Capitalizing on Opportunity: Spinnaker Renovation

September

Daniel Attalla & Carol DiMaggio Danielle Cheriez & Leigh Savage Lauren Clune Laura & Terrance Lynch Scott & Karen Pifer

Richard Rozewicz & Sarah La Rou-Rozewicz

Luke Safranek & Olivia Van Elslander

October

David Evola Shea Swiss & Martin Glowacki Basil & Helen Johnson

October

Jessica & Patrick Lane Stephanie & Brian Lang

Ryan Johnson & Stacy Race Robin Stevenson & Bradley Samuels

September Not Pictured

Holly Abessinio Ryan Fifelski

October Reinstatements

Pachomy Belkoff

October Not Pictured

Ian Hollerbach Steven Kuhr

Capitalizing on Opportunity

The Club kicked off VISION 2026 renovations with a remodel of the Spinnaker

By Aaron Wagner

The Club viewed the pandemic as a time of opportunity. It was a time to evaluate our Clubhouse and kick off some impactful renovations thanks to our generous members who donated more than $4 million in the past several years to VISION 2026 initiatives. The Spinnaker dining room was identified as a room that was long overdue for a renovation.

The Spinnaker had a very successful run of casual ambiance and coziness thanks to its fireplace feature and comfortable Captain’s chairs. However, it was due for a face lift, and we knew we had the perfect team to accomplish that. That is where GPYC member and world-renowned architect Patrick Ahearn came into the fold. Patrick studied the history of the Club and its various design elements and met with members, Heritage Committee representatives, and staff to develop what would be the next iteration of the Spinnaker while still respecting the traditions and elegance that the Club values. Patrick also used this information to develop plans for the lobby and reception area. Once a final plan was approved, they were shared with the membership via several Founders Club events as well as emails and website posts. The plans were also included in the VISION 2026 brochures that were mailed out to membership. The Facilities Committee, led by Director Bob Weiland, formed a Project Management Team to vet potential contractors and monitor progress. After a thorough vetting process by which five qualified contractors were interviewed, the team awarded the bid to Trinity Building Group. Trinity began work on the Spinnaker and lobby in March of 2021. There were several key highlights to the project. One of the most impactful changes was opening up the structural walls between the Spinnaker dining room and the back room to create an open layout. Although many members have fond memories of being “placed in the back room” for dinner on occasions and, while it was nice for young families when trying to keep the kids in one place, it didn’t provide an ideal dining experience. The old walls were demolished (see page 8), and then new walls were fashioned out of beautifully-appointed beadboard and hand crafted moldings rather than the previous office ceiling tiles and wallpaper. Perhaps one of the most noticeable pieces within

The “Spinnaker Wedge” is presented with our new silverware pouches, made by the local company Pingree Detroit

The new windows offer more light than what was previously allowed into the dining room Every detail matters in the new Spinnaker, from the salt and pepper shakers to the leather pouches that hold the silverware

the restaurant are the custom-made wood tables that have white marbling through the grain for decoration. These tables were crafted by our architect’s son, Conor Ahearn, and even feature nautical rope around the bases as an homage to the Yacht Club.

The décor wasn’t the only thing to change in the Spinnaker. With the ever-growing demand for casual dining, the Club re-purposed the Spinnaker as the new upscale dining destination and moved casual dining to the much larger Main Dining Room. When dining in the Spinnaker, you will feel a sense of refinement that you may have never quite felt before at the GPYC. The elevated service and upscale menu rival the finest restaurants in the area without the moonshot pricing. From seafood towers to tableside craft cocktails and entrees, an immersive experience awaits you in the new Spinnaker. The Spinnaker was completed in September of 2021, and was christened with an event exclusively for Founders Club members. Attendees had the chance to sample new menu items, including “Caviar Bumps & Bubbles”, the “Captain’s Grand Seafood Tower” and the “Spinnaker Wedge”. They also heard from Patrick Ahearn about the inspiration behind the design.

As with any project, none of it could have happened without the help of some amazing people. Special thanks goes to Patrick Ahearn and his team at Ahearn and Associates. Patrick performed all design work and consultation at zero cost to the Club. I would also like to take a moment to thank our members who donated to this project. This project was 100% funded through your support and we hope you are enjoying the finished product.