e-Sheet — July 16, 2007
eNewsletter of the Lansing Sailing Club
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Dolan, Hurlbutt and Tellschow Win Lightning Races Sunday

Crew Takes the Helm Racing Next Thursday (July 19)

July 19 (Crew Racing):
   VOLUNTEER WANTED
   VOLUNTEER WANTED

July 22:
   VOLUNTEER WANTED
   VOLUNTEER WANTED

July 29:
   VOLUNTEER WANTED
   VOLUNTEER WANTED

Wind Dancer won Race 1

Tellschow won Race 3

Hurlbutt won Race 2

Pat Dolan's "Wind Dancer" crew of Chris Miller and Gil Chesbro won Race 1 in Sunday's Lightning battle. Race two was won in an exciting finish by Merrick Hurlbutt with Scott Watkins crewing. In Race 3, it was Susanna Tellschow who led the way with Mike Moody and Stephen Wagner crewing.

The Race Committee struggled to find a good course all day. The set up for a westerly wind as predicted by all the forecasters, but the wind shifted right just before the start and the crews spent a lot of time on starboard going to windward. Adjusting for this, the Committee moved the start-finish line South - but just as the race was ready to begin, a big left shift came in and most of the windward legs were spent on port tack. Race three saw big shifts again, but the middle of the shifts was pretty much up the course.

"Wind Dancer" was being closely chased in the first race, but a perfecdt gybe set at the second windward mark left the other boats almost standing still as they struggled to get their chutes pulling.

The second race was one of the most exciting of the year. The lead kept shifting between Hurlbutt's "Bo Jangles", "Wind Dancer" and Severin's "Unidentified Flying Pigasus". Finally, "Wind Dancer" seemed to pull ahead. On the final downwind, the boats initially decided not to fly spinnakers as the wind angle made it very difficult to sail with them. Then, part way down the leg, a wind shift made it possible for Severin and then Hurlbutt to get their kites out and they started gaining on Dolan. For a while it looked like "Wind Dancer" might be able to stay ahead to the end, but a gust brought the followers up even more quickly. Before "Wind Dancer" could get their spinnaker working, Hurlbutt had sailed past to leeward and won by less than half a boat length. "Wind Dancer" hit the mark and Severin was second as Dolan and crew had to do their circle and re-finish.

Race three was all Susanna Tellschow's from the very beginning. She timed her approach to the pin end of the line and tacked to cross the fleet as "Wind Dancer" was early to the line and had to gybe away and play catch-up. In a six leg race, Susanna and crew were on their game and won by several hundred yards. Dolan-Miller-Chesbro were second and the "Flying Pigasus" crew third.

Results and standings will be available soon on the LSC web site at www.lansingsailing.org. Click on "Racing" - then on the Lightning logo.

Next up is the annual "Crew takes the helm" race on Thursday.

Last Leg of Epic Voyage - Harbor Beach to Port Huron


Sacre Bleu in her Port Huron berth

Editor's Note: Dennis Dudley is bringing his newly acquired Ericson 35, "Sacre Bleu", to Port Huron from Waukeegan, IL. This report from Dennis the final leg of this journey: Harbor Springs to Port Huron.

The last leg of the voyage of Sacre Bleu went from Harbor Beach to Port Huron. Harbor Beach describes itself as the World's Greatest Man Made Harbor. They gave no indication as to what the criteria was so you just have to take that on faith from the town council.

John Quensen again crewed for me for the third time. We arrived Friday eve. June 8. Since the distance from Harbor Beach to Port Huron is 60 miles, we chose to start on Saturday morning otherwise we would arrive in Port Huron in the middle of the night.

We got a van ride into town from the marina staff (this is a service they include in the price of the dock space). We rode with two couples from another boat, they told us about the merits of the two bars we could eat at. We both went to the same one. The shuttle service ends early so, John and I walked back to the boat on a bike path precceded by a teen age girl talking on her cell phone. The warm spring evening was vey pleasant and when we looked confused she pointed out the correct turn to the marina.

The next morning we rose early and caught the shuttle into town. This time the driver promised to pick us up at a certain time. We had a good hardy breakfast served by the mayor's sister. She proudly volunteerd this information. We learned the previous evening that Harbor Beach is so small they don't have a regular food store. They have to drive to the next town for groceries!

We left at 8:00 am. The wind was light and from the south ( on the nose again) so we motored all day. We stayed inside the shipping channel and saw several freighters headed in both directions. John, the navigator, had several way points in his GPS to the west of the channel. The weather was clear and the water was smooth.

We arrived in Port Huron late in the afternoon. After refueling we started toward our slip in Port Huron Yacht Club, About the same time Neil Harison arrived on a 40 foot ketch he had been "racing" on all day. the wind was so light that the race was abandoned. We were glad to see Neil because he was our ride home.

Don't Forget Crew Race Night Next Thursday

Next Thursday, July 19th, is the annual "Crew Takes the Helm" race night at LSC. Lightning skippers: be sure your boat is being sailed. Give your crew a shot at the helm.

This year's event will also see members of the LSC adult "Learn to Sail" program involved to get a sense of what racing is about.

Coming Events Detail
  • July 16 (Mon) LSC Board Meets at Dolan's 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
  • July 17 (Tue) Junior Sailing - 6:00 pm until 8:30 pm.
  • July 18 (Wed) Sunfish-Laser Racing - 1st race 6:30 pm.
  • July 19 (Thu) Adult Learn to Sail - 6:00 pm until 8:30 pm.
  • July 19 (Thu) Crew Takes The Helm Racing - 6:00 pm until 8:30 pm.
  • July 21-22 (Sat-Sun) Leeland Laser Regatta
  • July 22 (Sun) Lightning Fleet Racing - 12:30 Skipper's Meeting, 1:00 First of Three Races
  • July 24 (Tue) Junior Sailing - 6:00 pm until 8:30 pm.
  • July 25 (Wed) Sunfish-Laser Racing - 1st race 6:30 pm.
  • July 27 (Fri) Moonlight Sail - Dessert at 8 followed by sailing. Moonrise at 7:55
  • July 28 (Sat) Orchard Lake Cup - LSC Sending a Team of 9 (6 Adults and 3 Juniors)
  • July 29 (Sun) Lightning Fleet Racing - 12:30 Skipper's Meeting, 1:00 First of Three Races
  • July 31 (Tue) Junior Sailing - 6:00 pm until 8:30 pm.
  • August 1 (Wed) Sunfish-Laser Racing - 1st race 6:30 pm.
  • August 5 (Sun) Lightning Fleet Racing - 12:30 Skipper's Meeting, 1:00 First of Three Races
  • August 7 (Tue) Junior Sailing - 6:00 pm until 8:30 pm.
  • August 8 (Wed) Sunfish-Laser Racing - 1st race 6:30 pm.
  • August 12 (Sun) Lightning Fleet Racing - 12:30 Skipper's Meeting, 1:00 First of Three Races
  • August 14 (Tue) Junior Sailing (Final Session)- 6:00 pm until 8:30 pm.
  • August 15 (Wed) Sunfish-Laser Racing - 1st race 6:30 pm.
  • August 19 (Sun) Lightning Fleet Racing - 12:30 Skipper's Meeting, 1:00 First of Three Races
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