Sunday, July 26, 2009

Pirate Races: FOOD!


Kitty litter cake


cherry cake with 7-up


shrimp feed



the cutest pirate cake ever

bbb-bad to the bone!

all smiles at the start....

Cindy & Jeromy, a force to be reckoned with!

Rowdy Ray, Punchy Pam and Bad Bob

Hammerhead Remick!

the lovely Karen Remick, not to be reckoned with

Captain Blackbeard Dan Heath

Pirate's Race 2009

Many thanks to Pirate King, Jim and his mighty wench, Dawn for a fun-filled day of piracy at the lake! The "racing", water fights and potluck meal were enjoyed by all who attended. Congratulations to the new King, Jay and his fearless wench, Melissa as they take over the responsibilities for next summer's fun!

Friday, July 17, 2009

Buccaneer Wet Wed Series

Nice evening, fairly steady wind- 6-9 knots - a few shifts. Damn fine races by the squad. Most of the races were decided by a boat length--with a few stragglers.

I would start the next race 5 min after the last finisher-- got four races in by 8:45. Did upwind and down and a Triangle.

Bruce

Results to date here.

Sunday, July 05, 2009

More Firecracker Photos

Laser Dog

Here are a few good shots of the Laser show...

2009 Firecracker Regatta - Final Results

Get the Final Race Results here!

Firecracker Photos

ARRRRRRR!!!!!!!
You Mean That Mark?
Epic Battle
Rounding


Saturday, July 04, 2009

More 2009 Bucc nationals

Dave and Elayne at Mission Bay, sailing in the 2009 Bucc National Championships.






Start of the Bucc A fleet. The starting line is full, with the committee boat in the lower left and the pin in the lower right and nothing but very good Bucc sailors in between.

Thursday, July 02, 2009

2009 Open House and Sailing Class

More photos. Check out the Model A visitors!

2009 Sailing Class Pool Session Photos

Better late than never! Photos limited (mostly) to our trim and fit kids.

Scuba Mooring Mission

TL and George spent over 4 hours in the water last weekend (plus more on land) for mooring checks, boat bottom inspections, fire poker retrival and hoist repairs.







Well done gents!

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

Big Lake Joy

I've been sailing with you all for 5 years now. There have been so many moments of great joy mixed in with moments of angst as I continue to learn about the art of sailing. One of my most favorite recent experiences has been learning how to perform a "heave to" to use during storms or for rescues. With many thanks to new member, Terry, I've been learning about the art of sailing. I've always felt the water and wind and had good boat sense. However, sailing with someone who constantly wants to learn and perfect is helping me along my path to becoming a more secure sailor. This is a reminder to all of us of the importance of learning, pushing boundaries and trying new things. In the meantime, find the joy in the quiet moments, and the peace of the sunsets and rises of our beloved spot. See you on the water.

One ship sails east and another sails west
With the self-same winds that blow.
Tis the set of the sail and not the gale
Which determines the way they go.
As the winds of the sea are the ways of fate
As we voyage along through life,
Tis the act of the soul that determines the goal,
And not the calm or the strife.
-Ella Wheeler Wilcox

2009 Firecracker Regatta (and more) - July 3rd and 4th

Racing, food and fun coming this holiday weekend!

For more ideas on kid races and fun sailing/racing games, see these excerpts from Mary Well's Revival chapter of Catamaran Racing for the 90's in the archived issues of The Sheet online. You can use these links to quickly jump to the Revival articles:

Revival Part 1

Revival Part 2

Revival Part 3

Revival Part 4

Revival Part 5


We've just past our 3rd anniversary of using this blog as our club newsletter! Here's a reprint from the last 2006 issue of The Sheet to help keep those creative posting juices flowing.

The Importance of a Newsletter - Collectively, using this new format we'll have a more vibrant, interesting and timely publication. That's the power of a group blog.

But what do I write about you say? Whatever strikes your fancy -
  • What do you feel when you sail?
  • What are some of your favorite lake experiences?
  • What did you learn last weekend about boat handling, sail trimming, start tactics or mark roundings?
  • What is your favorite type of sailboat?
  • What is your most memorable sailing experience?
  • Favorite sailing vacation.
  • New ideas for fun events and races at the club, e.g. last year's Pirate Race.
  • Potluck themes (I think we definitely have this one covered! ed.)
  • Cool sailing links you've found on the web.
  • America's Cup and Olympic Sailing events. (Nice work on the Buc Nationals coverage ed.)

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

2009 BNAC, San Diego

Sailing in San Diego with a bunch of year round sailors was an eye opening experience. For starters, we partook in 20 races in 5 days, in steady 10+ knot winds every day joining a fleet of 27 Buccs.

We began the day arriving at Mission Bay Yacht Club at 10 AM, with time enough to check out our boat (the pintals somehow loosed up every day), launch via a winch (just like at our club), sail to the wind ward mark, launch the chute, jib, retrace it then arrive at the starting line 10 minutes prior to the noon start.

The 27 Bucc fleet was divided into an A & B class. We originally signed up to race in the A class, but after the first practice race (there were 4 practice races on Monday) the realization that we were way out of our class hit home and switched to the B class. The B class had 12 boats in it and everyone knew how to sail well.

The Starts were awesome! Swiper, #5060, (an 1985 boat) could not point as high as most of the other boats and we got “heading up” at the start and with a boat directly on our starboard had no place to go but into irons. Needless to say we learned from this start and thereafter stayed away from the middle of the pack and focused on a different starting technique. We timed the starts just right so that we arrived last to the starting line and cut in just port of the committee boat on a starboard tack, and it worked time and time again. Starting this way allowed me stay on starboard tack or if I was headed up, I tacked to port and continued on my way. Our Big Lake starts prepared us well for this level of competition, though the A class starts were much more technical.

Elayne and I sailed well to weather, often in the middle of the pack, once leading the pack and yes, a couple of times trailing the pack. We were always on the verge of having too much energy and had to apply the Cunningham on some runs to spill some wind. The technique on this leg was to sail flat and keep up the boat speed, which required some slight easing of the main sail and slight heading up, into luff, then powering up again, it was awesome.

Unknown to me, there were some major rule changes on 2009, like its now a 3 boat length from the mark to establish an overlap and also, its much harder to come to the mark on a port tack with the goal of tacking over to starboard at the last moment (windward mark to port) and squeeze in (that is now a bad idea).

The course was beat to wind, then run back to the starting line, then do it again, then maybe again a third time. There was not a reaching leg, though everyone reached, then jibed the chute, then reached back to the start, no one ran directly downwind.

So far so good, Elayne and I were competitive up to this point, but now it was time to fly the chute and that was our downfall. We always lost ground on the lee leg. We could launch the chute fine, but everyone else ran the chute much better than us and also most others could jib it better than us, but we were learning. Once we overshot the lee mark because of problems retrieving the chute, but we finally got it in and continued the race.

Each day we had 4 races and they ended about 3:30 each day. After that all the boats headed to the hoist and were pulled out of the water, sails let down, covers put on and the boats put to bed. Now time for dinner, suds and some great takillya, then to off to bed.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were the same with sunny days and temps in the 80’s coupled with steady 10-12 knot winds, what a wonderful place to sail. After 3 days of racing (not counting Monday’s practice race day) Elayne and I were tied for 11 th place with the 9th place boat 7 points ahead of us. Now the 9th place boat was crewed by an elderly guy and gal and I thought: “I’m not gonna let a team in their late 60’s beat us”, and we did sail well on the last day but ended up 2 points behind the 9th place boat.

Overall, it was a great time, so much so that Elayne and I are already planning on attending next year, same time but located on the East Coast, in Maryland in some river that dumps into the Chesapeake bay (Geoff and Cathy, that may be near your old sailing ground). Everyone down there was friendly and helpful and as Alaskans, we were treated like Rock Stars.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Children's sweatshirts - $25


ASC Mugs - $15 each


Adult T-shirt - $15 (large logo is on back)


Children's T -shirts - $15


ASC SHIRTS and MUGS for sale

Yes, ASC has logo wear! We have t-shirts available now in white for adults, size S - XXXL, and can take orders for red or light blue if that is your preference. We just received some children's shirts, size S - L in white, red, and light blue. We also had a small number of kid's hooded sweatshirts made up , they are gray with the ASC logo on the back, sizes S - XL (The XL would fit a small adult). All t-shirts are priced at $15 and the sweatshirts are $25.

We are having some special "Firecracker Regatta 2009" t-shirts made up and you may pre-order these by emailing Tina at aklalonde@aol.com The design may also be placed on a tank top if you prefer. The cost for these is $15 and they will be available for pick up on July 3 at the Firecracker Regatta. Respond soon if you want one so we have an idea of how many to have made up in each size.

ASC logo mugs are also available for purchase - $15.00 each.

Buccaneer 18 North American Championships

Dave Johnson and Elayne Hunter sailing Swiper, Sail No. 5060

By Elayne Hunter, reporting from the Buccaneer 18 North American Championships

These Buc sailors are fun and eager to talk sailing, rigging, trimming and racing. We know you'd all be loving it. The bay is perfect with steady winds (12 knots today) and shelter from the chop. Upwind, downwind and back and forth in varying amounts for racing.

Our borrowed boat weighed in at 705 #s only 200 # excess weight (Jay we understand this can be a characteristic of the Glousters) and the line on the vang has broken in 2 races. Lots of adjustments and repairs and recoveries on the fly.

We'll be back with tales to tell of successes and challenges. Today people were talking about sailing 4 races and neither of us can remember more than 3. What's up with that?

The weather is just around 70°F.

Posted for Dave and Elayne by Paul Willing

Editor notes –
  • Steady 12 knot breeze and 70°F sounds very, very nice.
  • Looks like BNAC is using Sailwave for scoring, just like the ASC!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Friday, June 19, 2009

2009 Wet Wednesday – Series 1

Tom Harrison reports Wednesday's race was another light air event.

Get the Sailwave results sheet here.

Friday, June 12, 2009

2009 Wet Wednesday – Series 1

Wednesday was hot, hot, hot, but not very wet or wild. I noted 80°F on my car thermometer all the way to Big Lake. Upon arriving around 5:00 pm I set to working on my rudder upgrade kit (some filing required!). Contrary to web weather reports (10 mph???) there was absolutely no wind. That remained unchanged as the racers arrived and began launching boats for 2009’s first Wet Wednesday series.

The zero wind conditions remained unchanged as Race 1 started. I remained onshore working on my rudder fittings. Occasionally I would look up to see how things were going. Later I would look up and things looked exactly the same! I started to feel better about missing the race and continued working away in the shade – it looked pretty darn hot out on the water in the direct sun..

This all brought the mind the famous quote from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge:

"We stuck, nor breath nor motion; As idle as a painted ship. Upon a painted ocean. Water, water, everywhere…"

Wind finally arrived around 9:00 pm and the boats literally flew around the course – compared to being parked for an hour and a half.

This brought to mind another quote, from Papa Wallenda the great tight rope walker:

"Life is on the wire, the rest is just waiting."

That could be paraphrased for sailors to:

"Life is on the water-sailing, the rest is just waiting."

Unfortunately, they had to throw out the speedy 2nd race due to the windward mark being a navigation hazard.

Get the Sailwave results sheet here.


Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Sunday, June 07, 2009

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

More 2009 Icebreaker Photos

More photos here. No on the water racing action this time, but plenty of harbor shots, plus a special "first solo sail". Click on the slideshow box to go to Picasa and download any you want copies of.



Photo credits - Paul Willing

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

2009 Icebreaker Photos

Photos from the Icebreaker Regatta:



Photo credits Dawn Aumann.

Sunday, May 24, 2009


Captain Dan Heath shows what he's made of by showing his girl's bottom! The RL gave her heart and soul today and everyone got to enjoy the show. The International beard and moustache competitor, Ray, played w/ his GPS and kept us on course!
Don't you just want to hug the Montgomery? She's so darn sweet! Her captain, Bruce and crew of 2, were enjoying the bob in the sun. Even bobbing along can land one in 2nd place! Congrats!
The Bucs sneak up like silent sharks ready to devour anything in their path...

2nd Vice Commodore Tom Harrison, gives the low down on some racing rules of the water!

Saturday, May 23, 2009

2009 Icebreaker Regatta

Live from Big Lake, it's the Icebreaker Regatta. Standby for "live" racing updates and results here.

The ice is gone, the sun is out and the racers are preparing their boats. We're hoping the forecast holds for afternoon wind.

But... as it turned out, Race 1 was a drifter until the last mark when the wind filled in. Race 2 had steady wind ~8 mph throughout.

Sunday brought sunny skies in the morning... and a dead calm lake. Race 3 went on as scheduled at 2:00 pm, but it was so calm many boats were towed to the start area. It was another drifter, but excellent for working on your tan.

With a nice 10 - 12 mph wind filling in around 4:30 pm we mobilized for a 5:00 pm start. Now this is some real racing! This reporter had to return to the dock for a quick batten repair - hence a very late start - but it was worth it just to scoot around the course, fly a hull and let out a hearty yeeee haaa! Big Lake sailing doesn't get much better.

Fellow racers don't be shy - post comments to this or post your own story.

Day 1 Results

Final Results

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

ASC Web Site Updated with New Logo

Check it out at - Alaska Sailing Club.

With racing just around the corner this weekend, check out some real RL racing in the photo below. Note reef in mainsail. Photo from our Aussie brethren from the RL website




While down under on the RL website, if you visit this page you may spy some familiar photos.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

2009 Ice Breaker Regatta

The Alaska Sailing Club's
2009 Ice Breaker Regatta

Big Lake, Alaska
May 23rd & 24th


Races are scheduled for 4:00 and 6:00 pm on Saturday and 2:00 and 4:00 pm on Sunday. Come early and enjoy a pre-race potluck at 1:00 pm on Saturday. The theme of the Potluck is “your favorite comfort food”. Not a cook? We can always use chips and drinks to share. Hope to see everyone there!
Questions?
Contact Jay or Chris at 696-3450. Thank you.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Ice Breaker Regatta - Notice to Competitors

The following start times are scheduled for the 2009 Ice Breaker Regatta:

Sat 23 May - 4 pm & 6 pm; Sun 24 May - 2 pm & 4 pm.

As in previous years - if the wind is holding following a race,
another race may quickly follow on the heals to take advantage of
circumstances.

Race Committee Team Training

To better facilitate Hands-On Race Committee Team Training - Training
has been rescheduled to take place on the first day of the Iceberg
Regatta at 2 pm at the Club facilities on Big Lake. This is a great
opportunity to de-mystify what it takes to put on and record a race.
It's a lot of fun (especially now with the pontoon boat) and really
helps support the Club's race program. Novice and experience sailors
are strongly encouraged to play a part!

Sunday, May 10, 2009

First 2009 Work Party

Check out all these great folks working hard to get the club ready for the 2009 season!



Our resident chimney sweep

Paul found thousands of great items in the tool shed
Ray was everywhere!!
We are going to post this pile on Craigslist and Ebay First offer over $1000 can have this bit of history.

Bruce and Tim work out the plan for camper parking

The sailing clubs first ever fire and rescue squad. Captain Jay at the helm

Jay with his able bodied fire and rescue crew

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Intro to Sailboat Racing Presentation

For those who missed Intro To Sailboat Racing - The Basics Wednesday night 4/29/09 at the Snowgoose, here's Tom Harrison's most excellent presentation - minus Tom's insightful live lecture, of course.

This works best if you're using Adobe Reader 8.0 or higher - free download at www.adobe.com .

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Tillerman's Proper Course Blog - again


Who is Tillerman?
I am a grandfather who sails a Laser. Even though I am over 60, I suffer under the delusion that it is not too late to discover how to sail smarter and faster.In this blog I write mainly about sailing and my endless pursuit to become a better sailor. Read this blog if you want to learn from my mistakes -- there are plenty -- and to share in the fun of Laser racing Tillerman style.

Yes, I've mentioned Proper Course before, but here's yet another plug. It's worthy of checking out, if only occasionally, to see what other sailors are talking about around the world.

Tillerman is into Lasers big time and often provides links to other Laser resources. Granted, some of his posts have absolutely nothing to do with sailing, but end up being entertaining or informative, or both.

Recent worthy posts:
Enjoy.





Alaska Sailing Club Calendar - Full Screen Version

Click here for a Full Screen Version of our ASC Calendar. I've also added a permanent link in our right hand link bar. Get ready to SAIL!

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Intro To Sailboat Racing - The Basics

                                                    How's Our Transom Look?

Who:
    Anyone Interested in Sailboat Racing

When:   29th of April - 5:30 pm

Where:  Snow Goose Restaurant & Sleeping Lady Brewery - Upstairs

What:      The Basic Fundamentals of Sailboat Racing to get you to be able to safely negotiate the course.
 
Why:       To expose you to one of the more satisfying and challenging experiences you can encounter while rapidly building your ability to handle or crew a boat in close quarters with other boats.

"Once you race, every fault is pointed out in the way other boats sail away from you, and when you do anything well this too is revealed as you start sailing away from the rest of the fleet."  Uffa Fox   

Seating is limited to space available (but you'll be able to order food/beverage).
Please email: biogenic@gci.net  and put "Intro To Sailboat Racing - The Basics" in the subject line if you plan to attend.  I will confirm with a reply email.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Adopted 2009 Racing Standing Instructions


Things will be slightly different this year for each of the specific series set out in the Standing Instructions.  Boats will be tracked instead of skippers as has been the case in the past for each of the race series.  Therefore, awards will be presented to the owner of the boat or in the case of a club boat - the individual who checked out that specific boat. Members in good standing will be allowed to check out an individual boat for an entire regatta series to compete if they so wish.  There are a number of valid reasons why this is being done so please ask if you have any questions or concerns.   

Tom Harrison


1 Rules
1.1  The Regattas will be governed by rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing (2009 -  2012 Rules).
1.2  No national authority prescriptions will apply.
1.3  Any changes to Racing Rule(s) or Standing Sailing Instructions for a race event will be   identified in the Notices to Competitors and posted in the Alaska Sailing Club clubhouse prior to a race.
1.4  Specific boat class rules will not apply.

2 Notices to Competitors
Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located in the Alaska Sailing Club clubhouse.

3 Changes to Sailing Instructions
Any change to the sailing instructions will be posted before 1100 Local on the day it will take effect, except that any change to the schedule of races will be posted by 2000 Local on the day before it will take effect.

4 Signals Made Ashore
4.1 Signals made ashore will be displayed from the dock.
4.2 When flag Y is displayed ashore, rule 40.1 applies at all times while afloat. (Competitors shall wear life-jackets or other adequate personal buoyancy)

5 Schedule of Races
5.1 Dates of racing for Small & Large Boat Classes:
Ice Breaker Regatta (Memorial Weekend)                      23-24 (25)* May
Firecracker Regatta (4th of July Weekend)                     3-4 (5)* July
Fireweed Regatta                                                          15-16 August
Governor’s Cup Regatta (Labor Day Weekend)             5-6 (7)* September
Frostbite Regatta                                                          19-20 September (wx permitting)

5.2 Dates of racing for Small Boat Class:
Wet Wednesday 1st Series                                        10, 17 & 24 June
Wet Wednesday 2nd Series                                       5, 12, & 19 August
One Design Bucc 18 Class Series                              15 & 29 July

()* Denotes reserve days that may be used if races are not completed as scheduled or if the race committee considers it necessary that races will be completed on a reserve day.

5.2 The scheduled time of the warning signal for the first regatta race each day will be posted in the individual event’s sailing instructions. Generally, efforts will be made to signal the start of the first Regatta race at 1000 Local and Wet Wednesday races at 1915 Local.

6 Class Flags
Class Flags will be:
Large Boats (Cabin)                                       Numeral Pennant Number 1
Small Boats (Centerboard/Catamaran)           Numeral Pennant Number 2
One Design Bucc 18                                      Numeral Pennant Number 3

7 Racing Area
Attachment A shows the general location of the racing areas.

8 The Courses
8.1 There are three potential types of courses that may be utilized. The order in which marks are to be passed, and the side on which each mark is to be left will be announced by the Race Committee prior to race. Courses may be windward/leeward, Triangle or Mixed.

9 Marks
Marks will be announced by the committed boat prior to the race. A race committee boat may signal a change to the course during a race.

10 Areas That Are Obstructions
The following areas are designated as obstructions: Shallow waters (less than 110% keel/centerboard depth) around Alonis Island, Saddleback Island, Burston Island and Bird Island.

11 The Start
Races will be started as follows: The race committee will sound and or display a 5 minute warning signal, a 4 minute preparatory signal, a one minute signal and the starting signal. This changes rule 26. Race Officials will attempt to notify vessels when they are over the starting line before the staring signal.
11.1 Boats whose warning signal has not been made shall avoid the starting area.
11.2 A boat starting later than 5 minutes after her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start.

12 Change of the Next Leg of the Course
To change the next leg of the course, the race committee will lay a new mark and remove the original mark as soon as practicable. In addition, he race committee may choose to shorten the race by deleting required course legs, or lengthen the race by increasing the number of course legs.

13 The Finish
The finishing line will be determined and announced by the race committee prior to the start of the race.

14 Penalty System
The Scoring Penalty, rule 44.3, will apply. The penalty will be 2 places.

15 Time Limits
Time limits are as follows:

Class                                                               Time Limit                 Mark 1 Time Limit
Portsmouth Large Boats                                 1.5 hours                         45 minutes
Portsmouth Small Boats                                  1.5 hours                         45 minutes
One Design Bucc 18                                       1.5 hours                         45 minutes

If no boat has passed Mark 1 within the Mark 1 time limit, the race will be abandoned at the discretion of the Race Committee.

16 Protests and Request for Redress
16.1 Protests shall be presented to race committee official within the protest time limit.
16.2 For all classes, the protest time limit is 15 minutes after the last boat has finished the race at hand. Protests do not have to be submitted in writing. This changes rules 61.2-3 & 62.2.
16.3 Competitors in which they are parties or named as witnesses will be notified by a race committee official. Hearings will be held in the vicinity of the Alaska Sailing Club clubhouse as soon as practical.
16.4 Decisions of the protest committee will be final as provided in rule 70.4

17 Scoring
The Low Point System of Appendix A of the racing rules will apply. Scores will be calculated using the 2008 Portsmouth Yardstick DPN rating for each vessel make and SailWave software will be used to calculate results.

18 Safety Regulations
18.1 Race Participants shall wear appropriate personal flotation devices at all times while racing.
18.2 All vessels must check in with the race committee prior to a race.
18.3 A boat that retires from a race shall notify the race committee as soon as possible.

19 Prizes
Prizes will be awarded to the boats placing first, second and third in the regattas.

20 Disclaimer of Liability
Competitors participate in the regatta and series races entirely at their own risk. See rule 4 Decision to Race in the Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-2012. The organizing authority will not accept any liability for material damages or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during or after the regatta or series.



Monday, January 19, 2009

Wet and Windy on Lake Lucille

DN from Anchorage on Lake Lucille
Jay takes a break to catch his breath!

Bruce prepares to launch

Bruce, Jay, and I took advantage of the wind yesterday on Lake Lucille. Accidental jibes in high winds are almost enough to make you lose your cookies!!Lots of standing water on the lake but plenty of wind for all. Weather permitting we are planning another outing next weekend.

Monday, January 12, 2009

"Boat Smart from the Start, Be Water Wise!"

The Alaska Office of Boating Safety will be offering Alaska Water Wise, a boating course designed for Alaskans on January 24 and February 21, 2009 from 9-6 in the Atwood Building on 550 West 7th Avenue in Anchorage.

This eight-hour course is approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard. The course satisfies most states boating safety education requirements and may even qualify boaters for boat insurance discounts.

Segments include pre-departure preparation, boating operations, boating emergencies, cold-water survival, navigation/rules of the road, and legal requirements. Students who attend all sessions, and pass the written exam and skills will be issued a course completion certificate.

The courses are free but pre-registration is encouraged. For more information contact Megan Piersma at (907) 269-6042 or Joe McCullough at (907) 269-8704.