09/23/2026
Sucia Work Party 2026, Another Good time and a lot done with "old" and new Friends.
Paul Graf with appreciated assistance from Tess Carey.
We had the pleasure again this year of having the Flounder Bay Yacht Club join with SYC for a combined Work Party. With additional hands a lot more gets done. Some boats arrived Thursday, and we were able to get several to the dock thanks to some early arrivers who were there to assist.
Prior to arriving Ranger Steve Sabine had presented us with list of projects to contemplate, however by the time we arrived, he added an additional one which somewhat assumed priority. Lacking the ability to see these tasks through the eyes of the creator, it has been a real challenge to plan to use a lot of willing people effectively. So to help sort it out a number of us met with Steve Friday afternoon to provide an opportunity for people to better understand he would like done, where work was located, and where to find tools and materials etc. so that Saturday morning after Steve's remarks we would able to be off and running with people able to head directly to the projects of their choice. The process is a work in progress but it has been helpful
A thank you is owed to Wade Hanson, a co-captain last year who thought a Sucia Island map would be helpful to locate projects, so he had one made and was displayed in the shelter. Friday night all were invited to gather at the large shelter for snacks and Camaraderie. It was fun meeting new people with a few new faces in the group.
Saturday morning at 9:00 all gathered again at the large shelter to hear the latest about Sucia and neighboring island parks from Steve Sabine and final details about the day's project work. Then off we went.
With so many projects I couldn't be everywhere so regrettably, I am unable to credit everyone for exactly what they did as I would like. First on the project list were some rotted steps near the China Caves, which were replaced in good order. One of the trails at Shallow Bay that virtually ran through a campsite was re-routed so that users of the campsite would have a little more privacy without hikers traipsing through. An artifact of the old one-time homestead on the island is a cistern which had become over grown. It was cleaned up. With full time exposure to the weather, the wood planks of the many picnic tables, deteriorate and periodically need replaced. A number of those were replaced. The English Ivy originally brought in with the homestead, is now an invasive w**d and a problem. Some new vines were recently noticed, were on the list to remove, but it turned out to be in an area where access for removal was too difficult, so that was skipped this time. finally, perhaps the most significant task, a last minute add, was a lean-to type roof at the side of one of the storage/shop buildings where tools are stored. Part of it had rotted and fallen in. So several crew got busy removing old material, salvaging what they could and reconstructing the roof. In the process several rafters were replaced. New plywood was nailed in place and covered with builder's felt. Parks expects to get some metal roofing to complete the project soon.
At the end of the day, Ranger Sabine was pleased with our work and a lot was accomplished. As usual, it has been to our benefit to schedule at this time for next year and that is in process. However there are some changes in the wind. In our history with these Sucia work parties we have had wonderful relationships with all the rangers from Dave Castor to Ted Schlund and now Steve Sabine. However, Steve will be retiring soon and it is not clear who might be replacing him. We should be able to confirm some dates for a work party next year before Steve leaves and have contact information for his successor..
Contributing greatly to the success of this Work Party are the following:
SYC was represented well by the crews of
Helen Marie (Steve and Joyce Glenn)
Invictus (Paul Graf and Wade Hansen,
Sirena (Rob and Sharon Wells),
Sally J, (Tess and Brent Carey),
Wigeon (Larry Grunden and Patricia Szabo),
Flounder Bay YC was well represented by the crews of
Aventura (Jose and Suely Valis)
Loon (Eric Hanson)
Sandpiper (David and Linda Shapiro)
Lalique (David and Jeanne Markley)
Xtara (Barrie and Margaret Austin)
It was fun to have Flounder Bay YC from Anacortes join in again this year for the third time. We are alike in many ways so we work together very well, fun, and it appears interest is there to do it again.
