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.

HIKING STRAP FAILURE: August 23 Race Report

Early in the day when setting up the racecourse Matt and Dianne were concerned the race might have to be cancelled since there was no wind.  The calm made it difficult to anticipate wind direction for a proper course so they set it up according to the weather forecast.  A very decent wind showed up in time for the race and the course had been set up perfectly.  Thanks Matt and Dianne. The starting and finishing legs of the race were directly into the wind as we prefer.  This makes the tacking strategy for getting to the first mark, and to the finish line a key to determining the race outcome.

Judging from their written comments, the Committee Boat volunteers had such a bout of contagious laughter about a starting horn faux pas from a prior year that they almost forgot to start the race.  But they recovered their composure just in time and did a fine job.  Thanks to Cindy Bartlett, Margaret Powers, Jim and Mimi Riffle and Arlene Truex.  And thanks to Beth Auld, Kevin Preuss and Arlene Truex for organizing the race and post-race gathering.

Hiking straps had an impact on the race:  

When sailors lean back over the side of the boat to keep the wind from flipping the boat over in a strong wind (“hiking out”) , sailors are able to keep from falling overboard by hooking their toes under “hiking straps” fastened to the inside of the hull.  Well Tom and Dave Cartwright were hiked out to an extreme in the mighty Thistle when the hiking strap suddenly broke. This sent them into the water and capsized the boat.  Tom had to swim after the boat which the wind kept pushing.  They were eventually able to get the boat righted, but had to abandon the second race.    

As usual we had a fine time at the post race gathering as well.

Race Results:

Our last race is September 13.

NEXT GENERATION OF RACERS HAS ARRIVED: August 9 Race

Something exciting is happening at our lake's races this year. At our most recent race, four youths participated in the action—three actually sailing and one getting an up-close view from the officiating boat (details below). A new generation is discovering that sailboat racing is a place to compete, learn, have fun and be part of the sailing community.   Come join us!

Click here for a list of the great personal benefits of racing sailboats at Grandview Lake

If you are a Grandview lot owner and are interested in participation, please leave a voice mail for Tom Schroeder at 317-873-1637.

Molly and Lily sailing together as captain and crew, have been steadily moving up in the race results this season, already beating some of our more experienced sailors along the way.  And from the GYC paparazzi boat they were cheered on and offered encouragement—or perhaps a little coaching.

Maggie crewed for her dad and became the youngest crew member ever to sail in one of our club races. 

Levi, our youngest Committee Boat volunteer watched the boats jockey for position at the start and finish, and listened as the other volunteers discussed the strategies the captains appeared to be using. 

And racing is only part of their experience. Our sailors gather after races each week to share food, stories and plenty of good-natured banter about what happened on the course. All four of these youngsters have been part of those gatherings after various races this season. They're not just watching from the shore—they're becoming part of the sailing community.

That may be the most encouraging sight of all. A sailing tradition that began here 65 years ago is being carried forward by a new generation (the fourth), with some of the youngest members of our lake family discovering what generations of sailors before them have already learned: there's something pretty special about being on the water when the race is on.

Oh yes and about the race:  

John and Levi set up an excellent race course.  Levi, Beth Auld, Cindy Bartlett and Rachel Gall officiated the race.  Also on board were a couple Cindy has gotten to know from her work as a hospice nurse.  They were interested in seeing a sailing race, so were able to join in the fun from the best vantage point on the lake. Thanks to Beth Auld, Kevin Preuss and Arlene Truex for organizing the race and gathering. 

We had good winds for the pre-race warm-up, which then dropped to acceptable and sometimes a bit calm for the first race, and then pretty good winds for the second race. Being first to the mark involved some difficulty for three of the four segments especially with wind shifts.

Race Results: