e-Sheet — October 2, 2006
eNewsletter of the Lansing Sailing Club
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Wind Dancer Team Sweeps Sunday Lightning Races

Racing Delayed One Hour on Sunday, October 8.

Docks Out is Saturday October 14
  • October 8 - Merrick Hurlbutt, Scott Watkins

    • In addition to using the LSC web site to sign up for race committee, Members can contact Susanna Tellschow by email at tellsch@gmail.com.


    Lightnings off to windward in race 1
    Photo courtesy Jonathan Ahlbrand

    Koster and crew power to windward
    Photo by Ann Siegle

    The wind came up just before race time with a nice breeze about 8 mph blowing at the beginning of race one. It kept building, and by the third race, was a solid 12-15. This made for some excellent sailing.

    Bob Miller, Gil Chesbro and Pat Dolan sailed "Wind Dancer" to wins in all three races. "Bananas", sailed by Jonathan Ahlbrand and Bob Bell, was second each time while the crew of Larry Koster, Michael-Soloman Jost and Tim Potter put three third place finishes in the books.

    With shifts of 20 to 30 degrees common, it was important to get in phase and find wind. As usual, the "Wind Dancer" team did this quite well. This, in company with solid boat handling, put them in the driver's seat early and they pushed on for their wins.

    In the third race, "Bananas" came on strong nearing the final windward mark to close the gap on "Wind Dancer" to about eight boat lengths - then find wind and kept closing. "We were glad the final leg wasn't longer," said "Dolan" commenting on the surge of Ahlbrand and Bell, "because they were coming up on us very quickly at the end."


    "Bananas" prepares to round leeward mark
    Photo by Ann Siegle

    Wind Dancer crosses finish line
    Photo by Ann Siegle

    There is one final Sunday of racing remaining in 2006. Hopefully a lot of the skippers and crew will turn out to sail the final race day.

    Crews are reminded that the skipper's meeting will be at 1:30 on the final Sunday of racing with the first race beginning at 2:00. This schedule change is made so that Lansing Sailling Club volunteers can provide race management for the Michigan State University "Cedarfest" Collegiate Regatta.

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

    Harrison Lightning for Sale

    Neil Is Inside at the Rounding

    Neil Harrison is making his Lightning, Number 14267 available to some lucky buyer. This is a fast boat - and well equipped - so if you have been thinking about getting into Lightning Racing on Lake Lansing, here is a golden opportunity.

    This boat had the best record of all Lightnings in last fall's Intercollegiate Championship held at Gull Lake.

    Neil plans to continue sailing his Sunfish on Lake Lansing, but is moving on up to a bigger boat to sail out of Port Huron.

    Check out details on the Lansing Sailing Club's Classified page on the web site at www.lansingsailing.org/Classifieds/Classifieds.asp.

    Docks Out October 14th

    Lansing Sailing Club members are asked to keep Saturday, October 14th from 9 to noon on their calendar for the annual Docks Out event. Members who are unable to participate because of schedule conflicts should contact Vice Commodore Jim Fletcher for an alternate assignment.

    Docks Out is one of four obligations members have as maintaining the club is done almost completely by members. Only Senior Members are exempt from Docks Out - but many of them participate anyway.

    In the event weather makes it impossible to do Docks Out on the 14th, the alternate date is Saturday, October 21st.

    Carlson Wins "NoSweat" Laser Regatta

    Doug Carlson

    Mike Moody and Doug Carlson represented the Lansing Sailing Club at Saturday's annual "No Sweat" Laser Regatta hosted by Portage Yacht Club on Portage Lake just north of Ann Arbor. Doug Carlson won the event with Mike Moody third - just missing second place by a quarter of a point.

    While the weather forecast called for cool temps, rain and 15MPH wind, the only thing that held true was the cool temperatures as the wind never blew more that 7 to 8 and it only rained during the second race. Everyone stayed warm with a short break after two contests for chili and hot cider.

    Portage Lake maintained its reputation as a tricky lake with shifty winds which kept the race committee busy adjusting marks. It also played havoc on the fleet and no positions were safe until the finish line was crossed.

    Top three finishers:
        1st - Doug Carlson (LSC) with 8.25 points (4-1-2-1-1)
        2nd - Steve Wiseman (Portage YC) with 13.75 points (1-4-3-4-2)
        3rd - Mike Moody (LSC) with 14.75 points (3-5-1-3-3)

    While it is always exciting to do well at a regatta, this was an especially special day for Doug. On Friday, Gene Smyers, someone that Doug says contributed the most to his knowledge and passion for sailing passed away. "He was a mentor to me and so many others with his experience and skills," said Carlson as he accepted the award for his first place finish and dedicated his win to Gene.

    Coming Events Detail
  • October 8 (Sun) Lightning Racing. Skippers Meeting at 12:30. First of three scheduled races.
  • October 14 (Sat) Docks Out at LSC. 9 am to noon.
  • October 14 (Sat) Fall Blow Out Lightning Regatta at North Cape.
  • October 21 (Sat) Docks Out Alternate Date. 9 am to noon.
  • October 21 (Sat) Pumpkin Head Laser Regatta at Grand Rapids Yacht Club - Reeds Lake.
  • October 21-22 (Sat-Sun) Cowen Lake Lightning Regatta.
  • November 3-4-5 (Fri-Sat-Sun) Bluenose Lightning Regatta - Nashville, TN.
  • November 8 (Wed) LSC Seminar or Informal Gathering. 6:30. Location TBA.
  • November 17 (Fri) LSC Annual Meeting, Awards Banquet and Crew Recognition. 6:30 Cash Bar. 7:00 Dinner followed by Annual Meeting, Awards and Recognition. Location TBA.
    		•

    e-Sheet is 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.
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    Copyright © 2006 by the Lansing Sailing Club, 6039 East Lake Drive, PO Box 51, Haslett, Michigan 48840.