Synchronized Sailing Event 2008

Get Ready for the August 4 Olympics

Put the evening of Tuesday, August 4 on your calendar. That's the evening of this year's Lansing Sailing Club Olympic Sailing Games. It is a great event. Lots of fun for adult sailors, junior sailors - and spectators too.

Anyone that shows up will be put on a team and each team will compete for great prizes and glory in spontaneous sailing events. No preparation or practice is necessary - just come and have fun. There are both on-water and off-water events - so everyone can participate.

Last year's events included a Pirate Relay, Synchronized Sailing and several other events capped off by a finale in which the teams competed to get the Commodore to "walk the plank".

We don't know yet what events will make up the 2009 Olympic Sailing Games - but it will be entertaining and exciting time.

Click here to check out some pictures from the 2008 event.

Harrison Sweep

Another Fabulous Wednesday of Racing

Neil Harrison posted three bullets to capture sailor of the evening honors in his Sunfish with Dennis Dudley taking two seconds and a third while Jim Fletcher scored a third coming late to the fray. However, newcomers Jon and Christa battled their way around the course in a first racing effort to show their mettle. The first time out is always tough, but they preservered as Christa's son Caden cheered them on from the Committeee Boat (check him out mugging with RC Member Christie Hamilton in the picture below).

On the laser side, the top four boats all evening were Doug Carlson (2-1-3-2), Mike Moody (1-4-4-1), Olav Messerschmidt (3-3-1-3) and George Siegle (4-2-2-4).

Showing how a few days of laser camp can make a big impact, Wayne Loescher sailed well and put a 7 and an 8 on the scoreboard. Susan Peters also improved her skilils at camp and put a 5 and a 7 on the board. Susanna Wagner's camp experience resulted in a 6-5-6-5 night on the water. Nice going.

It was the second Wednesday in a row for fabulous sailing - and we're looking for wind link this for the rest of the season. Come on out and join in the fun.

Quizmaster Doug Carlson was narrowly bested by the group in a 7-5 decision. It looks as if Doug is narrowly ahead for the season with plenty of time remaining for either the Quizmaster or the sailors to come out on top.

Results will be posted soon. From the home page at www.lansingsailing.org, click on "Racing" - then click on the fleet Icon.

Jon and Christa Duel

Committee Boat Mugging

Shortlly after Laser Start

Christa Betts Driving Splash

Newcomers Spice Up Splash

Last Sunday it was Christa Betts driving Splash as Jim and Maribeth Fletcher continue their efforts to get new sailors involved in racing. Rookie Damien Sheppard has also been at the Splash tiller this year as has Brad Kleihege. They are all turning in solid performances. On Sunday, Christa showed no fear as she piloted Splash into some aggressive starting positions and proved she could stay with the other skippers. She had a fourth place in one of the races to show for her efforts. Not bad for someone that came to the Club Sunday hoping to catch a ride with someone - and ended up driving the boat for her first racing experience.

Lightning Fleet Captain Blaine Severin, short a third person, picked up John LeFevre. Together with Julie Pierce in the front of the boat, they sailed solidly all day. In the final race, they came from behind to pass the leader just before the second windward mark - then held off Wind Dancer to record first place to go with thirds in the other two races.

Wind Dancer cemented her lead in the season standings just a little with two first place finishes and a second. Bob Miller and Gil Chesbro crewed for Pat Dolan and made the boat go well, executing several difficult maneuvers in tight situations with apparent ease.

Sue McIntosh joined Larry Koster and Gary Marx aboard Shibumi and capped their day with a solid final race. They traded leads several times with Wind Dancer and Flying Pigasus and stayed in the hunt to finish third.

Jonathan Ahlbrand was short a third at the beginning of the day, but fortunately there were several sailors on hand wanting to sail. Damien Sheppard got some crewing experience in the middle seat, flying the spinnaker while John Kolstoe worked the front of the boat. They had a second place finish in Race 2 as a highlight of their day.

Moody's Booty found Mike Moody, Terry Kleiman and Wayne Loescher hard at work.Overcoming some Spinnaker frustrations - particularly with the light wind, they still managed a second place finish among their results..

Standings and race results are posted on the website by our infamous "Scoring Guy". From the home page at www.lansingsailing.org, click on "Racing" - then click on the fleet Icon.

Bananas and Flying Pigasus Duel

Ron bears away as spin gets ready

Shibumi Crew scores third

Wind Dancer upwind

Want to Be a Partner in a Big Boat?

You can have a 1/4 share in a 36 sailboat In the warm blue waters of Tawas, Mi. Around 5,000 and less then 50.00 a Month. For more information email Norm Clark at: normpclark@yahoo.com.

Pick a Job to Do

As all Lansing Sailing Club members know, the Club thrives because of the willingness of our members to take on jobs that need to be done. Here is a list of some tasks that need attention right now. To volunteer contact Rear Commodore Jim Fletcher (email: janef@tir.com, phone: 517-655-2174) or Commodore Pat Dolan (email: commodore@lansingsailing.org, phone: 517-214-6568). They will arrange for you to get complete details on what needs to be done.

Life Preserver Storage - an improved storage system for Lansing Sailing Club pfds needs to be prepared.

Repair Lift - the cable on our lift for "Oh m" needs to be replaced with a longer cable and restrung on the drum.

Install Lift - once the cable on our lift for "Oh m" is replaced, the lift needs to be put in place in the well of the North Dock.

Club Boat Organization - With the new racks in place, Club Boats need to be reorganized, including putting clear markings on the boats and rack location.

Jobs Underway

Cement Work Estimate - estimates are needed for launch ramp repair, seawall reconstruction and construction of a pad for the Racing Equipment Shed. - Bob Miller

Jobs Done Recently - Thank You

Picnic Tables Painted - Put a coat of paint on the six picnic tables at the Club. - Thanks Larry Koster

Oversee Electical Box Overhaul - Breakers were tripping and we needed to determine what needs to be done to resolve this, obtain cost estimates and oversee getting the work done once Board of Directors approval is obtained for expenditures. - Thanks Chuck Amboy

Sunfish Racks Built - Storage for twelve Sunfish has been created in new racks. In the lower portion, dollys can easily be used to get the boats to and from the launch area. Boats stored on the upper part of the rack must be lifted, and requires two people to get the boat on and off the rack. - Thanks Jim Fletcher and Pat Dolan

Club Boat Sail/Blade Storage - LSC has several new (to us) Club Boats. Additional storage for blades and sails has been created in the Laser/Sunfish Sail Shed. - Thanks Jim Fletcher and Pat Dolan

Fix Water Leak -Thanks Chuck Amboy.