Well, we are officially in Spring. Sailing season is just around the corner.
I hope everyone is busy making plans to uncover their boats in mid-April. And speaking of mid-April, please make plans to come out on Saturday April 13 at 9:00 to help us open the club. We need lots of volunteers as we clean the place up for the 2019 sailing season. Email and Facebook announcements will be sent out in the next couple of weeks.
Here are updates on some on-going projects:
Club Maintenance Person
We have selected someone to be our club maintenance person for 2019. His name is Ron Anderson. He lives in Clermont and has experience in property management, building construction, building maintenance and small engine repair. We are excited to have him aboard for the year. His contract started on March 1st. He will start by helping us get our equipment ready for the season. He will report to the Grounds Committee, which will be responsible for setting Ron’s priorities.
Boat Ramp
The board gave approval to replace our aged and cracked boat ramp. We are in the process of getting competitive bids on the project. As you can imagine, they vary widely.
Summer Sail Camp
Our summer sailing camp always fills up quickly. Registration is open. Please go to the web site to sign up.
Racing Season Starts
Racing season starts on April 24 with our first Wednesday night series event, followed quickly by a Laser Regatta and the start of our Sunday afternoon series. See the Racing - Bob Hickok report for more information.
Dry-dock Storage
Dennis and Ki are working hard to get assigned dry-dock parking spaces implemented. They will send out notices as they work through the details.
Adult Sailing Lessons
We have received several inquiries from non-members about adult sailing lessons. If you would like to teach others how to sail using your own boat, please contact Regan Lessick. Note you can provide lessons for free or charge a “nominal fee.”
Ladies Sailing
Nan Schulze is organizing some Ladies Sail events this year. She had a planning meeting in late February, which generated lots of ideas. More on that from Nan later.
Flower Bed Maintenance
Our Grounds Committee is going to set up flower beds around the club. We are looking for club members to volunteer to maintain them. You will get volunteer credits for your work. Contact Nan for more information.
Club Shelters
Don’t forget we now have gas grills in all shelters for club member use. Shelters can be used by members for family gatherings and cookouts. If you need to use the entire shelter, contact Vickie Greenough to reserve.
Stay warm and start getting ready for spring!
Geoff Endris
Commodore
Spring is here and I’m seeing more people at the club working on their boats every day. Kai and I have been busy working on the new Gin pole and boat parking.
Boat slip assignments are complete and they will be posted the on the race shed board by 3/28/19. Boats in the parking lot that are double parked please remember that the person behind you may want to get out before you.
Please have your boats clear of the car park areas by 4/28. The work lot next to the harbormaster shed also needs to be cleared by 4/28. if you are currently working on your boat in the work lot and need it there longer, please contact me. If you do not remove your boat by this date it will be moved for you and you may not like where I put it.
There are several boats on the beach by the junior shed. These boats need to be moved by 4/24 for junior regatta. If they are not moved by that date, I will have to move your boat you may not like where I put it.
Water is on at the power sprayer as of 3/28. When launching and retrieving your boat please keep safety first and work with the buddy system. This will make for a safer boating season.
If you would like to earn some work credits please contact me. I have plenty of projects (large and small) that need to be done.
Dennis Robertson
Harbormaster
It’s finally here…what we have been waiting for all winter: SPRING and SAILING! The Spring Racing Series gets underway THIS MONTH!!
NORTH U RECAP
Special Thanks to Instructor Andrew Kerr of North Sails, North U for conducting a first-class Sailing Trim seminar on March 23rd, 2019. Many ECSC club members and also sailors from Chicago and Cincinnati were in attendance. Thanks to Marcus Rogers for getting Andrew Kerr scheduled here in Indianapolis. Also, thanks to Commodore Geoff Endris for securing the meeting room on behalf of ECSC. Next year we hope to have him instruct again, perhaps the Tactics course.
NEW THIS YEAR
New and experienced racers, we are introducing the Sunday Honor Series! Consisting of a spring and summer series of racing which will occur at 3PM every Sunday, beginning April 28th to October 6th, 12 Sunday races per series (24 total just like the Wednesday series). Racing starts at 3:00 pm and is the same course every Sunday (the wind will likely change). Check the Sailing Instructions on the racing webpage for a map of the Sunday course. For those with smart phones, download the RaceQs app and record your race. Then after racing we’ll watch the 3D replay and discuss results at the race shack while we nosh. See RaceQ below.
LASER REGATTA
Wayne Myers is the Chairperson. Check the racing website and racing bulletin board for details. This will be your chance to be a part of the Laser excitement!
WORK CREDITS
Racers and non-racers alike are encouraged to volunteer for the many projects on this year’s agenda. Work credits are extended for regatta officers and assistants. The racing/club spring work party is Saturday, April 13th, 9:00-3:00pm. We will be setting up the RC boats and gear, RIB Shore Station and marker buoys. Contact John George or me if you have questions about work credits.
MAYOR’S CUP REGATTA
May 18-19!!
This will be a first-class weekend full of food, fun, and RACING!! We are expecting a contingent of one design and PHRF boats from lakes near and far, as well as the usual suspects from Eagle Creek. This event is open to racers of all skill levels. All club members and their guests are invited! Volunteers needed!
DATES TO REMEMBER
The GPS tracks and boat handling data are recorded by a cellphone running the free RaceQs app during a race and uploaded to your free raceQs sailing social network account. The app records data about your boat's GPS location, speed, course, heel, pitch, and yaw to generate the animation.
Christy will conduct a NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION session on Saturday, June 1st, 11:00 am in the upper shelter. This is open to all new members and any prospective members.
Some boats are going in the water. YEAH!!! First WORK DAY to clean up the grounds will be Sat. April 13th 9:00 am. Plan to be there to meet your fellow members and to earn some work credits that can be applied to your dues for next year.
Jane Schmidt Christy Merriman