The Captain’s bLog

Ensign Sailors

The Ensign Sailing season had a great kick-off last Wednesday, with 6 boats participating in the practice race despite cold weather. The RC crew of Terry, Jamie, Lori, and Jason did a wonderful job of setting a good course.  Two-and-a-half laps and timed just about right so most boats got to shore about when the rain started.

We still have a few spots to fill on the RC feeding list.  June 3 is empty, so we need that spot filled ASAP.  Give Ted Raymond a call at 225-5068 if you can feed the RC June 3.

The new (1976-era) motor on the RC boat worked and no paddles were required.  It still needs fine-tuning, but it never stalled once, which is a big improvement over its predecessor.  I put in new plugs and changed the gear oil a few days ago.  Hoping that will make it sound even prettier.

Make sure to give Bob Frak a big thanks for getting the new motor to run and cleaning the carbs, fixing the water pump, making adjustments, etc.

We will initially dock the RC boat in Al Raymond’s slip at the Marina.  We need to locate an anchor and rode to be able to dock it at Wim’s slip on the Association Dock.  Somehow the old anchor and line is missing, my guess is its on the bottom where it was last used.  So if anyone has a spare anchor line to loan or donate to the cause please speak up.  I believe there is a spare anchor at the Yacht Club that was donated by Denny Henderson.  Last I saw it was in the junk pile out back.

If any one goes scuba diving there may be more than one anchor and line on the bottom that could (from many years ago) be re-used if they can be located.

Hope to see as many boats as possible out having fun for next Wednesday’s first official race.  Remember, dues are due by June 1 (today) and you will save $25 by paying on time.

Full Sails,

Jim Knape

Ensign Sailors

What a race last Wednesday. Certainly wild and wooly and different from the usual courses but I still had lots of fun. I want to congratulate Jamie, Gary and Toni on the race committee. This was the first time for them working together and they were dealt a very difficult set of cards but still managed to get two races in when it very well could have been none at all.

First problem was that the boat would not start and run so to start it we had to pull spark plugs before the race, even after that it still stalled a lot, had a weak battery that barely wanted to re start etc. At one point Gary christened it a P.O. S.

Then for the first race they had light shifty winds making it hard to call a course, some boats even accused them of finding the only windless spot on the lake, but the wind cooperated and they got the first start off on time. Most professionals race committees would have let us drift around for a hour while they tried to set a course. I would rather race an imperfect race rather than drift around. Then the wind came up and they had the courage to go out into the waves with the POS they were driving ( it really does take courage) . The wind was so strong they had difficulty getting the anchor to set, the RC boat was drifting at about 1 knot during the 5 minute countdown and Jamie made the correct decision and put the AP flag up and postponed until they could reset and run another start sequence. If the motor had been running well they probably could have set the anchor properly, so blame the POS not the RC.

The second race got started for real within a reasonable time, one boat started early and failed to restart. Jamie again made the right call and hoisted the X flag ( over early) and left it up the whole race until the premature starter finished the race.

I would like everyone in the fleet to say thank you to the RC, They are doing a great job for us.

I also want to thank the boats that did their 720, and 360 penalty turns, there were several, its the right way to do it.

The Celebrity race is slowly taking place, at the moment we have about 21 of the 28 spots filled, I would like to fill all 28 as there always seems to be the last minute drop outs. I figured 28 spots as we get an average of 14 boats out , if we get all 16 out we could take up to 32 guests. Feel free to invite a few more on your own, but please let me know as soon as you get a commitment so that I can keep an accurate list. The list of assignments are below. If your boat does not yet have assigned guests and you have a strong desire for one of the unassigned guests , let me know and I’ll make the assignment. First come first served.

Also another treat, Julie Frazier has volunteered to provide smoked meats after the Celebrity race. She has a friend who smokes and sells meat from his Skandia location and Julie would like others to be able to sample his treats and see what he has to offer. So now we will have Pizza, beer and smoked meats plus what ever else the sailors bring.

So far on committed the list
Heelin’ Lassie           with   Michael Coyne and Son
Buccaneer                 with   Phyllis Wong
Aldebaran                 with   Marion Sonderegger, and Dr Southern
Feeling Groovy         with   John Kivela, perhaps 1 more
Irish Ayes                 with   Les Wong
Pocosol                     with   Don & Greg Potvin
eh?                            with   Gordy Worchuck  Law Enforcement
Screamin’ Seamen     with  Hugh Miller  Medical Center
Tiburon                     with   Steve Nagelkirk, and Business partner Sam

Not assigned to any boat yet are
Rob Jamros TV 6 with perhaps a camera man and a reporter
Judge Solka
John Celabo Upper Harbor Marina Manager.
Lisa Coombs Gerou YMCA
Ron Thorley
Frida Waara
Maybe, Escanaba Yacht Club Rep, Dr Songer with the Phoenix and a few other maybes that have not returned the calls.

Full Sails
Jim