AMIDSHIPS:
Scuttlebutt & Race Yarns

Coming Events & Race Yarns (click-able list of posts at bottom of port column). We tease, embellish and exaggerate, so don't take anything you read here too seriously.  

LABOR DAY BREAKFAST AT THE KROME'S

For one of the last opportunities of the season, Grandview neighbors gathered.  It was a beautiful morning on Ed and Dolores Krome’s lakefront patio where we enjoyed their gardens and great view of the lake.  We recognized the “labors” of past and present GLOA board and committee members, other volunteers and GLOA employees Beth Ann and John. Thanks Ed and Dolores for hosting us!

 

LUCY STRIKES AND THE SAINTS COME INCHING IN: August 11th Race Report

Photos courtesy of Beth Auld & Tom Schroeder

Despite occurring during the “dog days” of summer,  it sure looked like a good day for a sailing race.  That lured twelve sailors in nine boats out to enjoy a good summer's race.  

Pre-race practice conditions were pretty darn good.  "What a great day for a race" everyone was thinking.  And nine boats, how exciting!  

 Well GOOD GRIEF!, at the sound of the starting horn the wind DIED.

 Low-wind sailing skills became the differentiator along with a little luck.

We are grateful to our all female “Women Power!” Committee Boat team of Beth Auld, Cindy Bartlett, Bernice Rains and Mimi Riffle.  

That’s a whole lot of officiating experience right there!  

They did a fine job of conducting the race and sticking it out to the bitter end.  Kevin Preuss and trainee Phil Bush set up the race course earlier in the day when winds were decent.  Kevin also organized the race, and he and Lisa took down the race markers at the end of the race.  Beth Auld organized the Committee Boat volunteers.  Thanks everyone!

In the first race with light to non-existent  and “variable” (an understatement) wind,  Matt Bartlett managed to find the wind that no one else did at a few points and smoked the field, finishing 3 minutes ahead of next group of boats.  Later he reported that several wind indicators within sight showed the wind coming from completely different directions. There were no real laggards, and it was great to see all of those sails clustered in a pretty tight group.  Jim Voelz finished second.

Matt (left) is way out front of the closely-packed rest of the fleet after rounding the 2nd mark.

Just as the wind-starved racers were starting to think maybe they shouldn’t attempt another race, the Lucy-like wind showed up again holding out the football for the ever-optimistic sailors.

You thought the first race was slow?  How about adding 5 more minutes of motionlessness.  In this race it was our legendary wind-reader Jim Voelz who skillfully found the scant winds and finished first by a lot, followed by Kevin Preuss.   

 

Start of 2nd Race: Catey & Elizabeth Hale are out front and Jim Voelz is close behind.

The fickle wind spread the field out this time with a ten minute spread between first and last, about twice the spread of the first race.  The Committee Boat likened the painfully slow finish to a funeral procession. And racers had to paddle back to their docks or find a tow. 

 

Approaching the finish line with almost no wind, the saints come inching in.  Some even had to "ooch" back to their docks. Ooching is illegal during the race. What is ooching?  Go to the search bar under the blog title photo, type in "ooching" and you'll have a good time finding out.

There was no protest meeting so that those helping with and attending the Garden Club picnic had time to get cleaned up.   By the way, the picnic at John and Donna Sasse’s was wonderful with enough clouds to provide shade from the evening sun, perfect temperature, that great view from their place,  and of course the great company of Grandview regulars and some new faces.  Oh yes, and the delicious food everyone prepared. 

Race Results:

First Race:

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

International Class: Catey & Elizabeth Hale 1^st, John Auld/Paul Hass 2^nd, Ben Cartwright/guest 3^rd.

Overall on a Handicapped Basis: Matt Bartlett 1st, Jim Voelz 2nd, Laura Garret 3rd, Dianne Fisher 4th, Kevin Preuss 5^th, Catey & Elizabeth Hale 6^th, Steve Willment 7^th, John Auld/Paul Hass 8^th, Ben Cartwright/guest 9^th.

Second Race

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

 International Class: Catey & Elizabeth Hale 1^st, John Auld/Paul Hass 2^nd, Ben Cartwright/guest 3^rd.

 Overall on a Handicapped Basis: Jim Voelz 1st, Kevin Preuss 2nd, Dianne Fisher 3rd, Catey & Elizabeth Hale 4^th, Matt Bartlett 5^th, John Auld/Paul Hass 6^th, Laura Garrett 7^th, Ben Cartwright/guest 8^th, Steve Willment 9^th.

"GHOST SAILORS", DUELING BIRDS of PREY, and DEVILISH WINDS APPEAR: July 28th Race Report

Photos courtesy of Lisa Duret.

Twelve sailors recognized a good day for sailing and seized it.  “Ghost Sailors”-no-longer (but  in contention for this year’s award nevertheless), we welcomed Laura Garrett back to town, and Dianne Fisher joined us for her first race of the season.  We also welcomed visitor Dylan Wilson crewing for John Auld.    Winds were “good” as in “strong enough for a good race” and also “good” if you stay on your toes. 

Shortly after the start of the first race. Committee Boat is on left. The wind direction made starting strategies difficult.  Many tacked after getting across the starting line, but others didn't, so it appears to be an unorganized jumble of sails.

Our experienced Committee Boat volunteers ran a perfect couple of races.  Jack Miller did a yeoman’s job of anchoring in the deepest part of the lake near the dam – it was difficult.  Thanks to Jack and Sandi Miller and Margaret Powers for making the race possible.  Steve Willment set a good course for the wind, and Kevin Preuss organized the race.  Beth Auld has made sure we have had volunteers scheduled for each race.  Thanks all!

Prior to the first race, some of us spotted two bald eagles engaged in a mid-air duel for a recent catch which eventually fell from the sky to the water.  One eagle successfully dove to retrieve it.

The starting line was a difficult one considering the wind direction and a crowded field.  Always a bit shifty at Grandview, the winds were particularly devilish in their variable direction and strength for this race.  While hiked out counterbalancing the force of the wind, a sudden drop in the wind velocity could quickly put your tush in the drink.  And the change in direction from one moment to the next made that perfect line you thought would get you to the next mark suddenly become a loser.  There were many foibles forced by the wind or unforced due to slower than desired reflexes, brain-fade etc.  Some observed (or committed) examples:  Fouling another sailor, forgetting this was a marks-to-starboard not marks-to-port race, getting caught “in irons” just before the finish line, touching the mark, taking a gamble by starting the race on a port tack and hoping  to , but not successfully weaving through those with the right of way, and getting lines fouled up, etc.  A relaxing and forgiving sport this is.

Now well underway to the first mark: Skill favored the group of four boats out front that finished in 12-ish minutes.  The other five finished in 14-ish.

Matt Bartlett won the first race for the Laser Class and overall, beating Laura Garett by 5 seconds.  Laura hasn’t lost her edge, finishing 2^nd in this race and 3^rd in the next.   

Lance and Bianca Snider took first in the International Class, and were 0.001 of a handicapped-second behind Diane Fisher to come in 6^th overall.

Jim Voelz handily won the second race in the Laser Class and overall, with Matt Bartlett again beating Laura Garrett by 5 seconds for second place in their class and overall.   

Tom Schroeder and Phil Bush took first place in the International Class in the second race, 5^th overall on a handicapped basis.

The relaxing, perfect-weather protest meeting allowed us to catch up with Lance, Bianca, Dianne and Mark for the first time this season.  And we welcomed Dianne’s sailboat-racing-veteran mom, and her husband passing through on their way to cooler points north. Bianca spoiled us with fancy snack creations and others chipped in delicious items as well.  No need for dinner. Thanks Arlene for hosting us!

Race Results

First Race:

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

International Class: Lance & Bianca Snider 1^st, John Auld/Dylan Wilson 2^nd, Tom Schroeder/Phil Bush 3^rd

Overall on a handicapped basis:  Matt Bartlett 1^st, Laura Garrett 2^nd, Jim Voelz 3^rd, Kevin Preuss 4^th, Dianne Fisher 5^th, Lance & Bianca Snider 6^th, Steve Willment 7^th, John Auld/Dylan Wilson 8^th, Tom Schroeder/Phil Bush 9^th

Second Race:

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

International Class: Tom Schroeder/Phil Bush 1^st, John Auld/Dylan Wilson 2^nd, Lance & Bianca Snider 3^rd

Overall on a handicapped basis:  Jim Voelz 1^st, Matt Bartlett 2^nd, Laura Garrett 3^rd, Kevin Preuss 4^th, Tom Schroeder/Phil Bush 5^th, John Auld/Dylan Wilson 6^th, Dianne Fisher 7^th, Steve Willment 8^th, Lance & Bianca Snider 9^th

SIZZLE & FIZZLE: July 14th Trophy Race Report

The temperature was hot.  The wind was not. But it was decent, so we had a fine race and we’ll take that anytime in the month of July.  And it didn’t rain so we’ll be happy with that, even in July, in waterlogged 2019. 

This was the “July 4^th Trophy Race”.   We welcomed back Steve Fisher crewing for the first time this year (for Tom Cartwright), as well as Catey and Elizabeth Hale in their first race this season in their Y-Flyer. 

 

Thanks to Bob Orben and Jim & Mimi Riffle for doing a fine job officiating our race.  Catey Hale with help from Kevin Preuss set a fine race course.  Kevin also organized the race and Beth Auld organizes our officiating volunteers.  Thanks to all.

Matt Bartlett came in first overall in both races.

We had a fun protest meeting, catching up with the Hales for the first time this season.  Thanks Arlene for hosting us!

Race Results:

First Race:

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

International Class (on a handicapped basis): Tom Schroeder 1^st, Tom Cartwright/Steve Fisher 2^nd, Catey & Elizabeth Hale 3^rd.

Overall on a handicapped basis:  Matt Bartlett 1^st, Tom Schroeder 2^nd, Kevin Preuss 3^rd, Tom Cartwright/Steve Fisher 4^th, Catey & Elizabeth Hale 5^th

Second Race:

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

International Class (on a handicapped basis): Tom Schroeder 1^st, Catey & Elizabeth Hale 2^nd, Tom Cartwright/Steve Fisher 3^rd.

Overall on a handicapped basis:  Matt Bartlett 1^st, Kevin Preuss 2^nd, Tom Schroeder 3^rd, Catey & Elizabeth Hale 4^th, Tom Cartwright/Steve Fisher 5^th.

POST-INDEPENDENCE DAY JULY 6TH BREAKFAST

Rested up from the eventful July 3^rd and 4^th activities, lot owners gathered for our traditional Independence Day breakfast, this time on July 6^th.  We enjoyed Margaret Power’s hospitality at her wonderful home for the 3^rd Grandview social event this year.  Thanks Margaret for keeping Grandview Lake a friendly and welcoming place!