September 1996 - Volume 26 Number 9
Last updated: September 22, 1996 @ 13:17 CDT
Lake Lavon, East Fork Park
Races 1 & 2
September 21, 9:30 a.m.
(See Racing Report for Details)
COMMODORE to the End of '96 - Larry Featherston
VICE COMMODORE'S REPORT - Steve Hanes
26 FLEET REPORT - Dave Taylor
TWENTY-FIVE TELLTALES - John Vaughan
23/24 FLEET - Ray Pryor
22 FLEET - Mike Kmita
RACING REPORT - Al Barboza
PROGRAMS - Jim Wallace
SOCIAL NEWS - Lora Featherston
FALL RACE SERIES - ANNOUNCEMENT - Al Barboza
PLEASE REMEMBER - Editor's Note
CONGRATULATIONS
1996 OFFICERS and BOARD OF DIRECTORS
1996 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
DOOR PRIZE!
THE SALE MAKER (Classified Ads)
COMMODORE COMMENTS
You just never know what's going to happen until it happens - and then it really happens. You lay down to take a nap and you wake up either in a different world or a different place. If you don't believe me, just ask Carol Costello. I mean sometime during the Labor Day weekend, something really unusual happened. I woke up from a well deserved nap from the night before and I was suddenly three feet deeper. When I went to bed that night I was in about ankle to knee deep water and woke up in waist deep. This was a real surprise, especially when your not expecting it. The sudden coolness that was around my belly button gave me a rather sudden awakening. First time in a while I took a bath before breakfast that wasn't planned ahead of time. I also noticed that the Jim Wallace campsite was partially under water as I cruised down the beach. Any deeper and Jim would have had to find a floating ice chest somewhere on the lake. However, it would have been easy to find - just look for the various assortment of cigars duct taped to each side for easy access. Duct tape has so many valuable assets. If you missed the Labor Day Cruise, you missed out on really fun stuff in spite of the weather. You've just got to quit listening to the weather man and just relax and have fun.
If you weren't there you missed out, and that's one you're behind and you ain't never going to catch up. The folks who lived under the Hwy 75 underpass in Downtown Dallas would of been proud, if you know what I mean. We left the beach in better shape than it was when we got there, 'cause we burned everything in sight that should have been burned, and maybe some things we should not have. Right, Dave? Incoming is a phrase that comes to mind, or was it, "It's cold, it won't blow." Bull.
We are quickly coming to the end of the year, and so far it's been a great ride. There is a committee in session, and don't be surprised if some of you receive a call from the fleet captains to perform next year. No Shirley, not that kind of performance. Mike, will you watch her? To be part of next year's board is what I am talking about. Without your support, it just won't be fun. Take the V/MYC Challenge and do what's right for the family. Keep it rolling, rolling, rolling along. Oops, sorry, wrong channel.
May the wind in face always be fresh and smell like the sea, instead of the Trinity.
VICE COMMODORE'S REPORT
August was another growth month for the Venture/MacGregor Yacht Club. That's right, we gained another two new members since this month! Chris and Mitra Alford sail a MacGregor 26 that they trailer from their home in Plano. They have two children, Kevin and Brian who will enjoy sailing with mom and dad. Our other new members are Doug and Linda Totten of Waco. They just bought a new M26X from The Rigg Shop and will be sailing mostly on Lake Waco. Please join me in welcoming our newest members at our September meeting. We now have 74 families in the V/MYC!
Speaking of new members, it was good to see Bobby and Sissy Allen come out to meet our many members who attended the Ice Cream Social this past month. Although the somewhat inclement weather kept many from using the swimming pool, everyone enjoyed the socializing, terrific dinner dishes, and the varieties of homemade ice cream! Bobby and Sissy were very grateful of Howard Thoele for taking them out for the first time on their new boat. Linda and I joined them for a cruise on Lake Lavon the day after the Ice Cream Social to help them further with their M26, and they crewed with us at the last race of the Summer Series. We look forward to seeing them out at many of our events along with all our other new members.
Linda and I
had to miss the Labor Day Cruise, but I did do some day sailing Sunday and Monday on Lavon with friends from work. The lake level continues to drop even with the heavy rains we had last week. It dropped another 6 inches in the week since our last Summer Night race. As many know, there were some problems retrieving our boats after the race due to trailers dropping off the end of the ramp at East Fork. Needless to say, I couldn't use the East Fork Marina ramp Labor Day weekend, but did find that the Corps has extended the ramps at Lavonia and East Fork campgrounds. These two ramps each have the center lane extended with interlocking blocks. I was able to launch and retrieve without incident although there are no docks around for easy boarding, and launching is a bit crowded with only a single lane open. It does look though that we should be alright for our upcoming sailing classes and the Fall Series races, as long as everyone is patient in waiting to use the available launching facilities.It's hard to believe just a year ago we had to find alternate launch facilities since East Fork, including the parking area, was under water. What a difference a year makes! (From 9 feet above normal, to 12 feet below normal!) Last year at the first summer night race, I was "cautioned" after leading everyone on a shortcut between the island and the mainland toward the power plant. This year the "island" is connected with a 6' tall land mass connecting it to the mainland. So much for shortcuts!
Until next month... Smooth Sailing!
26 FLEET
Just got back from the Labor Day Cruise. A big thanks to Sam and Donna Blake for putting on another great cruise. Kept the kids hopping with games and prizes, and straw hats for the more mature kids.
Okay, there was Saturday night under the tarps, with Sam's leftover charcoal for the campfire. The few of us that were there looked like a gathering under the I-35 bridge, but we told ourselves we needed the rain. Others, we understand, found they had decks of cards buried on their boats, or books. Anyway, it couldn't rain forever. The lake level rose a foot while we were there, and several of our group who had staked out a claim (you know, with coolers, tarps, tables, chairs, etc.) lost their beach front property.
Sunday, however, started out overcast but dry, and later got sunny. Let the games begin. We did some of the same things the blue-blazer yacht types do - we threw eggs at each other and spit (seeds). Then the men cooked, and the ladies judged the results. Kinda like the New York Philharmonic judging a grade school band contest. But we did manage to eat the evidence. At the Sunday night campfire, more prizes, we drank ice cream, blew bubbles, and tried to solve the big cigar market crisis. It was announced that McKenzies won the boat, so the rest of you can relax now.
The 26 fleet had 9 families there: Grikas, Hutchison, Howard, Jones, Kmita, Ribble, Smith, Young, and Taylors. If you are one of these, you already know you had a good time. If you could not make it, we missed seeing you, and you missed a good cruise.
We have enjoyed the Summer Cruises. Fall Series Races are coming up.
TWENTY-FIVE TELLTALES
Okay, the thing you've been dreading the most has finally happened. You knew it would... You even knew when, and maybe how, but now it's really here. Now you have to face it. What's more, not only do you have go come to grips with the sobering realization that summer's really over, but now you have to do something about it and answer the question,
What'reyagonnadonow?
Some folks say that most Ven/Mac fun and frolic ends after the Labor Day Cruise. Some people think that if the lakes aren't cluttered by power boats equal in number and voracity to the 6th fleet, it really isn't sailing season. Well, nothing could be farther from the truth.
We have fall sailing classes coming for ye of the sailing education set, and also of the well paid up insurance of the right type set. You know, this is your chance to finally tell all those Horatio Hornblower (substitute your name) sea stories to a captive audience for two whole days, while they sail you around and you sit and tell 'em what to do.. Pretty nifty, 'eh. Just when you thought everybody has heard all those old stories, here's a brand new market that's yours for a day.
Also, the fall race series is just around the corner. You folks remember the fall series. That's the 3rd of three annual race series. It's also one of the two series that has wind...HA.
This would be a good time to find out just how fast your boat really is, sharpen your sailing skills, and try out that new go-fast equipment you added over the summer. You can also use the fall series to practice various sailing situations such as room at the mark, windward/leeward, port/starboard, and many different types of panic alert drills warning of a boat or boats quickly and repetitively approaching you on random types of collision courses, if ya know what I mean. You know, sometimes, if you have to think or ask about it, well, you've waited too long.
We also have plenty of good meetings and programs left this year, a holiday party in the works, and no telling what else will pop up as the year winds down.
At any rate, now's not the time to pack up your sailing gear. There's a whole new sailing season this fall, and it's just now starting.
Parting notes:
Thanks to Sam and Donna for a super Labor Day Cruise and to all the 25 team who attended.
We're sorry to hear that Carol Costello broke her mast on the infamous Highport high wires. (not high enough) We talked to Carol, and she's already planning the mast replacement and other work she plans to do on her boat in the mean time. She says the boat can always be a party barge until the new mast comes in.
23/24 FLEET
No water, no wind. Where did all that rain go?
I got a little sailing in this month, all low water, low wind sailing. At least it wasn't all high temperature.
This month was full of repairs for me, some were expected, some were a surprise. The first surprise was my fairly new Harken camcleats. I found out that the Harken camcleats have 22 or 33 (depending on the model) 5/32" delrin plastic ball bearings. In my case they wore out in three or four years of light use. The failure mode is simple, the cleats won't hold. You can detect a failure before it happens. To check the camcleat, try to move the individual cleat arms up and down. If there is any movement at all, the bearings are worn. Harken has a five year warranty, but they want you to return the parts to them. Not wanting to wait for the shuffle, I bought spare bearings at five cents apiece and replaced them myself. A long term fix (maybe) is to keep the sunlight and dirt out of the cleats with some sort of cover. It was the partially exposed ball bearings in the top of the cleat that were in the worst shape (some had entirely crumbled away). Some of the bearings just needed cleaning. I used dish washing detergent, water, and scouring powder in a small glass and rubbed the ball bearing around the bottom and sides until they were white again. I recommend doing the assembly in a quiet, still location.
My second surprise was a stainless cable that was about to break. The cable is a two foot piece that is clamped to the back-stay and clips on to the boom to hold the boom up when the main sail is down. On a 24-year-old boat you could figure that wasn't all that big of a surprise. My boat normally sits in a slip and puts stress on the cable day in and day out and eventually it parted where it is clamped to the backstay. However this was the second time it has happened, and what's more the first time was only a couple of months ago! So I took a closer look at what was going on. Every time my boom moved, it was bending the cable, not a good thing, as most of us know you can break a wire coat hanger quickly just by bending it repeatedly. I also realized up until this year I had always had the boom pulled over to one side (out of the way of the hatch entrance) by using the traveler and main sheet. With the boom under tension, it wouldn't move as much, and wouldn't bend the cable as much. This year I added a quick release shackle so I could stick the main sheet and tackle up inside the sail cover for protection from the rain and sunlight. Without the mainsheet to hold it, the boom was constantly swinging back and forth. I can just imagine what it would do in a 30-knot wind. I decided to do two things differently. First, I terminated the short cable with metal eye through a swivel snap hook on both ends so that the cable does not bend. Secondly, I now secure the boom to one side under tension using a one of the winches and short piece of rope.
The third surprise were cracked plastic mounting blocks provided for mounting my masthead wind speed indicator after less than a year of use. I'm beginning to think that even expensive plastic is not good for outdoor use. This unit is from England, maybe they aren't used to the Texas temperature extremes.
Anyway, I'm ready to go sailing, not repairing.
22 FLEET
The Labor Day Cruise was, as usual, a great time. Good job, Donna and Sam Blake and all the participants in the many games and activities. As for myself, I enjoyed the beach sitting and watching the water level rise the most. It's difficult to do, with everyone trying to break your concentration by talking to you and you don't get any prizes for it. But, what the heck; someone has to do it, and it's some fun.
Unfortunately, I never figure how that "relaxing" thing goes until Sunday afternoon. Then I get depressed thinking about leaving; and then Monday morning comes along and I get tired watching everyone rush to pack and get to the ramp. Something doesn't seem right. But it sure is nice leaving the beach with no other boats to get tangled up with. Oh well, a 5-day weekend may just be the trick. Just imagine; empty beach, empty ramp, empty Central, no fun, right?
The 22 Fleet was represented at the Labor Day Cruise by (2) 22/26 owners. We could use a little more participation. Mike and Judy Jones came along with Judy's cousin's family. Judy made quite an impression on everyone by doing her "Queen of the Nile" thing. You should have been there.
The weather will be getting cool soon, and if we're lucky we will have some water left in the local lakes. I like this time of the year for sailing. The water is still warm and you don't get that cold spray you sometimes feel in the spring. The Fall Race Series will begin soon, and I hope to see many of you out as skippers or crew. Racing is as good a reason as any to use the boat, and it helps increase your sailing skills.
RACING REPORT
The Summer Night Series ended with a superb evening. The weather looked threatening for the first half hour after launching, but it finally passed over. We were concerned that there wasn't going to be any wind, but ole St. Elmo came through. Granted, not enough for some, at least a breeze for others.
There were several boats that stayed and sailed after the race. It was so pleasant and cool that before you knew it, the clock said midnight, which was just as well - by then the winds disappeared. I hope everyone enjoyed the Summer Series and picked up a few details on how to sail in light air and darkness.
The Fall Series begins September 21, and it remains to be seen where or how we will launch our boats. The East Fork ramp is VERY LOW. The trailers actually fall off the end. If you don't get more rain, we will need to find a new ramp to be able to launch our boats; or there possibly will be a need to discuss a new lake to do the Fall Series, except most everyone is having the same problem. Unless you keep your boat at a marina, I guess this will be an age-old problem.
The Committee Boat for the fall races will be done differently this year. See announcement below for details.
Now is the time to start thinking of who you would like to nominate for the new 1997 Board of Directors. There are a lot of good people out there, so even if you have never served, you are always welcome to volunteer your expertise. It's a learning experience.
THE FOLLOWING CHANGES ARE BEING MADE
FOR THE 1996 FALL RACES
Due to the decreasing number of active 22 Fleet racers,
there are no longer enough fleets to perform Committee Boat duties.
Therefore, it is necessary to make changes to the scheduling of responsibilities.
|
- |
September 21 - |
Race 1 - |
Barboza |
Race 2 - |
Featherston |
|
Peele |
Thoele |
||||
|
- |
October 5 - |
Race 3 - |
Jones |
Race 4 - |
Young |
|
Jordan |
Hutchison |
||||
|
- |
October 19 - |
Race 5 - |
Blake |
Race 6 - |
Hardin |
|
Tucker |
Taylor |
||||
|
- |
November 2 - |
Race 7 - |
Gabert |
Race 8 - |
Motsenbocker |
|
McKenzie |
Henry |
If you have any further questions regarding these changes, please contact
Race Chairman - Al Barboza - 270-1048
or Fleet Captains - 26 Fleet: Dave Taylor 317-6570
25 Fleet: John Vaughan 235-2934
24 Fleet: Ray Pryor 817-488-7937
22 Fleet: Mike Kmita 422-1105
PROGRAMS
Rick Curry
from Mariner Sailmakers, Inc. will speak to the club at the September 17 membership meeting. Rick will discuss the evolution of sail design and offer some suggestions on sail trim with the new materials.The October 15th program will be a Scuba presentation by Larry Ribble. Larry will be showing a tape on basic scuba diving and will discuss what it takes to get into scuba diving.
SOCIAL NEWS
Thanks to everyone who attended the Pot Luck Dinner / Ice Cream Social on August 17th. Even though the weather kept us out of the pool (except for the die hard children who didn't mind turning blue), we still had a great time with lots of good food and homemade ice cream.
Our next dinner will be on November 19th with a Pot Luck Dinner for Thanksgiving.
Banquet tickets will be available soon for the annual Christmas Banquet.
A Women's Cruise is in the works. The date has been changed - will be announced later.
Hope to see you at the September 17th membership meeting!
Editor's Note:
Please Remember
Al & Juanelle Barboza
in your prayers.
Al's mother is in
Baylor Medical Center
for surgery for colon
cancer.
Congratulations to
Daryl and Michelle Motsenbocker
who were married on
Friday, September 6th!
DOOR PRIZE!!!
$80.00
How would you like to have an extra
$10.00 or MORE???!!!
At each membership meeting,
all members' names will be placed in a hat,
and one will be selected to win the prize.
But, You must be present to win!!!
If the member drawn is not present, $10.00 will be added to
the pot and left to accumulate meeting after meeting
until we have a winner!!!
Alan Cook of Little Elm
was the lucky (?) name drawn at the August Ice Cream Social,
and was NOT present to collect his $70.00 prize!
Classified Ads are FREE to members. To place an ad, call the Venturing Editor. (972) 271-5073
FOR SALE:
MacGregor 25'FOR SALE:
1996 JohnsonFOR SALE:
1976 Venture 222FOR SALE:
1972 Venture 222
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