New Member Information
Welcome to Crescent Sail Yacht Club!
We are happy you chose CSYC as your sailing home. On this page you will find some (hopefully) helpful information to introduce Crescent to you as you begin to explore the grounds, meet other members and figure the best spots to park, flake sails and hangout with old and new friends.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to any of the flag, board or committee members listed on this page or elsewhere on the website if you have any questions.
Michelle Sgrazzutti
Chair, Membership Committee
joincsyc@gmail.com
506-306-0527
To start off here is the New Member Quick Reference Guide that was attached to your welcome letter.
How do I get into the Club? Is there a secret knock?
To enter the property you can open the gate by calling 313-546-8500 from your mobile phone. Your number and if provided when you applied, the number of your partner, have been registered with the gate system and should be active shortly after your application has been approved.
You will be provided a proximity card that can be used to open both the main gate, and if locked the front door of the clubhouse. Your card will be issued in the next few days and be placed in the club secretary's mailbox in the boardroom on the second floor. More information can be found here.
Tip- During the season if you are the first person to open the front door in the morning it will remain unlocked until the building is closed that evening.
WiFi
The answer to one of the most common trivia question on the lips of new and existing members. What is the WiFi password? Master this one and youll be asked to crew on just about any boat.
Network: CSYC-Members
Password: csycwirelessmembers
Note- The network is fairly strong on the property and numerous members work from the club including in their boats. (Signal can vary boat to boat depending on construction)
Weather
What is the lake like right now? Should we go for a daysail or will I need my foulies and a reef in the main?
The club has several sea state cameras for viewing the lake more information may be found here We also have a weather station on the property. The data may be viewed online at Weather Underground or by downloading their app.
We still need to pay for all this fun right?
Within a few days of your application being approved you should receive an email with an invoice for prorated dues and if applicable the initiation fee along with instructions for payment methods. Note- Dues are prorated to the date your application was approved. Information about dues and fees can be found here
Outside of this charming commentary is there more info on the interwebs?
Yes! You now have access to the members only portal of the website at crescentsail.org where this page is located. Congrats you made it! The site has a regularly updated calendar of events and within the rest of the portal you can find archived issues of our newsletter The Breeze, member directory, applications for moorings, info on club boats, handbook and constitution, as well as other key information and contacts.
So when should I show up?
Come on down! Its your club and it is always available to you. There are a few events and activities that are good to watch out for. Check the calendar and watch for notices in your email for what is coming up.
Here are a few recurring highlights from the year.
General Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at 8pm with a break in July and August with an annual meeting in December. Meetings may be joined in person in the clubhouse or via a zoom link shared a few days before the meeting. We review club business and gather for a social hour afterwards.
There are regular catered Friday night dinners throughout the year. Notice of menus and where to signup will be emailed and available on the website.
On a Saturday in mid-June we host a small boat regatta in the late afternoon, finishing in time for sunset, dinner, and awards.
The Crescent Regatta is our premier event of the season and is held in late August. Boats and sailors from across the region come to compete and then socialize afterwards with a dinner and awards ceremony on the lawn in-front of the clubhouse.
The Commodores Ball is our annual formal event honoring the current Commodore and is open to all members and their guests.
Wait don't we do something with boats and buoys and things?
Well it is a SAIL yacht club. So yes, yes we do. Our members sail in just about every locale and condition you can think of from point to point and distance racing, casual day sailing and cruising in all types of boats from dinghies to ice boats and too many in between to name.
During the season we sponsor several weekly races.
Club Races for Flying Scots, Lightnings, Thistles and Catamarans are on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening followed by an informal get together.
On Monday evenings in June and August we host a Doubled Handed Series that is popular with sailors across Lake Saint Clair. Non sailors come down as well to watch the start/finish from the breakwall. After racing participants gather for a potluck to grill and swap totally believable sailing stories.
If you do not have your own boat or want to try something different club owned boats are available for an annual fee of $200. Information can be found here
Watcha mean we need to rake, paint and saw?
As you know, Crescent is a volunteer organization and as a core element of our identity members provide workhours annually. We host two major workdays each year in April and October to open and close the season. These are key community building events where we come together as Crescent to maintain our shared club.
There are always things that need to be done around Crescent reach out to the Rear Commodore or a connect with a Committee Chair to join in and complete some projects.
Reminder both seniority (when you joined) and workhours are how we determine eligibility for moorings.
The members requirements for workhours are as follows:
Senior/Emeritus- 18
Crew- 9
Junior- 10
You can find more information about logging workhours here.
Roles and People to Know
Here are a few good contacts to know as you get acclimated to CSYC
Flag Officers
Commodore- Chairs board and membership meetings, provides leadership for all of our activities and represents Crescent in the community at large. Rob Wood is Crescent's Commodore for 2025. He can be reached at csyccom@gmail.com
Vice Commodore- Oversees our sailing education programs, racing and social activities and the private scheduling of club facilities. If you are interested in any of Crescent's learn to sail programs or want to request use of the facilities please contact the VC. John Walton is our Vice Commodore for 2025. He may be reached at csyc.vc@gmail.com
Rear Commodore- Responsible for supervising our physical plant and serves as the go to person for scheduling most workhour activities. If you notice something broken or out of sorts with the club facilities, including docks or are looking to build workhours reach out to the RC. Ross Nuechterlein is the Rear Commodore for 2025 and he can be reached at csyc.rc@gmail.com
Key Committees
Tech Committee- They maintain CSYC's security and technology backbone. If you have questions regarding access to the club, wifi network or the sea state cameras reach out to the Tech Committee.
Patrick Misch, Chair, Tech Committee csycgate@gmail.com
Billing and Payments- Our Assistant Treasurer is the go to person to speak to for any questions about dues and fees billing and methods.
PC Mike Williams, Assistant Treasurer
csyc.ast.treasurer@gmail.com
cell 586-773-7657
Website Questions- Our Club Database and website is maintained by the Sailing Club Manager Team.
PC Ken Swetka, Chair, Sailing Club Manager (SCM)
csyc.sup@gmail.com
cell 586-404-6281
Fleet Captain and Dry Mooring Chair- Looking to get a mooring or arrange for a guest boat to visit the harbor. Our Fleet Captain and Dry Mooring Chair are the key people to speak to.
PC Ken Tanner, Fleet Captain
csyc.fc@gmail.com cell 586-854-2607
Zak Bowdish, Dry Mooring Chair
csyc.drymooring@gmail.com
cell 989-714-4366
