March 2006 Foghorn, part 1

The Foghorn

February/March, 2006

Notes from the Commodore

Winter Regatta Results

Land Ho! for Your Mom

Science of the Spreader

Landlubber’s Lies & Sailor’s Yarns

For Sail and Sale

Adams Cup Championship for Women

Rio Grande Sailing Club Schedule 2006

Feb. 18–19 Chute-Out Regatta

March Womens’ Sailing Practice, before & after regattas

11–12 Spring Series 1 (St. Patrick’s Regatta)
Member/board meetings & dinner

25–26 Spring Series 2

April 8–9 Spring Series 3

15 Pickle Race for Youth

22–23 Adams Cup Quarterfinals Championship for Women

29–30 Club Championships

May 13 Joshua Slocum – Single Handled Race

14 Jack and Jill – Couples Race (Women at the Helm)

20 Anniversary Cup – Distance Race
Member/board meetings and dinner

Summer Raft-ups, beer-can races,

June Summer Sailstice

July 15-23 San Diego Got Water? III cruise

Sept. 8–10 Sunrise Regatta (fall events are subject to change)

23–24 Desert Classic Regatta/Fall Series 1, Club Meeting

Oct. 14–15 Governor’s Cup/Fall Series 2

28–29 Fall Harvest/Fall Series 3

Nov. 18 Commodore’s Cup/
Fall Series 4,
Board & Club Meetings

Dec. 2 Match Racing

2 Kris Kringle Party

3 Fun Race

Got a fleet meeting or activity?
Let the Foghorn know.

*Skippers’ meetings are at 10 am, race Saturdays at the Inn at the Butte or Damsite; details will be in each race announcement. Raft-up info will be available from Buzz Biernacki about a week before each raftup. Races & schedules may be adjusted depending upon conditions. Check for updates.

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Commodore’s Notes, February-March 2006

Ahoy… the Club is off and running this year. It might be described as a downwind start. Last year was very successful, in that we had about 120 members in the Rio Grande Sailing Club, which was about a 30% increase from the previous year. So far this year we have several new members.

Last year events included 2 Sunrise Regattas, some fun races and our usual series and cup races. In addition, there were several raft-ups, and plenty of beer drinking and socializing. Last year’s board members were very effective making these things happen, as well as, creating new projects for 2006. Thanks you, to those board members, officers, and volunteers who helped make last year a lot of fun and exciting. Welcome and congratulations to the new members; I am looking forward to working with you in the future.

Please check the list of new Officers and Board Members. One note, Jim Moore chose not to continue as Treasurer, and Braxton Merritt is taking up the slack, handling the duties of Treasurer on a temporary basis. Know anyone who would be willing to take over? Let me know.

Our first, board meeting was on Sunday after the Frost Bite. It was lengthy, but I think we got a lot accomplished. There are 2 new projects this year:
the Mast-up Storage concession and hosting the Adam’s Cup Regatta.

As of February 1, 2006, the Club took over and is running the Mast-up Storage Concession. If you are interested in leasing a space please contact me or Rich Strasia (Rich is chairman of the Mast-up Concession committee). Rich was also point man in getting the RGSC selected as host for the Adams Cup Women’s Championship Regatta, on April 22–23, 2006. Both projects take a considerable amount of planning, soooo….feel free join us. If you are interested in helping, please contact me or any board member.

There is a lot of excitement in the Club about the various events. Plans are being made for Raft-ups, a trip to San Diego, the Sunrise Regatta, the Pickle race, series Races, special cup races, fun races, as well as, numerous parties. The race committee will have a separate fleet for beginning racers this year. For those of you who want to learn but were a little unsure how to get started, this is your chance. These races will be on the same day as those for more experienced sailors, but will have a separate start and a separate course. If you want a seasoned captain to give some helpful hints, we can provide the help. Join us as much as you can, the more the merrier. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please let a Board member know. If you can’t make the race or don’t want to race, come join us for dinner afterwards.

The Adam’s Cup Regatta is a nationally recognized competition sanctioned by USSailing, which began in 1926. The Regatta is team racing, for ladies only, using J-24s this year. Teams will be coming from all over our region, which includes Wyoming, Colorado, western Nebraska, and New Mexico. Winners from here will compete in the Area F competition held in Austin on May 6–7. Rich Strasia has been able to get 3 boats with teams from our club to try out. They have been out practicing, with coaches, and all are doing great and very excited. Carol Ann Byrnes, Jo Ann Underwood, and Sue Strasia will be the helmswomen who will be competing. Larry Jessee has devised a selection system. Good luck to all, we support you al

The Frost Bite was well attended, with 9 boats and 40 plus dinners/partiers, Saturday night at the Elephant Butte Inn. Larry Jessee with Braxton Merritt won on the Etchells, followed by Carol Anne Byrnes, and Barbara Hawn was 3^rd. It was cold in the morning but warmed up nicely. It was reported that several of the winners were beaming all over, more than any place else.

By the time you read this, I hope to be in the Caribbean, aboard a 45 ft ketch, named Serenity. We’ll be leaving from St Croix, USVI, sailing to the Grenadines and then making our way back with several stops among the Windward Islands. It should be a great trip.

See ya at the lake, Richard Dittmar

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Around the Buoys – Chute-Out Regatta, February 17–18

Strong breezes were forecast for the Chute-Out and that’s what we got, and then some. On each day, the fleet completed a distance race south to lake buoy no. 7, north to 25A, and back to the start. Attendance continued to be good for a winter regatta, with three of the big boats and five boats in the fleet for distance racing. Strong winds and equipment problems were challenging some sailors, with a crew overboard on Saturday and two crew who went to the emergency room on Sunday; additional safety measures are being taken to minimize future accidents. Winds at the committee boat were about 18 mph gusting to 27 Saturday and slightly stronger on Sunday, but gusts of 38 mph were recorded elsewhere and freakish winds blasted boats near Horse Island. The big boats and other boats were scored separately but sailed the same course.

Big Boats

Place

1 Hawn, C&C 30 “Luna C”

Fleet

Place

1. S. Strasia, J24 Kachina

2. Pillars, J22 Scirocco’s Song

3. Ellsworth, J24 Coyote

4. Underwood, J24 Cranky Wench

5. Manges, J24 Goat Rodeo

      Around the Buoys, cont.

Frostbite Regatta, January 28, 2006, Wind BN 0-1

January’s Frostbite regatta challenged sailors with erratic, shifty bits of breeze. Some sailors did better than others in figuring out these conditions but all enjoyed a great, well-attended dinner at the E.B. Inn following the race.

1. Larry Jessee, Etchells 22 “Constellation”

2, Carol Anne Byrnes, J24 “Kachina”

3. Barbara Hawn, C&C 30 “Luna C”

4. Russ Jellison, S2-34 “Cultural Infidel”

5. Rich Strasia, Ranger 32 “Shonto”

6. Rick Keffer, Etchells 22 “Intrepid”

7. Stan Hafenfeld, Newport 30

8. Jo Ann Underwood, J24 “Cranky Winch”

Marty Stevenson, Hunter 34 “Windependent”

Arizona Yacht Club 46th Birthday Regatta

Also of note: Many New Mexico boats competed in the AYC Birthday Regatta, held to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma charity. More than 80 boats participated, making for a spectacular start line.

Class: J/24. One design (Finish position) 01/15/06 (7 boats)

Place

1. Susan Strasia, J24 “Kachina”

4. Bob Perry (NMSC), J24 “Wild Thing”

6. Bob Ellsworth, J24 “Coyote)

Class: PHRF Spin High. PHRF (Time on time) 01/15/06 (9 boats)

1. John Savickas, J22 “Imafirst”

5. Jake McGuire (NMSC), Fun 23 “Flybuoy”

Class: PHRF Non Spin. PHRF (Time on time) 01/15/06 (11 boats)

7. Robin McGill, MacGregor 26 “Spirit Song”

Around the Buoys, cont.

Kris Kringle Regatta Results, December 3-4, 2005

Saturday was supposed to be a day for match racing, but a couple of boats didn’t show up. A water-ballast skipper decided prudently not to launch with strong winds forecast, but some of our bigger boats decided the strong winds were just the ticket, so the Ranger 32 Shonto and Hunter 34 Windependent went out. Later, the crew of the S2-34 Cultural Infidel arrived. Our Mac 26 was tapped to be substitute committee boat, but conditions are the lake turned out to be too rough for us to anchor. With Syzygy’s motor popping in and out of the water and the boat bouncing around, we pulled up to Larry and Marty on Windependent where the decision was made not to have a race, but to let the big boats play in the waves.

Later we learned that winds had been steady at 32 mph, at one point and gusting to 47. So, we were happy enough to go ashore and soak in the mineral bath at our motel and spa in Truth or Consequences, then go to the race dinner at the Elephant Butte Inn.

Sunday, though a bit chilly, had beautiful steady winds in the 8 - 12 knot range with gusts limited to about 15 knots or less. Unusually for our lake, the winds were also quite steady in direction, staying within a 30°arc the whole time. Four boats went out for some fine racing.

Race 1

Finish place (uncorrected)

1. Larry Jessee, Etchells 22 “Constellation”

2. Russ Jellison, S2-34 “Cultural Infidel”

3. Sue Strasia, J24 “Kachina”

4. Rich Strasia

Race 2

Finish place (uncorrected)

1. Larry Jessee, Etchells 22 “Constellation”

2. Russ Jellison, S2-34 “Cultural Infidel”

3. Sue Strasia, J24 “Kachina”

4. Rich Strasia

Race 3

Finish place (uncorrected)

1. Larry Jessee, Etchells 22 “Constellation”

2. Russ Jellison, S2-34 “Cultural Infidel”

3. Sue Strasia, J24 “Kachina”

4. Rich Strasia

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Come One...Come All

The Rio Grande Sailing Club February Social at

HOT TAMALES RESTAURANT

1520 Rio Rancho Blvd. (NM 528) Rio Rancho, NM

6:30 pm Thursday, Feb. 23, 2006

Get updates as to what's happening! Races!
Wild women on the water!
This summer's San Diego adventure!

Raft-ups! Cruisers! Mast Up Facilities!

March in San Carlos, Mexico, and Much, Much More!!

Don't miss out and do bring your mates!

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For Sale and Sail:

For Sale:

MacGregor 26X 2001, 50hp, VHF, GPS, Paul & Anita Gerlach, 505 757-6021, 670-1192 cell, agerlach@cybermesa.com.

MacGregor 26 classic swing centerboard, 1994, 9.9 hp motor, trailer, spinnaker, genoa, and main, VHF, well equipped, Pat Byrnes,
505 265-6741, rgsc@zianetl.com

J-24, Jenny Bird 1980, J-24 trailer, Nissan o/b, sails incl. spinnaker, $8,000 negotiable, Roger Silverstein, rgrstein@aol.com

J-24 Alter Ego, long a successful J. Rich Strasia, 505 867-0026, j24kachina@msn.com.

Catalina 22, Jim Rolph, 505 589-4659 jimrolph@yahoo.com

Catalina 22 in Phoenix, Karen Duane, sierraproducts@prodigy.net

Islander 32 Whisper, $34,900; call Marty S. c/o
Patrick Petracca, 505 323-1518, ppetracca@aol.com

Don’t forget to try out our website: http://www.rgsc.org and send your comments to our webmistress, Jo Ann Underwood.

Also, all members of the Rio Grande Sailing Club are automatically qualified for membership in the New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union.

Boat US:

Mention that you’re a member of the Rio Grande Sailing Club, Cooperating group GA83639S, and save 50% off Boat US dues à 800 395-2628 " www.boatus.com

Foghorn Ad Rates

$ 50.00 Full page 35.00 Half Page

20.00 Business Card Plus 10.00 Display classified

5.00 in-line classified (2 line ad) (Free to RGSC members)

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Landlubber’s Lies vs. Sailor’s Yarns

Sailors have been known to tell a tale or two, and racers are notorious for bluffing competitors on the race course and bragging about their accomplishments, but at least they don’t carry on like landlubbers. To help you tell the difference, here are landlubber’s frequent lies, followed by some “sailorly stretches”.

The check is in the mail.

I'll respect you in the morning.

I'm from the government, and I’m here to help you.

Trust me, I'll take care of everything.

Drinking? Why, no, Officer.

I never watch television except for PBS.

...but we can still be good friends.

Don't worry, he's never bitten anyone.

I've never done anything like this before.

...then take a left. You can't miss it.

Naughty-cal versions:

This boat was never raced except on Sundays by a little old lady from Pasadena.

The diesel had a complete, professional overhaul.

Sure these fish are under the limit.

Our varnish will keep your toerails and handrails looking great for six years!

We always washed, dried, and folded the sails.

The trailer’s never been in salt water.

This boat’s a creampuff; of course you don’t need to bother with a survey.

Rebuilding the head is actually much more pleasant than you'd expect.

Our team has never fouled another boat.

All the electronics check out fine.

This boat has a large, palatial head that's just like the bathroom at home.

This trailer will never give you trouble on the road.

This manufacturer’s hulls never have blister problems.

You don't need to waste money on a pre-filter for diesel fuel.

Sure, you can strip the old paint, re-fair and prep the hull, and slap the new paint on in three to six hours, tops.

Don’t worry, this weekend’s winds are forecast to be perfect, moderate breezes.

We’re the crew who are always reliable and on time.

My crew have never had reason to complain.

These foulies keep 100% of the water out under all conditions.

Really, the boom is perfectly safe and not to be worried about.

I would never barge in on the start line or try to bluff a competitor.

The A fleet boats are never over the line early.

We always sail our proper course.

Don’t worry, the grounding system in this marina is perfectly safe.

I never shout at my crew.

Nope, I’ve never run into a dock. (But the pier is another matter.)

Sure, I’ll remember to get some good beer. Is Lite okay?

It’ll only take you a few hours to fix everything.

We can get your boat part by noon tomorrow.

I know every shallow in this bay; of course I’ve never run aground.
(It was the boat that did it)