Day #0 of North American Championships

It is Sunday afternoon and we are sitting on a screened porch by the water, in a house two doors down from the Lake Norman Yacht club. The wind is gorgeous! About 10 mph steady from the northeast. The women and the juniors’ championships are finished, though I couldn’t tell much from my view. 

Racing for the rest of us starts tomorrow. We are divided into four fleets and will sail, round-robin style, against the other three fleets over the next two days. The top half of the finishers will then be in the Championship Fleet and the other half will be the Challenger Fleet and the finals will begin on Wednesday.

We are all wishing we could bottle some of this lovely air and save it for the coming days because most models predict maybe 6 or 8 tomorrow and then absolutely nothing, with the wind boxing the compass, until Friday. Plus temperatures in the 90s…Yikes! Well, time will tell, of course.

It’s been wet and cool in North Carolina, just like in the Midwest (best line I heard today was from Stuart Cofield of Privateer Yacht Club in Chattanooga , “last summer was so hot and dry fishermen had to check their catch for ticks!”). LYNC has gotten so much rain in the last few days that the usual field where we park is a swamp and they had to reorganize all the parking places so they didn’t tear up their field.

Best part of the regatta so far? The Loch Ness/dragon-style gumball dispenser (in keeping with the theme of the regatta “Loch Norman”). You put a penny in it and turn the contraption and a gumball comes out. Green, blue or yellow and that tells you what measurement you get. Yellow is the biggest pain in the neck; you have to get your boat weighed, among other things.

We have about 70 boats registered, based on my last information and there are several boats representing our district: Frank (who will become President of FSSA at the end of the regatta) and Marianne Gerry, Ryan Malmgren, Bill Vogler, and Ben and myself.

Give Lake Pymatuning a Try!

Ben and I went to the Ohio Districts to help support the young Flying Scot fleet at the host club at Lake Pymatuning, Ohio. The regatta coincided with their annual Independence Day regatta and I haven't seen so many boats in one place since I was at St. Petersburg. There were 45 Thistles, 20 Flying Scots, six Lightnings, about the same number of Highlanders and J-22s. You'd think that tempers would flare trying to maneuver all the boats into the water, but nothing of the sort happened. Everyone was very mellow and patient with one another. As Ben and I rigged our boat in the middle of the lot, blocking several parked boats since it was the only free place without overhead wires, a Lake Pymatuning Thistle sailor generously moved his buddy's Thistle (who wasn't sailing the regatta) onto the grass so Ben and I could pull in and out of the way. Very kind! This photo doesn't even convey the degree of crowdedness, but it's the best I could do.

 Pymatuning is a large lake and it has a horse power restriction on boat motors so we had the lake to ourselves, except for some pontoon boats and fishermen. The wind was light on Saturday and I'm not sure we really should have had the last race, which ended this way!

Though I shouldn't complain because Ben and I were at the back of the fleet on that last race, with not even a whisper of wind. Our mantra, "don't give up," and so I practiced not feeling frustrated (practice being the operative word). On the last leg we got some weird private wind and ghosted past a big knot of boats, coming in second. The wind gods were on patrol for us, I guess!

Sunday was a little windier — we were even both on the high side! — and we got a couple very good races in. Bruce and Lynn Kitchen had an awesome day, beating Harry Carpenter and Courtney Dunham in one race.

I don't have the results, unfortunately, but I'll try to track them down....

 Ben and I had never been to Deep Creek Lake before, so we were really looking forward to going to the Wife-Husband this year (June 29 & 30). It had been raining forever but you can't tell from these photos! Deep Creek is gorgeous. It's up in the mountains so the mornings are cool and then it warms up comfortably. Despite predictions, it was sunny and gorgeous all weekend. Winds were moderate Saturday and then lighter and flukier Sunday, but that's sailing!

 Deep Creek is, of course, the "birthplace" of the Scot, what with Harry's factory (which was Sandy Douglas's and Eric Amman's before) in town. I was really struck by both the number of Flying Scots on the lake and the virtual absence of any other sailboat. This dock has FOUR Scots. It's just a private home, not a club. The mooring field in front of one of the clubs, the one where we've all parked, is full of Scots and only a small number are even participating in the regatta. It's an eyeful.

It's always gratifying to look at a photo like this and count each of these people as our friends. We have made such an amazing group of friends in just a few years. That doesn't happen often at our age and we don't take it for granted. From left: me, Don Smith, Chris Kicinski, Sandy Eustis, Keith Eustis, Tom Hohler, Chris Czapleski, Jo Baugher, and Rick Baugher.

I have submitted a story about this regatta to Sailing World magazine and, while nothing in life is guaranteed, my hope is that it will be published some time in the next six months. Stay tuned!

Midwest Districts Had it All

The first Midwest District Regatta hosted by Eagle Creek Sailing Club had it all: light wind, moderate wind, thunder and lightning, sunshine and buckets of rain!  We had boats from six clubs, including Medicine Lake (MN), Ephraim (WI), Chicago, and Clinton Lake and we got all five scheduled races in. Our district covers a lot of ground, when you figure Larry Klick came from Medicine Lake, Minnesota, and that's a 12 hour drive!!

The wind Saturday was light and variable out of the west, southwest. The trick at Eagle Creek is that, unless the wind is coming due south, the course runs across the width of the lake, which does not leave much room for a race course. We were all hoping for some nice southerly winds, but on Saturday it started in the southwest and soon clocked to the west. I will be forever haunted by the windward mark placed up against the shore, where Ben and I approached roughly even with Carrie and Harry Carpenter and by the time we rounded, they were at the leeward mark. It was the hole of death for us!

(From top: close racing; Chris and John Wright; Mike and Jennifer Faugust; Fleet 135!; and tight pack at the start)


Eagle Creek harbor is at the end of a long inlet and quite protected, so we occasionally had to get a tow in or out to the race course. Saturday as we began sailing back to the club a storm that we thought was going to dodge us dumped an absolute deluge on us. It wasn't cold, exactly, but it was very, very wet! As  lightning lit up the sky, we graciously accepted a tow... By the end of the evening many participants were very happy to put on their long-sleeved, Eagle Creek Flying Scot commemorative tshirts!

The water was a little too much like a mirror early Sunday morning and race organizers were very nervous. Nevertheless, by the time we got to the race course the wind had picked up and was out of a friendly, southerly direction. We got two more races in, mostly along the long axis of the lake, which was a very nice way to wind up the event!

Mike and Jennifer Faugust were by far the most consistent in the difficult conditions. Clinton Lake sailors won the Fleet 135 trophy, which is for the three highest finishing teams from a single club. Clinton Lake IS Fleet 135, but this is the first time our club has won the trophy since it was inaugurated in 1995. Frank and Marianne Gerry also won the "Old Salts" trophy as the highest finishing boat with combined ages of 100 or more.

The results are here:
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Sail #	Skipper	Crew	Club	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3	Race 4	Race 5	Total
5775	Mike Faugust	Jennifer Faugust	Ephraim	2	2	3	2	1	10
5015	Frank Gerry	Marianne Gerry	Clinton Lake	6	5	2	1	5	19
5419	Carrie Carpenter	Harry Carpenter	Eagle Creek	3	4	5	5	3	20
5551	Chris Wright	John Wright	Sheridan Shores	8	1	7	3	2	21
5150	Larry Klick	Jacob Meldman	Medicine Lake	7	6	1	4	7	25
5897	Ben Williams	Deb Aronson	Clinton Lake	5	3	11 (ret)	8	4	31
5631	Eric Bussell	Bryan Hunt	Clinton Lake	1	10	10	6	6	33
4278	Geoff Endris	Patrick Endris	Eagle Creek	4	9	4	7	9	33
3951	Jeff Gilman	Brett Eickenberg	Sheridan Shores	9	7	8	10	8	42
5395	Jack Marwick	Janet Marwick	Delavan	10	8	6	9	10	43

Midwest Districts June 21-23

Here is the NOR and the registration form for the Midwest districts. The event is in less than two weeks, deadline for early registration is June 14, so you still have time!!

2013 Midwest District Championship June 22-23, 2013 Hosted by Flying Scot Fleet 201 Eagle Creek Sailing Club Indianapolis, IN www.ecsail.org

Rules: This regatta will be governed by the rules as defined by the current edition of the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) and the Flying Scot Sailing Association (FSSA) Constitution and By-Laws.  RRS 61.1(a)2 is deleted.  All boats shall comply with RRS 61.1.

Eligibility: The regatta is open to any Flying Scot.  Skippers must be current members of the FSSA.

Registration: Skippers can register by mail using the form available under the Racing section of the ECSC web site (http://www.ecsail.org/racing.htm) or in person at the regatta site beginning Friday June 21, 2013 at 5:00 pm.  Sailing Instructions are available on the ECSC web site and will be available at the registration table.

Measurement: All boats may be checked for safety equipment as required by the FSSA rules.

Fees: Registration fee is $85 and includes a complete meal package for skipper and one crew.  Meal package includes: Friday – dinner; Saturday – breakfast, lunch, dinner; Sunday – breakfast, lunch.   

Scoring: 5 races are scheduled.  1 race will constitute a regatta.  No races will be excluded from a boat’s series score.  This changes RRS A2. 

Venue: Racing shall take place on Eagle Creek Reservoir in Indianapolis, Indiana using permanent and/or temporary marks.  Boats will be stored on trailers at the ECSC grounds.  Tent camping is available on the ECSC grounds.  Hot showers and ice are available at the club.

Schedule:

Day	Time	Event
Friday June 14, 2013	Midnight	Latest postmark to receive early registration fees.
Friday June 21, 2013	3:00 pm	Club opens for early arrivers.
	5-9 pm	Registration and Welcome Party/Dinner (upper shelter)
Saturday June 22, 2013	8:00 am	Registration, breakfast (upper shelter)
	10:00 am	Registration closes, Skipper’s meeting
	12:00 noon	First warning signal
	6:00 pm	Dinner in the upper shelter
Sunday June 23, 2013	7-8:30 am	Breakfast (upper shelter)
	9:30 am	Warning signal for fourth race
	1:30 pm	Lunch and Awards Ceremony

Awards: Medals will be awarded to the top 3 finishing Midwest District boats.

Disclaimer of Liability: Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk.  See RRS 4, Decision to Race. Neither the Organizing Authority nor the Host Organization will accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during or after the regatta.

Additional Information: For more information, please contact Geoff Endris (glendris@gmail.com), phone: 317-514-5025.

Skipper’s Name: _________________________________________________________              

Address:             _________________________________________________             

City:   ______________________________        State: _____           Zip Code: ________              

Telephone Number:  __________________ E -Mail______________________________

Sail Number: ______________ Fleet Number: ________________________________   

FSSA Membership Number: __________     US Sailing Membership Number: _________

Crew: 1) Name___________________________  2) Name_________________________

REGATTA FEE:

	Qty
Pre-Registration Postmarked on or before June 14, 2013		$85	$___85_
Extra meal packages* (two meal packages included with registration)	___@	$20	$______
Long sleeve regatta shirt	___@	$15	$______
Shirt size(s): ___SM, ___Med, ___LG, ___XL, ___2XL
US Sailing Membership (Deduct $5)		-$5	($_____)
Total Regatta Fees			$______

*       Meal package includes: Friday – welcome cookout

   Saturday – breakfast, lunch (sandwiches), catered BBQ dinner

   Sunday – breakfast, award lunch cookout

Make CHECKS payable to:                         ECSC Flying Scot Regatta

Mail registration and check to:                      c/o Geoff Endris

                                                                       13927 Stonemill Circle E

                                                                       Carmel, IN 46032

LIABILITY RELEASE

I, _______________________________________ in consideration of and as inducement to the EAGLE CREEK SAILING CLUB, (hence forth to be known as ECSC) permitting my crew and I to enter the regatta, do hereby certify and represent that I will race and be bound by the ECSC  Sailing Instructions and The Racing Rules of Sailing; and that my boat is seaworthy, that I am qualified to handle my boat, that I and/or my crew are able to swim, that my boat has proper lifesaving equipment; and being fully aware of any and all dangers inherent to sailing and sailboat racing, willingly assume the risk and do hereby release the ECSC, its officers, directors, chairmen, and all others who conduct this regatta from any and all liability as may arise by virtue of my participation in the regatta.

Signature:  ______________________________________________________Date _______________

Midwest District Launches its Own Travel Series

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As we here in the Midwest saw other districts launch successful travel series (I’m speaking mainly of the Dixie Lakes district, thanks to the late Charlie Fowler), and because we’d also like to encourage sailors in our district to travel more within the district, we decided to create our own Midwest District Traveling Series. 

Our plan is that each club in our district may nominate its regatta to be included in the series, though only one regatta may be nominated per club. Some clubs, like Carlyle and Eagle Creek, host two or more regattas in a year, and it wouldn’t be fair for them to have a home court advantage (ie not having to travel) more than once. The Districts (held this year at Eagle Creek, June 21-22) will always be included in the series.

The Midwest District covers a lot of highway miles, from N. Dakota to Indianapolis, so we had to come up with a reasonable number of regattas sailors had to participate in to qualify for the trophy. We decided that 50%, or the next nearest number, would work, so if five clubs nominate their regatta, participants must sail in three of them to qualify. In the event of a tie the trophy will go to the boat that sailed in the most regattas.

To qualify skippers must also be a member of a Midwest District club and a member of FSSA.

Clubs will send their nomination to our district governor, Ben Williams. 

I imagine it might take a few years for the idea to catch on, but so far this year we have five regattas signed up, which is great! They are:

·      Flying Scot Midwest Districts, Eagle Creek Sailing Club, June 21-22

·      Sheridan Shores Race Weekend, Wilmette Harbor, July 26-28.

·      Ephraim Regatta, Ephraim Yacht Club, August 2-4

·      Egyptian Cup, Carlyle Sailing Association, September 2-3

·      Glow in the Dark Regatta, Clinton Lake Sailing Association, 27-29

I am hopeful we’ll have some Scot sailors who’ve been considering traveling and this series will provide just the impetus to do so! See you on the circuit!

Great 48 at Lake Norman is Crowded with Boats!!

Ben and I pulled into Lake Norman this afternoon for the annual Great 48 and instead of six or seven boats on the lawn I counted 14, with the 15th pulling in right behind us. It's a mob! It is no surprise, considering the North Americans will be here in mid-July. Everyone is here to try to psych out  the lake in anticipation for the NACs.  I heard someone at registration say they expected 40 boats. That will be a very long starting line!!

Ben and I have set up our tent. It'll be good camping weather; it's chillier here than in Illinois and the forecast promises a LOT of wind, with gusts in the low 20s. 

So far we have seen Kim and Dave Thinel from Tampa, Frank and Marianne Gerry from Chicago (actually members of Clinton Lake this year), Ryan Malmgren, who is sailing with John Wake, and many, many more!

Hopefully I'll have energy after we sail tomorrow to make a short report on the sailing itself.
Stay tuned.