• Commodore

    Commodore – April 2017

    April 3, 2017 - By 

    Welcome spring!

    The first Saturday of April was filled with activity at ECSC. It is always encouraging to see so many people working to have our club ready for the season. The kitchen area was completely cleaned and organized. Another crew pulled everything out of the upper storage area and re-organized it. The boat lift, safety boat and R/C boat are in the water and ready for the first race on April 12. The grounds are cleaned of leaves and other debris. Stairway lighting is re-installed. Some sections of dock have been completely re-built (this project is ongoing and will continue until completed – see Harbormaster article)   I probably missed a few items so a big THANK YOU goes out to all of the volunteers and organizers. It is our members that make Eagle Creek Sailing Club the best sailing club on the planet.
    We are seeing a steady stream of new members. Many members are busily cleaning and prepping their boats for launching. Some boats are already in the water. It is time to start sailing.
    For me, the winches have been cleaned and re-greased. The temporary sail loft at my house is closed after sewing a new tri-radial 155 Genoa kit. Hopefully S/V Delightful will sail a little faster in light wind and no longer need to take a 3 second penalty for oversized sails. The cruiser fleet is growing and getting more competitive. It is always fun learning to sail just a little better every year. Hope to see you soon at ECSC.

    Your Commodore,

    Larry Conrad

  • Social

    Social – April 2017

    April 3, 2017 - By 

    Social

    [one_second]Our first event of the season is just around the corner!  In preparation for our 2017 sailing season, we did a deep clean on both the kitchen and the social shed!  We had an awesome team going through supplies and getting things inventoried and organized.  The refrigerators and freezers have been power washed and the mouse nests have been removed![/one_second][one_second][/one_second]

    [one_second][/one_second]

    [one_second]For club members convenience, I have placed some basic supplies, such as plates, napkins, plastic ware, etc…,in a tote just inside the door of the kitchen for members to use at their leisure.  I will continue to monitor supplies and keep it stocked.  I do ask that members refrain from rummaging through the other totes of supplies as I attempt to keep things stocked for our events.  Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.[/one_second]

    I am looking forward to seeing you all at the Mother’s Day Brunch, hosted by Mike and Katie Smith.  If you wish to volunteer for a social event, please let me know.

    Vickie Greenough

    317-847-7400

  • Harbormaster

    Harbormaster – April 2017

    April 3, 2017 - By 

    Happy Trails Eagle Creekers,

    The first thing I have to say is STICKERS, STICKERS, STICKERS. Get those suckers on your boat and trailer right away so I don’t haul your boat off to the crusher.

    It is soon time to put your boat in the water and take your trailer up to the trailer lot. Just remember the lot hasn’t been bush hogged yet and we are going to be doing some expansion on the West side of the lot. Also the ground is soft this time of year so either wait a bit or just don’t slow down. It is ok to keep your Winter spot for your trailer a few more weeks until the ground dries up or the bush hogging is done.

    As many of you have noticed I did not set up a date for the work party to open up the club this year.  I hear April 1st. The Harbormaster work party always coincides with the club opening (which is set up by the caretaker) along with the Racing work party. Dennis and I will continue our work parties in April and work will be available on weekends until the dock is re-decked.    L dock, (the wide section going out to the octagon) is going to be completely re-decked. That is nine 16′ sections with the 1″ boards replaced with 2×8″ planks to resemble the other dock structures. Contact Dennis or me and come out and earn some work credits.

     Another project through the grounds committee will be the expansion of the trailer lot at the top of the hill. I have yellow tape outlining the areas to be bush whacked. Colin Leatherbury will be in charge of this project and we have approval for this expansion from the park director. Work credits will be paid out for weed eating, chemical treating stumps, hand weed whacking and stuffing the wood chipper (after training from Colin). Again this project will continue until completion. 

     Anyone interested in helping remove about 6 ash trees notify myself or Colin Leatherbury. This project will take place near the end of May. Chainsaws will be needed to turn these trees into fire wood for the club.

    Kenny Chapman

  • Racing

    Racing – April 2017

    April 3, 2017 - By 

    Racing Season is getting close

    Racing season is upon us! We begin the season on Sunday April 9 at 2:00. Bob McCoun and Kenny Chapman are running the first race. We will run 3 races. Be sure to come out with your family for some friendly competition. Hot dogs and/or hamburgers will be served after the races. Our first Wednesday night race is April 12 at 6:50. Again, Bob and Kenny will be running the race.

    Speaking of running races, we have 26 racing events in the spring series. So far, we have just 8 days fully covered and 7 partially covered. Please sign up today for race committee duty. Next week, I will have to start assigning people to RC duty to get the days covered. Just go to the racing web page to sign up. http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f084ca9ac22a4f58-2017

    We should have all of the marks in the water by April 9. The new “Y” mark may not be done yet, but we will get it in the water as soon as possible.

    Need some work credits?

    Looking for a fun way to earn some work credits? Why not volunteer to work Race Committee for one of our regattas? We need at least 6 people to run a well-organized race. This is a great way to watch a regatta up close. Volunteers will get valuable work credits, plus free meals all weekend. Plus a very special gift as a token of our appreciation. So please go to the racing web site listed above and sign up for one of the RC positions. No experience is necessary. We’ll show you what to do.

    We are all race ready now

    We held our third and final “Race Ready” meeting on Wednesday March 22. We had a great crowd. Lots of questions and lots of discussion. We focused on rules for downwind sailing, rules at the leeward mark and rules at the finish. We also had a “class exercise” where we went to the parking lot and everyone tried to guess where the 3 boat-length circle was for their boat. Rick Graef and Larry Conrad got theirs exactly right. Everyone else was short – some as much as a boat length short. It was an illuminating experience.

    Mayor’s Cup is 8 weeks away

    The Mayor’s Cup Regatta is just 8 weeks away. We need volunteers to make the regatta a smooth event. We need 5 people for RC duties including:

    • Principal Race Officer
    • Signaler – handles the flags on the RC boat
    • Safety boat – drives the safety boat
    • Mark Setter – sets marks from the safety boat

    This is a great way to enjoy the race and/or learn more about racing or running a race. Please contact Geoff Endris if you are interested.

     

  • Membership

    Membership – April 2017

    April 3, 2017 - By 

    Membership

    Welcome to new members, Phil and Aimee Rawlings who along with their daughters, Leah and Audrey, will be sailing a Catalina 22’ this summer at ECSC.

    This brings our total of new members since 1/1/17 to five. 

    Our first New Member Orientation will be in the upper shelter at the club on Sunday, May 21st at 1:00.

    Membership information has been received from all of you. Our next step will be to pull all this together for the publishing of the annual membership booklet.  This will be mailed directly to your home early in May, if not before. A PDF copy will also be placed in the Member section of our ECSC website. 

    Jane Schmidt

    Membership Chair

  • Safety & Education

    Safety and Education – April 2017

    April 3, 2017 - By 

    Have a boy or girl that spends too much time playing video games or on their phone?

    Want to steer them a new course in life. Come join us April 22!

    Sign up your young sailor for this fast moving, 16 hour sailing class.

    Three Classes:

    Class 1 ~ 9-12 year old, on a Opti (a small 8′ boat, perfect for the smaller, younger boy or girl).

    Class 2 ~ 13-18 year old, on Laser Full rig (a 14′  boat, perfect for the larger boy sailor).

    Class 3 ~ 12-15 year old, Laser Radial rig (perfect for a young teenage girl or boy).

    Eligibility:

    Prospective sailors must be able to swim.

    Must have a lift jacket, USCG type, with whistle attached to it.

    Open to members and non-members (boys and girls).

    Class size limited to 6-8 sailors!

    Enrollment:

    Fee $128.00 (check or cash)

    Where:

    ECSC Sailing School, 8901 West 46th Street, Indianapolis, In 46234

    Date ~ Time:

    Sign up date April 22, 11am, please join us for an introductory hour and learn what we do.

    Class Dates: May 6, 13, 20 and June 3rd, 11:00am to 3pm. (rain or shine)

    Instructional Staff:

    Our instructors are experienced sailors with small boat racing, All of our junior instructors are U.S. Sailing Certified Level 1, some are level 2 and 3’s and Red Cross First Aid with CPR trained.

    On the Water time:

    Instruction are conducted in Laser: Full, Radial and 4.7 or with the Optimist rigs.

    ECSC will supply the boats, sailors will supply other personal gear.

    Classroom & Work-out Drills:

    Work books, lots of jump rope, chin, push and set ups, light bench press, speed bag, punching bag and sailing games.

    Notes:

    Participation is based on the sailor and sole discretion of the team leader.

    Minors must have a consent of parents, and an application and completed emergency treatment form,

    For more info: e-mail Wayne Myers (team leader) ~ alarmco@bac.comcastbiz.net

    ~

    Other News !

    I would like to “Thank all you” for the past Support of Our Youth Sailing Program, Without your help this program would not left the dock. 

    Your donation this year will be a big help in our goal to sent the kids to local and national events.

    Check out their race schedule on our  Facebook page or our ECSC Junior Sailing Team page.

    Safety and Education,

    Chuck Lessick and Wayne Myers

  • Store

    Ships Store – April 2017

    April 3, 2017 - By 

    SHIPS STORE –

    As the 2017 sailing season gets underway, sailors’ thoughts go to what will make them look good or will protect them from the elements or even to what will keep their cold beer cold. The Ship’s Store has what you need,  AND EVERYTHING IS HALF OFF. If you are interested in purchasing an item, go to the Ship’s Store website CLICK HERE and find the item.   I will be updating the website soon so it gives an up to date inventory of what is available. Note that the prices given do not reflect the discounted 50% price.

    All you need to do is email the Ship’s Store at this address CLICK HERE and describe the item(s).  I will then email you with the cost and the availability.  We can arrange delivery at the Club or another place if necessary to pick up the goods.  I prefer that you bring a check made out to the Club. Credit and debit cards cannot be used. Soon there will be a spreadsheet on the site giving an up to date inventory with pricing.  So think of upcoming birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and days when you need to make up for something you did. Buy them some ECSC bling.

     

    Les Miller

    Ships Store