AMIDSHIPS:
Scuttlebutt & Race Yarns

 We tease, embellish and exaggerate, so don't take anything you read here too seriously. Click-able list of prior posts at bottom of port column.

2026 Sock Burning & Lake Poetry

 Adhering to a fun custom among sailing organizations across the USA, the Yacht Club held its annual "Sock Burning" to celebrate the end of sock-wearing season and beginning of sailing season.  

The group assembled, enjoyed the pitch-in snacks and an extended period of trading yarns about the race, the winter, lake chatter, etc.  Then we formed a circle and began the ritual by tossing filthy winter socks into the flameless "fire" and took turns reading fun lake related poetry that some had either composed or thought appropriate. 

Below are the items read by the participants: 

THE POEMS:

The sailors wondered,

Will the season ever start?

Ahoy, it’s today!

-L.D. (Haiku)

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Sailing on Grandview:

 Warmed by the sun,

Carried by the wind,

Cradled by the lake,

Is the ultimate

“Happy Place”

-A.T.

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 There are good ships and wood ships and ships that sail the sea.

But the best ships are friendships and may they always be!

 -    T.C. & S. C.

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A Grandview sailor from our lake

Planned a season to sail in “no wake”.

Staying out in front is no easy stunt

But he’ll get the trophy to take.

-M.R.

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“Leisure” by W. H. Davies (1871-1940): 

WHAT is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare?—

 

No time to stand beneath the boughs,

And stare as long as sheep and cows:

 

No time to see, when woods we pass,

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass:

 

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars, like skies at night:

 

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,

And watch her feet, how they can dance:

 

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began?

 

A poor life this if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

-As read by LG

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Another year sailing at GYC

And as a hobby it’s not free!

 

Although delayed, we started.

The racing was good hearted!

 

And as usual, we followed Jim V!

-M.B.

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Sailing is a fickle sport

As you can plainly see.

There’s too much wind, or not enough,

A chance of rain, oh GEE!

 

There’s all the special words to learn,

Bow, stern and port.

It’s easy for a newbee to stumble

And fall short.

 

But when your sails are tight and full

And you’re flying toward the dam

The water’s sparkling,  you’re in the lead,

You’ve won a grand slam!

-J.H.

 

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Race Day at Grandview:

 The powerful wind pulls hard on your line,

Sensation of speed greatly multiplied.

First to finish is our hard fought mission,

So we trim the sails to the perfect position.

 

The heart beats fast, the mind stays busy,

Sailors caught up in a competitive tizzy.

Each gust a joy unless we capsize.

We hope to win that elusive prize.

To those who finish with a winning outcome:

Beware of  succumbing to high five syndrome!

 

When the race is over our sails we stow.    

With snacks and drinks to Arlene’s patio we go.

Exhausted and spent, sailors sink into a chair.

Then race yarns and alleged infractions we share.

-T.S.

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Also, for those interested in the origins of this quirky tradition, Arlene found the most likely source:

Started in 1977 after a bad winter in Maryland.  It was March 21^st, the traditional start of the sailing season in that area.  Weather was not good for sailing, so sailors were gathered on the beach with a fire in the fire pit.  One disgruntled disappointed sailor threw his winter socks into the fire. 

June 28, 2026 Race Report

 After cancelling the first two scheduled races of the season, sailors were eager to get wind in their sails, feel the pull of the mainsheet,  and the adrenalin rush of competition. Seven boats raced and sailors were grateful for an adequate wind with no real windless periods.

 The Committee Boat was packed with experienced volunteers and Riffle relatives who enjoyed a sailboat racing experience with front row seats. Thanks to Jim Riffle, Margaret Powers, and Cindy Bartlett for conducting the races flawlessly.  John Auld, with assistance from Tom Schroeder, set up a race appropriate to the day’s winds.  Harbormaster Arlene Truex kept the set-up and officiating boats well-supplied and efficient in their comings and goings and hosting our post-race gathering.  Beth Auld and Kevin Preuss made sure we had the Committee Boat staffed and that all involved were well informed prior to a during race day.   

The race was followed by a well-attended post-race gathering featuring our annual  “Sock Burning” ritual to welcome summer, complete with fun poetry by participants.  See the separate post on the Sock Burning complete with the creative poetry etc. (see separate adjacent post). 

Race Results:  

2025: A TORNADIC 64th SAILING SEASON - RECAP/AWARDS/THANKS

2025: GETTING BACK TO "NORMAL"

Sailing season provided a welcome sense of getting back to “normal” as well as the needed blessing of the club's camaraderie  after a rough start to the year:  An F2 tornado hit Grandview Lake on May 16. It was a real blow, with very significant damage to property.  Amazing that no one was injured. We were also mourning the passing of club mainstay Bob Orben a little earlier in the year. You can read about Bob here.

Our after-race gatherings helped us get back to "normal"

We had 8 race days. There were 35 participants, about half sailors and half Committee Boat volunteers. About half are women and half are men.  Ages of the participants  ranged from preteens to octogenarians.

NEW PARTICIPANTS – WELCOME ABOARD!

We are very pleased to have Lily and Molly Garrett sailing with us along with the welcome return of Peggy Voelz to the water as well.   Colleen Logan and husband Steve Anderson joined us for the first time during their stay at the Logan’s place in July.  Dylan Wilson, one of the Auld clan, joined us as well.  

VOLUNTEERS RECOGNIZED

Volunteers on the Committee Boat enjoying lunch while watching the race. They were busy a few minutes later when they recorded the finishing times of the sailors.

Thanks to our Committee Boat volunteers!  They are wonderful, great at what they do, highly esteemed by the sailors, and are always right!

Arlene welcomes the race set-up volunteers arriving to pick up gear. 

Special thanks to  Arlene Truex, for hosting our gatherings and our pre and post-race logistics. It is non-stop activity at her place all day long on race days! 

SOCK BURNING AND POETRY

Sock burning at the start of the sailing season has become “a thing” amongst sailing clubs across the country. It is a celebration of Springtime. Such exuberance inspires poetry, so that is part of it as well. This year many of the poems composed by club members mentioned the tornado, the importance of friendships, and sailing of course. You can find the blog post with all of the poetry here .

SAILORS & AWARDS

 

SPECIAL AWARDS

Ghost Sailor Award  Enthusiasm Award

Considering the stormy circumstances of 2025, we repurposed the “Ghost Sailor” trophy. Rather than a mild teasing of those who were somewhat absent, we recognized a couple who travelled the farthest and went to great lengths to be able join our sailing fun.  Colleen Logan and Steve Anderson began inquiring about joining us in January and travelled here from way, way out west.  Unfortunately the sailboat they had arranged to borrow was a tornado victim.  Instead, Colleen was able to crew for John Auld.  Steve helped out on the Committee Boat. 

Colleen Logan up front, crews for John Auld

Regarding the trophy: We changed the title plate and put a new figurine on top of the ghost sailor trophy as you can see below.

Even with its modifications, the former ghost sailor award remains difficult to capture in a photograph (frustrating the web-master). 

The "Jim Riffle Perfect Attendance Award"

This award is named after Jim Riffle because he is rarely absent from any Grandview Lake related activity, function, or meeting.   

The award is Jim's favorite holiday breakfast doughnut - jelly filled.

Although no one achieved such attendance perfection this year, some were close, including:

John Auld, Cindy Bartlett, Matt Bartlett, Tom Cartwright, Dianne Fisher, Laura Garrett, and of course Jim Riffle.

 "Booby Prize”

This year’s misadventure award went to “The Tornado of 2025” Kind of like in 2021 when we awarded it to “Covid 19”.   Both events are recorded for the sake of historical infamy on the very appropriate chamber pot trophy.  

The chamber pot is full of actual tornado debris along with a depiction of the tornado itself. 

Good Samaritan Award:

This year’s winner was Doug Hale who with the assistance of the safety patrol officer was able to get Catey Hale's turtled Y-Flyer righted - never an easy task. A jelly donut was awarded.

RACING AWARDS

Memorial Day Race Winner

Matt Bartlett (right) with trophy awarded by Kevin Preuss– just like last year – same T-shirts even!

 July 4th Race Winner

Jim Voelz with the trophy awarded by Lisa Duret

 

Labor Day Race Winner

John Auld was the winner

Accepting the award on behalf of John Auld is Tom Schroeder, his crew for that race.

 

CREW  AWARDS

    FIRST PLACE

Tom Schroeder

SECOND PLACE

Sarah Cartwright - see her?

THIRD  PLACE

Ben Cartwright
pictured at the helm giving his dad a scare

 

LASER CLASS AWARDS

    FIRST PLACE

Matt Bartlett

 

SECOND PLACE

Laura Garrett

THIRD PLACE

John Gall

INTERNATIONAL  CLASS AWARDS

FIRST PLACE

Tom Cartwright

SECOND PLACE

John Auld shown here with crew Beth Auld

THIRD PLACE

Catey Hale shown here with crew Elizabeth Hale

     ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:

The 2025 Rookie of the year is Molly Garrett (not pictured)  

** CLUB CHAMPION **

MATT BARTLETT

The Club Champion is the sailor that accumulates the most points based on the club's scoring system

And thanks to our club officers for another great season!

Beth Auld

 

Kevin Preuss

 

Lisa Duret

 

Tom Schroeder

Thanks to Beth Auld our Committee Boat Chairperson and Kevin Preuss our Race Chairperson. They are the ones that organize the races and keep them running like clockwork. And to Lisa Duret  our Secretary/Treasurer keeps our memberships and checkbook current and helps in many other ways. And to Tom Schroeder the Commodore who tries to help if he can.

We hope you and yours enjoy FAIR WINDS in 2026!

 

Sept 7 Race: Good Wind, Quiet Lake

 A window into our race 

This was our last race of the 2025 season, and  the second race in a row with a good strong wind (for the most part).  It was cool as well, so there were very few other boats on the lake. A perfect day for a race and an after-race gathering.  Up above is Sarah Cartwright in the window of  the mainsail as Tom Cartwright navigates the start.

We had a well staffed Committee Boat with Nate Schloss, Arlene Truex, Cindy Bartlett and Tom Schroeder. Jim Riffle kept track of things from the safety boat. Kevin Preuss and Beth Auld organized the race, and Arlene hosted us for the protest meeting.  Thanks to all! 

Kevin Preuss, with assistance from Tom Schroeder, set the course for the strong north/northwest wind.  The course from the starting line to the first mark is supposed to be straight into the wind, requiring multiple tacks to get to the mark.  However for the first race, the wind shifted to the west, making for a fast, "close hauled" straight shot to the first mark.  In the second race the wind shifted back to north/northwest as the course intended, but weakened near the first mark making it very difficult for sailors to round the mark. 

Laura Garrett won the first race and Matt Bartlett won the second race.  

Before we get to the pictures, just a note to sailors and volunteers past and present:  The Awards gathering for the 2025 season will be Sunday, Sept 21st at Arlene's patio at 3pm (In the event of foul weather, it will be at Tom and Julia Schroeder's).  Bring a snack to share and BYO beverage.  If you haven't participated in a while, we would be happy to see you. Just let us know so we can make sure we have an extra chair for you.  You can do that by leaving a comment in the comment section below - although it says "post" a comment, only the webmaster will see it and will not publish your RSVP comment. 

Back to the race:  

2nd race, looking north into the wind. The three Lasers on starboard tack after a great, simultaneous start 

 

Tom and Sarah hiking out in the mighty Thistle, taking a bit different route than the Lasers

 

Tacking back and forth into the north wind, this is when right of way rules come into play as the boats cross each other's paths.

Matt, left is on a port tack (wind coming across port side) so he will have to yield to Laura, who is on a starboard tack, such that she does not have to alter her course. 

 

Close quarters!

 

 Laura (front) neck and neck with Dianne on way to the 3rd mark

 

Meanwhile, Matt rounds the third mark with the Cartwrights in hot pursuit. Jim in the safety boat enjoys the show.

Nate, in foreground gets ready to blow the "you've finished" horn as Matt is about to finish just ahead of the Cartwrights.

 RACE RESULTS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aug 24 Race: Strong Wind, No Heat Dome

Photos courtesy of Beth Auld

The wind was strong, much stronger at times, making for fast races.  But the wind was Grandview-shifty, and very subject to the wind shadows of the hills, so  sailors could take nothing for granted as they plotted and executed their starts, courses to the marks and finishes. 60% of the sailors experienced a capsize. 

 

Shortly after the start on way to 1st mark

 

Taking time to sail the course ahead of the first race, John Auld and crew Tom leveraged that recon into a win with a good margin over the rest of the fleet in the first race, much less so in the second. 

John Auld (right) and Matt Bartlett (left) approach the 3rd mark.  Since they are overlapped prior to being within 3 boat lengths of the mark, Matt will have to give John room to round the mark.

Good riddance to the heat dome!  Our volunteers didn't have to swelter, but with the wind, did have to deal with a challenging anchoring situation.  We are very grateful to Jack and Sandi Miller and Beth Auld in the Committee Boat as well as Jim Riffle and Arlene Truex in the safety boat. Matt Bartlett and Dianne Fisher set up a very good course for us that stood up to a changing wind,  Arlene hosted a fun and well-attended protest meeting.  Beth Auld and Kevin Preuss organized another good race.  Thanks everyone!   

Just one more race for our 2025 season:  September 7th 2pm as usual. 

Race Results: