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.  

NOT A SNOOZER: June 3rd Race Report

Photos courtesy of Beth Auld, Cindy Bartlett and Lisa Duret

Fast gusty winds made for an exciting race for sailors and spectators. Better than our relatively sleep-inducing race of two weeks ago.  Laser capsizes were frequent, but not as many as the famous race of nearly a year ago.  Our eventful protest meeting was extremely well attended (see two separate posts that follow) with

• a fond farewell to the Jennings clan followed by 
• a celebration of “barefoot season” with a sock burning.

Matt Bartlett set up the race with visiting nephew Trey.  Trey’s been around racing before and was very helpful, knowing just what to do.  

 

Trey readies the race equipment

 He was also a welcome helper on the Committee Boat.  Other Committee Boat volunteers were Beth Auld, Cindy Bartlett, Bernice Rains and Mimi Riffle. They did a remarkable job of anchoring in the heavy winds and did a fine job of directing the race.  

Cindy, Bernice and Trey prepare to anchor the Committee Boat.

Jim Riffle blessed us with the comforting presence of a “safety boat” and Bob Orben kept us in his sights in newly reconditioned, clean as a whistle “At Last”. Arlene Truex hosted us for the protest meeting.  And Kevin Preuss and Beth Auld organized the race/committee boat.  Thanks everyone!

Bob in a sparkling "At Last"

Sailors will choose a race with the description that follows over a race of the more genteel variety any day:  The unpredictably gusty winds made the start a challenge since start strategies, timing and spacing between boats requires some precision.   And numerous capsizes occurred near the turn markers causing time-consuming course changes.   The second mark was at the convergence of channeled wind from two different inlets making for gusts from several directions within seconds of each other – a formula for capsize.  Tom Jennings experienced an equipment failure and abandoned the race.   The heavy winds revealed a worn jib shackle that gave out a few times on Hale and Schroeder.  This required quickly crawling out on the pointed bow of the tippy JY-15 and a tug of war with the wind to regain the jib.  Sailors were regularly drenched from the spray and/or capsize.   

 It was an hour of tiring, perilous, glorious fun!

Hale and Schroeder pass by the Committee Boat before the start.

Followed by Andy

A minute or so before the start the racers start to approach the starting line

a few seconds after the start Bartlett (foreground) and Auld/Hass, followed by....

Hale/Schroeder (right)

LOOK!

The Truex dock (above) is the 2nd best place to watch the race (the best place is the Committee Boat. Arlene (with binoculars) observes the race with Debbie (middle) and Julia (left). Lisa is the photographer.  Here is what they saw:

The first mark is behind Sasse's point in foreground.  Some of the boats are on their way to it, others have rounded it and are headed to the second mark.

5 boats approach 2nd mark.  Bob in "At last" motors along following the action

Oops.  A capsize as the boats approach the 2nd mark.

3 boats, healed over, on their way to the finish line.  The Committee boat (foreground) forms one end of the start/finish line.

See separate posts about

• Jennings farewell and 
• The sock burning.

 Sailors coming in 1st 

(either by class or via handicap) included

 Jim Voelz, John Auld/Paul Hass,  and Matt Bartlett

The next race is June 17th. And yes, of course you can join us.  How? See the  "All Are Welcome" section of the Port Column.

Complete Race Results:

FIRST RACE (“MEMORIAL DAY”TROPHY RACE):

Laser Class:  Jim Voelz 1^st, Laura Garrett 2^nd, Matt Bartlett 3^rd, Andy Jennings 4^th, Kevin Preuss 5^th.

International Class:  John Auld/Paul Hass 1^st, Catey Hale/Tom Schroeder 2nd

Overall results on handicapped basis (not for scoring purposes):  Jim Voelz 1^st, John Auld/Paul Hass 2^nd, Laura Garrett 3^rd Matt Bartlett 4^th Andy Jennings 5^th, Catey Hale/Tom Schroeder 6^th, Kevin Preuss 7^th.

SECOND  RACE:

Laser Class:  Matt Bartlett 1^st, Andy Jennings 2^nd, Jim Voelz 3^rd, Laura Garrett 4^th, Kevin Preuss 5th

International Class:  John Auld/Paul Hass 1^st, Catey Hale/Tom Schroeder 2nd

Overall results on handicapped basis (not for scoring purposes):  John Auld/Paul Hass 1^st, Matt Bartlett 2^nd, Andy Jennings 3^rd, Jim Voelz 4^th, Catey Hale/Tom Schroeder 5^th, Laura Garrett 6^th, Kevin Preuss 7^th.

A FOND ADIEU TO TOM AND DEBBIE JENNINGS June 3 Protest Meeting

After the June 3rd Race sailors and volunteers gathered at Arlene Truex's for our usual "Protest Meeting".  We took this opportunity to wish our good friends Tom and Debbie Jennings farewell as they prepare to depart for their new home in Florida.

The "Protest Meeting" is underway

We recognized Tom's contributions to the Yacht Club having served as Commodore and Race Chairman.  And Tom is one of our finest sailors since the 1980's sailboarding days as well as competing with a Y-Flyer and most recently a Laser.  Tom was diligent in learning the sport through study and practice. He usually finished first or second in each race, and has won our various trophies many times.  As a "mainstay" of the Yacht Club over a long period of time, we honored him with the designation of "Sailor Emeritus".  Their son Andy has also been a fine sailor, crewing for Tom and more recently sailing their other Laser.  Andy and his family will remain in the area, but we will miss him on the race course once the house sells.
We wish the Jennings family the very best and hope they'll join us when they are in town visiting.

Tom and Debbie Jennings

Tom Jennings receives a plaque recognizing his contributions to the Grandview Yacht Club

Jim Voelz honored Tom, and tells the tale of a slick maneuver Tom used to beat Jim in a recent race.

Laura Garrett (center) "fesses up" to Tom Jennings with a funny story, embarrassing her Dad Jim in the process (to her right covering his face) to everyone's amusement.

Tom Jennings in his Laser

A familiar scene: Tom Jennings (right) running neck-and-neck with Jim Voelz (left), the two of them out front of the rest of the fleet.

Andy (left) and Tom Jennings race on Fathers Day 2017

BAREFOOT SEASON BEGINS: June 3rd sock burning

As part of our "protest meeting" after the June 3rd race, sailors and volunteers took part in a celebration of the start of barefoot season.   This is our second year, and so far it involves a poem or two, throwing our socks in the fire, then a group photo.

After the poem readings, Tom burns the first sock.

Untitled poem by Julia: 

Socks are for feet

But now we have heat

We don't want to wear them

So we will just flare them

The younger ones participated also

Terry tosses his in.  The fire chokes a bit, so while we wait for it to recover....

Another Poem, titled

 An Ode to the Odoriferous

by Tom S.

Oh you odoriferous foot sweaters you!

You stink to high heaven, P.U.!

I hate to do it, you've been so loyal.

But unless I do, my friendships you'll spoil.

Into the fire to meet your fate.

Oh the stench!

This can no longer wait!

Bob makes his contribution.  The Jennings, as part of moving preparations brought a bagful of socks with no mates.  So anyone who came unprepared had something to burn.

And now we are all ready for summer - bring it on!

MEMORIAL DAY BREAKFAST AT THE WILLMENTS'

Quite a crowd of Grandview Neighbors and their guests gathered at Steve and Marisa Willment's beautiful lakefront to enjoy a fine sunny morning.  In addition to catching up with one and other we recognized the good fortune of living in a free country and honored the price paid by those who have kept it that way and their families' sacrifices as well.

Thanks very much Steve and Marisa for hosting us in such fine fashion for the second Memorial Day in a row!

Willments' special guest from way out west,  Barbara,  helped out.  And all is ready.

A boat load of Reindls arrive

Over the water

Well "decked out" for the occasion

Up above

CLEVER MOVE IN THE SAILBOAT RACING CHESS GAME May 20th Race Report

We began our 2018 season with participation at “high tide” - fourteen sailors in eleven boats and five volunteers on the Committee Boat.  More importantly we welcomed some newcomers to the sailing community.  The race was a low-wind skills affair with a clever move that allowed several sailors to accomplish a long sought after goal.

Welcome Phil Bush and Margaret Powers to the sailing community!  And we hope visiting first-timer Jeff Cartwright (Tom’s son, Ben’s brother) is a frequent participant as well.  We were also pleased to have visiting Norm,  (Cindy Bartlett’s father), and a guest of the Cartwrights on board for this race.

Jim Voelz set up the race earlier in the day when the wind was decent. He made a wise call to eliminate one of the marks when the situation changed by race time.  Our well-staffed Committee Boat included Beth Auld, Cindy Bartlett, Phil Bush, Margaret Powers and Norm Woodman.  Arlene Truex hosted us for the protest meeting.  And Kevin Preuss and Beth Auld organized the race/committee boat.  Thanks everyone!

Most races are won at the start as we learned from the GYC’s winningest sailor, Jim Voelz, at his racing clinic the day before.  So there was a "crambitious" swarm at the somewhat narrow starting line when the starting horn sounded.  The Committee Boat did a nice job of identifying two boats over the line before the horn sounded and notified the offending skippers who had to start over. Tom Schroeder and Steve Willment in the JY-15 hoped to wait behind the starting line until just before the starting horn, then tightening their sails.  But even without the sails trimmed their boat had momentum,  and they had to turn away from the line to avoid a false start, which cost them precious time.  Others were kept from “barging” (squeezing in between a starting line buoy and another sailboat at the last second) with the threat of a potential protest.  What a show for the Committee Boat volunteers, especially the first-timers!

 

The first leg of the race was upwind from the middle of the lake headed due west.  The wind was okay for this leg.  We rounded the mark and headed straight back east toward a marker near the dam.   

A very clever move by GYC veteran Tom Jennings was reported by the genuinely impressed casualty, Jim Voelz.

Leading the fleet as usual and sailing side-by-side, Jim on the left and Tom on the right, both would soon need to turn right to go around the marker-flag.  Jim could not turn until Tom did.  Tom waited until the very last minute to turn.  He made it around the marker flag without touching it, but it was too late for Jim.  Just a normal part of sailboat racing and very much expected and proper.  Jim had to make a 360 degree penalty turn for touching the flag.  In doing so he fouled Matt Bartlett by getting in his way and causing him to alter his course.   Matt could have protested which would have required Jim make two more 360 degree penalty turns, but gave Jim a “by”.  In return, Jim offered Matt a liquid refreshment to be redeemed at some future time.

The last leg of the race was straight west again, in to a now non-existent wind. There we sat.  Motionless.  For a long time.  A very long time.  Lance and Bianca, not far from the launching ramp understandably shouted their regrets and paddled to their trailer lest the afternoon race stretch into evening.  And the Cartwrights with an offer of a tow, bailed as well.  Some time later a slight breeze surprised us, coming from behind instead of from in front.   The remaining fleet crept ever so slowly to the finish line, with a few accomplishing the long sought after goal of finishing before Jim Voelz.  All courtesy of an opportunity Tom Jennings was able to use to his advantage and win the race.

We had a good turnout for the protest meeting in good weather and enjoyed Arlene Truex’s patio and yard.  Thanks again Arlene!

Race Results:

Laser Class:  Tom Jennings 1^st, Matt Bartlett 2^nd, Andy Jennings 3^rd, Laura Garrett 4^th, Jim Voelz 5^th, Dianne Fisher 6^th, Kevin Preuss 7^th.

International Class:  Tom Schroeder/Steve Willment 1^st, John Auld/Paul Hass 2^nd.

Overall results on handicapped basis (not for scoring purposes):  Tom Jennings 1st, Matt Bartlett 2nd, Andy Jennings 3rd, Laura Garrett 4th, Jim Voelz 5th, Dianne Fisher 6th, Tom Schroeder/Steve Willment 7^th, Kevin Preuss 8^th, John Auld/Paul Hass 9^th.

Next Race AND SOCK BURNING:  June 3^rd.

WE (should be) BETTER RACERS NOW! Seminar by Champion Jim Voelz

Class is about to begin outside

Sailing Champions Jim and Peggy Voelz hosted us at their home for a racing clinic conducted by GYC’s winningest sailor ever, Jim Voelz.  As expected,  many of our sailors took advantage of this opportunity to learn the techniques Jim has found to be most important to winning races.   

He covered: 

• Boat preparation and helpful equipment

• How to prepare for the race prior to the start

• The importance of the start of the race and good starting strategies

• Strategies for upwind and downwind legs of the race and the final leg

• Rules for the start, rounding marks, and other right of way matters

• How to handle protests

It was a very valuable session and we anticipate sailors will be putting Jim’s advice into practice.  It sure seemed that way at the start of the race the next day.

Thanks Jim and Peggy!

It began raining so we moved inside