Venture/MacGregor Yacht Club
Venturing
Last updated: July 14, 1996 @ 15:10 CDT
1996 Summer Dallas Boat Show
JULY 16 - 7:30 p.m. MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Contents
COMMODORE With a Duce - Larry Featherston
VICE COMMODORE'S REPORT - Steve Hanes
TREASURER'S REPORT - Jennie Taylor
26 FLEET - Dave Taylor
TWENTY-FIVE TRIVIA - John Vaughan
23/24 FLEET - Ray Pryor
22 FLEET - Mike Kmita
ASSOCIATE FLEET - Sandi Cook
CRUISING - Sam and Donna Blake
RACING - Alfred Barboza
PROGRAMS - Jim Wallace
SOCIAL NEWS - Lora Featherston
NAVAL MACHISMO - Steve Hanes
WHY ASK WHY? - Gus Gusler
SISTER SAIL - Charlotte Pryor
UPDATE ON FOSTER - Editor's Note
1996 OFFICERS and BOARD OF DIRECTORS
1996 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
DOOR PRIZE!
THE SALE MAKER (Classified Ads)
COMMODORE With A Duce
We are well into the middle part of the year, and things just keep getting better all the time. The night time is the only time that you should be sailing, unless you just enjoy making mush out of your brain because of the heat. Yeah, it’s been hot all right, but when you get to the lake and hang up a little canvas, everything cools off by about 20 degrees; especially if you start off with a bucket of water over your head. No David T., you don’t have to wear the bucket unless you just want to.
Steve Hanes
tells me we are at about 70 members strong with lots of time to bring in a few new members before the end of the year. I was hoping that we could be somewhere around 85 members by the end of August, so we still have some work to do. We did meet some people from Tyler this year at the July 4th Cruise and some more people came from around Oklahoma City to play with us in the sand this time. You know how I am with names sometimes, so maybe Steve will bail me out with the correct spelling and their addresses. The family from Tyler are actually members and were flying in a Mac26X, and the family from Oklahoma also had a Mac 26X with plans to install a microwave oven to go along with their sonar system, global locating device, color t.v. and all kinds of stuff that you don’t need for racing. I don’t know, maybe a microwave for French tarts on the down-wind leg would be nice, depends on their makeup.If you were on the cruise, you will probably realize that some things don’t change too much. Some people still like to sneak in a nap on the beach. Sand is still in everything and unseen places, except when you see them walking by and shaking things. There is always a camp fire, sometimes with music, and lots of fun to go around for everybody. Hey S_ _ _ _ _ _ _, pancakes cook much faster when you use propane with your camping stove. So far everything looks good from my deck of perspective.
Catch a breeze and sail away---------Larry
P.S. Never blow your nose on an acetone filled cloth that you just cleaned your boat with.
VICE COMMODORE'S REPORT
While our membership has leveled off (holding at 70, no new members in June), our activities sure haven’t. We’ve had two Saturday night races, Dallas Race Week, and our annual July 4th Cruise. All were good opportunities to try new techniques learned in our June Program on Sail Trim.
We just returned from 5 days on Lake Texoma with 21 other boats participating in the July 4th Cruise and had a "hot" time! The winds were near perfect each day for cruising and when not sailing, the hot weather kept everyone involved in the various water activities. Marshall’s tarp stretched over the water between two boats made a great shaded "hot tub" for everyone to gather in the water and enjoy their favorite beverages while floating on their noodles and visiting. The activities planned by Sam and Donna Blake were well attended (Go Foster!!!) and the fireworks shows on Wednesday and Saturday nights were excellent. Twenty-four members enjoyed the tour of the Valiant Yacht factory on Friday following lunch at Pelican’s Landing. Lunch was excellent, and many of us were still "drooling" as we viewed the construction of these elegant yachts. Read all the exciting details of this year’s cruise elsewhere in the Cruising article.
Wings
is back! That’s right, Mike Jones has retired his infamous red hull V22 in favor of his new M26 purchased from Gus Gusler and is putting on quite a show at the races! He took 3rd place at Dallas Race Week and is definitely the boat to beat in our Summer Series. Speaking of the Summer Series, Dave and Jennie Taylor who vowed to stick with cruising and never race, agreed to be the committee boat at the first Saturday Night Race and apparently enjoyed the action so much they not only participated in the second race, but finished second behind Wings! Go get’m Puffin’!If you have never raced before, the Summer Night Series is a great opportunity to find out what it is like. These races are a much more "leisurely paced" race/cruise than our more serious Spring and Fall Series. Come out and enjoy the fun! There are usually a boat or two that anchor overnight for cruising on Sunday morning. Linda and I enjoyed the first race, spent the night anchored with George, Judith, and Tracy Gabert, and than picked up Danitra, Brian, and their friends at the dock on Sunday morning for a nice morning cruise, lunch, and swim.
I am working together with Peter Ots of CompuWare Worldwide on our Internet presentation for the July meeting. Make sure to attend this meeting to see what you’ve been missing if you have yet to "cruise" the sailing sites on the Net. I’m learning from Peter, who is a graphics editor and instructor by trade, many ideas for future improvements to our website. I look forward to your questions, comments, and feedback as we take an interactive "live" cruise of our own club’s website and explore many other interesting sites available from around the world.
As a closing note, I thought you may enjoy the following story I found on The Mother of all Humor Archives on the Net:
Naval Machismo
This is an actual radio conversation released by the Chief of Naval Operations, 10-10-95, MSG#H0000115020ecb52EMHS
Radio Operator #1: "Please divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid a collision."
Radio Operator #2: "Recommend that you change YOUR course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision."
Radio Operator #1: "This is the captain of a U.S. navy ship. I say again divert YOUR course."
Radio Operator #2: "No, I say again divert YOUR course."
Radio Operator #1: "This is the aircraft carrier Enterprise, we are a large warship of the U.S. Navy. Divert your course NOW!"
Radio Operator #2: "This is a lighthouse. Your call."
TREASURER'S REPORT
26 FLEET
Just unpacked from another fun cruise, 4th of July. Can't believe 4 days went by so quickly. Too much fun. First, thanks to Sam and Donna Blake for putting on another great cruise. Glad to see the members of our fleet participate: Steve and Linda Hanes, Al and Gina Grikas, Jerry Lindbloom, Mike and Shirley Kmita, Jim and Margie Hutchison. Terry and Sandy Smith came up from the Waco area for their first cruise with us.
What did we do? Stayed cool in the water mostly. Had great fellowship and good weather. Sailed up to Cedar Mills Marina and toured the Valiant Yacht factory on Friday.
Saturday was busy. First it was a Balloon Race. While power boats anchored to watch, four boats loaded with lots of kids (both regular and mature) scrambled for the 100+ balloons scattered in the water. We chased them half way to Preston Point, and the sailing was not a pretty sight. Then we did Sail-What-You-Brung. We looked like out-takes from the movie "Waterworld." With an audience watching from nearby boats, a dog on a float powered by a kite crossed the finish line first. All the "kids" had a great time. We had a campfire that night and adjourned to watch the fireworks at Loe's. It's a good thing I go back to work tomorrow 'cause I need a rest.
+ + + +
Our cruise to the BVI was Grrrrrrrreat! Weather was good, boat worked, the people were friendly, tourism was flourishing, beach bars were multiplying, food was delicious and different, and the water was clear. We anchored overnight in ten different coves, snorkled daily, visited bakeries, schools, shops and grocery stores. And when we weren't doing that, we were sailing. Three hours on one tack. And I already miss standing room in the head. We have pictures.
TWENTY-FIVE TRIVIA
Chill out. Beat the heat. Stay cool. Open the Pneumonia hole. This is the banter we hear a lot this time of year...and our merry band of Ven-Mac Sailors is no exception.
We’re getting pretty good (or darn lucky) at conducting (very small) surveys about various things, so we asked our trusty pollsters to conduct a semi non-scientific investigation to find out what everybody says and does about the HEAT!!
Yes, friends, we’re talking about the good olde summer time, where you can fry an egg on your tu-tu. Some respondents said wet shirts and swimsuits, a good hat, and neck deep in the water fills the bill. There’s also a wide variety of boom tents and fans (all good) that people swear by.
Just like winter-summer coolant, some folks say that a 50/50 mix of a good brand of anti-freeze is just the ticket for the summer time blues. Have to kinda watch this, though. Might feel good, but can dehydrate you rather than help out.
You know, Donna, Kay, Sam and I were night sailing on Island Time the other night and were talking about just this subject. After careful consideration, in-depth research, and a couple of beers, we came with some pretty interesting ideas about using blue ice and the freezer before a trip for certain articles of clothing . This might start a whole new trend in frozen clothing. It would also add a bold new and different meaning to an ice run. "Hey bub, give me 16 sacks of ice and three frozen speedos, please"
On the beach, a good dining fly is an absolute must to get out of the sun. (Alternatively, a good friend with a good dining fly is much better.) Lotttttts of liquids help you keep the old pump primed. Those frozen 2-liter bottles sure come in handy.
In the sun, we absolutely think the new brands of "sports cream" sunblock are the best thing yet. It won’t wash off when you go in the water, and doesn’t run into your eyes and burn when you sweat. (or "manifest evidence of intense perspiration" for the more delicate of our crowd).
On the boats, we see a wide variety of wind-scoops in the front hatches and a never-ending array of towels hung over the loops inside the pop-tops.
I think poptop scooping is a sport worthy of the Olympics. We’ll go to any lengths to direct every zephyr of breeze down into the boat to soothe our hot bods. Some folks say we’ve been known to use a pack and a half of clothespins to get that perfect adjustment. Other folks just drape any old towel over those loops....any old way....and it seems to work just as well.
For a late evening cool-off just before dark, we’ll migrate to any convenient shower hanging point and actually wash off with clean water.
Whatever you do to beat the heat, we want to remind you to "Stay Cool"...It beats the alternative every time.
23/24 FLEET
June Meeting:
The Hardins and I showed up for the 23/24 Fleet. Everybody else was out making money (or trying). The program was on sail trim and featured some world class sailors showing how it is done (on video), and even had some graphics to help describe the sail shape. One of the things that stood out was how much communication was going on between the jib trimmer, main trimmer, and the helmsman, not to mention the spinnaker pole and guy trimmers. If one trimmer changed anything, he informed everyone and told them that they needed to adjust their sail accordingly. This was going on continuously!July Meeting:
The July meeting has the potential to be the best meeting yet. Even if you have an Internet connection, don't miss it. The meeting will consist of an on-line Internet session. I am bringing my favorite addresses, Charlotte is bringing hers, Steve Hanes is bringing his, and you are invited to bring yours. Some of my favorite sites have high resolution photos of western watercolors from the Smithsonian, Japanese lotus blossoms, coral reef fish, sailing on lo (a moon of Jupiter, be sure to dress warmly and bring your own oxygen), the stock history every day for the last year for your favorite stock, sailing club pages from around the world, including a few MacGregor owners pages, last week 's comic strips, real time pictures of Dublin and Hawaii, and phone numbers across the whole USA or Australia. Of course let's hope there are no technical difficulties!The July 4th Cruise:
Charlotte and I drove (with no boat in tow) up to Cedar Mills Marina on Lake Texoma for the Valiant Yacht Factory tour. After meeting for lunch with the cruisers, I was amazed that they weren't melted by the heat, au contrairie, they were very lively and fresh. The food was great, than it was Tour Time. The tour covered each major factory area, the canvas and sail loft, the mold lay-up, the paint booth, the rig shop, the welding shop, and the final assembly area. There were about 6 boats in various stages of completion, ranging from 37 feet ($250K) to 50 feet ($450K). The tour only took about 45 minutes, but since it was literally over 100 degrees, it was about the right length. We inspected the exterior of a new boat down at the dock after the tour (we only drooled a litttle bit). It looked to be the sort of boat that you can depend on if you are in the mood for a little jaunt around the world.After the tour, there was a 3-way race to the Hardin's lake house. We raced Dick and Beth Hardin on the Phoenix and Steve and Linda Hanes with Woody and Patsy Mills on the Carpe Diem to the Hardin's home over near Tanglewood and Loe's for another tour (of their lake house). The Ram Charger won (remember, we didn't bring Sassy Lassy) even though the boats were making hull speed with reefed mains! This time the valiant sailors (I wonder where that adjective came from? I guess I could have used Venturiant, but MacGregoriant is definitely out) looked more like I would expect people who have been out in 100 degree weather to look like. However, some cold water and a little AC perked everyone up and we had a nice impromptu dinner -- thanks to Dick and Beth for the fine spread.
Charlotte and I
have been sneaking out for a night sail whenever we can get away, but this weekend it was still 100 degrees at 7:00 p.m. We did learn from the cruise; we got up early the following Sunday and enjoyed a short sail in the morning, getting back by noon in time for lunch and strawberry daiquiris, though not in that order!SISTER SAIL
Ladies! I just wanted to bring to your attention a sailing newsletter that is designed specifically for women sailors of all types.
The current issue features the first of a 4-part interview with Lin Pardey, who with her husband Larry, has voyaged more than 150,000 miles. There is an article by editor and publisher Susan Straubing, on her cruise to Cuba, a Sister Profile of a racer and sailor whose aspirations are to some day have her own sailing school. There is also humor provided in "The Pierhead Jump," an article by a lady whose husband was planning to take their brand new boat cruising, not with her, but with "the boys"! And lastly, a correspondent on a 37-foot trimaran writes of the realities of cruising with her family in, "Just Another Really Special Day in Margaritaville"!
Past issues have had interviews with racers Dawn Riley and Merritt Carey, a profile of a female ferry boat captain, and recipes from a woman who was mate on the tall ship "Wendermeen".
Should anyone like to subscribe to Sister Sail, a one-year subscription is $15.00. Contact is:
Sister Sail P.O. Box 613 Camden, ME 04843 (207) 236-9498 Fax: (207) 236-9691 e-mail: SStraubin@aol.com
For those of you with Internet access, check out the following:
The National Women's Sailing Association Mailing List is open to women with an interest in sailing. Send an email to: list@sailnet.com and put the phrase "join NWSA-Discuss" on the first line of the message. You will receive an email confirmation that your address has been added to the list. Using this list, you will be able to communicate with all types of women sailors.
Sister Sail's home page: http://www.boatnet.com/boatnet/
22 FLEET
Seems that the editors haven't received many articles this month, so they called me personally. Guess our fleet really rates.
The Night Race Series has begun, and if more other boats don't come out we will have to rename it to the "26 Night Series." This is unfortunate, because the evenings have been so great. YOU all should come out for a sail even if you do not want to race. Just raft up to the committee boat after the start of the race and enjoy some good company, swimming, and some fantastic sunsets; or raft up after the race, as many of the racers stay the night.
Speaking about missing things, where were you on the 4th of July Cruise? We actually made it to North Island where the weather was dry and warm. But a great breeze kept us cool until the afternoon sun began to melt the sand, at whlch time we used our "noodles" and bobbed in the water until the evening hunger set in.
Saturday gave us a great balloon race with many very creative balloon capturing devices, aerobatics bv the crews, and steadfast skippers (i.e. fast in steadfast does not have any relationship to speed). Also, a "Sail What You Brung" race that featured "Foster, the ParaSurfing Dog" compliments of the McKenzies (take those signs down). And Saturday evening Loe's put on an outstanding fireworks display. After the show, hundreds of boats heading home made us glad not to be on the water, LBJ, or Central Expressway. Also, can you believe that almost all of the boats missed that 8-foot tree sticking out of the sand bar in the center of the lake. I won't say that it was a power boat; B U T !
See you at the upcoming events. I would like to give a special thanks to Paul Lang for joining the club just in time to fill in for me at the May meeting to give the fleet report!
ASSOCIATE FLEET
CRUISING
Howdy! Well, if you didn't make the July 4th Cruise, you really missed a great one! We had a total of 20 boats attending this one, and we even were able to get the North Island beach that we wanted again. The weather was great, especially when you stayed in the water most of the time like most of us did. There was a campfire both Friday and Saturday nights, with sailing stories and marshmallows being toasted by the kids. On Saturday night, we were even able to see the fantastic fireworks show at Loes HighPort from the islands after we played a game and gave out prizes for the contests that were held during the day and the night before.
For the games and contests held, the winners are:
In the Balloon Blowing Contest - 1st Place Larry Featherston (5 points); 2nd Place Alison Robertson (4 points); 3rd Place Shirley Kmita (3 points); 4th Place Dave Taylor (2 points); 5th Place Don O'Grady (1 1/2 points).
In the Balloon Race (This contest did not count for points in the Board Sailboat Giveaway), the winners are: 1st Place Dave Taylor (with claws) and crew of Jennie Taylor, Mike Kmita, Don O'Grady, Erin O'Grady, Doug Cook, Chelsea Cook, and Megan Cook; 2nd Place Marshall McKenzie and crew of Carol McKenzie, Tracy Smith, and Rita Smith (and Foster); 3rd Place Larry Featherston and crew of Debbie Miller, Sheri Miller, and friend; and 4th Place Alison Robertson and crew of Brian Robertson, Rachael Robertson, Jessica Robertson, and friend.
In the Sail What You Brung Race, the winners are: 1st Place Megan Cook (5 points); 2nd Place Bobby Schmidt (4 points); 3rd Place Dave Taylor (3 points); 4th Place Chelsea Cook (2 points); 5th Place Erin O'Grady (1 1/2 points); and the Most Original Entry (even though DSQed for outside interference) - "Foster McKenzie, the Wonder Dachshund." YOU HAD TO BE THERE!
In the Team Balloon Swatting Contest, the winners are: 1st Place Margie and Jim Hutchison (5 points); 2nd Place Shirley and Mike Kmita (4 points); 3rd Place Martha and Don O'Grady (3 points); 4th Place Dave and Jennie Taylor (2 points); 5th Place Janelle and Bobby Schmidt 1 1/2 points. All other participants in each contest received 1 point.
The total points and standings going into our final round of the contest to win the board sailboat (which will be given away at the Labor Day Cruise on August 31 through September 2) are: Cooks 9 points; Taylors 9 points; Kmitas 8 points; Robertsons 7 points; O'Gradys 7 points; Grikas 7 points; Hanes 7 points; Featherstons 7 points; Schmidts 6 1/2 points; Hutchisons 6 1/2 points; Vaughans 4 points; McKenzies 4 points; Barbozas 3 points; Mills 2 points; Hardins 1 point; Shambrys 1 point; Youngs 1 point; Chilcote 1 point; Howards 1 point; Kramers 1 point; and Lindbloom 1 point.
REMEMBER:
Anybody can still win, since there are several contests to be conducted and joined in on at the next and last Big Cruise of the Year at Lake Texoma on Labor Day Weekend. More details in the upcoming August issue of Venturing. Donna and I really look forward to seeing as many of you as can make it to the next CRUISE. Make your plans now and mark your calendars for the GRAND FINALE CRUISE OF THE YEAR *** August 31 through September 8, 1996.RACING
The Summer Night Series is in full swing, and some of the racers appear to be match racing with another boat. Several are only one second apart. After the races, some are staying the night or just sailing around enjoying the cool of the evening. Come on out and join us for a great time. Mike Jones, for two races, has two first places, with Larry Featherston in 2nd, and Dave Taylor in 3rd.
Come on out and join us! (July 27, Aug. 10, and Aug.24)
PROGRAMS
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