Knee High by the 4th of July!! An old farmers’ saying as to how fast the corn grows…. Can it be July already? Summer is flying by as usual and our social season is half over.
Thanks to George Alyea, Kathy, and Dawn & Chuck Kidd for hosting the Father’s Day brunch. The weather looked a little bleak, but we ended up with a great turnout for all our dads.
Tony Rice, Ed & Fran Rice, and all their gang have put on a great July 4th bash for all of us to enjoy. Roast pig, corn, and all the fixin’s taste great every year and I know we enjoyed “pigging out” with all the other Club members. Thanks to all who contribute their time and great side dishes for these fun events.
Above: Ki with his father and Grandfather.
Speaking of social events, our next big event will be the Commodore’s Bash on August 12th which will “pirate” us into unchartered waters!!! Everyone is welcome...especially all new members. Look for more details on this from Commodore E and his crew!!!!!
My last bit of information is kind of a distress call! I need someone to host the Hornback Chili Cook Off on October 7th. As of the beginning of July, I don’t have anyone to host this event yet. Remember, members hosting or working these socials get work credits toward membership dues for the next year. It’s a great way to meet people you might not ordinarily get to know, plus it’s fun! Call me at 566-0353 if you can assist!
See you on the water!
| Harbormaster |
Bill Harrington | Chauncey Olin |
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Summer is officially here...here comes the sun. The water is still above normal pool and the wind is good. OK, so sometimes a little too good. Excellent sailing weather.
New sand, new paint, fixed roof's, new drains, grass cut, trees trimmed, flowers watered, gravel washed...the place is lookin' good. And thanks to Sophia & Jim Strohl for the great job of keeping the restrooms clean.
There are still a few members who have slips assigned and their boats are still on trailers. If this is you and you find a strange boat in your slip, call me or the Vice-Commodore Bob Hickok instead of whomever is in your slip. We told them to be there. It's way past the date set by the Club to make sure you are in your assigned parking space. And, I say again, you can be fined for being so late. Please be courteous to your fellow members.
Above Pic: Some race
Chauncey and I have been busy checking boat and trailer stickers; if yours isn't current, please make sure you attach it soon. The sticker on your boat is your pass to be on the Lake. If it isn't current, you may be asked to pay the lake launching fee (it's included with a current membership). We have also been trying to get rid of the ever present derelict boats. If the Club sticker on your boat isn't current, it may be mistaken for abandoned.
Also, please lock the gate when you leave after dark, even if there are members still at the Club.
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| Ladies For Sail |
Janet Hickok |
Another great Ladies’ Regatta in the memory bank!
We had almost a record turnout...see pic right.
Unfortunately, while cruising through our treasure map sailing course, we run afoul of several irate pirate ships loaded with weaponry. Many of our gals were doused from water canons and aqua-bombs.
We quickly threw up the white flag and ended up being boarded...initiating one of the season’s largest raftups.
Much thanks to the Club’s buccaneers who helped with the logistics and encouragement.
PS - Bill, please fix the floats on that dock!!!
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| Safety & Education |
Wayne Myers | Rick Graef |
Junior Sailing Week
Rick Graef and I wish to say “Thank You” to the many Club members that gave their time for this week. This year’s turn out was the largest in our history. We are in the planning stage for next year...maybe two weeks.?
Something to Think About
If you want to enjoy sailing and to race successfully, keep your equipment in top shape. Check every part, each nut, bolt, and screw for points of wear and chafe. A minor failure may dismast your boat or permit competition to pass...usually during the most important race of the year.
Above Pic: 2006 Sailing Camp
Right-of-Way Rules
Don’t FORCE your Right-of-Way.
Port tack boats shall keep out of the way of starboard tack boats both upwind and downwind.
Windward boats shall keep out of the way of leeward boats.
Safety Tips For Trailering
Choose the proper trailer for your boat. More damage can be done to a boat by the stresses of road travel than by normal water operation. A boat hull is designed to be supported evenly by water. When transported on a trailer, your boat should be supported structurally as evenly across the hull as possible. This will allow for even distribution of the weight of the hull.
Check that:
The coupler is completely over the ball & locked.
The safety chains are attached crisscrossing under the coupler to the frame of the tow vehicle. If the ball were to break, the trailer would follow in a straight line and prevent the coupler from dragging on the road.
Check your lights, brakes, and tires.
Austin, EJ, RJ, and Erika at the Hoover Lake Regatta.
Junior News
Just received a message from the head coach of Culver Academies. September 16 &17th, they having the Indiana State Sailing Championship...Laser & 420 class boats and must be in high school. For more info, call Jemison Foster 574-842-8034.
The ECSC 2006 Junior Bay week team has been picked: RJ Graef, EJ Williams, and Hanna Fisher will be going to Junior Bay Week and sailing in the radial Laser class.
Bob Hickok, Wayne Myers, and Ki Hickok will have trailer and support duty. Rick & Sandy Graef along with Evan & Katie Williams have chaperone duty. Tony Hubbard is doing safety again this year on his 38’ wooden sailboat. Tyler Andrews is the developmental coach. The team will be leaving Indy July 13th...racing starts with a tune-up regatta, Friday the 14th at the Vermillion Sailing Club. For Bay Week on South Bass Island, the juniors will be staying in a hotel on the island...the support personal will be in tents! What a life....
Tyler Andrews (shown with dad, Chuck) loaded with a Laser and Thistle on his way to the US Junior Championships
Calendar
ECSC REGATTA
July 8 & 9
We have 4 Flying Junior sail boats and are looking for parents and kids to race them in the ECSC Regatta. Give us a call or E-Mail about this annual Race.
Vermilion Sailing Club
July 14
Laser Radial & Full Rig
Junior Bay Week
July 17 – 21
Laser Radial & Full Rig
Toilet Bowl Regatta, NY
August 19 & 20
Finn
2006 Laser Master N. A. Championships
September 8-10
Milwaukee, Wis.
Must be over 35 years old & member of the Laser Class.
Laser Radial & Full Rig
RJ & EJ Playing on an FJ
Cowan Lake Sailing Club
September 9 & 10
Laser Radial & Full Rig
Wawasee, Indiana
September 17 & 18
Laser Radial & Full Rig
Low Tide Regatta
Berlin YC
September 30
Laser Radial & Full Rig
Lake Lemon Regatta
September 23 & 24
Laser & Finn
Laserlips !
Ohio, Saturday Oct. 14
Laser Radial & Full Rig
Louisville
October 28 & 29
Laser Radial & Full Rig
Bob, Janet, & crew at the 2006 Pig Regatta
If you or your junior would like to travel to one of these regattas, please call or talk to us. The Club will supply the boats and some funding is available.
See you on the water....
Have a teenager that will be just staying home and playing the video games this summer? Let us help .... Junior program open to ages 13 - 18, m/f…
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ECSC Sailing School
Saturdays
July Schedule
July 22nd and 29th
9:30am - Noon
Free to Club Members
$25 per class day for Non-Members
Equipment/Boats provided
2 Man Boats to Learn In
Lasers and FJs
Some Classroom Learning
Small Boat Drills
Life Jackets Required
Afternoons Open for Sailing
Contact:
Wayne Myers
AlarmCo@NetDirect.net
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Editor's Note: Rumor has it that Wayne officially attains Old Man status on July 5th...his 60th birthday!!
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| Junior Sailing Goes on the Road |
Rick Graef |
ECSC Junior Sailing has had an exciting and busy spring season. As our first generation junior sailors graduate from junior status and assume the role of coach and teacher, a new crop of young sailors is striving to fill their booties.
As a member of ECSC, we are all members of the Inter-Lake Yachting Association (I-LYA). I-LYA is a made up of yacht clubs in the areas of Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair, and Lake Erie of the Great Lakes, and inland waters in Indiana and Ohio. I-LYA runs both Junior Bay Week at Put-In-Bay on Lake Erie and a Junior Traveler Series. For several years ECSC has sent juniors to Junior Bay Week (Tyler Andrews and Ki Hickock have represented ECSC well). This year we are sending RJ Graef, EJ Williams, Hannah Fisher, and Jacob Hubbard to Junior Bay Week (July 16 – 20). In order to qualify for Bay Week, our juniors need to sail at least two regattas on “open water.” This means waves and usually lake Erie. This need led team ECSC to the I-LYA Junior Traveler Series. This series is a competition for juniors from I-LYA member clubs, based on the best five of seven regatta finishes of registered skippers and crew at any of the qualifying regattas. Both EJ Williams and RJ Graef have registered and are competing in the travelers series on full rig Lasers.
Above: RJ with his 1st Place trophy
Our first junior regatta of the year was Indianapolis Sailing Club’s Spring Laser Regatta on April 8th and 9th. ECSC juniors in attendance were RJ Graef, Hanna Fisher, and Jacob Hubbard. The winds were 20+ and they tested the water temperature often and usually without warning. RJ was our only junior to sail Lasers in this year's Mayors Cup Regatta, so he joined in with the Finn Fleet and held his own.
On June 3rd my wife Sandy took RJ to the Cattail Junior Regatta at Jolly Roger Sailing Club in Toledo Ohio. While this regatta does not count for the traveler series, it served as RJ’s 1st open water regatta. Sandy’s biggest concern on arriving at the club in Toledo was an extremely large concrete bulkhead that stood between the club and the water. The next morning her fears of how to get the boat to the water were eased when the sailors worked together and lifted the boats over the bulkhead and tossed them into the river. RJ sailed in the Radial Fleet and finished 3rd out of 8 boats.
On June 10th, Team ECSC headed to Hoover Sailing Club just outside of Columbus, Ohio for the first traveler series regatta of the year. Commodore and Mrs. Commodore (Evan and Katie Williams) along with me brought EJ & Erika Williams, and RJ & Austin Graef (all pic'd left). We arrived at Hoover the day before so our juniors could train for about three hours. Special thanks to Mitch Alverado of Hoover Sailing Club who helped us get into the club and even loaned us a coach boat with which to train that evening. Winds the next morning were light and very variable. I ended up working the RC Boat with a former Ohio State sailor and we got 3 races in. In his 1st Laser regatta, Austin sailed in the radial fleet and finished 6th out of 8 boats. RJ, EJ, and Erika all sailed in the full rig section. RJ was 1st, EJ 4th, and Erika (also in her 1st Laser regatta) 10th.
On June 24th, Team ECSC loaded up the trailer and headed north to Grosse Ile Yacht Club for the second traveler series regatta. Grosse Ile is just south of Detroit, Michigan. Evan Williams and Sandy Graef took both EJ and RJ. Both juniors again sailed full rigs. RJ brought home another first place. EJ (sailing in his 1st open water regatta) finished mid-fleet.
On June 28, RJ joined me on a trip to Chicago to crew on Excalibur, the Beneteau 40.7 that several ECSC and IUPUI sailors and I have crewed on before.
On July 1st, team ECSC traveled to Buckeye Lake Sailing Club (30 miles past Columbus, OH) with RJ and EJ in their third traveler series regatta. Evan, Katie, and Sandy arrived at the club a day early in order to give the boys some local training time. Winds for this regatta were over 15mph and our juniors learned that the full rig Lasers can be a handful when sailed in heavier air by lightweight sailors.
Next weekend EJ, Austin, and Erika will be part of the junior FJ races that are becoming a tradition during the ECSC regatta. RJ will be heading to Port Clinton with regatta-mom Sandy for his 4th Traveler series regatta.
July 14th, Team ECSC will be in Vermillion, Ohio for the Bay week warm-up regatta. Following that, they will head directly to South Bass Island for Junior Bay week.
Hannah Fisher will also be joining the team for Junior Bay Week. She has recently finished her US Sailing instructor training in Ohio. She will be with her family in Ireland until just before Bay Week and has been training there.
Left: RJ & EJ at Grosse Ile
Our experiences thus far have shown the value of our Junior Sailing program at ECSC. Our program is in its infancy compared to the larger Lake Erie clubs that show up to these regattas with full 10-12 sailor teams (lasers, 420s, Thistles, FJs, and Optis) with staffed coach boats. While the competition level is high, the training from our coaches (Tyler, Ki, Wayne, and me) is preparing our juniors well for these regattas. As for Junior Bay Week, we are excited to have Tyler and Ki as our US Sailing trained coaches. Thanks to all of our members who have supported the Junior Sailing Program through donations of time, money, and sailing gear. We could not be offering these opportunities without your support. Good luck Team ECSC!!!!
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| Racing |
Chris Cunningham | Mike Irwin |
Don’t have an article from Racing this month...yet.
It appears Chris & Emily are a little preoccupied with their new arrival.
Smooth Sailing......
Remember, all we wanna do is have some fun!!
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| Weekend Warrior Regatta |
Janet Rupert |
The Eagle Creek Weekend Warrior Regatta was worth the trip. My husband and I went over to Indy on Friday night and camped...but since the regatta didn't start until noon Saturday, it could have been an easy day trip instead. We setup our new pop-up camper for the first time at the edge of the water, and stayed on the grounds in royal style. Eagle Creek Sailing Club has roomy wooded grounds. The spring trees were blooming and a number of deer rambled through in the morning.
Right: Janet racing
The wind was from 8 to 14 and fairly steady. Air in low 60s and only a bit of sprinkling late in the day. The air temp made the wearing of wetsuits and dry suits more comfortable. The Race Committee set short Windward/Leeward courses. No race lasted longer than 15 minutes and they got in 10 races! Every one of my starts was bad, so I know what to work on. In the first race, I did a bad tack...too close and too slow and hit another boat. I'm working on the gelcoat on the bow of my beauty today. When I tried to make up some time downwind, I death rolled and got in a little practice righting my capsized boat. At least I finished the race.
There were only six sailors and my best finish was 4th. A couple of the people were really, really good. But, I have to admit that a 98 pound boy beat me to the finish line twice. Then, in the 7th race on the way to the Windward mark, my hands cramped so badly that I couldn't open my fists. I eased the sail and let the boat round up and then drank a lot of water. That helped, but it happened again in the 8th race, so I gave up and sailed in. I think I was sweating a lot in my dry suit and because it is breathable, I didn't really notice. Next time, more water and sports drinks as I go along.
The Race Committee went for pizza as we put our boats away, so we had a great wrap up...with talk of the racing, and good food. PRO Wayne Myers exhibited endless enthusiasm and he and other sailors had good tips for me at the end of the day. I encourage everyone within a few hours drive to try the Eagle Creek Weekend Warrior next year.
Above, More racers in that Weekend Warrior Regatta
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Please welcome our new members to the Club:
Scott and Mary Catherine Brown, and their young sailors Shelby and Simon are sailing an O’Day Daysailor.
Membership Count: 255
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| Ship's Store |
Joyce & Malcolm Mallette |
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July 4th is the last social open event ‘till Labor Day. Time to buy for this summer is now!
We will also be open for the ECSC Regatta the weekend of July 8/9th.
Remember, all we wanna do is sell Club apparel!!
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| Tag Article |
John & Joy Gilmor |
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And, BAM! There goes my ambiguity. When Janet came to me and tagged me for this article, I thought, “No biggie, I can do that. No worries.” Then, the next morning, I began to wonder what I was going to babble about and whether or not members really wanted to hear what I have to say. But, considering that I’ve been tagged, and now the hunted has become the hunter, you’ll have to read what I write about or stop here. I guess I’ll start at the beginning.
I was born a poor…….Oh wait! That was the movie, “The Jerk.” How about I start with how I came to be a member of the Sailing Club? I started my sailing career in the Boy Scouts. For my 14th birthday, my father got us a Hobie 16 and a spot on the “majestic” Hobie beach. I was a huge fan of the Lake and for many years I honed my sailing abilities, or lack there of, from that spot. Now I’ll hit fast forward and wind up some years down the road.
I got out of the Navy in 1998. Wanting to recapture the good times I’d had on the Lake, I bought a Hobie 18 and migrated back to the beach. We all know the good times associated with sailing, so I won’t relive all the memories...some of which are rather foggy anyway...but it brings me to the next step of my Lake education.
That summer I met “Wild Bob” Hickock. We sailed and hung out quite a bit and I kept hearing of this great club across the lake. Not knowing what the Club was all about, at that time, and being a person who doesn’t want his good time interrupted, I was happy to stay put on the beach. But, as that year progressed, Bob became a better friend and convinced me that it was worth the risk and that my good times would not be interfered with...but further enhanced. Another factor that pushed me towards the move is that I did not own the boat alone. My buddy had a 50% share of the boat and was a legacy at the Club. Due to “guilt by association.” he shall remain nameless…. Ryan Finney. Between Bob and Ryan, I was sold on joining. Dues were paid and we had “arrived.” One thing Ryan didn’t tell me is that a legacy didn’t have to come up with that one-time initiation fee. Still a sore spot. Come on Ryan, make with the half-back program!
John on Swept Away
This might be the moment for those of you who don’t already know me to say, “Oh, THAT’S the guy.” Upon joining the Club, we discovered that you are put on the waiting list for a slip. Ok, sounds good...but what were we supposed to do with our new (to us) Catalina 25? In our “brilliance,” we decided to rent a buoy from the park...thus by-passing the need to keep using our suspect trailer. You know the one...the one with that boat perched precariously atop waiting for a bird to land on the mast and ruin the show. Insurance? Yes please! Where do I sign?……
Where was I? Oh, yes. The swim...we would park at Rick’s Boatyard., trudge through the parking lot, machete our way thru the thickets (all the while, fighting off angry mother geese), just to then plop into the Eagle Ocean and swim the frigid croc infested waters to our boat. Alright, a bit of an exaggeration...but still a pain in the arse. Then, one day, we saw the divine light. Ah, yes… the 48 dock. Notice I didn’t say 48-hour dock. What does that mean anyway?… “hour”? By the way, I believe I hold the record for “length of stay” on that fine, wooden structure. I won’t say how long, due to the fear someone might try to one-up me and take my title. Plus, I’m not sure of the statute of limitations on past violations.
The surroundings at the Club are awesome and we began sailing, camping, partying, and admiring our boat on that 48 thing a lot that first year. Then it happened. My boat co-owner and I started separate businesses and with those new adventures, our time to enjoy the surroundings was limited to weekdays rather than the weekends. A bit worried what folks might think about my dock “title” and our lack of exposure, we stayed primarily to ourselves. I figured, “Screw it. I pay my dues. I’ll do what I want.” My wife, Joy, and I would camp out during what most might think “odd times” ...usually Tuesday or Wednesday nights. In a way, it was great because the only souls around were Bob Bodish and Trouble. Both of whom became friends and regulars at our camp dinners. I’m sure if you ask him, Bob will tell you we had a significant amount of fun at the Club despite our odd schedules. I call it a club, but we treated it like a private club and didn’t really take it to the social club level. It is not to say that we were antisocial. We just didn’t quite figure out where we belonged exactly.
It was not until three years later and a new business venture that forced me on the Club and the Club on me. With this new exposure, we began to meet all those people that I was sure talked amongst themselves and thought “that’s them.” Much of my suspicions were misaligned and I have to say “they” have never interfered with my fun. Truthfully, “they” have taken it to an entirely awesome level. I love it! The good times are too many to list, but a few that come to mind and deserve mention are events such as the beach party and recently the Ladies’ Sail. Those who were there can attest to that (incoming!). Joy and I have met a slew of new people and are so happy to call them friends. Again, I will not mention names due to the fact that people might look at me differently if they knew I associate with the likes of ya’ll, but you know who you are.
Left: Joy, smiling for my Camera
I have to say that Joy and I are now enjoying the Club, our friends, and the good times more than ever. Now, after all the years of sailing (ok...cruising) and hanging at the Club, I have come to see the Club for what it is...an awesome place that is a stir-fry of all different types of great people whom I’ve found out are just as crazy as I am. And no matter what the extent of your craziness or how you utilize our fine Club…IT’S ALL GOOD! Sadly though, our schedules are even odder than ever now. Many times, weekends are out of the question. But no matter what odd day of the week it is, if you see us camping, come up and crash the party….because we plan to crash yours!
P.S. (shameless plug) You can meet the author at the Boathouse Grill. I hear he’s there a lot and I hear it’s a great place.
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Our Club was contacted to help create a sailing training video. The goal was to create about a four minute video to be shown during inflight airline entertaiment. It was also an expose on seeing how a newcomer to sailing could be taught in one day...specifically 22 year old Champ Car Driver Dan Clarke (in town for the F1 thing).
Our certified US Sailing Instructor, Ki Hickok, was commissioned for this task.
Right: Ki being interviewed on how Dan performed.
Ki had the difficult task of balancing actually teaching Dan to sail and creating decent sailing scenes for the camera & crew.
Bottom line, by the end of the day, Dan could fairly well handle a Laser (in decent wind, do some hikeouts) and several great tacks were taped.
It was a fun day watching and helping this all foldout...
Left: Ki and his best buddy Dan.
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Board Meetings |
January 10* |
February 7 |
April 11 |
May 9 |
| July 11 |
September 12 |
| October 10 * |
November 4 |
| November 14 |
* Exe Com Only |
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| 2006 Racing/Social Calendar |
2006 Social Calendar, Click Here.
2006 Racing Calendar, Click Here.
2006 Overall Club Calendar, Click Here.
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It’s not just the Committee Heads and Officers who do all the volunteer work at this Club….it’s just about everybody. Who do you think does our taxes every year? Wanna bet only a handful of members know who he is? He’s one of our Past Commodores who just keeps giving.