{{Wednesday Night racing on Friday night.}} It looks like we will have wind for Friday night. It is going to be out of the west at 13 mph, so we can have a race up Island Creek. It will be a staggered start. A reach up and a reach back, should be a fast race. Let’s see, we will have wind, water, boats, all that is missing is racers. If you plan on racing please let me know and I will give your starting time. {{Remember The Dixie Cup race will be on Saturday after the workday.}} It will be a staggered start, just like the Mug Race. It will probably have a few less boats racing, than the Mug Race. Unlike the Mug Race, you will be on your own, for supper after the race. Unlike the Mug Race, you will not have to take your boat out of the water for the return trip home on Saturday or Sunday. After the race you will have a shorter ride home, than you did for the Mug Race. I heard that some got caught in a no wind area at the Mug Race, it may or may not happen at the Dixie Cup. Hope to see you on the lake racing this weekend. Greg

{{April 25 2008, Greg}} Just got off the phone with Jimmy and Jack. They started the first leg of the Bahamas trip this morning. They are about out of the channel at St. Simons and almost ready to hang a right for Fla. They hope to be in Fernandina today at about 5 PM. The trip down to Fort Worth, Fl will take 3-5 days depending on the weather and if they sail at night. The weather is great, with east winds 10-15 mph. They are well stocked with 3 cases of beer, four bottles of wine and a bottle of Baileys, and oh yes they have food. One problem, after they left the dock this morning, they realized they left bananas and tomatoes in Jimmy’s truck. They decided the best course of action would be to return to get the food. This detour cost them about an hour, but was well worth the extra time, as Jimmy did not want to drive home next a week in his truck with some well cured produce. George Thorpe will be meeting them in Fort Worth and sailing over in Jerry Hardin’s 22 Sun Coast and another boat which is a C25. All three boats will be sailing over together and sailing the Bahamas together. George Bloodworth is suppose to meet them in Fla next week. Jimmy is going to drive George’s truck back to Brunswick. George will make the trip over to the Bahamas and stay for about three weeks with Jack. I will fly over to Freeport on May 24th. I will meet George in the Freeport Airport, as he is flying home for the birth of their first grandchild. I will give him the keys to my car, which will be in the Jacksonville Airport. He will drive my car back to Brunswick, assuming he can find it in the airport, to get his truck that Jimmy drove from Fla. back to Brunswick. He will leave my car in the marina, so it will be waiting for me when I return. This all sounds good on paper, it will be interesting to see how it unfolds. Jack and I will stay a couple of days in the Bahamas then sail directly back to Brunswick. ———————————- {{May 1 2008, Greg}} South Bound and Down; I have been in contact with Jimmy and Jack as they continue down the coast of Fla. On Saturday April 26th they were sailing outside heading for Fernandina. Jack was telling me that Jimmy lost his hat overboard, so they did a 180 with Jimmy pointing at a white object. Jack noticed something hanging on Jimmy’s neck and asked him if that wasn’t his hat they were looking for? It was, the hat blew off but was attached. The real irony in this, while I was talking with Jack about Jimmy’s hat, this was during our race; I was hunting for my hat. I thought my hat had fallen overboard, but I found it in the cabin. So far they have been sailing and motoring in the ICW. Apparently they have bumped the bottom once or twice and they have lost one bumper. Their second day out they made it to St. Augustine and stayed an extra day to check out the town. They were able to borrow a car from the Marina. When they left St Augustine, the wind was still on the nose so they stayed in the ICW and motored. They were able to sail a little. Yesterday, they were sailing in the ICW averaging over 6 mph. Today they were planning on sailing on the outside. George was heading out today at noon to meet up with the cruisers. George Thorpe and the rest of the gang are supposed to meet them in Fort Worth over the weekend. They are still planning on heading due east for the Bahamas on Monday. Looking at the NOAA weather, it would appear that they will have a great weather window. Jack must be one heck of a good cook, or Jimmy is very hungry, because Jimmy keeps telling what a great cook Jack is. I am having trouble with this. When Jack and I brought the Hinckley from Stuart to Brunswick, the only thing Jack made were sandwiches. Apparently Lynda has been giving the boy some cooking lessons. Every time I have talked with them, they are like kids on Christmas morning. They are having a great time. The only downside to all of this happiest, is that when I get off the phone with them, I have to go back to work. Jimmy, asked me to give an update on their progress. I am sure when he gets back on Monday; he can give a more detailed account of his trip. —————————————— Minor correction: Jack and Jimmy are headed to Fort Pierce, Fl. not Fort Worth. —————————————— {{May 5, 2008, Jimmy}} I made it back to Lake Sinclair on Saturday night about 8 PM. Jack and I arrived at Rivera Beach Marina (which is near the Lake Worth Inlet and just north of West Palm Beach) about noon on Friday May 2nd. We had a short trip of about 10 nautical miles from Admiral’s Cove Marina near Jupiter Inlet. Jack and I had covered about 310 nm since leaving Brunswick on April 25, probably about 75 percent of the time we were sailing. We had talked to George Bloodworth who was driving and we arrived at the marina about the same time. After lunch at the marina “Tiki hut” restaurant, we spent the afternoon restocking the food supply at Walmart, buying a few items at the boat supply store and soaking in the scenery at Phil Foster State Park. The Park is a small island in Lake Worth with access by a bridge. The views were fantastic. All kinds of boats everywhere, sailing, motoring, anchored. The water was clear and there were two SCUBA divers swimming around the bridge supports. Another island, Peanut Island, which was only accessible by boat was near by. There were lots of kayaks and tent campers and at least one trailer sailer beached. We did not go to Peanut Island but had a good view from the marina and from the bridge to Phil Foster Park. Looks like it might be a good place to visit. I offered to buy dinner but Jack insisted on cooking on the boat. He is really into cooking on the boat and does a pretty good job making boat food taste good or maybe I was just real hungry. We had tossed salad, chicken breast and rice, and cookies for dessert. We went to bed early and got up early which had become our routine after 8 days on the boat. After a quick trip to a bait and tackle shop to pick up picture book on fish so they would know which fish to eat and which not to eat, I left in George’s truck about 9 AM and headed for Brunswick to pick up my truck which I had left at Jack’s house. The scenery along Interstate 95 sure was a disappointment compared to that along the ICW. George Thorpe and Jerry Hardin are arriving with Jerry’s South Coast 23 and Doug and Mo from Arizona (I think) are arriving with their Catalina 25 on Sunday or Monday. All plan to leave Sunday or Monday about midnight for the crossing to the Bahamas. Wish I could be with them. Maybe next year we can do another trip to the Bahamas or a trip to the Keys and Dry Tortugas. Jimmy

The race went off without a hitch. Winds were light and variable To be honest I can not tell you the exact finish, as I was too far behind, after another one of my bad starts. We did have an official starter, Ken, the Chief, Griffin. However we did not record our finishing times. Michael and Charlie in their MacGregor 26 was first. ( I think) Calvin and Greyson Telstar was second. ( I think) Ronnie Hartley C25 was third (I know) G Phillips C25 was fourth ( I know) Jeff and Linda Hunter 260 fifth. {(Note: Ken recorded finish times and the results are posted [here->140].)} Supper after the race was great. Good hamburgers and some really good sausage, green peppers and onions. We had about 25 people present, including a couple of possible new members. After supper a number of the world problems were solved, at least for the night. A good time was had by all that attended. A special thanks to Greyson, Jennifer, Arlene, Donna and Ken for all of their efforts for the supper. Due to the time that was required to solved the world problems the night before and given the fact we had no wind and only three racers showed up, the race on Sunday was called off. [Click here for the Sinclair 7x Notice of Regatta-> http://osyc.net/racing/Sinclair21/Sinclair21NOR.htm]

If you were not there, you missed a good time. The First ever Wednesday Night Race on Friday Night was held on Friday April 11th. The race went off with out a hitch and a good time was had by all. We had wind, which is always a good thing if you are trying to race sailboats. In fact looking back on the race we could of had a two lap race and still of been finished early. The race was from the buoy at the club, to the buoy at Bass Marine, to the power lines at Rocky Creek back to the club. The winners were those Harrell Boys, followed Carl Saylor, Charlotte and myself, then K&J Racing team and then Wilson Racing Company. Saturday’s race we had a little more wind and the winners and times have been posted on the web page. Sunday’s race was a good one. Winds were 20 mph and gusting to 28 mph. The race was scheduled to be a two lap event from the club’s buoy to the power lines at Island Creek and back to the club. We had four boats racing. Those racing were Michael and Charlie (1/2 of the Wilson Racing Company), Ken and Jennifer ( K&J racing Team) George Bloodworth and Bill Lewis and Charlotte and myself. The official starter was Jay Harrell. Charlotte and I were the only ones with a reef main and we had our Genoa furled in some. Charlotte and I had one of our famous starts, terrible, slow, we hit the buoy and were dead last. We decided to enact the Wilson Racing Company’s interpretation of when to do out 360 penalty turn, basically when we got ready to. We raced across the big water watching everyone round up a time or two. Once into Island Creek we unfurled the Genoa and started to creep up on the pack. We started to do our 360 penalty turn, but we were afraid no none would see us so we waited. Once we managed to get ahead of one we finally did our 360. We were able to catch the rest of the group and actually pass them, because they got too close to the lee shore and did not have as much wind as we did. We reached the power lines first and started our return trip. We had to tack because I was worried about the depth, our tack brought us in the path of Michael and George, they had to alter their course. K&J Racing team had past us before this maneuver, this was after they made a 360 penalty turn. We were just a tad behind K&J and we decided to tack again now as opposed to latter. If I tack we would have gone right in front of Michael and George again, so we sailed back down the course to allow them to pass before tacking. In retrospect, I do not think this will be a race tactic we will try again, we were dead last, but we had a another lap to make it up. We decided to roll in the Genoa just before the big water on our return trip to the club. Just as we rolled it in some we saw some really good rounding ups. I believe that the unofficial best rounding up of the day would have to go to George and Bill. We can tell George, with out a doubt his bottom and keel are still very clean. We are getting close to rounding the mark at the club for the return trip and Jennifer’s yells that two of the other boats wanted to call the race, I said I would like to continue and Charlotte yelled in agreement to Jennifer’s suggestion. I guess you know without me saying it turned into a one lap race. Races come and races go but this is one race I will remember, we lost, nothing unusual about that, but it was a great, at least in my eyes, Charlotte may have another opinion. Next race is schedule for April 26 and 27, The Sinclair Open. More to come about that race next week.

What a change a day can make. Saturday was down right warm, with pretty much zero wind. (That is, until the storm rolled in.) Sunday dawned with temperatures in mid 40’s and wind steady at 10-15 from the ENE. Despite the frigid temperatures, a dozen sailors showed up at the club for racing, so race we did! A self-timed run of the Sinclair Challenge course was planned, every one bundled up in their warmest gear and off we went – two Catalina 25s, three Hunters, and one Thistle. The frigid east wind promised a quick run, but once on the course we saw just how surprisingly light and shifty such wind could be. Still my team made it up and back with only a single gybe and zero tacks. Jack and Doug did even better in the Thistle seting a new course-record time of 1:12:46 raw time and 1:27:40 corrected time, surpassing the previous records in each category by less than two minutes. In the cruiser fleet, Greg Phillips, with an assist from Jack Sterret, took the honors besting the Griffins by a mere 90 seconds. Bringing up the rear of the fleet was Bill Shaw with the Harrell boys on board, who managed to reduce his previous course time by over 3 hours. I can venture to say that this may have been the closest OSYC has even come to an actual “Frostbite” race!

Have You Raced This Year? If not why not? Can’t think of a good reason can you? Why not start this weekend? The Spring Series continues this Saturday and Sunday. Forecast: Saturday 8-10 mph, 30% chance of rain ( or 70% it will not rain), overcast ( you will not need as much sun block), Temperatures a balmy 74. We will have a buoy race. Sunday 10-15 mph gusting to 20, 80% chance it will NOT rain, overcast, Temperatures a very pleasant 65. We will have a distance race. We have a Race Committee for Saturday, it is the racing legend duo. One is good looking and the other has room for improvement. Who are they? Come to the race and find out. Skippers meeting 12, race starts at 1 sharpe.

The lake is full, spring is in the air, and the Spring club racing series us underway at OSYC. This year we have 6 races scheduled: March 16, March 29-30, April 12-13, and May 10. Race days start with a skippers meeting at noon and the first race starts at 1pm. Race Committee volunteers are greatly appreciated, there are nearly always crew rides available on various boats, and if you need any help with your boat there is more than enough of that to go around too. Social time in “the office” preceding, and following racing. So, mark your calendar and we’ll see you there.

Oconee Sailing and Yacht Club
2008 Spring Membership Meeting
March 15, 2007

Presiding: Commodore Jimmy Harrell
Secretary: Jay Harrell

21 voting memberships present in person.

Voting members present were recorded as:

1. George & Freida Bloodworth   
2. Paul & Anastasia Bollinger
3. Pete & Joan Ekstrom   
4. Carl & Sharon Enchelmayer
5. Howard Gregory   
6. Ken & Jennifer Griffin
7. Jay & Sally Harrell   
8. Jimmy & Charlotte Harrell
9. Ron Hartley   
10. Al Hauck
11. Bob Horan   
12. Bill Lewis
13. Dick & Arlene Mueller   
14. Greg & Charlotte Phillips
15. Tom & Donna Poth   
16. Carl & Laurie Saylor
17. Bill & Kay Shaw   
18. Calvin & Grayson Smith
19. Fred & Katie Smith   
20. George Thorpe
21. Ronnie & Sandy Young   

Treasurer and Secretary Reports given by Jay Harrell.  Copies are attached.

Awards
    2007 Sinclair Challenge
        1st: Ken and Jennifer Griffin, Hunter 260, 1:18:30
        2nd / 1st on raw time: Jay and Jimmy Harrell, Viper 640, 1:13:45
        3rd place: Greg and Charlotte Phillips, Catalina 25, 1:43:00

    2008 Frostbite Series
        1st Ken and Jennifer Griffin
        2nd D Wilson
        3rd Greg and Charlotte Phillips

Committee Reports

• Membership:  Bill Shaw (chair), Ken Griffin, Howard Gregory, Dick Mueller, Donna Poth: Introduce new and prospective members
• Nominating:  Bill Shaw (chair), Ken Griffin, Ronnie Young, Calvin Smith, Jennifer Griffin
• Building and Grounds:  Howard Gregory (chair), George Thorpe, Dick Mueller: Parking boats, new outside shower, cleaning up basement, identify boats and trailers.  O’day Javelin.
• Docks:  Ronnie Young (chair), Bill Shaw: New Docks, Slip Assignments
• Racing:  Greg Phillips (chair), Bill Lewis, Jay Harrell, Tom Poth
• Club Races, Open Races, Outback, Mug Race, Special Races, Sinclair Challenge 2007 Trophy Presentation, 2008 Frostbite awards.
• Cruising:  Bob Horan (chair), Greg Phillips, Jimmy Harrell: Report on last cruise and plans for rest of year, and BEER Cruise.
• Halloween:  Grayson Smith (chair), Donna Poth, Linda Abrams, Arlene Mueller:  Weekend before Halloween
• Hospitality:  Ken Griffin (chair), Arlene Mueller, Donna Poth, Jennifer Griffin: Plans for more cookouts, low country boil, to be scheduled ad-hoc.
• Lawn Mower:  (This is a new committee, responsible for maintenance and repair) Dick Mueller (chair),  Bob Horan

New Business
    No new business

Adjournment
    Motion to adjourn heard and seconded.