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.  

MIX-MASTER TAKES ITS TOLL: August 5th, Race Report

Photos courtesy of Sandi Miller

We had good winds on a hot day with our “gourmet” volunteers and a visit from the newlyweds from out west.   We also had a couple of capsizes, with a collateral “victim”, and other frustrations in an area notorious for unpredictable winds.

Our Committee Boat volunteers were wave-riding gourmets Jack and Sandy Miller, Mimi Riffle, Steve and Gretchen Fisher, and Harry and Sandy Meshberger.  Jim Riffle and Terry Rains performed safety boat duty and got a workout.  John Auld set up a good race course considering the air was calm at set-up time.  Kevin and Beth Auld organized the race and Committee Boat.  Arlene Truex again hosted us at “home port”.  Thanks everyone!

Welcome back to John Gall and his bride Rachel visiting from Wyoming.  They sailed the Riffle’s M-Scow and were very competitive.  This was the first time the M-Scow was out since its memorable 2017 trophy winning voyage (“glub, glub”).  We were also fortunate to have Sherri Agnew join us before she said good bye to her Butterfly, now sold.   In total we had eight boats with eleven sailors. Our numbers have been good, with our less frequent sailors making up for absences of our “injured-reserve” sailors (not sailing-related injuries mind you).

The first race was very close among the 6 boats that started on time (2 were delayed in arriving on time for the start so they finished later).    The wind was plenty good with the usual shifty character produced by Grandview’s surrounding topography.  Our gourmets were happy for the cooling breeze on a 92-degree day.   But the breeze made for a fast race, the finish of which interrupted their lunch of BBQ chicken, sandwiches, fruit salad and brownies.

Lasers at the start

More starters: L to R, Lasers  JY-15 in foreground, Y-Flyer

The third mark (last before the finish line) was in a location infamous with sailors for totally unpredictable winds from one moment to the next –a mix-master of sorts.   If you draw a line from say, lot 311 to the north end of the slalom ski course, you will get a rough idea of the mix-master’s location.   Maybe it’s caused by the high ridge above that point.  Maybe it’s the impact of two inlets on either side of the point.  Maybe it’s the updraft coming from the nearby steep dam slope next to the less steep emergency spillway slope.  Maybe it’s a combination of all of those factors.  Whatever, it is reliably unreliable.  After rounding the marker in that area, each sailor had to figure out what line they could sail with the wind direction chosen just for them by the mix-master.  The victim in the first race was Tom Schroeder and crew Phil Bush who couldn’t figure it out fast enough.   Before rounding that last marker they were about 4^th in fairly tight group of 5 boats.  Tack this way, no wind, tack that way, no wind. Meanwhile about ten seconds behind them, Auld/Hass rounded the mark and were able to find and ride a nice sliver of wind, just for them, all the way to the finish line.  Schroeder/Bush didn’t finish till about a minute and half later.    Others were about to be dealt a more costly blow.

Finish of 1st race: Kevin Preuss finished first and is not in this pictured.  He was followed by (left to right) Matt Bartlett, Dianne Fisher, Laura Garrett ( all in Lasers) and John Auld/Paul Hass in the Y-Flyer on a special sliver of wind just for them.  Another special wind for them arrived shortly thereafter.....

Just as the starting horn was about to sound for the 2^nd race, with the starting line not far from the mix-master, a strong gust from an unexpected direction capsized Laura Garrett.   She did a nice job of righting her Laser quickly (somewhere over in the starboard column is a photo of her showing how it is done)  It also hit Auld/Hass hard under circumstances that didn’t give them enough time for the usual countermeasures that sailors like Laura employ for fast recovery.  To make matters worse their Y-flyer flipped onto the stern of another sailboat preventing it from moving.  And the Y-Flyer “turtled”, with its mast pointed straight to the bottom of the lake and that nicely painted hull pointed skyward.

 

The turtled Y-Flyer with its bow on top of another sailboat. The orange pole marks one end of the starting line.

 The Y-Flyer was unable to start the second race, and the other boat was significantly delayed.   Jim Riffle and Terry Rains came to their aid and were able help get the Y-Flyer righted shortly after the finish of the second race.  Thanks Jim and Terry!

Those winning 1^st place in their class and/or overall on a handicapped basis were Kevin Preuss, John Auld/Paul Hass, Laura Garrett, and Tom Schroeder/Phil Bush

Race Results:

First Race

Lasers: Kevin Preuss 1^st, Matt Bartlett 2^nd, Dianne Fisher 3^rd, Laura Garrett 4^th

International Class on Handicapped basis:  John Auld/Paul Hass 1^st, Tom Schroeder/Phil Bush 2nd, Sherri Agnew 3^rd, John & Rachel Gall 4^th.

Overall on Handicapped Basis (not for scoring):  Kevin Preuss 1st, Matt Bartlett 2nd, Dianne Fisher 3rd, Laura Garrett 4^th, John Auld/Paul Hass 5th, Tom Schroeder/Phil Bush 6th, Sherri Agnew 7th, John & Rachel Gall 8^th.

Second Race

Lasers: Laura Garrett 1^st, Matt Bartlett 2^nd, Dianne Fisher 3^rd, Kevin Preuss 4^th.

International Class on Handicapped basis:  Tom Schroeder/Phil Bush 1^st, John & Rachel Gall 2^nd.

Overall on Handicapped Basis (not for scoring):  Laura Garrett 1st, Matt Bartlett 2nd, Dianne Fisher 3rd, Kevin Preuss 4^th, Tom Schroeder/Phil Bush 5th, John & Rachel Gall 6th.

Our next race is scheduled for August 26^th.  Come join us!

ADVENTURE OR ORDEAL? - July 22nd Race Report

Photo courtesy of Lisa Duret

Sailors, including some visitors, enjoyed another day of good winds.  We had a couple of downpours accompanied by very strong gusts, and were assisted with an equipment malfunction by some “Good Samaritans”.  And a thousandth of a second made a difference.

L to Right:  Laser, JY-15, Y-flyer, Thistle, Laser

Our Committee Boat volunteers were Beth Auld, Cindy Bartlett, Bernice Rains and Mimi Riffle. Jim Riffle performed safety boat duty. Catey Hale and Kevin Preuss set up a fine race course.  Kevin and Beth Auld organized the race and Committee Boat, and Arlene Truex hosted our Protest Meeting.  Thanks everyone!

We had six boats in the first race and eight in the second. Dianne Fisher had some rigging trouble prior to the start of the first race and drifted over to the Max & Cindy Henry lot. The Henrys rushed out to help Dianne get ship-shape for the second race.  Thanks Max and family!   We were happy to have Lance and Bianca Snider join us in their Y-Flyer, albeit a little late for the first race as they were getting their visitors, Bill Kent & Gay Lawson set up to race their other boat, the Sunbird.  Bill and Gay did very well considering their claim of being racing novices.  And we were glad to have Bob Orben back on a Y-Flyer again, crewing for John Auld in Paul Hass’ absence.  Jeff Cartwright followed our urging to come back and visit soon. He joined brother Ben and father Tom in the Thistle.  

The first mark was to the north of the starting line so we were facing dark clouds that appeared in the northern sky.  No lightning or thunder though. Shortly after the start the heavens let loose with pounding rain and strong wind gusts creating whitecaps. In seconds sailors were drenched by both the rain and the spray, and were fighting to keep control of their boats.   This happened at about the same point in both races, lasted about five minutes, then cleared up.

“Attitude is the difference between ordeal and adventure”
- Bob Bitchin
(from sailing quotes)

Afterward, sailors were downright gleeful about the experience.  It was fun to be in all that wind, all that rain, with all those waves.  It made for an exciting race - an adventure not an ordeal. So we pass the Bob Bitchin attitude test. And remarkably, there were no capsizes, not even among the tippy Lasers. 

Those having particularly good races, taking first in either their class or on an overall handicapped basis: Matt Bartlett finished first in the Laser Class and overall in both races, John Auld and crew Bob Orben were first in the International Class in the first race, as were Tom Schroeder and crew Phil Bush in the second race. 

Noteworthy:  A one one -thousandth of a second difference (once you do the handicap math) put Cartwrights in the Thistle ahead of Auld/Orben in theY-Flyer in the second race. So Cartwrights finished second and Auld/Orben third.

And we had a great protest meeting until the rain returned at about the time we normally disband. – thanks Arlene!

Race Results:

First Race (Trophy Race):

Laser Class:  Matt Bartlett 1st, Kevin Preuss 2nd

International Class: John Auld/Bob Orben 1st, Ben/Jeff/Tom Cartwright 2nd, Bill Kent/Gay Lawson 3rd, Tom Schroeder/Phil Bush 4th

Overall on a Handicapped Basis:  Matt Bartlett 1st, Auld/Orben 2nd, Cartwrights 3rd, Kent/Lawson 4th, Schroeder/Bush 5th, Kevin Preuss 6th.

Second Race (Trophy Race):

Laser Class:  Matt Bartlett 1st, Kevin Preuss 2nd, Diane Fisher 3rd

International Class: Tom Schroeder/Phil Bush 1st,  Ben/Jeff/Tom Cartwright 2nd, John Auld/Bob Orben 3rd, Lance/Bianca Snider 4th, Bill Kent/Gay Lawson 5th.

Overall on a Handicapped Basis:  Matt Bartlett 1st, Kevin Preuss 2nd, Tom Schroeder/Phil Bush 3rd, Cartwrights 4th, Auld/Orben 5th, Lance/Bianca Snider 6th, Bill Kent/Gay Lawson 7th, Diane Fisher 8th. 

Our next race is Sunday, August 5th at 2pm

JULY 4TH BREAKFAST AT ARLENE TRUEX'S

 Photos courtesy of Lisa Duret
A large gathering of lot owners at Arlene Truex's home enjoyed a great view of the main lake and observed a fire-cracker-hot Independence Day.    We hear that the jelly donuts were a particular favorite.    Thanks Arlene, for keeping this tradition alive!

Below are some photos from the fun event:

PHOTO-STORY of the June 24th Race

Images courtesy of photojournalists Sandi Miller & Bernice Rains

Welcome to new sailor, Phil Bush!  This was his first time in a sailboat.  He studied ahead of time, and learned quickly while on the water.  He is now a crew with experience, and is eager to join us again (those needing a crew take note). The conditions were just right for a new sailor at Grandview as well as for the rest of us.   Warm but not hot.  Winds that were not too gusty, not too slow, and only absent for a short period.  Just right.  Our Committee Boat volunteers, "the gourmets",  dined well in the great weather.  And Tom and Andy Jennings were able to squeeze in another great sailing day at Grandview before the big move (and took first and second respectively in both races).

Committee Boat volunteers have sounded the "5-minutes-to-start"horn.  Jack monitors the stopwatch while the others watch the sailors try to position themselves optimally for the start.

Our Committee Boat volunteers were Steve and Gretchen Fisher, Jack and Sandi Miller, and Terry and Bernice Rains.  Sandi's and Bernice's great photos tell the story of the race.

Jim Riffle and Cindy Bartlett performed safety boat duty.  And the race gave Bob Orben a good reason to get out in “At Last”.  We had plenty of other spectators as well, ready move out of the way of approaching sailboats (thank you!).  Terry Rains and Kevin Preuss set up a really good race course.  Kevin Preuss and Beth Auld organized the race and Committee Boat.  Arlene Truex again hosted a very very pleasant “protest meeting”.  Thanks everyone for making for such a great day of sailing and socializing.

1st Race Start:  Dianne is first over the line

1st Race Start: Uh-oh John & Paul in foreground on far right "catch an edge" of the bow, slowing them down.

...

Ah, they recover and are on their way.  But wait!....who is this approaching on the right edge of the photo?  Why it is Matt, on a starboard tack....with the right of way!  Headed straight for John & Paul. Oh man, this will be close.

 John & Paul are on a port tack and do not have the right of way.  Sure enough, Matt had to alter his course to avoid them.  Matt informed them that he was fouled, so....

 John &Paul must perform the dreaded 360 degree turn as their penalty, costing them precious time. Here they are 180 degrees through the turn.

 Meanwhile the Lasers are off to a good start with Kevin out in front followed by Andy, Tom, and Dianne in wind-dictated synchronization.

Meanwhile, on the Committee Boat:

Our Committee Boat volunteers did a great job of starting the first race and capturing it in photos.  So now they settle in and relax with a nice lunch of pulled pork sandwiches, cole slaw, cantaloupe, brownies, and craft something-or-others.  They have about twenty minutes to dine and watch the race unfold before they have to exert themselves again.  Food and entertainment on the water, aaahhhh, life at the lake.

Time to get busy again: Gretchen eyes the exact finish line and will blow the horn the nano-second approaching Laura crosses it.  Jack will announce the precise time which will be recorded on the race sheet.

Gretchen blows the horn for a finisher.

Tom Jennings, having finished well ahead of everyone else checks his stopwatch to determine his elapsed time
 
.

John and Paul finish and prepare for the next race. "Hey volunteers! Can you all spare a brownie?"

Then Tom with rookie Phil as crew come by the Committee Boat.  "Hey volunteers! Can you all spare a couple of craft something-or-others?"

Okay, time to start the 2nd race:

2nd Race Start: Andy (in foreground) is hoping to start ahead of his dad, Tom (approaching from left).   But as we all know from the start of the first race, Andy has a little problem.  And since he is peeking under his boom to see where other boats might be, he is also aware of that problem:  He is on a port tack, and Tom, on a starboard tack has the right of way.  So guess what?

Andy (in foreground) has to "come about" changing to a starboard tack to avoid fouling Tom.  Since they are both on a starboard tack now, who has the right of way?   You are correct - Andy now has the right of way because he is downwind of Tom and they are overlapped.  If Andy turns to his right, Tom will have to yield to him by turning right also.   Would he do that to dear-'ol dad?

Yes, he certainly would, this is a race after all!  They have both turned to the right and both are on a port tack,  just in time to encounter Matt who has the right of way over both of them because he is on a starboard tack.  So they have to go behind Matt. 

Then Dianne crosses the starting line.  A little close to the starting line buoy.  If she touches it, she has to take a 360 degree penalty turn - guess she did not.

 Then Laura speeds by the Committee Boat. 

So now you have seen the start of two good races from the Committee Boat.
We welcome volunteers and will train you.  What is it like to be in the race?  You can find out. Come join us!

Race Results:

First Race

Lasers: Tom Jennings 1^st, Andy Jennings 2^nd, Matt Bartlett 3^rd, Kevin Preuss 4^th, Laura Garrett 5th

International Class on Handicapped basis:  Tom Schroeder/Phil Bush 1^st, John Auld/Paul Hass 2^nd.

Overall on Handicapped Basis (not for scoring):  Tom Jennings 1st, Andy Jennings 2nd, Matt Bartlett 3rd, Tom Schroeder/Phil Bush 4^th, Kevin Preuss 5th, Laura Garrett  6^th, John Auld/Paul Hass 7^th.

Second Race

Lasers: Tom Jennings 1^st, Andy Jennings 2^nd, Dianne Fisher 3^rd, Laura Garret 4^th, Kevin Preuss 5th^.

International Class on Handicapped basis:  Tom Schroeder/Phil Bush 1^st, John Auld/Paul Hass 2^nd.

Overall on Handicapped Basis (not for scoring):  Tom Jennings 1st, Andy Jennings 2nd, Dianne Bartlett 3rd, Tom Schroeder/Phil Bush 4^th, Laura Garrett 5th, Kevin Preuss  6^th, Matt Bartlett 7^th, John Auld/Paul Hass 8^th.

The next scheduled race is the "July 4th Trophy Race.  Instead of July 4th (too busy on the lake) it will be  held on July 8th.

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.