Lightning Sailors Compete at Higgins Lake and Leland

John LeFevre, Leif Alton and Larry Koster approach the windward mark at Higgins Lake in Saturday Regatta action.

A number of Lightning Sailors were out of town at regattas on Saturday and Sunday. John LeFevre, Larry Koster and Leif Alton sailed John's boat in the Higgins Lake Lightning Regatta. Blaine Severin also was at Higgins with crew Julie Pierce and Tom Deits. Mike Moody was sailing his Laser in a regatta at Leland.

All the sailors at Higgins Lake had a wonderful time. Blaine Severin finished with two sixth place finishes, two sevenths and a eighth for a seventh overall at Higgins Lake. John LeFevre finished eighth overall, recovering in time for the next race from a capsize in the second race where the boat turtled.

Mike Moody ended with 30 points overall at Leland and was first by two points before the throwout. However, Mike's throwout was an eighth and the second place sailor threw out a sixth - leaving them tied. Five layers into the tie-breaker, the other person had a fifth and Mike a sixth - so Mike was officially second. Mike reported nineteen boats, terrific wind, lots of action, and a great time had by all.

"Wind Dancer" and "Fins" Win Sunday on Lake Lansing

As Neil Harrison comes in to the windward mark, John Quensen sets the pole and Alanna Harvey gets the kite ready to launch.

Pat Dolan, Bob Miller and Susanna Tellschow sailed "Wind Dancer" to wins in the first and third race while finishing second in race 2. "Fins", sailed by George Siegle, Ann Siegle and Laura Harvey took one race to get the kinks out, finishing fourth, then finished first and second in the next two races.

Neil Harrison sailed with Alanna Harvey and John Quensen and finished 3-4-3, just getting nosed out by "Fins". There were some very close finishes and close mark roundings. The first leeward mark rounding in race three found all four boats converging. Neil had taken the lead part way down the first leeward leg with some excellent spinnaker work and fast downwind sailing. They couldn't keep "Wind Dancer" from crossing their stern with speed and acquiring an overlap just before the two length circle, but managed to found second.

Merrick Hurlbutt was sailing with Scott Watkins and Adrianne Tuttle and finished 2-3-4. Merrick and crew got a great start in race three and were leading at the first mark. Their first race was also solid from beginning to end as they finished second.

More pictures of Sunday action can be foundDetailed results and standings are available through links on the Racing page of the LSC web site at www.lansingsailing.org.

Anna Hamilton Still Has Room in Her Schedule to Wash Boats Saturday

Any member wishing to have their boat washed this coming Saturday should contact Anna Hamilton at ananna06@juno.com. She still has a couple of spots open in her schedule that day.

Sunfish Sailors: Note Change in GDSC Open Regatta

Steve Colgate Sailing Tip Discusses the Traveler

Steve Colgate's Offshore Sailing web site has many sailing tips - their courses are top notch too

The traveler helps control the shape of the mainsail and adds to the performance of your boat in quite a few ways. For some tips to help you in your quest for perfect mainsail trim, check out Steve Colgate's tip number 49 at www.offshore-sailing.com/nb/gn/sailtip49.htm.

While on the web site, check out the other great tips from Steve Colgate. There are tips on mooring, docking, cruising, racing, jib trim, main trim, spinnaker trim, and many other topics. Go to the home page and click on "News for Sailors" - or as an alternative, from the Tip 49 page, enter some other numbers (from 16 to 49) in the URL on the address line and be surprised.

• August 8 (Sunday): Olav Messerschmidt and Dave MacKenzie.
• August 15 (Sunday): John Quensen, Volunteer Needed.

• August 3, Lightning Practice
• August 4, Wednesday Racing
• August 6, LLPOA Euchre on the Lake
• August 8, Lightning Fleet Racing
• August 10, Lightning Practice
• August 11, Wednesday Racing
• August 13, LLPOA TGIF on the Lake
• August 15, Lightning Fleet Racing
• August 17, Lightning Practice
• August 18, Wednesday Racing

• America's Cup Racing. OLN is repeating its broadcasts of the UBS America's Cup racing between Alinghi and BMW Oracle on Narragansett Bay, Newport, RI held earlier this summer. The three part series will be shown from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM on August 2, 3 and 4.
• 25 Years of Sailing. ESPN2 is repeating its earlier showing. Produced and hosted by Gary Jobson, this show celebrates 25 years of history in the sport of sailing and ESPN's coverage of it. 5:00 AM to 6:00 AM on August 7.
• Olympics. Bravo will be carrying daily highlights of sailing during the Olympics from 12:00 AM to 1:00 AM starting August 14.
• See a comprehensive list of Telecasts and Webcasts at www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/.
• Swedish Match Tour. Previous events shown continuously on the web at narrowstep.tv.
• Wednesdays: Annapolis Yacht Club Wednesday Night Series. On the web at www.t2p.tv each evening after racing.