e-Sheet - September 29, 2003

e-Sheet — September 29, 2003

A periodic newsletter of the Lansing Sailing Club. Copies of previous e-Sheets are in the archives section of our web site at www.lansingsailing.org. Send info for publication to the Publisher by using the Contact Us page of the Lansing Sailing Club Web Site.

In this Issue	Coming Events
"Hen Pecked" Gets a First - So Does Hurlbutt Pictures of Spartan Singles Regatta on the Web Severin, Pierce and Deits Brave Winds at Wawasee Regatta MSU Sailors Sail Well but Cars Breakdown Koster Encourages "Blow Out" Participation	October 4-5. Saturday-Sunday. No Sweat Laser and Sunfish Regatta. Portage Yacht Club. October 4-5. Saturday-Sunday. Ice Breaker Lightning Regatta. Crescent Yacht Club. October 5. Sunday. Lightning Racing - Race Day 24. 12:30 Skip Mtg. 1:00 First of Three Races. October 8. Wednesday. Lansing Sailors Informal Gathering. 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Location TBA. October 11. Saturday. Blow Out Lightning Regatta. North Cape. October 12. Sunday. Lightning Racing - Race Day 25. 1:30 Skip Mtg. 2:00 First of Three Races. October 18. Saturday. Docks Out. 9 AM to Noon. November 12. Lansing Sailors Informal Gathering. 7:00 to 9:00 PM Location TBA. November 21. Awards Banquet, Crew Recognition and Annual Meeting of the Lansing Sailing club. December 10. Lansing Sailors Informal Gathering. 7:00 to 9:00 PM Location TBA. January 29-February 1. Strictly Sail - Chicago. Navy Pier www.sailamerica.com/boatshows.cfm?show_id=chicago&mode=home.
Race Committee Reminder
September 28 (Sun): Mike Moody and Ken Knight October 5 (Sun): Neil Harrison and Olav Messerschmidt October 12 (Sun): George Siegle and Ann Siegle
Sailing on TV
October 3 (Fri): Wild Survival. Injured Russian Sailor has to perform surgery on himself. 11:30 PM to 12:00 PM. OLN. October 4 (Sat): Grand Prix Sailing. Danish Open. 3:30 PM to 4:00 PM. OLN. October 5 (Sun): Pleasure Boater Visits St. Michael Inn. 4:00 PM to 4:30 PM. OLN. October 17 (Fri): Grand Prix Sailing. Danish Open. 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM. OLN. Sign up to receive notices of future telecasts by Gary Jobson on ESPN at www.jobsonsailing.com Check out OLN's schedule at www.olntv.com

"Hen Pecked" Gets a First - So Does Hurlbutt

Excitement reigned on board "Hen Pecked" after race two Sunday as Terry Kleiman, Lisa Winters and Lori Katz scored their initial first place finish as a team. Then, in race three, Merrick Hurlbutt with crew Scott Watkins tallied their first bullet on Lake Lansing. The "Wind Dancer" of Pat Dolan, Bob Miller and Gil Chesbro had their other first place finish in race one. Mike Moody and Ken Knight served on race committee and took pictures, some of which can be found on the LSC web site.

It had to be very satisfying for Terry, Lisa and Lori. This is former fleet champion Terry's first year of serious attention to racing in a number of years - encouraged to get back into it by two women new to sailing, but who were willing to commit to a season of crewing. Lisa and Lori called in the Spring and asked about crewing. They were linked with Terry and a fun season began for three people that know how to work hard and have a good time. They have practicing almost every Tuesday evening, and are a smoothly operating team - able to boat handle with the best of the fleet. They have kidded each other - and gave each other support when needed. In addition, they have made the season fun for a lot of other sailors who they came in contact with. Thanks you three - and congratulations.

It also had to be satisfying for Merrick Hurlbutt and Scott Watkins who continued the solid sailing that has marked their last few weeks - and ended up winning the third race of the day. After a rugged start to the year, Merrick clearly has his boat going very fast and a good chemistry with his crew. To post their win, they had to hold off a hard charging "Wind Dancer" skippered by Bob Miller - but covered well in a tacking duel.

Results and standings are available from the Race Results page of the LSC web site at www.lansingsailing.org.

Pictures of Spartan Singles Regatta on the Web

The recent and very successful "Spartan Singles" regatta found George Griswold on hand with his camera. George was kind enough to share his pictures, many of which can now be found as the basis for a web picture story at http://home.comcast.net/~pcdolan/Sailing/SpartanSingles2003/SpartanSingles2003.htm. Also included are the results of all races. There are numerous pictures of local Lansing area and MSU sailors. Enjoy.

Severin, Pierce and Deits Brave Winds at Wawasee Regatta

Note: This article was authored by Blaine Severin.
The name of the game at the 49th Annual Hoosier Regatta was big gusts and rain gear. Ninteen Lightnings started the first race on Saturday, with a win by Matt Princing in "Stars and Scrapes, Forever" in a gusty 10-25 knot wind. Undaunted, the committee pressed on to race two with storm cells lining up to the North and South. Winds danced through 90 degree shiifts as the cells fed on the warmer lake air, with each line of cell sucking up wind from the center of the lake. Soon after the start, those who went left on the lake were greeted by a four minute blast of rain and winds estimated at 30-35 knots. One capsize occured as half the fleet took to "defensive irons". Those on the right moved steadily to the mark in the relative calm 25 knots. Upon rounding the mark, however, one leader blew-out their spinnaker. "You could see that one coming" was the comment from longtime Lansing sailor, Julie Pierce. "Stars and Scrapes", the first round leader capsized during a jibe on the final downwind leg about 50 yards from the finish and never finshed the race, having lost their tiller. Sean Fidler finshed first followed by Deb Probst then John McCree. By the time that race three was to begin, there was lightning and thunder in an oncoming cloud, so the fleet retired to beer and pasta.

Sunday saw three races in relatively calmer weather that went from 15-25 knots. Several squalls of icy rain blew through. This did not stop the leaders, Fidler, Probst and McCree as they kept up their dominance of the fleet. However, race four saw one drop-out and race five was too much for seven others. Fidler won the regatta for the second time in three years. Deb Probst was second and John McCree finshed overall third.

The Lansing entry at the regatta was "Unidentified Flying Pig" skippered by Blaine Severin with stalwart Julie Pierce and regatta rookie Tom Deits. Unperturbed by the weather, the LSC crew put up a consistent performance with scores of 12,14,13,13,and 12 for overall 12th of 19.

The Wawasee club is a fabulous small lake facility with a great committee and an overall friendly atomosphere. Next year marks their 50th anniversary with a great celebration planned for the Hoosier Regatta. We highly recommend that Lansing join the fun with an especially large "away" fleet.

MSU Sailors Sail Well but Cars Breakdown

Note: LSC and MSU Sailing Team member Laura Schmidt reports on MSU Sailing Team action from last weekend's Iowa road trip. Corey Schoenherr reports on Detroit Sailing.
Well Iowa was interesting. We sailed well - but getting there and back was an adventure. On the water, the team of Rob Linden, Meagan Walter, Mary Vorel and Jaime Ziegler finished second with Mary and Jaime winning the B division. Our other team included Adam Jacques and James Hook sailing in the B division and Erin Holcomb crewing for me in the A division. Erin and I finished third in our division, but this being the first regatta for Adam and James, our overall score was tenth.

Off the water our success rate was much lower. While going there we blew out a trailer tire and coming home my car came down with transmission problems in the middle of the Illinois corn fields. Five sailors went on to East Lansing with Mary in her car, but two others and I had to stay untill the tow truck came. My dad came from Chicago (luckily only an hour and a half away) to rescue us. We slept for couple of hours at my house in Chicago and got home about noon today - just in time for me to take a sociology mid-term. Mary's car also broke down temporarily - so, off the water, it was an "everything that could go wrong, will go wrong" weekend.

While one group of MSU sailors went to Iowa, Mike Fong, Corey Schoenherr, and Eric Bombery traveled to Detroit. The Detroit Yacht Club hosted the Midwest Collegiate Sloop District Championship. On Saturday the wind was almost as stiff as the competition. No spinnakers allowed. Conditions Sunday were lighter, but the competition was not. The Spartans placed 10th overall.

Koster Encourages "Blow Out" Participation

Note: The following comes to us from Larry Koster.
For those of LSC that prefer a one day Lightning regatta, the North Cape "Blow Out" regatta on October 11th would be one to go to. It is an easy drive, about 120 miles, down I-96 to I-275, then down I-75 to Exit 9. This is a true yacht club, great sailing on Lake Erie, just south of Monroe and 9 miles north of Toledo, Ohio. I have crewed at this location for the 1992 Michigan Districts, the Great Lakes Championships in May of 2002 and the NA's in August of 2002. A few years ago Walt DeGruyter, Tom Rasmussen and I sailed in the North American "Masters" Championship at this site aboard FUBAR. The competition will be strong. And you can wait until Thursday of that week to see what the weather forecast might be.