Ahlbrand Wins

Ahlbrand and crew approaching windward mark Picture by Stephen Wagner

Jonathan Ahlbrand keeps getting better and better. With regular crew in the boat, and some experience in Lightnings to tame his catamaran racing tendencies, he is now challenging the leaders every Sunday.

Last Sunday (Aug 27), with Bob Bell and Tom Rasmussen on board, Ahlbrand posted a third in the first race, slipped to fifth in the second, but then won the final race of the day - closing out Blaine Severin at the finish.

"Wind Dancer" had another good day of sailing. Pat Dolan drove the first two races, winning both as crew Chris Miller and Gil Chesbro performed at the top of their game. Although the first legs were very competitive, "Wind Dancer" found its own wind heading to the leeward mark and kept extending in both races to win handily.

Maribeth Fletcher back on board "Splash" Picture by Stephen Wagner

Jim Fletcher, also on a run lately, ended the day with two second place finishes and a third in the final. Maribeth Fletcher, recovering from knee surgery, was back in the boat for the first time in 2006. She teamed with Tim Potter to make "Splash" one of the days hot boats.

Blaine Severin, son Geoff and middle crew Tom Deits had "Flying Pigasus" going well in the final race of the day and posted a second place finish. The final top three spot was claimed by "Sail Fevre" with Leif Alton and Luke Bowman helping skipper John LeFevre to a third place finish in the second race.

For the season, Pat Dolan and his "Wind Dancer" team seem on their way to a fourth consecutive title - although both Mike Moody and Blaine Severin are within striking distance. Merrick Hurlbutt leads the field for the Challenger Division cup, but Jim Fletcher and Larry Koster are close behind.

Detailed results and standings can be found soon through links on the "Racing" page of the LSC web site at www.lansingsailing.org.

Rear Commodore Schedules September 16 Work Party

Rear Commodore Jim Fletcher has scheduled a Work Party for September 16th - a Saturday, at 9 am. Removal of a decaying fence, clean-up of the beach launch area and other items are on the list of things to do. Volunteers are welcome and this is a good opportunity for members who need to make up a duty obligation.

Don't Forget Labor Day Picnic

Don't forget the Labor Day picnic next Monday. The action starts at noon with hosts the Pratts and Loeschers. The holiday events have been great fun this year - and this event will cap a successful summer season. Bring a dish to pass. LSC provides brats, paper, plastic and soft drinks.

Laser Sailors like Wednesday Wind

Lasers getting off to a fast start Picture by Stephen Wagner

Solid wind on the waters of Lake Lansing attracted seven Laser sailors Wednesday - and three different winners. Doug Carlson won the first race and went 1-2-2-2 for the evening.

Mike Moody won the second and fourth races, adding to his second and third in the other two.

Olav Messerschmidt claimed the other first place finish in race three. In addition, Olav finished third in the other three contests of the evening.

For the season title, Doug Carlson, Mike Moody, Olav Messerschmidt and George Siegle seem to have settled into the top four spots. The fifth spot remains very closely contested with Bob Miller and Susanna Tellschow within a few points of each other. The final evening of racing next Wednesday will prove decisive.

Detailed results and standings can be found soon through links on the "Racing" page of the LSC web site at www.lansingsailing.org.

Twenty or More Lasers Again in 2006
Sunfish Within Two of Past Record

Larry Koster Lasering Picture by Stephen Wagner

Larry Koster jumped in one of the LSC Club Lasers Wednesday and joined in the racing. Larry bring the total number of Laser sailors who have participated in the 2006 season to twenty.

This is the fifth time in six years that twenty or more Laser skippers have found their way to the line for one or more Laser races on Lake Lansing.

For the Sunfish fleet, thirteen different skippers have sailed in 2006. The Sunfish have had a high of fifteen sailors in two of the past eight years and have consistently found eleven or more at the starting line at one point or another in each of these last eight years.

Attention BloKarters: Sailing Next Tuesday

Sean Fidler tells us that there will be a large fun BloKart sail at Metro Beach next Tuesday evening (as soon as you can make it until dark). The group will also use the opportunity to solicit volunteers and helpers for Octobers Central Region BloKart Championship (and fun Rally). We will be looking for specific volunteers for most typical regatta activities.

For those who haven't yet sailed a BloKart , Sean will be bringing out at least 3 demonstration karts for you to sail. Please feel EXTRA welcomed to come out and join the group, bring your spouse, kids, and your friends if you wish. Sean will have a couple of 3 meter sails for beginners and a couple of 4 meter sails for the rest.

If you cant make it next Tuesday but have interest in volunteering for one or all of the regatta days (Oct 13, 14 and 15th) please contact Sean ASAP via email at smfidler@gmail.com.