. A more generous and colorful woman could not be imagined. Condolences to her family. The Hope Town Culture has lost a truly great friend.

December 2020 Club News Executive Committee Meeting News

The HTSC Executive Committee held a meeting recently, both in Hope Town and online, to vote in those who have been posted for membership since the last meeting. Please welcome new members Steve and Betty Roberts. Click on the MEMBERSHIP title above to find out information regarding the process involved in becoming a member, plus a list of new members since our roster books were published.

September 2020 Message from the Commodore

Our Club is back and will be ready for a new season to start November 7.   Dorian damaged or destroyed much of the housing and businesses on Elbow Cay and the surrounding area. The clubhouse received relatively minor damage and was back in operation serving meals to locals and volunteers during the beginning of the recovery. After some businesses and food services were reestablished, there was a break in the use of the club and we were able to install a new roof and complete repairs to the club and dock. Samaritan's Purse then used the clubhouse as a central location for people on Elbow Cay to come for assistance.

The clubhouse will be cleaned once Samaritan's Purse is finished. We will have a renewed clubhouse and a working dock. Elbow Cay is ready for us to return. Covid remains a question, but we hope to get past it sooner rather than later.

A tremendous amount of work has been done in Abaco, and indeed much remains to be done. Covid handicapped the recovery, but Abaco Strong commitment has restored numerous services, buildings, and amenities. I would like to thank everyone who had a hand in getting the club back and in particular a call out to Richard Cook, Ted Estep and Will Heyer for their efforts in getting the initial club repairs completed and keeping the clubhouse together while the clubhouse had very heavy use. I would also commend all our members who have assisted both financially and physically in bringing the Cay back after Dorian.

While challenges continue, the club is financially sound and ready for the future. A few changes were made this past year. Kim Penning has been appointed as our new Membership Chair. We are also looking for a new Webmaster to replace Carol Pahl's many years of dedicated service.  Meanwhile we are implementing a new website and club application which will allow us to update the website more efficiently and provide for easier updating of information, events and our roster. There will be more on this in the near future. 

We have a schedule full of racing, fun, socials and interesting BIC's and we hope to see you all in Hope Town.

David Hanafourde, Commodore on behalf of HTSC Executive Committee, 09/01/2020

Sue Holloway Reports This Amazing News for Junior Sailing: 

NEW OPTIS FOR HOPE TOWN

The 2019 Opti North American Championships were held in Nassau in late September, and two of our HTJS kids sailed on the Bahamas National Team. The OPTINAM organizers, the sailing teams from around the world, and the Bahamas Sailing Association all wanted to show their support for Hope Town, which had lost so much in the hurricane.

As a result, Hope Town Junior Sailing has received word that six new Optis are waiting in Nassau for delivery to Hope Town. Robert Dunkley, Director of the Bahamas National Sailing School, reported:

"Through donations from the various teams and assistance from BSA, we have secured 6 new boats for Hope Town Junior Sailing, fully equipped with blades, spars, sails, lines, and dollies - all ready to be sailed. The Japanese donated the sails which are slightly used race sails. We have put these in storage in a container and when your club is ready for them, we will ship them to you."

This is wonderful news, and a testament to the close-knit sailing community not just in the Bahamas, but around the world.