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| Commodore |
Plans are underway by your board members for a great 2010 season. Ki Hickok and Wayne Myers have great plans for the new junior area and shed on the east end of our property. They are also working on our Safety and Education programs and junior race team details. Chauncey Olin and Joy Gilmor will no doubt follow up last year’s social calendar with more fun this season. Kenny Chapman and Dr. Bob McCoun have an exciting season of racing activities planned for sailors of all levels. Jane Schmidt and Rich Fox have worked diligently to get you all of your membership info and will be processing a lot of paperwork in the next month or so. Evan Williams continues to keep the Club informed through our great Club newsletter and E-Mail blasts. Bill Harrington keeps our website up to date. Rob Maxey is keeping the finances in order for the benefit of all of us. And, Ralph Merriman and Rick Sprowl are busy getting our Club into shape for the upcoming season. Please thank your Club leaders for all of their hard work.
See you at the work parties,
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| Membership |
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Welcome new members: Scott and Kim Sweeney from Avon sailing a Capri 26 Bob and Deb Meehan from Zionsville sailing an S2 8.0 And, we welcome David and Ann Marie Knapp back as active members in 2010. They will be sailing a McGregor 25.
Right: Governor's Cup Regatta The 2010 Membership Kits have been mailed and most of you should have received yours by now. The Membership Kit includes keys (if you ordered an extra main gate key or a new Sail School Loft key), round decals for boat and trailer, and a new label for the back of your membership card. Any questions, please send me a message at ecsc_membership@yahoo or leave a message at 317-575-9837. Also, the renewal/join deadline for appearing in the Membership Directory is the end of March. And, late submission by current members of the annual dues (and any outstanding debts) will result in reinstatement to the active membership roster, but will still be placed at the bottom of the slip wait list. REMEMBER – All 2009 keys will be good through 2010 with the exception of the Sail School key. Please keep your old Sail School Key (SC09) handy until we announce that the lock has been changed at which time your new key (SC10) will work. This should be completed early in April. The ECSC Membership Directory will go to the publisher in April and be mailed by mid May.
Left: Impromptu Chair Party Rich will also be offering several orientation sessions for new members during 2010. The first will be on Saturday, April 24th as noted above. If you change your mailing address or E-Mail address in 2010, be sure to let me know at ecsc_membership@yahoo.com. If you need any additional keys, please contact me. All information which you sent to me regarding your wet slip preferences will be given to our Harbormaster, Ralph Merriman, on March 2nd. He and Rick Sprowl will begin the big task of assigning wet slips and ground parking places.
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| Social |
Although our social agenda for 2010 is published (see the website), we have a need for a few great leaders to help prepare these 2010 Events. Looking for hosts for our Father’s Day Brunch (June 20th), Commodore's Event (August 14th), Labor Day Cookout (September 6), the Hornback Chili Cookoff (October 9th), and the Final Bash (November 6th).
Right: One of our Brunches last year Any ECSC member and their team can earn up to a total 15 work credit hours for an event. Contact me ASAP at 317-502-8080 or chaunceyolin@yahoo.com.
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| Ship's Store |
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Inventories on a lot of items and/or sizes were allowed to run out at the end of the 2009 sailing year. All of these along with some new items will be replenished by May 1st. Of course, anything presently available may be purchased. Just give us a 24-hour notice and we will meet you at the Club on a mutually agreed on time. The Ship's Store is also officially open with items on display at all major events on our Club calendar. Just like the $ menu at McDonald's, we also have some items offered at $1.00. An example would be the ECSC reusable shopping bag or the floating key chains. Check out the Ship's Store on the Club website. The purpose here is to have items that portray you as part of The Eagle Creek Sailing Club and proud of it!!!!!! http://www.ecsail.org/shipstore.htm
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| Racing |
Hello ECSC sailors!Hope everyone is fine and you're not longing for a sail too badly. I am sure this white-ice winter is almost over and we will be able to see who gets their boat in the water first this year.
Right: Our Commodore and crew in the Governor's Cup Regatta Stand by for a date in March for a rules meeting and one in April...then yet another for RC instruction. Most race and regatta dates for the year are finalized and will be forth coming. If you are already on file with the Club, registration will only be necessary in the event of changed equipment or regattas. If you are not on file, your boat will be given a standard PHRF number, i.e., if you are not using flying sails in your fleet, you should register unless that was your change of equipment from last year. Simplicity is also our ongoing theme here at ECSC racing...so, make sure you are registered the way you want to be scored. Any boats found to be using unregistered equipment may find themselves DSQ for any series. Regattas will be open to all equipment changes and you also get free stuff for your attendance.
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| Safety & Education |
Junior Team News1st Junior meeting and work party date is March 27th, 9am. We will be moving gear from our old building to our new building all that weekend. Maybe we'll get some time on the water and getting our gear and boats ready. Pizza & Drinks on Saturday.
Right: Last year's sailing camp
As of this date ECSC Junior Team Members are:
Right: Joy & Ki working with the kids
Junior Sailing Camp For info, http://www.ecsail.org/juniorsailing.htm
Preparation The most important thing is to keep on having fun, no matter how you finish. In the long term, it’s very important to feel fit. You can be lucky and it can be light winds all the time...or there can be a day with no sailing. You are better off being prepared for the difficult conditions. This will also make you mentally at ease.
You need a plan every time you go out to practice. If you just go sailing without having anything particular in mind, you will spend a lot of time without improving very fast. Also, try to find someone you like to train with and work together. There’s nobody who can get to the top alone...we all need partners to train with. Left: An RS Tera at Sailboats, Inc When you’re training with a partner, it’s up to the fast one to help the slow one to be as fast as him/her. I know that sounds like giving your secrets away, but if you wanna get help when you’re in trouble, you had better help the person when he’s in trouble – that’s teamwork. Don’t waste your time on jealousy, sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. The race is long...in the end, it’s only with yourself.
Something To Think About I have seen the change in kids who we have brought through our sailing programs. Your child will only sail if you make the commitment and make it fun.
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| Comments on the America's Cup Race |
USA WON the 33rd Americas Cup! Let's Celebrate!It is worth noting that the BMW Oracle team won the America’s Cup yachting races off Valencia, Spain - returning the Cup to the US after a 15 year absence. This is the longest time the Cup has been away from the US since a schooner called America beat a fleet of British sailboats off the Isle of Wight in 1851. KC's View on "MorningNewsBeat.com" (Which, quite naturally, reminds me of a lyric from my favorite troubadour):
We ain't stealin' we're just takin' back Don't know how you watched the AC race in the states, but I watched it on my computer here in MX and found the bmworacleracing.com web site a much better feed than the AC web site. These boats are amazing, but I think a bit over the top! I like the wide open rule of 90'x90' but think they should make them smaller to lower the cost and practicality. Also this would eliminate the need for a motor to power hydraulics that I think should not be allowed. It is not GREEN nor reminiscent of what sailing originated from. After all as they said, catamarans and trimarans go back 1000's of years. Maybe to uphold the old tradition, they should go back to 12M x 12M and no motor. This would maybe require a little more basics in design.
Both Pictures: BMW Oracle - winner of the America's Cup
That fixed wing is truly an engineering marvel! They could adjust each section to the tell tale flow. But, they may be like the turbine engines at the Indy 500. And, how does one store a fixed wing in a slip? I think Oracle was just playing with Alinghi in the 2nd race just to try to make it seem competitive. I find it totally hard to believe that two boats built so differently (and with a 35' taller mast) could be that close in speed. Alinghi was not even close as was seen in race 1. BMWOracle knew they had it in the bag no matter what. So why not make it look good? How about taking a poll of the club members? What should be the boat rules for the next cup? Where should the next race be held and what time of year? I say 12M X 12M no engine power...where there is good wind, warm weather, and easy to be reached by lots of people. I say spring in the Gulf of Mexico out of St Pete/Tampa. According to The Deed of Gift, it is the yacht club representing the nation (not the owner of the competing yacht) that owns the Cup. Here is the applicable paragraph from the Deed of Gift pertaining to this issue: Should the Club holding the Cup be for any cause dissolved, the Cup shall be transferred to some Club of the same nationality, eligible for challenge under this deed of gift, in trust and subject to its provisions. In the event of the failure of such transfer within three months after such dissolution, such Cup shall revert to the preceding Club holding the same, and under the terms of this deed of gift. It is distinctly understood that the Cup is to be the property of the Club subject to the provisions of this deed, and not the property of the owner or owners of any vessel winning a match.
Right: Impromptu picnic after sailing Likewise, the venue for the next match is determined by the yacht club holding the Cup, not by the owner of the vessel that won the Cup. So, Ellison has no right to name the next venue. That right belongs to the Golden Gate Yacht Club. In the press conference following the America's Cup last week, Ellison took WAY too much power to make such decisions when he was asked about where the Cup would reside and where the next match would be held. He doesn't have that authority. I hope the Golden Gate Yacht Club will step up and take the reins, and not just rubber stamp whatever Ellison says. Here is the paragraph from the Deed of Gift pertaining to this issue. In case the parties cannot mutually agree upon the terms of a match, then three races shall be sailed and the winner of two of such races shall be entitled to the Cup. All such races shall be on ocean courses, free from headlands, as follows: The first race, twenty nautical miles to windward and return; the second race an equilateral triangular race of thirty-nine nautical miles, the first side of which shall be a beat to windward; the third race (if necessary) twenty nautical miles to windward and return; and one week day shall intervene between the conclusion of one race and the starting of the next race. These ocean courses shall be practicable in all parts for vessels of twenty-two feet draught of water, and shall be selected by the Club holding the Cup; and these races shall be sailed subject to its rules and sailing regulations so far as the same do not conflict with the provisions of this deed of gift, but without any times allowances whatever. The challenged Club shall not be required to name its representative vessel until at a time agreed upon for the start, but the vessel when named must compete in all the races, and each of such races must be completed within seven hours. As for boats, I say it should be these things.. No mono hulls, no cats, no tri's... let's try hydrofoil tri.. real high performance boats. World Record speeds of 50 knots or more. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgNtPETcta4 As for the rules, I say set a size, weight, volume, and manpower box and the designers must fit within those. Power controls...Yes. Maybe even allow computer-controlled sails and steering. They already instrument just about anything they can to analyze their sailing conditions.
Russell Coutts, skipper of the team of Larry Ellison, has confirmed that the Golden Gate Yacht Club accepts the challenge of Club Nautico of Rome to represent the Mascalzone Latino Team Audi. The team headed by Lara Ciribì Onorato is thus the new Challenger of Record for the 34th America's Cup. Left: Hosts for one of our Brunches last year. Lara's husband Vincent, an expert sailor who led Mascalzone Latino in the two previous America's Cup campaigns, said, "With thanks to Larry Russell, follow this role with honesty, passion, and friendship." The first challenger is responsible for negotiating with the Defender of the terms of the future challenge. This will be based on mutual consent in order to provide the America's Cup future of major sports events based on fair rules and shared with all the teams participating. So, What's Next? What does it mean to have an Italian Challenger of Record for America's Cup 34? Let's start with spirit, enthusiasm, gusto, and sport pursued con brio. Vincenzo Onorato's Mascalzone Latino team was one of four (yes, four) Italian entries in the 2007 Cup, and the game was more fun while the Italians were in it. Expect more of the same. With the Club Nautico di Roma in the hunt, there will be pre-event racing ahead of the next America's Cup match, and we can be sure that some of that will take place in Italy!You won't want to miss it!
Left: More hosts for a Cookout last year Under the Cup's Deed of Gift, any properly constituted yacht club is entitled to challenge. In the old days, the New York Yacht Club would simply wait for someone in Merry Olde England to write them a letter. In our times, however, every new Defender sets out to build a type of competition that suits his vision. Rather than sit back and wait to see what sort of challenger might pop up, Ellison was prepared with what we call a "hip pocket" challenge. That is, although he had claimed to "not be thinking about that" while the match was under way, he had already chosen his preferred Challenger of Record! On the final race day, he had his Golden Gate Yacht Club commodore, Marcus Young, securely sequestered to prevent surprises. Receiving the paperwork from the Circolo Nautico Roma was a mere formality. Click here to read the rest of Kimball's story. And, be sure to catch all the action on the 33rd America's Cup at SAIL's Cup Watch. How Oracle Won. Sail Magazine predicted BMW/Oracle's trimaran would win the 33rd America's Cup. Read the prediction here.
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| Club Communications |
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Along with our monthly newsletter, The Telltales, in which you're reading this article, our Club also uses E-Mail for the occasional news blast...which has the potential to reach all but a handful of our members plus numerous others. If you are not receiving messages from me (maybe about twice a month), I would recommend you contact me to figure out why. Wrong E-Mail address? Spam Filter? These blasts are a great way to keep up on Club activities...as well as the dues deadline that just passed!!!
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| Sailboats, Inc. |
I'll bet you are as tired of the snow and ice as we are! We keep telling
ourselves it is so beautiful. Ok, we've had enough beauty already. And,
what was that bright orb in the sky as I drove into work this morning?
Right: Snow-Covered Com-Pac at Sailboats, Inc Looks like the thick ice will be here for awhile, but don't let that stop you from getting your boat ready to sail now. If everyone waits till the ice melts to do their spring "to do" list, there could be a long line on the service list. Call now, or better yet, bring your boat or motor in for service. We've been busy getting ready for the spring rush. A new boat from Com-Pac arrived this month. The Sunday Cat has the largest cockpit of any new boat we currently sell and easy to step the hinged mast (you leave the sail on the boom). So, it's truly a 5-minute set up. Also, a number of new boats will be arriving soon. Orders were just placed for new boats from Catalina, Hobie, Precision, Laser Performance, and RS. All should be here soon.
Left: That same Com-Pac sans snow! We encourage you to BUY LOCALLY. http://sustainableconnections.org/thinklocal/why If we don't have it, we can get it for you. See you at the Club soon! Eileen & Charlie
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| Notes |
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Want to see who's representing the U.S. in our upcoming Olympics?? http://sailingteams.ussailing.org/Releases/2010_USSTAG.htm ====================================== After a few years of using the excuse of not being able to find a method of having the cushions on my 25 year old boat redone, I can no longer make that claim. There's a small place up near Eileen & Charlie's on West 96th named Ruma Upholstery who does exactly this sort of stuff. Or, what the heck...just ask Eileen or Charlie to do it for ya. They know where Ruma's is!! Evan
No birthday this year for our Ethel Morgan (February 29th)!! Only 13 birthdays so far in her life!! Oh, to be a young teenager again.....
Right: Ethel with crew on Ambush
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2010 Social Calendar, Click Here.
2010 Racing Calendar, Click Here.
2009 Overall Club Calendar, Click Here.
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| Click to view Sailboats, Inc's website. |
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| Click to view Ruma's website. |
| Eagle Creek Sail Club ECSC Home Page |
This year's first New Member Orientation is scheduled for Saturday, April 24 from 10am to 11am at the Upper Shelter House. The Orientation is open to any member who would like to become more familiar with the operations of the Club. Contact Rich Fox for more information at rich_fox@yahoo.com or 317-815-8599.
Rich Fox is serving as Assistant Membership Chairman and will again handle all inquiries from prospective new members during 2010. He has prepared a complete package of all needed information for prospective members which is available on the ECSC web site (www.ecsail.org). Please click on Membership Info, then on Membership Application to locate this. Please direct any possible new members to this site. 
Support Staff:
Most of us have enough power to sail pretty well for one or two days. But, when you are going to sail more often, you need to be stronger. First, you need to be able to keep sailing. But, even more, to stay free of injuries. If you increase your power, you also have to increase your flexibility, so stretch!
The reason the 1st race had to be postponed on Wednesday was so the chase boats could keep up with racers and not be beat to death by 2M waves.
Since the Golden Gate Yacht Club is the club represented by BMW Oracle Racing, the Cup rightly belongs in San Francisco at the Golden Gate Yacht Club. It doesn't matter where Ellison lives or owns his mansion. The Cup doesn't belong to him. 
Press Notes
Onorato supported Larry Ellison's legal challenge against the former Defender's plans. The two are friendly rivals, so it all makes sense. With Ellison's BMW Oracle Racing team winning the Cup 2-0 over Alinghi, Ellison was immediately in need of a Challenger/partner to set a framework for the future. That may sound strange, but that's the reality of America's Cup as a challenge competition in the 21st century.
The pre-owned market is extremely active right now. Several boats have
already changed hands and it's only February. We are not encouraging you to
sell your boat, but if it's something you are thinking about, now is the
time to get it listed with us. Just shoot us an E-Mail message and request
information. We'll send you info on how brokerage works. Our website has
averaged over 200 daily hits lately with nearly 500 page views per day. Last Saturday, for
some reason, the page hits soared to almost 1,000 hits. People are looking
and thankfully some are buying.
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