Sign Up for Race Committee Duty

LSC members who have not yet done their Race Committee duty are urged to check the calendar and sign up for a Sunday where Race Committee members are needed. To do this, go to the LSC web site at www.lansingsailing.org and click on "Racing" in the left hand column. On the racing page, click on "Race Committee Schedule and Sign-Up" in the upper right. For a user name use "lsc". For a password, use the LSC padlock combination. If you have forgotten the padlock combination, don't have easy access to a computer or need help of some other kind, please contact Vice-Commodore Pat Dolan by phone at 214-6568.

Matt Messerschmidt Is Sunday RC Captain

LSC has arranged for Matt Messerschmidt to be the Sunday Race Committee Captain for the remainder of the summer.

This doesn't change the need for LSC members to do their Race Committee duty - so be sure to sign-up if you haven't yet done so. However, having Matt on a permanent basis will help meet the need for having properly staffed Race Committees.

Members will continue to have responsibility for the check list of on-shore items done by the Race Committee such as cleaning the kitchen, changing rooms and ramps. On the water, with LSC members in a support role, Matt will direct the setting and changing of courses as necessary - and oversee the running and scoring of races.

Moonlight Sail Friday

Here is an opportunity to put a little romance in your life - or to just have a good time with some great people.

Come to the Moonlight Sail this Friday evening. Bring a small dessert to pass at 8. We will go on the water about 9. There are always plenty of boats to go on - both sail and power.

Doug's Club Boat Corner
Operating the Safety Boat

The new Performance Fin

Ed Note: This is another in a series by LSC Club Boat Director Doug Carlson. The regularity will depend on Doug's time, new ideas and questions from members regarding the use and care of the club boats.

The safety boat operates best either at slow speeds or when on a plane. Planning is when the boat has exceeds its hull speed and is riding on top of the water. To help get the Safety Boat up on a plan more quickly, a performance fin has been added to the engine just above the propeller.

To get the Safety Boat on a plane, first make sure the engine is tilted completely down and everyone is sitting down in the boat - then push the throttle very quickly as far forward as it will go. This will cause the boat to accelerate quickly and break the surface of the water to achieve a plane. Once on a plane, it is not necessary to keep the throttle in it's full forward position and the throttle can pulled back to reduced the boat to a more appropriate and slower speed.

However, if you slow down too much the boat will sink back down into the water and come off its plane. When this happens the bow will become elevated and the boat will create a large wake. Rather than staying in this position, either quickly increase the speed again or slow down further so the that boats becomes level and the wake subsides.

With the increased weeds in the lake, especially in back of the safety boat lift, it is important to make sure that weeds do not become tangled around the prop. This will add undue stress to the engine and make it difficult to get on a plane. If you are suspicious that weeds are tangled on the prop, stop the boat and simply put the boat in reverse for approximately 5 seconds. Put the engine in neutral and move forward for approximately 5 seconds. Repeat the procedure until the weeds are clear. If this does not clear the weeds, turn the engine off, tilt it up completely out of the water and remove the weeds manually.

As always, if you have any questions or need assistance with the operation of either the safety or committee boats, please ask.