AMIDSHIPS:
Scuttlebutt & Race Yarns

News & Coming Events listed first, then Race Yarns  (scroll down or go to click-able list of event dates at bottom of port column).  Reports are loosely based on actual events and people. We tease, embellish and exaggerate, so don't take anything you read here too seriously.  

RACING TIPS, TACTICS & TECHNIQUES: Seminar by Champion Jim Voelz May 19th 10am

Sailors will want to jump on this opportunity:
Many-time season champion Jim Voelz would like to show you how to win more sailing races.  With all of our sailors more knowledgeable, our races will be more competitive and more fun.

Jim's seminar about 5 years ago. John Auld in green shirt paid close attention and won the season championship shortly thereafter

Jim has won the GLOA Season Championship more times than any other sailor by far, including the last 4 years in a row.  In the 2017 season he accumulated 70% more points than the next-closest sailor.

Jim will hold a seminar, sharing tips, tactics and techniques he uses to win races.
He will also cover some basic racing rules that must be observed during the race.

Please join us at the home of the Voelz sailing dynasty (Peggy is also a GYC champion and frequent 1st place winner) on May 19th at 10am, 5111 S. Poplar Drive.   This is the morning after the Spring Social.  Our first race will be the next day at 2pm.

SPRING SOCIAL MAY 18TH

Thanks to Donna Mount for volunteering to host the Yacht Club’s “Spring Social”, the kickoff to the 2018 season.  The Spring Social is a casual, cocktails (bring your own) and heavy appetizers (bring to share) event. It is one of the best ways to meet and keep up with your many neighbors at Grandview.
Members, please mark your calendar for Friday evening, May 18th.  Details will be sent via e-mail in April to those who renewed their membership in 2017, or will join for 2018 at the event.  Family sailing membership is $25.  Family non-sailing membership is $15 (a portion of your membership is used to subsidize the holiday breakfasts for all lot owners).  If you are unsure of your membership status, or know you need to join, please contact Lisa Duret 812-342-1344, or Tom Schroeder317-873-1637

WELCOMING OF NEWCOMERS TO GRANDVIEW LAKE: MAY 18TH

Recent newcomers to Grandview Lake will be our special guests (membership not required) at the Yacht Club’s Spring Social (see above).  Please contact one of the individuals mentioned above for details and RSVP.

Grandview is a community of fine people who are eager to welcome you, and include you in our goings on.    Since the 1960s the club has promoted a sense of community at the lake through social events and of course for those interested, competitive sailing.

2017 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

This post is a brief summary of our 2017 season.  It accompanies the 2017 sailing awards post that follows, and the many 2017 photos in the Starboard Column (smartphone users will have to click on the "view web version" to see the full blog with port and starboard columns)

We had a really good 56^th season, but it was bittersweet because we lost three mainstays of the Yacht Club:  Wayne Truex, then Joe Voelz, and then John Sohn.  Joe Voelz was one of the original founders back in 1961.  These were special people. We toasted them with heartfelt esteem at our final protest meeting.

Wayne & Arlene

Joe and Phyllis

John and kids

On our 10 race days we had 46 race participants nearly half of whom were not sailors, but volunteers on the officiating boat or “committee boat”.  In an average race we had 10 sailors and 5 volunteers. 

In 2017 our fleet of sailboats was in the process of catching up to the significant number of new sailors that joined us in 2016 and a couple of new sailors this year.  That catching up process took a while as boats were fixed, traded or acquired.  We should realize the full benefit of more boats and sailors on the water in 2018.

Our overall champion was wind-reader Jim Voelz again this year. 
Jim accumulated nearly 70% more points than the next-closest competitor! 

Jim Voelz (right) accepts 2018 Overall Champion trophy from Race Chairman Kevin Preuss

He also won 1^st place in the Laser Class.  

Peggy Voelz won 1^st place in the International Class,   

and our 1^st place crew was Paul Hass. 

(The post that follows this one has photos of all those who won awards and some of the fun we had at the final protest meeting of the year)

We had a number of unusual events this season:

• We joined a nationwide hygiene movement among yacht clubs all over the country by burning our winter socks after the first race.  Bet you didn’t know that sailors wear the same pair of socks all winter. A photo of this event was published in the Republic Newspaper.  

  

  P.U.!

• The Republic also ran a feature article on the Club in September with lots of great photos. 
  
  Here is the link to the article: http://www.therepublic.com/2017/09/19/sailing_away/
•  Matt Bartlett was our first windsurfer competing in a race in nearly twenty years. 
•  We think we set a club record with 30 capsizes on an epic race day on June 25^th – check out the exciting post for that race. Here is the link http://grandviewsailing.blogspot.com/2017/06/flip-flip-flip-fast-fun-and-furious.html
  
  
•  And we had our first paddle board race which was conducted along with the kayak race at the 4^th of July breakfast. – Thanks to Max Henry for coordinating.
  
  
   

Our Spring Social, Holiday Breakfasts and Post-Race Protest meetings remain popular based on attendance.  Thanks to our hosts:

Margaret Powers – Spring Social

Hostess Margaret greets Mike during cocktail hour at the Spring Social

 

The feast before us at the Spring Social

Steve and Marisa Willment – Memorial Day Breakfast

Memorial Day Breakfast

Mark Cassidy and Dianne Fisher – July 4^th Breakfast

July 4th Breakfst

Steve and Vicki Zeller- Labor Day Breakfast

Labor Day Breakfast

We recognized the "Labors" of our GLOA Board and Committee Members.  Here Frank Reindl thanks Brad Arthur for his 9 years of service as Board President at an important time for the lake.

and of course Arlene Truex for all those Protest Meetings. 
Thanks to Beth Auld, our Committee Boat Chairperson, Lisa Duret, our Secretary/Treasurer, and Kevin Preuss, our Race Chairman. And thanks to the 50 families that are members of the Yacht Club.

2017 SEASON AWARDS GATHERING

This post about sailing awards accompanies the 2017 season highlights post that proceeds it.

Following the last race of the season we docked our boats, tallied the results and gathered as usual at the Truex's patio to dine on great pitch-ins, award trophies, medals, and tokens of gratitude.

Remember we just got back from a race.  So here we see our sailors critiquing their strategies and tactics and otherwise re-living the race.  These are weighty matters worthy of discussion and contemplation.

Meanwhile guests showed up like....

Marissa and Steve, hosts of the Memorial Day Breakfast, 

Many-time gourmet Committee Boat volunteers Jack and Sandi,

Beth, bearing gifts, 

Mimi and Julia, upbeat as usual,

Jim Riffle sporting port and starboard eyeglass floats

We celebrated Tom's milestone birthday.  Here he blows out the candles. Sure, go ahead and count them and do the multiplication (times 5).

 A very heartfelt toast:

We began the awards presentation with an acknowledgment that although we enjoyed the racing season, it was bittersweet because of the loss of three mainstays of the Yacht Club, first Wayne Truex, then Joe Voelz, one of the founders, and then John Sohn. We knew that we were enjoying the company of a wonderful group of people like they really loved to.  We raised a toast to their memory, knowing they would have appreciated it.

We thanked our  Committee Boat volunteers, event hosts, good Samaritans, and others.  Here Beth hands out a memento to volunteer Randy Clark.

Here the "Ghost Sailor" trophy is held up for display.  It was awarded to five sailors who were with us in spirit, but not in a boat, at least not as much as we wanted them to be.  To be fair to the various winners,  the trophy will be traveling on an established schedule from home to home for display.

The Booby prize is marched out and awarded to Matt Bartlett, captain, and Jim Riffle, crew of the M-Scow that capsized and turtled in the epic winds of the June 24th race.  Matt's scribbled sketch of the event on a post-it-note (below) was enlarged, laminated and displayed in cylindrical form inside the pedestal mounted chamber pot trophy.

Then the serious race trophies and awards, won based on points were awarded by Race Chairman Kevin Preuss.

The holiday weekend "Trophy Race" trophies were awarded, one for each of the holiday weekend races according to tradition (times have changed though, so we avoid having races on holiday weekends)

Jim Voelz won the Memorial Day Trophy Race.  The trophy is now a "double-decker" monument because of the age of the club and the number of past winners

Tom Jennings displays the July 4th stained glass trophy he won.

The Labor Day Trophy got some special attention this year.  Several years ago, Wayne and Arlene Truex had a beautiful stained glass trophy made to replace the "chamber pot" trophy that we now use as the "booby prize".  Wayne hated that chamber pot trophy because it is so ugly (then he and Bob Orben won it the first year it became the booby prize).  Since the GYC was so important to him, Wayne's brothers wanted to memorialize him in some meaningful way.   So they had a very beautiful stand made for the Labor Day trophy with an engraved plaque in Wayne's memory. 

Peggy Voelz won the Labor Day Trophy Race and  displays the trophy and stand in memory of Wayne Truex.

Then the 1st 2nd and 3rd place trophies and medals for the 3 classes of competition were awarded (Lasers, International, and Crew)

Jim Voelz won 1st place in the Laser class

Laura Garret won 2nd in the Laser class

Tom Jennings won 3rd in the Laser class.  Sorry no picture

Peggy Voelz won 1st in the International Class

Tom Schroeder won 2nd in the International class

John Auld won 3rd in the International class.  That is his crew, Paul Hass to his left.  You'll see him again in a minute because.....

Paul Hass won 1st Place in the Crew class

Arlene Truex won 2nd Place in the Crew class

There was a three-way tie for third in the crew class which included:

Ben Cartwright

Elizabeth Hale, &

Gediminas Ramanauskas

Then some special overall awards were presented:
Ben Cartwright won the "Rookie of the Year" trophy (sorry no photo)

and Finally,

OUR OVERALL 2017 SEASON CHAMPION,

JIM VOELZ

Jim accumulated nearly 70% more points than the next-closest competitor!

We are expecting another great season in 2018.  See you then!

Long Lasting Photo Op (missed?). September 24th Race Report

Warm temperatures and fickle on again, off again winds are a bad combination.  But despite some long periods of limp sails, we had enough “on-again” periods of wind for two decent races, a good turnout of nine sailboats (including John Gall back for a visit from the Wilder West) and a great turnout of five Committee Boat volunteers.  

Thanks to Committee Boat volunteers Jim and Mimi Riffle, Lisa Duret, Cindy Bartlett, her visiting Dad Norm, and to Kevin Preuss for setting up the race course.

The start of the first race was a real yawner.  Nice to see nine boats all lined up right next to each other.  Would have made for a great photo, and there would have been plenty of time to snap it too.  For nearly ten minutes with no wind they just sat there.  Banter among sailors was the highlight.  And the Committee Boat reminded one sailor that sculling, like ooching, is not allowed. Then finally, slowly, a breeze got some forward motion going and lasted to the first mark.  Then it was “on again” in decent fashion and off again.  Late September winds are usually better than that, but at least the lake was fairly quiet. The second race was better wind-wise.   That’s sailboat racing though, you deal with the conditions you are dealt, and different techniques and strategies apply to that kind of wind.  If you snooze you lose when a light breeze you weren’t ready for catches you unprepared. 

Six Lasers set sail.  In the first race Jim Voelz, GYC Republic cover girl Laura Garrett, and Matt Bartlett took first, second and third respectively.  In the second race it was Jim Voelz, Dianne Fisher and Laura Garrett.

The International Class was a bit underrepresented in this race.  Peggy Voelz, Sherri Agnew and Tom and Ben Cartwright finished in that order on a handicapped basis.  In the second race it was Ben and Tom Cartwright, Sherri Agnew and Peggy Voelz.

Had we handicapped all the boats, the finish order in the first race would be Jim Voelz, Peggy Voelz and Laura Garrett, keeping it all in the family.  In the second race it was Jim Voelz, Ben and Tom Cartwright and Sherri Agnew.

Thanks to Arlene Truex for hosting an enjoyable protest meeting.

Complete Race Results are as follows:

RACE RESULTS FIRST RACE

Laser Class:  Jim Voelz 1^st, Laura Garret 2nd, Matt Bartlett 3rd, Dianne Fisher 4^th, John Gall 5^th , Kevin Preuss 6^th.

International Class:  Peggy Voelz 1^st, Sherri Agnew 2nd, Tom Cartwright/Ben Cartwright 3rd.

Overall results on handicapped basis (not for scoring purposes):  Jim Voelz 1^st, Peggy Voelz 2^nd, Laura Garrett 3^rd, Matt Bartlett 4^th, Sherri Agnew 5^th, Dianne Fisher 6^th, John Gall 7^th, Tom Cartwright/Ben Cartwright 8^th, Kevin Preuss 9^th.  

RACE RESULTS SECOND RACE

Laser Class:  Jim Voelz 1^st, Dianne Fisher 2^nd, Laura Garrett 3^rd, Kevin Preuss 4^th, Matt Bartlett 5^th, John Gall 6^th.

International Class:  Ben Cartwright/Tom Cartwright 1^st, Sherri Agnew 2^nd, Peggy Voelz 3^rd.  

Overall results on handicapped basis (not for scoring purposes):  Jim Voelz 1^st, Ben Cartwright/Tom Cartwright 2^nd, Sherri Agnew 3^rd, Peggy Voelz 4^th, Dianne Fisher 5^th, Laura Garrett 6^th, Kevin Preuss 7^th, Matt Bartlett 8^th, John Gall 9^th.

Our next and final race is Sunday October 1^st at 2pm, followed by season awards at the final protest meeting at 4pm.

JOHN SOHN: Long-time Active Sailor with the GYC

We are saddened by the death of John Sohn. John was a member of GYC for many years. He raced his Y-Flyer at club races as well as at sailing regattas at Lake Lemon and other venues. After he retired from racing he remained active until just a few years ago by serving on the Protest Committee where his knowledge about the racing rules resolved many protests. He was a valued and well-respected member of GYC, and he will be greatly missed.  Our sympathy is extended to his wife, Jane, his children, Brent, Dan, and Suzanne, and to other members of his family.

John sailing his Y-Flyer with his kids

SPECTACULAR RACES, AND TURNOUT, BUT BITTERSWEET: Sept 10th Race Report

All photos courtesy of Republic photographer Gregg Jones

We had a banner turnout, spectacular weather, well-trained volunteers, prospects for a Y-Flyer renaissance, coverage by The Republic newspaper, and a fun gathering after the race. On the flip-side there were a bunch of sailors that had to turn back, unable to start or finish even the first race for one reason or another. And sadly after the race we learned of the passing of John Sohn, a member of the GYC since its early days and active in the club till just a couple of years ago (see above blog post about John).

It was a glorious day for a sailing race with skill-testing winds, sunny skies and pleasant temperatures.   

Eighteen sailors left their docks Unfortunately six had to return without finishing the first race due to rigging or other problems and two had to limp through both races with damaged rigging (if anyone is aware of available Laser centerboards, Laser rudders or Y-Flyer rudders, please let us know).  We had plenty of capsizes, but did not approach the number from the epic race of June 24^th. 

Dianne begins recovery from a capsize

Then she is off again

GYC’s “Media Relations Chairperson”, Jim Riffle arranged for The Republic newspaper sports editor Ted Schultz and photographer Gregg Jones to cover our race.  Jim took them all over the course during the race and explained the race protocol, etc.  Ted Schultz joined us at the protest meeting after the race and chatted with many of us about our sailing adventures and the club.    Ted wrote a great article about the club that we encourage you to read.  Here is the link:  http://www.therepublic.com/2017/09/19/sailing_away/).  And you are enjoying the fine photos taken by Gregg Jones.
 
We had a great turnout and wonderful snacks at the Protest meeting.  There were four generations of sailors present. A few don’t know that they are sailors -yet. Thanks Arlene Truex for hosting. 

  Laura is having a blast!

Terry and Bernice Rains took responsibility for the Committee Boat in their pontoon for the first time after learning the ropes on a number of occasions this year from both Committee Boat and sailboat perspectives.  They were joined by Cindy Bartlett and Lisa Duret.  The foursome did a great job of officiating an eventful race – Thanks!  Great anchoring skills in that fast wind by the way.   We sailed one of our most fun courses of the year as set up by Dianne Fisher with help from Kevin Preuss.  It was quite long, and appropriate to the fast winds with challenging first and final legs – Thanks!

Kevin hiked out on way to first mark

Very noteworthy is that four Y-flyers left their docks for the race.  That is a Y-flyer renaissance of sorts since the most we’ve had in recent times was three back when Wayne Truex, Bob Orben and Dick Pitman were skippering at the same time. Not sure how long ago we had four, but it is a very long time.  Racing for the first time on Grandview was a brand new Y-Flyer recently acquired by John Auld and raced with his skilled crew Paul Hass.  Gulp, its fast!  
 

John Auld (left) and crew Paul Hass (right) hiked out to show us that even the bottom of the new Y-Flyer has a snazzy paint job.  

And it is as fast as it looks

 We were thrilled to have Lance and Bianca Snider join us again in their Y-flyer.  And John Cord attempted to return to active racing status the Y-Flyer acquired from Dick Pitman.  Catey Hale and daughter Elizabeth joined us in their Y-Flyer as well.  Unfortunately, perhaps due to the fast winds, problems were encountered by three of the four, and only John Auld and Paul Hass finished either race.  Once rigging etc. on the other boats has been repaired we will be seeing all those glorious double-sailed Y-flyers competing together again.  Also double-sailed and double doctored, it was great to see the skilled father and son team of Tom and Ben Cartwright in that fast, tall-sailed and tall-bowed Thistle out for its second showing this season.  It is quite a sight, especially when it is coming toward you in close quarters!    

The Cartwrights (2nd from left) in the Thistle.  Also Peggy (left) Laura (2nd from right) and Matt (right)

Also noteworthy is that two of our captains/crew with new –to-Grandview boats did very well in this race.  See the race results below regarding John Auld/Paul Hass in the new Y-Flyer and Matt Bartlett in his new Laser.  With those additions and with the Butterflies now in the International Class, competition has really been cranked up a notch in both classes.

Auld and Hass in the Y-Flyer (left) and Tom and Ben Cartwright in the Thistle racing downwind to the 3rd mark

In the Laser Class Jim Voelz won both races and Matt Bartlett came in 2^nd, one minute (or 5%) behind Jim in both races.

 

Laura (right) recommends that Jim switch to a port tack instead of the starboard tack he is on

Jim won both races.

Sherri making great progress on way to 1st mark, and then....

From out of nowhere Kevin appears!

The International Class had a big turnout; unfortunately three boats didn’t finish either race.  Nevertheless five boats finished both races with Peggy Voelz and John Auld/Paul Hass taking first place in the first and second races respectively.  Tom Schroeder/Arlene Truex took 2^nd place in the first race and Peggy finished second in the second race.

 

Peggy heads for the finish line

Tom and Arlene wait for others to finish first race

On an overall handicapped basis Jim Voelz won both races with Peggy Voelz taking second in the first race and John Auld taking second in the second race.

Resolution  and lessons from protest at August 20th race:

The tentative results for the August 20^th races are now final since the protest was withdrawn:   Lessons:  1) “Overlap” related to “room-at-the-mark rules applies to boats approaching the mark from far different angles (may not be intuitive), and  2) If protesting, make sure the other party is notified in time to take their two 360 degree penalty turns if they so-choose.

RACE RESULTS FIRST RACE (“Labor Day” Trophy Race)

Laser Class:  Jim Voelz 1^st, Matt Bartlett 2^nd, Laura Garret 3^rd, Kevin Preuss 4^th, Dianne Fisher, 5^th.

International Class:  Peggy Voelz 1^st, Tom Schroeder/Arlene Truex 2^nd, Sherri Agnew 3^rd, John Auld/Paul Hass 4^th, Ben Cartwright/Tom Cartwright 5^th.

Overall results on handicapped basis (not for scoring purposes):  Jim Voelz 1^st, Peggy Voelz 2^nd, Matt Bartlett 3^rd, Laura Garret 4^th, Tom Schroeder/Arlene Truex 5^th, Sherri Agnew 6^th, John Auld/Paul Hass 7^th, Kevin Preuss 8^th, Dianne Fisher 9^th, Ben Cartwright/Tom Cartwright 10^th.  

RACE RESULTS SECOND RACE

Laser Class:  Jim Voelz 1^st, Matt Bartlett 2^nd, Laura Garret 3^rd, Kevin Preuss 4^th, Dianne Fisher, 5^th.

International Class:  John Auld/Paul Hass 1^st,  Peggy Voelz 2^nd,  Tom Schroeder/Arlene Truex 3^rd, Tom Cartwright/Ben Cartwright 4^th, Sherri Agnew 5^th.

Overall results on handicapped basis (not for scoring purposes):  Jim Voelz 1^st, John Auld/Paul Hass 2^nd, Matt Bartlett 3^rd, Peggy Voelz 4^th, Laura Garrett 5^th, Tom Schroeder/Arlene Truex 6^th, Kevin Preuss 7^th, Tom Cartwright/Ben Cartwright 8^th, Sherri Agnew 9^th, Dianne Fisher 10^th. 

The next race is scheduled for Sunday, September 24th at 2pm.