A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY

By: Mickey Holmes 2/10/98

My introduction to Neptune Sailing Club came on a clear and breezy October morning in 1979. My friend and I had just completed a basic sailing course in the Spring that year, followed by a second course in the Fall introducing us to spinnaker handling, and our first race on Lake Washington sailing out of Leschi marina. A neighbor who had listened to our enthusiastic reports offered to take us for a sail.

We met at NSC clubhouse then located at 321 Lake Washington Blvd. It really was a house on the shores of Lake Washington under a huge weeping willow tree. The street level parking deck included a retired wooden dinghy bursting with a rainbow of petunias growing in it. We descended old wooden stairs to enter a small clapboard house, just inches from the water. The neighbor, Russ Oberg was the current President and in answer to our many questions he shared with us the story of a remarkable journey this small cooperative club had taken. The previous location had been just south on Lake Washington Blvd at what is now David Brink Park. He wasn't certain how long it had existed there but related he had seen club records dating back to the early '70's. In the era of Governor Dixie Lee Ray the Shoreline 

Management Act was passed and soon all future King County development on the shoreline was mandated to provide public access to the water.  Brink Park was acquired by the City of Kirkland forcing Neptune out of their location but with an option to use grant funds provided by the Act to relocate. At this sink or swim moment members actually sailed the Kirkland shoreline scouting for a new spot.

Frank Rosin a long time resident of Kirkland with properties on the shore came through with an offer too good to be true. He leased a shore side house to the club that included allowing a dock to be built in front. A Building Committee of members was formed. They volunteered hours to the planning and soon with relocation dollars from the State and some additional dollars from the members a 90-ft. dock became Neptune's pride and joy. It took the engineering genius of member Dave Tott to come up with the tie-ups. The dock was fully exposed to our prevailing South Westerlies and with a system of lines, pulleys and pilings, the boats bounced free in the storms avoiding being banged against the dock. Traveling in France years later I saw the same system existing in the little villages of coastal Normandy. Dave was also the Mr. Fix-it of that time and one could always find him there early weekend mornings simply messing around with boats. Neptune missed him greatly when he retired to his garage to build a plane.

It didn't take much for me to decide this was the organization for me and I joined the following Spring. Initiation fee for a family membership was $350, individual $175, and dues at $20 each month. By Fall that year the clubhouse was a huge hole in the ground. Gone was the beautiful tree and the darling tiny house with a front porch from which many a spectacular sunset was enjoyed. Development of a town house setting was taking place. Attached to the structure would be a small room with bathroom for NSC in keeping with the existing lease and ownership of the dock. An arrangement was made to store sails, equipment and the log Book next door in a small storage area owned by Frank Rosin. The 1980 fleet consisted of 2 San Juan 21's, two Santana 20's, three Lasers and a motor boat whose motor worked some of the time. Plans were in the works to replace one of the Santanas. Certification for me was brief. An on-the-water test and copies of my certificates from a U.S. Power Squadron course, a basic sailing course, and the spinnaker handling course granted me Skipper privileges.  A youth membership existed for youth ages 13-18 and my 14 year old son Scott completed the course and was certified to skipper the boats. The Lasers were popular with a few youth at that time although no rules covering them existed. Dave Mowrer rejoined the Club that year and began his quest to bring the training program to the fine level it is today. I was particularly enthused about being able to race in the Home Port races that first year. My first instructor volunteered to help me out initially and then I was on my own. Home Port at that time preferred all the boats returning in full view of the restaurant, so, all boats started at one time, raced to Webster point, and then back. With prevailing winds on Lake Washington being what they are the race was either a float or a scream. It didn't take long to convince them to accept the triangular course that exists today.

Neptune racers were non-existent when I joined. Then in June three of us were bringing our guests as crew and trying to be first to arrive to check out the best boat for the Friday Night fun. Soon we put our heads together to petition the club to outfit a race boat with spinnaker. Jim Schooler, Kevin Bruce and I were met with silent stares (or horrified looks) at the first meeting we proposed this. The following year we added Doug Brusig to the race committee and finally success - the rest is history. Treasurer Bob Merz asked for Neptune's name to appear on the spinnaker and the racers were to contribute to the purchase cost. In 1983 NSC members also served as Home Port's race committee and enjoyed a front page photo and write up in the Eastside paper. Participation in this series continues unbroken to date.

I became secretary for three years, and then President for one year at a time when the lease was running out and Neptune was on the water once again searching for a new location. The Condo Association at 321 did not appreciate sharing the privacy of their $375,000 homes with a sailing club on their backdoor step. The lease could not he renewed favorably even though numerous negotiating meetings were held. The dock was lost and a move to our present location was made.

Checking the present club roster Chris Oppfelt is our oldest member having joined in 1973. His shared memories including stories of rowing out in a dinghy to the boats secured to floats offshore at Brink Park. He remembers most of the fleet were "Prindles"which were not popular with family members due to their instability. Chris and his wife Holly continue the original membership of his parents Dick and Olga Oppfelt. We usually see him once a year on a fair day for his annual sail.

Many of my sailing achievements have been enjoyed through Neptune membership. Sailing on a 102' schooner and a custom 70' racer; delivering a 50 Irwin from Anacortes to Seattle, all club activities. I’ve raced club boats on Lake Washington in CYC, SYC and Home Port regattas; raced club boats on Puget Sound in J-Fest and Women’s Crocus Regattas, and have entered and sailed club boats in Seattle Yacht Club's opening day parade with other members. I’ve had the pleasure of chartering Dave Mowrer's "Carisa" many times and in comparison to boats Pre chartered In Desolation Sound, Tonga, France, the Caribbean and Greece, his bests them all for accommodations and service. Neptune relies on a nucleus of members whose passion for anything sailing drives the Club. Activities will he generated by individuals interested in making them go (e.g., training, racing, maintenance, or cruising bigger boats.) If our recruitment always includes enthusiastic sailors who will accept occasional directorship, the club will continue through many more years.