Welcome to the final new members of 2016 – bringing our new members total to 27.
Richard Rockwell of Pennville, IN. Richard is a returning member who’s sailing a Cal 22 and a Hobie 18 Magnum.
Doug and Jenny White of Carmel sailing a Laguna 24 ST.
RAISE IN RATES FOR 2017:
At the December meeting, the board voted to raise the annual fee for all kayaks, canoes and sailboards. In 2017 it will be $25 for rack storage and $100 for inside storage. This will be reflected on the Annual Dues statement which you will receive during the last week of January. If you wish to be on the wait list for indoor storage, pay the rack fee and indicate your desire to be on wait list.
Your individual work credits will be indicated on your Annual Dues statement. If your credits are not what you think they should be, please contact the committee chair under whom you earned your work credits and they will then contact us with the correct number of hours.
The same will be true with the indication on your statement regarding the # of boats you have in winter storage on ECSC property. Kenny Chapman is the contact person if you do not agree with the number indicated.
As always, your check for 2017 dues will need to be postmarked by the due date of 2/28/17.
Annual dues statements will be mailed 1/20/17. If you have not received yours by that first week of February, please call 317-575-9837 with that information.
Please call the same number with any change in mailing and/or email address. Hope to see all of you on the water during the summer of 2017.
There is not much going on on the Safety & Education department this time of year. We are wrapping up 2016 and looking toward 2017. Looking back at 2016 shows that it was quite productive.
One of our accomplishments this year was the construction of the new ECSC Junior Sailing school building. It turned out great! It has a pavilion area for teaching larger groups such as camp or our adult training classes, as well as an indoor area. Our intent is to be able to use the facility not only for camp, but also physical training of our junior sailors. It should also work well for chalk talks and video training regardless of the weather. Looking forward, we are planning on outfitting the structure with a few items to facilitate these activities.
2016 junior results were on par with expectations. As previously reported, Cameron Douglas finished 1st in the I-LYA Junior Traveler Series for the season and Reagan Lessick tied for 6th. Cam also finished 3rd at Junior Bay week in a very tight four day regatta consisting of 18 races. Cam has aged out of his Junior status at the end of this season and is off to college at Eckard in ST. Petersburg, Florida. Jon Schwartz competed in a limited schedule this year, but spent much time behind the scenes instructing possible future additions to the team.
Educationally, it was a good year for the Juniors as well. Cam earned his level 3 coaching license, Jon earned his level 2 license, and Reagan & Tina Williams completed their level 1 instructors licenses. ECSC’s help of these young adults in furthering their education is critical to the success of our youth camps. ECSC has had a long history of employing US Sailing certified instructors as our youth camp instructors. Our youth program could not happen without these dedicated young ECSC juniors. There is also a long term benefit for both the good of the sport and the good of ECSC in having more people available to teach sailing.
2017 Sailing Camp dates will be set soon. Check the camp page or watch your ECSC email for more information.
January is definitely a quiet month for us sailing types. While most of us sit at work, we day dream about warm breezes and the sounds of water rushing past the hulls of our sailboats or the organized chaos that is a yacht racing starting line. Many of our members are lucky enough to head south for a week or two or twelve. I doubt that I am the only one at ECSC that actually misses their boat during these cold winter months.
Tony and Jake Hubbard, Cam Borkowski, Rick Graef and Cristina DeProspero on Mac Island after competing in the 206 Port Huron to Mackinac Race.
As for publicity, I would like to start a member article section in the coming months issues of our beloved newsletter “The Tell-tales”. If you are interested, just write an article and send it along to me at publicity@ecsail.org . Write about anything sailing related; your favorite cruising spot, a regatta you attended, your favorite ECSC memories, why cruisers are more fun than racers, why racers are more fun than cruisers, your own stupid boat tricks, how you managed to ground your boat on the point….Anything sailing. Or even just a regatta report as I have done below.
Racing Lasers in Biscayne Bay
Between Christmas and New Years I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Open Orange Bowl Regatta in Miami Florida. For years our club has sent juniors down to compete against the worlds best youth in the Junior Orange Bowl Regatta, so I have attended this event many times with my kids and other ECSC Juniors. This year I was able to take my Ex-Junior son, Austin Graef along for some racing. He and I competed in four days of very competitive and challenging Laser racing. Coconut Grove Sailing Club hosts an adult Laser regatta in conjunction with the junior event that also occurs during this time.
Conditions ranged from one day of postponement (light winds) to steady 18 gusting to mid 20’s. While the fleet was small (17 entrants), it was chock full of laser olympic hopefuls, former laser Masters world champions, Star mid-winters champions, and even a former Snipe world Champion. Having not been in a Laser in almost a year for both of us, the learning curve was steep. After the first day of racing (three races) I was able to hold a solid mid-fleet position slightly ahead of Austin. I guess the old man does still have some tricks up his sleeve. Day 2 was a great day for Austin as he moved up in the standings….ahead of me (I knew it was inevitable). His best finish of the day was a 3rd!! (beating several world class sailors) Day 3 was a sit and wait day with light and variable winds. The 4th day brought a cold front and winds sustained near 20 knots with higher gusts. With Austin only a few points ahead of me, I saw my chance to show him I could handle the heavy air and regain my place ahead of him. . . . After leading him around the upwind mark I thought my sail looked a little dry, so I capsized and watched him (and another boat) shoot past me. So much for race 1 in the heavy air. Raced 2 was looking equally as promising for me… until I decided to practice my death-rolling skills…twice. Needles to say, Austin handled the heavy air in a much better fashion and had some nice finishes. In the final race that day, I chased Austin around the course and just couldn’t quite get him….until the last mark when the death-roll bug hit him during the final gybe not 500 yards from the finish.
ECSCs new coach boat??? Actually the Melges coach boat modeled after a Melges 24
After finishing nine races in 4 days Austin finished with a solid 6th overall, beating me by a solid four points ( I was7th place overall). Not that I like being beaten, but it is a proud day when a junior sailor (who is also your kid) who you have trained and coached all of his life not only beats you but competes solidly against some of the worlds best racing talent. Congrats on a great regatta to Austin.
I hope you all stay warm. Start making lists of all those spring boat projects. I will see you on the water in a few short months.
ECSC – Our slice of paradise – Photo Credit Kate McMillan
“Starboard” – Commodore Larry Conrad tacking to avoid Dr. Bob on Starboard during the 2016 Governors Cup. Photo Credit – Terry Holland
Larry, Bob and Rick doing some fly fishing….or preparing to remove the RIB hoist. You make the call.
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Sadly, the colder weather is upon us. Most boats are out of the water. Some members will be continuing their sailing adventures in warmer climates. The rest of us are a bit envious, but we wish you safe and happy sailing.
This is a good time to reflect on the season behind us and start planning for next year. All will agree 2016 was a very good year for ECSC. We had the benefit of a great leadership team and generous volunteer support. Social events were great. The racing and education programs enjoyed high levels of participation with many new sailors and racers. Boat trailer parking improved with the removal of several derelict boats. The web site is better organized with a new look and feel. There are many more. Please give a big “thank you” to the 2016 team and volunteers for the many benefits we enjoyed as members of ECSC.
The 2017 team will work hard to make next year a success next year. We are already working to complete 2017 budgets in December. We will work to preserve and improve on the 2016 successes. We want to continue making ECSC a fun and safe place for sailors of all ages.
We will also work to have an adequate cash reserve for major capital replacement projects. Past Commodores have projected the timing of major capital replacements. Some of those replacements may be drawing near. We have heard concerns about the condition of the boat ramp. Dock board replacement may be accelerating soon due to general age. Lighting maintenance and lighting improvements can further enhance security. The Board and our new Grounds Committee will be carefully reviewing the capital plan.
Recent Bylaw changes will have their first impacts next year. The most significant change clarifies responsibility for buildings and grounds that are not part of the Harbormaster responsibilities. ECSC had an on site caretaker for many years. We do not have a caretaker now, and there are significant challenges associated with having another. A review of the Bylaws revealed a need to more clearly establish responsibilities for buildings and grounds. Your Board added an new Grounds Committee, chaired by the Vice Commodore. The detailed responsibilities are available in the Bylaws on our improved web site.
We hope to improve online access and items to our Ships Store in 2017. Many sailing clubs are starting to use online services that will put our logo on many more items than we can keep in our inventory. Les Miller has agreed to lead this worthy initiative.
[one]Best wishes for the holiday season. I am already dreaming of sailing next year. Larry Conrad[/one]
ECSC members enjoying a night sail after the Final BashBeach Party Fun
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As we close out our 2016 year, we have much to celebrate and be thankful for. We had very successful events this past summer and a big shout out to Nick Mates for a well-planned and implemented Final Bash! The mild weather allowed for several to enjoy sailing to Rick’s and enjoy the balcony and great view!
I am already working on the 2017 calendar and look forward to some “repeat offenders” of Hosts and Hostesses! Please let me know if you wish to take on the responsibility again for the upcoming sailing season….it will be here before you know it!
I will be looking for assistance in the spring to clean, paint, and organize the kitchen and social shed. This is another great way to earn your work credit!
[one]I am wishing you all the Happiest of Holidays and look forward to our continued mild weather so you die hard sailors can sail all winter!
Larry, Bob and Rick doing some fly fishing….or preparing to remove the RIB hoist. You make the call.
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Hello Eagle Creekers,
The first week of December is when we will be counting boats for Winter storage. Please contact myself or Dennis Robertson if you will be removing your boat for the Winter after the first week. Otherwise you will be charged storage fees.
Concerning storage of your boat at our club, it is a very good idea to come out and check your boat especially after a rain or snow to see if your tarp cover is holding up. The Club is not responsible for your boat and it may save you money to check it. Of course, if we as the Harbormasters see any problems we will try to contact the affected member. With that said, if you are at the club and you see any problems with other members boat, please take down their “current” member number and contact one of the Harbormasters.
The upper trailer lot will likely be expanded this spring. My idea is to expand to the West end and South toward the main road. We will get an estimate for having the old meadow restored to an easily mowed parking area. The trailer parking will be available in April now that the Parks Department has added the trailer storage area to our lease.
Thanks to all the members who assisted in Dock board replacement this year, future dock board replacement should be at a minimum for next year. I do know there are several boards on D dock and on A dock still in need of repair Dennis and I are going to submit a bid to replace all the boards and stringers on L dock this coming Spring. The original construction was very frugal and we have been paying for it as that dock ages. It will be up to the board to allocate club funds for this upgrade and up to our great group of member-volunteers to do the work in one weekend.
Regarding our Slips and the slip waiting list. We put over twenty boats into slips this year with about fifteen into permanent slips and about five into subleases. Remember to contact the Harbormaster Department before subleasing. Subleases must go through us or you may lose your slip entirely. The reason for this is that there is a “list” and all allocations of slips are based on your seniority (shown by your member number). At this point we have 7 or 8 new members waiting for a slip. If at some point you want a new slip then point that out in your membership document. Slips will be offered to members that are available and you can request what ever you want but we can only offer slips that become available. Timely responses to offers will be accepted, if you don’t respond to an offer you may be stuck in the same slip. The club slip list is going to be run like a real marina from now on so if you have any complaints please contact the Harbormaster Department or the Commodore.
Crew of Dutch Mob after placing 2nd in Hornback Regatta. Holding Fag is Nan Schulze – the 2016 Sailor of the Year WinnerBrian and Wild Bob after winning the 2016 Hornback2016 Flying Scot Regatta – Start Line
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I will be taking over as Race Committee this year. First though, I want to thank Rick Graef for all the wonderful work he did as Race Committee the past 2 years. Thanks to him, the racing program is in good order and the transition went very smooth. I will be continuing a lot of what Rick started. We will have the regular Wednesday evening races, the Sunday races and the 5 major regattas. In addition, we will continue with Rich Fox’s Indy 200 regatta for White/Blue fleet boats, and the Ladies’ sail.
We will continue with the 4 fleets this year.
Red Fleet: higher performance keelboats with low PHRF ratings and gung ho skippers.
Green Fleet: dingy/planing sailboats & catamarans
White Fleet: keelboats with higher PHRF ratings
Blue Fleet: higher PHRF boats and novice racers.
We have seen a huge increase in the number of “cruisers” who have come out to try their hand at racing in the Blue/White fleet. Based on the numbers, it looks like they are having a good time.
This year, I want to make a change to the Sunday racing series. I would like this to be a little more “family friendly” and encourage more cruisers to come out. So parents, bring your kids out for a Sunday sail and a little friendly competition. Races will start at 2:00 and end around 4:30 followed by hot dogs or burgers afterwards – just like on Wednesday nights.
We will also have our major regattas: The Mayor’s Cup in May, the Flying Scot Regatta in June, the ECSC Regatta in July, the Governor’s Cup in September and the Hornback Regatta in October. These are all great events that are well attended. I would like to remind the “non-racers” that everyone is invited to the regatta parties at the Mayor’s Cup, Governor’s Cup and ECSC regattas. We will have music and food for a low fee.
As a reminder to all skippers: ECSC is sponsoring a Club Race Officers training class on March 11, 2017. This is a great opportunity to deepen your knowledge about how to run a race. Mark the date on your calendar and make plans to attend. More to come next week.
All racing events have already been posted on the web site calendar. I will be updating the Race Committee signup web site soon.
As in the past, we will have 3 pre-season racing meetings for those interested in racing this year. During these meetings, we will register skippers for racing, get people signed up for Race committee and go over the rules of racing. The topics are as follows.
