Whales

Dear GAM,

In reference to your article written in the GAM Magazine issue of March/April 2008, heading “THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA” on page 4 of this magazine under (Editors note; Jack Nye).

Jack Nye did indeed sail across the Atlantic twice Solo.

I wish to set the records straight: Jack did not surpass Stefan Szwarnowsky on his first Solo in the year 2000; Jack was 76 years old on that voyage at that time. (His full story was in GAM Magazine issue April 2003, written from the original story by Jack Nye “Solo Atlantic” One on one. I do have a copy of this magazine if you would like a photocopy of it. (Very interesting story.)

Karin Larson, Publisher/Editor of GAM did edit and published Jack’s story. In brief, Jack lost his boat called Panderama and his life was saved by a container ship called “The Atlantic Companion” where other people on other boats lost their lives due to a very bad storm.

However Jack did surpass Stefan on his second Solo voyage across the Atlantic in the year 2004, at the age of 80 years young on his 2nd boat called “English Rose”, a 32 footer sloop. His article, again, was written by Karin in GAM (Jan/Feb. issue 2005) called “Atlantic Alone”, from Armdale Yacht Club, Halifax Nova Scotia, to Plymouth England.

For confirmation of all the above Jack Nye can be reached at Nye Manufacturing Ltd. Telephone number (905) 897-2311.

Also for your information Jack sailed across the Atlantic last year (2007) from Long Pond Newfoundland to Ireland and returned back to Long Pond Newfoundland, as captain of his own boat called Panderama II, a 29 foot  Sloop Rig with a crew of 1 on each leg.

Yours truly,
Sylvia Walker

Dear GAM on Yachting,

I picked up my June 2007 copy of GAM magazine and noticed that it was the 50th. Anniversary of the first publication. It brought back a flood of memories.

I loved sailing and tried to join several yacht clubs but was told that only men were allowed to become members. Finally I found out that the Queen City Yacht Club, located on Ward’s Island would allow women to become members but only if they owned a sail boat. This stipulation about owning a boat did not apply to men.

That year, in June 1958, I bought a SNIPE sail boat (14 foot 6 inches in length) and joined the Queen City Yacht Club. I met the other woman member of the Yacht Club, karin larsen, one day while I was waiting to catch the Club boat, Lillian, to return to Toronto.  She was about the same age as me and also owned a SNIPE Karen told me that she was the editor of a new magazine, ”GAM on yachting”. She said that GAM meant “to call upon, chat with and otherwise communicate with, as the officers and crew of another vessel”.  She gave me a copy and I found it to be so interesting that I bought a subscription and have had one ever since.

It was great, at last, to own my own sailboat and go out sailing. The boat was the right size as I could handle it by myself or with crew, whenever I wished to be on the water. I wanted to spend a week of my vacation that summer at the yacht club and had asked karin if I could rent a room at her home. She lived with her father in a beautiful large old house on Ward’s island and I was delighted to be able to stay there.

That summer I sailed in a regatta nearly every Saturday.  We would race in the afternoon and then the host club would give the skipper of each boat, which was racing, tickets for the skipper, and crew to have a free drink, and dinner followed by dancing. I came second at regattas on two occasions. I also raced when our club held weekly races and on awards night at the Queen City Yacht Club I was given a cup for sportsmanship. I think they were surprised that a woman could handle a sailboat.

In January 1959 the Queen City Yacht Club held their annual meeting. This was held at the Maple Leaf Room at Union Station.  Karin larsen phoned and asked me if I would be attending. I said that I would like to and since only members were allowed to attend, karin and I were the only two women present with the hundred men who were members. I rather liked those odds. I remember that karin and I were well looked after. We were asked to be scrutineers for the election of officers that evening.

I have owned a number of boats since then but I think my greatest thrill was when I bought my first sailboat.  GAM on yachting has certainly changed over the years with glossy paper and colour.

Karin has done a great job of drawing attention to causes, especially those that effect sailors.  GAM continues to be my favorite magazine, full of interesting stories and advertising about boats and marine supplies.

Fran Beaugrand*

(* Fran Beaugrand's story of commissioning and then sailing the very first Shark appears on page 16 of the 2008 May/June issue.)