Boy…. It seems like just yesterday that I wrote the last Telltales article. Time has really been flying by, particularly fast this year and as I look at the calendar, it is darn near August. Every once in a while, I wish I could turn back time a few weeks or more and recoup some of those great sailing days that have seemed to slip past me.

That being said, the Club still looks really great and the water has somehow remained as high as I have ever seen it for this time of year. I’m not going to mention the wind…. But….The last Wednesday night race was a bust due to the wind not showing up.

The IUPUI affiliate membership program is now official after several long months of hashing out the issues. The details were in the June Telltales, so I won’t repeat myself. If anyone has any questions, feel free to give me a call.

We have five students in the program. They are Nick Marson, Michelle Gruesbeck, Joe Romero, Chris Murray, and Therese Waechter. If you see any of them around, stop and welcome them to the Club.

One last plug for the Commodore’s "Let the Good Times Roll" Dinner and Dance party on August 18th. Yes, that’s a Saturday night. So… gather up your honeys, friends or whatever, make your reservations early, and come and have a real good time.

Greg Johnson, Commodore

Hello ECSC SAILORS. As I write this article, I can’t help but feel a little melancholy. I just love this Club (it truly is our own little bit of paradise) and I am going to move away. Okay, I will be back here and there maybe to play some hockey or a few rounds of electrical work. But the fact is, I just don’t know how I’m going to be able to cope without my friends at the Club...old and new. Sure, you’re saying I can find friends anywhere, and that may be true, but some things just can’t be replaced...like the other people at the Club who volunteer their time graciously way past the maximum on work credits.

Thanks to Ralph Merriman (former Harbormaster), Bruce Cameron, and Bob Bodish for pouring concrete for me. It turned out swell. The next thing on the list is outfitting the new sail loft for tubes to put our sails in, that is if you are a beach sailor or just someone who needs a safe spot for your sails. Christy is getting a handle on that project just like when she organized the work party to fix A dock. Thanks Christy, and thanks to Mike Vaughn, Rick Sprowl, and even Larry January who did some gopher stuff. Sorry Larry, no work credits pal. Heck, I might even get the new parking lot lights up before I leave.

Just as I said, I started moving boats. It really is starting to look better and all of you new members are going to get your very own dry slip. Now that may seem as no major consequence, but the facts are, we are running out of room at our Club. What that means is, in the next few years, we may end up with a waiting list just to join this Club.

A few of you may not end up with the dry slip I assigned you originally, but I will try to be fair about assignments. Basically, the space must able to accommodate the boat. All assignments will be published in next year’s directory.

We still need some moveable dingy racks for the sailing school. If you have any good ideas, let’s do them this summer. I hear Christy is going to have the beach dragged this fall. Also, I got a lead on some new Manila rope to replace the lines we have as lot separators. Jud Jaqua will be in charge of that project… that is, as soon as I tell him I got the stuff.

I suppose to make this short, I should get to the point. I really am against work credits, but in the past, members have worked for those credits to offset their dues. Some say if you do away with work credits, no one will come and help. I think the same people will be there simply because they see and know what is good. These same people work many hours more than they need. The thing I guess I am trying to say is, if you are willing to donate your time, and you really like this environment, GET INVOLVED! If you don’t need the credits, don’t ask for them, just volunteer.

I know I forgot some stuff, but hey....

Kenny Chapman, Harbormaster

We have a need for as many volunteers as we can get to help keep our facilities clean - namely the HEADS in the main shelter house. Richard White has retired and next year will retire from the Club restroom duty. Thanks for taking care of it all of those seasons Rich!

We would like to have enough volunteers so that one or two individuals are not working excessively on this chore. Please think about if you could donate an hour of your time 5 days next season. We will construct a schedule so that you could have a convenient time that would not interfere with family plans, vacations, etc. If we all pitch in, it will not be a big deal.

Please call Christy Merriman 247-1401 as soon as possible, so we may make plans for next year!

Now to a little further business, as you just read, Kenny Chapman, our current Harbormaster, is leaving in September to move to Connecticut (His wife is there and he really wants to move).

So, I will most likely be the Harbormaster next year. I wanted to let you know I have had plenty of experience, as my husband, Ralph Merriman, was harbormaster last year and I helped quite a bit (ask Evan). I do know how to use tools, and I am a great organizer. I have skippered our boat in races and flown the chute. I hope you base your opinion of me on the job I do for the Club, not that I am a ‘girl.’

See you at the Club or on the water!

Christy Merriman, Harbormistress

Thanks to all those who have completed the new PHRF registration forms for the Fall Series. If you have not completed one, please pick one up off of the Racing Bulletin board and fill it out. This will help with scoring and allow our program to run smoothly.

Speaking of scoring, next time you see Mike Kaschak, thank him for all the help he does with the weekly scoring of the series racing. Mike puts in a lot of time and most of us take it for granted. Scoring is one of those grunt jobs that has to be done and no one ever wants to do it. Thanks Mike.

This year’s Governor’s Cup Regatta festivities will be held at our Club and not at the public side. This was a tough decision...with many voicing concern regardless which side the Regatta festivities were held on. I understand how enjoyable for many it is to have the Regatta on the public side. I also respect the hundreds of hours that are put in as volunteers with no work credits given to make this Regatta happen each year. The Governor’s Cup Regatta has changed over the recent years with the loss of financial support from the Indianapolis Sailing Club and Lake Monroe Sailing Association. We will try our best to make this year’s Regatta as successful and enjoyable as it has been in the past. Please take the time and pre-register for this year’s Regatta...pre- registration really helps with our planning efforts.

Mark your calendars for this August 12^th. Assistant race chairman Wayne Myers and I will be cooking Bratwurst in the clubhouse Sunday afternoon after the series race. Please bring a dish if you will be attending and provide your own beverages. This will be a good time for us to get together with no Regattas scheduled in August.

Terry Killen, Racing

This year’s ECSC Regatta started with a Bang...that is thunder and lighting! For most of Saturday morning, it rained, with thunderstorms, and looked like the Regatta was going to be a wash out. Close to noon, the skies cleared and the fleet completed three races in heavy wind.

Regatta Chairpersons, Neville and Kay Edenborough had a most welcome dinner and needed refreshments ready for all the sailors after a day of fighting heavy and shifty winds. Following dinner was dancing with a DJ for those with any skip left in their sea legs. Sunday morning, Race Committee Ted Azbill started the fleet in light to medium winds. As the fleet sailed north up the lake, a wicked thunderstorm hit the lake with little warning. The keelboats were able to batten down for the blow and make it back to the Club. The Highlanders and Finns were not so lucky. All the small boats made a mad dash for the safety of the west shore ducking into two small coves running the boats aground.

The Race Committee did a great job of staying with the small boats and waiting out the storm with no one hurt. A special thanks needs to go out to Ted Azbill for his Race Committee duties. A special thanks is also in order for Neville and Kay Edenborough. The Edenboroughs put a lot of time and effort into this Regatta that we all appreciate.

Results will be posted in next month’s Telltales.

Saturday, August 18th is our next Ladies’ Day. We will have a Treasure Hunt and the popular Aqua Poker game. We all had a blast last year, so if you missed it, be sure to come this year. The real purpose is to get all of you women who never use your boat without your male "tiller extensions" to try it. We will have people to help with your motor, exit the dock, and re-dock at the end of the day.

Come on now, you are all equal partners in this investment.

USE YOUR BOAT! I promise you will love the freedom of being able to take your friends and family out sailing without your "TE" on board. I know...it took me years to get up the nerve to do this myself.

The first time I took the boat out alone, my heart was pounding. Everything went pretty well until I was re-entering my slip and tripped on the lifelines...losing some skin on the dock! But, I knew I could do it, and enjoyed the independence ever since!

So, take the next step in learning to sail. With our help, you will broaden your horizons. If your next step is something else, tell us and we’ll try to make that happen with you (Hint: Fly your spinnaker, Annie?). Anyone doing something (sailing-wise) for the first time will get extra points and poker cards.

Please come. The Commodore’s Dance is that evening. So, we’ll be back at the Club in plenty of time.

Be there at 11:00am. If you can let us know you’re coming, it would be great!

Eileen Leonard & Linda Vaughn

Despite the heat and humidity, the 4^th of July Pig Roast was a huge success. This has become one of our most well attended functions and this year was no exception. Thank you to Greg and Carole Branham and all that helped them for doing such an excellent job.

When the Branhams were cleaning up after the 4^th of July, something really rotten was left from a prior event in the microwave and was extremely unpleasant. A great big, huge, gigantic THANK YOU to Tom Wong for his bravery and strong stomach for taking care of that nasty mess. If you are using the kitchen for whatever reason, please make sure all perishable food is removed before you lock up. The kitchen is sometimes not used for several weeks at a time.

Just a reminder that the Commodore’s Dinner hosted by Greg Johnson will be on Aug. 18^th. Please get your reservations in on time to come and enjoy the evening. Looking ahead to the Labor Day cookout, Richard and Angie White still need a couple of people to assist them. This is a great way to become acquainted with Club members and earn a few work credits towards your annual dues. Please contact either Richard and Angie (or me) if you are interested.

Edna Sprowl, Social

For those of you that attended the New Members’ Cook Out....Thanks! It was a great way to meet our new members and for them to be introduced to ECSC.

Speaking of new members, Mark Alerson and his family (wife Sheri and children Nicole and Whitney) will be sailing their AMF this summer at ECSC.

We have also had several people inquire about joining the Club this past month and expect to join this fall.

Keli Mates, Membership

Ahoy! It is hard to believe we have completed all but one Sail Indiana class. To date, our participants have demonstrated the ability to sail through all points of wind, capsize & upright their Lasers, and respond efficiently to man overboard situations.

A willingness to learn and the spirit to experiment, especially in the light air Saturdays, have contributed to the Sail Indiana fun this season.

Thank you Dr. Bob, Wayne Myers, Bruce Cameron, Kenny Chapman, Tom Wong, Colin Riseley, Jenny Graf, Mike Gray, Johanna Schaub, Jeff Ward, and Bob Hickok for the invaluable assistance. Your presence was integral to the speed in which the exchange of sailing know-how was transpired and absorbed.

The final Saturday mini-regatta/cookout on August 4th promises to be one to remember. Looking forward to seeing Sail Indiana 2001 sailors on the water!

Karl Walther, Safety & Education

Welcome to Tailer’s Tips and Tales...the informational highway here at ECSC. Well, I made it! No bolts of lightning were received by this investigative reporter, contrary to the wishes of at least one formerly prominent board member. Hey, this is supposed to be fun. But, it sure gets to be a chore when you get a pack of moral whiners that get to crying about (I think) the fun they aren’t having.

To you new members, I charge you with one mission: Use This Club! Use it for fun. Use it with your loved ones. Bring your precious children out to learn the joys of sailing a boat just their size that they alone command. Bring yourself out after work to take advantage of wonderful stress relieving powers by ghosting around the Lake without a care in the world. Bring your friends and expose them to this paradise. Use This Club!

On with the tips:

DO NOT sail lasers without the plugs. They will sink after a few hours. The plugs are in the school loft.

DO use the lasers and the prams to teach your children to sail.

DO NOT use them when the sailing school is in session.

DO NOT allow any whining and crying on Club grounds.

DO express your ideas and comments to any member you come across.

DO NOT forget to bring your chair to the Club for the great chair parties that spring up from time to time (That’s usually where I get all the dirt for this fun packed article) .

DO NOT (AT ANY TIME UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES) dump your port-ta potti into the lake. There is a large plastic gray water tank next to the porta-let for that purpose.

DO clean your potti tank with a cap full of bleach and one drop of dish washing liquid, combined with a cup of water. At this point, make sure the cap is on the tank and shake, do not stir. Empty into the gray water tank.

DO NOT use more than one small drop of dish washing liquid or Kenny will have the honey dipper after him.

Tailer, The De-Staffinator

Does anyone consistently receive their Telltales in a handy plastic bag from the Post Office with a note of apology for shredding it? One of our members noted this to me saying: "I have this problem almost every month. It is like reading a fine Danielle Steele book with the last two chapters missing." I guess I’ll take that as a compliment, but still check to see if this is a more prevalent problem with other members.

If you have had this problem "too much," please let me know (evan@indy.rr.com). This might also be a good time to note that the Telltales are now being put on our web site at www.ecsail.org.

Evan Williams, Da Editor