The Memorial Day Cruise broke with tradition this year! We had excellent weather all three days, with temperature highs in the 80's and lows at night in the upper 60's with no rain--PERFECT! There were a total of 19 boats at the cruise - Ten M/V-25's, seven M-26's, and two auxiliary fleet Catalina 25's. What a great turnout for our first cruise of the year! We even were able to get the best beach on the islands, on the west side of the island. Everybody appeared to have a great time.

In our contest for the prize of a small board sailboat to be given away on the Labor Day Cruise, the standings are now: POINTS: Al & Gina Grikis 5 points; Steve & Linda Hanes 4 points; Al & Juanelle Barboza 3 points; Dave & Jennie Taylor 2 points; Jim & Margie Hutchison 1 1/2 points; and the following with 1 point: Dick & Beth Hardin, Alan & Jean Cook, Carol & Marshall McKenzie, Don & Martha O'Grady, John & Kay Vaughan, Roland & Edna Shambry, David & Cathy Young, Brad Chilcote, Brian & Ali Robertson, Lee & Dale Howard, Ed & Kathy Kremer, Doug & Sandi Cook. Remember! The person or couple with the most points at the end of the Labor Day Cruise will win the sailboat!

Now that our first cruise is over, you need to start planning for the 4th of July Cruise at Lake Texoma beginning on July 3rd through July 7th. Campsite will be on the west side of North Island if the beach is available, and if not, circle the islands until you find the McGregor armada at anchor. The 4th of July falls on a Thursday this year, and some of us plan to make a 4 or 5 day cruise out of it. Donna and I are planning to go up Wednesday night and stay through Sunday. If you can't make all the cruise, please come up for what you can. Most all the planned activities are scheduled for Saturday, so you will not miss much by coming up Friday night or Saturday morning. This time we are also asking that each boat bring at least three logs for the camp fires, since we have several nights and there is no wood on the islands to burn. The planned schedule of events are:
Wednesday, July 3rd - Early bird arrivals (hold campsite).
Thursday, July 4th - Set up campsite (campfire).
Friday, July 5th - Kite flying, kids games, campfire/with a balloon blowing contest.
Saturday, July 6th - Balloon race, *** Sail what you brung, campfire/ *** Surprise adult contest.
Sunday, July 7th - Break camp and take boats out. Meet at El Chico's on Hwy. 75 on way home.

The month of May was a very busy month for sailing and racing.

First, I would like to congratulate David Young and crew for the outstanding job he did at the San Diego Regionals. He took 1st Overall and 1st in Fleet. (Attaboy, Dave!)

Second, our club members ventured over to Joe Poole Lake for their Lakefest Regatta. Marshall McKenzie, Randy Gilbert, and Larry Featherston all swept the trophies, and racing his new boat for the first time, Brad Chilcote took a fourth place. Good job, Brad!

Third, I would like to thank all club members that participated in the Cancer Regatta. Sorry, we did not have enough boats for our Regionals, but it all turned out well.

And fourth, we have ended the Spring Series with that last race, which is another story but will be remembered for a long time!

The Summer Night Series has already started, and a phantom boat called "Wings" has come back to life with a vengeance. Mike Jones was a terror in his V-22, but just wait.... All new skippers who might be a little apprehensive about racing should try the Night Series because it is more laid back and a lot of fun. Try to come out.

I know that June, July, and August are the vacation months, so let us know what, where, and with whom you went cruising. Speaking of cruising, the McKenzies, Mary & R.B. Strange, and the Barbozas took a little cruise of our own at Lake Texoma. We decided to explore some of the lake and headed off towards the northwest end of the lake, lowered the masts four times to cross bridges, rode out a lightening storm, the likes of which would curl your hair, and traveled up the lake some 20 miles. What a trip. Lowering the mast to go under a bridge was a challenge for yours truly. But when you thump a bridge, you find out that it was no big deal. I always wanted a new spar fly!

Thank you to Charlotte Pryor, Ann Tucker, and Jimmie Beach for bringing refreshments to the May meeting. Also a big thank you to Donna Blake, Kay Vaughan, and Cathy Young for taking my place at the May meeting.

Larry and I cannot thank you enough for your prayers, cards, flowers, and visits. I'm healing not as fast as I would like but faster then was expected by most.

(Note: The following is a compilation of several eMail messages I posted on the Venture/MacGregor list on the Internet after returning from the last race of the Spring Series on June 1st. -- Steve Hanes)

Just got back from our last two races of the V/MYC Spring Series. Both had to be canceled due to severe weather. We all launched (about a dozen boats) knowing there was a 30% chance of thunderstorms. At the starting gun of the first race, a squall line hit us with heavy rain and estimated 50-70 mph winds!!! Knocked down several boats before we knew what hit us. Most popped back up after releasing sheets. We spent the next 30 minutes beating our way to the nearest lee shore to get out of the fierce wind and rain. Visibility was often less than 50 feet. Finally we beached Al Barboza’s Mac 25 I was crewing on and Brian put an anchor ashore. Spent about an hour ashore with six other boats that eventually joined us until the worst of the storm blew over.

Eventually we returned to the marina to find that two boats had made it back to the marina during the storm and others had dropped anchor in the middle of the lake and swung from their hooks throughout the storm. Final report was no injuries and no known damage. We felt fortunate to have everyone back safe. There was a tree down along the shore and one pontoon boat sitting about 6 feet inland as we motored toward the marina. It's impressive what these Ventures and MacGregors will do when they have to. The experience of our members and crews obviously played a big part in getting everyone through safely.

Wow, what an experience! I actually enjoyed it, but glad I was not out with my own Mac 26 and crew. Would have been scared to death and in over my head. Afterward we learned of the damage caused throughout the Dallas area by the same storm. Winds were clocked in excess of 100 mph in some areas. Flipped over planes at Addison and Redbird airports, knocked down 60 foot trees, and blew windows out of the North side of skyscrapers along Central Expressway and I-635. We were indeed fortunate not to have any injuries or damage.

I was asked by one member on the Internet if we had any pictures of the event! It was pure survival out there with little opportunity to take pictures. Listening to the stories from different participants at the Board Meeting makes me all the more thankful that everyone survived. It was truly a miracle. Some of our most experienced racers were knocked down and out of control. Sam was blown in a large circle with his spreaders in the water the whole time and ended up within 200 feet of the dam. David Young also had his spreaders in the water on his M26, and Mike Jones was knocked down as well. We did tangle our bow with the leech of Mike’s main at the start line while he was on his side, but no damage, and only Al's abilities on the helm kept us from running over David Young's mast and rigging while he was in the water. I was fortunate to have been crewing for Al Barboza on his M25. Al managed to stay in control for the whole duration under full main. Brian managed to get the working jib down. I learned later that Collin Park Marina recorded sustained winds of 83 mph during the peak of the storm!

Sorry, no photos! But if it's any help, I have several pictures etched firmly in my memory!

It was a perfect day for sailing, warm and balmy, the wind blowing lightly, the water clean and sparkling with sunshine.

We rigged our boats, pushed off from shore and, as the sails luffed and filled, leaped forward noiselessly. One of the terrific sensations, easy to forget, or never to have known, in modern life.

As we trimmed the sails, we cut through the water, the boat and its powerful forward motion absorbing us,we part of it, nothing else. We skimmed along, lightly, easily, our sails bellied out, the warmth in the air gentle on our skin.

This was to be free, to live like a god, to know what you would never know on earth.

--- Author Unknown

Every year has			  365 days

If you sleep 8 hours a day	  122 days

This leaves			  243 days

If you rest 8 hours a day	  122 days

This leaves			  121 days

If you don't work on Sunday	   52 days

This leaves			   69 days

Most take Saturday off		   52 days

This leaves			   17 days

If you take 1/2 hour for lunch      9 days

This leaves			    8 days

If you take 1 week vacation	    7 days

This leaves			    1 day

No one works on Labor Day	    1 day

This leaves exactly		    0 days

The U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides) as a combat vessel carried 48,600 gallons of fresh water for a crew of 475 men. This was sufficient to last through six months of sustained operations. On August 23, 1779, the Constitution set sail from Boston. She carried 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of fresh water, 7,400 cannon shots, ll,600 pounds of black powder, and 7,000 gallons of rum. Permission to harass and destroy English shipping was given.

Making Jamaica on October 6th, she took on 620 pounds of flour and 68,300 gallons of rum. Then she headed for the Azores, arriving there on November 12th.

She provisioned with 850 pounds of beef and 4,300 gallons of Portuguese wine. On November 18th, she set sail for England.

In the ensuing days she defeated five British Men-of-War and captured and scuttled twelve English merchant ships - salvaging only the rum they carried. By January 27, 1780, her powder and shot were exhausted. Unarmed, she made a night raid at the Firth of Clyde in Scotland.

The landing party captured a whiskey distillery and transferred 40,000 gallons aboard by dawn (Scottish whiskey, of course). Then she headed for home. The U.S.S. Constitution arrived in Boston in February 1780 with no cannon shot, no food, no powder, no rum, no whiskey, no wine, and 48,000 gallons of stagnate water.

The amount of alcoholic beverage taken aboard and consumed is in excess of 119,600 gallons. Based on the size of her crew, and assuming all did their share, we are talking about some 250 gallons per man or over one gallon per man for every day they were at sea. The amazing thing is that they ever found their way back to Boston.