Distance Race, Saturday, August 23
Skipper's meeting at 12 noon.
Flying Scot Glow Regatta, September 26-28
Flying Scot Fleet 135 will host the 2008 Glow regatta on the weekend of September 26-28. For registration forms and more details, follow this link: Glow Regatta.
CLSA members interested in buying the GLOW 2008 T-shirt can send in a registration form marked "T-shirts only". We need to receive T-shirt orders by September 15. Here's a larger image of the T-shirt design: T-shirt design and regatta registration form.
Chris Wojnar's Race Report, August 16 & 17
This past weekend saw the best racing of the year! Saturday was the first annual "beer can" laser regatta committeed by Larry Bethard and Tom Galyen in very light and shifting air. Laser sailors like to "get up and go" and Saturday's air was slow and difficult to read. It really tried the racers patience. Gerry Christman was the overall winner for this inaugarul event.
Sunday saw Hugh Robinson returning from his summer hiatus of traveling between Urbana, the outer banks, and his home in South Africato, to oversee FIVE windward/leeward races. There were Flying Scots, Thistles, MC Scows, and even a cabin boat and C-scow thrown in to make quite a mix at the starting line in a 5 to 10 mph shifting breeze. The neatest thing was how much the CLSA sailors have improved on their respective starting techniques. All the boats had their noses on the starting line heading each other up and falling off as the starting horn sounded. On some of the starts people were actually called "over" and had to return and restart, and that IS a good sign of sailors eager to get clear air! The Scots and Thistles had the best showing with spinnakers flying downwind. Gerry Christman put on a demonstration of why he is a top sailor at our club as he improved on each race, figuring out the right strategy to windward with his game crewman Josh Sigmond trimming sails and holding the boat down. In the Scots, kudos go to Larry Payonk as he single-handed his way to a first place overall in the last race, getting an incredible ride in a lifting puff of air on his last leg to the finish line, and nosing out his competitors.
This Wednesday will be the next to last weekly practice for CLSA and I will be there from 5 to 8 o'clock as the days are beginning to shorten and its getting dark earlier. This next weekend there will be a distance race saturday for all you game competitors with skippers meeting at noon.
Reaction of CLSA visitor Matt Starks to Triangle Races
Chris and Rick Wojnar had a CLSA visitor join them on their Flying Scot for the triangle races of August 3. Below is the thank you that Matt sent to Chris and Rick. Chris felt that the CLSA membership might enjoy reading Matt's comments, and got Matt's permission to post them here.
FROM MATT STARKS:
It was fantastic, I enjoyed it thoroughly. Tell Rick I said thanks too. I am still absorbing the whole experience.
But now, at least, I can really imagine what it must be like to "run a tight ship" - the wordless communication that passes between a crew, and the loss of self that must occur when everyone just perceives the whole of what must be done, with each person to snapping to their part of responding to their vessel.
Then also, I begin to understand what it the old school mariners must have individually felt, standing in relative complete control over their boats, which in itself, was a technical triumph of the society from which they came. In attempting to be able to reliably go up against the awesome power of nature, they subconsciously entered into the role of the hero - braving the unknown for the betterment of their selves and their people.
As their reward, each voyage granted them the feeling of mastery over the nearly the whole of creation, at least temporarily. By properly tapping the wells of their culture's knowledge, their own preparations, and their insight into how to stay in the moment, respecting the beast upon which they rode and depended, they must have arrived at the end of their journey with at least a some sort of Jung-ian cultural gestalt of the sense of accomplishment that can only come from having completed what had once seemed impossible, mastery of both wind and sea through the applied use of human ingenuity, skill, and luck.
Ah, that's the stuff.
Thanks again,
Matt
Chris Wojnar's race report for the Sadie Hawkins Regatta, July 19, and the triangle races, July 20.
Deb AND Ben ruled the waves both Saturday and Sunday. The inaugarual "Sadie Hawkins" day was a fantastic success as eight boats turned out in perfect winds. Deb Williams took three bullets on the day in her Flying Scot with husband Ben trimming and following orders to the T!
But, the real star of the Sadie Hawkins sailing "dance" was little 7 yr. old Susanna Evans from Longview. Holding firm to the tiller of CLSA's Lido 14 in strong winds Saturday afternoon (see photo to the right) sailing several members of her family (father, Rich and brother, Will) to a first place in the first race [open division]!
Later the potluck brought out the best in CLSA cooking and "gamming" [that's sailor slang for good conversation], and a sunset cruise topped things off in light winds in the evening.
The following day [Sunday] winds brought out new competitors and a brisk wind as Jim Westervelt set his usual very challenging and interesting course for competition. Jim set set a triangle course using both sides of Clinton Lake [east and west]. Three cabin boats made it to the starting line and three Scots battled the shifty but thankfully fairly steady breeze on a very hot and humid day. Ben W. stood out as he with "Sadie" winner and now crew Deb outraced the Wojnar pair of Rick and dad Chris who pressured them all day with Don Johnson taking third. Gerry Christman [Synergy] was out front of Bill Vokac [San Juan 21] and Larry and Barb Bethard [Capri 22]. The best part of the day for many was on the sail back to harbor as crew and skippers took turns leaping overboard into the "cool" waters of Clinton Lake and getting pulled behind their boats trying not to lose their swimsuits as the brisk winds gave a great ride from the stern lines [no motors needed thank you]!
Note from the webmaster: please check back here in the next few days for more photos of the Sadie Hawkins regatta.
Saturday "the race that was" -- Chris Wojnar's report on the Distance Race, Sat. July 12
Despite predictions of foul weather, the distance race on July 12 was held under perfect conditions. To read all about it, click the link just below.
CLSA Classified Ads Now on Web Site
CLSA members who own boats and other sailing related equipment that they would like to sell can contact the webmaster (bdwillms@life.uiuc.edu) to have their ads posted. You can find the link to the "Classified Ads" page by clicking on the "Club Activities" heading just above. The link appears near the bottom of the page.
Junior Sailing is under way!
The Junior Sailing Program has a new format this year. For story and photos, click the link below.
Junior Sailing (June 21, 2008)
CLSA Commodore’s Reception: photos and story
Commodore Frank Scotello hosted this annual event on Saturday, June 21. For story and photos, click the link below.
Commodore's Reception (June 21, 2008)
CLSA Flying Scot Sailors travel to the Midwestern District Championship held May 31 - June 1, 2008
CLSA sailors Ben Williams and Don Johnson sailed Ben's boat Suzie Q at Carlyle Sailing Association, where the combined Midwest District Championship/Egyptian Cup were held this year. For Ben's report and photos by Doug Williams, click the link below.
Flying Scot Midwest Districts, story by Ben Williams, photos by Doug Williams (June 2, 2008)
Flying Scots: informal Wednesday evening races have started!
The Flying Scot fleet was eager to get in racing practice, so they initiated informal racing on Wedneday evenings. The first races were held May 28, with clear skies and winds of 5 - 10 mph. For a story and photos, click the link below.
Flying Scot Wednesday Evening Races (May 28, 2008)
Captain Morgan Distance Regatta was fun for all!
The regatta was May 24 & 25 and featured many different wind conditions. Gerry Christman in "Synergy" won the event. For a full report by Chris Wojnar and photographs by Betty Toland & Bill Vokac click the link below.
Captain Morgan, story by Cris Wojnar, photos by Betty Toland & Bill Vokac (May 26, 2008)
CLSA Youth Sailing Program
Are you looking for new and fun activities for your children this summer? Join Clinton Lake Sailing Association and they can learn to sail! This summer we are hosting a sailing class for six Saturdays beginning June 7th. For details, click the link below for the Youth Sailing Program Flyer.
Youth Sailing Program Flyer (May 21, 2008)
CLSA Sailor Gerry Christman appears in "Speed & Smarts" Newsletter
The famous professional sailor David Dellenbaugh publishes a newsletter called "Speed & Smarts" that gives great tips on sailboat racing. The latest issue includes an
article about sail trim. To illustrate this article, David Dellengaugh chose a photo of CLSA member (and Race Chair) Gerry Christman sailing his Thistle with crew Craig Rost and Dan Arendell
in the 2007 Thistle Midwinter Championships in St. Petersberg, Florida. Click the link below to see the photo!
"Speed & Smarts" featuring Gerry's Thistle 3624 (May 21, 2008)
Cruising on Clinton Lake!
Clinton Lake is a great place to keep a larger sailboat for cruising. CLSA member Joe Thompson has gathered together some photos just to illustrate this point. Click the link below for
Joe's photos and captions.
Cruising on Clinton Lake - contributed by Joe Thompson (May 9, 2008)
CLSA Boat Show/Open House was fun for all!
The CLSA open house/boat show took place on Saturday, May 17, 10 am - 3 pm., and was a great success.
The weather was beautiful. The sky was sunny, and there were 10 - 15 mph breezes. There were lots of visitors. They not only saw the many boats that were on display, most of them also went for a sail with one of
several different CLSA members who were giving rides on their boats.
Open House & Boat Show Pictures - contributed by Frank Scotello and Debby Aronson (May 20, 2008)
First Triangle Race on 5/18 was blown out
The wind was a bit too "willing" for the first triange race of the season. Facing a steady 20 knot wind with gusts to 25, the RC opted to abandon the races.
I guess this proves the point that there
can sometimes be too much of a good thing.
Several CLSA members opted to day sail once the races were canceled.
Reminder for CLSA Members
If you are the last to leave the CLSA grounds, please check to be sure that both the pavillion and storage shed locks are closed and the combinations are scrambled.
CRUISING REPORT: The 2008 "Island Princess" Cruise
CLSA member Mike Trautman files a report on the Florida cruise he just took with CLSA members Larry Mohr and Joe Thompson's aboard Mike's "Island Princess". Click the link below for Mike's report and photos.
"Island Princess" Cruise - contributed by Mike Trautman (May 6, 2008)
ADDITIONAL SPRING WORKDAY PHOTOS AND REPORT
CLSA member Betty Toland shares pictures from the recent spring work day and gives a first hand account of some of the jobs that were taken on. Click the link below for her story and picures.
CLSA WINDSURF REGATTA A BLAST!!
CLSA kicked off its racing season with the CLSA Windsurf regatta on Saturday, May 3. There was lots of wind for the fleet of intrepid souls who skimmed across the waves. Click the link below for an initial regatta report with photos.
Windsurf Regatta - contributed by Ben Williams (May 3, 2008)
CLSA SPRING WORKDAY/STONE SOUP -- Article and pictures by Betty Toland
CLSA member Betty Toland gives the story behind the CLSA "Stone Soup" tradition. Click the link below for her article and picures of the spring work day
held on Saturday April 26, 2008.
CLSA Stone Soup - contributed by Betty Toland (April 28, 2008)
CLSA Flying Scot Sailors travel to Midwinter Championships
CLSA members Don Johnson and Ben Williams took their boats to the Flying Scot Midwinter Championships held during the last week of March. Click the link below for pictures and an article.
CLSA Flying Scot Sailors Compete in "Choo Choo" Regatta
CLSA members Ben Williams and Debby Aronson took their Flying Scot "Suzie Q" to the "Choo Choo" regatta at the Privateer Yacht Club in Chattanooga, Tennessee, April 26 & 27. Click the link below for pictures and an article.
CLSA is a family organization governed by a set of bylaws which elects officers annually, prepares a budget, and collects dues. We are affiliated with US Sailing, the governing body for the sport of sailing in the United States. We generally have about 100 members and offer a full season of club racing, day sailing, social events, and community activities. Our members race a collection of boats most of which are in the 19 to 21 foot range.