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| Commodore |
The Club opening work party was well attended, especially in the 20-degree weather. We got rid of some debris and cleaned up the place in style. Thanks to all who came out. I had the pleasure of christening the new Club R/C Pontoon. Named after its predecessor pontoon, the Elliott II, it will surely be the envy of visiting racers and will serve us efficiently for many years to come. I can’t thank enough all those who put in countless hours and making this idea a reality. Our Harbormaster says trailer parking can begin on May 1st. We’re still working with our neighbors on disguising the lot as requested. If you have a tall trailer, check with Bill on the best place to park it.
We’re in the process of more water-system testing after the first did not pass this year. So the showers, sinks, and drinking fountains will remain closed until we get through this series. Club racing starts with the Weekend Warrior Regatta (April 28-29th) and the Sunday and Wednesday Series continue after that. The Mother’s Day Brunch is the first social coming up (May 13th) and the Memorial Day Cookout the 28th of May. Sailing is just the bottom line...like adding up the score in bridge. My real interest is in the tremendous game of life. - Dennis Conner
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| Social |
 Attention all ECSC Club members. The social season is just about ready for its first big kickoff event of the year! Yes, it’s that time of year again!!!!! Our Mother’s Day Brunch is coming soon to a shelterhouse near you…….. On Sunday, May 13th, Brunch will be served at 11:30am to honor all Mom’s of ECSC. Bill Harrington & staff will be cooking up the main course (eggs and sausage). The club will provide drinks. All Club members are being asked to bring a favorite side dish for all to share. And, don't forget to bring your favorite Mom to the Club to celebrate her day!!!!!
Above: Gathering for Tim's birthday at the Boathouse And yes, another fun event is planned for Memorial Day. Larry & Pauline January and Jack Hale are our hosts for this event. This cookout will be ready by 5:00pm on Monday, May 28th. Again, the Club will provide the burgers and dogs. Everyone is requested to bring a side dish to share with everyone else. The Club will provide drinks as usual. Let’s all get together and commemorate and honor the many veterans who are serving or have served and sacrificed for all Americans. A BIG thanks to all of my hosts and hostesses and all the volunteers who make these events possible. Your efforts are greatly appreciated by all of us who enjoy these special holidays.
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| Harbormaster |
 Thanks to all the members who helped at the April 7th work party. The weather was perfect and the workers motivated. All of the usual Club opening tasks were finished in record time. The beach was cleaned & raked so well it looked like we were in the Caribbean. Too bad swimming is not allowed! Hopefully we will have a bunch of trees and bushes delivered on Saturday, May 5th from the Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District...starting late morning that day and maybe also Sunday the 6th. Rick and I would appreciate all the help we can get from those who like to dig holes. Please bring your shovels. They all come in 3 gallon containers so the holes won’t be too big...but 32 were ordered. And, the date isn’t set yet, but the same thing will happen in the fall.
Above: Jay on his tractor moving heavy scrap When the Club directory comes out, it will have the dry parking assignments listed for the new and old members. Check with Rick or me if you're confused. All the parking assignments are already posted on the back door of the school shed, the west side of the sail loft, and the Harbormaster bulletin board on the front of the main shelter.
Even though we have had some very good weather, there are still several members who have not launched their boats. All boats must be in their proper slips by Sunday, May 27th. Here are some reminders: All boats must be out of the Car Corral area before Mother’s Day (May 13th). Left: Adele burning debris 2007 stickers must be on the trailer tongue and port bow of your boat. No boat shall be tied to the “48 hour” dock for more than 48 hours in a seven day period. For some reason, we seem to be having a little trouble with our well. Until it is fixed properly, all that is available are the toilets. Hand washing sanitizer is available in both bathrooms if needed. Please don’t drink the water until the problem is resolved.
There are always some small projects that show up over the course of the summer that need a volunteer. Let me know if you’re interested. Remember that the work credit value has gone up...the max for this year’s work will get you $150 off of next year’s dues. Please make sure we all keep the gate locked after dusk. Even if there are a bunch of members at the Club, lock the gate when you leave after dusk. We’ve had problems in the past and would prefer not to have them repeated. Life: Lend a helping hand, leave some for the next person and try and have some fun. Right: Joe installing a new hoist motor. |
| Racing |
 Series Racing Begins….. ECSC Veteran Racers Welcome New Racers!!!! The first race of the series was held on Sunday, April 29th. The Competitors' and race management meeting was well attended on April 18th & 25th with more than 50 Club members participating. RC Guidelines for running races were distributed at the meeting and are available online and on the RC boat. Right: Weekend Warrior Regatta. Club Series Racing is one of your many benefits of membership in ECSC. IT’S ABSOLUTELY FREE!!! All you have to do is gather a crew and show up for lots of fun any Wednesday evening and just about every Sunday afternoon. At the competitors’ meeting, a challenge was issued to the veterans to help out a new racer “learn the ropes” and enter a race. ECSC has one of the best racing programs in the MidWest and we want every Club member to know they are welcome. Meet Mike or Chris at the committee boat at 5:30pm on Wednesdays or 12:15pm on Sundays for a "crash" course on starting signals and few quick racing tips.
May racing assignments are: Wednesdays: May 2nd Schaubs with Bill Best, 9th Dr. Bob with Les Eigrnbrod, 16th R Thomas Moore and Crew, 23rd Al Wilkins with C. Cunningham and M. Irwin, 30th Janet Hickok with R. Graef. Please plan to arrive at the Club by 5:30pm and on the water at 6:00pm. First flag is at 6:50pm. Sundays: May 6th STILL OPEN, May 27th Leonard with Traub. No series race on Mother’s Day or on May 20th (Mayor’s Cup). Sunday’s RC should be at the Club by 12:15pm and on the water by 12:45pm for the 1:30pm warning signal. The complete schedule of assignments is available online. If you cannot make your assigned date, please trade with someone and let Chris or Mike know. Above: Austin in the Weekend Warrior Regatta. The first big regatta of the year is the Mayor’s Cup on May 19th and 20th. This year, Jeff Dorsa and Crew are running the regatta and hosting a welcome party on Friday evening May 18th beginning at 7pm to welcome the out-of-towners and all regatta participants. The Notice of Race (NOR) is on the website (it has the details). Please note that the cost for regatta T-Shirts is discounted when you register early. Entry fee includes one T-Shirt and one regatta Saturday dinner. Smooth Sailing......
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| Bailer's Tips & More |
 I cannot believe a month has passed since I last checked in with the Club. Let me assure you I have not been sitting on my duff. Keeping my boat in order, keeping the lab up to standards dealing with the FDA, NSA, FBI, AARP among others let alone summerizing (opposite of winterizing) the boat is a job in itself...thank goodness for personal assistants. I have them to thank for keeping the “Queen Anne’s Revenge” running on an even keel. However, as my years of studying at Murphy's Law School, without fail, something will go wrong. Why just last week I lost two generators! Right: Adele, Dan, and Bill cutting up scrap. With only one in reserve, I have been hit by hard times. My boat drinks take twice as long to make because while powering my big screen entertainment center, I like to sit in my virbro-cliner watching funny programs...laughing and slapping my knee. This all draws power not to mention the Mulligan stew in the crock pot or the hot dogger mini hot dog wagon (shaped just like a hot dog), or the spot light to signal to all members, “party on board!" The spotlight seems to work better at night but today I was in a festive mood. So, I fired her up! All these combined I suspect cause my blender to run slow; real slow. It can’t even muster grind! My personal assistants felt motivated because their refrigerator is not hooked up to my extra double safety generator. They were whining that they wanted real food. The salted mullet was “aggravating their hyper-tension” so they volunteered to find parts and fix the main generators. They hopped in the dingy and paddled off. ….Why they didn't walk down the dock and borrow my car? Good help is hard to find.
Left: Bob hauling stuff. I was sitting in the sun, while the umbrella of my boat drink was shading my nose from sunburn as I pondered. I have been back nearly four months and really not found any more information on Tailer's whereabouts than when I first started my investigation. I sat up and said to myself...that ship of fools (my personal assistants in the dinghy) are not going to find any parts. I doubt they even find their way back! So I loaded up my Country Squire and steered my land Yacht to the nearest dollar store...or is it everything for a buck? I can't remember, but I do know it’s the first time I left the Club with 100 single dollar bills and returned with something to show for it besides a bunch of sparkles on myself. Well, let me tell you and this is for true - I found extension cords for a dollar. Five feet of power for only a buck. I did some mental calculations and figured I needed about 75 cords to reach from the light bulb at the shelterhouse (I bought a screw-in adapter to fit a power cord for a buck) to my boat. I also bought some really cool sunglasses, plastic cutlery, cheese grater, and a candle that was shaped like a Christmas tree. I had some dollars left over, made a quick stop, spent those, and back to the Club to connect my cords and solve my generator problem. All for less than I pay my assistants in a week! Plus a few sparkles.…Old habits are hard to break. Well, you cannot beat the dollar store (or whatever it is called) for deals. I connected all 75 5-foot cords together, plugged them into the cool light-bulb adapter and used some duct tape ($1.00) to fasten the cords safely to the dock. By my count, I had 375 feet of cord to power my laptop, which is now wi-fi friendly so I just go to the shelterhouse to connect. I trip on the cords some, but it saves gas for the generators and will give me the luxury of time to fix them properly...not some crack-pot jury rig, a real fix!
Well, a few days have passed and no assistants or crew has shown up. Me thinks they gone dingy on me. I sat on the back deck...a nice spring breeze...but I could not shake the feeling I should be doing something about Tailer. What should my next move be? I need to find my relative and besides, I don’t want that ghost of a pirate harassing me. I suspect he had something to do with the entire mystery. My deep concern and concentration caused me to dose off. I awoke with a start; a little boat drink umbrella sticking in your nostril will do this. I noticed I was in the shade...looked up and there stood one of the Harbormasters (there are two and each one tells me to talk to the other when I start to tell them about Tailer, ancient peg legs, chamois centuries old, etc.). Harbormaster, I say, "Whas up?" Above: The Tailer He stares down at me and said in a steady voice, “So, may I ask why you have the entire Club in a spider web of extension cords?” I answer “Well, my assistants or crew left to find parts for my generators because I have to stick around and look for Tailer and I got these cords for a steal and well, would you like a boat drink?” “No, what I would like is for you to remove all these cords from the dock. This is a very dangerous situation you are putting everyone in and well….it just does not make good sense.” I say “So, my wi-fi means nothing to you?” He replied without hesitation, “No.” I asked, “Could you give me a week or so to get things running on greased grooves and such?”
A cold reply followed, “I am going to the shelter and unplugging your cord. You will just have to fix your generators and learn to adapt like everyone else at the Club. I have never seen anything like this and please do me a favor, never talk to me again! Talk to the other Harbormaster! I never thought I would say this, but I wish Tailer was back. He was crazy but not completely insane.” Left: RJ hiking. The sun began to set. I was forced to read by my Christmas tree candle (my emergency generator was running hot so I gave it a break). A slight breeze blew out the candle and then the familiar clumping, I hid under the table, the clumping approached...stopping at my boat. I heard a slap like a wet rag on my deck and then the clumping dissipating into the distance. I waited a prudent amount of time then scurried out onto the deck with my coal miner's hat on, whale oil fueling the flame (ever diligent in saving our natural resources), and spied what I expected: a rag with writing… Written in Pig Latin (Which I had to babblefish because this is one of the 5,973 languages I have yet to master out of the estimate of 6,000 still around. I only have 5,973 more to learn.) It is said there are remote tribes who only have one person who remember their original spoken tongue. These elders are considered mute because they have no one to talk to. I aim to solve this problem. This one and where is Tailer? You know it’s the darndest thing, but this writing sounds so familiar. That is what the ancient scribbling reads. The leather dated around 850AD and was written with red wine (Merlot I think) from the same period): 1. DO watch your speed coming down the hill to the main Club grounds. There is a lot of activity on the main driveway during these early weeks. As summer progresses, we host many youth programs and socials where our young sailors may not be paying attention to cars and boat traffic. 2. DO remember to lock the front gate after dusk. 3. DO NOT throw rocks or sand.
4. DO help others in need and DO bring your cameras to capture those interesting ramp incidences. 5. DO NOT throw trash all over the grounds. Bob Bodish WILL find you. 6. DO put your membership decals on your boat and trailer. 7. DO promise to think about racing this year. 8. DO attend more social activities. Bring a side dish for at least six people. 9. DO be nice and smile a lot and say HI to everyone. Introduce yourself to your next-door neighbor slip-mate and ask him/her to bring next week’s eats and refreshments. 10. DO sail more this year.
Above: Tyler C and Cody 11. DO only empty your porto-potty into the porto-let waste station next to the Little Eagles sail barn. 12. DO buy something from the Ship’s Store to show off your Club’s emblem and support our Club. 13. DO NOT park your car or boat in someone else’s assigned spot. This often sets off a domino effect started by you. 14. DO check your fold-up chair for last summer’s spider’s nests, junk food crumbs, and last summer’s leftover aluminum-can tabs 15. DO purchase a folding chair and plan to attend the spontaneous chair parties. A lot of useful information can be obtained by attending these gatherings...anything, from solving world affairs, investment strategies, or to why you may have done so poorly in the last regatta. Kind Regards and tack well..... The Bailer
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| Safety & Education |
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ISC Spring Laser Regatta Eight sailors from ECSC braved the cold, wind, sleet, and hail at the Indianapolis Sailing Club at Geist over the April 15-16th weekend (Wayne, Rick, RJ, Erika, Cody, Jacob, Ki, and Tyler). In all, about 20 sailors braved this two-day event. Below are pictures with their smiles BEFORE they set sail.
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Left: Rick & RJ
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Left: Erika & Cody with Dr. Bob wondering
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Weekend Warrior Regatta Eleven Laser sailors took part in this year's annual Weekend Warrior Regatta. Five were from out-of-town and six were juniors. Pictures of this regatta are spread over this Telltales. Results are:
Full Rig - Open Class
Full Rig - Junior Class
Radial Rig - Junior Class
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| Membership |
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Please welcome our newest members to the Club: Les & Janet Eigenbrod of Indianapolis, sailing a Flying Scott. Daniel & Adele Anger and their children Derek, Aaron, and Janine, of Pittsboro, sailing a Merit 22 named "Makai." Douglas Kepley and their children Allison and Abby, of Avon. Philip & Sarah Hallstedt and their children Erika, Becca, and Nick, of Zionsville, sailing a Hunter 170. Membership count: 231.
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| Christening the New R/C Pontoon |
 Right: The new Race Committee boat, the "Elliott II," is christened...green leaves are placed on the deck to ensure safe returns. Green leaves and champagne are for good fortune to appease King Neptune of Eagle Ocean.
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Left: Before the Launch
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Left: First launch
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Left: New boat orientation
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| Sailboats, Inc |
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Let's see, just what can our local sailboat dealer do for you? Well, of course they can sell you a new or used boat (We bought both our boats there). And, you know they have a great service operation for your boat....
Did you know Sailboats, Inc stores a large number of boats for their customers over the winter? Makes it easy to have many of these repairs/maintenance chores done while it's out of the water. Then, they can also keep your trailer up there for the summer. A little more protected than at our Club. Just might be time for a trailer overhaul.
Above: EJ chillin' between Weekend Warrior races I suspect Sailboats could also do wonders for your teak before you have them launch for you this spring. They always leave a light on.....
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| Carl's Sail Calculator |
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Checkout:
http://www.image-ination.com/sailcalc.html.
Ever wonder how your boat stacks up against the competition? Check out this nifty sail calculator where you'll find the ratings for more than 1,800 sailboats including both racing and cruising designs. You can choose any two listed boats and see a side-by-side bar graph chart of how they compare.
This site takes a little getting used to, and it's best to read through it to really get the most out of it.
Also, for more sailing grins, checkout: |
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2007 Social Calendar, Click Here.
2007 Racing Calendar, Click Here.
2007 Overall Club Calendar, Click Here.
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| Click to view Sailboats, Inc's website. | |
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| Click to view Old Bob's website. | |
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| Eagle Creek Sail Club ECSC Home Page |
Left: Before the Launch
This year, Charlie & Eileen seem to be keeping a large number of new boats in stock for you to savor over. And, the types of service you might be interested in....the obligatory bottom painting as well as motor work. Just might be time for a motor tuneup to get that quick startup that's always welcome. Or, what the heck, just get a new motor and be done with it!