e-Sheet - January 1, 2003
A periodic newsletter of the Lansing Sailing Club. Send info for publication to the Publisher by using the Contact Us page of the Lansing Sailing Club Web Site. Copies of previous e-Sheets are in the archives section of our web site at www.lansingsailing.org.
In This Issue
· Resolve to Sail in 2003
· Dawn Riley on Wind Shadows
· Lansing Sailor Gathering Jan 15
· LVC Challenger Finals on TV
· Got Your BloKart?
Coming Events
· Jan 12 (Sun). LSC Board Meeting. 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Siegle's.
· Jan 15 (Wed). Informal LSC Gathering. 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Spagnoula's.
· Jan 15 (Wed). LVC Finals TV Party. 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Dolan's.
· Jan 30 (Thu) - Feb 2 (Sun). Strictly Sail - Chicago. Navy Pier.
· Feb 7 (Fri). LSC Winter Social
· Feb 10 (Fri). LSC 2003 Dues Deadline
Sailing on TV
· Jan 11. LVC Finals Race Day 1. OLN. 9:00-11:00 PM.
· Jan 12. LVC Finals Race Day 2. OLN. 9:00-11:00 PM.
· Jan 14. LVC Finals Race Day 3. OLN. 9:00-11:00 PM.
· Jan 15. LVC Finals Race Day 4. OLN. 9:00-11:00 PM.
· Jan 16. LVC Finals Race Day 5. OLN. 9:00-11:00 PM.
· Jan 17. LVC Finals Race Day 6. OLN. 9:00-11:00 PM.
· Jan 18. LVC Finals Race Day 7. OLN. 9:00-11:00 PM.
· Jan 19. LVC Finals Race Day 8. OLN. 9:00-11:00 PM.
· Jan 20. LVC Finals Race Day 9. OLN. 9:00-11:00 PM.
 
Resolve to Sail in 2003
Happy New Year to everyone.

As you make your list of resolutions for 2003, please include these two:
* I am going to spend more time sailing.
* I am going to introduce at least one new person to sailing.

Then, back up your resolutions with action. When the 2003 LSC calendar comes out (in mid-January) put the sailing events you want to participate in on your personal calendar. There will be a lot of opportunities for racing, moonlight sails, classes, day sailing and other events. For those wanting to crew, there are plenty of opportunities available. If you aren't a member of LSC, consider joining. An Associate Membership is only $125 and includes use of three club Sunfish and the club Laser.

Begin talking about sailing with your friends and people you meet. Let them know we have great sailing on Lake Lansing. If one indicates an interest in learning more, bring them out to the Club - or give their name and email address (or phone number) to Commodore Ann Siegle. Ann will have someone follow up. We have Regular membership opportunities for people with fleet boats, Associate membership opportunities for anyone interested, crewing spots available for Sunday Lightning racing, sailing classes and many other enjoyable sailing events.

 
Dawn Riley on Wind Shadows
"The wind shadow is different when using A-sails versus S-sails" according to world class sailor Dawn Riley. Dawn was replying to a question on wind shadows submitted by a Lansing Sailing Club member. She went on to say "It (wind shadow) is also adjusted with the windspeed. The stronger it blows the deeper the boats can sail and the more the windshadow is in front of the boat.

The "A-sail" is short for "Assymetrical Spinnaker" and "S-sail" is short for "Symetrical Spinnaker". The A-sail is more like a big foresail with the tack usually fixed to a pole projecting almost directly in front of the bow. When gybing, the tack remains fixed and the clew is brought all the way around the boat.

The S-sail is symetrical in shape. Either side can be the clew - depending on which gybe the boat is sailing. The Lightning spinnaker is an S-sail.

Dawn Riley led the America True campaign for the last America's. She also sailed at MSU and is currently a commentator for OLN's coverage of the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Series.

 
Lansing Sailor Gathering Jan 15
Lansing sailors will be gathering Wednesday evening, January 15, for their January informal get-together. This is a slight change from the usual second Wednesday date to take advantage of the opportunity to watch sailing on TV. From 7-9 PM the group will be at Spagnoula's taking advantage of the pasta special. From 9-11 PM everyone is invited to Pat Dolan's to watch the Louis Vuitton Challenger finals on OLN.
 
LVC Challenger Finals on TV
Alingi and Oracle BMW will begin a best of nine match race series Friday, January 10 at 9 PM on the Outdoor Life Network. Alingi, the Swiss entry, earned the right to sail in the finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup by winning the semi-finals in the double chance group. Oracle BMW lost that series to Alingi, but won the right to sail in the finals by beating One World 4-0 in the Semi-finals Repechage.

Racing is scheduled almost every day beginning January 10th (January 11th in Aukland) until a winner is determined. Outdoor Life Network coverage is at 9 PM each day with reairs at 9:30 AM and 1:00 PM the next day.

The winner of this series goes on to face New Zealand in the America's Cup in February.

 
Got Your BloKart?
"Big puff, up on two wheels, turn turn turn, long slide, jibe and spin a 270 out onto the grass, wind catches on the other side of the sail and SPLAT! All of a sudden, I was hanging in my Blokart looking at the world sideways. HA! What a hoot!" This is how Mike Moody describes some of the fun of wiping out in the fast growing sport of land sailing - the "BloKart".

Doug Carlson was probably the first in Lansing to have one of these land sailors, followed quickly by Mike when he saw the potential for added fun. Ever since, Mike has spent free time looking for good sized parking lots where he can rip and tear around. According to Mike and Doug, it takes wind of about 15 mph or higher to make this thing go. There are several sail packages available so that the blokart can be sailed with a smaller sail in higher winds. Blades to exchange for wheels are currently under development so the blokart can be sailed on ice.

For more information, check out www.blokart.com.