Front Range Island Owners (FRIO) is officially unofficial. “We are not your stuffy boat club. We have no dues, no officers, hold no meetings and have no bylaws. It’s anarchy at its best,” John McNeely says of the Hobie® Island Club chapter founded in August 2011.
FRIO is one of the nation’s most active Hobie Island Clubs. Members are scattered from Cheyenne, Wyoming in the north to Pueblo, Colorado in the south, a span of some 150 majestically mountainous miles. Many of the lakes that dot the valleys are breathtakingly beautiful – and sometimes cold, hence the club name.
John is FRIO’s nominal club captain. Nominal is straight talk for “In name only.” Someone has to do it. But what? Tally the votes!
FRIO meets each November to set the next year’s outing schedule. Take note, this isn’t a regatta. There is no racing.
“Races with Tandem Island owners is similar to herding cats. They just want to go out and sail around the lake for a while. They don’t seem to be that interested in racing in a competitive environment,” John says. They just want to have fun. It’s that anarchy thing again.
For an unorganized organization, the trains sure run on time. FRIO members meet every three weeks in their climate-shortened May through September season. Every active member takes a hand in hosting one of the nine get-togethers. They enjoy sailing together.
This year the schedule will culminate in something special, the club’s first Hobie Island invitational: Islands in the Rockies (August 19-21, 2016). Over 50 Islands are expected on the blue waters of Granby Lake, perched at nearly 8,000 feet and surrounded by forested peaks.
John’s idea, the event is open to anyone. Sponsoring dealer The New Anchorage in Lyons, Colorado is making it easy for Island sailors to attend. The event fee is only $40. Those who want to fly in can charter an Island for $300, and use it for the entire weekend.
The registration fee covers a long sleeve event shirt, welcome party Friday evening in Grand Lake, lunch and a BBQ dinner on Saturday, and clinics on Saturday.
Eileen Winans of The New Anchorage says the event will make for a phenomenal summer vacation for all ages. The area is known for world class fly fishing, and wildlife viewing including moose and elk and bighorn. There are countless miles of mountain bike and horseback riding trails, as well as nearby golfing. The days will be warm and the nights cool.
John can scarcely wait to share his area with other Islanders. “Come meet other island owners from around the country and sail at a breathtaking lake at base of the Rocky Mountains. Once you get there you’ll get that feeling of “Ahhhhhh!”
For more information or to register for Islands in the Rockies visit theanchorage.com/islands-in-the-rockies
