Those tippy FJs

Hello again. I promise not to go on and on about my sailing class, but it was so exciting I just want to tell a little more. We went out again today, Class #2. Wind conditions were about the same as last week, whipping. This time I sailed with a senior majoring in physics, named David. He learned to sail in high school on Cape Cod, but said he'd been out of boats for awhile. Well, he was terrific. We did go over twice, once a turtle that took both of us standing on the centerboard, once just half-way. But we managed to right our boat quickly, really fast the second time.

I'm the exact same age as his mom. Trying to do some of this stuff around these young folk is humbling, but also funny. When things got a little wild and some lively language slipped out from David, he apologized. I just laughed. Later, when we were going over the second time, I let out a choice word or two. He laughed. We had a good time.

Just yet we haven't really been racing. We're working on boat handling. We did a little buoy-rounding course today, but the coaches are working to get us to tack more efficiently and stay on a more direct course. Going downwind, they suggested we forgo jibing in today's conditions. Our teacher is head coach for the racing team, a big guy named Jay Kehoe, and his assistant coach, Amanda, a very tiny but very competent 20-something.

I can tell that I've developed a real sensitivity to the stability of the boat, which is completely unstable. Call it self-survival. We worked on reading the water for puffs, and how to handle them. I need more time on the water to gain competence and get my head "out of the boat," as they say.

Hoping for ongoing improvement. I'll say this; when I'm out on the water on a wonderful windy day like today, I think of nothing else but sailing. When I get back to shore, it is as if the wind wiped out all thought, any mental baggage or concern. I step back on shore as if I just landed from another planet. I have to think: OK, where am I going and what am I doing. Slowly the rest of the world returns.

Hope you are all well and making those plans for summer fun at Big Lake. These pix are grabbed off Flickr and have creative commons licenses, which means they can be shared for noncommercial uses. So I am sending them to you as little sailing postcards to enjoy as you think about sailing soon. Eventually I will send some pix I took...

/Kathleen

Hello from California

Dear Alaska Sailing Club friends,

I finally figured out how to sign on to the blog! It took coming all the way to Silicon Valley for some of the know-how to rub off, I guess.

Anyway, a few of you may remember I took the club's beginning sailing two summers ago with Cathy and Geoff, and sailed a few times, mostly in a little laser. Then I got a chance to go to school at Stanford for a year, and immediately signed up for sailing in the fall, which turned out to be windless. We went out anyway and sculled around for some action. Didn't learn a whole lot.

No sailing was offered in winter. But now that spring quarter is here, I have signed up for beginning racing. Last Wednesday, we had our first day out and the wind was whipping!

My sailing buddy, Doug from Seattle, and I turtled our FJ three times! So did everyone else in beginning racing.

An auspicious beginning. But I'll say this, the more wet I get, the more I learn.

I should be back in Alaska in July and will pay up my dues and get out for a few sails. I hope you all are well. I have been planning to get some shots of the boathouse here, and of some sails. Still working on all that...somehow it seems unwise to bring a camera out on the water just yet! Perhaps the instructor might let me tool around in the launch a time or two for some on-the-water shots.

In the meantime, I grabbed a few thumbnails from the sailing Web site to share. The big building is the boat house. We started off in 420s in the fall, and moved into the FJs for the spring.

Happy sailing!/ Kathleen McCoy

Summer fun at Big Lake

With 3' of snow still in our yard, it's hard to believe that we could be sailing at Big Lake in less than 6 weeks.

So to remind myself and you that it's truly possible, here are links to photos and stories about Big Lake sailing that I've posted on another blog:

• those fickle Big Lake winds


• it really will be green again


• Fourth of July fireworks

Happy Spring and see you out at the club!

~ corinne

p.s. I was inspired by the ASC blog to start my own blog. It's even simpler than I realized. It's been a good way to keep in touch with friends and family Outside.

Want to Learn How to Sail?

It’s not hard and it sure is fun being on the water during our Alaskan summer.

The Alaska Sailing Club is once again offering its annual adult sailing class and the dates are as follows:

Saturday, May 19th, from 1 to 4 PM, at Big Lake.
Monday, June 11th, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, at the Barlett High School pool.
Tuesday, June 12th, from 6:30 to 9PM, at the BP Energy Center building,
Saturday and Sunday, June 16th & 17th, from 10 AM to 6 PM, at Big Lake.

The cost to attend is $450 for a family (2 people in the class) and $350 for a single person. In addition to the class, you also become a member of the Alaska Sailing Club and will have unlimited free access to 6 different sail boats all summer long.

The class is limited to 12 people so do not delay, also you must be 16 or older and be able to swim. Visit our ASC web site to see our beautiful lake front site.

Contact Dave Johnson at: dave_99504@yahoo.com

2007 Summer Race Schedule

Hi Everyone,

We've come up with the 2007 race schedule for this summer's race series. Here's what we've got planned for this season.

May 26-27: Icebreaker Regatta (hopefully the ice is out!)

May 28: Memorial Day

July 7-8: Firecracker Regatta

Aug. 1: First Midweek Race

Aug. 8: Second Midweek Race

Aug. 15: Third Midweek Race

Aug. 18-19: Fireweed Regatta

Sept. 1-3: Governor's Cup Regatta (Labor Day weekend)


In addition to the usual races and regattas, I have instituted a midweek race series in August. These races will be held at 7:30 on the first three Wednesdays in August, ending with the Fireweed Regatta the third weekend of the month. The "Hot August Nights" series will be a points series much like the Dave Johnson cup. Points will be tallied up from all of the races including the Fireweed race results and trophies will be awarded accordingly at the end of the Fireweed Regatta.

Also, I am looking for volunteers to serve on the Race committee. If anyone is interested in helping out with the races, whether it be helping time a race or running the committee boat, please contact me and I will be glad to make you an honorary member of the prestigious Race Committee.

I hope everybody is as excited to hang out at the lake and get some racing in as I am!
Have a great spring,

Troy Aumann
(aumdeezy@gmail.com)

Tacticat - Online Sailing Tactical Training

While pursuing the latest from sailing blog meister Tillerman I came across an outlet for us sailors confined in the hardwater months of Alaska. It’s called Tacticat and I’ve signed up to try it out (it’s Free).

It’s a virtual sailing race with hundreds of online sailors. It has all the elements of a real race, except of course the wind in your hair and the sun on your face (also no water balloons). Tillerman offers 14 postings with plenty of tips to get you going.

Look out Tim we’re gaining on you!

Tillerman just retuned from some wild Laser sailing in the Carribean at the Laser Caribbean Midwinters.

ASC visits the Kona Sailing Club

Last Harrah tries to close the gap on the last leg of the race.

Last minute instructions from First Mate Fred

Launching the Holua Kai



Leaving Kona small boat harbor.

Here is the crew of the Holua Kai. Captain Tom at the helm. Robbie on the hatch cover working on his sunburn. Fred and Kurt taking a break after a great race with Holua Kai edging out Last Harrah right at the finish. We crossed the line second overall but after the adjusted times came in we were paced 5th. But our main goal was achieved by beating Last Harrah. Both boats are Hobie 33 mono hulls built in the 1980's.

WELCOME TO THE KSC LASER BAR!

This is the only club owned boat at the KSC. After the sails gave out they turned it into one of the most useful items at the club.

Here are some of the other burgees that hang in the KSC clubhouse.

The ASC Burgee hangs in the KSC clubhouse

Frostbite Race #6, 01/07/2007

Here's some good Laser racing starts (20 boats) on a chilly day on the Potomac River.

Former ASC Members Alive and Well

While cleaning up our Message Board (internet trash postings for magic pills and everything else tend to accumulate over time) I came across a couple of old sailors and club members from the 70’s who had posted.

I’ve copied their postings here and invited them to join our blog and Google Group.

Enjoy.

Fond Memories

Posted by kris kletka on 11/7/2004, 6:05 am4.227.195.42

Greetings to all you AK sailors.I have enjoyed reading your message board. I spent several great summers sailing on big lake in the mid to late 70's.

I just got back into sailing this summer. I bought a merit 23 and sail it here in Colorado.

My father (Fred) died last New years. As he was dying of cancer he would go in his mind to sailing and all his times on the water to help ease his pain.I have 4 kids and they are loving sailing. If any are still around who remember me you can email me or reply kletka@juno.com

Editor's Note - Kris was Governor's Cup champion (for some reason there' s a first name spelling discrepancy).

1979 CHRIS KLETKA
1980 CHRIS KLETKA
1981 CHRIS KLETKA

Over a year later a reply post:

Re: Fond Memories
Posted by Al Andrus on 3/14/2006, 9:45 pm, in reply to "fond memories"4.242.198.186

Kris, I remember you being the unbeatable sailor that the kids all admired. Sorry to hear about Fred. Sharon, Ken, and I are living in Vancouver WA. We have an Ericson 29 and a Laser here. Ken is married and had a housefull of 9 kids. He is a Oregon state trooper. We lost my dear friend Dick Evans several years ago.

We had planned to race in the West Marine cup, and it almost happened. Did manage to tour Glacier Bay with him. I guess the sailing club has changed in the last few years, nothing similar to what we had in those days.

We keep up with Ben, Birgit, Henry, and Oliver Robar's and a few you probably didn't know. I would really like to find where Bob Massey and family are. We see Bill & Joyce Ower every now and then.

I still would like to find a Skip here to show the locals how an old boat could perform. We looked over a local sailing club here that was so much like our old club...there were the workers and those that only came to play. Sound familiar? Wonder if the Arctic Roadrunner is still around. Gotta go as it's past my bedtime. Let me know when you get this. AL

ASC Winter Work Party 07

Thanks to all the members who showed up for

Winter Work Party 07

All the boats, buildings, trailers, and RV's were shoveled off in one afternoon.

Nice job ASC!!! (Alaska Snow Club)

Jeromy and crew work on the sauna roof with lots

of supervision from the ground crew

Paul and Jay did an awesome job cleaning off the clubhouse roof.

TL, Teri, Jeromy, Jay, Melissa, and the rest of the shoveling crew stopped by the cabin to warm up and have a bite to eat.

Thanks again everyone for coming up and enjoying the sailing club during the winter.

New Year’s Day 2007 at the ASC (Alaska Snowmachine Club)

With the all the fresh December snow we’ve had, Taylor and I decided to dust off the old snow machine the day before New Year’s Eve and prepare for some fun on the lake. First this meant we had to carefully remove the 4 foot mound of snow blower discharge from the snow machine and shovel out the trailer.

Of course the sled’s track was also frozen to the ground (poor storage technique Dad – it should be up on blocks!) which required quite a bit of time on hands and knees chipping and prying the beast loose. With that done, it fired up after a dozen pulls and gradually warmed up. I promptly decided to do a test run across the backyard and managed to get stuck – excellent recurrent training for getting unstuck!

Then it’s load the sled onto the trailer and roll it into the garage for a thaw and pre-ride inspection and service. Everything checked good, so with the fuel and oil topped off the trusty 1991 Skidoo Scandic II was ready to churn up some powder.

Early New Year’s Eve we went to the Fire and Ice New Year’s Eve Celebration at the Town Square. It was a lot of fun but extremely cold at 5°F with a biting breeze the whole time. Later that evening we gathered our gear and welcomed in the New Year safe at home.

New Year’s morning was cloudy in Anchorage and about 16°F. The Big Lake forecast was for 12°F with light snow. By 11:00 AM we finally had everything loaded and hit the road. Then the snow began to fall again! The Glenn Highway was single lane, with white out conditions the whole way, so the drive to Big Lake took over 2 hours.

By Big Lake the snow had stopped and the sun was trying to break through the lower clouds. We pulled into the boat launch area at 1:00 PM. By 1:15 PM the sled was off the trailer and warming up. With “Cat Crap” (anti-fog) carefully applied to spectacles and helmet lenses, we suited up and charged across the lake.



With about 3 feet of snow to play in our sled surged ahead with each push on the throttle lever. The road system berms are perfect for a little aerial work, but with two aboard (“veteran” on the back) our workhorse sled is a little too harsh on landings for my taste and my back. We trade off for some solo riding and warm ups back at the Tahoe main base.




The sun comes out and wow, what a difference! It’s easy to forget that it’s 12°F out. There are perhaps a dozen other machines either riding the lake or transiting for access to the outstanding Big Lake trail system. We quickly take a cruise by the Islander. There aren’t any customers parked outside but it looks open with at least one person inside.



Zooming back across the lake at 60 MPH, we veer off the main trails to try some banked turns in the deep powder around the club’s harbor and stop for a couple of photos. Everything looks ok at the club site but all the boats and trailers could use a good snow cleaning.




1/7/07 Update
We rode at Big Lake again and stopped by to shovel off the RL. It looked a little precarious, with a slight list to starboard.

After a late lunch and warm up break we did some more runs and Taylor really enjoyed testing the top speed limits of the Skidoo.

By 4:00 PM the sun was setting and casting a pinkish hue across the snow. It was a great end to a great day. Time to load up the sled, secure for trailering and head back to Anchorage.

The LOVE BOAT --funny mishaps with BOATS

Jay found this one. Some are painfully familiar.

Blu and the Buoy

Keith and Judy will have to comment and provide the story behind these photos!

Keg House Rocks the ASC

From the dusty pages of The Sheet...
Keg House rocks the ASC at the 2004 Ice Breaker Regatta.
Whose that behind those Ray Bans?

Melissa and I went up to the Club on Sunday to see how the boats faired from all the high winds. Everything looked great. We also took a couple of pictures to post on the blog. I remember the other summer when we took a picture of the thermometer reading 90 degrees. It was 15 below on Sunday, and it is still November! Enjoy the pictures.

Jay

Ocean Racing

Some trans Atlantic, big cat racing footage. Looks like good work if you can get it. Enjoy.

Tech Help Seminar

Our first Tech Help Seminar was a success! We added more bloggers and Google Group members. It was a lot to cover in a short time, but I think everyone came away with new knowledge and the tools to practice with. We can explore more sessions like this in the future and target more specifics, if needed.



I’ll be sending invites to our Google Calendar to those that don’t already have them. This invitation will allow you make event entries and edits on our private calendar, plus see all event details. If all you want to do is view the event time and date, you can ignore the invite and just use our web calendar (below on this November 2006 blog page and soon back on our website’s Library page).




Remember folks – you can’t hurt the blog or the group with a mistake.


Blog Tips:

Login at http://www.blogger.com/start to make a new posting on the blog.

Visit the blog at http://aksailclub.blogspot.com/ to read posts and make comments.

If you realize you’d like to edit or delete one of your previous postings - Login at http://www.blogger.com/start Click New Post - On the Posting Create page Click Edit Posts - Select Edit or Delete as needed.

Add these links to your browser Favorites for easy navigation the next time.

Review the Blog Help Files on our website’s Library page. Blogger offers Help links also.


Google Group Tips:

Visit the Google Group Help links.

Look for Google Groups Beta logo in the upper LH corner of the page. If you can’t see it, look for a Groups Beta link in the page header. This will let you use all the features, like Pages and Files, that were added with the Beta version.

Go to the Edit My Membership link and make your preferred choices for email notifications of group happenings. Be sure to set a nickname (first names work well) for other group members to see.

Edit My Membership options:

How do you want to read this group?

No Email
I will read this group on the web

Abridged Email (No more than 1 email per day)
Get a summary of new activity each day

Digest Email (Approximately 1 email per day)
Get up to 25 full new messages bundled into a single email

Email (Approximately 2 emails per day)
Send each message to me as it arrives

What nickname do you want people in this group to see?


Keep up those postings! The blog is our club’s living newsletter.

Blogging

Spring is just right around the corner so hang in there.

sail

505

attempting post

Thanks to Paul & Jody

We are leaping into the new technology. Thanks for your help & hospitality!

Learning

I am here for today, maybe not tomorrow.

Alaska Sailing Club - Web Calendar

A Fast, Wooden Catamaran?

Handy with woodworking? Want a cat? Check out these beauties at the 2006 Shark Nationals. There is some amazing craftsmanship on display here, as well as some great racing action photos. We need some shots like these from our racing series! A good, stable chase boat and a long lens is the key.

Stanford Sailing

Hi there. Just wanted to report back to the club that I am taking sailing at Stanford. Three hours once a week. We are in boats that remind me of the club's 2-person boats, with a main sail and a jib. We sail out of Stanford’s boathouse. We have had quite mild winds, easy to learn to sail in. Next week, we have to do the mandatory capsize....

I think I still love the Lasers the best. The Stanford racing team uses them here, but they aren't for the classes. Anyway, our season continues down here. I will know more when I come back. I will be able to rig boats much better. And tacking and jibing, lots of work on that. Basically, a lot of fun. I will be back next year when I return to Alaska. Thanks for note. Not sure I answered it in August, but wanted to again anyway, when I found it again. Take care!/ Kathleen

Posted for Kathleen by Paul

The Worrell 1000 (miles that is)

Worrell 1000...some history

Here's some older footage of this amazing race up the east coast of the US. The Worrell 1000 began in 1974 as a bar room bet and has been held 21 times since then.

Worrell 1000 Yacht Racing

For those of you who haven't heard of the Worrell 1000, here's a video clip all about it. Enjoy.

More Blog Help and Sailing Tips from the Pros

There's more new Blog Signup Help available on our website's Library page.

Rick White's Catsailor website offers loads of info for multihull sailors and their newsletter provides great tips for all sailors. Here's a sample:

Hi Sailor,Sailing/Boating Tips Newsletter gives you great, free tips about Sailing and Boating straight from the experts and Pros, i.e., from Master Captains to Olympic Medalists

***********************************************

Which Tack to Take for Sailors
Stand by powerboaters, this is a dissertation on sailing. For both cruisers and racers you might want to consider which is the best tack to get to your destination; be it a marina, port or a windward racing mark. A good rule of thumb is keep the angle to the destination less than 45-degrees (assuming your boat can tack from port to starboard at 90-degrees.) To keep the angle less than 45-degrees you are keeping your bow toward the goal. Otherwise you are sailing away from the mark. There are other considerations, however. If there is a storm to the right side of your rhumb line course, you are better to head for the stormy area. Usually winds from that storm will give you more pressure and probably a better wind shift. If there is a persistent shift to the right, again you would forget the 45-degree-to-the-bow idea and head in the direction of the persistent shift, or go to the right side of the course. When the winds are simply oscillating, and if your boat tacks easily, use the 45-degree rule. Racers will get to the weather mark faster to win the race, and cruisers will get to port earlier for that cocktail you had been dreaming of.

*******************************************************

Subscribe Free to the Sailing/Boating Tips Newsletter and get hot tips about sailing, racing, cruising, etc. from the Professionals. Master Captains to Olympic Medalists. Improve your sailing and/or cruising skills. Special tips for racing sailors as well, plus much more. To subscribe use the following link:

http://www.catsailor.com/registration/newsletter.php

*******************************************************

For determining your headings for that windward mark (port) you cannot beat a GPS system. Many of them even have charts that show you exactly where you are, what your track is.., for example, are you really keeping the boat inside that 45-degree angle to the mark. And when you get to the point where you can tack and make the mark, a GPS will tell you that. The GPSs for on the road are also great, they vocally can tell you what lane to get in and when to turn -- you will never have to stop and ask directions again.

Well, the folks at http://www.onlinemarinestore.com/ have expanded their products and now have GPS products by Garmin, Magellan, Cobra and Navman, both for on the water and on the road (no more stopping for directions). Most are shipped immediately right to your door.., no more driving, parking and browsing through stores. Take a look at the many products they have at http://store.catsailor.com/tek9.asp?pg=products&grp=596 and toggle through 5 pages of GPSs. Also, Catsailor Magazine's Online Store has over 4000 items for all kinds of boating with most available for same or next day shipping. All a mouse-click away. Why drive across town, stand in lines, and probably still have to order an item when you can get it shipped right to your doorstep in a few days and never leave your home?

*******************************************************

Flathead Lake

How about some sailing at a place called Flathead Lake Montana? Some of our members may be able to comment on this posting.

Catamaran Race Video

Catamaran F18 Race Video. Trois-Rivières, quebec canada. June 2006. Here's the clip of the race without the crashes. See next clip below for all that.

Catamaran Pitchpole Video

Catamaran F18 Race Pitchpole Video, Trois-Rivieres, Queec, Canada. June 2006. Don't let this scare you - They're having a blast!

Laser Sailing and more!

Who says Lasers are a young person’s boat? Well me for one, at least until I happened upon Tillerman’s Proper Course Blog. Note - Troy is not permitted to view this blog, he might learn too many Laser tips!

This blog’s tagline is Cheat the nursing home. Die on your LASER. Tillerman is a 60 year young Laser sailor hosting an extensive blog filled with links to many other sailing blogs. You’ll find tons of good stuff there – there’s even a video link to teach you to Talk Like a Pirate . I haven’t yet fully explored this blog and there’s plenty to see. There’s also a link back to our blog in this More Sailing Blogs posting.

As you explore this posting’s link, pay attention to the posting contents and comments - it may give you some ideas for our blog. If you’re shy about your first blog posting, go to some of Tillerman’s links and check it out. If you like sailing photography check out his recommendation Sailscape. There you'll find a photo of one type of Escape sailboat - plastic, indestructible and fun.

Sailing, Sailing and Flying (across the water)

My notes. - PW

Sail Fast
This one’s like a sailing highlights reel. Worth a watch.
Highlights of some of the regattas this past racing season.

Supermaxi Maximus Breaking Mast
Those darn plastic parts!
Maximus, the New Zealand 98ft Carbon racer in the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 05. One of the worlds most advanced racing yachts capable of 35+ kts looses her mast metres from the finishing line.

Trimarans - Lunatic Sailing
Those crazy French sailors! This one is great. If you have to wear ski goggles, you know you’re sailing fast.
Intense sailing.

This is yacht racing
Who says sailors aren’t athletes? More high speed action.

Windrider RAVE Hydrofoil Fast Sailing

Man these things are FAST!

Hydrofoiling

Windrider RAVE links:
http://www.sailnet.com/collections/articles/index.cfm?articleid=ddcksn137
http://www.windrider.com/index.shtml
http://qmarch.com/wr_rave.htm

Annual Meeting

The Alaska Sailing Club's annual meeting at the Snow Goose was a great success. After dining on some delicious fare selected from the Snow Goose menu (the Halibut Soft Tacos were fantastic) we held a very productive meeting, elected new board officers and selected committee chairs. It sure beat standing around the club after a work party!

There were lots of great ideas. These short term and long term projects were slated for evaluation by the committees for scope, proposed budget and recommended priority. Once that’s done the final decisions for the 2007 budget can be made.

Many members were recognized for their significant contributions throughout the year and certificates were awarded to the Summer Race Series skippers.

2007 Board of Directors:

Commodore - Tim Gould
Vice Commodore - Jody Willing
Secretary - Elayne Hunter
Harbormaster - Tom Gould
Treasurer - T.L. Stanbro
Past Commodore - Dave Johnson


2007 Committee Chairs

Racing - Troy Aumann
Safety - Vincent Browne
Fundraising - Dave Johnson
Public Relations - Cheryl Hilmes
Site - Jody Willing
Education - Geoff Wright
Events - Roberta Avila
Membership - Elayne Hunter
Facility - Tom Gould
Clubhouse - Jim Aumann

The membership also voted to implement an ‘Adopt a Boat” program, on a trial basis, for the 2007 season. Two of the small club boats will be adopted and given loving care by their “parents” during 2007. In return, they’ll be given first option to sail those boats on race weekends.

2006 Summer Race Series winner Dave Johnson was awarded the inaugural “Dave Johnson Cup”. This traveling trophy will be engraved with the season’s winner each year just like our storied Governor’s Cup. Congratulations Dave!




A club petition was circulated at the meeting mandating a special award for Tim Gould. This cool racing accessory is designed to be dragged along the lake bottom and is required equipment on Tim’s Skipjack for the 2007 season.

More Sailing Video Clips

Here's some mono hull action.

1977 Laser Worlds
You may need a translator, but the race footage with the agile Laser sailors tacking and rounding marks is classic. You may notice some familiar America’s Cup sailors in the winner postings.

Trebos Laser
Again you may need a translator, but lots of great Laser footage.

ONDECK Sailing
Big monohulls racing.

VOLVO Ocean Race Cape Town
Big boats, big wind.

Big Catamaran, Speed Sailing (Stars & Stripes)
Big Cat going fast.

Uncontrollable Urge- 2006 Coastal Cup Race
Did I see 15 kts on the knotmeter?

505 sailing crash
Bruce - I guess 505s crash pretty good too. The crew gets knocked over by a bow wave and trouble follows.

Learn the Racing Rules Trailer
This video looks worthy. It's available at SeaTV Productions.

Work Party, this Saturday, Sept 16th, 10 to 4, eat when done

We are on this Saturday for our party to put the sailing part of the club to bed for another year, and a great year it was! Our community has grown and our place looks great and its all due to our efforts, though most times its doesn't seem like an effort, rather its just fun to be at the lake.

This gathering should be much less intense than our spring parties cause there are no major projects that need to be done. This is a time of general clean up and getting everything ready so the club can transition to winter time use.

Yes, the club does see a lot of activity throughout the winter, and all club members are welcome to continue enjoying the lake even though the boats are out of the water. A cool crisp sunny October afternoon is quite enjoyable traveling the shore line in a canoe. Hearing the ice build in early December, with all the various sounds is interesting. Warming inside the club house after skiing around the lake in February brings smiles and good feelings to everyone.

Driving the ice road on the lake (with the doors open) to the club in April, seeing some water on the lake and wondering if its time to start driving on the real road is always exciting. Yes, the club is available to everyone year round. Enjoy!

Posted by Paul for Commodore Dave

Hobie 16 Day at Big Lake? On Some Days It Is!

For those with a broadband connection, check out this onboard H-16 video mixed with a little AC DC music. I wonder if he had a waterproof camcorder case?

Enjoy.


More Sailing Video Clips

Hobie Cat Crash
If you liked the first one (even just a little) you’ll really enjoy this one. The camera work is much better. Here a H-16 is reaching downwind at high speed. Notice what happens when the leeward bow submerges for the second time.

Hobie Cat 16 SPI
This one has some excellent music and professional quality chase boat camera work, although the resolution is a little grainy.

Sailing in the Surf
Who needs a surfboard?

Catamaran - inför OS Aten 2004
No drifters here! Must be professionals with all those logos.

Philippine Hobie Challenge
Now here’s a vacation idea!

After viewing this video I just had to learn more about the PHC. The Philippine Hobie Challenge web site is very comprehensive, with race history, detailed accounts and loads of photos. Exploring their site is definitely worth the time.

This annual race is quite the event. 2007 will be their eighth year. While checking out a related link I found that two Alaskans participated in PHC 6 in 2005. You’ll find a reference to them in this BeachCats link. I may try to contact them to learn more about their experience there. Who knows maybe they'd like to join our club?

Rigging a Hobie Cat
Although this one is not done very well, it gave me the idea for use of YouTube to post similar videos for club use. We could produce video clips on rigging Lasers, Skipjacks, RL, etc. and post on YouTube. Then, it’s a simple matter to post links on the blog for club members to view easily. Keep an eye out for a coming video of this year’s 3rd Governor’s Cup Race.

For other videos, go to YouTube. Enter “laser sailing” or “hobie cat sailing” in the search box (sorry Skipjack skippers – no hits for “skipjack sailing”). You’ll get the idea.

http://www.youtube.com/

2006 Governor's Cup Results Available

Check out the 2006 issue of The Sheet for the details of our Labor Day classic and much, much more!

Tim and Ethan Gould Win 2006 Governor’s Cup!

Anchorage Daily News story

Tim and Ethan Gould of Anchorage won the Alaska Sailing Club's 40th Governor's Cup Regatta on Big Lake over the weekend for their second victory in the last three regattas.

The Goulds, who captured the small boat class, also won in 2004. Tim Gould won in 2002 and teamed with Tom Gould to win in 2001.
Cheryl Hilmes of Anchorage won the large boat class.

Small Boat Class –
1) Tim and Ethan Gould, Anchorage, 2.25 points
2) Dave Johnson and Elayne Hunter, Anchorage, 9 points
3) tie, Paul and Taylor Willing, Anchorage, 14 points; Jim Aumann, Anchorage, 14 points

Large Boat Class –
1) Cheryl Hilmes, Anchorage
2) tie, TL Stanbro, Anchorage, and Chris Remick, Palmer.

Detailed fleet results coming soon in The Sheet.